William Russell "Rusty" Cline

Abingdon, Va.

William Russell “Rusty” Cline, age 54, passed on Friday, May 25, 2018, at his home after a courageous twelve-year battle with cancer.  Rusty was born in Abingdon, Va. to the late Dr. William “Bill” Cline and the surviving Betty Lester Cline. He was a graduate of Abingdon High School, Lees-McRae College, and East Tennessee State University.  Rusty started a number of innovative businesses in Abingdon, including an electronic medical billing company, and Global Exchange, an IT business which served customers worldwide.  He enjoyed many hobbies including auto racing, golf, motorcycle riding, and his love of horses including owning many race horses, fox hunting, and riding in Owner/Rider races over timber in Northern Virginia. 

In addition to his father, Rusty is preceded in death by his grandparents, Dr. and Mrs. William Russell Cline and Mr. and Mrs. John Carson Lester, as well as many aunts, uncles, and cousins. He is survived by his mother, Betty Lester Cline; sister, Sara Cline Werth and husband Douglas; three nieces and one nephew, Amy Werth Waltz and husband Marc, Katie Werth, Douglas Werth and wife Brittany, and Chelsea Werth; great nieces and nephews, Peyton, Hunter, Kinsley, and Douglas; aunt, Peggy Robinson; uncle, Ted Lester; many cousins and very close friends; partner and love of his life, Heather Davis, who has been with him every step of the way and was his “God send” whom Rusty’s family loved for making his last journey so bearable; and two dogs whom he loved dearly, Colt and Tasha. 

Visitation with the family will be held 6-8 p.m. Saturday, May 26, 2018, at Abingdon United Methodist Church.  Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. Sunday at the church with Dr. Robert Countiss and Rev. Reece Lester officiating.  Interment will follow in Knollkreg Memorial Park with James Cross, Trey Smith, Jeff Johnson, Todd Yates, Todd Reynolds, Shane Poland, Kent Petty, Brent Petty, Greg Thompson, Matt Smith, Mike Dunlap, Wayne VanSant, Anne Heacock, and Dr. Gretchen Deel serving as pallbearers. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Abingdon United Methodist Church, 101 East Main Street, Abingdon, VA 24210, www.abingdonumc.org, or to the Melanoma Research Alliance, 1101 New York Avenue NW, Suite 620, Washington D.C. 20005, info@curemelanoma.org, in Rusty’s honor. 

Those wishing to express sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com and signing the online guest register.