Elva May (Fitzgerald) Eggleston, 85, widow of Walter V. Eggleston, Sr., of 756 Buttermilk Spring Road, passed away Friday morning, April 15, 2011 at the residence of her daughter and son-in-law Barbara and Richard Sullivan with whom she made her home.
Mrs. Eggleston was born November 15, 1925 in Tazewell, Virginia, a daughter of the late Thurle Byron and Eula Jane Fitzgerald.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Susan Jane (Eggleston) Groah and a brother, Claude Fitzgerald.
Mrs. Eggleston retired from Genesco-L-Grief Company in Verona after twenty years of employment as a seamstress. Elva was an active member of Calvary Assembly of God, she loved her church and was active in many church programs. She was known as a hard worker, her greatest love and enjoyment was raising her five children, her grandchildren, and her son-in-law who welcomed her into his home with love and into her life as a son, being a mother to all that came into her life and making them feel at home. She loved to sew and cook, everyone enjoyed her delicious cornbread. She was a lady who gave and loved from her heart.
Surviving are a son and daughter-in-law, Walter V. Eggleston, Jr. and his wife Kennalyn of Staunton, VA; three daughters and sons-in-law, Helen May Carter of Spotswood, Barbara Ann Sullivan and her husband Richard B., Jr. of Staunton, and Elva Marie Blankenship and her husband Theodore of Owingsville, KY; two sisters, Doris Campbell of Amherst and Ocie Campbell of Greenville; thirteen grandchildren, R. J. Deacon, who whom she raised, Samantha Vest, Gilberetta Richards, Nicole Crawford, Leslie Cash, Amanda Garcia, Walter Eggleston, III, Richard B. Sullivan, III, Jason B. Sullivan, Marlana Rogers, Joseph Blankenship, Israel Blankenship and Mark Blankenship; eighteen great-grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews; special friend, Jason Mongold to whom she was like a grandmother and special pets, her dog Sophie and cat Patches also survive.
A celebration of life will be conducted 2:00 p.m. Monday, April 18, 2011 in the Coffman Funeral Home Chapel by Pastors Gregory Miller and Kevin Persinger.
Burial will follow in the Mt. Carmel Church Cemetery in Steeles Tavern, Virginia.
Active pallbearers will be Richard B. Sullivan, Jr., Richard B. Sullivan, III, Jason B. Sullivan, Joseph Blankenship, Billy Cash, Daniel Bryant, Israel Blankenship and Hubert Rogers.
Honorary pallbearers will be Mrs. Eggleston grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
It is suggested that memorial contributions be made to the Augusta Health Hospice of the Shenandoah, 64 Sports Medicine Drive, Fishersville, VA 22939.
The family wishes to thank care-giver Pat White, the services of Ameri Care Plus and care-giver Debbie Brown of Augusta Health Hospice of the Shenandoah for their wonderful care and support during her illness.
Coffman Funeral Home and Crematory, 230 Frontier Drive in Staunton is in charge of her arrangements.