Pastor Donald Abshire, Roanoke, With the Lord

Pastor Dan Gillette, Secretary of Blue Ridge District Ministerium of the Grace Brethren Churches, has alerted us to the following:

Rev. Jesse Donald Abshire Sr., 87, of Boones Mill, Va., went to be with our Lord on Monday, February 1, 2010, after several years of illness.

He was born on October 4, 1922. He was preceded in death by his parents, John L. and Delia Abshire, also of Boones Mill. Surviving are his wife of 61 years, Colleen Trent Abshire; his son, J.D. Abshire and wife, Debbie; his daughter, Yvonne and husband, Donnie Hodges; grandchildren, Beth Anne Deems and husband, Michael, Naomi Arthur and husband, Alan, Jessica Gardner and husband, Cabell, and Whitney and Celeste Hodges; seven great-grandchildren, Tyler and Mikey Deems, Koen and Paxton Arthur, and Abby, Aydin, and Anna Lily Gardner.

Donald is also survived by his sisters, Claudine Mizak and Janet Guilliams; also his brother, John L. Abshire Jr. and wife, Janet, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Donald was a World War II Veteran and was a self-employed orchardist in Boones Mill. He was also the founding pastor of Grace Brethren Church of Boones Mill where he later retired in 1988; after which he attended Boones Mill Baptist Church.

Donald was a godly example to his family and all those who knew him. He was a faithful pastor, leading many souls to the Lord.

Funeral services will be conducted from Flora Funeral Chapel, 11 a.m. Thursday, with the Rev. James Steele, the Rev. Ralph Miller and Mr. John L. Abshire Jr. officiating. Interment will follow in Franklin Memorial Park.

Many thanks to friends, neighbors and Carilion Hospice Service of Franklin County for your continued love, kindness and support. Friends may call after 3 p.m. Wednesday with his family receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m. at Flora Funeral Service, Rocky Mount.