Grace Thacker Drumheller

Grace Thacker Drumheller

Grace Thacker Drumheller transferred her membership to heaven on Thursday, April 8, 2010.

She was born on December 3, 1910, in Craigsville, Virginia, the daughter of the late George and Ada Bryant Thacker.

Grace was a pioneer of her time and worked outside the home during the 1950's. She was employed at Frank IX and Sons in Charlottesville and retired after 33 years of service. Her husband, Curtis Henry Drumheller died at the early age of 49, leaving her to maintain the household alone for many years.

When her son, Curtis Vernard retired from the military in 1969, he moved her in with his family at their hometown of Alberene. Grace embraced her son's family and played an important role in all of their lives. "Granny", as she was called by most, made sure Patty and Penny went with her to church every Sunday and it was Johnny who was her main caretaker in the last few years of her life. She enjoyed crossword puzzles, soap operas, games, gardening, and cooking. She mainly loved going places and having visitors. She loved making people laugh and always had to have the last laugh (word)! She was a lifelong member of Alberene Baptist Church and made many friends there and elsewhere.

She was preceded in death by many of her loved ones: her husband and son; two brothers, Herbert and Wallace Thacker; her daughter-in-law, Kiyoko Henza Drumheller; her granddaughter-in-law, Sylvia Dale Drumheller; her great-grandson, Justin Allen Maupin; and numerous close friends.

It is hard to say good-bye to the cornerstone of our family and her 99 years of history. It was always enlightening to hear stories about everything she had experienced during her lifetime, living in a house with no electricity or running water, having to get wood to fuel a fire in order to cook or keep warm, her husband working for 25 cents a day, the depression, World War II, traveling everywhere by foot or horse and buggy, community dances with no alcohol!, and no telephonesjust so many things that she could tell us. We will miss that.

She is survived by her three grandchildren, Hideo John Drumheller and his girlfriend, Cheryl Hotaling, Patty Maupin and her husband, Cecil, Penny Shifflett and her husband, Rodney; five great-grandchildren, Tonya Washington, Kasi Drumheller, Whitney Maupin, Dustin Shifflett and Joshua Shifflett, and another on the way; two great-great grandchildren, Kaiden and Kayla Drumheller; two nephews, Lloyd and William Thacker and their families; and a special granddaughter-in-law, Judy Drumheller.

The family would like to express their sincere thanks to the staff at The Cedars and The Golden Living Center, with special recognition going to Margaret Monroe and April Pritchett for the wonderful care they gave to Granny during her stay there.

The family will receive friends from 7 until 8 p.m. Sunday April 11, 2010, at Thacker Brothers Funeral Home in Scottsville.

Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Monday April 12, 2010, at Alberene Baptist Church in North Garden with graveside services following at Alberene Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family has suggested donations be made to Alberene Baptist Church, 2728 Plank Road, North Garden, VA 22959.

Friends and family may view the online tribute and share memories at www.thackerbrothers.com.


This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.