Dr. JOHN WITHROW

Dr. John Raynor

Withrow Sr.

Dr. John Raynor Withrow Sr., of Lynchburg, passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2010, at Lynchburg General Hospital. John was born on Nov. 11, 1937, in Norfolk, to parents Claude Albert Withrow and Minnie MacMullen, both deceased. The family moved to Lynchburg during John's early adolescence and he attended E.C. Glass High School, graduating in 1956. He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Lynchburg College in 1960 and an MAT and his PhD in Education from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville in 1971.

Dr. Withrow taught at many institutions of higher learning including Carroll College in Waukesha, Wis.I; Northern Illinois University in Dekalb,IL.; Eastern New Mexico State University in Portales, NM; and Samford University and Miles College in Birmingham, Ala. Eventually Dr. Withrow returned to teach at his Alma Mater, Lynchburg College. He was currently a professor at Virginia University of Lynchburg.

John was a fierce advocate for the causes of civil rights and social justice. He participated in the march from Selma to Montgomery with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the summer of 1965 and was a current supporter of the Alliance for Democracy. John's support of these causes was not without professional sacrifice; he was censured by the Lynchburg school district during the late 1960's for inviting a peace activist into his middle school social studies classroom.

John was a member of The Church of the Covenant in Lynchburg from the time he was a young man, and was so much a part of the history and life of the church. He attended the first official service of worship in Oct. 1954 and was on the board for many years. Even throughout his travels and his living in other parts of the country, John was always part of the church community. He was currently a member of the St. Francis of Assisi mission group with a focus on peace and justice.

John was an avid birdwatcher, naturalist, and gardener as well. His ability to identify birds by their call alone was impressive and he had hundreds of birds on his life list. His other passions were history and politics and the search for the truth in each of those arenas. His intellect, passion for life and justice, and his delightful humor were flavorful seasonings in and among us.

He is survived by wife Mary Jane Withrow of Lynchburg, sister Virginia Jackson of Garland, Tex.; son John Jr. (Chrys), of Fort Collins, CO; daughter Joanna Hall (Steve), of Forest Grove, OR; son Andrew of Rockford, IL; and step-daughters Shana Scudder of Greensboro, NC, and Callie Scudder of Richmond, VA. Dr. Withrow's grandchildren include grandsons Chip Remus of Aurora, CO; Brad and Michael Remus from Fort Collins, CO; and Emily and Julia Hall of Forest Grove, OR, as well as great grandchildren Sierra and Kenton Remus from Aurora, CO.

"Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your master." Mathew 25:23

A memorial service will be held at The Church of the Covenant, 4415 Boonsboro Road, on Saturday, the 4th of Dec. at 2 p.m. A reception for family and friends will be held in the Lodge of the Fisherman on church grounds after the service.

Donations in John's memory may be made to the Church of the Covenant.

Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family, (434) 237-9424. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.

tharpfuneralhome.com.