George Marshall Guill Jr.

George Marshall Guill Jr., 94, of Roanoke, Va., passed away on Tuesday, July 6, 2010. He was preceded in death by his wife, Altie Taylor Guill. Mr. Guill was born on July 17, 1915, in Danville, Va., son of George Marshall and Nettie Clark Guill. He attended school in Danville and graduated from George Washington High School in 1934. Mr. Guill was retired from Appalachian Power Company where he enjoyed a 42 year career in a number of positions in Danville, Charleston, W.Va., and Roanoke, primarily in the Communications Department. After World War II, Mr. Guill installed the first two-way FM radio system in Charleston for APCo. He also worked extensively on the company's power line carrier system during World War II and later played a key role in installing the microwave communications system for AEP. Mr. Guill was also involved in the testing and development of AEP's 345 kV and 765 kV transmission system, having worked at the company's test site at Apple Grove, W.Va. Mr. Guill was an accomplished ham radio operator and was first licensed in 1932 at W3BIW. His call was changed to W8VAN in 1940 when he moved to Charleston and his present call sign of W4VAN in 1950 when he moved to Roanoke. Mr. Guill's second hobby was investing in the stock market where he enjoyed tracking his portfolio on the internet each day. He is survived by a number of nieces, nephews and friends. Graveside services will be held 11 a.m. on Monday, July 12, 2010, at Highland Burial Park, Danville, Va. The Rev. Jeffrey Wright, Pastor of Moffett Memorial Baptist Church will officiate. The family will receive friends on Sunday, July 11, 2010, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Oakey's South Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Wilmer Eye Institute at John Hopkins University Hospital, 600 N. Wolfe Street, Wilmer 112, Baltimore, Md. 21287, for research in macular degeneration. Arrangements by Oakey's South Chapel, 540-989-3131.