John R. Heckford

John R. Heckford ELK GARDEN, Va. Honorable John R. Heckford, a Kentucky Colonel, age 70, died Oct. 22, 2010, at Lebanon, Va. He was born in Lewistown, Mont., on Nov. 20, 1939, to the late Walter and Verna Heckford. He was a member of Spring City Baptist Church of Lebanon and Stony Brook Community Church of Kingsport, Tenn. He was adept with and enjoyed mechanical projects and did repairs for the Morgan Hill Police Department, south of San Jose , Calif., before moving to Virginia where he worked in maintenance at the Jewell Smokeless Corp. A skilled fabricator and welder, he constructed an oil refinery in Jonesville, Va., another in Albany, Ky., a coal tipple near Crossville, Tenn., and a cement plant in the D.C. area. He was a partner in Blue Flame Coal Co. and owner of The Earth Movers. He served his country in the National Guard. Family and friends were his world. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by daughter, Julie J. Heckford; and granddaughter, Leah Heckford. Surviving are his wife of 51 years, Beverly Hopkins Heckford; three sons, John J. Heckford of Lebanon, Joe J. Heckford and wife Cherie of Oviedo, Fla., and Jerry J. Heckford and wife Leslie of Abingdon, Va.; three daughters, Josie Armstead of San Diego, Judie J. Gruber and husband Dennis of Englewood, Ohio, and Joni J. McGlothlin and husband Raymond of Lebanon; 25 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; sister, Janice Randall of Conroe, Texas; and many other loved relatives and friends. A graveside service with Toby Counts officiating was held on Oct. 23, 2010, at the family cemetery, located in Elk Garden off Route 656 and Creekside. Grandsons Jonathan, Josh, Joseph, Josiah and Erik Heckford; grandsons-in-law, Jon McDaniel, and Jamie Yates served as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are Scott "Zip" Bowen, Buddy Sams, C.B. Yates, Harry Salyer, Tom Compton, JR Rowe, and Jerry Rasnake. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy be made in the form of donations in his memory to the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels Good Works Program, 1717 Alliant Ave., Ste. 14, | Louisville ,| KY | 40299. E-mail condolences may be sent to the family at executive@ntelos.net