Steve Wise

Steve Robert Wise ABINGDON, Va. Steve Robert Wise, 95, died at his home at 111 West Main St., on Monday, Sept. 27, 2010, from complications of Alzheimer's disease. Mr. Wise was born in Washington County in 1915, the second son of 10 children of George Wiley and Emma Roberts Wise. He began work at the age of eight with his brothers, pulling wool off sheep to sell to local merchants. He set up small businesses at county fairs to help provide for his family and at the age of 16 entered the Civilian Conservation Corps, headquartered at Pembroke, Va. Mr. Wise established Abingdon's first town transportation system, Steve's Cabs, in 1945. He later was a partner in the Bristol-Jenkins Bus Lines and became the owner of the Trailways-Greyhound Bus Depot in Abingdon in the 1960s. Mr. Wise was a farmer, a court appraiser and a real estate, land and tobacco auctioneer. He also owned and operated four restaurants and a variety of other businesses during his life. Mr. Wise served his country in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He is survived by his bride of 70 years, Inez Patterson Wise; and a daughter, Joyce Wise Dodd. He was preceded in death by his son, Stephen Stuart Wise, in 2004. He was beloved by nephew, Edward A. Fagin of Newport Beach, Calif.; and a niece, Patricia Wise Butkovich of Mt. Pulaski, Ill. Funeral services for Mr. Wise will be conducted at 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 30, 2010, at St. Thomas Episcopal Church with Fr. Craig Wylie officiating. Interment will follow at Knollkreg Memorial Park. Friends are invited to greet family at Farris Funeral Service from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday evening. Pallbearers will be Tim Thompson, Craig Thompson, Ben Smith, SamWoolwine, Rick Humphreys and James "Beau" Briscoe. Honorary pallbearers will be Hanna W. Briscoe, Kerney Timmons, Mary Thompson, Dr. James Gardner, Doris Clendenen Shuman, Robert Weisfeld, Del. Joe Johnson, Rep. Rick Boucher and Stuart Larkey. The family is grateful for the remarkable services provided to Mr. Wise by Hospice and Palliative Care of Virginia and his personal caregivers at home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the ALS Foundation, (Lou Gehrig's Disease), 1275 K St., NW, Suite 1050, Washington, DC 20005. Those wishing to express sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com Arrangements for Mr. Wise are under the care of Farris Funeral Service, 427 East Main St., Abingdon, VA 24210 (276-623-2700).