Marshall Norvelle Obenchain Jr.

Marshall Norvelle (Jimmy / Obie) Obenchain Jr., 83, of Bedford, died Friday, August 22, 2008, at Bedford County Nursing Home. He was born Sunday, January 4, 1925, a son of the late Marshall Norvelle Obenchain Sr. and N. Virginia Andrews Obenchain. Jimmy served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II and was proud to be part of the VFW Post #1509 in Guam where he lived with his wife and two sons for 26 years. He was a life member of the BPOE Lodge #1281 of Guam and a member of Bethlehem United Methodist Church in Moneta. Jimmy was preceded in death by his sister, Edley Spence Robertson. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Dorothy A. Obenchain; two sons; John Marshall Obenchain II and wife, Patsy, of Bremerton, Wash., and J. Michael Obenchain and wife, Pam, of Clark Mills, N.Y.; four grandchildren, John Marshall Obenchain III and wife, Gaema, Jerhett M. Obenchain and wife, Christy, Apryl Obenchain and Nicholas Obenchain; nine greatgrandchildren, Janessa Obenchain, Jaena Obenchain, Justine Obenchain, John Marshall Obenchain IV, Jerhett J. Obenchain, Christian Obenchain, Keilani, Jena, and Cerenna; one brother, Robert M. Obenchain and wife, Betty, of Roanoke; and one sister, Virginia O. Cross, of Newport News. The family wishes to express their gratitude to Kathy Neas, Sue Downhill and Amy Thomason of Bedford Hospice, the home caregivers, the Bedford County Nursing Home caregivers and the Bedford Life Saving Crew. Memorial contributions may be made to the Bedford Life Saving Crew, P.O. Box 161, Bedford, Va. 24523, Bethlehem United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 458, Moneta, Va. 24121 or The Alzheimer's Association, P.O. Box 823, Lynchburg, Va. 24504. A celebration of Jimmy's life will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday, August 30, 2008, at Tharp Funeral Chapel with the Rev. David W. Lord officiating. Burial will follow in Evergreen Burial Park, Roanoke. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, August 29, 2008, at Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Bedford, Va., 540-586-3443. To send condolences online visit, www.tharpfuneralhome.com.