Ross McDonald Vest

Ross McDonald (Don) Vest, 77, of White Gate, Va., passed away Tuesday, February 17, 2009, at his home. The White Gate Community and the Vest family lost a most precious man on this day. He was born November 14, 1931, at White Gate. He was preceded in death by his parents, John C. Vest Sr. and Julia T. Vest; his brothers, Luther Powell Vest, James J. Vest and John C. Vest Jr.; his sisters, Wilma Blackburn and Josephine Melvin; and a half sister, Lucille Buchanan. He was diagnosed with lung cancer in July of 2008 and fought a long, hard, courageous battle. Don was a member of the Mt. Zion United Methodist Church in White Gate, was a charter member of the White Gate Ruritan Club, was proud of the Poplar Hill Volunteer Fire Department and took special interest in fund raising events for the department. His son, Johnny, and grandson, Chris, are volunteers with the department. Don was very instrumental in helping the department obtain their new pumper fire truck. Besides farming, he was retired from Radford Arsenal with 29 years of service. His position was an operator in the power house. The Vest family wants to extend special thanks to Dr. Donald Yoder for the love and compassion shown not only to Don but to his family during this difficult time, to Sandy Estep, his heath care nurse, who went above and beyond to make sure his needs were met, to everyone at Pulaski Community Hospital and to the staff of Good Sanitarian Hospice. He is survived by his loving wife, Dolly Vest, of 56 years who was his primary care giver so he could stay at home as were his wishes; one daughter, Sandi and husband, Dave Countiss ,of Fairlawn; son, Chris Vest, of White Gate; great-granddaughter, Haley Nicole Vest; son, Gary and wife, Eppie Vest, of Warrenton, Va., and their sons, Joshua, Jeremy and Benjamin; son, Johnny Vest, of the home, and his son, Johnathan Ryan Vest, of Dublin, Laura McDonald, Johnathan's sister; and former daughterin-law, Ann McDonald. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. on Friday, February 20, 2009, at A. Vest & Sons Funeral Home, White Gate with the Rev. Ernest Chinault, the Rev. Danny Shortridge, the Rev. Jo Ellen Hetherington and Charles Henderson officiating. Burial will be held in the Stinson Cemetery, White Gate. Visitation will be anytime after 1 p.m. on Thursday, February 19, 2009, and the family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Flowers are appreciated or memorial donations may be made to Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, White Gate Ruritan Club, Good Sanitarian Hospice or the American Cancer Society.