Samuel F. Varney Jr.

Mr. Samuel F. Varney, Jr., age 90 of Ellenbrook, went to be with the Lord on Saturday (November 15, 2025) at Russell County Hospital in Lebanon, Virginia. Born October 22, 1935 in Red Jacket, West Virginia, he was a son of the late Samuel Franklin Varney, Sr. and Pearl Ann Looney Varney. He was a 1956 graduate of Hurley High School, where he served as both Junior and Senior Class President and was a member of the undefeated Rebels All-State championship football team under Coach Smiley Ratcliffe. His athletic abilities awarded him a football scholarship to the University of Tennessee. As a Tennessee Volunteer, he earned his degree in Music Education. He proudly served his country in the United States Army during the Vietnam War Era, having been stationed in Germany and Italy until he was honorably discharged in 1964. He returned back to Grundy, Virginia where he served as youth pastor of Grundy Baptist Church. He later became the founding pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Grundy, Virginia; initially holding worship services in his home. When the attendance outgrew that, they moved their congregation to the P.V. Dennis Elementary School building and the later to a building in Deel, Virginia which was destroyed by the 1977 flood. They built the current Grace Baptist Church after the flood and there established the Grace Christian Academy, where he served as Pastor and Principal. He resided in Pensacola Florida for over forty years and was a retired Civil Servant, having been employed in the Human Recourses Department at the Naval Air Station. While in Pensacola, he met his beautiful wife, Martha and together they began to build a wonderful life together. They shared a love for the arts and Sam was in numerous plays at the Saenger Theatre. He loved poetry and could quote many famous poems from memory until his final days. He was also a talented musician. Although he was classically trained, he had the God-given ability to play numerous instruments by ear. Piano, guitar banjo, and harmonica were learned at an early age. At the age of fifty, he learned to play the bagpipes. He had been inspired by a 34-RPM record that he heard playing at Smiley Ratcliffe's house and developed a love for the instrument. He was a founder of the McGuire Pipe Band and taught several area physicians how to play. He was invited to play the bagpipes at Epcot as well as to Japan and Scotland. He had the honor and privilege of playing bagpipes for two U.S. Presidents.

Sam pined for the mountains, and he returned back to Southwest Virginia in 2012, where he and Martha made their home in the historic, Ellenbrook. He served as Vice-President of the Smiley Ratcliffe Foundation. He enjoyed traveling and he hiked 1,700 miles of the Appalachian Trail, leaving only 700 miles remaining before his health declined. He had traveled to fourteen countries and crossed the Atlantic Ocean thirty-two times.

He loved to write and preserve the history of the Appalachian culture. He has authored six books and had been a longtime writer for the Virginia Mountaineer. His columns, Lore & Legend and The Good Ol' Days have been a delight to readers for many years. Some of his favorite quotes were "Work is the most beautiful word in the English language"; "Make good memories"; "Always do the right thing" and "This too shall pass". Each of those are excellent reminders for those who will carry on his legacy and help future generations to remember his passion for life.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his siblings, Paul Varney, Madeline Mitchell, Victor Davis, Gladys Davis, Ernest Varney, Clyde Varney, Evelyn Miller and Adeline Woods. In his generation, he was the last surviving member of his immediate family.

Survivors include his loving wife, Martha deJarnette Varney; his children, Samuel F. Varney, III and wife, Kayce, Rebecca Ruth Varney, Diana Wynn and husband, Keenan and Jimmy Cagle; grandchildren, Peyton Varney, Ethan Varney, Ian Varney, Grant Varney, Regan Varney, Logan Varney, Kellen Wynn, Garin Wynn and Stella Cagle; several nieces and nephews and a host of friends also survive.

A special thanks is extended to Sam's niece, Ramona Boyd and her children, Lindsey Boyd and Logan Boyd for their loving support of both Sam and Martha.

Memorial services will be conducted at a later date.

Online condolences may be made at www.honakerfuneralhome.net.