E. Alvin Small

E. Alvin Small of Colonial Heights died Thursday, May 28, 2009, at Southside Regional Medical Center. He was born in Petersburg on August 12, 1916, and was the son of the late Edward A. and Dora Witt Small.

He was founder and president of E. Alvin Small Funeral Home, which began service August 29, 1952. He semi-retired in 1990 but never totally ceased his work as a licensed funeral director. He was a past president of the Central District Funeral Directors Assoc. and a member of the Virginia Funeral Directors Assoc. He was the first president and a founder of the Colonial Heights Optimist Club, past governor of the Capital Virginia District of Optimist International, past president in 1958/59 of the Colonial Heights Chamber of Commerce to which he was awarded life membership in 1997, member of Powhatan Starke Masonic Lodge #124 and was awarded a 50 year certificate in 1998, member of Appomattox Commandery Knights of Templar # 6, Royal Arch Chapter #7, member of Acca Temple Shrine, past president of Petersburg Shrine Club, member of Alpha Chapter #1 Order of the Eastern Star, charter member and elder emeritus of Colonial Christian Church having served as chairman of various committees and trustee of the church, former member of the Fort Lee Army Advisory Committee, former member of the Petersburg Salvation Army Advisory Board, where he served the longest tenure in board history for 39 years.

He is survived by his wife, Ruby Sheffield Small; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Herbert S. and Arline Small and Ralph L. "Buddy" and Ruth Small all of Colonial Heights; two brothers-in-law and sister-in-law, Paul and Marion Smith of Petersburg and Jim Whetzel of Roanoke; nephews, David Whetzel of Roanoke, Bryan Small of Colonial Heights and Louis Smith of Petersburg; nieces, Susan S. Belcher and Nancy S. Barnes of Colonial Heights.

A funeral Service will be held 2:30 p.m. Monday, June 1, 2009, in Colonial Christian Church, 295 Dunlop Farms Boulevard, Colonial Heights. The Rev. Clay Boyd will officiate. Burial will be in Southlawn Memorial Park, Prince George County. The family will receive friends from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday in the Colonial Heights Chapel of E. Alvin Small Funeral Homes and Crematory, 2033 Boulevard. Memorial contributions may be made to Colonial Christian Church, 295 Dunlop Farms Blvd., Colonial Heights, VA 23834 or to the Petersburg Salvation Army, 1228 S. West St., Petersburg, VA 23803. Condolences may be registered at www.ealvinsmall.com.