Henry Thurston Fairtrace

1950 - 2024

Henry Thurston (Sonny) Fairtrace

July 6, 1950 - July 26, 2024

Henry T. Fairtrace, known to all as Sonny, a beloved nickname bestowed by his father, passed away due to cancer on Friday, July 26, 2024.

Sonny was born in Roanoke, VA, to Gilbert and Virginia Fairtrace on July 6, 1950. An only child, Sonny was raised in Fincastle in a musical environment. A businessman, Sonny's father loved to play Dixieland and Ragtime music on piano, creating a lifelong love of music in young Sonny. A secretary, Sonny's mother, was deeply involved with the Episcopalian Church. Through involvement with the church, she hoped to instill in Sonny a strong moral foundation that stressed responsible behavior and service to others, a hope that we believe was successful. Encouraged by his mother, Sonny undertook the duties of altar boy. He enjoyed performing his duties and making his mother proud. Sonny also sang in the church choir, another experience which contributed to his lifelong love of music.

Sonny attended Lord Botetourt High School in Daleville. During his time there, Sonny became a Thespian and began learning to play guitar. Sonny's musical journey led him to becoming a skilled guitar player and singer, with a smooth bass voice and the ability to recall the lyrics to 10,000 songs.

Upon graduating high school in 1968, Sonny married Joan Cummings, a union which lasted seven years and produced two children, Michele Joan and Michael Henry.

At the same time, Sonny began an HVAC apprenticeship at GJ Hopkins Inc. Sensing great intellect and ambition, Hopkins bankrolled Sonny's education at Virginia Western Community College, where he earned an AA degree in Mechanical Engineering. After several years with Hopkins, Sonny moved to Johnson Controls, then TRANE, ultimately starting his own successful business, HTF Mechanical, in 1990. Sonny loved a challenge, a trait which made him a successful and sought-after technician who excelled in his field. His specialty was boiler maintenance in places like the Greenbrier, dangerous work that others refused. As one person remarked, "It was impressive to watch him work."

Outside of work and music, Sonny cultivated many interests. He had a wicked sense of humor, and he loved practical jokes. For a while he owned and operated a hang glider. He loved deep sea fishing and owned his own fishing boat, notwithstanding the fact that he was cursed with sea sickness. Sonny was also an avid motorcycle rider, traveling to destinations as far as Key West, Maine, and South Dakota with (among others) his lifelong friends, Dennis and Connie King.

When young, he enjoyed deer hunting on his own property in Bedford. Sonny remained insanely curious to the end, constantly asking questions and looking for the answers.

In 2015, Sonny retired from working, brimming with excitement for the future. Shortly thereafter, a health tragedy struck that nearly cost him his life, and which occupied his attention for several years, leaving his future uncertain. Not long thereafter, his wife of 46 years, Shirley, passed away. By happy circumstance, he soon met Beverly Schlegel, a woman who had recently lost her husband of 45 years. They were happily married on August 3, 2022.

The marriage of Sonny and Beverly was filled with love, travel, music, family, and good friends. Up to the end, Sonny was still working to make his home a better place. As he put it to Beverly, "You keep feeding me; I keep working."

Sonny is survived by his wife, Beverly Schlegel Fairtrace; daughter, Michele (Tim) Wingfield; son, Michael Fairtrace (Amy); grandchildren, Haleigh Russell, Miranda (Travis) Hankins, Hayden and Lena Fairtrace; great-grandchildren, Maddox Russell, Hunter Hylton, Brooklynn Hankins; stepson, Kailo (Debbie Jo) Schlegel and daughters, Kara and Lara Schlegel; and by Shirley's children and grandchildren, CW (Susan) Walters, Shannon (Melanie) Walters, and Hunter, Forest, and Emily Walters.

Services will be handled privately by the family.

In lieu of flowers, Sonny suggested that a contribution be made to the American Cancer Society. Condolences may be expressed to the family by visiting www.Oakeys.com.

Oakey's Funeral Service, Vinton Chapel

Vinton, VA (540) 982-2221