Dr, Michael Hughes Stoker
May 3, 1957 - October 9, 2025
Dr. Michael Hughes Stoker, 68, died Thursday, October 9, 2025, at Carrington Place of Wytheville from complications of long-term Parkinson's Disease. Born in Bluefield, WV, he was the son of Bobby C. Stoker and Marianna Hughes Stoker and grew up in Bluefield, VA. He graduated from Graham High School in 1975 and from Emory and Henry College in 1979. Driving a delivery truck for Flowers Bakery and conducting EKGs at MCV, he put himself through medical school, graduating from the Medical College of Virginia in 1983. He married Jennifer Surface of Tazewell right after graduation and moved to Macon, GA, for his residency, followed by a year in Spartanburg, SC, and two years in Fayetteville, NC. They then moved to Wytheville, where he worked in the Emergency Room at Wytheville Community Hospital, and then settled into family practice at Fort Chiswell, Hillsville, and Wytheville. He also served as Wythe County Medical Examiner for a number of years. He and his wife adopted three children from Romania in 1998. He was very active in his church, Wytheville Baptist, teaching an adult Sunday School class for many years, singing in the choir, and serving on the Board of Deacons. He also served as Assistant Scout Master for a troop of Boy Scouts, which included his sons, for several years. A voracious reader, he devoured ancient history and science with gusto, and with a near photographic memory, he delighted in sharing anecdotes from all he had read, often years after the fact. He was an enthusiastic fan of Jeopardy! and an undisputed king of trivia. He was also a computer and technology buff, a family history enthusiast, and a lover of all cats. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Dea and Bernard Hughes of Bramwell, WV, and Opal and Roy Stoker of Beckley, WV; uncle and aunt, D.M. and Louise Stoker of Bramwell; and nephew, Andrew D. Fox of Draper.
He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Jennifer Surface Stoker; sons, Jonathan Michael Stoker of Wytheville and William Andrei Stoker of Rural Retreat; daughter, Maria Vasilica Stoker of Wytheville; grandson, Jaylen Cole Stoker of Wytheville; parents, Bobby and Marianna Stoker of Brandon, FL; sister, Leanna Stoker of Brandon, FL; uncle, Roy Dale "Dick" Stoker of Hickory, NC; aunt and uncle, Judy and Chester Sword of Bluefield, WV; niece and nephew, Lauren and Ryan Fox of St. Augustine, FL; great-nephews and niece, Riley Fox, Grayson Fox, and Evelyn Fox; sisters-in-law, Laurie and Elliott Roberts, Jr. and Julia and Mike Cortellesi, all of Tazewell; several cousins; and furbabies, Hermione, Miss Pookie, Alvin, Kitty, and Booger. The family is grateful for the compassionate care provided by sitters Summer George and Autumn George. His body will be cremated and interred at Summerfield United Methodist Church Cemetery, Fries, VA.
A memorial service will be held on October 30, with visitation from to 3 p.m., followed by service at 3 p.m. at Wytheville Baptist Church. Memorial contributions may be sent to Wytheville Baptist Church, 205 Church Street, Wytheville, VA 24382, or
a favorite charity. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at
www.grubbfuneralhome.comGrubb Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Grubb Funeral Home
215 S. 6th Street Wytheville, VA 24382
Published by SWVA Today on Oct. 18, 2025.