Velda Rutledge Gearhart

Velda Rutledge Gearhart, 85, of Salem, Va., went home to be with the Lord on Friday, April 29, 2022. She was born on Thursday, December 3, 1936, to the late Irvan James and Lavina Mae Gill Rutledge. Velda was a switchboard operator and retired from Bell Atlantic after many years. She was an active member of West Side Church of Christ and enjoyed serving at Virginia church camp. She and her husband enjoyed traveling in their RV, which led them to join the Holiday Ramblers an RV camping club. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Norris Glovern Gearhart; and many siblings. Her surviving family includes her sons, Michael Mike Gearhart and wife, Daphne, and Timothy Tim Gearhart; grandchildren, Laura Brunk and husband, Daniel, Ashley Emmond and husband, Jake, Thomas Gearhart, Chad Gearhart, and Elizabeth Gearhart; great-grandchildren, Devan, Caleb, and Kendra Brunk, Autumn Emmond, and Aiden Gearhart; stepdaughter, Rhonda Thurman and husband, Larry; sister, Janet Moore; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Special appreciation is extended to Dr. Fintel and his entire staff at Blue Ridge Cancer Center as well as Nurse Jamie and the staff at Kindred Hospice for all their hard work and care for Velda and her family. The family will receive friends from 10 to 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, at the John M. Oakey & Son Chapel in Salem, Va. A funeral service to celebrate his life will begin at 11 a.m. with Pastor Neil Richey and Jeff Durham officiating. Interment will immediately follow at Mountain View Cemetery in Vinton, Va., with Jake Emmond, Richie Emmond, Thomas Gearhart, Chad Gearhart, Dustin Belcher, and Paul Wright serving as pallbearers. Online condolences may be expressed at www.johnmoakey.com. Service Details. Visitation When Wednesday, May 4th, 2022 10:00am - 11:00am Location John M. Oakey & Son Chapel Address 305 Roanoke Boulevard Salem, Virginia 24153 Funeral Service When Wednesday, May 4th, 2022 11:00am Location John M. Oakey & Son Chapel Address 305 Roanoke Boulevard Salem, Virginia 24153 Interment When Wednesday, May 4th, 2022 Location Mountain View Cemetery Address 1401 Mountain View Road Vinton, Virginia 24179