Garland Surber, 86, died Friday morning, June 8, 2012, at Bristol Regional Medical Center. He was born April 7, 1926, in Saltville and was a son of the late Charles Cleveland and Lula Chapman Surber. He resided in the Watson's Gap area of Saltville most of his life and was a member of McCready United Methodist Church. He worked for Olin Chemicals in Saltville for 25 years until the closing of the facility in 1972. He retired as a county building inspector for Smyth County. He also enjoyed farming and raising cattle with his son-in-law, Melvin Chapman, raising a garden and watching the Braves play baseball. Beside his parents, he was also preceded in death by his wife, Kathleen Taylor Surber; infant son, Danny Surber; brothers, Willard Surber and Glenford Surber; and son-in-law, Melvin Chapman. Survivors include one daughter, Joyce Chapman; son, Charles "Butch" Surber and wife, Mildred Surber; one sister, Myrtle Talbert; one granddaughter, Beth and husband, Michael Haycraft; one grandson, Scott Surber; three great-grandchildren, Elijah Chapman, Aspen Surber and Clay Layell, all of Saltville. The family would like to thank special friends Betty Russell and Betty-Jo Chapman and Zane Wimmer, all of the members of McCready United Methodist Church who visited and prayed for Garland, and the doctors and nursing staff of Bristol Regional Medical Center who cared for and comforted him and the family. Funeral services were conducted at 2 p.m. Monday, June 11, at D.R. Henderson Funeral Home with the Rev. Scott Wilkes officiating. Burial followed in Mount Rose Cemetery. The family received friends from noon until time of service on Monday. Online condolences may be sent to drhendersonfuneralhome.com. D.R. Henderson Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Published in Wytheville Enterprise on June 13, 2012