McDonald, Jr., George Blake (GB)

George Blake McDonald, Jr. “GB”, 85, of Kimballton, VA died Thursday, March 26, 2015 at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital in Roanoke, VA. He was born August 22, 1929 at the homeplace in Kimballton to the late George Blake, Sr. and Margaret Robertson McDonald.

Besides his parents he was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Mary Douglas Porterfield McDonald and his daughter Martha McDonald Moretz. GB spent his life on the family farm raising beef cattle and sheep. He worked hard toiling the land and caring for the animals, his family, and friends. He was a very special person to many and often considered a father figure. He graduated from Pembroke High School and served in the U S Army during the Korean Conflict as a military policeman. He was employed at Giles Farm Bureau, USPS as a substitute mail carrier and retired after 20 years service with the Virginia Department of Forestry where he served as the Chief Forest Warden of Giles County. He has served over forty years on the Board of Directors for the Pembroke Telephone Cooperative, now PemTel. He also served on the Skyline Soil and Water Conservation Board. He was a lifetime member and steward of Big Stoney United Methodist Church. He was actively involved in Pembroke Ruritan Club and American Legion Post 311 in Pembroke.

He is survived by his daughter Rebecca (Becky) Frame and her husband, Edsel (Bub) Frame, Jr. of Christiansburg, his son-in-law Perry Moretz and wife Stel of Vinton, his grandchildren Erin Moretz and boyfriend Richard Duncan of Pembroke, Bryan Moretz of Orlando, FL and Sarah Frame of Blacksburg, his sister Lillian McDonald of Pearisburg, and brother Bob McDonald and wife Shirley of Salem, as well as his loving extended family.

Funeral services will be conducted Monday, March 30, 2015 at 11:00 am in the Pembroke First United Methodist Church, 5908 Virginia Avenue in Pembroke with the Rev Ted Anders and the Rev Dan Elmore officiating. Burial will follow in Birchlawn Burial Park in Pearisburg with military graveside honors by American Legion Posts 311 in Pembroke, 68 in Narrows, 145 in Peterstown and VFW Post 6000 in Narrows, and the Army National Guard. The family will receive friends at the church Sunday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 pm. The family requests that in lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Big Stoney United Methodist Church c/o Donna Altizer, 3993 Gravely Hill Road, Ripplemead, VA 24150 or The Pembroke Ruritan Club, 120 Pembroke Park Lane, Pembroke, VA 24136. Funeral arrangements are with Kendall Funeral Home in Pembroke. Online condolences may be sent by visiting kendallfuneralhome.com