Ross McDonald (Don) Vest, 77, of White Gate, passed away Tuesday, February 17, 2009 at his home. He was born November 14, 1931 at White Gate. He was preceded in death by his parents, John C. Vest, Sr. and Julia T. Vest; his brothers, Luther Powell Vest, James J. Vest and John C. Vest, Jr.; his sisters, Wilma Blackburn, Josephine Melvin and a half-sister, Lucille Buchanan. The White Gate community and the Vest family lost a most precious man on Tuesday, February 17, 2009. He was diagnosed with lung cancer in July of 2008 and fought a long, hard, courageous battle. Don was a member of the Mt. Zion United Methodist Church in White Gate, was a charter member of the White Gate Ruritan Club, was proud of the Poplar Hill Volunteer Fire Department and took special interest in fund raising events for the department. His son Johnny and grandson Chris are volunteers with the department. Don was very instrumental in helping the department obtain their new pumper fire truck. Besides farming, he was retired from Radford Arsenal with 29 years of service. His position was an A operator in the power house. He is survived by his loving wife, Dolly Vest of 56 years who was his primary caregiver so he could stay at home as were his wishes; one daughter, Sandi and husband Dave Countiss of Fairlawn and son, Chris Vest of White Gate, great-granddaughter Haley Nicole Vest; son, Gary and wife Eppie Vest of Warrenton, Va. and their sons, Joshua, Jeremy and Benjamin; son, Johnny Vest of the home and his son Johnathan Ryan Vest of Dublin, Laura McDonald (Johnathan's sister) and Ann McDonald, former daughter-in-law. Funeral services will be Friday at 2:00 p.m. at A. Vest and Sons Funeral Home, White Gate with the Rev. Ernest Chinault, the Rev. Danny Shortridge, the Rev. Jo Ellen Hetherington and Charles Henderson officiating. Burial in the Stinson Cemetery, White Gate. Visitation will be anytime after 1:00 p.m. Thursday and the family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.Flowers are appreciated or memorial donations may be made to Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, White Gate Ruritan Club, Good Samatarian Hospice or the American Cancer Society.
Published in the Bluefield Daily Telegraph on 2/19/2009