Dr. Brownie Edward Polly Jr. Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

BIG STONE GAP, VA Dr. Brownie Edward Polly, Jr., 84, passed away on Thursday, August 4th at Johnston Memorial Hospital in Abingdon. Born on December 21, 1931 in Appalachia, he spent his early years growing up and attending elementary school in the coal camp of Derby, Virginia. His family later moved to Big Stone Gap and he graduated from Big Stone Gap High School as valedictorian and was quarterback of the football team. He then attended Emory & Henry College where he met his future wife, Barbara, and played halfback and was a member of the 1951 Tangerine Bowl football team. Upon graduation, he attended dental school at MCV in Richmond. Brownie and Barbara moved back to Big Stone Gap in 1958, and he initially practiced dentistry in Appalachia with his uncle, Dr. Charles Polly before opening his own dental practice in Big Stone Gap, where he would practice for 42 years. Always active in the community, Brownie was a founding board member of Lonesome Pine Hospital, and was inducted into the Three Star Wellmont Hall of Fame. He was named to the Board of Visitors of the University of Virginia by then Governor Linwood Holton. He also served on the boards of Clinch Valley College (now UVa-Wise), and Mountain Empire Community College, where he was Chairman. He served on the board of directors of the Wise County Mental Health Association, and was a member of the Big Stone Gap Kiwanis Club for 68 years, serving as President and was named Kiwanian of the Year. In his later years he enjoyed delivering meals for Meals on Wheels. He was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Big Stone Gap. An avid sports fan, golfer, and bird hunter, he coached Peanut Football for a number of years and was a diehard University of Tennessee football and Cincinnati Reds baseball fan. Brownie was a past president of Lonesome Pine Country Club. He also enjoyed grouse hunting on Black Mountain. He was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Barbara Creasy Polly, a daughter, Tamara Polly, a sister, Betty Polly, and his parents, Brownie Polly, Sr. and Nan (Dougherty) Polly. He is survived by his sons Brownie Polly, III and his wife, Connie, of Roanoke, Virginia; Wes Polly and his wife Lisa, of Big Stone Gap, Virginia; and John Polly, of Los Angeles, California. He is also survived by grandchildren, Wesley Polly, II, and Colston Polly of Big Stone Gap; Katherine “Kit” Polly and Brownie Ed Polly, IV of Roanoke; and by his brother, George Polly, of Big Stone Gap. A special thanks is extended to the staff of the Memory Care wing of Commonwealth Assisted Living facility in Abingdon where Brownie resided for the past year. The family will receive friends from 5-7 on Sunday, at Trinity United Methodist Church (East First Street S & Wyandotte Ave) in Big Stone Gap. Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. on Monday at Trinity United Methodist Church in the church sanctuary with the Rev. Terry Goodman officiating. Burial will follow at Powell Valley Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that gifts be made to Trinity United Methodist Church, 203 E. 1st Street, S., Big Stone Gap, VA 24219 or a charity of your choice. To view the obituary online and offer condolences, please visit www.holdingfuneralhome.com Holding Funeral Home is serving the Polly family.

Dr. Brownie Edward Polly Jr.

December 21, 1931 - August 4, 2016