Ray N. Church Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Big Stone Gap, VA Ray N. Church, 71, went to his heavenly home on Monday (March 26, 2012) at Holston Valley Medical Center in Kingsport, TN. He was born in the Olinger Community of Big Stone Gap, lived in Vero Beach, FL for over 20 years and had lived in Big Stone Gap since 1994. He was a minister for the gospel of Jesus Christ, having served as pastor of the First Church of God in Vero Beach, FL, and as an evangelist for many years. He was a U. S. Army Veteran of the Vietnam Era and was a member of the American Legion Post #243 in Norton, VA. Ray was the heart and soul of WLSD 1220 radio station in Big Stone Gap for 17 years. He was preceded in death by his second wife, Nora Jean (Hilton) Church; his parents, James Willard Church and Fannie Inez (Pearson) Church; and a sister, Martha Davis. Surviving are his first wife, Rita Paul of Vero Beach, FL; his son:, Ray Allen Church of Pennsylvania; four daughters, Darlene Nesbitt and husband, Steve, and Lisa Gonzalez and husband, Manace, all of Vero Beach, FL, Melinda Church and Geneva Church, of the home; his son, Ray Allen Church of Pennsylvania; six grandchildren, Van Allen, Crystal, Manace, Cory, Tamara and Alyssa; five great grandchildren; two brothers, Bud Church of Fort Pierce, FL and Robert Pearson of North Carolina; and several nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday at Holding Funeral Home (17 E. 3rd St., N.) in Big Stone Gap, VA. The funeral service will be conducted at 7 p.m. on Friday in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Rick Phillips, Rev. Willie Stanley and Johnny Stidham officiating. Military rites, by local V.F.W. and D.A.V. posts and the VA National Guard Honors Team, will be held on Saturday at 11 a.m. at Powell Valley Memorial Gardens. The family and friends will meet at the funeral home by 10:20 a.m. on Saturday to go in procession. To view the obituary and sign the online registry, please visit www.holdingfuneralhome.com. Holding Funeral Home is honored to serve the Church family.

Ray N. Church

May 29, 1940 - March 26, 2012