Emanuel Cary Spickard

Our beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, Emanuel Cary Spickard, slipped away on Saturday, April 11, 2015 to be with his Lord and Savior after a long and courageous fight with cancer. Emanuel lived in Fincastle, VA, where he resided for the past 45 years. Emanuel was born on February 8, 1942, to Esther and Elmer Spickard Sr., of Botetourt County, VA. He was a member of the first graduating class of Lord Botetourt High School in 1960 and received an Associate Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Roanoke Polytechnic Institute in 1970. He worked for 33 years as a tool designer in the Ingersoll Rand Rock-Drill Division from which he retired in 1999. Emanuel was a faithful and active member of Wheatland Lutheran Church, in Buchanan VA for over 40 years. He served as Church Trustee, Church Council Member, and Property Committee Chairman for many years. He was also a member of the Wheatland Church Choir through which he found immense joy in sharing his love of music. Emanuel also enjoyed square dance calling and was a member of the Square Dancing Caller's Lab Association. He was the founding Caller for the Lake Square Dance Club in Moneta, Va. and served them for thirteen years (1999-2012). He also called for the Friday night Thrasher Dancer Group in Vinton, Va. His love of square dance calling was an inspiration to many. He loved teaching new students, and his favorite call was the "yellow rock". He is preceded in death by his mother and father, Esther Thompson Spickard and Elmer Conrad Spickard, Sr.; brother, Elmer Conrad Spickard, Jr; sisters, Doris Spickard Chewning and Marion Adele Ayers. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Carolyn Sue Johnson Spickard; sons and daughter-in-laws, Gregory Alan Spickard and Ellyson Via Spickard, Keith Dwayne Spickard and Colene Campbell Spickard, all of Fincastle VA; daughter and son-in-law, Angela Michelle Spickard and Nicholas James Reo of Thetford VT; grand-sons, Zachary Ryan Spickard of Fincastle VA; Seth Ellyson Spickard and Ethan Cavanaugh Spickard, Fincastle VA; Gordon James Reo and Oscar Emanuel Reo of Thetford VT. Emanuel is also survived by brothers, Haynes Spickard and wife, Eunice; Dale Spickard and wife, Sarah; sisters, Joyce StClair, and husband, Tom; Peggy Spickard; Nancy Clarke and husband, Elsworth; Iris Graham and husband, Bill; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. The family would like to express their sincere thanks to Emanuel's doctors and nurses at the Blue Ridge Cancer Center with a very special thank you to Joelee Preston, MSN, NP-C, for the exceptional medical care and compassion they provided him. We would also like to express gratitude to the staff and nurses at Good Samaritan Hospice and for the love and care they gave Emanuel and his family during his final days. Funeral services are planned for 2:00 pm, Tuesday, April 14, 2015 at Wheatland Lutheran Church, 1560 Wheatland Road, Buchanan VA 24066 with the Rev. Kenneth Lane officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends on Monday, April 13, from 1-3 pm and 6-8 pm at the Buchanan Funeral Home, 14920 Lee Highway, Buchanan, Va. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in the memory of Emanuel Spickard be made to the Wheatland Lutheran Church Memorial Fund, PO Box 441, Fincastle VA 24090. Online condolences can be made at www.botetourtfuneralhome.com (540-254-3000)