Joseph "Joe" Ramey Chambers

Joseph Ramey Chambers of Troutville, VA passed away on May 25, 2024. Born April 5, 1936, he was the youngest son of the late Boyd Ramey Chambers and Audrey Mae Blankenship Chambers. He is preceded in death by his brother Jack Porter Chambers of Tazewell, VA, and his former wife Lois Lazetta Buskell Chambers.

He is survived by his daughter Susan Renee Chambers Nork and her husband Bill of Charlotte, NC; grandsons Will Nork IV of Florida and Josh Nork of Charlotte, NC. He leaves behind his beloved and faithful companion Catherine Jean Hazlegrove of Troutville, VA.

It is fitting that he passed away on Memorial Day weekend, as he served in the Air Force 16th TAC Recon Sq at Shaw AFB, SC. He graduated in the Class of 1965 at Emory & Henry College in Emory, VA with a B.A. in History, taught school and became a Principal for a while. He bought and ran a Texaco gas station in Abingdon but sold that and traveled out west for a spell. While in Abingdon, his love of hunting and fishing led him to be President of the Washington County Sportsman Club. Many nights were spent shooting the breeze and shooting skeet. He used to say, “Make sure you always shoot straight and clean your gun!”

In 1970 he began his career as a District Director for Agricultural Stabilization Conservation Service (ASCS), serving the western counties of Virginia for 24 years. In both his professional and personal life, he was driven by a fierce sense of fairness that could ignite empathy and anger in equal measure!

What did he think about growing older and outliving most of his hunting buddies? Be sure you have younger friends, or you will be mighty lonely in the end.

There will be no burial service or funeral. His ashes are to be handled according to his directions in his will. Some ashes will be loaded and shot to remember their friend, and they might even have a shot of whiskey to toast. He was a member of Mill Creek Gun & Whiskey Club.

To all his wonderful friends he leaves a fond farewell.

Online condolences may be made at www.botetourtfuneralhome.com.