Ralph W. Poe

Ralph W. Poe, 89, of Frederick County, Virginia, died Thursday, January 16, 2014, at his home.

Mr. Poe was born in 1924, in Senath, Missouri, the son of the late Franklin R. and Winnie A. Poe.  He was a Veteran having served in the United States Navy during World War II.  Mr. Poe was a graduate of Potomac State College receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and attended Shepherd College. He was the owner and operator of Poe Oldsmobile in Winchester, Virginia, until 1978 then later built and developed Candy Hill Campground until selling in 1998.

Mr. Poe was a lifelong Baptist and Methodist. He was a Master Mason (1955) with Masonic Lodge #217, Hagerstown, Maryland, for 59 years.   His other memberships include ACCA Temple in Richmond, serving with the Shriner’s for over 54 years, having formed and led the Arson Squad Unit of little fire trucks in many parades. Mr. Poe was a lifetime member with 68 years of Future Farmers of America; a member of the Fraternal Order of Police, Washington County, Maryland, and a reserve deputy sheriff. Mr. Poe was also a member of the Winchester-Frederick County Chamber of Commerce as well as Berryville-Clarke County Chamber of Commerce, and board member of Northwestern Workshop (NW-Works), for the mentally and physically handicapped.

He married Christine L. Weaver on March 2, 2008, in Winchester, Virginia.

Surviving with his wife, are his daughters, Linda Poe Loveless and husband, Alan, Sr., Trudy Poe Ruggles and husband, Daniel, Sharon Poe Barbin and husband, Terry, Darla Poe Funkhouser and husband, Robert; a son, Douglas Eric Poe, all of Winchester.  He is also survived by step-daughters, Diane Hoff and husband, Larry, of Westminster, Maryland, Scarlett A. Green of Mt. Airy, Maryland, Jennifer Pownall of Quarryville, Pennsylvania; a step-son, Ryan Pownall, of Quarryville, Pennsylvania. Grandchildren include, Diane Pilkington Manuel and husband, Paul, Neil Bradley Lewis, III, Craig Colvin and wife, Sharon, Eric Douglas Poe, Corey Ward O’Donnell, Darla Gail Doyle; 5 great grandchildren and 6 step- grandchildren.  Also surviving are his sisters, Joyce Poe Tyson and husband, Robert, of Bella Vista, Arkansas, Mary Alice Morris and husband, Dewey, of Little Rock, Arkansas; former wife, Anna Gertrude Solenberger of Winchester, Virginia and dear friend, June Hyatt of Paragould, Arkansas and many beloved nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by one son, Travis Lee Poe, sister, Marcelle Poe Rogers and brothers, Gene, Hanley, Jerome, Travis, Billie Bond, Gaylon  and Jimmie Wayne Poe. In addition he is preceded in death by former wives, Genevieve Rotruck Poe Martinsen and Mary Ellen Shank Poe.

The family will receive friends on Sunday from 2:00-4:00 PM at Omps Funeral Home, Amherst Chapel.

A funeral service will be conducted at 2:00 PM on Monday, at Omps Funeral Home, Amherst Chapel, with Reverend Phil Roby and Reverend Paul Campbell officiating.  Interment will be in Shenandoah Memorial Park, Frederick County, Virginia.

Mr. Poe’s Honorary Pallbearer will be Mr. Richard Dillon.

Pallbearers will be Douglas E. Poe, Terry Barbin, Daniel Ruggles, Robert Funkhouser, Neil B. Lewis and Craig Colvin.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Blue Ridge Hospice, 333 West Cork Street, Suite 405, Winchester, Virginia, 22601 or Shriner’s Children Hospital, 1712 Bellevue Avenue, Richmond, Virginia 23227.