WILLIAM F. ARTRIP, Jr.

Also known as WF or BUDDIE to most that knew him passed away at home this morning, April 11, 2016.
Born on November 4, 1928 in Frederick County, the son of a highly respected farmer and livestock dealer in the county, the late WILLIAM F. ARTRIP Sr. and LEOTA M. (DEAN) ARTRIP.
Born during the depression and one of six children, Buddie was the oldest son with two brothers, Cecil F. Artrip of York PA, Floyd M. Artrip of Charlottesville VA, along with three older sisters, Virginia Snyder of Boca-Raton FL, Zida Kibler and Juanita Evans of Supply NC– both deceased.
On January 15, 1949 he married ENID R. MIDDLETON of Aranda, VA (Shenandoah County) and continued to cherish their marriage even after her passing in 1991. Once again they will be together forever in our father’s home.
Surviving are his daughter Juanita Anne Austin, and husband Jesse of Louisa, VA and a son William F. Artrip III (Frank), and wife Leigh Ann of Winchester, VA. Five grandsons, who will be serving as pallbearers, a granddaughter, five great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. A step son Delmas L. Middleton preceded him in death.
Buddie grew up during the depression and learned at a young age that hard work was the only road to success and successful he was. He attended CARPER VALLEY grade school just east of Winchester on Rt 50 and graduated from STEPHENS CITY HIGH SCHOOL in 1945 at the age of 16. As a teenager he and a few of his friends had a small band in which he played the guitar and the mouth harp at the same time. They even won a talent contest held at HANDLEY HIGH SCHOOL. At age 14 his father became ill and was confined to a bed so his father signed a paper allowing him to get his driver’s license in order to run his father’s livestock business. He would drive the cattle truck and his mom would ride with him to the stock sales to open the truck gates because he could not reach them yet. He became a self-taught, accomplished auctioneer, considered by many to be one of the best in the country. At the young age of fourteen he cried his first cattle auction and by age 15 he was crying six auctions a week. He never looked back. From New York to Florida he applied his trade at most of the better livestock auctions on the east coast. He was also a cattle farmer and one of the largest horse dealers east of the Mississippi. In his early years he was a commission meat buyer for ARMOR and SWIFT Companies along with crying tobacco actions throughout the south. He was also highly sought after for real estate sales, farm sales, car auctions and was hired by many of the finest antique auctions. He was even approached by the prestigious antique firm of SOTHEBY’S of New York to come work for them. He got Winchester’s own Patsy (Hensley) Cline her first paid singing job at Melody Lane on Rt 11 North. He owned and operated his own bulldozer for many years doing custom work and dug many of the farm ponds in the Eastern Panhandle area and northern SHENANDOAH VALLEY. In 1946 at the age of 17 he was elected treasurer/secretary of the newly formed FARMERS LIVESTOCK EXCHANGE in Winchester, VA, in which he signed every check for the land purchase to the actual construction of the auction building. He was also one of its first auctioneers. He served many years on their board of directors. His father WILLIAM F. Sr. was one of the original founders of the stock sale and sold the first $100,000.00 worth of stock in the company to raise the money to build the auction. Buddie was a long time member of the OPEQUON SADDLE CLUB of Stephens City VA where he loved riding his big horse RED in the timed events. During his career as an auctioneer and horse dealer he also operated a saddle & tack shop along with starting a new business, selling livestock trailers, a business that has expanded over the years and is now owned and operated by his son Frank and wife Leigh Ann. He was still doing as many as six sales a week along with the many special auctions held each month. He once cried three sales in one day. A real estate auction, held on the courthouse steps in the morning, a farm sale that afternoon and then he drove a hundred miles to auction an all-night horse sale in PA. He was a man of many talents. One of his lasting legacies will forever be his farm, PONY HEART FARM, built by him throughout his lifetime it has become an icon and is recognized far and wide. His last auction was at the Fauquier Livestock Exchange in Marshall, VA where he was the main auctioneer for the cattle sales and the only auctioneer for the horse sales for thirty years before retiring. To him, being the best auctioneer was not just a job but a passion that he truly loved. He always said, “I work for the seller. It is my job to sell his item as high as I can.” It didn’t matter if they only had one cow or if they were a large dealer. He regarded them all with the same since of duty, to make sure he sold their item at a higher price than they could get anywhere else.
Highly regarded for his knowledge, honesty and fair dealing throughout his life has earned him the respect of virtually everyone who came into contact with him. His business motto was coined from his father before him and has become the family motto as well. “A MAN’S WORD IS HIS BOND, ONCE YOU GIVE YOUR WORD DON’T EVER BACK OUT, EVEN IF IT TAKES HIDE – HAIR AND ALL!!! ”
Buddie was a loving husband and father who cared deeply for his family. Later in life he loved watching his grandsons Will and Lee playing sports as they grew through the years. He was always very proud of his children and grandchildren for their accomplishments and for what they have become. He was always there to lend his guidance and to help teach them how to become successful in life. He will be missed by all that knew him. A man who definitely left his mark!!!
The family will receive friends on Friday, April 15, 2016 from 4:00 to 8:30 PM at Omps South Chapel.
A funeral service will be conducted at 2:00 PM, Saturday, April 16, 2016 at Omps South Chapel with Pastor John R. Austin officiating, who is from Grace Free Will Baptist Church, Louisa, VA. Interment will be in Shenandoah Memorial Park, Frederick County, VA.
Pallbearers will be: William F. Artrip III, William F. Artrip IV, Walter Lee Artrip, Jesse R. Austin Jr, Jason R. Austin, John R. Austin, and Timothy A. Myers.
In lieu of flowers you may wish to make a contribution to the BLUE RIDGE HOSPICE, 333 West Cork St. Suite 405, Winchester, VA, 22601 or to a charity of your choice.