Reba V. Edwards

Reba Frances Vass Edwards, 93, of Blacksburg, VA and formerly Staunton, VA, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023, at her residence in Blacksburg.

Reba was born July 16, 1930, and was raised in Fincastle, VA. She was the daughter of William Bowyer Vass and Glenna Lynn Blankenship Vass. She graduated from Fincastle High School in 1947 and moved to Staunton, VA where she began working at DuPont in Waynesboro, VA. After some years with DuPont, she began working as a clerk at Smith’s Transfer in Verona, VA., where she met her future husband, William Edwards. They were married Sept. 27, 1958, and have one daughter, Teresa Lynn Edwards Ko.

In 1970, she helped to support the start of William Edwards, Inc., her husband’s trucking and building supply business. When the building supply portion was sold, she continued as a bookkeeper for the new owner. After resigning to be a homemaker, she continued doing volunteer work over the years, teaching at the Staunton Center for Retarded Children, working as a candy striper at Kings Daughters Hospital, delivering Meals On Wheels, and working at the ASPCA Thrift Store and local Food Pantry.

She was a long-time member of Hebron Presbyterian Church where she taught children’s Sunday School, Vacation Bible School and played in the handbell choir.

In 2008, she moved to Warm Hearth Village, a senior living community in Blacksburg, to be closer to her daughter and son-in-law. She joined Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church for her remaining years. She loved flower gardening, classic country and big band music, doing crafts with close friends, participating in water aerobics classes and baking desserts for her family.

In addition to her parents, Reba was preceded in death by her brother, Alfred Smith Vass; two sisters, Eula Doreen Vass and Hilda Mae Vass Shumaker; and William Edwards.

She is survived by her daughter, Teresa and her husband Andy Ko; her nephews, Douglas and Steven Shumaker; her niece, Robin Hudson; and several grand nieces and nephews.

A fellowship luncheon and hymn sing will be held at 12:00pm on Friday, January 5, 2024 at Hebron Presbyterian Church in Swoope, followed by a graveside service at 1:30pm at the Hebron Presbyterian Church Cemetery.

An additional memorial service will be held at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church in Blacksburg on Saturday, January 20, 2024 at 11:00am, followed by a lunch in the Fellowship Hall.

Honorary pallbearers for the Hebron service will be Larry Mayer, David Rhodes, Scott Shomo, Gary Morgan and Daniel Morgan.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hebron Presbyterian Church (423 Hebron Road, Staunton, VA 24401) or Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church (2101 Shadow Lake Road, Blacksburg, VA 24060).