CLAYPOOL HILL, Va. - Mrs. Edgar Mae Bucklen Rife, 94, of Claypool Hill, formerly of Buchanan County, Va., went home to be with the Lord on Nov. 13, 2004 after a long and productive life.
She was born on Oct. 10, 1910 in Buchanan County and was the daughter of the late J.C. Joseph Cruise and Wattie Ratliff Bucklen. Edgar's passion in life was serving God. She taught Sunday school at the Antioch church at Keen Mountain and coordinated the building project for the new church at Antioch. She also started Sunday school classes at the Bethany Methodist Church at Pilgrim Knob and taught Sunday school for many years at Little Garden Pentecostal Church. Edgar supported many local Pentecostal churches and was a supporter of the Richlands Christian Academy. She was a member of the Richlands Tabernacle and faithfully worked in the service of the Lord until her death. In addition to her work in the church, Edgar loved to quilt, crochet, draw, sing and play the banjo.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Boyd Rife; two sons, Estel Rife and Homer Rife; one infant daughter, Leona Fern Rife; two brothers, Kermit Bucklen and Dillard Bucklen; and one sister Viola Horn.
Mrs. Rife is survived by three daughters, Marie Meadows and husband Ernest of Belfast, Va., Creta Horn and husband Leonard of Claypool Hill, and Madgie Vandyke and husband Arlin of Raven, Va.; daughter-in-law, Mrs. Estel (Virginia) Rife of Claypool Hill; one sister, Jeannette Cantrell of Pilgrim Knob, Va.; and one brother, John Bucklen of Paintlick, Va. Edgar also leaves behind seven grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, two great great grandchildren and many wonderful friends.
Funeral services for Mrs. Edgar Mae Bucklen Rife will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 15, 2004 in the Singleton Funeral Service Chapel in Cedar Bluff, Va., with the Rev. Ralph Horton officiating. Burial will follow in the Esau Rife Cemetery at Keen Mountain, Va. Pallbearers will be Tony Rife, Jackie Meadows, Ricky Lester, Gary Bucklen, Greg Cantrell and Rondal Wade. Honorary pallbearers will be Bob Hale and Jeff Cantrell (findagrave.com)