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Phyllis T. Arnold, 84, of Mechanicsville, passed away peacefully to be with God on June 10, 2008. She was the widow of Carroll “Joe” Arnold and was a devoted member of Hatcher Memorial Baptist Church. She is survived by two daughters, Julie Bennett and Shirley Haas; two grandchildren, Nancy Trimble and Beau Kincaid; and two great-grandchildren, Brock and Mallory Trimble. She leaves behind a legacy of love and devotion to family and friends and church, and will always be fondly remembered for her genuine kindness and heartwarming smile. Mrs. Arnold retired as a nursing timekeeper from Richmond Memorial Hospital. Memorial services were held Friday, June 13, 2008 at Hatcher Memorial Baptist Church, with graveside services being held at Forest Lawn Cemetery.

Young H. Bobbitt Jr., 89, of Richmond, died Friday, June 6, 2008. He was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Ida King Bobbitt. He is survived by his wife, Hazel P. Bobbitt; daughter, Linda B. Davis and husband, Shelton; son, Norman Y. Bobbitt and wife, Judy; and son, Donald P. Bobbitt and wife, Marsha; nine grandchildren, Tripp Davis, Jenny Jones, Matthew Bobbitt, Andrew Bobbitt, Rachel Bobbitt, Luke Bobbitt, Rebecca Bobbitt, Nicholas Bobbitt and Daniel Bobbitt; and one great-grandson, Alex Bobbitt. Mr. Bobbitt was a retired pressman with the Government Printing Office. He was a proud veteran of World War II, and a D-Day survivor, serving with the 29th Division. He was a longtime active member of Chamberlayne Baptist Church, having been a part of the church almost since its beginning. He was a man of many talents and interests, and will be greatly missed by family and friends. Mr. Bobbitt loved his family, his church, helping others, playing the piano, fishing, telling jokes and stories, visiting friends, and fixing anything that was broken. Sadly, he couldn’t fix his own heart. The family received friends Sunday, June 8, 2008 at the Mechanicsville Chapel of Bennett Funeral Home, 8014 Lee-Davis Rd., where services were held Monday, June 9, 2008. Graveside services were held in Sunset Hills Cemetery, Littleton, N.C. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Chamberlayne Baptist Church, 215 Wilkinson Rd., Richmond, Va. 23227.

Clifton W. Chambliss, 79, of Mechanicsville, died Saturday, June 7, 2008. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Miriam; a daughter, Carolyn Fletcher; two sons, Wayne and Michael Chambliss; five grandchildren, Keith Fletcher, Candace Wilcox, Chase Crabtree, Chance Crabtree and Chandler Chambliss. Mr. Chambliss was formerly employed with the Seaboard Railroad and was retired from the Commonwealth of Virginia and the IRS. The family received friends Monday, June 9, 2008 at Mechanicsville Chapel of Bennett Funeral Home, 8014 Lee Davis Rd., where funeral services were held Tuesday, June 10, 2008. Graveside services were held at Signal Hill Memorial Gardens Mausoleum. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Gideons International or Mechanicsville Baptist Church.

Roger W. Dennison, of Mechanicsville, formerly of Staunton, Va., left this Earth June 5, 2008 to ride the clouds and soar with the eagles. Roger was a Vietnam Veteran and an auto mechanic. He leaves behind his loving wife, Linda; a daughter, Jennifer, and her son, Dylan; a sister, Betty Barker and husband, Sam; brother-in-law, Irving Robins and wife, Linda. Roger enjoyed hunting and camping with his devoted nephew and best friend, Lee Thompson, wife, Sherry. Other survivors include an estranged son, Rodney; his two sons, Ryan and Raven; a host of nieces, nephews and friends, and his four-legged companions, all of whom he loved very much. The family received friends Friday, June 6, 2008 at the Mechanicsville Chapel, Bennett Funeral Home, 8014 Lee-Davis Rd. Graveside services were held Saturday, June 7, 2008 at Washington Memorial Park, Sandston, Va.

Tarleton Bleece Durrette, 69, went to be with the Lord on June 6, 2008. Mr. Durrette was born on April 12, 1939 in Richmond. He was a son of the late Robert Theodore and Margaret Alice (Gordon) Durrette. He is remembered for his precious smile, his devotion to help family members and others, and his love for gardening and woodworking. Any trade and his mechanical ability came naturally to him. Mr. Durrette was preceded in death by two brothers, Alfred Keith Durrette and Lawrence Andrew Durrette. He leaves to cherish in his memory, his devoted wife of 50 years, Barbara (Gray) Durrette; and three sons, Tarleton Durrette Jr., King William, Va., Anthony and his wife, Peggy Durrette, Gregory and his wife, Sheri Durrette, both of Richmond, Va.; his grandchildren, Michael Durrette, Andrew Durrette, Tarleton Durrette III, Brandon Durrette and Tasha Blakley; and one great-grandchild, Camden Blakley. Others include his sisters and brothers, Elouise and her husband, Newton Ancarrow, Richmond, Va., Zelma Ruth Haney, Spotsylvania, Va., Robert Jr. and his wife, Mary Durrette, Salisbury, N.C., Pauline and her husband, George Mistro, Frankfort, Ill., Ralph Durrette, Richmond; and his sister-in-law, Barbara T. Durrette, Salisbury, N.C. His loved ones include a host of wonderful nieces and nephews. Tarleton is remembered as a truly genuine brother-in-law and uncle by the Gray and Goad family members. The funeral service was held on Monday, June 9, 2008 in the Bennett Funeral Home, Mechanicsville Chapel, 8014 Lee-Davis Road. Pastor Mac McDowell and Johnny Albert officiated. Gravesides services followed in Hanover Memorial Park Cemetery, Route 360. The family received friends in the funeral home chapel on Sunday, June 8, 2008. He was an active member of New Haven Baptist Church, and memorials can be sent to New Haven Baptist Church, P.O. Box 2303, Mechanicsville, Va. 23116.

Pamela O’Brien Garrett, of Dunnsville, formerly of Mechanicsville, departed this life June 10, 2008. She is survived by her husband, Wayne; and two sons, Chris and wife, Heather, and Sterling Garrett; two brothers, Richard and wife, Judy, and Gary and wife, Bonnie O’Brien, all of Mechanicsville; two grandchildren, Megan and Jonathan; two nieces, Ashley and Michelle; and a nephew, Matthew. The family received friends at Monaghan Funeral Home, 7300 Creighton Parkway on Thursday, June 12, 2008 and where funeral services were held Friday, June 13, 2008. Graveside services were held in Hanover Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Heart Association.

Theodore Marvin Meek III, 60, of Hanover, Va., returned to the Lord on Wednesday, June 4, 2008. He is survived by his wife, Joanne H. Meek; two sons, Theodore M. Meek IV and daughter-in-law, Andreia B. Meek and Andrew G. Meek; sisters, Suzanne M. Ratchford and husband, Fred L. Ratchford, Yolanda M. Previs and husband, Stephen D. Previs, Loretta M. Knott and husband, Randall L. Knott; sister-in-law, Debra H. Cunningham; eight nephews; and three nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents, Theodore M. Meek Jr. and Norah Odell Meek. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Joseph M. Johnson, #7538, Ashland, Va. He served in the Virginia National Guard. He was a member of IBEW Local #666 for 16 years. He retired from Dominion Virginia Power with 24 years of service and was recently employed with the Virginia Department of Corrections as an electrical instructor. He was a devoted husband and father who always put family first. The family received friends Friday, June 6, 2008 at the Mechanicsville Chapel, Bennett Funeral Home, 8014 Lee-Davis Rd., where a rosary service was held, also on Friday. Mass of the Resurrection was held Saturday, June 7, 2008 at St. John’s Catholic Church, 811 West Nine Mile Rd., Highland Springs, Va. Graveside services followed at Washington Memorial Park.

Margaret Mary Meyer, 73, died very peacefully at her home in Mechanicsville on June 7, 2008 after a long illness. She was preceded in death by her father, John Stanley Thompson; her mother, Margaret Egbert Thompson; and her sister, Frances “Susie” Thompson Wedd. She is survived by her loving husband of 52 years, John Percival Meyer; five devoted children and their spouses, Katherine Ann Meyer Spratt and her husband, Jack Lee Spratt, Mary Elizabeth Meyer Radford and her husband, John Stark Radford, William Henry Meyer and his wife, Miriam Holzman Meyer, Sarah Frances Sadler and her husband, John “Andy” Anderson Sadler, and John Frederick Meyer and his wife, Dawn Ann Lyman Meyer; her 14 and one honorary grandchildren include Zia Rhea Meyer, Nomi Leasure, Elisabeth Marshall Spratt, Margaret “Maggie” Jean Radford, Aurora Jacqueline Meyer, Dillon Franklyn Meyer, John Lawrence Radford, Emilie Thompson Spratt, Alexander “Alex” John Meyer, Anne “Annie” Frances Sadler, Andrew John Meyer, John Jackson Sadler, Arden Abigail Meyer, William “Willie” Anderson Sadler and Robert “Robbie” Thompson Sadler. She is also survived by her brothers and their spouses, Henry and Valerie Thompson, Frederick and Roberta Thompson, and Gustave “Gus” and Hildegard Thompson; as well as her brother-in-law, Alfred “Mike” M. Wedd. A graduate of Mt. Holyoke College with a major in physics, Margaret worked for a few years for a chemist and then primarily focused on motherhood until the children were mostly grown. After obtaining a degree in computer programming at VCU, she also worked as an independent computer programmer for several years. She was a member of Immanuel Episcopal Church in Old Church, Va. She enjoyed golf “especially her two prize hole in ones,” tennis, ice skating, her flowers, family beach weeks, and several corgies, who joined the family over the years. She once observed that in a worldly sense, hers was an unremarkable life, but in a personal sense to those who loved her, hers was a most remarkable life in all the important ways and well lived. Special thanks to all her nieces and nephews, her friends, especially the Thayers and the wonderful Parishioners of Immanuel Episcopal Church, who kept in touch the last while and made life more enjoyable. A service was held Tuesday, June 10, 2008 at Immanuel Episcopal Church, 3263 Old Church Rd., with graveside services held in Old Church Cemetery. Prior to the service, the family received family and friends at the Meyer residence in Old Church. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the American Cancer Society, 4240 Park Place Court, Glen Allen, Va. 23060. Bennett Funeral Home, Mechanicsville Chapel, is handling the arrangements.

Vicki D. Mitchell, 55, of Mechanicsville, departed this life June 4, 2008 after a long battle with cancer. She was preceded in death by her mother, Virginia Crowder; and father, Garnett Crowder Sr. of Pulaski, Va.; her mother-in-law, Deanie Mitchell; two half-sisters, Hilda Harr and Jean Suggs; and a brother, Glenn Crowder. She is survived by her loving husband, Billy Mitchell; four sons, Chris and Devon Mitchell and Mark and Nathan Simpkins; and two beautiful grandchildren, Corrinne and Owen, all of Hanover County; her brothers, Garnett Crowder and his wife, Nancy, Jerry Crowder and his wife, Pam, and Danny Crowder, all of Pulaski, Va.; her sisters, Barbara Davis and her husband, Donald, of Pulaski, Va. and Dreama Burton and her husband, Bobby, of Christiansburg, Va.; her father-in-law, Aubrey Mitchell Jr. of Richmond; and many very special nieces, nephews and very dear friends. Vicki was a devoted wife, mother and sister. She loved her Lord and her family with all her heart. She was proud to have spent nine of her last years as a homeschool teacher for Devon, insisting that she help him even as the cancer took her strength away. She enjoyed her down time relaxing with her girlfriends or family at the beach or visiting with her relatives in the mountains of Southwest Virginia. Vicki was an active member with her family of Chamberlayne Baptist Church for many years, joining there after she and Billy were married in September of 1980. The family received friends Saturday, June 7, 2008 and Sunday, June 8, 2008 at the Mechanicsville Chapel of Bennett Funeral Home, 8014 Lee-Davis Road, where a memorial service was held Monday, June 9, 2008 Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Elizabeth G. Richter, of Mechanicsville, formerly of Brooklyn, N.Y., died June 8, 2008. She was the widow of Carl A. Richter and is survived by seven sons, James, Daniel and Brian Murphy, Raymond, Michael, Steven and David Richter; nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild. The family received friends at Monaghan Funeral Home, 7300 Creighton Pkwy., Mechanicsville, on Wednesday, June 11, 2008. Graveside services will be held 10 a.m. Friday, June 13, 2008 at Pohick Church (Episcopal), Lorton, Va.

William Gordon Taylor, 79, of Mechanicsville, the greatest father in the entire world, passed away after a very brief battle with cancer on Tuesday, June 10, 2008. He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Jones Taylor. He is survived by his son, Craig M. Taylor; daughters, Cynthia T. Green, Susan Gordon VanZile and Deborah T. Clements; loving sister-in-law, Evelyn Taylor; eight grandchildren; one great-grandson; and nieces and nephews. He was a U.S. Army veteran and served two years during the Korean War. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, spending time with his family and friends. He was also a member of the Glen Allen Masonic Lodge. The family received friends Thursday, June 12, 2008 at the Mechanicsville Chapel of Bennett Funeral Home, 8014 Lee Davis Rd., where services were held Friday, June 13, 2008. Graveside services were held at Signal Hill Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Bethel United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 26, Hanover, Va. 23069 or the American Cancer Society, 4246 Park Place, Glen Allen, Va. 23060.

Elmer N. Ullman, 83, of Mechanicsville, Va., formerly of Liberal, Kan., passed away Saturday, June 7, 2008. He was preceded in death by his wife, Wanda L. Ullman. He is survived by one daughter, Cynthia Ullman, of Houston, Texas; one son, Howard Ullman and wife, Shelly; two grandchildren, Ben and Madison Ullman of Mechanicsville. The family received friends on Tuesday, June 10, 2008 at the Mechanicsville Chapel, Bennett Funeral Home, 8014 Lee Davis Rd. Memorial services were held Wednesday, June 11, 2008 at Fairfield Presbyterian Church, Mechanicsville. Graveside services were held at Signal Hill Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Fairfield Presbyterian Church, 6930 Cold Harbor Rd., Mechanicsville, Va. 23111.

Robert E. Wheeler, 60, of Mechanicsville, passed away Wednesday, June 11, 2008. He was preceded in death by his parents, Nannie Gregory and James A. Wheeler; and his first wife, Carol Peters Wheeler. Bob is survived by his wife, Thelma; son, Christopher; and stepson, Joseph J. Palermo. Born in Meadowview, Va., he was a 1967 graduate of Petersburg High School. Bob was a U.S. Air Force veteran, and retired from the Virginia Air National Guard after 27 years of service to his country. He graduated from the Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Class of 76-4, and retired at the rank of Master Sergeant in 1994. Bob was a former employee of Mid-Atlantic Trailer and CarMax, as well as a former volunteer with the Henrico County Volunteer Rescue Squad. The family received friends at the Mechanicsville Chapel of Bennett Funeral Home, on Friday, June 13, 2008. Services were held on Saturday, June 14, 2008 at Shady Grove United Methodist Church, Mechanicsville. Graveside services followed at Southlawn Cemetery, Petersburg. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Massey Cancer Center, P.O. Box 980037, Richmond, Va. 23298, or to the East Hanover Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 454, Mechanicsville, Va. 23111.