Vernon Harrison Stead, Sr.

Vernon Harrison Stead, Sr. of Fort Valley, VA passed away peacefully at his home Friday April 28, 2023, at the age of 80 years 11 months.

A memorial service for Mr. Stead will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, June 3, 2023, at Stover Funeral Home with Pastor Bill Fitchett officiating.  The family will receive friends at Stover Funeral Home one hour prior to the service.  

He was born at Nineveh VA. on May 10, 1942, a son of the late Aubrey Lee and Naomi Catherine Middleton Stead. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son Vernon Jr., his brothers John, Irvin, Allen, Frank, and a sister Stella.  Vernon was an avid recurve bow hunter in the 60’s. In 1964 he harvested a black bear in an apple orchard at cave springs with his Edinburg hand-made Shee-Hoff recurve bow of which he was proud of. Vernon loved sitting on his back patio spraying his feet off with his garden hose after a hot day of tending to his tomatoes in the garden. Vernon enjoyed cooking and canning, which he learned from his mother. Vernon always made some great tomato juice. He also loved sports. He played softball with everyone in the county from the 60’s until 1984. He was 44 when he hung up his jersey. He came back to play for Johns Mannville after he turned 60. Vernon’s older brother John was Vernon’s team manager and teammate for many years. After Vernon retired at the age of 63 and started his painting business, like his brother John, and painted until he was 74. Vernon volunteered in helping the Woodstock/Edinburg little leagues both football and baseball through coaching and rebuilding fields. He supported the American Indigenous tribes through funding and had a strong interest in the American Indian culture and history. Vernon loved studying American history especially the civil war. Vernon was a kind soul who respected everyone around him young and old. He was a very special person and will be greatly missed by us here on earth and greatly received by the loved ones before him.

Survivors include the mother of his two sons Virginia Lee Caldwell; his children Ronald of Gerrardstown, WV, Duane (Fallyn) of Fort Valley, VA, and Jon-Michael of Mount Jackson, VA; his siblings Jimmy and Wayne.  Vernon was a proud poppop of eight grandchildren Elizabeth Crumrine Stead (Michael), Kristina, Devany, Skyler, Zane, Sean, Marleigh and Ayla; Two great grandchildren Mackynzie Venable and Annabelle Crumrine.

Memorials may be made to the surviving children of Vernon.

You may sign the guestbook and submit condolences to the family online at www.stoverfuneralhome.com. 

Stover Funeral Home and Crematory, Strasburg, VA is serving the family of Mr. Vernon H. Stead, Sr. 

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