Vernon Gates Rountrey

M, #42869, b. Jan 13, 1922, d. Mar 17, 1999
Relationship2nd cousin 1 time removed of Carolyn Anne Euler
ChartsRountree Descendants Chart
Father*Simeon Baxter Rountrey b. Mar 2, 1886, d. Dec 23, 1953
Mother*Mamie Coates Gates b. Dec 10, 1886, d. Aug 10, 1964

Family

Loyce Elaine Jones b. circa 1924, d. Sep 19, 2013

Chronological Events

Birth*Jan 13, 1922 Vernon Gates Rountrey was born on Jan 13, 1922 at Altavista, Campbell County, Virginia, United States.1 
 He was the son of Simeon Baxter Rountrey and Mamie Coates Gates
Marriage*Jun 29, 1946 Vernon Gates Rountrey married Loyce Elaine Jones on Jun 29, 1946 at Nansemond, City Of Suffolk, Virginia, United States.2 
Death*Mar 17, 1999 Vernon Gates Rountrey died on Mar 17, 1999, at age 77 at Newport News, Virginia, United States.1 
ObituaryMar 19, 1999  OBITUARY: Vernon Gates Rountrey, 77, died Wednesday, March 17, 1999. A native of Altavista, VA, he had been a resident of Newport News, VA, since 1941. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and served in the E.T.O. He was the recipient of two Purple Hearts, Bronze Star Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, American Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge and Good Conduct Medal.

After graduation from the Shipyard Apprentice School, Electrical Department, he soon became a local entrepreneur. At the beginning of the Korean War he established Hampton Roads Battery Plant in downtown Newport News. He developed and manufactured his own brand of marine and industrial storage batteries and supplied the military and local industries with his products for more than two decades.

After retirement from business, his longtime hobby of developing prototypes of new ideas led to a second career. He worked with Modern Machine and Tool Co. for 15 years before final retirement, with developing energy-saving devices his specialty.

He is survived by his wife, Elaine J. Rountrey; two daughters and their husbands, Barbara Jo and Don Ziese of Madison, Wis., and Debbie and Rodney Stancill of Newport News; one son and his wife, Jim and Gale Rountrey of Smithfield, N.C; one brother, Baxter J. Rountrey of Altavista; two sisters-in-law, Mary Elizabeth Rountrey of Richmond and Alma Rountrey of Altavista; and four grandchildren, Heather and Brandon Rountrey of Smithfield, N.C., and Fields and Travis Scarborough of Newport News.

Vernon was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. His family was his pride and joy and the sunshine of his life. In 1994, the Daily Press (out of all the letters submitted nationally) voted him Grandfather of the Year. Vernon’s friends and family honor him with their deepest thanks for his loyalty, his goodness, his generosity towards children, his inventions to make this world a better place, and his love and work to make our environment a better world.

Visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 19, in the W.J. Smith and Son Funeral Home. A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday in Peninsula Memorial Park, with the Rev. Scott Bowerman and the Rev. David Forest officiating.

Vernon requested, in lieu of flowers, that all donations be given to the Peninsula Food Bank, 9914 Hosier St., Newport News, VA 23601.

Arrangements by W.J. Smith and Son Funeral Home.

Published in The Daily Press, Newport News, VA, March 19, 1999.3
 
Burial*Mar 20, 1999 He was buried on Mar 20, 1999 at Peninsula Memorial Park Cemetery, Newport News, Virginia, United States, as stated in the obituary.4 

Military *

 

Listed as a Military Veteran who served in wartime combat in World War 2.

 

Citations

  1. [S4095] Virginia - Death Record 1912-2014, online at Ancestry.com.
  2. [S2195] Virginia - Marriage Record 1936-2014, online at Ancestry.com.
  3. [S19] Obituary - Online, Newspaper or Funeral Home.
  4. [S58] Gravestones - Death Cert, Find-A-Grave, BillionGraves, #148.