[Bristol-Birds] Ruby Wright Testerman,, Shady Valley conservationist, obit
- From: "Wallace Coffey" <jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <bristol-birds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 2 Mar 2016 13:28:32 -0500
Ruby Chloe Wright Testerman, 95, of Vinton, Va., passed away Monday,
February 29, 2016 in Roanoke, Va.
Ruby Testerman obit Feb 2016.jpgShe owned old growth timber
stands along A. J. Wright Lane in
Shady Valley, TN. Ruby and her son, Dennis Testerman of Concord,North
Carolina, Have been stewards of some of the oldest forests which is
registered in the Tennessee Natural Area and a
registered natural area by the Society of American Foresters. The holding,
some of the most significant old growth forest in the southeastern States,
is located on Sluder Road in Shady Valley.
Ruby was born on the forest with the ancient old growth timber that has been
in the family since 1789.
Dennis has often participated in the Shady Valley/Mountain City Christmas
Bird Counts.
She owned the middle of three parcels which includes the A. J. Wright Lane
leading down to the white farm house and pasture from Sluder Rd. Her parcel
contains 59 acres.
Dr. Paul Somers, former state botanist with the Tennessee Department of
Conservation termed it the "only known example of presettlement forest in
Shady Valley with old growth characteristics.
She was living self-reliantly until the onset of a sudden illness in
December of 2015. She was born in Shady Valley, Tenn., on May 17, 1920, the
next to last of seven children, to Girdie Belle McEwen Wright and Allen
Jesse Wright.
Ruby's calling to care for others has been lived out as a mother and as a
nurse on three continents, including Africa, in addition to Europe and North
America. Ruby served as 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army Nurse Corps
in Swindon, England during World War II. Ruby completed registered nursing
training at Johnston Memorial Hospital in Abingdon, Va. She continued her
education at both the Medical College of Virginia and the University of
Virginia.
From 1954 to 1987, she worked competently and compassionately as a public
health nurse with the Roanoke County Health Department. In her retirement
years, she traveled far and wide, as well as donating much volunteer time to
church and charitable organizations. She was the last surviving of the seven
children. Her siblings were Preston Wright, Kyle Wright, Retha Morley McKee,
Lena Ruth Douglas, Letha Sluder and Haynes Wright.
Her mind for details suited her to being the family genealogist, oral
historian and storyteller. She was married for 23 years to Virgil Lee
Testerman (d. January 2, 1972). Survivors include Michael Lee Testerman and
family friend, Miriam Daughtry, of Richmond, Va.; and Dennis Eugene
Testerman and wife, Paula Meador Testerman, of Concord, N.C. She is also
survived by sisters-in-law, Eva Testerman and Christine Wright; as well as
numerous cousins, nephews and nieces, with whom she has maintained extensive
personal ties.
A Celebration of Ruby's Life will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 4,
2016, at Vinton Baptist Church, where she was an active member for 62 years.
Burial will be held in Shady Valley, Tenn. Visitation will be held from 2 to
4 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 3, 2016, at Oakey's Vinton
Chapel.In lieu of flowers, at her request, memorials may be made to the
Vinton Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 306, Vinton, VA 24179-0306.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.oakeys.com
<http://www.oakeys.com/> .
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- » [Bristol-Birds] Ruby Wright Testerman,, Shady Valley conservationist, obit - Wallace Coffey
