Individual Details

Death

John Harvey Furr, 86, of Pine Ave., former postmaster, foundry worker, fruit farm manager, avid church worker and civic leader, died at 9 a. m. yesterday at the King’s Daughters’ Hospital, Staunton. Mr. Furr was born in Bridgewater on May 16, 1867, son of the late Harrison H. and Mary Vivy Furr. On Feb. 3, 1891, he married the former Miss Emma J. Lamb of Franklin, Ohio, who, preceeded him in death. Mr. Furr moved to Waynesboro on April 8, 1892 and became manager of the Rose Cliff Fruit Farm. From fruit farm manager to foundry work to postmaster was the path of work for Mr. Furr after he came to Waynesboro. In 1906, under Theodore Roosevelt’s term as as president, Mr. Furr received his first appointment as postmaster at Waynesboro. In 1914 Mr. Furr went back to Rife and Schoppert plant, only to be reappointed in 1922 as postmaster. With the return of Democrats to power, he returned to Rife-Loth Corp., which is now Virginia Metalcrafters Inc., where he was vice president. For over 60 years Mr. Furr has been very active in the work of the Main Street Methodist Church, holding at one time or another almost every important position open to a layman in the church. He was a trustee and steward for over 50 years; chairman of the Board of Stewards for 18 years; president of the church’s first Baraca Class; and president of the first Epworth League. He was church treasurer for 18 years and taught the Men’s Bible Class for 32 years. He served the church under 18 different pastors beginning with the Rev. J. C. Thrasher in 1892. Mr. Furr was a past Grand Master of the Oddfellows; a past Chancellor Commander of the Knights of Pythian Sisters, and a member of the Junior Order of Mechanics. Mr. Furr is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Gertrude Fry, 737 Pine Ave. Body will remain at the McDow-Tryeee Funeral Home. Funeral arrangements will be announced later.
The Daily News Leader, Staunton, Virginia, November 20, 1953