July 16 1936 December 1 2022
Obituary Deacon Sarah Wood Showalter, 86, of Roanoke, VA, passed away on Thursday, December 1, 2022. Sarah was born in Martinsville, Virginia on July 16, 1936, the daughter of Frank Milner, Sr. and Ruth Hodge King. Early in her childhood, she was moved to Roanoke, Virginia by her mother and was raised by John and Irene Houpe. She was educated in Roanoke City Public Schools and graduated from Lucy Addison High School. Upon graduating from high school, she furthered her education at the Medical College of Virginia and Burrell Memorial Hospital receiving her nursing degree. She began her nursing career at Burrell Memorial Hospital and went on to work for Community Hospital, Shenandoah Detox Rehabilitation, and Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare. She spent 62 years in the nursing field retiring and re-entering the workforce two more times finally retiring in 2019. She was a very loving and caring mother, grandma, and friend to so many. Sarah had a strong faith. Her love of Christ shined like a beacon for all to see. She was a longtime member of Jerusalem Baptist Church, Light of the World Outreach Center, and later became a member of Hill Street Baptist Church where she was appointed as a deacon. She was also a missionary and sang on the Senior Choir and was called upon to lead Sunday school service on numerous occasions. She loved to cook huge family dinners that included not only her family but her friends’ families and her children’s friends. She had regular food requests whether it was a holiday or not, and she prepared those requests up until the last three months. She knew exactly what to put into each prepared dish or baked goods without looking at a recipe. She treated everyone like family and did not turn anyone away if they needed help. Sarah was preceded in death by her first husband, Dan Spencer Wood, Sr., with whom she had five children. She later married Nebraska Showalter who preceded her in death and had two children through this marriage. Others preceding her in death were her parents, Frank Milner, Sr. and Ruth Hodge King; stepfather, Otis King; caregivers, John and Irene Houpe; brothers, Richard Hodge and Frank Milner, Jr.; sister, Deborah King, and son, Dan Spencer Wood, Jr. Those left to cherish her memories are her children: four sons, Dyke (Faye) Wood, Roanoke, VA, Darnell (Renee) Wood, Moneta, VA, Darrell Wood (Lorenda Lytle), Roanoke, VA, Brad Wood, Rocky Mount, VA, and two daughters, Dannette Dorsey, Roanoke, VA, and Devonette (Andre) Thomas, Portsmouth, VA; daughter-in-law, Pauline Wood, Roanoke, VA; sister, Mary McCullough, Somerville, MA; sisters-in-law, Claudia Hodge, Martinsville, VA, and Joann Milner, Martinsville, VA; cousin, Charlene Martin, Clifton Forge, VA; 15 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; special longtime devoted friends, Ann Harris, Jean Crutchfield, Regina Beatty, Ernestine Mason, Hazel Peters, and Carol Hadley; numerous nephews, nieces, and friends. Sincere thanks to Dr. Mark Currie and staff at LewisGale Oncology, LewisGale Medical Center ICU and 6 West nursing staffs, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and ProMedica Hospice. Friends and Family visitation will be held from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. Thursday, December 8, 2022, at Hamlar-Curtis Funeral Home & Crematory, 1002 Moorman Avenue NW, Roanoke, VA 24016. The funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, December 9, 2022, at Garden of Prayer #7 Vision of Faith Ministries, 3101 Cove Road NW, Roanoke, VA 24017. Live Streaming will be available from the Hamlar-Curtis website. Click “View Live Streaming Here” at the top of the screen. Interment will follow at Williams Memorial Park, 943 Westside Boulevard NW, Roanoke, VA 24017. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hill Street Baptist Church Annex Fund, 111 Madison Avenue NW, Roanoke, VA 24016. Condolences may be sent to www.Hamlar-Curtis.com. Memorial Donation
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Sarah Wood Showalter July 16 1936 December 1 2022.
Death notice for the town of: Roanoke, state: Virginia