Mr. Wayne E. Thayer, 87, passed away at his home on Wednesday, December 7, 2022 after a long battle with cancer.
Wayne was born on August 17, 1935, in Washington County, Virginia to the late Clarence and Lillian Branch Thayer. He lived the majority of his life in Washington County working in the banking profession and working his farm on Walden Road. He moved to Roanoke, Virginia in the mid-eighties to continue his banking career and then later to Atlanta, Georgia where he eventually retired as a Vice President from Nations Bank. He then returned to Washington County where he continued in banking with Highlands Union Bank and returning to his farm. He was well known to put his John Deere mower in places it probably shouldn’t be, but thoroughly enjoyed the time he got to spend at the farm.
In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his first wife, Peggy Jo Minnick Thayer; second wife, Juanita Poe Thayer; brother, Sherman Gibson Thayer; sister, Carol Ann DeBord; and a special brother-in-law, Robert Earl “Bill” DeBord.
He is survived by his son, Bradley Wayne Thayer and wife, Renee of Cedar Bluff, Virginia; daughter, Amy Jo Paolucci and husband, Tony of Blountville, Tennessee; step-daughter, Donna Weatherly and husband, Bo of Birmingham, Alabama; step-daughter, Linda Snodgrass of Abingdon, Virginia; step-son, Bobby Barrett of Abingdon, Virginia. He is also survived by several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A visitation will be held from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. on Saturday, December 10, 2022 at Frost Funeral Home. A funeral service will be conducted following the visitation at 7:00 P.M. with Pastor Les Ketron officiating. Interment will take place at 9:00 A.M. on Sunday, December 11, 2022 at Forest Hills Memory Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Josh Tignor, Ryan Thayer, Ben Abel, Mark Barrett, Randall Blevins, and Tony Paolucci.
The family would like to give a special thanks to his caregiver of two years, Ms. Dreama Viers, and to Caris Hospice of Abingdon, Virginia. Especially to Tommy Jo and Brittney who gave Dad so much comfort during his time of need.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Ballad Health Care Cancer Center, 743 Island Rd., Bristol, VA 24201
Frost Funeral Home and Cremation Services is honored to serve the Thayer family.