Bernard Rice Farmer

Bernard Rice Farmer, 83, of 919 Lyndale Avenue, Bluefield, WV, passed away on Wednesday, January 15, 2014 at Bluefield Regional Medical Center. Born on April 28, 1930 in Bluefield, he was a son of the late Rufus Jackson and Mary Rebecca Barrett Farmer. He was a lifelong member of the First Church of God on Fincastle Lane, Bluefield, VA where he served as youth leader and on various boards and committees. He was employed by General Telephone Company and served as President of the local CWA Union. He was a veteran of the US Army. He also served as a volunteer in the out-patient surgery department at Bluefield Regional Medical Center. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Jackson Barrett Farmer, Billy Lane Farmer; half-brothers, Merle Farmer, Berlin Farmer; half-sister, Lovie Farmer Anderson; son in law, Dale Vollmar and a nephew, Robert Jackson Shorter, Jr. Survivors include: his wife, Beulah Mae Doby Farmer, who he married on on August 18, 1951 and their three children: Diane Farmer Vollmar of Bluefield Stephen Farmer and wife Ann of Princeton Phillip Farmer and wife Deana of Dalton, GA Also surviving are grandchildren: Justin Vollmar, Nathan Vollmar of Bloomington, IN Jordan Vollmar of Bluefield Rhanda Farmer Damron (Luke) of Huntington Erica Farmer Morgan (Michael) of Princeton Erin Farmer of Dalton, GA Great grandchildren: Christopher and Jonathan Morgan of Princeton Sister: Ora Lee Farmer Shorter and husband Jackson Shorter, Sr. of Bluefield and her daughter, Barbara Lynn Shorter and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday, January 18, 2014 at 1:00 PM at the First Church of God on Fincastle Lane in Bluefield, VA with Pastor Michael Werle officiating. Burial will follow at Monte Vista Park Cemetery in Bluefield where family and friends will serve as pallbearers. Friends may call on Saturday from 12:00-1:00 PM at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Church of God, PO Box 584, Bluefield, VA 24605.