AG Bell Mourns Loss of Longtime Member and Volunteer Leader Sid Arfa One of AG Bell’s outstanding volunteer leaders, Sid Arfa, passed away on February 26 in Chicago, Ill., nearly two years after receiving a stem cell transplant for Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. Twenty-eight years ago, following the diagnosis of their daughter, Rachel, with a profound hearing loss, Sid Arfa and his wife, Nancy Bellew Arfa,... 

Mr. Frank Robert Bryan As originally published on Sunday, December 13, 2009. Frank Robert Bryan passed away gently in his sleep Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2009, surrounded by loved ones. The Bryan family is greatly saddened by the passing of our husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle after a courageous four-year battle against leukemia. He was born in Miami, Fla., to the late Truman Bryan and Lillian... 

Mr. Edward Smith O’Meara, of Vienna, VA, passed away on December 10, 2009. Beloved husband of 52 years to Nery Berta O’Meara. Loving father of Christopher Edward O’Meara and his wife, Christy, and the late Timothy Patrick O’Meara. Cherished grandfather of Logan, Brendon, Donovin, Keegen, Devon, Brittany, Kyle, and Paige O’Meara. Mr. O’Meara was predeceased by his... 

July 23, 1933 – December 9, 2009 Launa Shaffer Autrey, 76, of 1 Canyon Echo Road, died Wednesday, December 9, 2009. Mrs. Autrey was born in Bristol, VA, and was a daughter of the late Worley J. and Elsie Necessary Shaffer. She was married to Daniel Lee Autrey, who died in 2002, and was also preceded in death by a daughter, Diana Montgomery, who died in 2001, and by her mother- and father-in-law. Mrs.... 

STAUNTON — Thomas Rettew Sebrell, 86, husband of Ruby Ann (Foster) Sebrell, of 2 Thompson St., died Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2009, at Augusta Health in Fishersville. He was born Nov. 28, 1923, in Portsmouth, a son of the late Thomas H. And Lillian (Buchan) Sebrell. He graduated from VSDB in 1946. Prior to retirement, Mr. Sebrell was employed as a dorm counselor by VSDB for 31 years. Prior to that, he worked... 

Passed away on August 30, 2009 at Riverside Community Hospital as a result of several health problems. She lived 89 years and has now gone to be with the Lord. Dorothy was born in Washington D.C. On February 11, 1920 to Reverend Lester H. Smallwood and Dorothy Earnest Smallwood. For 40 years Dorothy taught school. She spent 39 of those years teaching the hearing impaired. She worked all over the country... 

E. Ralph Kiser, 89, of Staunton passed away Monday, March 16, 2009, at Shenandoah House in Fishersville. Born Friday, April 11, 1919, in Carbo, he was a son of the late Charles and Hattie (Southland) Kiser. A member of First Baptist Church in Staunton, Ralph had served as a deacon for many years. He was proud to be not only an alumni of VSDB, but Ralph also had been an instructor and coach there for...