A most amazing woman, Evelyn Graves West, 102 years and seven months young, passed away surrounded by her loving family on Monday, Mar. 24, 2025.
Born Aug. 12, 1922, in Hopkinsville, Ky., Evelyn was the daughter of the late George Campbell Graves and Mable Underwood Graves. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Frank T West, her parents, and her brother, George Campbell Graves, Jr.
Evelyn was a 1945 graduate of Vanderbilt University School of Nursing and worked at Vanderbilt Hospital as a pediatric nurse. She received her master’s degree from the University of Chicago in 1949 and returned to Vanderbilt as a nursing supervisor. While at Vanderbilt she was in charge of three polio units, working with patients in iron lungs. She also had the honor of giving Bob Hope a tour of these units.
Evelyn and Frank married on June 6, 1950, and moved to Blacksburg in 1954 when Frank was offered a job as Industrial Arts teacher at Blacksburg High School. Evelyn worked as a volunteer nurse with Margaret Beeks Elementary School and worked at the polio vaccine clinics at BHS. She worked as a nurse and preschool teacher at Blacksburg United Methodist Preschool for 14 years. She then worked in the newborn nursery at Radford Community Hospital. After six months at the hospital, the director of nursing at Wytheville Community College approached her about joining the nursing faculty there teaching pediatrics. Evelyn worked at WCC for 15 years, retiring as Professor Emeritus of Nursing in 1989.
Her nursing experiences included being secretary of the Virginia League of Nursing for four years, president of the VLN for two years, and serving several years as a part of the VLN Historical Committee.
After retiring, she and Frank worked the craft show circuit for several years as “Chips and Stitches,” selling woodworking items and hand-knitted or sewn items. She was especially known for her hand knitted baby sweaters and caps. Evelyn spent many years knitting caps for the Montgomery County Christmas Store. Every year she donated between 125 and 173 caps for the MCCS. She had already knitted 35 in anticipation of this year before her passing. The New River Valley chapter of the DAR recognized her dedication to the MCCS in 2023.
She was a faithful member of Blacksburg United Methodist Church for almost 72 years. She served as a circle chair, secretary and president of United Methodist Women both on the local church and district level. She served in several other capacities including being active in the Prayer Shawl Ministry, founding the church’s Health Closet, and knitting baptismal blankets for new babies in the church. It was not unusual to find her straightening up the pew materials after the 8:45 a.m. service in preparation for the 11a.m. service and assisting with funeral receptions, making the bereaved families feel comfortable and making sure everything was in place for services honoring their loved ones. She was a member of Church Women United and was recognized by them as a Valiant Woman.
Her influence was felt by so many and none more than her beloved family. She is survived by her daughters, Karen Bell (Rodney), Elaine West-Watson (Jeff), Maggie Penix, and her heart-adopted daughter, Patricia Davis. In addition, she leaves behind her grandchildren, Josh Bell (Asheley), Alex Penix (Heather), Lindsay Davis, William Penix, Claire Penix, Brian Davis (Mary-Katherine), Noel Land (Ryan), Kyle Watson (Katelyn), and Amelia West-Watson. Also mourning her loss are her great-grandchildren, Emerson and Maddox Bell, Noah Penix, Sloan Davis, Willow, Elijah and Ezekiel Land, and Rowan Watson. She is also survived by her sister, Margaret Burkhart, and nieces Nancy Smith (Jay), Donna DePriest (Robert), Jennifer Hook (Dean), and their families.
The family would like to give special thanks to the staff at Good Samaritan Hospice for their love and care of Evelyn, especially Teresa, Shannon, Karen, Sonu, and Todd, and to Robyn and workers at Caregiver Placement Services for their assistance with Evelyn. Eternal gratitude also is given to Evelyn’s close friends, Sarah and Adam Salzberg, Novella Short, Andrea Muscatello, Charlie Sink, and Joyce Hopkins.
Visitation was held at McCoy Funeral Home Friday, Mar. 28, 2025. A celebration of Evelyn’s amazing life was held at Blacksburg United Methodist Church Saturday, Mar. 29, 2025. The graveside service was at Roselawn Memorial Gardens in Christiansburg. A reception at the church followed the service at the graveside.
Memorials may be made to the Prayer Shawl Ministry at Blacksburg United Methodist Church. The family requests that if you have been the recipient of a prayer shawl from this ministry, you wear it to the celebration of life service.
