Curtis Woodard Roane died peacefully at his home at Warm Hearth Village on Saturday Feb. 10th, 2018.
He was born in Norfolk on April 19, 1921, and was the first graduate of Cradock High to earn a PhD.
He was preceded in death by his father Lee Adams Roane,Sr., and mother Elizabeth Bonney Evans Roane, sister Elizabeth Roane Leasure, brother Lee Adams Roane Jr., and wife of 49 years Martha Ann Kotila Roane.
He is survived by daughter Martha Roane VanBuskirk (Larry), their children Christopher VanBuskirk (Dawn) and Martha VanBuskirk Patrick (Curtis), and their 8 grandchildren; also by son E. Lee Roane (Bonnie), their children Christopher Painter, James Painter (Lori), and Derek Roane (Alison), and 1 grandchild; and by a niece, Bonnie L. Kinworthy.
Dr. Roane was professor emeritus of Plant Pathology, Physiology, and Weed Science at VA Tech. After earning his BS and MS degrees at VPI, he completed his PhD at the University of Minnesota in St. Paul where he met Martha Ann Kotila the love of his life.
Dr. Roane was inducted into Sigma Xi in 1954 and was named Fellow of the American Phytopathological Society in 1985.
Curt and Martha loved bird watching, identifying fungi, flowering plants and grasses, playing bridge, gardening, and chasing trains. They were involved in Boy and Girl Scouting, Blacksburg High School and VA Tech sports, community affairs in and around Montgomery County, and Blacksburg Presbyterian Church. Curt was also an avid fisherman.
The family would like to thank Dorothy (Dottie) Foreman, a dear friend over the last 20 years. Thanks also to Diane Shaffer, Ashley Dixon and the others from Warm Hearth at Home for their compassionate care and concern over the last years of his life.
Special thanks to the Angels of the Christiansburg IHOP where Curt spent many happy hours. The family will greet friends at McCoy Funeral Home, 150 Country Club Dr SW, Blacksburg, from 6pm to 8pm on Thursday, Feb. 15th. A celebration of life will take place at Blacksburg Presbyterian Church, 701 Church St SE, Blacksburg, at 10am on Friday, Feb.16th.
In lieu of flowers please make a contribution in memory of Curt Roane to one of the following:
- Va Tech PPWS, Attn Judy Fielder/Roane Fund, 413 Price Hall, Blacksburg VA 24061-0331
- Warm Hearth Village Foundation, 2387 Warm Hearth Drive, Blacksburg VA 24060
- Fire Up 611! Campaign, Virginia Museum of Transportation, 303 Norfolk Ave SW, Roanoke VA 24016
Blacksburg Presbyterian Church, 701 Church St SE, Blacksburg VA 24060-5213
Arrangements by McCoy Funeral Home, Blacksburg.
