Buren Mcalexander

Buren McAlexander, 94, of Franklin County, Virginia died Saturday, September 3, 2011 in his home. He was an historian of the events of Franklin County for the past 94 years and with his remarkable memory, even at the last he could quote names, dates, places and events through his gift of story telling. He was born in Rocky Mount on June 10, 1917, son of the late Charles Cleveland McAlexander and Linnie Clayvilla (Rakes) McAlexander (Hodges). He was a baptized member of the Windsor Hills United Methodist Church in Roanoke. As he was able, he attended Trinity Episcopal Church, Rocky Mount. Mac served during WWII in the Navy Asiatic Pacific. His early years he worked for the American Electric company in Tennessee and SW Virginia. He was supervisor for the Tennessee Valley Authority and worked on the construction of five Dams in East Tennessee, before coming to the General Electric plant in Salem, VA in 1955. He was one of the original employees at GE who built the current plant. GE honored Mac at their 50th anniversary by having a film made with Mac telling his famous stories for history. Mac was a founding and Life member of the VFW (Post 9629) in Bluff City, TN where he and his fellow veterans built a facility that was later donated to the needy children. He was a Sixty one year member of the Grand Lodge Free and Accepted Masons of Tennessee Zollicoffer Lodge No. 444, and the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry in Knoxville, TN. Mac held the coveted Grandfathered Master Electrician’s Card from Roanoke, VA and was a Sixty nine year member of the IBEW. He was a life member in the Elks Lodge in Bristol, TN. He was a Life member of the Scruggs Fire Department. He loved the country music of the mountains of Floyd/Endicott sitting on his grandmother’s porch while Charlie Poole played. With is beloved wife, Ruby, they co-owned and operated McAlexanders’ Industrial Maintenance Corporation in 1969-1990. He married Ruby Estelle Hodges on October 29, 1938, in Franklin County and were happily married for 72 years. Surviving are his daughters, Mitzi Noble and husband Paul Noble and Patty Hunt and husband Ewell Hunt of Franklin County; grandchildren, Michael Noble and wife Donna and family of Middletown, VA, James Noble and wife Vickie and family of Swan Point, MD, Ashley Hunt of Rocky Mount; great-grandchildren, Nicole Warren and husband Josh of London, England, and Jackson Noble of Swan Point, MD; niece, Charlotte Knowles and husband Lee of Lakeland, FL; nephew, Al Angle and wife Sharon of Union Hall, Judy Donaldson and husband, Jim of Williamsburg, VA, Lynn Murden and family of eastern VA; grand-niece, Jessica Mitchell and husband Chas of Roanoke and their son, Charlie, and Whitney Angle of VA Beach; grand-nephews, Nathan Angle of Rocky Mount, Kenny Knowles and wife Holly of Pompano Beach, FL, and Coury Knowles and wife Janice of Deltona, FL; great-grand nephews, Charlie Mitchell, III of Roanoke, and Hunter Knowles of Pompano Beach, FL and Ethan Matthew of Deltona, FL and Sister-in-law, Audrey Angle of Rocky Mount. Beloved caregiver and best friend, Cynthia Fralin. Mac’s devoted pet, Twister, who acted as his special canine caregiver. A funeral service will be held at the Trinity Episcopal Church on 101 Church Street, NE, Rocky Mount on Friday, September 9 at 1 p.m. Interment will follow immediately at Mountain View Memorial Park. The Revs John and Rachel Gardner will be officiating with The Rev. Betsy Hague preaching. Pallbearers: Ewell Hunt, Paul Noble, Michael Noble, James Noble, Ashley Hunt, Nicole and Josh Warren, Jackson Noble and Al Angle and Shawn Reynolds. Honorary Pallbearers, Charlotte Knowles, Susy Reynolds, Alan Kingery, Tommy Ingram, George McAlexander. The family will receive friends on Thursday, September 8, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Flora Funeral Home, 665 S. Main Street, Rocky Mount. Memorial contributions may be made to Trinity Episcopal Church, 101 Church Street, Rocky Mount, VA 24151.