Galen Benjamin Brubaker

Galen Benjamin Brubaker, age 87, passed away on Tuesday, June 12th in Roanoke Memorial Hospital, surrounded by his family and by God’s love. He is survived by his wife, Ruby Jamison Brubaker and his daughters and/or their families. They include Janette Brubaker Matthews and husband David, grandsons Bryan, Justin and granddaughter Kristi; Gay Brubaker Jamison (deceased) and husband Charles, grandsons Michael (and wife Katherine), Stuart (and wife Sara), and great-grandson Wyatt; Carole Brubaker Robertson and husband Keith, granddaughter Leslie Quinn (and husband Shannon) and grandson Nicholas; and Brenda Brubaker Clayton. Galen and Ruby also had a son, Cornelius, who died in infancy. Galen is survived by three brothers, Dan, Emory, and Cline (and their families), and the family of his deceased sister, Frances Brubaker Wampler, along with many nephews and nieces, all of whom were very dear to him. Galen lived his entire life in the Callaway/Dugwell area of Franklin County. He was born March 2, 1925 to Riley Elmer and Junie Boitnott Brubaker. He was raised on his parent’s dairy farm, and spent his entire working life on the farm he and Ruby bought and developed, Gale-Ru Dairy, along the banks of the Blackwater River. Galen liked to joke that he lived on the “Poor Farm”, but he and Ruby made it a home rich with family, faith, humor, hard work, and love. Though he traveled to many places during his life, it was obvious that Galen was happiest when he was home, on the farm, surrounded by his family and friends. He was a lifelong and faithful member of Antioch Church of the Brethren and spent many Sunday mornings meeting and greeting the faithful as they gathered to worship. Galen attended and graduated from Callaway High School and took many short courses from VPI & SU throughout his lifetime. His accomplishments in the areas of agriculture and related fields were numerous, including: Director/Chairman on the Federal Farm Credit Board, member of the Virginia Board of Agriculture, various positions of leadership and service in Southern States and Virginia Farm Bureau, Chairman/member of the Virginia State Milk Commission, Director/Chairman on the Virginia Agri-Business Council and Management Association, member of the First Virginia Bank Franklin County Board, and many other boards and organizations that were associated with farming and banking. He received many individual recognitions during his life, including “Cooperative Leadership Award” – 1978 (Virginia Council of Farmer Cooperatives), “Outstanding Friend of Virginia Agriculture” – 1986 (The Friends of the Industry of Agriculture), “Distinguished Service Award” – 1993 (Virginia Agri-Business Council) and direct appointments by the President of the United States and the Governor of Virginia to federal and state boards. He was a member of many civic organizations, including the Masonic Lodge, the Callaway Ruritan Club (where he was known as “Tall Timber”), the Virginia 4-H Organization, the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, and the Franklin Memorial Hospital Board. Most importantly, Galen served on numerous church boards and held various positions of service in the Antioch Church of the Brethren. Visitation with the family will be at Flora Funeral Home in Rocky Mount, VA on Thursday evening from 5 P.M. until 8 P.M. The funeral service will be held at Antioch Church of the Brethren Friday Morning at 11 A.M. with burial in the Antioch Cemetery immediately afterwards. Memorial donations may be made to Antioch Church of the Brethren, 2996 Callaway Road, Rocky Mount, Virginia 24151.