Elizabeth D. Gearheart

The daughter of the late Arthur Robert DeVault and Gladys Ranson DeVault, she was born July 21, 1923 in the first St. Luke’s Hospital, built in 1904, and located in downtown Bluefield on the corner of Bland and Raleigh Streets, now the location of Chicory Square. During the Hospital’s “100 Years of Service” celebration in 2004, she was featured in their scrapbook with a baby photograph, the original identification arm band from her birth, which she donated, and a story “What has happened to this St. Luke’s Baby?”

The joy of her childhood and teen years was her charter membership in Bluefield famous National Champion Junior Drum and Bugle Corps of the 1930’s and 1940’s.

She was a graduate of Bluefield Beaver High School Class of 1941, and of Bluefield College. She was a member of the First Baptist Church, Bluefield and was active in the women’s organizations of the Church and served on Church Committees. She was a former member and officer of the Lioness Club of Bluefield.

Mrs. Gearheart had a long career as an Executive Secretary with The Flat Top National Bank of Bluefield (now First Community Bank), retiring in 1986. She was active in the former National Secretaries Association, serving as President and was elected “Secretary of the Year.”

Upon her retirement, she moved to Florida. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Rudolph L. Gearheart, in 1984, and by her brother Kenneth R. DeVault of Winter Park, in 2003. She was the last surviving member of her immediate family.

Survivors include her niece, Carolyn DeVault Burnett and her husband Jerry; great nephew, Christopher S. Burnett, all of Orlando, Fl; and nephew Robert Arthur DeVault of Belle Isle, Fl, as well as numerous first cousins.

Graveside services will be held at Monte Vista Park Cemetery, on the DeVault Family plot, Friday, April 8, 2011 at 11:00 am.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church, Memorial Scholarship Fund, 1325 Augusta Street, Bluefield, WV, 24701 in memory of Mrs. Gearheart.

Arrangements under the direction of Carey Hand Cox-Parker Funeral Home, 1350 West Fairbanks Avenue, Winter Park, Florida.