Page 74 - History of the United Methodist Church in Rockingham County
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History of Congregations of Winchester District June 12, 2024
Airborne Division. The 440th received a Distinguished Unit Citation for their role in D-Day, June 6, 1944. Mr.
Grogg was honorably discharged in 1945 and became a member of the VFW. After the war he returned to
farming and logging with his father and brothers. During this time, he was also a Sunday school teacher at St.
Michael’s Lutheran Church in Sugar Grove, W.Va. On Sep. 21, 1957, he married Willie Mae Kathleen “Kathy”
Hughes Grogg, who preceded him in death on May 29, 2010. He joined Asbury UMC. They made their home in
Harrisonburg and lived there together for over 50 years. Upon moving to Harrisonburg, he began his career in
construction. He specialized in building forms for bridges and other large concrete structures. Russell almost
always worked side by side with his brother Everette. One notable project that they worked on was the Bath Co.
Pumped Storage Station. The construction industry usually allowed him to have weekends off to be with his
family, which he valued very much. He was also able to maintain a small cow-calf operation as a hobby on his
property, near his home place. This was made possible with the help of his brothers. He loved the outdoors but
shunned purely recreational activities, unless for the enjoyment of his children and grandchildren. He personally
preferred activities with a purpose, such as making hay, cutting firewood, or hunting. For all of his
accomplishments, Russell Grogg was the epitome of what has been dubbed, “The Greatest Generation.” In
addition to his parents and wife, he was also preceded in death by two brothers; Elmer Curtis Grogg and Otis
Floyd Grogg. He is survived by two of his brothers, Everette Grogg of Sugar Grove, and Harry Grogg of Hinton.
He is also survived by four children, James R. Grogg, Charles H. Grogg and wife, Sharon, Michael G. Grogg, all
of Harrisonburg, and Kathleen “Kathy Ann” Sanchez and husband, Johnny of St. Augustine, Fla.; four
grandchildren, John R. Grogg and wife, Kristin of Hinton, Jennifer D. Jackson and husband Matthew of
Mildenhall, England, Angela N. Reid and husband, Jeremy of Linville, and William E. Bresley and wife, Sarah of
Stonewood, W.Va.; and five great-grandchildren—Nathaniel D. Jackson, Isaac S. Bresley, Conner Reid, Ashton
Reid, and Shalah Brooks. Funeral services were held Dec.29, 2011, at Kyger Funeral Home in Harrisonburg with
Rev. William Garber and Pastor Matt Light officiating. Burial followed at Eastlawn Memorial Gardens, near
Harrisonburg.
Charlotte Warwick Harnsberger, 75, passed away on Mar. 30, 2009, in Charlottesville. She was born in
Charlottesville June 7, 1924, to Mary Charlotte Williams Warwick and John Auburn Warwick. She married
Wilbur T. Harnsberger, Jr. ,and they moved to Harrisonburg in 1960, where she lived until she moved back to
Charlottesville in 2002. She was a graduate of Lane High School and Jefferson Business School. Charlotte
worked as a librarian at the law library of the University of Virginia and Harrisonburg High School. She also
worked in medical records and as an administrative assistant. She was a member of the Daughters of the
American Revolution and Asbury UMC in Harrisonburg. She was preceded in death by her husband Wilbur T.
(Bill) Harnsberger, Jr., on Feb. 21, 1977, her brother, John Auburn Warwick (Jack), and her sister Mrs. Robert B.
(Martha Ann) Coleman, Jr. Survivors include her daughter, Nancy H. Bowen and son-in-law Clarence W. Bowen
of Charlottesville, son John M. Harnsberger of Oakton, son Wilbur T. Harnsberger, III and Jaci Anderson of
Moneta, and sister-in-law Florence Warwick of North. She is also survived by six grandchildren: Charlotte
Bowen, Daniel Harnsberger, Travis Harnsberger, all of Richmond, William Bowen of McLean, Diana Bowen of
Charlottesville, and Catherine Bowen of Austin, Tex. The family received friends at Teague Funeral Home.
Burial was private. The family requested that memorials be made to the Charlottesville-Albemarle Rescue Squad,
828 McIntire Road, Charlottesville, VA 22903. The family also thanked the staffs of The Laurels and Martha
Jefferson Hospital.
Nancy Funkhouser Hunter, 86, of Harrisonburg, died Aug. 16, 2002, at Rockingham Memorial Hospital
in Harrisonburg. A daughter of the late G. W. “Bud” and Nettie Van Pelt Funkhouser, she was born Mar. 23,
1916, at Harrisonburg. She was married to James G. Hunter, who preceded her in death in 1956. She was also
preceded in death by a sister, Sarah Funkhouser Lewis, and two brothers, Warren Funkhouser and Nelson
Funkhouser. Mrs. Hunter attended Harrisonburg High School and Strayer Business College in Washington, D.C.
She retired from J. O. Stickley after 25 years and was a member of the Asbury UMC. She and her husband, Jim,
were avid golfers and charter members of the Spotswood Country Club. She is survived by two sons, David V.
Hunter and William H. “Ace” Hunter and wife, Rebecca, all of Harrisonburg; one brother, Fred O. Funkhouser of
North Palm Beach, Fla.; three grandsons, Ellis Hunter of Roanoke, Lee Hunter of Tampa, Fla., and Travis Hunter
of Raleigh, N.C.; and one great-grandson, Chase Hunter of Roanoke. Graveside services were conducted
Aug. 19th at Woodbine Cemetery in Harrisonburg by the Rev. Douglas Hill. Friends called at Kyger & Trobaugh
Funeral Home in Harrisonburg. Memorial donations were to be made to the Harrisonburg Rescue Squad, 80,
Maryland Avenue, or the Asbury UMC, 205 S. Main Street, Harrisonburg, Va., 22801.
II.B.1 Asbury UMC 62 Volume 5
Airborne Division. The 440th received a Distinguished Unit Citation for their role in D-Day, June 6, 1944. Mr.
Grogg was honorably discharged in 1945 and became a member of the VFW. After the war he returned to
farming and logging with his father and brothers. During this time, he was also a Sunday school teacher at St.
Michael’s Lutheran Church in Sugar Grove, W.Va. On Sep. 21, 1957, he married Willie Mae Kathleen “Kathy”
Hughes Grogg, who preceded him in death on May 29, 2010. He joined Asbury UMC. They made their home in
Harrisonburg and lived there together for over 50 years. Upon moving to Harrisonburg, he began his career in
construction. He specialized in building forms for bridges and other large concrete structures. Russell almost
always worked side by side with his brother Everette. One notable project that they worked on was the Bath Co.
Pumped Storage Station. The construction industry usually allowed him to have weekends off to be with his
family, which he valued very much. He was also able to maintain a small cow-calf operation as a hobby on his
property, near his home place. This was made possible with the help of his brothers. He loved the outdoors but
shunned purely recreational activities, unless for the enjoyment of his children and grandchildren. He personally
preferred activities with a purpose, such as making hay, cutting firewood, or hunting. For all of his
accomplishments, Russell Grogg was the epitome of what has been dubbed, “The Greatest Generation.” In
addition to his parents and wife, he was also preceded in death by two brothers; Elmer Curtis Grogg and Otis
Floyd Grogg. He is survived by two of his brothers, Everette Grogg of Sugar Grove, and Harry Grogg of Hinton.
He is also survived by four children, James R. Grogg, Charles H. Grogg and wife, Sharon, Michael G. Grogg, all
of Harrisonburg, and Kathleen “Kathy Ann” Sanchez and husband, Johnny of St. Augustine, Fla.; four
grandchildren, John R. Grogg and wife, Kristin of Hinton, Jennifer D. Jackson and husband Matthew of
Mildenhall, England, Angela N. Reid and husband, Jeremy of Linville, and William E. Bresley and wife, Sarah of
Stonewood, W.Va.; and five great-grandchildren—Nathaniel D. Jackson, Isaac S. Bresley, Conner Reid, Ashton
Reid, and Shalah Brooks. Funeral services were held Dec.29, 2011, at Kyger Funeral Home in Harrisonburg with
Rev. William Garber and Pastor Matt Light officiating. Burial followed at Eastlawn Memorial Gardens, near
Harrisonburg.
Charlotte Warwick Harnsberger, 75, passed away on Mar. 30, 2009, in Charlottesville. She was born in
Charlottesville June 7, 1924, to Mary Charlotte Williams Warwick and John Auburn Warwick. She married
Wilbur T. Harnsberger, Jr. ,and they moved to Harrisonburg in 1960, where she lived until she moved back to
Charlottesville in 2002. She was a graduate of Lane High School and Jefferson Business School. Charlotte
worked as a librarian at the law library of the University of Virginia and Harrisonburg High School. She also
worked in medical records and as an administrative assistant. She was a member of the Daughters of the
American Revolution and Asbury UMC in Harrisonburg. She was preceded in death by her husband Wilbur T.
(Bill) Harnsberger, Jr., on Feb. 21, 1977, her brother, John Auburn Warwick (Jack), and her sister Mrs. Robert B.
(Martha Ann) Coleman, Jr. Survivors include her daughter, Nancy H. Bowen and son-in-law Clarence W. Bowen
of Charlottesville, son John M. Harnsberger of Oakton, son Wilbur T. Harnsberger, III and Jaci Anderson of
Moneta, and sister-in-law Florence Warwick of North. She is also survived by six grandchildren: Charlotte
Bowen, Daniel Harnsberger, Travis Harnsberger, all of Richmond, William Bowen of McLean, Diana Bowen of
Charlottesville, and Catherine Bowen of Austin, Tex. The family received friends at Teague Funeral Home.
Burial was private. The family requested that memorials be made to the Charlottesville-Albemarle Rescue Squad,
828 McIntire Road, Charlottesville, VA 22903. The family also thanked the staffs of The Laurels and Martha
Jefferson Hospital.
Nancy Funkhouser Hunter, 86, of Harrisonburg, died Aug. 16, 2002, at Rockingham Memorial Hospital
in Harrisonburg. A daughter of the late G. W. “Bud” and Nettie Van Pelt Funkhouser, she was born Mar. 23,
1916, at Harrisonburg. She was married to James G. Hunter, who preceded her in death in 1956. She was also
preceded in death by a sister, Sarah Funkhouser Lewis, and two brothers, Warren Funkhouser and Nelson
Funkhouser. Mrs. Hunter attended Harrisonburg High School and Strayer Business College in Washington, D.C.
She retired from J. O. Stickley after 25 years and was a member of the Asbury UMC. She and her husband, Jim,
were avid golfers and charter members of the Spotswood Country Club. She is survived by two sons, David V.
Hunter and William H. “Ace” Hunter and wife, Rebecca, all of Harrisonburg; one brother, Fred O. Funkhouser of
North Palm Beach, Fla.; three grandsons, Ellis Hunter of Roanoke, Lee Hunter of Tampa, Fla., and Travis Hunter
of Raleigh, N.C.; and one great-grandson, Chase Hunter of Roanoke. Graveside services were conducted
Aug. 19th at Woodbine Cemetery in Harrisonburg by the Rev. Douglas Hill. Friends called at Kyger & Trobaugh
Funeral Home in Harrisonburg. Memorial donations were to be made to the Harrisonburg Rescue Squad, 80,
Maryland Avenue, or the Asbury UMC, 205 S. Main Street, Harrisonburg, Va., 22801.
II.B.1 Asbury UMC 62 Volume 5
