Jack Walton Funkhouser, 96 years and 3 months, was born November 4, 1923 and died February 21, 2020 at Oak Bank, Natural Bridge, Virginia on the farm on which he lived his entire life, with the exception of the one year he was displaced by the construction of Interstate 81.

His parents were Wilton Leitch Funkhouser from Lexington, and Martha McCormack Snider Funkhouser from Oak Bank. He was one of six children, five of whom lived to adulthood.

Jack was educated at the old Natural Bridge School. He left school early to take on the mantle of the family farm. He was a member of Natural Bridge Baptist Church.

His first wheels were those of a sturdy bicycle which he rode for pleasure and transportation. He upgraded to an Indian motorcycle, then a Harley, and found relief from hard physical labor by riding through the countryside on weekends with his buddies of the Flying Dragons.

He married Betty Jane Coffey of Tinkerville in 1951 and traded in his motorcycle for his first car. Together they had one daughter, Deborah, and a strong hand in raising a younger brother and nephew.

In addition to a lifetime of raising crops and cattle on the farm, he worked installing furnaces, and constructing houses and bridges. Jack found peace in the woods, fields and garden. He took great pride in a neatly stacked woodpile, a pantry full of canned goods and a root cellar full of potatoes, with plenty left over to share with neighbors. His pastimes included fishing in his early years, listening to the Grand Ole Opry until his ears failed him and card playing right up until the end. He won the very last game he played just days before his death.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Betty, and siblings, Nancy Elizabeth Funkhouser at age 10, Edith Funkhouser Major, Harry Edward Funkhouser and beloved nephew, Lawrence "Butch" Funkhouser.

He is survived by daughter Debbie Funkhouser, her husband John Driscoll, their son, Evan Driscoll, and siblings, Robert Davis Funkhouser (100 years old) and Carleton Lee "Cracker" Funkhouser and wife, Lisa. Also surviving are devoted sisters-in-law, Shirley Humphries, Ola Mae Coffey and Bonnie Burjoice, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.

The funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday, February 25 at Harrison Funeral Chapel by Pastor Randy Smith. Burial will be at Rockbridge Memorial Gardens.

Please express your condolences with contributions to Rockbridge Area Hospice (315 Myers St., Lexington, VA 24450), whose dedicated staff helped make possible his final wish of dying at home.

Arrangements are being made by Harrison Funeral Home & Crematory.