Lee Roy Vess, Jr., 78, of the Highland House and formerly of Forestry Road, Hot Springs, Virginia and Riverland Road, Clifton Forge, Virginia, died May 18, 2012 at the Highland House.

He was born in Silver Spring, Maryland on November 23, 1933, a son of the late Lee Roy Vess, Sr. and Mabel Conner Vess.

He was a retired Virginia State Trooper, retiring in 1973 from the Virginia State Police and was a member of the Virginia State Police Alumni Association.

He served in the Virginia National Guard for 15 years and was a marksman.

Mr. Vess worked for the Veterans Administration in Salem, Virginia, was a former member of the Bath County Lions Club and was a former airplane pilot. He loved antique cars and was an avid hunter, member of the Buckhorn Hunt Club and a member of the National Rifle Association.

He was a lifelong member of the Central Advent Christian Church.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara McPeak Vess in September of 2011.

He is survived by a daughter Vikki Graybill and her husband, William "Bill" Graybill of Goodview; a son, Bradlee McPeak Vess of Millboro; two sisters, Glenda Nicely and her husband, Norman and Shirley Saville and husband, Reginald, all of Clifton Forge; a brother, Freddie Vess and wife, Brenda of Cumberland, Maryland; 4 grandchildren, Lindsay Caldwell, Eric Lee Vess, Jacob Lundy Vess, and Ryan Evan Graybill; and a host of nieces,nephews, and cousins.

In addition to his wife and parents, Mr. Vess was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Jessica Caldwell; sister, Rosalee Miller, and by two brothers, Claude Vess and Clovis Vess.

A funeral service was conducted Sunday at 4:00 p.m. from the Central Advent Christian Church with Rev. Gene Peters officiating. Interment followed in the Central Advent Christian Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be Willie Green, Keith McElwee, Greg Vess, Brandt Saville, Eric Vess, and Tracy Maxfield. Honorary pallbearers will be Freddie Vess and Jacob Vess. The family received friends Saturday evening from 6:00 -l 8:00 p.m. at Nicely Funeral Home. The family received friends prior to the service at the church starting at 3:00 p.m. The family suggest memorial tributes take the form of contributions to Sons of Confederate Veterans, P.O. Box 141, Millboro, Virginia 24460.

Arrangements were handled by Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge.