Obituary for Roger Allen Asbury, Sr.

Roger Allen Asbury, Sr., 70, of Pulaski passed away Tuesday, May 15, 2018.

He was preceded in death by his wife of almost 45 years, Jo Ann Aust Asbury; his parents, Katheryn Patty Rowe Asbury and William Charles Asbury; and his brothers, Joseph Ray Asbury and William “Grant” Asbury.

He is survived by his daughter, April Joy Asbury, and her fiancé, John Hambly, of Pulaski; his son, Roger Allen Asbury II, and daughter-in-law, Laura McManus Asbury, of Salem; his grandsons, Jesse Howard Allen Asbury and Daniel Franklin Aust Asbury, also of Salem; his brothers, Charles Vernon Asbury, of Cashmere, WV; Dexter E. Asbury, of Ghent, WV; Jerry L. Asbury, of Ronceverte, WV; Albert Asbury, of Mansfield, PA; his sister, Martha June Asbury, of Lewisburg, WV; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

A graduate of Big Creek High School, Roger was one of the first men admitted to Radford College. After earning his B.S., he earned an M.S. from Radford University and a Certificate of Graduate Studies in Curriculum and Instruction from Virginia Tech.

Roger Asbury began his 33-year teaching career at Pulaski Middle School, where he coached their award-winning chess club. At Pulaski County High School, he taught social studies, including geography, American history, and political science.

In 2007, he was named Pulaski County Teacher of the Year. A long-time member of the Virginia Education Association, he was also awarded the Golden Apple for teaching.  He participated in the Southwest Virginia Writing Project, the Highland Summer Conference, and the Appalachian Studies Association.

A memorial service and celebration of his life will be held at First United Methodist Church in Pulaski on Saturday, May 26. Visitation begins at 1 with services at 2.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (nationalmssociety.org) or to the Farm at Selu, part of Radford University’s Selu Conservancy.