TAZEWELL, Va. — Forrest David Bricker, age 66, of The Cove in Tazewell, Va., died Saturday, November 5, 2011 at his home on Thistle Cove Farm. Born May 7, 1945 at Ravenna Arsenal, Ohio, he was a son of the late Forrest Davis Bricker and Mary Crockett Bowen Bricker. He was a graduate of Beaver High School and graduated with honors from West Virginia University. Dave was a U.S. Army Veteran, honorably discharged with the rank of Captain. He was a retired stock broker, and currently served as President of Sibley Coal & Coke Company, Manager of Sibley Communications & Energy, and was Director of Logistics for Sibley Communications, all of Bluefield, W.Va. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Catherine Wirtz Bricker.
He is survived by his wife, Sandra Bennett; one sister, Carol Bricker Pharr of Earlysville, Va.; many family members including, nieces, a nephew, cousins, an uncle, in-laws and friends.
The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m., Tuesday, November 8, 2011 at Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home in Tazewell, Va.
Graveside services and interment will be at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Va. on Wednesday, November 9, 2011 with Pastor Jerome Hancock of the Southside Church of the Nazarene and Pastor George Ferguson officiating.
In lieu of flowers, Dave’s request was that you take someone special out to dinner.
Blessings ~ me, for having twenty-two beautiful years with Dave ~
I am so sorry. Sending you love and hugs. And praying for God to comfort you.
Oh my Gosh, how did I miss the passing of your wonderful husband. Now I am crying. So terribly sad!! I was updating the prayer list on my Christian blog and clicked on your name. Please accept my sincere belated condolences. Much love and hugs, Kerrie♥
This coming May will be 22 years for me and my husband. I will be sure to treasure him and our time together.
((((hugs))))
~Lisa
So, so sorry for your great loss…
Sandra~ I am so sorry… there are no words to comfort the pain I know you must feel, but know that I am praying for strength for you in the days to come.
((HUGS))
Dearest Sandra, my heart aches for your loss. I know with our hope in eternal life in Christ we will all be together again soon, but the loss while we tread this earth is real and leaves us empty. May you find joy in your sorrow and comfort in knowing that others love and care.
Thoughts and prayers. Sending love…
yes, kind, loving thoughts from around the world for you indeed dear Sandra. I feel so sad for your loss. My you know the Father's infinitely tender care through this time. Much love Catherine x0x0
Sandra~
May God hold your heart tenderly during these days…praying your family and friends keep you surrounded with love…
I hope you had a wonderful day, today, Sandra, celebrating your sweet Dave's life.
You are much in my prayers as you now begin the journey of grieving.
Fondly,
Glenda
I am so sorry for your loss. Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. -Pam
Like KathyB, you have been in my thoughts and prayers so much. My heart aches for you. May God give you the peace that only He can. Love, Mildred
My family only met Dave one time but he was one of those guys that we know we would have loved to know better. He was humble and enjoyed the simple life. The old saying "still waters run deep" comes to mind.
Sandra, you are in my thoughts and prayers. Words are not enough but faith will see you through.
Edith Mrak
I am so sorry for your deep loss. Twenty-two beautiful years…a blessing indeed.
(I happened upon your blog for the first time this morning, following a ravelry link. I hope you don't mind a comment from a stranger at such a personal time. Just wanted you to know, you will be in my thoughts.)
quinn
I can't stop thinking about you and Dave,and I pray for you, you're the one left behind… Dave is rejoicing with Jesus !
I love his request, "take someone special out to dinner".
Dear Sister, my heart cries for you, but I know you'll be O.K. , because soon enough ( though hopefully many years from now ) you'll be rejoicing with Dave at the feet of Jesus !
sandra….i have been thinking about you and praying for peace for your heart…..
please accept my heartfelt sympathy
with love,
kary
May God give you his strength and peace. We are praying for you.
Much love,
Barb
Sandra, I'm sorry to hear about your loss. May God reveal Himself to you in a special comforting way at this time.
I'll be taking my wife out to dinner.
I'm so sorry about your Dave–my thoughts and prayers go out to you.
I'm so very sorry for your loss, as is my husband. We were lucky enough to meet you & Dave at your sheep shearing in 2010 & we left thinking what a warm, loving, happy & friendly couple the two of you were. We were virtual strangers to you, only having passed a few comments thru our blogs & yet you made us feel so welcome. My husband particularly enjoyed chatting with Dave. The hospitality you extended to us is a very pleasant memory. I'm very glad we were lucky enough to have met your husband (& you!). He seemed to be the salt of the earth, a very good man. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
I am so sorry for your loss…My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
There will be a star on the wall at our school for Veteran's Day. Dave's star.
I am so, so sorry for you – it must be so hard for you, and although I know that nothing can take away your grief at this sad time, I hope that you can take a little comfort in kind thoughts and prayers from around the world.
Pomona x
the Lord will bless you and keep you. the Lord will keep Dave in His loving arms lifting him up to Heaven. we will be here for you – now-tomorrow-next month-next year.
please accept my aloha and condolences
oh no Sandra..he will be keeping my dad company..he passed away today..the 7th…good thoughts to both of us…
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Kelly
Keeping you in my prayers Sandra. Hugs!
Love to you from Connecticut, Sandra – Dave was certainly an accomplished man! and lucky to be by your side for 22 happy years.
Dear Sandra,
I am so very sorry.
Dave's request shows a generous and loving spirit.
While I wish I could be there to support you in person please know I'm wrapping you in prayers from Indiana.
Your friend,
Penny
My heart goes out to you Sandra in your hour of sadness. He is with the Lord and the pain and suffering has now stopped. Rest assured Sandra you will see your beloved again one day. Blessings! LJ
Sandra-
You know my heart is heavy for your loss my friend. I know that you are surrounded by friends and family to help you through this painful time – I truly wish I lived closer. I am thinking of you always right now – I know that you have been preparing for this for a long time – and I KNOW that you can do this – but a broken heart is a heavy load to bear.
Dave must have been the most fun loving and generous person to make a final request like he did. I wish I had been given the opportunity to meet him.
Bless you dear Sandra-
Vicki
Sandra, I was so sorry to read that you lost your beloeved husband. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
I wish we lived close so that I could support you during this time. That was a beautiful obituary. I'm sure your hubby is going to be missed by many people. I love how he just wanted people to take someone special out to dinner. Praying you have peace during this time.
You will be in my thoughts and prayers. Rest in Peace Dave and God bless you Sandra.
I will honor his request
Cathy
Oh honey, may God hold you in the palm of His mighty hand,comforting you with His gentle compassion.
The tribute is beautiful, and I love the "in lieu of."
Precious memories until you meet again ♥
Blessings and comfort, K
twenty two beautiful years, i love it. alot of folks now a days don't know what beautiful years are. they think they are only filled with sunshine and we know they are filled with sunshine rain clouds etc but in the end you did it together and that is what makes those 22 years beautiful! may God continue to bless you.
I continue to send you my love and prayers. May GOD comfort you now and forever.
Oh, Sandra. Just…oh. I'm so sorry for the loss of your best friend. I can't pretend to even imagine. I will pray ever so faithfully for you, my dear sister in Christ. May God hold you close in His arms, and surround you with peace, love and heavenly warmth.
Hugs,
Debby
No words from me – just prayers, love and tears – from afar we can be sisters and share. Bless you Sandra –
J and I will be there in spirit, Sandra. Loving you from afar.
xo, misha
i'm so sorry for your loss, you are in my thoughts.
What a blessing to have twenty two beautiful years together. And what a simply wonderful man to request that we spend time together in lieu of flowers. My thoughts are with you today and in the days to come, Sandra. Peace and happy comforting memories to you.
I am so thankful that you had 22 years. I don't have the words to say, but I wish you peace during this time.
May God keep you safe in His Everlasting arms.
Hello Dearest Sandra:
This has made us so sad and we can only imagine how you must be feeling not only now but, of course, in the days and months ahead. How we so much wish that we could be with you on Wednesday but we do trust that you will know that we shall be there with you in spirit as we are at this moment when you have all of our love and prayers.
Dave's wish to celebrate his life with a special dinner is a lovely and generous idea. We shall keep it until the three of us are together again as we most surely will be.
For now, take great care and be strong, as we know you will be.
Sandra, We are so sorry to hear of Dave's passing. Know that we love you and will keep you in our thoughts and prayers.
Love, Kim, Henry, Daniel and Mary Jones