Vernon Vanmeter (Van) Speese, 50, of Roanoke, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, September 7, 2008. Van served in the U.S. Marine Corps and the Army National Guard. He was a graduate of the Roanoke City Police Academy and the Virginia Forensics Science Academy. He was also a member of the SASS Club. He currently served as a Crime Scene Investigator with the town of Blacksburg Police Department.

He was an Elder at Patterson Memorial Grace Brethren Church and was a previous Scout Master with Northminster Presbyterian Church.

Van was preceded in death by his father, Harry A. Speese and mother, Bertha "Bea" Speese. He is survived by his wife, Nancy Speese; daughters, Judith Marie (Speese) Armstrong and Sarah Dianne Elizabeth Speese; son, Nathan Eirik Speese; brother, Harry A. Speese, Jr. (Rene); sisters, Katherine Pankavich (David), Judith Marr (William), Margaret Hambrick (Michael); father-in-law, William E. Anderson, Sr., mother-in-law, Violet E. Anderson; brother-in-law, William E. Anderson, Jr.; sister-in-law, Dianne Carol Hurt (Michael Paul); brother-in-law, David Scott Anderson (Desarie); nieces, Emily Rakes (Bobby), Amanda Craddock (Travis), Christina Amos (Jessee), Bethany Speese, Avari Terry (Greg), Christina E. (Paige) , Ashley Anderson; great niece, Brooke E. Craddock; nephews, Michael J. Anderson, Paul Hurt, John Hurt, David Scott Anderson Jr.; great-nephew, Aiden Terry; friend, Randall Michael; friends and officers, Charlie (Laura) Eads, Chico (Lisa) Cole, Barry (Kim) Renick.

Funeral services will be held 12 noon Friday, September 12, 2008 at Northminster Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Danny Wright officiating. The interment will follow in Sherwood Memorial Park. The family will be receiving friends 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday and 2 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Oakey's North Chapel, 540-362-1237.

From  The Roanoke Times 9/10/08

Dutch McCrae

AKA

Vernon Speese