Richard Douglas Farmer

On Saturday, August 10, 2019 Richard Douglas Farmer, loving husband and father, passed from this life at the age of 71.

He was born November 9, 1947 in Norfolk, Va. to Thomas and Edith Farmer. He was a graduate of Mars Hill College, and served in the United States Army for two years before moving to Botetourt County in 1974 where he began a lifelong career in construction. He married Lisa Anne Dyal in 1990 and they raised their daughter Chelsea together. Richard was an avid hunter, trading his gun for his binoculars over the years. He loved the out of doors and being in nature, playing his harmonica, shooting pool, and was a huge VT football fan. He sincerely enjoyed helping others, served on various church positions, taught VBS, and went on several missions’ trips to Mexico helping to build schools for deaf children. He had a reputation for being one of the area’s finest builders and always took great care and pride in his work. He was known by his friends for his quick wit, caring nature, and mischievous pranks. He was someone that always came through if you needed anything.

He was preceded in death by his parents, close brother-in-law, Tommy Dyal Jr., and nephew and godson, Tommy Dyal III. In addition to his wife Lisa, he leaves behind daughter Chelsea Groggins-Hepler and “son” Derek Hepler of Bradenton, Fla.; sister, Corinne Ballard of Hoover Ala., mother and father-in-law, Tom and Jane Dyal of LaGrange, N.Y., the entire Dyal family whom he loved with all his heart, numerous nieces and nephews, several very special friends who became brothers over the years, and his beloved French bulldog, Dooley.

A celebration of Richard’s life will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, August 16, 2019 at the Church of the Transfiguration in Fincastle. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to International Christian Center for the Deaf, PO Box 540, Cloverdale, Va. 24077. “Greater Love has no man than this, but to lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13