Barbara Warf
Barbara Sue Warf, 86, former Covington, VA elementary teacher of more than 33 years, passed away Monday, June 12, at Novant Forsyth Memorial Hospital in Winston-Salem, NC.
She was born in Covington on Jan. 16, 1937, the oldest of three children of Robert Elzie Warf and Louise Cornell Warf who preceded Sue in death Sept. 1, 1991 and June 14, 2013.
Sue is survived by two brothers and sisters-in-law, Robert Eugene Warf and wife Joan of Lancaster, SC, and David Louis Warf and wife Kathy of Winston-Salem. David and Kathy were instrumental for over four years in overseeing Sue's care at Arbor Acres, a continuing care retirement community in Winston-Salem.
Sue was ever the doting Aunt Sue and Great Aunt Sue. Until health and mobility issues considerably slowed her the past four years, she was omnipresent at events, holidays, birthdays, etc., for the nieces and nephews. They include: Jennifer Warf Knowlton (husband Tim Knowlton) and twin sons Harrison and Oliver of Castle Pines, CO; D. Martin Warf (wife Sara) and son Thomas and daughter Sabrina of Cary, NC; Douglas C. Warf (wife Crystal) and daughter Harper Rae of Raleigh, NC; and Julia Warf Schreiber (husband Mark Schreiber) and daughter Vada of Wilmington, NC.
Vada, born May 9 to Julia and Mark, was the newest addition to Great Aunt Sue’s inner circle. While Sue didn’t have an opportunity to visit with Vada in person, Julia sent Sue a “minute with Vada” FaceTime video each day. Thomas, Sabrina and Harper had opportunities to visit in person. Harrison and Oliver visited Sue as often as possible plus regularly via FaceTime. They loved Aunt Sue’s yogurt machine at Arbor Acres.
Sue is a graduate of the University of Lynchburg (formerly Lynchburg College). She also studied at Radford University and the University of Virginia. She was an ardent Cavalier basketball fan including placement of Coach Tony Bennett on a pedestal. She moved with the family at age 5 to Clifton Forge where her father got a job with the C&O Railway. Following graduation from Clifton Forge High School and her first couple of college years, she moved back to Covington, starting her long career in education.
She was invited in 1978 to become a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. It was considered an honor and a privilege to be invited as an educator. Sue was a member of the National Education Association, the Covington Educational Association and the Virginia Education Association. She loved teaching the younger students and she spread her talents throughout the school system, first at Rivermont, then Edgemont and lastly at Jeter Watson Elementary schools.
Sue was a member of the Clifton Forge Women’s Club and Garden Club. She was a great proponent of nature and the arts, promoting these attributes into the hearts and minds of the hundreds of young students she taught over her long and memorable career. Sue was an Elder in the Calvary Christian Church of Covington and was very active in the church until her move to Winston-Salem, NC. She remained a member and attended Sunday services via Zoom each Sunday. Sue had a long carrier as youth director, Christian Education Director and CYF leaders in the First Christian Church in Clifton Forge. Her faith was very important, and she served in many leadership roles.
The funeral will be held Monday, June 19, 2023 at 2:00 PM in the Chapel of Nicely Funeral Home, 405 Alleghany Street, Clifton Forge, with the Rev. Michael Warren of Calvary Christian Church in Covington officiating. Visitation with family and friends will be from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Interment and graveside service will be at Alleghany Memorial Park where her parents are buried. The family requests in lieu of flowers that memorial donations be made to her church: Calvary Christian Church, 1329 S. Pond Avenue, Covington, VA 24426.
