Gerald B. Fanning

GERALD B. FANNING, 83, of Bland, VA, passed away Tuesday, December 30, 2025. He was born September 13, 1942 at his homeplace in Bland, VA, and that is where he spent almost his entire life.

Gerald was a veteran of the Army Reserves.  He worked at Klopman Mills for 27 years and retired from Bland Correctional Center after 20 years of service.

He was preceded in death by his parents,  Robert Glenn & Grace Havens Fanning, his son, Gerald Benton Fanning, II, his brothers, Robert, Eugene, Buford, Clarence and Willard Fanning , and his sisters, Louise Hall, Ruby Underwood and Maxine Repass.

Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife of 61 years, Mary Jean Miller Fanning; his sons, Geoffrey Fanning, Stephen & Vivian Fanning, and Michael & Natalie Fanning; his beloved grandchildren, Megan & Wayne Hoback, Caitlin Fanning, Michaelyn Fanning and Bryson Fanning; his great-grandchildren, Cooper Hoback and Crew Hoback; and several special nieces and nephews from both sides of the family.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 3, 2026 at 1:00 P.M. at A. Vest & Sons Funeral Home Chapel, White Gate, with Pastor Tom Maurer officiating. Burial will follow in Mechanicsburg Cemetery,

The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 11:00 A.M. until service time, 1:00 P.M.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations be made in Gerald’s honor to either the Hollybrook-Mechanicsburg  Fire Department or the Bland Fire Department.

The Fanning family are in the care of A. Vest & Sons Funeral Home, White Gate, avestandsons.com, (540) 921-2985.