William "Bill" R. Pendleton

Gate City, Virginia

William “Bill” R. Pendleton, age 83, of the Snowflake Virginia community, a beloved husband, dad, papaw, poppy, neighbor, and friend passed peacefully at his home on November 27, 2025, surrounded by his loved ones while holding the hands of his granddaughters Alex and Kate. He was preceded in death by the love of his life, his bride of 62 years, Priscilla Pendleton, on October 25, 2025.

Bill was born on August 3, 1942 to Robert and Mayme Sue Pendleton. He graduated from Gate City High School, attended East Tennessee State University, began working at Eastman Chemical Company in 1962 and retired after 32 years of dedicated service. He was named a Kentucky Colonel in 2008, but his true love and passion was spending time with family and friends, cooking out, camping, riding motorcycles, traveling, and enjoying the hard, yet simpler life of farming alongside his son and expanding Pendleton Farms to include a feed bin business. A lifelong farmer, Bill had a passion for raising cattle and growing many crops on the family farm in Snowflake. He often said there was no place he felt more at peace than on a tractor, in the hayfields, which was a reflection of his love for the land and connection to God’s creation. For this farmer, the worries are over. The tractor has been put in the shed and the tools have been put away. Some years were easy, some were downright hard, but his faith in God transcended. Bill was a devoted Christian that lived a life of service, humility, and faith. He was a member of Holston View Methodist Church. He previously served as a deacon at Gate City First Baptist Church, Community Fellowship Baptist Church, and Valley of Hope Baptist Church. Bill will be remembered for his love of God and his fellowman, his unwavering devotion to family, his gentle faith and kind heart, his love for the land, and the quiet strength that showed through in every situation he faced.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Hope Bevins Pendleton; parents, Robert and Mayme Sue Pendleton; Aunt Clara McConnell (Earl), Aunt Bess and Uncle Kay Wilhelm.

Bill leaves behind a grieving family who will cherish his memory; daughter, Kim White and husband Bill, son, Todd Pendleton and wife LuAnn; a cherished four-legged friend, “Oreo”; grandchildren, Lex (Amber) Johnson, Alex Johnson, and Kate Pendleton, (fiancé Logan); special niece whom he loved like a daughter, Tierstan (Matt) Bright; great-nieces who he adored like grandchildren Rowan and Reese Bright; great-grandchildren Jeremiah and Will Johnson; and a chosen daughter he loved as his own, Lottie Lunsford; a special caregiver, Sue Shoemaker; and a host of many friends. Additional family members include: brother-in-law David (Clarissa) Scalf, Tom (Linda) Pendleton, Mark (Laura) Pendleton, Joe (Susan) Pendleton, Barry Pendleton, Jack (Shirley) Gillenwater, Patricia (Sam) Velazquez, Paul Gillenwater family, Larry Blackburn, Bryce (Mary) Nickels, Pam Nickels, Anita Bevins, and Carie Tate.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Lauren Larkins JCMC ICU Nurse, Elite Hospice of Bristol, and Nurse Sarah Bush for the excellent care given.

In accordance with Bill’s wishes, he will be cremated, and a celebration of his life will be scheduled and announced soon.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105; online at www.stjude.org or by phone at 800-805-5856 in honor of Scott County children that are being treated.

“...It had to be somebody who would plow deep and straight and not cut corners. Somebody to seed, weed, breed, and rake and disc and plow and plant and tie the fleece and strain the milk and replenish the self-feeder and finish a hard week's work with a five mile drive to church. Somebody who would bale a family together with the soft strong bonds of sharing. Who would laugh, then sigh and reply with smiling eyes, when his son says he wants to spend his life doing what Dad does…so God made a farmer.” -Paul Harvey

To share memories of William “Bill” R. Pendleton, please visit www.seaverbrown.com Care for Bill has been entrusted to Fraziers’ Seaver-Brown Funeral Service & Crematory, 237 East Main Street, Marion VA 24354.