Newsoms – Gary Dean Saffell, 65, died September 1, 2009 in Richmond. He was born in Allentown, PA., a son of the late Marion Heist and Virgil Dean Saffell. He was predeceased by a sister, Joanne Solga and a brother Billy Saffell. Gary was a retired 27 year Chief Warrant Officer from the U S Navy. He was a member of the Franklin Church of God.
Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Carol Dutkieticz Saffell; three daughters, Pattie Barnette of Chesapeake, Connie Lafferty of Rocky Mount, NC, and Danielle Saffell of Chesapeake; one son, Gary Saffell of Hyde, NC; two sisters, Sheri Krynack of Bath , PA and Susie Saffell of Allentown, PA; twelve grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
The funeral will be conducted at 11 am Friday at the Franklin Church of God with the Rev. James Ashby officiating. Interment, with military honors, will follow at Albert G. Horton, Jr., Memorial Veterans Cemetery in Suffolk. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 pm Thursday at Wright funeral Home, Franklin and suggests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the American Lung Association, P O Box 35010, Richmond, Va. 23235. www.wrightfuneralhome.org