Rufus Lemuel Vanover

Rufus Lemuel Vanover, 90, of Kingsport, went to be with the Lord Tuesday, August 14, 2018.

He proudly served in the US Navy and retired from Holston Defense after 28 years of service. Rufus was a member of Bloomingdale Baptist Church and Bloomingdale Ruritan. He enjoyed carpentry and masonry work, gardening, reading the Bible, and spending time with his family.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Maurine Jeno Vanover; first wife and mother of his children, Lucille Meade Vanover; parents, Lemuel and Mary Jane (Molly) Vanover; sister, Thursie Baker, brothers, Joe, Daniel, Carlyle, Hobart, and James Lowell Vanover.

Rufus is survived by his daughter, Jane Tate and husband Tim; two sons, Denny Vanover and wife Rhonda, and Zane Vanover and wife Kay; seven grandchildren, Jessica Merrick, Rachel Hall, Megan Russo, Lindsay Sanders, Zane Vanover, Amanda Malone, and Kelly Morgan; nine great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, August 17, 2018, at Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home, Kingsport. The funeral service will follow at 7 p.m. with Pastor Phil Whittemore officiating.

A committal service will be conducted at 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 18, 2018, at Oak Hill Memorial Park Mausoleum. Military graveside rites will be presented by the American Legion Post 3/265.

Pallbearers will be Brent Merrick, Adam Hall, Walter Malone, Kory Morgan, Brandon Russo, and Joseph Sanders.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Bloomingdale Baptist Church 3220 Bloomingdale Pike, Kingsport, TN 37660.

Special thanks to the staff at Brookdale at Rock Springs and to Amedysis Hospice for their care.

Cemetery Details