Obituary of Glenn Meade Ayers

Glenn Meade Ayers of Moneta died on June 27th 2022. 

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Bettie Lu (Blu) Ayers; two sons, James Frye Ayers and John Truelove;  two grandchildren, Keith Ayers and Katrina Torrence; five great-grandchildren, Owen 13, Lorlie 9, Wesley 9, Ayden 2, and Casper 1, as well as two brothers, Richard and Ronald.

Glenn was a native of Moneta, VA and educated elsewhere with degrees from VA Tech, the Michigan State College of Law, and the University of Virginia. Additionally, he was the Exxon scholar at UVA in 1985, a NEH fellow at Drake University in 1986 and at Duke in 1990. In 1989 he was chosen as a resident of the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities. 

He taught English, Dramatics, and the Humanities at Staunton River High School in Moneta and other secondary schools in North Carolina for 39 years. 

Ayers was the long time outdoors writer for the Burlington (NC) Times News and the historical column “Notes From the River” for the Smith Mountain Eagle in Virginia.

In his civic career he served Bedford County Virginia on the Electoral Board, the Planning Commission, and the Board of Supervisors. He also served as the chairman of the county’s 250th anniversary celebration.

Ayers was noted in the performing arts as an actor, folk singer, song writer, and guitarist.

His unending life’s role was husbandman-outdoorsman, still serving as the secretary and manager of Rockcastle Farms Ltd. and the Landsdowne Plantation Wildlife Habitat at the time of his death.

He was a Republican, a Legionnaire, and a Master Mason, who believed that only the pursuit of truth could save man from a life of quiet desperation. 

A visitation will be held on Thursday June 30th at Updike Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Huddleston from 5 until 7 pm and a memorial service on will be held at 11 am on Saturday July 2nd at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Bedford. 
Arrangements are being handled by Updike Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Huddleston.