Obituary of Joseph Hardin Bryant, Sr.

Joseph Hardin Bryant Sr., age 78, of Wytheville, passed away Tuesday, January 31, 2017. He was born October 23, 1938 in Grayson County to Joseph Reeves & Rose Helen Cox Bryant. He graduated from Independence High School in 1957. He attended and played baseball at Emory & Henry College where he attained a BA in history in 1961. He then attended ETSU receiving a Master of Arts degree in history. He continued his education with post graduate work in education at Virginia Tech. Early in his career, Joe taught at Chilhowie High School for four years and at Martinsville High School for three years. In 1970 he began teaching at Wytheville Community College where he taught for more than thirty one years. He was an avid golfer, loved trivia, word study (twenty words per day), and was a longtime New York Yankees fan. Joe was a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church and worked for several years at the Wytheville Lions Club Charity Carnival at the duck pond booth. Later in life he enjoyed gardening, genealogy, decorating, and things as simple as driving the backroads of Southwest Virginia enjoying nature. A long time democrat, he always enjoyed visiting with colleagues from WCC. Joe was playful, young at heart, and truly loved life. His greatest joy was his children and grandchildren and their interest in sports. He is survived by wife of 55 years, Lillian Adair Ward Bryant; daughter and son-in-law, Grecthen Adair Bryant Robinson & Wesley Alan Robinson of Wytheville; son and daughter-in-law, Joseph Hardin “Hardy” Bryant, Jr & Suzanne Martel Bryant of Bent Mountain, Va.; brother and sister-in-law, Gayle Jackson Bryant & Clayta Fender Bryant of Wytheville; sister and brother-in-law, Mary Jane Bryant Stecker & Charles A. “Al” of Norton, Va.; brothers-in-law, Willis Darrell Ward, Jimmy Dale Parsons; grandchildren, Ellis Hardin Robinson, Holden Reeves Robinson, Tatum Adair Robinson, Joseph Hardin Bryant, III, Richard Bays Bryant; nephews and spouses, Daniel Jackson Bryant & Karen, Alan Clayton Bryant & Leigh; several special nieces and nephews. A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 PM, Friday February 3, 2017 at St. Paul United Methodist Church conducted by The Reverend Paul Longmire. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to St. Paul United Methodist Church, 330 Church St., Wytheville, Va.24382, Wytheville Community College Foundation, 1000 E. Main Street, Wytheville, Va. 24382 or the office of Institutional Advancement, Emory & Henry College, P.O. Box 950, Emory, Va. 24327. Grubb Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.