Walter Wilford Burnette 96 of Laurel Fork, VA, passed away on Saturday November 14, 2009 at Carilion New River Valley Medical Center in Christiansburg, VA. Mr. Burnette served in World War II; he was honored in Washington, D.C. for being one of the oldest workers in the state of Virginia. Mr. Burnette was preceded in death by his wife Iva McGrady Burnette; parents Jefferson L. & Mary Thompson Burnette; daughter Nadine Lewis; granddaughter Heather Tate. He is survived by his daughters & son-in-law Linda & Ray Bowman of Belleview FL and Frankie Hicks of Laurel Fork, VA; grandchildren & spouses Shannon & Carolyn Hicks, Heather & Aaron Hartman, Sandra Lewis, Rhonda & Kim Shropshire, Walter & Denise Bowman, Tina & CAPT Mike Wettlaufer, Ricky & Elara Bowman, Tracy & David Griffin and Shawn & Kerri Bowman; seventeen great grandchildren and four great great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday November 19, 2009 at 11:00 AM at the Vaughan-Guynn-McGrady-Chapel with Pastor Harold Fenstermaker officiating. Burial will follow in the Burnette Cemetery in Floyd County. Military rites will be conducted by Hillsville V.F.W. Post 1115. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Wednesday November 18, 2009 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Vaughan-Guynn-McGrady Chapel is serving the family.