Edward Tankersley

Edward “Sonny” Tankersley, age 85, a resident of Pennville, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, at his home in Pennville. 

Sonny was born on Nov. 14, 1932, in Imboden, Virginia, the son of Roy Tankersley, Sr. and Vera Pomp (Sage) Tankersley. He lived in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, before moving to Pennville. He contracted Polio as a kid in 1936 when he was 4 years old. Sonny worked for Corning in Bluffton for 18 years and delivered for the Journal Gazette for 15 years. 

Sonny married Betty Hartsock on June 19, 1954, in the valley of Big Stone Gap, Virginia. She passed away on May 26, 2013. 

Survivors include:

One sister — Peggy Blevins, Pennville, Indiana 

One brother — Glenn Tankersley (wife: Debbie), Virginia Beach, Virginia 

One granddaughter — Angie Marshall (husband: Andy), Middlebury, Indiana 

Two grandsons — Josh Tankersley (wife: Alicia), Berne, Indiana, and Daniel Zimmerman, Bakersfield, California 

One son-in-law — Fred Utt, Muncie, Indiana

One daughter-in-law — Annie Tankersley, Pennville, Indiana 

Great-grandchildren Logan Zimmerman, Clayton Marshall, Madisyn Tankersley, Lillian Tankersley, Kelsey Marshall and Josslin Tankersley

Several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Vera Tankersley; his wife Betty (Hartsock) Tankersley; a daughter, Tina Utt; a son, Joe Tankersley; three sisters; and four brothers. 

Visitation will be held on Friday from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Pennville Chapel of Williamson-Spencer and Penrod Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service on Saturday. 

Funeral services will be held on Saturday at noon in the Pennville Chapel of Williamson-Spencer and Penrod Funeral Home. Pastor Stephen Conner will officiate and burial will follow in IOOF Twin Hill Cemetery in Pennville.