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Charles Preston Tolley, age 103, formerly of Clifton Forge, died Friday, Oct. 27, 2023, at The Brian Center Health and Rehabilitation in Low Moor.
Charles was born on Oct. 11, 1920, in Lexington to the late Henry Baxter and Frances (Fannie) Lewis Tolley.
He was the owner and operator of Nair’s Cleaners, which was a dry cleaning business in Clifton Forge, for many years, and was also a Trailways bus driver.
He served in the United States Navy during World War II as a Navy corpsman attached to Marines serving in both the European and Pacific theaters.
He was a lifelong member of Clifton Forge Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon, and was also a member of the Clifton Forge Masonic Lodge #166 A. F. & A. M. for 71 years.
In addition to his parents, Charles was preceded in death by his wife, Elsie Knick Tolley; and his brothers and sisters, Isabel Virginia Tolley Berry, Bessie Mae Tolley Zollman, William Alexander Tolley, and Henry Blair Tolley.
He is survived by his children, Tony Preston Tolley and wife Barbara of Clifton Forge, Brenda Tolley Unroe and husband David of Roanoke, and William Baxter Tolley and wife Sandra of Christiansburg; two grandchildren, Christopher Unroe and Heather Bowman, both of Roanoke; three step-grandchildren, Erin Kearsley of Idaho Falls, Id., Megan Karamanlis of Des Moines, Ind., and Matthew Burns of Salt Lake, Utah; two great-grandchildren, Brandon Bowman and Trevor Bowman, both of Roanoke; five step-greatgrandchildren, Corrick Kearsley, Torrence Kearsley, Emrys Kearsley, Oliver Karamanlis, and William Karamanlis; and a number of nieces and nephews.
A graveside funeral service will be held on Saturday, Nov. 4, at 11 a.m. in Kerrs Creek Baptist Church Cemetery with the Rev. Bill Hartsfield officiating.
The family will receive friends on Friday evening from 6 until 8 at Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge. Masonic Rites will be conducted in the chapel of Nicely Funeral Home during the visitation on Friday at 7 p.m. by members of the Clifton Forge Masonic Lodge # 166 A.F. & A.M.
To send condolences to the family online, please visit www.nicelyfuneralhome. com. N-G
