John Blanton Covington “Johnny”, 67, of Pamplin, died suddenly Friday, February 19, 2016.  He was the husband of Sallye Smith Covington.  Johnny was born November 20, 1948 to the late David Blanton and Grace Price Covington.

He was a 1967 graduate of Appomattox High School and a graduate of Nashville Auto Diesel College.  In 1968 he joined the National Guard and retired after 25 years of service.  During his time in the guard, he became the Brigade Command Sergeant Major of the 29th division of Virginia and Maryland National Guards.  A full time position became available with the Guard so he gave up his E9 stripes and pinned on a Warrant Officer Candidate brass for six weeks.  Johnny became a Chief Warrant Officer Class III.

From 1977 to 1985 he worked at Newman Tire Company in Farmville, then he went to work from 1985 to 1993 full-time for the Virginia Army National Guard. After retiring from the Guard he worked a year at Anderson Tire Company from 1993 to 1994. In 1994 he began a 16-year employment with Fuqua School retiring in 2010. Not content to sit around, he most recently worked for Napa in Farmville and Keysville and felt called to serve as the pastor of Bethel United Methodist Church as well as St. John’s United Methodist Church for the last 20 years.

In addition to his wife of 44 years, he is survived by his son, John Blanton Covington II (Becky) of Pamplin; his daughter, Emily Covington Coro (Keith) of Farmville; four grandchildren, John Douglas Hallik, Virginia Grace Covington, Alan Coro and Rachel Coro; his sister, Goldie Wilkerson (Johnny) of Prospect; and a special first cousin, Wanda Vandegrift (Carroll) of Pamplin.

A funeral service was held on Tuesday, February 23 at Pamplin United Methodist Church with interment at Olive Branch Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Bethel United Methodist Church, c/o Teddi Wenger, 3843 Cellar Creek Road, Blackstone, VA 23824 or to St. John’s United Methodist Church, c/o Susan Hill, 300 Little Creek Lane, Crewe, VA 23930.

Puckett Funeral Home, Farmville, was in charge of arrangements. www.puckettfh.com