Earl Lee “Sonny” Menefee Sr. (1937 – 2022)

Earl Lee “Sonny” Menefee Sr., 85, of Front Royal, Virginia, passed away on Thursday, May 12, 2022, at Lynn Care Center.

A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, May 18, 2022, at 2:00 pm at Prospect Hill Cemetery, 200 West Prospect Street, Front Royal, with Phillip Brown officiating.

Mr. Menefee was born on April 28, 1937, in Front Royal to the late Earl S. Menefee and Eva Mae Dodson Wood. He was also preceded in death by his sister, Barbara Morris. He was a veteran of the US Army and retired from the Smithsonian Institute. He attended the Kingdom Hall of the Jehovah’s Witnesses with his wife.

Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Betty Jean Menefee; two sons, Earl L. Menefee Jr. and Gary Benson Menefee (Terry Carter); daughter, Donna Jean Swager (Dave); sister, Charlotte Rutherford; brother, Ray Menefee; five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday, May 17, 2022, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Maddox Funeral Home, 105 West Main Street, Front Royal.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Blue Ridge Hospice, 300 West Cork Street, Winchester, Virginia 22601.