Meet Our Staff

Mr. David Charles Williams Jr., CFSP, FSL

Managing Partner

David has been involved with funeral service since he was 16 and has worked with Rader Funeral Home and Lotz Funeral Home since February 2011. David is originally from Mogadore, Ohio, is a member of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church and serves on the parish council.

David attended the University of Akron, Akron Ohio; Borromeo Seminary College of Ohio, Wickliffe, Ohio; and is a graduate of Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

David is certified by the National Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards and certified by the Academy of Funeral Service Practice. He is a Licensed Funeral Service Provider in Virginia and a Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer in Ohio. David also has a background in Grief Counseling, specializing in pregnancy loss, still birth, and newborn deaths. He is an active Mortuary Officer with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team Region V, and deployed to San Juan, Puerto Rico following hurricane Maria in 2017.

David has been married to his wife Julie for 27 years. Julie is a licensed Registered Dental Hygienist in Virginia and Ohio. David and Julie have two children, Maria, who is a graduate of George Mason University and is currently a graduate student at Lesley University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Jonathon who is a graduate of Lynchburg College. They make their home in the Cherokee Hills area of Glenvar.

Sarah M. Rawling

Funeral Service Intern

Sarah Rawling was born and raised in Bedford County and still resides there. She attended Liberty High School where she graduated in May 2016. During her senior year, she worked with Tharp Funeral Home where she decided to further her education and get her degree in Funeral Services/Mortuary Science. Sarah is currently working towards that goal at Central Virginia Community College and John Tyler Community College. She enjoys spending time with friends and family, riding horses, fishing, and traveling. Sarah joined the Rader Funeral Home team in June 2017.

Sharon K. Sproles

Bereavement and Aftercare Coordinator

Sharon began working at Rader Funeral Home in 2005. She was born in Corpus Christi, Texas and at age nine, moved to Southern California, where she lived until she moved to Virginia in 1985 when her husband retired. The first job she worked at age 18 as a psychiatric nurse's aide led her into the medical profession.

She is a graduate of the Psychiatric Technician Program at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, California and the Medical/nursing/phlebotomy program at Riverside College in Riverside, California. She worked in various areas of the medical field for over 20 years. In 1986, Sharon volunteered for Lewis Gale Hospital, The Red Cross, and at a later time, she volunteered for the Bradley Free Clinic of Roanoke. Sharon is a Certified Grief Counselor and member of the American Academy of Grief Counselors. She received the Death and Grief Studies accredited certification from the internationally recognized Center For Loss and Life Transition in Fort Collins, Colorado. Sharon's interest in this field began during her many years as a family support volunteer for Good Samaritan Hospice. Sharon is a member of the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul in Roanoke and has served as past Board Member. She is passionate about traveling and enjoys walking, reading, old movies and being a member of the Big Springs Garden Club. Sharon believes that your journey into grief and healing begins with finding a person who will "listen with their heart and be present to another person's pain. It's not about taking away the pain." Sharon feels honored to work at Rader and Lotz Funeral Homes as Bereavement and Aftercare Coordinator. She realizes that as we serve others, we only have one chance to get it right, and Rader and Lotz Funeral Homes truly do treat every family as if they were our very own.

Rev. Irving R. Glover

Ambassador

Irving joined the Rader staff in May 1996 following his retirement from full-time ministry with the Church of the Brethren.

As a Brethren minister, Rev. Glover most recently served as Pastor of the Mt. Bethel Church of the Brethren east of Eagle Rock on Rt. 43. He served Brethren congregations in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Illinois prior to coming to Virginia in 1979 to serve the Daleville Church of the Brethren. Irving is also currently serving his church’s district in a volunteer role as Pastor to Pastors.

Though born in Detroit, Michigan, Irving grew up near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He is a graduate of Elizabethtown College in eastern Pennsylvania, having also attended Gettysburg College. In 1962, Rev. Glover graduated from Bethany Theological Seminary, now located in Richmond, Indiana.

Irving and his wife, Carol, wer
e married in 1967 blending a family of nine children. The children and their families are now scattered throughout the United States.

Mr. Glover’s community interests include the Kiwanis Club of Botetourt County, where he has been a member since December 1980. He served as President in 1987. He also served on the Steering Committee for the Roanoke Valley’s annual CROP Hunger Walk.

If you catch him sitting around at home, he may either be e-mailing his family and friends or relaxing with his two dogs, George and Ralph, or doing a counted cross-stitch project. You might even find him wearing a shirt that he made himself or practicing a choir number for church.

Lois Caldwell Crawford

Ambassador

Lois joined the staff at Rader Funeral Home in the fall of 2007. She retired after more than 40 years as a registered nurse. She was educated at Medical College of Virginia, Medical College of Georgia and East Tennessee State University. Most of her career involved registered nurse education. For 28 years, she served as Director of Virginia Appalachian Tricollege Nursing Program, a consortium of three community colleges in far southwest Virginia, headquartered at Virginia Highlands Community College in Abingdon, Virginia. Following her retirement in 2005, Lois moved back to the family home in Mill Creek. She is a member of the Mill Creek Baptist Church, where she belongs to the Sanctuary Choir, the Business Women's Circle and several committees. She also serves as an election official for Botetourt County. Some of her favorite things are her family, travel, singing and reading. She finds her work at Rader Funeral Home humbling yet very satisfying.

Roger L. Firebaugh

Ambassador

Roger was born on October 22, 1945 in Roanoke and was raised and has lived in Botetourt County all of his life. He attended Troutville Elementary School and in 1964 graduated from Lord Botetourt High School, where he played football, basketball, and baseball and ran track.

He worked for Roanoke Gas Co. for 43 years before retiring in November 2009. He spent 30 years in the Virginia Army National Guard and the Army Reserve.

He has been married to Reba for 50 years, and they have one daughter, Amanda, as well as one granddaughter, Brennan. Roger has been employed with Rader Funeral Home since May 2010.

Gail C. Blanchard

Ambassador

Gail Blanchard lives on a farm in Troutville with her husband, Ronnie. They have a daughter who is an excellent hairdresser, and she has two boys who are very special to Gail and Ronnie. They also have a son, Kevin, who is in the Marines. He went to Iraq and was injured in June 2005 when his Humvee ran over an IED. He has come through it all with a wonderful outlook on life and attends George Washington University. Gail works at Greenfield Elementary with Special Education students. She also enjoys working at Rader Funeral Home part-time. Gail and Ronnie have been members of Hollins Road Baptist Church for the last 25 years. Gail says that her hobby would be going to yard sales.

Pat Richards

Ambassador

Pat Richards was born in Richmond and moved to Botetourt County with her family in 1952. She attended Troutville Elementary School and graduated from Lord Botetourt High School. Pat has two sons, Billie and Jeffrey, and two daughters, Monica and Nicole. She has nine grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

Pat retired from her position as secretary bookkeeper at Cloverdale Elementary School on June 30, 2015, after 47 years of service. She enjoys traveling, reading, dancing, and spending time with her family. Pat has enjoyed her 17 years with Rader Funeral Home.

Rev. Dr. John Randolph Daniels

Ambassador

Up until September 2014, Randy was the senior pastor at Mill Creek Baptist Church. He and his wife Debbie moved to the area in November 2001 with their three younger children, Mark, Dann, and Erin. Currently, the oldest child, Allan, lives in Richmond and continues to work in the food service industry. Tyler, the second child, lives in southern Virginia with his wife and twin daughters and pastors a church. Mark is a Sergeant in the United States Air Force and lives in California with his wife and two children. Mark is an aircraft mechanic and instructor. Dann was honorably discharged from the United States Army and now attends college, working toward a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. Erin was involved in a serious automobile accident while still a teenager and as a result of the accident, is now a disabled adult who continues to live in the household. Debbie is a part-time legal secretary working in Roanoke, as well as a part-time server at a local fast food restaurant.

LTC David Birch Morris USA, Ret

Ambassador

Dave graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York and then served in the Army for 22 years, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. Subsequent to his military service, Dave worked in the non-profit field as a fundraiser. After serving as a Major Gifts Officer at the Virginia Military Institute for nine years, he retired in June 2015. Dave and his wife, Patricia, live in Daleville and are members of Fincastle Baptist Church. They have two grown children.

Lillian Marie Huff Fennell

Ambassador

Lillian’s life began in a small coal mining town of Cannelton, West Virginia. She is the fourth child of Eugene and Ethel Wheeler. Lillian has two brothers and two sisters and was educated in Montgomery, West Virginia and Richmond, Virginia. She is the mother of two children, Marvin Curtis and Loleta Michelle Huff, the grandmother of seven, and the great-grandmother of one. Lillian is a member of First Baptist Church of Cloverdale and New Life Christian Ministry in Roanoke.

Lillian’s career background started in banking and retail sales for a petroleum company. She started as a part-time cashier and worked her way to Field Development Representative. In that position, she trained all managers and cashiers for their fuel stations. Lillian worked for Allstate Insurance Company for nine years in several positions and has retired to enjoy time with her family and friends. She has been with Rader Funeral Home since May 2015. To quote Lillian, “I really enjoy my new job!”

Carol J. Glover

Ambassador

Here I go again! Third career in a lifetime! I started out in Ohio as a wife and mother. I helped rear nine children and was a pastor’s wife. After raising the family, I started college to become a nurse. Thus, I graduated from Virginia Western Community College with my R.N. and an Associate's Degree at the age of 49. With a keen interest in oncology, I was one of the first chemo nurses at Lewis Gale Hospital. Then, I earned my Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Lynchburg College at age 54, the same year I became a grandma, after which I held several nursing positions in northern Virginia.

Having specialized in oncology, I then worked for 16 years as a Staff Nurse for Good Samaritan Hospice after returning to Roanoke. Now, being retired from nursing, I appreciate working with my husband of 48 years, Irving Glover, at the funeral home.

Mary Ann Goderstad

Ambassador

Mary Ann was born and raised in New Jersey. She worked as an office manager for a structural steel company for 24 years before retiring to Botetourt County.

Mary Ann is a member of the Catholic Church of the Transfiguration in Fincastle and helps with on-going church projects. Mary Ann also works fund raisers for the JDRF in Roanoke as her youngest grandson is a Type 1 diabetic.

She has two children, a son and a daughter, and two grandsons. The elder grandson is a police officer in Florida and the younger attends high school in Roanoke.

Mary Ann has been with Rader Funeral Home and Lotz Funeral Home in Roanoke since 2014.

William David Horton

Ambassador

David has been married 48 years to Joan Frost Horton. They have two daughters and three granddaughters. David attends Troutville Church of the Brethren, is a Master Mason at Catawba Lodge 342, and is a 32nd Degree Mason at Roanoke, Viriginia. David retired from Botetourt County Sheriff's Office at the rank of Sergeant and currently is the mayor of Troutville. He enjoys spending time with family and friends, fishing and target practicing.

Jonathon David Williams

Ambassador

The son of a funeral director, Jonathon grew up in the funeral home. He began helping set up flowers and chairs from a very young age and is currently an Ambassador for Rader Funeral Home and Lotz Funeral Home. Jonathon is a graduate of Lynchburg College with a Bachelor of Arts in Sport Management. He enjoys all sports, especially baseball. Jonathon is a 2014 graduate of Glenvar High School and resides in the Cherokee Hills area of Glenvar in Roanoke County.

Jane Banton

Ambassador

Jane joined the staff of Rader Funeral Home in the spring of 2016. Jane is a graduate of Lynchburg College with a Master of Education in Specific Learning Disabilities. She taught in Lynchburg City Public Schools and Roanoke City Public Schools for a total of 32 years.  Jane enjoys volunteering with the VT Extension Agency (Food for Thought Program) in a middle school in the Roanoke City Schools. She serves on committees at her church, Peace Presbyterian Church, and really enjoys teaching Sunday school.

For quiet times, Jane enjoys reading historical fiction or biographies of famous people. She and her husband Benny have been married for 41 years. They have two happily married sons and three grandchildren and feel very blessed.

Jane Thomas

Ambassador

Joan Lam

Ambassador and House Services

Joan Lam is the Housekeeper for Lotz Funeral Homes, Inc. and Rader Funeral Home.  She began working for Lotz when she was in high school and took off a few years to raise her kids before returning to work. She was born in Australia. She has three children, Jeanette, Jeffrey and Jennifer. Joan keeps all three Lotz Funeral Homes and Rader Funeral Home clean for each family we serve. Her delightful personality and sense of humor always makes us smile.

Maria C. Williams

Ambassador

The daughter of a funeral director, Maria, like her brother Jonathon, grew up in the funeral home. She began helping set up flowers and chairs from a very young age and is currently an Ambassador for Rader Funeral Home and Lotz Funeral Home. Maria is a graduate of George Mason University and currently is a graduate student at Lesley University. Maria is a graduate of Glenvar High School and resides in the Cherokee Hills area of Glenvar in Roanoke County.

Nell Stone

Ambassador

Reverend Estil P. "Butch" Hammed, Jr.

Ambassador

Roger Stewart Fuller, Jr.

Ambassador

Stewart joined the Lotz and Rader family in late 2016.  He is a 2013 graduate of Patrick Henry High School.  

Stewart has a passion for helping people, being active in the Roanoke Community mentoring and working with children with disabilities.  In the summer, you can find him working in Guest Services with The Salem Red Sox organization.

Russ Kelly

Ambassador

Born on January 16, 1942 in Floyd County, Russ was raised in Vinton from 1944 to 1966. He graduated from William Byrd High School in 1963. He worked in the grocery business for 35 years and in the candy business for 10 years. Around Vinton, he was known as the "The Candy Man." He became a member of the Lotz Family in 2012.

Christy Jennings

Office Administrator

Jeff Wiseman

Ambassador

Vic Sisson

Ambassador

Steven W. Powell

Ambassador

Dana Gibson

In Memoriam, August 28, 1925 ~ June 24, 2015, Memory Eternal!

Before coming to work at Rader Funeral Home, Dana owned Commonwealth Audio and Visual. He was married to Lena Gibson and had one daughter, Mary Westmoreland, and her husband, Ted. Dana had one granddaughter, Michelle R. West, and one great-granddaughter, Casi.

Dana was a member of the Williamson Road Masonic Lodge and the Melrose Masonic Lodge, as well as Scottish Rite, Shrine Center, VFW Post #1841, the Woodmen of the World and Troutville Baptist Church.

Dana died June 24, 2015.  He is missed.