Joseph Brown Heldreth Jr.

Joseph Brown (JB) Heldreth, Jr., 90, of Martinsville, VA passed away on Monday, October 19, 2015. He was the only son of the late Joe Brown and Blanche Heldreth of Tazewell, Virginia. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Sue L. Heldreth in 2000. JB is survived by his wife Katherine Hylton Heldreth of the residence, one son, Joseph B. Heldreth, III of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and two daughters, Susan H. Watkins and her husband Thomas of Ridgeway, VA, and Elizabeth H. Smith and her husband Phillip of Danville, VA. Mr. Heldreth has two grandchildren, Jason W. Landrum of Check, Virginia and Rebecca Landrum of New York, New York. Additional family members include one sister in law, Margaret Brewer and her husband Hobert, one nephew, Scott Brewer of Lancaster, Pennsylvania and a niece, Donna Petty and her husband Robert of Floyd, Virginia and their two children Mark and Adam.

Mr. Heldreth was born and raised in Tazewell County, Virginia where he lettered in football at Tazewell High School for four years. After graduation, he enlisted in the Army Air Corp and served in England at the Operation Headquarters of the 8th Air Force, 67th Fighter Wing during WWII. He earned two Bronze stars.

After his discharge from the Army, he graduated from Emory and Henry College where he distinguished himself as a four year letterman in football, co-captain of the football team his senior year, and received Honorable Mention as a Little All American. Mr. Heldreth is a member of the Emory and Henry Sports Hall of Fame.

After receiving his Masters of Education degree from the University of Kentucky, JB and his wife Sue came to Martinsville where he was employed by the Martinsville City Schools as a teacher and coach. Beginning in 1956, he served as Head Coach of the Martinsville Bulldogs for the next thirteen years. His record included 89 wins, 31 losses, and 7 ties. Mr. Heldreth also served as principal of Clearview Elementary School for twelve years and Patrick Henry Elementary School for seven years.

Mr. Heldreth was a member the Elks Club, the Exchange Club, and the Martinsville Touchdown Club. He was also a member of the Henry County/Martinsville Retired Teachers organization, and actively participated in the Seniors Unlimited at First United Methodist Church where he had been a member since he came to Martinsville in 1951.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 pm on Wednesday, October 21, 2015 at McKee-Stone Funeral Home on Broad Street in Martinsville. The funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, October 22, 2015 in the McKee-Stone Funeral Home chapel. The service will be officiated by the Rev. Keith Ritchie and the Rev. Ron Mateer. Internment and Military Honors will be at Maplewood Cemetery in Tazewell, Virginia at 1:00 pm on Friday, October 23, 2015.