Laurn Richard Becker

Laurn Richard “Pawpaw” Becker, age 56, of Glade Spring, Va., departed this world on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, after a battle with pancreatic cancer.  He was born April 8, 1967, in Wichita, Kansas to the late George T. Becker and Gladys Sheppard Becker.  Laurn was a member of the R.B. Worthy High School Class of 1985.  He was a life member of the Glade Spring Life Saving Crew, where he held many offices.  Laurn served one term on the Glade Spring Town Council.  Laurn renewed his Catholic Baptism in September 2011 and became a member of St. Anne Catholic Church before moving his membership to Christ the King Catholic Church, where he was active in the Knights of Columbus Council #6695 and served as a Grand Knight.  

In addition to his father, Laurn was also preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Ed and Alice Sheppard; his paternal grandparents, Joseph Art Becker and Mary Ann Green Becker; step grandmother, Rosa Becker; and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.

In addition to his mother, Laurn is survived by two sisters, Susie Becker and Valarie Becker, both of the home; nephew, Hunter Becker of Glade Spring; niece, Alice Lamie and husband, Joshua, of Glade Spring; two very special great nephews who knew Laurn as “Pawpaw”, Greyson Shane Lamie and Aiden Lucas Lamie; several aunts and uncles also survive; special friends, Tracy Weaver, Kevin Berry, Carmelle McNew, Jennifer Booth, Chris Neal, Angela Costagliola, and Sharon Wright. 

The family of Laurn Becker would like to give thanks to Bristol Cancer Center and Dr. Muskgrave, nurses of Ballad ICU, 2 East Nursing Staff, and a special thanks to Hospice Nurses especially, Sandra Pierce.  The family would also like to thank Dr. Cory Helton, Dr. Caleb Knicely, Dr. Andrea Hopkins, nurse, Billy Ray Heath, Dr. Allen Carnell and Ballad Health Hospice.

A funeral mass will be celebrated on Monday, January 29, 2024, at 1:00 P.M. in Christ the King Catholic Church, 820 E. Main St., Abingdon, Va. 24210, with Fr. Chris Masla officiating.  Kevin Berry, D.C. “Dennis” Cobler, Darrell Ferguson, Michael McGlocklin, Lloyd Montgomery, Peter Nelson, Bob Rutter, Dwayne Stanley, Jared Stanley, and Levi Thomas will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Greg Chudzik, Dewey Lusk, Trey McCall, Michael Simon, Wayne Thurston, and the Knights of Columbus. Visitation will be held on Sunday, January 28, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. with a rosary service to follow at 6:30 p.m. led by Sydney Farnum. A committal service will be held at Mt. Rose Cemetery with Fr. Chris Masla and Rev. Sharon Wright officiating.

Memorial contributions may be made St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, to Cancer Outreach in Abingdon, P.O. Box 1263, Abingdon, VA 24212, to Ballad Cancer Center, 1019 W. Oakland Ave., Suite 2, Johnson City, TN 37604, or flowers will be accepted.