George Grover Nixon Jr

Born in 1932 and raised in Christiansburg, George Grover Nixon, Jr. ‘Grover’, grew up on his family’s farm in Floyd County with his parents, George Nixon, Sr. and Alma Nixon; as well as his two brothers: Henry and Kenneth Nixon.

During High School, he developed a love of both football and basketball. He played basketball and would go on to be a stand-in basketball player for Virginia Tech. This would go on to cement his love of sports, especially for the Virginia Tech Hokies. He would also remain a lifelong fan of the Green Bay Packers.

Grover was taught from an early age to be a hard worker and would continue to serve the community in any way he could throughout his life. While attending high school Grover started working at Horne Funeral Home. As soon as he reached the eligible age of 18, he joined the lifesaving crew where he would actively volunteer for the next 19 years, and he continued after that time as a life member. After 66 years of service, he became a golden member.

He would go on to work for Horne Funeral Home from 1948 to 1954. While working at the funeral home he met the love of his life Opal, who worked at Angle’s Florist next door. They were married in 1954. During that time, he began attending Virginia Tech. There he studied pre-med with hopes of becoming a physician. He was forced to drop out of college in order to care for his ailing father and assist his mother with running the family farm.

Not long after this, Grover was drafted into the United States Army and served for two years mostly stationed in Boston, Massachusetts where he assisted in surface-to-airmissile defense from New York City to Boston during the Cold War.

After returning from Boston, he and Opal built a home in Christiansburg. He would go on to work for the veteran hospital in Salem. There he served other veterans as a physical therapist for 32 years. Grover and Opal had one child together, Lisa Nixon, who was born in 1960. Lisa would marry Mal Lafoon and would have three children.

Grover served the community in many other ways, including many volunteer hours at the detention home helping troubled youths. He was a dedicated member of Main Street Baptist Church and in his later years Christiansburg Church of the Brethren. During his time at the two churches, he would serve in many roles, as a deacon, children’s director, and Sunday school teacher. He also participated in many mission trips and assisted in the construction of new church buildings, mostly in the northeast United States.

In his golden years, he continued his volunteerism and would go back to work for Horne Funeral Home until 2018. He spent his free time with family and friends, traveling when he had the chance back and forth to Lynchburg. Some of his favorite memories were going on vacation with his family in Myrtle Beach.

Grover was preceded in death by his loving wife of 67 years Opal Nixon; parents George Nixon Sr. and Alma Nixon; brothers Henry and Nixon Kenneth. He is survived by his daughter, Lisa Nixon Lafoon and husband, Mal; grandsons, Caleb Lafoon and wife, Stephanie, Andrew Lafoon and wife, Hannah, Micah Lafoon and girlfriend, Melody McCusker; cousins who grew up in the house that he considered his sisters, Wanda Burrell, and Janice Wright; sister-in-law, Doris Nixon, Phyllis Nixon, Wilma Brumfield; as well as nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank Intrepid Hospice for the compassionate care given to all of us during dad's final days.

Visitation is Sunday, October 23, 2022 from 4-6 p.m. at Horne Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held Monday, October 24, 2022 at 1 p.m. at Christiansburg Church of the Brethren.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Christiansburg Church of the Brethren.