Obituary of Joseph Blevins

CHILHOWIE, VIRGINIA: LT. COLONEL JOSEPH A. "JACK" BLEVINS, age 64, died Wednesday, April 8, 2015 at his home in Chilhowie. He was born March 14, 1951 in Smyth County to the late Claude and Dora Bruffey Blevins. Jack, as he was fondly known by family and friends, enlisted in the United States Army upon graduation from Emory & Henry College and later became a commissioned officer. During his 30 years of military service, he completed several tours overseas, including six tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He displayed superb leadership and a selfless devotion to duty by repeatedly volunteering for challenging assignments and routinely traveling to outlying bases under the threat of small arms fire, rocket, and mortar attacks to ensure mission accomplishment. As a result of his service, he was awarded two Bronze Stars as well as many other military honors throughout his career. Jack is survived by two daughters, Melannie Smith and husband, Stacy of Lancaster, Pennsylvania and Megan Potter and husband, Todd of Charleston, South Carolina; three brothers, Claude A. Blevins, Jr. of Crossville, Tennessee, James W. Blevins of Chilhowie, Virginia and John E. Blevins of Crossville, Tennessee; one sister, Julia Lee Blevins of Chilhowie, Virginia; four grandsons, Matthew Smith, Jake Smith, Chase Smith and Brooks Potter; and several nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends Sunday, April 12, 2015 from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. at Seaver-Brown Chapel. Graveside Services with full Military Rites will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project in Jack's name. Donations may be mailed to: Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675 or may be made online at: www.woundedwarriorproject.org. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the family at www.seaverbrown.com. Seaver-Brown Funeral Service and Crematory is serving the Blevins Family.