Our staff provides excellent funeral planning services
We have years of experience caring for families from all walks of life, cultures and faiths. Our unsurpassed staff and our family provide kind, caring, professional service. Each family comes to us because they know we are leaders in our profession who are dedicated to excellence in service, adhere to the highest funeral industry standards, and have exceptional integrity. We consistently earn phenomenally high customer satisfaction survey results.
Our licensed, professional staff is here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Please call 540-992-1212 anytime. We will even come to you to make arrangements in the comfort of your home.
Prompt, compassionate service is always just a phone call away, where and when you need it.
Kyle Emerich
Managing Partner
Kyle is a native of East Branch, New York. He graduated from Downsville Central School and Fayetteville Technical Community College with an Associate’s Degree in Applied Science/Funeral Service. He worked as a funeral director with Rich & Thompson Funeral Service for 12 years serving families in the Burlington, NC area. Kyle joined the team at Rader Funeral Home in February of 2024 and is thankful for the opportunity to serve the people of Botetourt County and surrounding areas.
He has been married for 15 years to his wife Lindsay and they have three children, Landon, Noah and Claire. Kyle and his family attend Grace Church in Roanoke. He is a member of the Kiwanis Club of Salem, VA, Catawba Valley Ruritans, and Taylor Masonic Lodge. He enjoys spending time outdoors and traveling with his family.
Gary Keith Butler
Location Manager
Gary is married to Patty Butler and they are members ofLexington Baptist Church. He is a graduate of West Virginia University andCincinnati College of Mortuary Science. He is a funeral service licensee inVirginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina.
Gary is a Blue Lodge Mason PWM, PDDGM, Royal Arch Mason,Knights Templar, 32 Scottish Rite, KazimShriners and a Moose Lodge Member.
Gary has been a funeral director and embalmer for more than30 years. He looks forward to using his experience to serve the wonderfulfamilies of Rader Funeral Home.
Melissa Cleaves
Office Administrator
Melissa was born and raised in Akron, Ohio. Melissa anauthor and storyteller, she published her first memoir Trust the Progress inJanuary, 2022, and co-authored two other anthologies. She is a graduate ofUnion University, in Jackson Tennessee carrying both a Masters in BusinessAdministration, (MBA) and a Masters in Christian Studies, (MCS). She is alicensed and ordained Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as well as aCertified Life Coach specializing in Grief Management and Christian Mental Health.Melissa joined the Rader Funeral Home family in November of 2023, she has apassion for helping others on their grief journey while she travels her own.
"Grief never ends ... But it changes. It's apassage, not a place to stay. Grief is not a sign of weakness, nor a lack offaith. It is the price of love. - Author Unknown"
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.
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.
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.
Jane Thomas
Ambassador
Jane joined the Rader Funeral Home family August of 2017. She is a graduate of Lord Botetourt High School and attended Virginia Western College.
Jane is a member of Fincastle Baptist Church and is married with two children, both LBHS graduates. She retired from Elizabeth Arden Accounts Payable department after 48 years of service.
Jane enjoys bowling and golf.
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 since 2014.
E.A.
In Memoriam
In 1946 E.A. "June" Graybill returning from servingour country with the United States Navy, along with his wife Lucille Painter Graybill, purchased all of the company stock and was forall rights the owner of Rader Funeral Home. Soon after purchasing Rader, Junebought a building from B.A. Painter and in 1949 relocated the business acrossthe street in Troutville. In 1950 additions were needed and a chapel was addedas well as a selection room in which caskets were displayed for purchase. In1955 June purchased a building and opened another branch on the main street ofBuchanan, Virginia.
Lucilleserved as Pianist, Choir Director and later Organist at Troutville BaptistChurch for more than 75 years. While herchildren were young she taught private piano and organ lessons and many peoplein the community benefited from her teaching expertise. She was a Master Musician. When her children were older she returned toteaching as the first elementary public school music teacher for BotetourtCounty Schools. Lucille volunteered forthe Lions Club, taught music lessons to the inmates at the local prison camp,continued as organist at Rader Funeral Home through September 2018, and played for numerous programs,weddings and functions in the area.
June passed away December 8, 2008 and Lucille September 30, 2021. May their memories be eternal!
Larry Lewis Crawford, Sr.
In Memoriam June 12, 1934 ~ October 7, 2020 Memory Eternal!
Larry was a deputy sheriff for Botetourt County for many years, and an Ambassador for Rader Funeral Home for 63 years. He was a member of Mill Creek Baptist Church, former member of Troutville Church of the Brethren, Boy Scouts of America for 40 years, served on the Troutville Fire Department for 24 years, was a life member of Troutville Rescue Squad and served as a charter and life member of both. Larry served in the United States Army in the Army of Occupation following World War II and served during the Korean Conflict; was a life member of Troutville VFW Post #1841, and was a Master Mason with Boone Lodge #247 F&AM.
Larry was part of the history of Rader Funeral Home. After June Graybill, Larry WAS Rader Funeral Home. He is and has been sorely missed.
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.
