Rev. Raleigh Duncan "RD" Stallard

Rev. Raleigh Duncan (“R.D.”) Stallard

March 20, 1929 - October 17, 2023

Rev. R.D. Stallard, 94, joined the Lord in Heaven on October 17, 2023.  R.D. was born March 20, 1929, in Snowflake, Virginia, and lived almost all of his life in Gate City.  As a boy, R.D. was so shy some people called him “Say,” because he would not talk to other people.  But the Lord works in mysterious ways, and after God called R.D. to enter the ministry as a young man, R.D. became one of the founding members of Daniel Boone Baptist Church near Gate City, where he spent more than 50 years preaching the Gospel from the pulpit.  R.D. was a graduate of Clear Creek Baptist Bible College and was supported in his ministry and all of his other endeavors by the love of his life, Eloise McGee Stallard, to whom he was married for over 69 years until her death in 2018.  While Eloise was the love of his life, the light of his life was his only child, daughter Belinda Stallard Range, and it was not uncommon for R.D. to recount Belinda’s latest accomplishments to friends and total strangers alike.  While R.D. never had a biological son, he treated several young men like sons, including Jim Berry, his nephew Gary McGhee, and his former son-in-law, Ronnie Range.

Prior to entering the ministry, R.D. served in the United States Air Force, and also worked as a contractor both prior to and during his ministry.  In the little time he had when he was not visiting the sick or otherwise helping people in his church family or the community, R.D. was an avid fan of the Gate City Blue Devils, University of Tennessee Volunteers, and Virginia Tech Hokies, and often commented on specific players (both current and from long ago) until shortly before his passing.

R.D. was preceded in death by his parents, Frederick, and Victoria Stallard; two brothers, Joe, and Chester; and three sisters, Bonnie, Inez, and June.  R.D. is survived by his daughter, Belinda Stallard Range, of Gate City; three grandchildren, Trey Range (Karissa) of Gray, Ryan Range of Kingsport, Rachel Range Hagerman (Travis) of Piney Flats; and two great-grandchildren Evelyn Sophia Range, and Johnny Duncan Hagerman.

The family will receive friends from 2-2:30p.m. on Friday, October 20, 2023, at the Gate City Funeral Home. Services will be conducted at 2:30p.m., in the Gene Falin Memorial Chapel of the Funeral Home with Rev. Jeff DeBoard and Rev. Tom Edwards officiating. Stanley Rogers will provide the music.

Graveside services will follow the funeral at the Holston View Cemetery, Weber City, VA.  Trey Range, Ryan Range, Jim Berry, Travis Hagerman, Belinda Range, and Karissa Range will serve as pallbearers.  Gary McGhee will serve as an honorary pallbearer.

The Stallard family would like to thank all of R.D.’s caregivers and the administrators and support staff of Wexford House and Amedisys Hospice in Kingsport for their caring support and kindness during R.D.’s stays there.

An online guest register is available for the Stallard family at www.gatecityfunerals.com.

Gate City Funeral Home is honored to be serving the family of Rev. Raleigh Duncan (“R.D.”) Stallard.