Larry Blane Kestner

Larry Blane Kestner, 64, of Saltville, Virginia passed away peacefully at home in Durham, North Carolina surrounded by his family on December 7, 2020. Larry is survived by his wife of 45 years, Deborah Gail Kestner, sons Matt (Deborah) and Dillon (Alexandria) Kestner, brother Melvin (Pat) Kestner and sister Gracie (Lanny) Harner and loving nieces, nephew and cousins and a host of long-time friends. His first granddaughter Olivia Agnes Kestner was his pride and joy. He is preceded in death by his parents Romie and Charlotte “Lois” Kestner of Saltville, VA. Larry was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend to everyone. He loved visiting the Blue Ridge Mountains, fishing, hunting, and spending time with his family and friends. Many people knew Larry for his comic whit and enduring honesty. He loved traveling with his family, working on diesel engines, and tending to his yard and garden. He enjoyed watching his boys grow up playing sports, starting young at Oak Grove Athletic Association and on through middle school, high school and college.  He loved being outdoors and had many adventures with Boy Scout Troop 402. He and his wife recently celebrated their 45^th wedding anniversary and cherished the memories of a lifetime together. Larry was a dedicated hard working Master Diesel Mechanic and spent many years proudly serving his community while providing for his family.  A special thanks to the Bethesda Ruritan Club and to all those who have reached out and helped Larry and his family during his life. Also, thank you to Hudson Funeral Home for their arrangements. Visitation is at Hudson Funeral Home on Saturday, December 12, 2020 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. A celebration of life will be planned sometime in the future. In lieu of flowers, Larry wanted to support his love of Cades Cove and The Great Smokey Mountains. A donation can be made to the Friends of the Smokies directly under the “memorial tab” in his name by visiting friendsofthesmokies.org