Our Valued Staff

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  Bob Pollard, Manager

  Robert “Bob” Pollard has been a life long resident of Salem. He graduated from Andrew Lewis High School and John Tyler School of Mortuary Science. Bob is an avid fan of Harley Davidson Motorcycles.He is a member of the Salem Rotary Club, the Salem School Board Business Roundtable, the Salem/Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce, Salem Rescue Squad Advisory Board, Housecall Hospice Advisory Board and Trainer, a member of the Virginia Funeral Directors Association and the Blue Ridge Funeral Directors Association.He is a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church and has been a 14-year Soccer coach in Salem.
  
  Bob has been actively involved with Lotz Funeral Homes, Inc. for the past 19 years. For 22 years prior to coming to Lotz, he worked for John M. Oakey and Son in Salem. In 1999, Bob Pollard became the manager of Lotz Salem Chapel.
  
  Bob is married to his beautiful wife, Denise.They have a son Matt who is a local Commonwealth Attorney , a daughter, Tracy, who is a Human Resource Director for a local retirement community & nuesing facility. He has a grandson, Mason & a granddaughter, Claire.
  
  Bob decided to pursue a career in funeral service because his father and brother were both in the business. Bob’s compassionate nature shows as he is being to guide each of the families he serves through one of the most difficult transitions of their life with compassion, integrity, dignity and honesty.

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  J. D. Gibson, Retired Manager

  John D. (J.D.) Gibson is semi retired as manager of Lotz Salem Chapel. He is an Army Veteran. He retired in 1999, yet remains very active with the funeral home. J.D. was married to Alma M. Gibson until her death in 1994. J.D. is an active member of the Salem Kiwanis Club, the Salem Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce, and the Masonic Lodge, UTC. He is also a member of Green Hill Church of the Brethren. J.D. has three grown sons, all of whom reside in Salem.
  
  J.D. has over 50 years of experience in funeral service, 37 of those years with Lotz Funeral Homes, Inc.

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  Marian Williams, Hostess

  Marian Williams serves as a hostess at Lotz Funeral Home in Salem. She was born and raised in Salem. She was been married for 62 years and she and her husband have one daughter and three sons. Having lost one of her sons at the age of 51, she can sympathize with grieving families and enjoys assisting them in various aspects through their time of need. She enjoys painting and sewing in her free time.

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  Linda Mills, Hostess

  Linda grew up in Penhook, VA and now resides in Salem, VA. She retired from GE and enjoys working out at Salem Fitness throughout the week. She loves people and her feelings go out to families. She says that by working at Lotz, she is doing something that makes her feel good about herself and challenges her through helping others in their time of grief.

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  Jeffrey Shively, Ambassador

  Jeff Shively is a life-long resident of Salem, having worked in various service industries throughout his working career. He has worked for Lotz Funeral Home in Salem part time since 2006. He enjoys assisting families in any aspect that he can to help them in their time of need.

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  Lowell Eller, Ambassador

  Lowell Frederick Eller was born in the Oak Grove community of Roanoke County, the last of ten children of Reverend C.E. and Rebecca Eller. He graduated from Andrew Lewis High School in 1947. Going to work for Nelson Hardware Company in Roanoke, he became the Assistant Purchasing Agent and Manager of the perpetual inventory control. After 23 years in that business, he left and became an outside salesman for industrial tools. He retired in 1992 from the industrial tools business, leaving Salem Tools after 20 years as part owner and outside salesman. In 1993 he joined Northwest Hardware in Salem, working part-time and left after five years of service. At that same time, he started working part-time at John M. Oakey and Son Funeral Home in Salem as the Supervisor of Grounds and Maintenance, as well as a funeral assistant. He is currently working for Lotz Funeral Home in Salem as an assistant/ambassador. As you can see, he enjoys meeting and talking with people and feels he can be a help to those in their time of bereavement.
  
  Lowell is a past member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and is a charter member of the Salem Men's Garden Club. He is an Elder in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and a current member of Salem Presbyterian Church.
  
  Lowell has been married to Sarah for 26 years. He has two daughters and she has two daughters and one son, all living in the area. They have six grandchildren and one great-granddaughter, all of whom play a big part in their lives. Lowell is an avid fruit and vegetable grower with peaches and tomatoes being his specialties. He loves playing golf and traveling. He continually works, especially in the winter months, on his family genealogy, whose records cover eight generations.