CAPRON — Russell C. Schools, 81, passed away on Jan. 19, 2016, at Sentara Obici Hospital in Suffolk, surrounded by his family.

Mr. Schools was a native of Bowling Green, Virginia, and was the son of the late Roland Lewis and Carrie Beasley Schools.

He retired in 2004 as the executive secretary of the Virginia Peanut Growers Association, a position he had held for over 40 years.

Mr. Schools was a 1957 graduate of Virginia Tech and became a VPI Extension agent for Accomack County on the Eastern Shore before moving to Southampton County in a similar role in 1961.

He resided in the same house on Main Street in Capron for over 50 years.

He was a longtime member of Capron United Methodist Church, the Capron Ruritan Club and a member and treasurer of the Indiantown Hunt Club.

Mr. Schools served Southampton County for over 40 years as a member of the school board with over 35 years as the chairman of the Southampton County School Board.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 59 years, Fay Clow Schools; one daughter, Lynn Schools Heacock (David) of Richmond; two sons, Russell C. Schools Jr. and Todd D. Schools (Willie) of Capron; two sisters, Patty Driver (Bernie) of Milford and Delores Creech of King George; and six grandchildren, Ryan Heacock (Sarah) of Boston, Massachusetts; Garrett Lassiter of Capron; Sam Heacock of Richmond; Zoe Mathis (William) of Gulfport, Mississippi; Alaina Schools and Ava Schools, both of Capron.

The funeral will be at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 24, in Capron United Methodist Church with Pastor Nancy Palmer officiating. Burial will follow at the Capron Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at Wright Funeral Home, Franklin, on Saturday from 5 to 6:30 p.m., and suggests that memorial donations be made to Capron United Methodist Church, c/o Dolly Nicholson, 21128 Popes Station Rd., Capron, VA 23829, or any favorite charity.

www.wrightfuneralhome.org.