Freda Ann Gates Dinsmore

Saltville, VA

Freda Ann Gates Dinsmore, "Maw" age 73 of Saltville, VA, a beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend went home to be with her Heavenly Father on June 8, 2024, at Holston Valley Medical Center in Kingsport, TN. She was born on May 13, 1951, at TK McKee Hospital in Saltville to the late John L. and Kathleen "Kat" Gates. She loved The Lord, she loved her family, and she especially loved all of her grandbabies and great grandbabies. Freda worked many different jobs in her lifetime including working at US Gypsum for 10 years and driving a school bus for Smyth County School System for 15 years. She retired from bus driving in March of 2018 and would have driven much longer had she not been diagnosed with COPD, but she reminisced often about her years of driving and all the children that she "hauled around". She was an active member of Lighthouse Baptist Church in Saltville up until her diagnosis and she missed being in the church very much. She was a hardworking, God fearing, feisty woman that would've sacrificed her well-being and time for everyone that she loved. She was truly a selfless woman that cared for others more than herself and didn't realize just how much she was loved and appreciated. She will be missed so very much by everyone that had the pleasure of knowing her.

In addition to her parents, she is also preceded in death by her husband of 38 years, Wayne Dinsmore; daughter, Barbara Robbins; son, Michael Smith; granddaughter,Brittany Williams; sisters, Jane Kestner, Betty Roberts, Glenda Cline, brothers BobbyGates, Roger Dale Gates, and Larry "Windel" Gates.

Left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Tina Olinger (Lewis) of Saltville and LeslieWilliams (Frankie) of Richmond; sons, Steven Smith, Allen Dinsmore (Tammy) and JeffDinsmore (Kay) all of Saltville; son-in-law, Russell Robbins of Saltville; grandchildren,Patricia Waddell, Stephanie Barker, Stacey Williams, Austin Robbins, Colton Dinsmore,Landon Dinsmore, Madison Trivitt, Cody Smith, Tristen Olinger, Jadon Dinsmore, Kayla Dinsmore, and Paige Olinger; 14 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Cathy Barrett (Neal) and Diane Allison; one brother, Con Gates; two sisters-in-laws, Lois Doane (Buster) and Terry Brown; one brother-in-law, Donnie Dinsmore; several nieces and nephews; her best friend that was more like a sister, Amy Norris and husband George whom she also loved very much; and her spoiled rotten furbaby, Gypsy.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Pam Prater who spent the last 2years giving Freda the care and companionship she needed and becoming like another daughter to her. The family would also like to thank the ICU nursing staff and Hospice nurses at Holston Valley Medical Center for taking such good care of Freda and having her best interests in mind as well as providing much needed support to the family.

Funeral services will be conducted on Monday, June 10, 2024 at Lighthouse Baptist Church at 7 p.m. with Pastor Terry Frye officiating. The family will be receiving friends from 5 until 7 p.m. prior to the service. Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday at Mount Pleasant Cemetery. Tristen Olinger, Jadon Dinsmore, Colton Dinsmore, Landon Dinsmore, Noah Trivitt, and Gary Waddell will be serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearer, Eric Puckett.

Online condolences may be expressed at drhendersonfuneralhome.com. The D.R. Henderson Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Freda Ann Gates.