Johnny Osborne Propst, 82, of Brandywine passed away peacefully Aug. 26, 2024, at Grant Memorial Hospital in Petersburg surrounded by friends and family.
He was born Oct. 18, 1941, in Brandywine and was the son of the late Rudolph Propst and Lucy Catherine (Bowers) Propst.
Mr. Propst graduated in 1960 from Franklin High School and served in the Army from 1961 to 1963. He was very proud of his service to his country, telling people, “I wouldn’t have traded it to do anything else”.
After his service in the Army, he worked in a machine shop, helped build interstates and part of Route 50 near Gore, operated equipment for Harold Miller, and ran the landfill in Franklin until its closing. At the Public Service District, he managed water quality and read meters for Brandywine and Upper Tract. He was the owner/operator of Mountain View Trailer Park in Brandywine from the 1980s until his passing.
He enjoyed going for drives around Pendleton County and stopping in to visit friends. He also enjoyed driving around the farmland of Rockingham County on any trip to Harrisonburg, Virginia. He served as a member of the Sugar Grove Lions Club and had a passion for cooking.
As part of his service in the Sugar Grove Lions Club, he cooked his “world famous” white beans and ham at the Treasure Mountain Festival. He also grilled steaks for the annual Lions Club family night each August. Outside of the Lions Club, he was camp cook for groups going on horseback rides. He also manned the fire pit for many chicken barbecues.
In his most recent years, he perfected the pastime of porch sittin’. Anyone who stopped by his house would be asked to join him on the porch, where he would tell good stories while watching hummingbirds, and sipping on a drink.
Surviving are two daughters, Natalie Propst (Robert) of Arlington, Virginia, and Emily Propst (Jake) of Livingston, Montana; a sister, JoAnn Raines of Harrisonburg, Virginia; and two nieces.
He was also preceded in death by an infant brother.
A celebration of his life will be held at a later date.
Memorials may be made to the Sugar Grove Lions Club, 178 Mitchell Mill Gap Drive, Sugar Grove, WV 26815.
Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.kimblefuneralhome.com.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Kimble Funeral Home in Franklin.
