Edna Earl Rountree Blythe, 89, of Corapeake, NC passed away on April 12, 2010. A native of Wilmington, NC she was the daughter of the late Lucious Hurley Rountree and Sadie Belle Carter and also predeceased by a brother, Eldred Vincent Rountree, Sr. She was a graduate of Sunbury High School and completed nursing and business courses. She retired from the C & P Telephone Company where she was Chief Operator and Supervisor. Edna Earl was a member of Saint Andrews United Methodist Church in Portsmouth; a member of the United Methodist Women; a member of Hudson Hornsby Circle; and a charter member of the Franklin Women's Club.

She is survived by her husband of 71 years, Rev. Clifton C. Blythe, Jr. of Corapeake; three sons and daughters-in-law, C. Earl Blythe (Louise) of Franklin, Stephen E. Blythe (JoAnn) of Chesapeake, and Barry C. Blythe (Barbara) of Chesapeake; four grandchildren, Christine Earl Blythe, Ryan Stephen Blythe, Amy Blythe Sims, and Sarah Blythe Jordan; three great grandchildren, Carter Sidney Nham, Caroline Blythe Nham and John Paul (Jack) Sims, IV.

A funeral service will be held at Parr Funeral Home and Crematory, 3515 Robs Drive, Suffolk on Thursday, April 15, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Susan Reaves and Rev. Michael Reaves officiating. Burial will follow at Holly Lawn Cemetery in Suffolk. Friends may join the family for visitation on Wednesday evening from 7 – 8:30 p.m. at the funeral home and other times at the residence. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to High Street United Methodist Church, 301 West First Avenue, Franklin, VA. 23851 (or P. O. Box 218, Franklin, VA 23851) or Saint Andrews United Methodist Church, 5616 Portsmouth Boulevard, Portsmouth, VA 23701, c/o Blythe Memorial Fund. Condolences may be registered online at www.parrfuneralhome.com.

The family would like to express its sincere appreciation to caregivers, Stephanie Hall, Lenora Harrell and Susan Webb for their dedicated, compassionate and loving care.