Brendan Gamble

Brendan Gene Gamble, age 70, died June 3, 2014; at John Randolph Medical Center in Hopewell, Virginia. Mr. Gamble was born September 16, 1943, to Michael and Mary Jane Mariniak Gamble in Petersburg, Va. He is survived by several aunts, uncles, many cousins, and a godson, Drew Button, of Charlotte, North Carolina. Mr. Gamble was raised a Catholic. He attended St. Joseph Elementary School (Petersburg, Va.), graduated from Petersburg High School, and lived in Colonial Heights for 68 years. As a train enthusiast, Mr. Gamble travelled by rail across the United States. He knew no strangers and would eagerly discuss train information with anyone within earshot. He was the Genealogist for the Gamble and Mariniak families. As a staunch Catholic, Brendan maintained an affection for the Faith and the Mass of his youth, and in the later years of his life he attended traditional Catholic churches, such as Our Lady of Fatima (Richmond, Va.) and St. Augustine Chapel (Carrollton, Va.), where the immemorial Latin Mass was celebrated exclusively. He loved God, the Church, his family and friends, and all things having to do with trains. He will be sorely missed. Services will be held on June 10, 2014, at the Colonial Heights Chapel of E. Alvin Small Funeral Homes and Crematory 2033 Boulevard, Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m., and at 10:00 a.m. there will be a recitation of the Rosary. A Sung Mass of the Dead (known as a requiem) will follow at 11:00 a.m., celebrated by the Rev. Fr. Daniel B. Ahern of St. Augustine Chapel. The pall bearers will be: Andrew Button, Drew Button, Tom Minitree, Doug Duncan, Joshua Childress, and Richard Papcun. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery in Petersburg. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the St. Augustine Chapel Flower Fund, 12083 Smiths Neck Rd., Carrollton, VA, 23314, or to the Colonial Heights Police or Fire & EMS Departments. The family wishes to thank the Police and Fire & EMS Departments of Colonial Heights, among whose staff were many who gave constant aid and professional support to Brendan. Thanks too are offered to Dr. Yogesh K. Gandhi, M.D., for the personal and professional attention he gave to Brendan. The family also thanks the Hopewell Health Care Center staff for their dedicated rehabilitative work with Brendan, as well as those at the Colonial Heights Health Care and Rehabilitation Center who looked after his long-term care. Lastly, the family extends heartfelt and loving thanks to Ruth Russo, Brendan's dear and faithful friend - everything over the past 2 years that she did for Brendan, she did also for the glory of God. Condolences may be registered at www.ealvinsmall.com.