Ida Mae Bales, age 91, of Ceres, VA, passed away peacefully on November 4, 2017 surrounded by family and friends at Wythe County Community Hospital.

Ida was born in Bland County, Virginia on May 18, 1926 to the late Robert L. and Rose Waddell Atkins and was a long time resident of the Ceres community which she loved and a member of Bethany Methodist and Zion Methodist Churches.  She enjoyed the fellowship of her Senior Friends group that she attended weekly.  Ida had a passion for cooking and inviting people to her home for meals or taking food to those who could not get out of their homes.

Ida was preceded in death by her husband Wiley Legard Bales, brother Robert (Ruth Pauley) Atkins, sisters, Macie (Garnett) Hubble, Elizabeth (Holston), Irene (Wayne) Bruce, and Margaret Atkins.

She is survived by son, Robert (Norma), daughter, Sheila Kissel (Doug), granddaughter, Lisa Wooldridge and grandson, Brian Kissel.  Two great-grandchildren, Colby and Cadyn Wooldridge.  She is also survived by her sister Felicia (Leon) Hayton.

Funeral services will be held at 8:00 P.M. Tuesday, November 7, 2017 at the Bland Funeral Chapel with the Reverend Neal Hammond officiating.  The family will receive friends Tuesday from 6:00 P.M. until service time.

Graveside services will be held at 12:00 P.M. Wednesday, November 8, 2017 at the Bethany United Methodist Church Cemetery in Ceres, Virginia.

The family requests donations be sent to Bethany United Methodist Church Cemetery Fund at 2556 Birchgrove Road, Ceres, Virginia 24318.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.highlandfuneralservice.com Bland Funeral Chapel is serving the Bales family.