Wayne Bentley Counts, 67 of Covington went to be with the Lord on Thursday May 11, 2017, He may have lost his battle with cancer, but he gained eternal life through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. He was born August 12, 1949, in Alleghany County, a son of the late Gordon Bentley and Lena Gladys Steele Counts. He attended Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg. He was retired from Mead Westvaco after 36 years of service as a Maintenance Journeyman Certified Welder in the Welder’s Department. He also represented Mead Westvaco in Washington, DC as a lobbyist while a member of the PPRC with the mill. He honorably served in the United States Military and was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He wanted to be remembered simply as, a husband of one, father of two and grandfather of three (Poppy). In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a brother; Doug Counts, of Florida. He is survived by his wife of 45 years; Vicki Counts, a daughter; Staci Tyree and husband Kevin, of Bedford, a son; Robbie Counts and wife Laurie, of Clifton Forge, three grandchildren; Levi Counts, Jacob Tyree and Mikayla Tyree, three brothers; Mike Counts and wife Isolde, of Clifton Forge, Steve Counts, of Tennessee, Andy Counts and wife Michelle, of Arizona, five sisters; Sandra Martin and husband Will, of North Carolina, Martha Smith and husband Tinker, of Manassas, Carolyn Gibson and husband Fuzzy, of Clifton Forge, Vicki Smith and husband Otis, and Tanya Buchanan and husband John, all of Texas. He is also survived by Ronnie Saville and his wife Kathy, whom he regarded as his brother and sister-in-law, and a number of nieces and nephews. A funeral service will be held at 1:00 PM Monday May 15, 2017 in The Chapel of Nicely Funeral Home in Clifton Forge with Pastor Ronnie Saville officiating. Interment will follow at Alleghany Memorial Park in Low Moor. Active pallbearers will be; Charles (Chuck) Bartley, Gary Bartley, Joe Wood, Jimmy Byer, Lannie Clinebell, and Brian Hirt. His family will receive friends from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM Sunday evening at Nicely Funeral Home. The family suggests memorial contribution take the form of donations in his memory to Liberty University, 1971 University Blvd, Lynchburg, Virginia 24515.