Veteran services at Updike Funeral Home Inc
Updike Funeral Home Inc, located in Bedford, VA, assists those who served and their families. In their own words: "Offers traditional military services as part of their funeral options." On-site amenities include on-site chapel/venue, suited to flag presentation and honors ceremonies. Published pricing lists $1,720 for basic burial and $2,200 for direct cremation. Veterans may qualify for county or federal allowances toward these costs.
Veteran-related services offered include cremation and traditional burial. Each service is coordinated with the family and, where applicable, with the deceased's last unit or branch honor detail.
On-site facilities of note include on-site chapel/venue. These spaces accommodate full military honors details, family gatherings before and after the service, and the placement of the United States flag during the visitation period.
The nearest VA national cemetery is Danville National Cemetery in VA, approximately 53 miles from Updike Funeral Home Inc. Updike Funeral Home Inc can coordinate transport, scheduling with the cemetery's interment office, and the timing of military honors with the receiving committal shelter.
Virginia has approximately 579 licensed funeral homes serving its population, of which a subset specifically lists military funeral honors and VA benefits assistance among their services. Updike Funeral Home Inc is among them.
Frequently asked questions
Does Updike Funeral Home Inc publish funeral prices?
Updike Funeral Home Inc has not posted a full price list online. Under the FTC Funeral Rule it must provide itemized pricing on request — call (540) 586-3304, and ask how VA burial benefits apply.
Where is Updike Funeral Home Inc located, and can it coordinate a veterans cemetery burial?
Updike Funeral Home Inc is located at 1140 West Lynchburg Salem Tpke in Bedford, VA. You can reach the home at (540) 586-3304. Staff can coordinate burial with nearby VA national and state veterans cemeteries.
What services does Updike Funeral Home Inc offer veteran families?
Updike Funeral Home Inc provides traditional funeral, cremation, pre-planning, traditional burial, and can arrange military funeral honors for eligible veterans.
Does Updike Funeral Home Inc help veterans with VA burial benefits?
Offers traditional military services as part of their funeral options.
Which faith traditions does Updike Funeral Home Inc accommodate?
Staff coordinate services for Christian (various denominations), Jewish families, among others.
What sets Updike Funeral Home Inc apart
- Deep family history dating back to 1864, with early operations involving handcrafting coffins using body-length sticks, which are still preserved.
- Extensive and specialized grief support resources, including articles by Dr. Bill Webster on topics such as pet loss, grief after suicide, and helping children cope with loss.
- Fourth-generation family involvement in leadership, with Katrina O. Nester serving as President and Secretary.
- Frances L. Updike, a former operator, was the first licensed woman funeral director in Virginia.
Burial & cremation services
Burial
- · Traditional Burial
Cremation
- · Cremation
On-site facilities
Affiliations & specializations
Specializations
- · Grief Support
- · Pet Loss Grief Support
- · Children and Grief Support
- · Grief After Suicide Support
Religious traditions & languages
Religious traditions accommodated: Christian (various denominations), Jewish.
EverSettled · After the Veteran Funeral
The veteran's spouse may qualify for VA Dependency & Indemnity Compensation.
DIC is a tax-free monthly benefit for surviving spouses, dependent children, and (in some cases) parents of veterans whose death is service-connected. EverSettled walks veteran families through DIC eligibility, survivor pension, life-insurance claims, probate, and the federal-account paperwork that follows.
Begin Veteran Estate SettlementHow honors are coordinated
Military funeral honors are guaranteed at no cost for any veteran discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. The funeral home arranges the honors detail by contacting the deceased's last unit or the nearest active-duty installation of the appropriate branch and submitting the DD-214 to verify eligibility.
For requests less than 72 hours from service time, families can call the Department of Defense's expedited honors line at 1-877-MIL-HONR (1-877-645-4667). See the full honors protocol.