The late Chris Fountain of Staunton came from a large family which led friends to believe that is why he so easily loved others and they loved him.
Born in Salisbury, Maryland, the third of seven children, Fountain made Staunton home after college and after his family had settled in Waynesboro where his father was employed at Dupont.
A bench dedication will be held on Sears Hill on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. to celebrate Fountain. The bench is a gift from the Fountain family to the Staunton community that provided him love and support and the family’s way of saying “You belong here.”
After Fountain’s death on Aug. 11, 2024, loved ones were encouraged to donate books to Shelburne Middle School on which memorial stickers were placed for Fountain, or donations were requested to Augusta Dog Adoptions.
Mira Robinson has lived in Ashburn since 1996, but lived in Staunton when she began working at McCormick’s Pub & Restaurant in the 1990s and became friends with Fountain, who co-owned the downtown restaurant.
“He was very, very special to me,” she said of her friend whom she considered an older brother. They became even closer in the last 10 years when she would come back to Staunton on weekends and help him with yard work and laundry. “He loved life. Chris loved life.”
Fountain, who died at age 68 of COPD after many years of smoking, also loved sharing stories. Robinson’s favorite of his stories was in the last days of his mother’s life.
“She hugged each child and told them their special qualities,” Robinson said. “You are my gift to society,” his mother told Fountain before she died. “And he truly was,” Robinson said.
Robinson said she loved working with Fountain. Sometimes she would help him remember the names of regulars in the restaurant.
“He was a great boss,” she said.
According to Robinson, Fountain did not like to hear sad stories. He wanted to be happy. He enjoyed his pets, including dogs and a cat, his friends, his family and his work. At one point in his life, work included serving as an instructional aide with special education children at Shelburne Middle.
“He loved the children,” Robinson said.
He especially enjoyed Halloween when his students went trick-or-treating and came to his house for candy. He made himself available to help students with homework.
“He was just truly, truly a remarkable person,” she said.
According to Staunton City Council member Blake Shepherd, Fountain was one of the first individuals he met when he moved to Staunton and one of the reasons he decided to stay.
Lee McChesney met Fountain in 1989 after getting out of the U.S. Navy, enrolling at Blue Ridge Community College and taking a job as a bartender at McCormick’s, which was at 41 North Augusta Street.
“We became good friends over the years. He was a good guy,” McChesney said.
With his “infectious smile,” McChesney said that Fountain knew the meaning of hospitality and he loved Staunton.
“He was so much fun to be with,” McChesney said of his friend.
He was often with Fountain when former Shelburne students would approach and say hello.
“He was always happy to see them, see what they’re up to, what they’re doing with their lives,” McChesney said.
A big Clemson University fan, Fountain had a tiger paw tattooed on his upper arm. McChesney said that he and Fountain had plans in fall 2024 to attend a Clemson football game, but Fountain died in August. Some of his ashes were spread at the mid-field on Clemson‘s football field. When McChesney and a friend went to the fall game anyway, they felt Fountain’s presence during the game.
“He had the best stories of things that happened to him in his life. He was such a character,” McChesney said.
Fountain never married or had children of his own, but adored his 11 nieces and nephews for whom he was the favorite uncle.
“He was a unique individual,” McChesney said.
McChesney remembers how Fountain always encouraged him to read more books and he loved visiting Gypsy Hill Park with his dog, Ginger.
“I don’t know if anybody has any bad words to say about him,” McChesney said.
Fountain was cremated and his ashes spread in different locations.
“He was a beautiful human being,” McChesney said.
Support AFP
Share
Rebecca Barnabi
