PENSACOLA, Fla. - Laura Charlotte Tolliver Farley, [WWHS '58] formerly of Beckley, entered the kingdom of God at 3:40 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2002, following an extended illness. Mrs. Farley was the daughter of the late Charles G. Tolliver and Nellie I. Tolliver. She was preceded in death by her husband, Arlie Farley; and brothers and sisters, James S. Tolliver, Robert T. Tolliver, Dorothy L. Wardrup, Maejory M. Butterick and Thelma M. Phillips. Survivors include her children: Arlie J. Farley of Middletown, R.I., Robinet Ford Robbins of Pensacola, Fla.; a granddaughter, Debra Sue Vatovec of Lakenheath Air Force Base, England; brother and sisters, Rolland A. Tolliver and wife, Drema, of Eastpointe, Mich., Alfreda D. Hyde of Pensacola, Fla., Arzella C. Cox of Stanaford, Loretta Hartsog and husband, Buford, of MacArthur, Meleta B. Tolliver of Beckley and Naomi C. Brooke of Beckley; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Service will be 1 p.m. Sunday at Rose and Quesenberry Peace Chapel, Beckley, with the Rev. Troy W. Simmons officiating. Private viewing for family only will be at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in Farley Vest Cemetery, White Oak Mountain. Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, Beckley
From Conyers, Georgia, Citizen, February 28, 2002: The funeral for Daniel Martin [WWHS '58] of Conyers will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at the chapel of Harry L. White Funeral Home in Conyers. Chaplin Steve Austin will officiate. Interment will follow at Green Meadow Memorial Gardens. Born in West Virginia, Mr. Martin, 62, died February 26, 2002, at Portsbridge Hospice. He was a supervisor for American Pest Control, and he was preceded in death by a daughter, Charlene Martin. Surviving are his daughter, Tyann Davis of Covington; brother Charles Martin Jr. of West Virginia; sisters, Ruby Todd, also of West Virginia and Shirley Huffman of North Carolina; and several nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends today from 5-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
From the Beckley Post-Herald, July 24, 1978: Services for David Robert Bailes, [WWHS '58] 37, of Sand Branch, will be Tuesday at 11 a.m. in Blue Ridge Funeral Home chapel in Prosperity with the Rev. Fred Dinkler officiating. Burial will be in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens. Mr. Bailes dies Saturday of a gunshot wound according to the Raleigh County Sheriff's Department. Born Aug, 18, 1940, he was the son of Mrs. Mae Worrell of Mount Hope and the late Earl Bailes. Bailes was a mining machine mechanic. Other survivors include two daughters, Vickie and Karen, both at home; three sisters, Mrs. Carol Smith, Nieca Kay Smith and Sharon Bailes, all of Mount Hope, and three half brothers, Ernie Ray, Mark and Jody Worrell, all of Mount Hope. The family requests no visitation. Pallbearers will be Jody Worrell, Mark Worrell, Ernie Ray Worrell, Dan Smith, Ricky Sneed and Lonnie Williams.
BRANDON, Fla. - Ernestine Margaret Oszvart, [WWHS '39] died Saturday, Oct. 12, 2002, in Brandon, Fla. Born April 19, 1921, at Beckley, she was the daughter of the late Tony Metrick and Agnes Swatzyna Metrick. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Oszvart. Survivors include a son, Joseph A. Oszvart of Detroit, Mich., and a brother, Emmett Metrick of Watertown, Tenn. Private graveside rites and burial will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at Sunset Memorial Park, Beckley, with the Rev. Mr. Don Wise officiating. There will be no visitation. The family requests that flowers be omitted. Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, Beckley.
William (Bill) Johnston (Class of 1954) died on Aug. 13, 2002. He was a retired veterinarian in Point Pleasant, West Virginia. This information came from his sister Betty (Johnston) Gunther.
Emory Wilson (Class 1956) died several years ago in Arlington, Virginia, according to information from a classmate in 2002. He had lived in Arlington and McLean, Va., since 1959. He was interred at Calfee Cemetery at Mount Tabor.
Dorothy Minnick Mooney, 86, passed away Friday, Oct. 11, 2002, from a short illness. Born March 21, 1916, in Sophia, she was the daughter of Ralph and Mae A. Roles Minnick. Mrs. Mooney was a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School and Beckley College. During World War II she joined the WACS and then the Allied Air Force. She was stationed in Berlin and participated in the German Airlift. She was a teletype operator and attained the rank of sergeant. She was honorably discharged in 1945. At one time Mrs. Mooney was a Girl Scout leader in Beckley. She was an active member of the Shepherd Center, an avid Bridge player and a member of the Fidalis Sunday School Class at Beckley First Baptist Church. She is survived by her husband, Carl Mooney; and numerous nieces and nephews, including, Patricia Hughes of Bradley, Jane Thomas Marks of Charleston, Sarah Thomas Prochaska of Atlanta, Mary Mooney Biel of Columbus, Ohio, C.W. Minnick of Kentucky and Jeanie Tennant of Bradley; and a sister-in-law, Ruth Ella Thomas of Beckley. Service will be 11 a.m. Monday at Blue Ridge Funeral Home Chapel, Beckley, with Dr. David Carrico officiating. Entombment will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley. Friends may call 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers. Arrangements by Blue Ridge Funeral Home, Beckley.
Ruth Wray Gray, 86, formerly of Beckley, died Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2002, after a short illness. Upon graduating from Duke University at age 19, she began a teaching career that spanned half a century. After posts at Beckley Junior High and Mount Hope, she spent 25 years at Woodrow Wilson and retired as head of math department in 1986. Mrs. Gray was a Sunday school teacher and choir member at First Christian Church in Beckley and later attended River Road Church Baptist in Richmond. She was the daughter of the late Everett B. Wray and Ruth Smith Wray, formerly of Glen White, and the widow of John W. Gray, also a teacher in Fayette and Raleigh counties and later head of county vocational rehabilitation. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Thomas Peter and John Paul Wray. Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, J. William Gray Jr. and Debrah Shumate Gray of Richmond; her grandchildren, John W. Gray III of Longmont, Colo., and Melanie A. Gray of Richmond; a brother, Dr. E.B. Wray of Beckley; and a sister, Julia W. Korman of Leesburg, Va. Service will be noon Saturday at Melton Mortuary Chapel, Beckley. Interment will follow in Sunset Memorial Park, Beckley. The family will receive visitors from 10 a.m. until time of service Saturday at the funeral home. Memorial gifts may be made to the Ruth Wray Gray Scholarship Fund at the Beckley Area Foundation, 129 Main St., Suite 203, Beckley, WV 25801. Arrangements by Melton Mortuary, Beckley.
Leafy Etta St. Clair Ballou, 86, of McGinnis Street, Beckley, died Monday, Oct. 7, 2002, in her home following a long and full life. Born June 18, 1916, in Roanoke, Va., she was the daughter of the late Grover Cleveland and Ruby Walker St. Clair. Mrs. Ballou moved to the Matoaka area of West Virginia in 1923 and had been a resident of Raleigh County since 1926, moving to Glen White; she was a 1934 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School. She was a member of the Women's Army Air Corps, serving from August 1942 until November 1945, receiving the American Theater Campaign Medal, the Good Conduct medal, the Victory Ribbon and the WAAC Service Ribbon. After service, she returned to Beckley, attending Beckley College, and started a career with Beckley National Bank in 1946. She retired in 1974 with 28 years of service and after retirement she traveled extensively throughout the U.S. and overseas. Etta was a member of First Baptist Church, 422 Neville St., Beckley, where she served as a deaconess, attended the Fellowship Sunday School Class and the Lydia Light Circle. She was also a member of the American Legion and the Beckley Woman's Club. She was preceded in death by her husband, Harry L. Ballou, in November 1997; two brothers, David, killed in the Korean Conflict, and James; and a sister, Pearl Brown. Survivors include two sisters, Edith Snuffer of Milton and Ann O'Neal and husband, Frank, of Crestview, Fla.; two brothers, Grover C. St. Clair, Jr. of Beckley and Harrison St. Clair of Vinton, Va.; a niece and nephew she helped raise, Kathy Armentrout and husband, Richard, of Daniels and James St. Clair and wife, Anna Marie, of Austin, Texas; and many other nieces and nephews who she held in deep affection. Service will be 11 a.m. Friday at Melton Mortuary Chapel, Beckley, with Dr. David Carrico officiating. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Park, Beckley. Friends may call 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be Frank Davis, Michael Atterson, Michael Brown, C.R. Brown, the Rev. Bob Coburn and Earl Whitner. Donations of sympathy may be made to First Baptist Church, 422 Neville St., Beckley, WV 25801. Arrangements by Melton Mortuary, Beckley.
Barberton, Ohio - Gladys L. Osivnik, 68, [Gladys James, WWHS '53] went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2002. A lifetime resident of the Barberton area, she was president of the Nurses Association of Occupational Health, and was a nurse for the Barberton High School, PPG, and Fire stone. Gladys retired from Industrial Occupational Health for the State of Ohio, was a member of First Baptist Church of Barberton, and a volunteer usher at E.J. Thomas Hall and the Civic Theater. Preceded in death by her parents, Orb and Virginia, and broth ers, Frank and Roy, she is survived by her husband, Leland "Bud"; sons, Randy (Beth), Roger (Karen), Ronald, and James; seven grandchildren; brothers, Edward and Gene; sisters, Helen, Shirley, and Alice; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. Funeral services will be held Sat urday, 10 a.m., at First Baptist Church of Barberton, the Rev. Law rence R. Cook officiating. Burial at Greenlawn Cemetery. Visitation Friday, 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., at the Campfield-Hickman-Collier Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Baptist Church of Barberton.
OAK HILL - Anna L. Bailey Shumate, 90, died Saturday, Sept. 21, 2002, at Fayette Continuous Care Center following a short illness. Born May 6, 1912, in Maben, she was the daughter of the late L.O. and Myrtle Hill Bailey. Mrs. Shumate was a homemaker and of the Methodist faith. She was preceded in death by her husband, L. Russell Shumate. Survivors include a son, Jimmy Shumate and wife, Georgia, of Oak Hill; two grandchildren, Jennifer Bowling and husband, David, and Michelle Sumpter and husband, Jerry, all of Oak Hill; two great-grandchildren, Cierra Sumpter and Bailey Bowling, both of Oak Hill; a brother, Jack Bailey and wife, Nella, of Lewisburg; and several nieces and nephews. Service will be 2:30 p.m. today at Tyree Funeral Home Chapel, Oak Hill, with the Rev. William "Bill" Skeldon officiating. Entombment will follow in Sunset Memorial Park, Beckley. There will be no visitation. Your prayers and thoughts in lieu of flowers. Arrangements by Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill.
OLDSMAR, Fla. - James H. "Jim" McGinnis, 49, formerly of Beckley, died Saturday, Sept. 7, 2002, at his home. Born Oct. 14, 1952, at Johnson Air Base, Japan, he was the son of Louise McGinnis of Beckley and the late James A. McGinnis. Mr. McGinnis spent his childhood in Mullens. He moved to Beckley in 1967 and graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1970. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from West Virginia University in 1975. He was a business partner at Human Touch Inc. in Beckley for five years prior to moving to Stuart, Fla., in 1985. He enjoyed a long career in sales and management in the health care industry. He moved to Clearwater, Fla., in 1992, where he most recently worked as an account executive for Coffman Capital Inc. He was a member of Espiritu Santo Catholic Church and East Lake Woodlands Country Club. Survivors include his wife, Sally Maiden McGinnis; a son, Garrett McGinnis, and two daughters, Megan McGinnis and Jillian McGinnis, all of Oldsmar; a sister, Jo Humphrey of Durham, N.C.; a brother, Dallas McGinnis of Williamson; and two nieces. Memorial service was Sept. 13 at Espiritu Santo Catholic Church, Safety Harbor, Fla. Donations of sympathy may be made to the McGinnis Family Fund, c/o D. Garrett McGinnis, 390 Cypress Creek Circle, Oldsmar, FL 34677.
Charlotte Louise Gunter, 80, of 802 S. Kanawha St., Beckley, died Friday, Sept. 27, 2002, at Charleston Area Medical Center, General Division, following a long illness. Born May 13, 1922, in Beckley, she was the daughter of the late Wyatt Omar and Myrtle Blanche Matheny Mason. Mrs. Gunter was a homemaker and a 72-year member of First Baptist Church, Beckley, where she had served as deaconess, choir member and Sunday school teacher. She was a member of the Beckley Woman's Club and DAR. She was preceded in death by two brothers, John R. and William O. Mason; three sisters, Ila Mae Sorrells, Elizabeth Clay and Frances Goins; and two infant sisters, Betty Jo and Sue Nell. Survivors include her husband of 61 years, Nolan Dane Gunter; two sons, Nolan Dane Gunter Jr. and wife, Charlotte Ann, of Lost Creek and David Jonathan Gunter and wife, Jean Marie, of Annapolis, Md.; a daughter, Sarah Elizabeth Blevins and husband, the Rev. Gregory Dale Blevins, of Clarksburg; a sister, Sybil Beasley of Durham, N.C.; and four grandchildren, John Gregory Blevins, Susan Michelle Blevins, Jonathan David Gunter and Christian Lynn Gunter. Private committal service and entombment will be today at Sunset Memorial Park Mausoleum, Beckley, with the Rev. Gregory D. Blevins officiating. There will be no visitation. Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, Beckley.
DETROIT - Donald E. Vaughn, 52, formerly of Beckley, was born April 29, 1950, to Wheeler (deceased) and Jannie Vaughn. His sunset came Saturday, Sept. 21, 2002. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Michael and Ondre. Donald was educated in Beckley and graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School. He moved to Detroit in 1968, where he was employed with the Chrysler Corp. and in later years was gainfully employed by the city of Detroit. It was there an accident forced him into early retirement. As a teen-ager, Donnie enjoyed boxing, earning numerous trophies and the West Virginia junior welterweight title. In October 1977 Donnie confessed Christ as his personal Savior and joined God's House of Prayer Baptist Church under the pastorate of the Rev. Michael Townsend, where he was baptized and served as the first chairman of trustees. Trustee Vaughn loved the church and his pastor and gave himself fully to it. As his health began to fail, it hindered his bodily presence at the church. He kept in constant contact and finished and returned every assignment asked of him. He would often be found just reading his Bible. Donnie leaves to share his memory a mother who dearly loved him, Jannie Vaughn of Beckley; two sons who adored him, Donnell (Tanisha) and Donald of Detroit; a daughter who thought the world of him, Donyell of Detroit; six brothers who will never forget him, Ronnie Spencer, Gerald Saunders and Gary Saunders, all of Detroit, Wayne (Judy) Vaughn of Glendale, Ariz., David (Veronica) Vaughn of Sterling, Va., and Robert Saunders of Columbus, Ohio; two sisters who cherished him, Sandra Gray of Beckley and Donna (Orlando) Austin of Oxon Hill, Md.; an uncle, William Spencer of Baltimore; three aunts, Brenda Liggons of Baltimore, Mamie Brooks of Fort Washington, Md., and Edna Boxdale of Detroit; and a host of other relatives and special friends, Brenda, Janice and Martha. Service will be 1 p.m. Saturday at New Bethel United Holiness Church, Mool Street, Beckley, with the Revs. Phillip Copney, Matthew Saunders and Peter Collins and Bishop Fred T. Sims officiating. Burial will follow in Detroit. Friends may call one hour before service Saturday at the church. Arrangements by Durgan Funeral Home, Beckley.Pam Payne
LOS ANGELES - Former Beckley resident Rodney Kent Harrah, 63, passed away in Los Angeles on Aug. 23, 2002, after a long struggle with prostate cancer. Born Nov. 27, 1938, at Powellton, he was the son of Juanita Oxley Harrah of Beckley and the late Morris Dale Harrah of Beckley. Kent is survived by his wife of 40 years, Anne "Ginger" Harrah; a daughter and son-in-law, Jessica and Carl Bronson of Los Angeles; a son, Richard Harrah of Seattle; a son and daughter-in-law, Jeffrey and Diana Harrah of Long Beach, Calif.; and a sister and brother-in-law, Tamara and Michael Jones of Southport, N.C. After graduation from Woodrow Wilson High School and two years at West Virginia University, Kent joined the U.S. Air Force as an aviation cadet. He received his commission and navigator wings in 1960. Kent retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1979. He was a Vietnam veteran with two deployments as a B-52 crew member and one as a staff officer. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross, seven Air Medals and two Meritorious Service Medals, among other decorations. His last assignment was at Headquarters, United States Air Force, The Pentagon. After Air Force retirement, Kent was a systems analyst and program manager with the BDM Corp. in Albuquerque, N.M. Later, he became active in programs and agencies serving the needs of the disabled community. He was a leader in creating an Independent Living Center, a nonprofit agency assisting disabled adults to live more independently. He also played a major role in establishing the New Mexico Relay, an agency that enables speech and hearing impaired persons to communicate with hearing and speaking persons via the telephone. Kent received a B.A. from Louisiana Tech University and an MBA from New Mexico Highlands University. Cremation has taken place, and burial with a memorial service will be 1 p.m. Monday at National Cemetery, Santa Fe, N.M. The family requests that friends desiring to make a memorial contribution send their tax-deductible donations to Zia Chapter, Paralyzed Veterans of America, 833 Gibson Blvd., SE, Albuquerque, NM 87102
Charles Kevin Marion Green, 26, of Charlotte, N.C., formerly of Red Bud Drive, Beckley, died Sunday, Sept. 22, 2002, at his home. Kevin was born Feb. 11, 1976, in Charleston, the only child of Charles Marion "Skip" and Patricia "Pat" Kittner Green of Red Bud Drive, Beckley. Kevin spent his early childhood at Gauley Bridge. He and his parents came to Beckley when he was 5 years old, where he started kindergarten. He attended Park Junior High and was a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School, Class of 1994. He attended The College of West Virginia and Marshall University. He was of the Christian faith. Kevin was a Sous chef at Glade Springs Resort for three years, This venture led to his interest in restaurant management, which he thoroughly enjoyed. He had been with the Macados Corp. for the past four and a half years, the last three as manager of the Macados at the Concord Mills Mall in Charlotte. Kevin immensely enjoyed working with people in this profession. His dream in life was to one day become a restaurateur and owner of a resort. He was a people person and made friends and acquaintances everywhere he went in life. An avid outdoorsman, "Kev" loved to hike, raft, rappel, water and snow ski and write poetry. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Charles "Spike" Luther Green. Additional survivors include his paternal grandmother, Wilda A. Green of Cowen; his maternal grandparents, George and Beatrice Kittner of Clendenin; and his paternal uncle, Roger Green of Summersville. Kevin is survived by a large extended family and many close friends and work associates. Service will be 1 p.m. Friday at Melton Mortuary Chapel, Beckley, with the Rev. Paul Blizard of Memorial Baptist Church officiating. Entombment will follow in Sunset Memorial Park Mausoleum, Beckley. Friends may call 6 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home. The pallbearers for Kevin will be represented by a host of Kevin's closest and dearest friends and many associates. Kevin was loved by all whose lives he touched and will be sadly missed. Arrangements by Melton Mortuary, Beckley.
Mable Blanch Pittman, 88, of South Sand Branch, formerly of Cirtsville, died Thursday, Sept. 19, 2002, in a Beckley care center following a long illness. Born June 26, 1914, at Maynor, she was the daughter of the late Edward and Lucy A. Davis Pittman. Mable spent her childhood at Cirtsville and was a longtime resident of Maple Fork Road. She was a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School, Class of 1934. Mable also graduated from the Little French Beauty Academy in 1938 located in Bluefield and was self-employed as a hairdresser for many years. Her last salon was Mable's Beauty Shop at Bradley. She was a member of United Methodist Temple. She was preceded in death by her sister, Clara Bell Richmond; two brothers, Everette J. "Lige" Pittman and John B. "Bev" Pittman; and a great-niece, Donna R. McBride. Survivors include her two nephews, Ed Richmond and his wife, JoAnn, of Mount Hope and Lowell Richmond and his wife, Sue, of Junction City, Ohio; two great-nieces, Ellen C. Toney and Brenna Stultz; a great-nephew, Douglas Richmond; four great-great-nephews; a sister-in-law, Lily Pittman of Blue Jay; and many cousins and friends. The family invites you to come and help celebrate Mable's life with a memorial service at 3 p.m. Sunday at United Methodist Temple, Beckley, with the Revs. Dan Johnson and Sara Lamb officiating. Friends may call 1:30 p.m. until time of service Sunday at the church. Contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, Southern West Virginia Chapter, 400 Aken Drive, Suite 20, Charleston, WV 25302, United Methodist Temple, Building Fund, 3871 Robert C. Byrd Drive, Beckley, WV 25801, or John W. Davis Cemetery, c/o Edward Richmond, 158 Holly Hill, Mount Hope, WV 25880. Arrangements by Melton Mortuary, Beckley.
Audra Lee Stanley Anderson, 89, of Beaver, died Saturday, Sept. 14, 2002, in a Beckley area hospital following a short illness. Born June 30, 1913, in Royal, she was the daughter of the late Edward E. and Pearl Johnson Stanley. Mrs. Anderson spent her childhood in Stanaford and was a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School and Concord College. Later she earned a Masters of Education from West Virginia University. She was a first-grade teacher in Raleigh County for 41 years, having taught at Piney View, Glen Leigh and Beaver Elementary Schools. A resident of Beaver for 65 years, Mrs. Anderson was a member of the Beckley First Christian Church, where she was involved in the Women's Circle. She was also a member of the Retired Teacher's Association and Alpha Delta Kappa Honorary Teachers Sorority. Mrs. Anderson enjoyed cultivating her flower gardens, playing bridge and collecting antiques. She was preceded in death by her husband, Mason Anderson; five brothers, Vaughn, Earl, Paul, Ralph and Kenneth Stanley; and a sister, Lotus Mills. She will be lovingly remembered by a daughter, Kay Gaigall of Daniels; two grandchildren, Mark Gaigall of Cologne, Germany, and Kara Gaigall and husband, Steffen Tietz, of Miami, Fla.; a sister, Hazel Graham of Sarasota, Fla.; and many nieces, nephews and extended family members. Service will be 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Blue Ridge Funeral Home Chapel, Beckley, with the Rev. James Lowe officiating. Burial will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley. Friends may call 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers. Arrangements by Blue Ridge Funeral Home, Beckley.
HOUSTON, Texas - Nannie Lovell Ballard Simmons, 85, formerly of Beckley, died Friday, Sept. 6, 2002, in Houston, Texas. Born June 14, 1917, at Sophia, she was the daughter of the late William Jackson and Elva Johnson Lovell. Mrs. Simmons was a 1934 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School and a 1935 graduate of Beckley College. She was a member of the First Baptist Church, Beckley and served as president of the Friendship Sunday School Class. She was a secretary, having retired from the State of West Virginia. Mrs. Simmons was preceded in death by her first husband, George Lawrence Ballard in 1975; her second husband, Henry Grady Simmons in 1993; her son, George Lawrence Ballard Jr. in 1990; and two brothers, Woodrow and Lewis Lovell. She had lived in Houston, Texas for the past six years. Survivors include her son, William Lewis Ballard of Charleston; her daughter, Martha Sue Otten and her husband, Glenn, of Houston, Texas; two sisters, Lona Sexton of Chattahoochee, Fla., and Amelda Lewis of Panama City, Fla.; a sister-in-law, Audrey Rieff of Melbourne, Fla.; and four grandchildren, Anne, Mary and William Ballard and Chris Otten. Service will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at Calfee Funeral Home, Beckley with Dr. David Carrico officiating. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Park, Beckley. Friends may call one hour before the service Tuesday at the funeral home. Men of the First Baptist Church, Beckley will serve as pallbearers. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Raleigh County Public Library, 221 North Kanawha St., Beckley, WV 25801. Arrangements by Calfee Funeral Home, Beckley.
Rodney Kent Harrah ('56) died from prostate cancer in Los Angeles on August 23, 2002, according to information from a classmate.
Kenneth "Ken" Atkinson, 63, of Bland Drive, Beckley, died on Friday, Aug. 30, 2002, in a Beckley hospital following a short illness. Born March 18, 1939, in Kenova, he was the son of the late Kenneth A. Jr. and Margaret Inez Burks Atkinson. Ken attended Greenbrier Military School and was a 1957 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School and a 1961 graduate of East Tennessee State University. He was a captain in the U.S. Air Force. Ken was the second-generation owner of Atkinson Distributors, which his wife, Sue, continues to operate. Ken held a number of leadership positions with the Buckskin Council of Boy Scouts of America at the local and council levels. He was awarded the BSA Silver Beaver Award. He also held leadership roles in the Black Diamond Girl Scout Council and was awarded the Thank You Badge. Ken served as treasurer of the Beckley Chapter of Rotary International. Ken was also a past master of Beckley Lodge No. 95 A.F. & A.M. and a member of Beckley Chapter No. 38, RAM, Knights Templar & Shrine. Survivors include his wife of 40 years, Sue Carol Atkinson; a son, Brian K. Atkinson and wife, Teresa, of Charleston; two daughters, Rebecca S. Connelly and husband, Matthew, of Quakertown, Pa., and Margaret E. Cyrus and husband, Chris, of Jackson, Ohio; a brother, Steven M. Atkinson and wife, Sandra, of Knoxville, Tenn.; and five grandchildren, Joscelyne, Kristopher and Michael Atkinson and Kayla and Taylor Connelly. Service will be 11 a.m. Monday at United Methodist Temple, Beckley, with the Revs. Dan Johnson and James Lawson officiating. Graveside service and Masonic rites will follow at Sunset Memorial Park, Beckley. Friends may call 6 to 8 p.m. today at Melton Mortuary Chapel, Beckley. Pallbearers will be Martin Williams, Bill Haslam, Bill Wolfe, Bill Turner, Gary Hartsog and Gene Harvey, and graveside pallbearers will be his friends from the Masonic Lodge. In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be sent to the Buckskin Council of Boy Scouts of America, 2829 Kanawha Blvd. E., Charleston, WV 25311, the Black Diamond Girl Scout Council, P.O. Box 507, Charleston, WV 25322, or the Christian Living Center at United Methodist Temple, 3871 Robert C. Byrd Drive, Beckley, WV 25801. Arrangements by Melton Mortuary, Beckley.
Barbara Ann Quesenberry, 48, of Beckley, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2002. She was born Nov. 2, 1953, the daughter of Ernest "Jack" Quesenberry of Lanark and Dorothy Webb Quesenberry of Lanark. Barbara was a student of Woodrow Wilson High School through 1970, when she moved to Newport News, Va., after her first marriage to Robert L. Bednarski, presently of Ohio. She enjoyed the guitar, music and fishing earlier in her life and had traveled all across the United States and Mexico for the majority of her adult life. She is now safe with the Lord among the angels where she has an eternal home of peace and is no longer a lost soul of this life. She was preceded in death by an aunt, Pauline Webb; and a brother, Douglas Quesenberry. Survivors include a daughter, Chastity Ann Quesenberry Boyd and her husband, Gregory, of Prosperity; a brother, Opie Dean Quesenberry of Newport News; and two grandchildren, Tyler and Lauren Boyd of Prosperity. Graveside service will be 1 p.m. Sunday at Stanaford Cemetery with the Rev. Gene Hall officiating. There will be no visitation. In lieu of flowers, donations would be thoughtful at your local women's resource center or Oprah Winfrey's Angel Network for the homeless. The mentally ill and the abused are people, too, and we can all make a difference if we try. Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, Beckley.
KEARNEYSVILLE - Linus Richard Hollaway, 62, formerly of Lincoln Street, Beckley, died Friday, Aug. 23, 2002, in a Ransom, Va., hospital following a long illness. Born July 22, 1940, in Bluefield, he was the son of the late Roncie and Pauline Keatley Hollaway. Linus spent his early childhood at Crane Creek, near McComas. His family settled on Lincoln Street in Beckley in the early 1950s. He was a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School and West Virginia University. He began a lifelong career with YMCA, working as a summer camp director and conference center director, having worked in West Virginia, Warsaw, N.Y., Granby, Colo., and Pawling, N.Y. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Granby and the Rotary Club of Pawling. He retired from the Y in 1990 and returned to Beckley to take care of his ailing mother. He had been a resident of Kearneysville since 2000. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two infant sisters. Survivors include his aunt, Thelma Lawson of Fairfax, Va.; and several cousins. Service will be 11 a.m. Friday at Melton Mortuary Chapel, 1200 Harper Road, Beckley, with Kris Tucker-Loewe officiating. Friends may call 6 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home. In keeping with his wishes, Linus is to be cremated and his ashes will be buried with his parents and sisters at Woodlawn Memorial Park, Bluewell, at a later time. Arrangements by Melton Mortuary, Beckley.
Cecilia Dawn Diehl, 21, of Crab Orchard, became an angel on Sunday, Aug. 25, 2002. Born Nov. 26, 1980, in Beckley, she was the daughter of Cecil Diehl of Crab Orchard and Emma June Bennett Diehl of Crab Orchard. Cecilia was a 1999 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School and a cashier for Rich Oil in Beaver. She was dedicated to her family and devoted to God. She enjoyed working in her flower garden and helping others. She was preceded in death by her paternal grandfather, William Diehl. In addition to her parents, she will be forever loved and missed by her brother, Gary and wife, Amy, of Beckley; paternal grandmother, Mary Bowles of Stanaford; maternal grandmother, Novella Bennett of Cool Ridge; as well as several aunts, uncles, cousins and other relatives. Service will be 1 p.m. Thursday at Blue Ridge Funeral Home Chapel, Beckley, with Pastor Roger Pauley officiating. Entombment will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley. Friends may call 6 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers. Arrangements by Blue Ridge Funeral Home, Beckley.
Bertha Mae Allen Gill, 90, of Raleigh, died Friday, Aug. 23, 2002, at Raleigh General Hospital following a long illness. Born Feb. 14, 1912, in Wright, she was the daughter of the late Charles Dennis and Cora Bell Brogan Allen. Bertha was a retired employee of the Raleigh County Board of Education, where she had served as a cook at Stratton Junior High School. She was also a former employee of Raleigh Coal Co., New River Coal Co. and the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine. Bertha was a member of West Raleigh Baptist Church and the Shepherd's Center. She was also a member of the Raleigh County Retired School Employees and was a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School. She was preceded in death by four brothers, Claude, John, Lee and Sidney Gill; and two sisters, Juanita Boley and Edith Vest. Survivors include a daughter, Beverley Redden and husband, Danny, of Shady Spring; a son, Jimmy Gill and wife, Kathy, of Monroe, Ga.; two brothers, Rusty Allen of Shady Spring and Jake Allen of Raleigh; two sisters, Lorraine Lacek and Allaine Arbaugh, both of Raleigh; seven grandchildren, Shelley, Kelly, Jamie, Jeff, Jessica, Dana and Clark; and three great-grandchildren. Service will be 1 p.m. Monday at Rose and Quesenberry Peace Chapel, Beckley, with the Rev. Cleve Allen officiating. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Park, Beckley. Friends may call 6 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Nephews will serve as pallbearers. Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, Beckley.
Cary Don Houchins, 77, president of Houchins Block and Brick, also known as "Chief" by his many friends, died Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2002, after fighting a courageous battle against a rare form of brain cancer. Born Jan. 4, 1925, in Beckley, he was the son of the late Cary Ross and Lillian Pearl Miller Houchins. Don graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1943 and immediately joined the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, having taken flight training at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Fla. After two and a half years of service, Don and his father founded Houchins Manufacturing Co. Inc. in 1945. He was an avid outdoorsman and loved to travel. Don was a member of First United Methodist Church, Beckley Lodge No. 95, AF and AM, Beckley Shrine Club and Beni Kedem Shrine of Charleston. Survivors include his wife of over 54 years, Jessie Ann Higginbotham Houchins; his son, Gary Don Houchins and wife, Shelby, of Beckley; his daughter, Cathy A. Houchins Thompson and husband, Edward, of Chesapeake, Va.; two grandchildren, William Ashley Houchins and wife, Kimberly, of Beckley and Cristina Houchins Butler and husband, Christopher, of Cool Ridge; and two great-grandchildren, Megan Renee and Allison Nicole Houchins of Beaver. Service will be 11 a.m. Saturday at First United Methodist Church, 217 S. Heber St., Beckley, with the Revs. Gregory L. Hayes and Homer Stewart officiating. Burial will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley. Friends may call 9 a.m. until time of service Saturday at the church. Pallbearers will be Houchins Block employees and friends. In lieu of flowers, donations of sympathy may be sent to the memorial fund, c/o First United Methodist Church, 217 S. Heber St., Beckley, WV 25801. Arrangements by Blue Ridge Funeral Home, Beckley.
Bruce E. Roberts, 52, died July 25, 2002, in Memphis, Tenn., where he had lived for the past 14 years. He was a 1967 graduate of WWHS and 1971 graduate of Marshall University. He served in the U.S. Army for 20 years, retiring with the rank of major. He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred C. Roberts and Jane C. Roberts of Beckley. He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Karen G. Roberts of Memphis; two daughters, Christina Holt of Southhaven, and Rikki Bridges of La Vergne, Tenn.; two sisters, Jane Ann Aronson of Edgewater, Colo., and Betsy Gilmer of Beckley; twin brother, Fred A. Roberts of Beckley; and three grandchildren. Service was Tuesday, July 30, 2002, at the Forest Hill Funeral Home, 2440 Whitten Road, Memphis, Tenn. Arrangements by Forest Hill Funeral Home, Memphis.
Nellie Landreth Monk, 82, of South Kanawha Street, Beckley, died Friday, Aug. 9, 2002, at her home following a long illness. Born Oct. 27, 1919, in Bolar Springs, Va., she was the daughter of the late Charles and Elsie Burns Landreth. Nellie had been a resident of South Kanawha Street since 1958, coming from Clyde Street, where she spent her childhood and graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1938. She was a member of the Beckley Presbyterian Church and a past member of the Beckley Women's Club. She was also a member of the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, serving as Alpha Master. She was preceded in death by her husband, William "Bill" R. Monk, on Nov. 27, 1990. Survivors include two sisters, Jerry Edwards and Hazel Holliday, both of Beckley; two nieces, Debbie and Courtney Devores; four nephews, Mike Holliday of Deland, Fla., Pat Holliday of Gibsonia, Pa., Danny Edwards of Raleigh, N.C., and David Edwards of Christiansburg, Va.; and her caregivers, Judy Persons, Cindy Roberts, Lucille Clower, Dorothy Koontz, Carl and Betty Richmond, and her special friend, Eladene Pickel. Service will be 1 p.m. Monday at Melton Mortuary Chapel with the Rev. Robin Debnam officiating. Burial will follow in the Sunset Memorial Park, Beckley. Friends may call 11 a.m. until time of the service Monday at the funeral home. The Beta Sigma Sorority will be conducting a memorial service at 12:30 p.m. Contributions may be made to the Beckley Presbyterian Church, 203 S. Kanawha St., Beckley, WV 25801. Arrangements by Melton Mortuary, Beckley.
Melanie Renee Burgess, 40, of Crab Orchard, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2002, at her home following a long battle with cancer. Born July 19, 1962, at Beckley, she was the daughter of William E. "Buddy" Foreman Jr. and Norma Lively Foreman of Crab Orchard. Mrs. Burgess was an EMT for Best Ambulance Service, a member of Lester Volunteer Fire Department for more than 20 years and a member of Glenview Independent Baptist Church. She enjoyed spending her time cross-stitching. She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, William E. Sr. and Leona Foreman; and maternal grandparents, William D. and Pearl O. Lively. Survivors other than her parents include her husband, Victor "Tom" Burgess of Crab Orchard; two daughters, Jamie Anderson and husband, B.J., of Helen and Caitlin Burgess of Crab Orchard; a sister, Loralea Canterbury and husband, Tommy, of Prosperity; two special nephews, Joshua Canterbury and Lucas Canterbury, both of Prosperity. Service will be 1 p.m. Friday at Glen View Independent Baptist Church with Pastor Duane Pease officiating. Burial will follow in the Lester Cemetery. Friends may call one hour before service Friday at the church. Lester Volunteer Fire Department and Best Ambulance will serve as pallbearers. In lieu of flowers, donations of sympathy may be sent to Victor "Tom" Burgess at 1435 Glenview Road, Crab Orchard, WV 25827. Arrangements by Williams-Blue Ridge Funeral Home, Sophia.
Terry L. Winfrey, 46, of Ellison Avenue, Beckley, died at his home following a sudden illness. Born Nov. 22, 1955, at Mullens, he was the son of the late Frank O. and Lorene Gladys Mills Winfrey. Terry spent his childhood at Mullens, Egeria and Beckley; he was a 1973 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School. He had been a resident of Ellison Avenue for the past 10 years and attended West Virginia State College. Terry worked for Beckley Newspapers, and recently he worked as a home health aide. Terry enjoyed writing poetry, playing and teaching guitar. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Lemuel and Martha Winfrey; and his maternal grandparents, Ira Lawrence and Bertha Jane Mann Mills. Survivors include his sister, Sharon Winfrey, and her son, Daniel Winfrey, both of Beckley. Service will be 2 p.m. Friday at Melton Mortuary Chapel with Pastor James Colson officiating. Burial will follow in the Sam Mills Cemetery, Egeria. Friends may call from noon until time of service Friday at the funeral home. Cousins will serve as pallbearers. Arrangements by Melton Mortuary, Beckley.
Doris E. Fritz, 77, of Beaver, died Monday, Aug. 5, 2002, at Beckley Appalachian Regional Hospital following a long illness. Born July 10, 1925, in Phillipsburg, Pa., she was the daughter of the late Jonathan C. Pilkington and Margaret Jane Scott Pilkington Matthews. Mrs. Fritz was a homemaker and a member of the First Baptist Church of Beaver. She had lived at Beaver since 1946. She was a 1944 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School. She was the last surviving member of her immediate family. She was preceded in death by her husband, William E. Fritz Sr.; and a granddaughter, Stephanie Lynn Fritz. Survivors include two sons, William E. "Bill" Fritz Sr. of Beckley and James Denny Fritz and wife, Letha of Ballard; a daughter, Rebecca "Becky" Okes Alexander of Beaver; a foster sister, Barbara Christoff and husband, Mike of Pennsylvania; 17 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren. Services will be 1 p.m. Friday at Rose and Quesenberry Peace Chapel with Pastor Damon Snuffer and Pastor David Trump officiating. Burial will follow in Blue Jay Cemetery, Beaver. Friends may call 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Grandsons and friends will serve as pallbearers. Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, Beckley.
NEW ALBANY, Miss. - Virginia L. Nelson, 67, formerly of Beckley, died Tuesday, July 23, 2002, in Chicago following surgery. Born June 2, 1935, in Blue Springs, Va., she was the daughter of the late Jack Scalf and Loraine Holt Mitchem. Mrs. Nelson had been a resident of New Albany the last five years. She was a 1952 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School and a member of Glenville Baptist Church in New Albany. Survivors include her husband, Claude T. Nelson; a son, Claude T. Nelson Jr. of Oklahoma; a daughter, Lisa Prisby of Hinsdale, Ill.; three grandchildren, Diana Jenkins of Ohio and Andrew and Christopher Prisby of Illinois; two great-grandchildren, Anthony and Austin Jenkins of Ohio; and 18 half brothers and half sisters. Service was conducted in Illinois. Information submitted by Melton Mortuary, Beckley.
PINEVILLE - Sandy Thacker Stewart, 39, died Monday, July 29, 2002, in a Morgantown hospital following a short illness. Born May 9, 1963, in Mullens, she was the daughter of Arretta M. Leedy Thacker of Pineville and the late Grover C. Thacker Sr. Besides her father, she was preceded in death by her father-in-law, Larry Stewart; and a brother-in-law, Shannon Stewart. Mrs. Stewart was a graduate of Concord College and Marshall University. She was a 1981 Pineville High School graduate where she served as class valedictorian. Mrs. Stewart coached Junior League Softball and was the ADA of Little League Softball. She taught at Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College, Saulsville, and had taught at Woodrow Wilson High School and Beckley-Stratton Junior High. She attended Pineville Presbyterian Church. In addition to her mother, survivors include her husband, Kevin Stewart; her 15-year-old daughter, Amanda "Mandi" Stewart at home; her 5-year-old son, Jacob Stewart at home; eight brothers and sisters, Gladys Sue Cox of Pineville, Judy Elswick and her husband, Jim, of Denton, N.C., Gloria Lester and her husband, Jim, of Pineville, Grover Thacker Jr. and his wife, Becky, of Oceana, Perry Thacker of Pineville, Teresa Thacker of Beckley, Richard Thacker of Oak Hill and Brian Thacker and his wife, Carol, of Pineville; her mother-in-law, Carol Stewart of Pineville; two sisters-in-law, Melinda Lupardus and her husband, Tim, of Pineville and Sunni Stewart of Pineville; a special friend, Peggy Epling of Shady Spring; and several nieces and nephews. Service will be 11 a.m. Thursday at Calfee Funeral Service, Pineville, with the Rev. Gerald Roberts officiating. Burial will follow in Palm Memorial Gardens, Matheny. Friends may call 6 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers. Arrangements by Calfee Funeral Service, Pineville.
Harry McConnell Patterson III, 73, died Sunday, July 28, 2002, at his home on 411 Hull St., Beckley, following a long illness. He was born Sept. 21, 1929, at Beckley. He is survived by his widow, Virginia Canterbury Patterson; his mother, Crystal Dale Patterson; a brother, Richard Herold Patterson; four sons, William Mahan Patterson of Siler City, N.C., John Robert Patterson of Beckley, Thomas Kirkland Patterson of Beckley, and Robert Chilson Patterson of Chapel Hill, N.C.; and six grandchildren, Eve Amelia Patterson, Cabel Christian Patterson, Samantha Rose Perry, Marta Leann Miller, Stephen James Miller and Anne Kirkland Patterson. His father, Harry M. Patterson II and his eldest son, Harry McConnell Patterson IV, preceded him in death. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on his 17th birthday at the close of World War II, and following his service he graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1949. He attended West Virginia University and obtained his B.S. Degree in 1953, and had been a member of the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity in Morgantown. His professional life included several automobile dealerships, both new and used, he was a pharmaceutical representative, and had worked in fund raising for WSWP Public Television. He had been active in civic and community affairs, and was past president of Curtain Callers Theatrical Group, had been a tenor saxophonist with the New River Jazz Band, and had been a member of Black Knight Country Club and the Elk's Club. He was an avid fan of West Virginia University sports, and his hobbies included golf, horses and jam music. He will be dearly missed by family and friends far and wide. Memorial service will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at Beckley Presbyterian Church, with visitation with the family starting at 1 p.m. in the parlor of the church. Arrangements by Melton Mortuary, Beckley.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Genevieve Bowling Richardson, formerly of Beckley, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, June 8, 2002, at her home following a long illness. Born July 31, 1920, at Matoaka, she was the daughter of the late Elbert Anderson Bowling and Esma Francis Ritchie Bowling. Mrs. Richardson was a homemaker who enjoyed her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed life, her little collections and short trips to enjoy the outdoors. She will be sadly missed by her family, friends, and those people whose lives she touched. Mrs. Richardson had been a resident of Albuquerque, N.M., since 1969. She was a former employee of Kyle Cleaners and a 1939 graduate of WWHS. She was preceded in death by her first husband, William W. "Billy" Curtis; two brothers, Carlton "Pete" Bowling of Beckley and Carmen Bowling of Blacksburg, Va. She is survived by two daughters, Connie of Marion, N.C., and Susan of Albuquerque, N.M.; three sons, Steve Curtis and wife, Elizabeth, of Clemmons, N.C., John Curtis and wife, Linda, of Virginia Beach, Va., and Devin Richardson of Albuquerque, N.M.; a sister, Yvonne Harrigan of El Paso, Texas; a special friend, Thomas Palladini of Albuquerque, N.M.; eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Service was held Wednesday, June 12, 2002, at 2:30 p.m. at the French Mortuary, Lomas Blvd. Chapel in Albuquerque, N.M., with the Rev. Clyde Stanfield officiating. The body was cremated after the funeral service. Arrangements by French Mortuary, Albuquerque, N.M.
PHILADELPHIA - Samuel M. Monroe, 47, formerly of Beckley, died May 1, 2002. Born May 5, 1954, at Beckley, he was the son of the late Wilbert and Geneva Monroe. Mr. Monroe was a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School in 1973, graduate of WV Tech in 1978 and was employed by Kroger in Beckley. He later moved to Philadelphia in 1981, and worked for the school system as a special ed teacher. At the time of his death he was employed at Norristown Hospital. Survivors include a son, Josh Monroe and a daughter, Tiffiney Dillard; two brothers, James T. Monroe and wife, Ida, of Beckley and Walter H. Monroe; three sisters, Lelia Shorts and husband, James, Alice Monroe and Ruth Monroe; three uncles; one aunt; four great-aunts; a host of nephews, nieces, cousins and friends; and two special friends, Jeff Alexander and Dwight Staples. Memorial service will be noon Saturday at the Mount Zion Baptist Church, 142 Mool Ave., Beckley, with the Rev. Ronald Smith, the Rev. Robert Morton and the Rev. Jerry Staples officiating. This information was submitted by Ritchie and Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley.
Charles "Waymon Stanley Jr., 79, of Mount Tabor, died Wednesday, July 17, 2002, in a Beckley hospital following an extended illness. Born June 24, 1923, at Eccles, he was the son of the late Charles "Waymon" and Madge Ramsey Stanley. Mr. Stanley spent his childhood in the Beckley area and was a 1940 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II as a private first class and received the Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star, Good Conduct Medal, European, French and Belgium Victory Medals, European Medal with two Battle Stars, the Normandy Medal and the Purple Heart for wounds received in France on Aug. 20, 1944. After service he returned to Beckley, where he graduated from Beckley College in 1948 and WV Tech in 1950; he also attended the West Virginia College of Graduate Studies. He worked for National Mine and the Borden Co. and retired from the Department of Agriculture, where he worked in the Food Stamp program. After retirement, he did volunteer work for 20 years with VITA helping people complete their income tax. He was an active member of the Mount Tabor Baptist Church, where he served as church treasurer for many years. He was also a member of Military Order of the Purple Heart, where he served on the National Executive Committee for many years and two years as a national officer, the Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion and the National Association of Retired Federal Employees. He was preceded in death by a son, Charles L. Stanley; and by an infant sister. Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Evelyn Anne Thompson Stanley; a daughter, Elizabeth Anne "Beth" Stanley of Beckley; three sons, Chester W. Stanley of Bedford, Va., Aaron Patrick "Pat" Stanley and wife, Cathy, of Lexington, N.C., and Timothy "Tim" R. Stanley and wife, Hazel "Sissy," of Fairdale; nine grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Mount Tabor Baptist Church with the Rev. Edward Garten and the Rev. Michael King officiating. Burial will follow in the Mount Tabor Cemetery, Beckley. Post 3110, Veterans of Foreign Wars of Oak Hill will conduct military graveside rites. Friends may call 7 to 9 p.m. today at Melton Mortuary, Beckley. Pallbearers will be Waymon Lewis Stanley, Richard Baker, Mike Parkulo, Jerry Stanley, Everett Reece, Dawson Davis and Timmy Canady. Arrangements by Melton Mortuary, Beckley.
James L. Bowling, 77, died Monday, July 15, 2002, in Birch Tree, Mo., following a long illness. Jim formerly lived on North Western Avenue in Beckley. He was a World War II Navy veteran and retired from the U.S. Postal Service in Beckley. He was well known and loved by many friends. He was a longtime Boy Scout leader and a lifetime member of the Loyal Order of the Moose. He was of the Baptist faith. He was preceded in death by his wife, Della Walker Bowling. He is survived by a son, James Jr. and family of Las Vegas, Nev.; and a daughter, Jane Leigh and family of Birch Tree, Mo. Jim is survived by a brother, E.M. "Buzzy" Bowling of Waynesboro, Va.; and extended family members. Jimmy will be missed. The body was cremated at Jim's request
Alma Ruth Woods, 88, of Beckley, died Tuesday, July 9, 2002, at her home following a long illness. Born Jan. 16, 1914, in Beckley, she was the daughter of the late Isaac E. McKinney and Bertha Lilly McKinney. Mrs. Woods was a retired employee of the Raleigh County Board of Education, having taught English at Woodrow Wilson High School. She received her master's degree from West Virginia University with special training at Duke University. She was a member of Memorial Baptist Church, Beckley. She was a former church organist at First Baptist Church, Beckley, and Beckley Presbyterian Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, James W. Woods; an infant brother; and a sister, Edith Heaberlin. Survivors include a son, the Rev. James Duke Burdette and wife, Glenna, of Parkersburg; a brother, Robert E. McKinney of Madisonville, Ky.; a sister, Dorothy Young of Beckley; seven grandsons, James D. Burdette Jr. and wife, Terah, Jeffrey A. Burdette and wife, Patty, Richard K. Burdette and wife, Terri, Steven C. Burdette and wife, Martha, John M. Burdette and wife, Marianne, Joshua D. Burdette and Greg Turley and wife, Andrea; four granddaughters, Patricia L. Stainback and husband, Gary, Susan D. McPhail and husband, George, Mary Beth Jordan and husband, Richard, and Jessica L. Burdette; and 12 great-grandchildren. Service will be 1 p.m. Friday at Rose and Quesenberry Peace Chapel, Beckley, with the Rev. Susan Rector officiating. Burial will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley. Friends may call 6 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Memorial Baptist Church, 1405 S. Kanawha St., Beckley, WV 25801, or your local Gideons International. Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, Beckley.
Ex-Beckleyan, former WWHS athlete, killed in Pennsylvania. By GEORGE GANNON. A Pennsylvania woman allegedly shot and killed her live-in boyfriend, a Beckley native, then hid the body in their home for two months before the crime was uncovered last week, authorities said. The victim, Sam Monroe, 48, played football at Woodrow Wilson High School and West Virginia Tech in the 1970s. Pete Culicerto, who coached Monroe at Woodrow Wilson, said the ex-Beckleyan was "a great person." "Got along with everybody," Culicerto added. "Everybody liked Sam. He was one of the most popular guys in the school." Monroe shared a rented home in Norristown, Pa., with his girlfriend, Nancy Austin, and their 20-month-old son, according to the Norristown Times-Herald. Austin, 38, is being held without bail in the Montgomery County Prison pending a preliminary hearing today. She is charged with first-degree and third-degree murder, abuse of a corpse and unsworn falsification to police. Monroe's body was found July 2, police said, wrapped in black plastic. Austin had reported Monroe missing May 1, the newspaper said, and had been cooperative with Norristown police during the investigation. As detectives were searching the couple's home July 2, Austin led them to the basement, where she had additional documents and some of Monroe's personal belongings. Entering the room, they were struck with what the newspaper called "an overpowering odor of what seemed to be a decomposing body." With Austin's consent, detectives entered a cedar closet in the basement and came across the body. "It's him," Austin reportedly told the detectives when they found Monroe. "I got sick of his s---." Montgomery County first assistant district attorney Risa Verti Ferman told the newspaper there was "some indication" Monroe had been seeing another woman. Austin said she killed Monroe on May 1, according to Ferman, allegedly shooting him in their bedroom, and allowed the body to decompose several days before moving it to the basement. "She had been living since May 1 - the day she indicated she killed him - with the body down in the basement and with the smell that had been brewing, and their 20-month-old child," Ferman said. According to court documents released to The Philadelphia Inquirer, Austin purchased a handgun because she claimed Monroe had beaten her April 25 so severely that she was afraid he would kill her. On May 1, she allegedly walked into their bedroom and woke Monroe, brandishing a Ruger .357 GP100 pistol. "He just woke up in a bad mood," Austin told police, according to documents obtained by The Inquirer. "I was angry, and he would not listen to me. "For four years I was scared of him, and he still would not listen to me. "He had turned away. As he was rolling over, he started to close his eyes. That's why I shot him. He would not listen and not believe I was scared." Austin later sold the gun, but it was recovered at a gun shop in nearby Jeffersonville, authorities said. Norristown is about 25 miles north of Philadelphia. Although Monroe had not lived in Beckley in several years, he was remembered well by those who knew him. He played tailback on Woodrow's football team and later played at West Virginia Tech. Miller Hall, director of pupil services for the Raleigh County school system, attended high school with Monroe. "He had a good personality. He got along with everybody. He always had a smile on his face," Hall said. "He was a good guy - a top-notch person."
Kenneth Joe "Kenny" Weaver, 53, [WWHS '67] of Crow, died suddenly Sunday, July 7, 2002, while bicycling on the Greenbrier River Trail in Pocahontas County. He lived a full life. Born June 28, 1949, in Pineville, he was the son of the late Cleve Hampton and Esta Ora Weaver. Kenny spent his early childhood in Pineville, settling in Beckley in 1965. He was a 1967 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School and was in the U.S. Army Reserves. His first job was with Business Supply Co. He was employed by BJW Printers for a number of years and later by the John Meadows Construction. He began his self-employed career at P I Mine Supply and was presently the owner of Urethane Speciality Inc. at the Airport Industrial Park in Beaver. He was also a former co-owner of the Oxford Inn on Second Avenue in Beckley. He had resided in Crow for the past four years and had always referred to himself as a "Croation" at heart. In the winter months he worked at Winterplace - a sportsman at heart; he loved to snow ski, play tennis, dirt bike race and was an avid bicyclist. Recently he had purchased a Harley Davidson motorcycle, which he rode 275 miles on July 4th. He was a former member of the Beckley Jaycees and will be remembered by his family and friends as "The Free Spirit." Survivors include his daughter, Kathryn Marie "Kati" Weaver at home; a brother, Bob H. Weaver of Houston; a sister, Regina Ann Saunders of Pawley's Island, S.C.; Kati's mother, Susan Weaver of Beaver; Kati's maternal grandfather, Daryl Williams of Beaver; his loyal canine companion, Dexter; and nephews and nieces, Mark H. Weaver, Karen S. Widay, Susan Bohler, Donna King and Kelly Saunders. Service will be 1 p.m. Thursday at Melton Mortuary Chapel, Beckley, with Dr. David Carrico officiating. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Park, Beckley. Friends may call one hour before service Thursday at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be Peewee Mandeville, Pete Torrico, John Walker, Harold Snodgrass, Dick Barnes, Daryl Williams, Tom Garten, Jim Cox, Terry Pfeiffer and Mark Weaver. Contributions of sympathy may be made to the Ken Weaver Little Beaver Lake Memorial Fund, c/o Beckley Area Foundation, P.O. Box 1092, Beckley, WV 25802.
Mary Jo Thomas, 69, of Spring Street, Beckley, died Sunday, June 30, 2002, in a Newport News, Va., hospital following a long illness. Born Nov. 14, 1932, at Lizemores, she was the daughter of Anna Mae Morton Holcomb of Beckley and the late Lawson Dana Holcomb. Mary Jo spent her childhood and has been a lifelong resident of Beckley. She was a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School, worked at the Raleigh County National Bank and retired from Bank One. She was of the Christian faith. She was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond Thomas. Besides her mother, other survivors include a brother, Robert "Bob" Holcomb and his wife, Dora Elizabeth, of Surry, Va.; two nieces, Fran Holcomb and Elizabeth Inge, both of Newport News, Va.; two great-nephews, Ryan Wilson and Robert Drew Inge; and a great-niece, Kaitlyn Inge. Service will be 1 p.m. Saturday at Melton Mortuary Chapel with the Rev. Jack Mayes officiating. Burial will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley. Friends may call 7 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers. Arrangements by Melton Mortuary, Beckley.
Daniel Lee Buzzard Smith, 34, of 104 Sandstone Drive, Beckley, died Tuesday, June 25, 2002, at his home. Born April 27, 1968, in Beckley, he was the son of Geraldine Smith Webb of Beckley and Harry Donovan Buzzard, and his adoptive parents, Gilbert and Irene Smith of Piney View. Mr. Smith was a 1986 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School, was a graduate of The College of West Virginia with a medical assistant degree and held a degree from Raleigh County Vo-Tech in phlebotomy. He was of the Baptist faith. Other survivors besides his mother include his wife, Pamela Faye Sheets Smith; children, Stephanie Kounts and husband, Dana, of Bradley, Jamie Vanover and husband, Charles Mack, of Mossy and Brian Sheets and wife, Mindy, of Bradley; five grandchildren, Kandice Vanover, Chase Vanover, Ashlie Sheets, Amber Sheets and River Kountz; a brother, Alvie Smith of Piney View; and five sisters, Judy Clifford and husband, Donald, of Beckley, Norma Miller and husband, Ralph, of Beckley, Lucy Redden and husband, Roger, of Piney View, Beth Whiteman and husband, Frank, of Shady Spring and April Webb of Beckley. Service will be 3:30 p.m. today at Rose and Quesenberry Peace Chapel, Beckley, with the Rev. Steve Tincher officiating. Entombment will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens Mausoleum, Beckley. There will be no visitation. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers. In lieu of flowers, donations of sympathy may be made to the Daniel Smith Burial Fund, c/o Judy Clifford, 308 Brookwood Lane, Beckley, WV 25801. Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, Beckley.
RAINELLE - Ronald Edward Phillips, 55, passed away May 22 in Los Angeles following a long illness. Born May 27, 1946, in Washington, D.C., he was rasied by his late grandparents, Dan and Kathleen Bosworth Phillips. Mr. Phillips graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley, Johnson Bible College in Knoxville, Tenn., and was a Vietnam Army veteran. He was manager of a local furniture mart and attended the Church of Christ in Rainelle. Surviving are his son, Dan Phillips of Rainelle. Memorial service will be 7 p.m. Thursday at Rainelle VFW Post No. 4484 with the Rev. Keith Shumaker officiating. Arrangements by Smathers Funeral Chapel, Rainelle.
Mary Evelyn Fink, 83, of Beckley, died Friday, June 21, 2002, in Beckley of natural causes. Born Feb. 11, 1919, in Beaver, she was the daughter of the late Jasper J. and Bessie E. Keaton Fink. Miss Fink was a 1936 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School and an executive secretary at the UMWA in Beckley for 28 years. She later worked for Dr. Charles Merritt at his OB/GYN practice for 15 years. Miss Fink attended First United Methodist Church, Beckley, and was preceded in death by her brother, John A. Fink, on July 25, 1974. Miss Fink was a lifelong resident of Raleigh County. Survivors include four nephews, Pastor James W. Lawson and wife, Rebecca, of Sophia, John Abe Lawson and wife, Lois J., of Beckley, Mark Edward Fink and wife, Pat, of Deltona, Fla., and David Matthew Fink and wife, Kathy, of Laurel Hill, N.C.; sister-in-law, Elizabeth C. Fink of Beckley; 12 nieces and nephews; and several great-nieces and nephews. Service will be 10 a.m. Monday at Calfee Funeral Home, Beckley, with the Rev. Virgil C. Cook and Pastor James W. Lawson officiating. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Park, Beckley. Friends may call one hour before service Monday at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be family members, John Edward Martin, Stephen Brian Lawson, Eric Scott Dorsey, Douglas Knott, and other family members and friends. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Miss Mary Evelyn Fink's memory may be made to Hospice of Southern West Virginia, P.O. Box 1472, Beckley, WV 25802. Arrangements by Calfee Funeral Home, Beckley.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Thomas Norman Knapp, 52, [WWHS '67] of the 4900 block of Halwell Drive, died Wednesday, June 19, 2002, at his home. Mr. Knapp was a school teacher with Virginia Beach Public Schools, Center for Effective Learning, with 19 years of dedicated service and was loved by students and staff. He was born in Beckley, and was a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley and Marshall University in Huntington, where he was captain of the varsity tennis team and a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. He was a member of Virginia Beach United Methodist Church. Mr. Knapp was a captain in the U.S. Army Reserves. He was an avid golfer and former professional tennis player. He was preceded in death by his father, Norman Knapp; and his mother-in-law, Kathryn Todd Hunton. Survivors include his wife, Cassie Knapp; two sons, Scott Christopher Knapp and his wife, Brook, of Chesapeake, Va., and Chad Thomas Knapp and his fianceé, Jamie High, of Virginia Beach; his mother, Frances Robertson Knapp of West End, N.C.; a sister, MaryBeth Knapp Cecil of Durham, N.C.; three brothers, Robert F. Knapp of Parkersburg, James F. Knapp of Durham and William D. Knapp, SH2 station in San Diego; his father-in-law, William H. Hunton of Virginia Beach, and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family. Memorial service will be 4 p.m. today at H. D. Oliver Funeral Apts., Laskin Road Chapel, with the Rev. James Tongue officiating. Inurnment will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 2730 Ellsmere Ave., Norfolk, VA 23513. Arrangements by H.D. Oliver Funeral Apts. Inc., Virginia Beach.
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Evelyn K. Blair, beloved wife, mother, sister and grandmother, passed away Monday, June 17, 2002, in Fort Myers, Fla. Born Oct. 25, 1922, in Huntington, she was the daughter of the late Clarence and Bessie Kincaid. She grew up in Beckley and graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School and Beckley College. Evelyn is survived by her devoted husband of 61 years, Elmer Blair, and her loving daughters and sons-in-law, Sherry and Bob Freehill of Florissant, Colo., Connie and Bill Clark of Williamsburg, Va., Debby and Rich Donahue of Captiva Island, Fla., and Donna and Ray Dyer of Clarksville. Other survivors include her sisters, Mary Houchins of Beckley, Mildred Cornett of Falls Mills, Va., and Wilma Kincaid of Jacksonville, Fla.; her grandchildren, Kevin Moll, Ken Moll, Chris Clark, Jason Clark, Melissa Talmage, Brett Donahue, Karein Donahue and Heath Dyer; four great-grandchildren; and two stepgreat-grandchildren. Evelyn was preceded in death by her brother, Robert Kincaid of MacArthur; and her beloved grandchild, Blair Dyer of Clarksville. She loved fishing, playing bridge and her family. Evelyn and Elmer resided at 1222 Madison St., Clarksville, for 44 years. Memorial service will be 2 p.m. Monday at First Christian Church, 516 Madison St., Clarksville. Graveside service and burial will be 9 a.m. July 12 in Arlington National Cemetery. Evelyn's last days were treated with respect and dignity by the beautiful, dedicated staff at Hope Hospice House, 9470 Health Park Circle, Fort Myers. Memorial contributions can be made to Hope Hospice House of Fort Myers or to the American Cancer Society. Arrangements by Fort Myers Memorial Funeral Home & Cemetery.
FAIRFAX, Va. - James Franklin Walker, 61, died Tuesday, June 11, 2002, in Chicago of natural causes. Born Sept. 5, 1940, in Skelton, he was the son of the late James C. and Grace Walker of Beckley. Mr. Walker was vice president for field service for National Telephone Cooperative in Arlington, Va. Previously, he was a teacher in the Raleigh County school district in West Virginia. He graduated from Concord College in Athens and Woodrow Wilson High School. Survivors include his wife, Marcee Christian Walker; two daughters, Mary Lane Wigren and her husband, Eric, of Lorton, Va., and Lisa Escobar and her husband, Alan, of Leesburg, Va.; a son, James Christian Walker of Fairfax, Va.; three grandsons, Taylor Gordy and Max Wigren of Lorton and Zachary Escobar of Leesburg; and a sister, Mary Katherine Chandler of Beckley. Visitation will be 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at Melton Mortuary Chapel, Beckley. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 12110, Charleston, WV 25302. Arrangements by Melton Mortuary, Beckley.
HUDSON, Fla. - Americo Anthony Cesaratto, 87, formerly of Beckley, died of natural causes Thursday, June 13, 2002, in Hudson, Fla. Born Jan. 12, 1915, in Stotesbury, Raleigh County, he was the son of the late John and Elisa Tolusso Cesaratto. Mr. Cesaratto was a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School and Beckley College in pre-engineering from 1936 to 1938. He worked as a bookkeeper for R.H. Bouilghy Co. Following his graduation from Beckley College, he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II as a lieutenant (pilot), flying transport planes in the South Pacific from 1945 to 1948. He was a civil engineer, having retired from Jones & Locklin in Cleveland, and was also employed by Akron Disposal Plants in Ohio. He was co-owner of Road Island Lakes Park in Ravenna, Ohio, with Homer Pettry of Glen Daniel from 1969 to 1975. Mr. Cesaratto retired to Hudson in 1977 and was a member of St. Michael's Catholic Church in Hudson. He was preceded in death by a sister, Ada Cesaratto. Survivors include a sister, Mary DiLorenzo and her husband, Patrick, of Beckley; two nephews, John and Gerald DiLorenzo, both of Beckley; a close friend, Charlotte Allen-Fey of Hudson; and many other relatives in Roanoke, Va., Florence, Ala., Canada, Italy and Switzerland. Funeral liturgy will be 10 a.m. Monday at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, Beckley, with the Rev. Samuel S. Sacus as celebrant. Rite of committal will follow in Sunset Memorial Park, Beckley. Friends may call 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Calfee Funeral Home, Beckley, where a Scripture service will be held at 7:30 p.m. with the Rev. Mr. Don Wise. Members of the Knights of Columbus will serve as pallbearers. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, 624 S. Oakwood Ave., Beckley, WV 25801. Arrangements by Calfee Funeral Home, Beckley.
CINCINNATI - Atheline Rosa (Rogers) Osborne, 83, passed away Monday, June 3, 2002, at Cottingham Retirement Community, Cincinnati. Born Oct. 14, 1918, in Beckley, she was the daughter of the late Cally and Vennie Brammer Rogers. Atheline was a Clermont County school supervisor and a retired school teacher, and of the Protestant faith. She was the beloved wife of the late John H. Osborne, a loving mother of John R. Osborne and wife, Patti, of Cleves, Ohio, and a caring grandmother of Katie, Johnny and Laura Osborne. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Glennis Hall. Survivors include a son, John R. Osborne and wife, Patti, of Cleves, Ohio; and three grandchildren, Katie, Johnny and Laura Osborne. Service will be 11 a.m. Friday at Wallace & Wallace Funeral Chapel, Rainelle, with the Rev. Lee Harris officiating. Entombment will follow in Wallace Memorial Mausoleum, Clintonville. Friends may call one hour before service Friday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations of sympathy be made to the Atheline R. Osborne St. Jude Library Fund, c/o St. Jude Library, P.O. Box 11507, Cincinnati, OH 45211. Arrangements by Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home, Rainelle.
PRINCETON - Julia Leeber Privette, 74, of Old Pisgah Road, died peacefully Thursday evening, May 23, 2002, at her home following a lengthy illness. Born July 20, 1927, in McAlpin, she was the daughter of the late Mike and Domenica "Minnie" Leeber. Julia was raised in Mabscott and graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley. She had been a resident of Princeton since 1952. She was a homemaker and a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Harrison Street, Princeton. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Robert L. Privette; a sister, Yolanda J. Blade; and three brothers, Fury Leeber, Herman Leeber and Mike Leeber Jr. Survivors include her loving and caring daughters, Elizabeth "Libby" Privette of Princeton and Roberta Wagner and her husband, Howard, of Randleman, N.C.; two sisters, Athelene Lunek of Michigan and Vera Belcher of Pennsylvania; and a brother, Lewis Leeber of Beckley. Mass of resurrection service will be 10 a.m. Monday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Princeton, with Father T. Matthew Rowgh as the celebrant. Burial will follow in Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Courthouse Road, Princeton. Family and friends may call 6 to 8 p.m. today at Memorial Funeral Directory, Athens Road, Princeton, where a Christian wake service will be held at 8 p.m. The Knights of Columbus will serve as pallbearers. The funeral will be escorted by Trooper C.K. McKenzie, a special friend. Memorial contributions may be made to Community Hospice of America, P.O. Box 6364, Bluefield, WV 24701. Arrangements by Memorial Funeral Directory, Princeton.
DELAWARE, Ohio - William Robert "Bob" Merritt, 63, died Saturday, May 18, 2002, at Riverside Methodist Hospital, Columbus, Ohio. Born Jan. 28, 1939, in Mead, he was the eldest son of William Burnside and Martha Vandall Merritt. Mr. Merritt was a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School and Raleigh County Vocational School with an electrical tech degree in 1957. He served in the U.S. Army from 1958 to 1962 as a communications specialist. He retired from AT&T Lucent Technologies after more than 43 years of service as an information developer and instructor. He and his family moved from Laura, Ohio, to Delaware, Ohio, in 1983. Bob loved the simple things in life, being with his family, friends and especially his grandchildren. Survivors include his wife, Joan Yoder Merritt; brothers and spouses, Larry Don Merritt and Jeannette of Fredericksburg, Va., Frank Burnside Merritt and Linda of Bernie, Mo., Karl Arnold Merritt and Cindy of Arcanum, Ohio, and Tracy William Merritt and Susan of Centerville, Ohio; stepmother, Jean Merritt of Arcanum; daughters and spouses, Tawnya Ballard and Gary of Delaware, Ohio, Sonya Kelly and Alan of Painesville, Ohio, Renee Merritt of Huntington Beach, Calif., and Andrea Walker and James of Ghent, Ky.; stepdaughters and spouses, Jodi Metzger and Rich of Mesa, Ariz., Jana Edington and Rick, Jennifer Oehler, Jill Oehler and her fiancé, Jeff Locklayer, all of Delaware, Ohio; grandchildren, Jeffery Emmel, Olivia and Blake Ballard, Nathan Edington, all of Delaware, Ohio, Hannah, Taylor and Caitlyn Walker of Ghent, Ky., Nathan Merritt of Painesville Township, Ohio, and William Metzger of Mesa. Service was Wednesday at Robinson Funeral Home, Dela-ware, Ohio. Contributions may be made to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Association, P.O. Box 75004, Seattle, WA 98125-0004. Condolences may be expressed via the Web at www.robinsonfuneralhomeinc.com Arrangements by Robinson Funeral Home, Delaware, Ohio.
Ross Darrel Armstrong, 60, of Crab Orchard, died Friday, May 17, 2002, at the VA Medical Center in Beckley following a long illness. Born March 14, 1942, in Crab Orchard, he was the son of the late Everett L. and Macie Earle Richmond Armstrong. Mr. Armstrong was a retired tollbooth operator on the West Virginia Turnpike and a U.S. Army veteran. He was a 1960 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School. He was preceded in death by a brother, Everett; and two sisters, Madge Phillips and Mae Goode. Surviving are a son, Ross Shannon Armstrong of Centerville, Va.; two sisters, Maxine Lair of Carmel, Ind., and Almeda Gayle Armstrong of Crab Orchard, with whom he made his home; two grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Service will be 3 p.m. Tuesday at Rose and Quesenberry Peace Chapel, Beckley, with Brother Danny Winders officiating. Burial will follow in Hotcoal Cemetery, Sophia. Friends may call one hour before service on Tuesday at the funeral home. Nephews will serve as pallbearers. Military graveside rites will be conducted by Sophia-Midway VFW Post No. 4326. Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, Beckley.
MACHESNEY PARK, Ill. - Donnie Richardson, 54, died Thursday, May 16, 2002, at OSF St. Anthony Medical Center after an extended illness. He was born Nov. 5, 1947, at Crab Orchard, where he was lovingly raised and adored by his Granny and Paw, Geter and Octavia (Snead) Richardson. He attended grade schools in Sophia and Crab Orchard and was a 1965 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School. Mr. Richardson was employed 21 years at Dixon Automatic Tool in Rockford, Ill., where he was a journeyman machinist. He retired in September 1999 following a disabling injury. He was previously employed by Admiral Harvard, Ill., for 15 years. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and watching the vegetable and flower gardens grow. Mr. Richardson was a member of the Rochelle Conservation Club and NRA. He spent endless time with his best four-legged buddy, Draco, and anticipated the birth of his first grandchild due this fall. He married his high school sweetheart, Carol Sue Pittman, on Dec. 18, 1965. Survivors include his wife, Carol Sue; sons, David Richardson and his wife, DiAnne, of Columbus, Ohio, and Jim Richardson of Machesney Park; brothers, Darrell Richardson and his wife, Judee, of Belleville, Mich., and Danny Richardson and his wife, Marion, of Grandview; sisters, Debbie (Duane) Myers of Rock Falls, Ill., and Myra (Sandi) Craft of Oak Hill; parents, Fayette and Ruth Richardson of Rock Falls; several nieces and nephews; many aunts, uncles and cousins in the Madison Hicks family of Rock Falls area; his extended family of Pittmans; special cousin, Leila Reid; and loving friend Mildred Hicks. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Uncle Tom Hicks and Aunt Alice Hicks. Special thanks go to Dr. Ted Ford and staff, Dr. Howard Weiss and staff, all the caring staff at OSF St. Anthony Medical Center Care Unit and Rockford Health Plans HMO. Also special thanks to friends and family for the support and prayers offered during Don's last 21/2 years. Service will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at Sunset Funeral Home, 8800 N. Alpine Road, Rockford, Ill. Entombment will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens. Friends may call 12:30 to 2 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorials to the family for a living memorial, to be established. To his machinist friends - "836" (refer to machinist code list). Arrangements by Sunset Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, Rockford.