XENIA, Ohio - Robert E. "Bob" Murray, 79, passed away Thursday evening, June 14, 2001, at his home. Born July 7, 1921, in Sylvia, he was the son of the late Russell and Margaret Murray. Mr. Murray was a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School, Beckley, and attended Lincoln Aeronautics School, Lincoln, Neb. He entered the Navy in 1943 and served aboard the USS Hornet. After his discharge he attended Marshall University. In 1949 he married Mary Martha Farmer, who preceded him in death in January 1985. He was retired from Wright Patterson Air Force Base where he worked in the Structures Division. He was also employed at Twin Base Golf Club for 18 years. He was a member of the 147 Masonic Lodge of Dayton, Ohio, Scottish Rites Valley of Dayton, VFW Post 2402, Xenia, Am Vets Post 14, Xenia, BPOE No. 668, Xenia, FOE No. 2641, Fairborn, FOE 1689, Xenia, and Golden Age Senior Citizen Center. He was a longtime member of Faith Community United Methodist Church, Xenia. Survivors include his daughter, Margaret Katherine (Murray) Wagner and her two sons, Frank Robert Wagner and David Matthew Wagner, all of Troy, Ohio; and a sister, Betty (Murray) Tredway and her husband, Lacy Tredway, of Beckley. Service will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at McColaugh Funeral Home, 826 N. Detroit St., Xenia. Masonic service will be 10:15 a.m. Monday. Burial will follow in Woodland Cemetery, Xenia. Friends may call 2 to 4 p.m. today at the funeral home. Contributions may be made to Hospice of Dayton, 324 Wilmington Ave., Dayton, OH or Golden Age Senior Citizens Center (Meals on Wheels program), 130 E. Church St., Xenia, OH. Arrangements by McColaugh Funeral Home, Xenia, Ohio.
Arnold "Cowboy" E. Allen, 77, [Class of '43] of Beckley, died Saturday, March 10, 2001, in the Beckley VAMC following a long illness. Born Aug. 11, 1923, at Talcott, he was the son of the late Albert Allen Sr. and Amanda Maude Scott Allen. Mr. Allen was a retired employee of C&P Telephone Company. He was a member of Pioneers of America, and was of the Baptist faith. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a recipient of the Purple Heart. He was preceded in death by a brother, Albert R. Allen Jr. Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Pearl Nelson Allen of Lanark; two sons, Thomas Allen Sr. of Beckley and David Allen of Mount Hope; three daughters, Linda Hall of Lanark, Ruth Ann Harvey of Ohio, and Christine Jennings of North Carolina; a brother, Thomas Garland Allen of Beckley; six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Service will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at Blue Ridge Funeral Home Chapel, Beckley, with the Rev. Cecil Smith officiating. Burial will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley. Military graveside rites will be conducted by the Oak Hill VFW Post No. 3110. 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.
BOWIE, Md. - Blanche Jeanette Dietz, 73, died Monday, June 11, 2001, in Prince George's Hospital Center, Cheverly, Md., following a long illness. Born Aug. 12, 1927, in Beckley, she was the daughter of the late Kyle Harper and Mary E. Ward Harper. Mrs. Dietz was a member of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church and had worked six years for the U.S. Justice Department. She was a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School, Beckley. She was preceded in death by a sister, Eileen Lucille Fleshman. Mrs. Dietz was the beloved wife of John W. Dietz; sister to Kyle D. Harper of Beckley and Margaret Lee Harper of Beckley; and aunt to Kristin Gadd of Beckley and David Gadd of Los Angeles. Memorial service will be 11 a.m. Friday at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 13106 Annapolis Road, Bowie, with Father Tom Andrews officiating. Internment will follow in Lakemont Memorial Gardens, Davidsonville, Md. Arrangements by Evans Funeral Home, Bowie.
Elder Timothy Jones returned to his Lord on Sunday, June 3, 2001, following an extended illness. Born March 18, 1954, in Oak Hill, he was the son of the late Deacon Thomas and Elder Elizabeth Jones. Mr. Jones was a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School, Class of 1974. He was united in holy matrimony Jan. 25, 1976, to Gloria Jean Johnson. To this union were born six children. One son, Thomas Alvin, preceded him in death. Elder Jones gave his life to the Lord at the young age of 16 at the Church of the Living God and remained a faithful soldier until the Lord called him home. Elder Jones at a very young age was a member of New Bethel Temple United Holiness Church under the pastorage of Bishop Alvester McConnell and remained a member in good standing until his death. In 1992 he became assistant pastor of Rose of Sharon United Holiness Church and pastor of Mount Calvary United Holiness Church. On April 24, 2001, he founded and established New Life Holiness Church in Jacobs Fork. He was manager of Voices of Deliverance singing group. He served as volunteer fireman for the Bradley-Prosperity Fire Department in 1989. He was employed at Itmann No. 3 for five years and Heilig-Meyers for 21 years. Elder Jones leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife of 25 years, Elder Gloria Jean Jones; five children, Stephen, Angela, Timothy Jr., David and Martin Jones; five grandchildren, Toni, Mointe Jr., Adam, Josh and Malik, and six godchildren; four brothers, Clyde (Harriett) Coy of White Plains, N.Y., Thomas (Belva) Jones, Johnny (Nancy) Jones and Roger Jones of Beckley; a godbrother, Harold Glenn of Beckley; and a special adopted brother and sister, Monroe (Barbette) Nicholas of Tazewell, Va. Also surviving are five sisters, Christina Ray, Valerie (Daniel) Waller, Emanuela Robertson, Patricia (Larry) Avery of Beckley, Darlene Keith of Atlanta and Lisa (Stanley) Davis of Roanoke, Va.; his mother-in-law, Earnestine Johnson of Sandersville, Ga.; two sisters-in-law, Alice (Robert) Beyah and Sandra (Mark) Frazier of Atlanta; four brothers-in-law, Jimmie and Ernest Johnson of Atlanta, Alvin (Ellen) and Troy (Renee) Johnson of Sandersville; an uncle, C.J. (Cornelius) Norris of Cleveland; three aunts, Mrs. Lee Jones of Kincaid, Mrs. Margaret Nelson, Bert Jones of Amherst, Va., and Mary Jones of Furru, Va.; a devoted friend, Minister Sandy Dowdin; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and his church family. Service will be 11 a.m. Friday at New Life Holiness Church, Jacobs Fork, with the Rev. Forrest Brooks, Elder David Moore, Elder Emmitt Patterson and the Rev. David Allen officiating. Burial will follow in Maplewood Cemetery, Bluefield, Va. Friends may call 6 to 8 p.m. today at the church. Arrangements by the McConnell Funeral Home, Bluefield.
FREDERICK, Md. - Jim Cecil Young, 74, formerly of Lester, died Thursday, May 31, 2001, in a Maryland care home following a short illness. Born Aug. 20, 1926, in Lester, he was the son of the late Herbert and Lillian Ruth Snyder Young. Mr. Young spent his childhood in Lester and was a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School. He majored in accounting at Beckley Junior College and attended West Virginia University, majoring in psychology. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran. He started working for Bendix Corp. as a production supervisor. He also worked for Babcock and Wilcox Co. as a method and standard engineer in Lynchburg, Va., and retired from Bethlehem Steel in Baltimore. He was a member of Lester Baptist Church. He loved horse racing and was a powerful writer. He was preceded in death by his wife, Eula Mae Austin Young, on Jan. 20, 2000. Survivors include two sons, Cecil Young and his wife, Brenda, of Frederick and James Robert Young of Gaithersburg, Md.; a stepson, Larry Ballard of Auburn, Ga.; a stepdaughter, Jeanne Gullette of Union; four grandsons, Rodney, Michael, Matthew and Steven; and two great-grandchildren, Cody and Amber. Service will be 1 p.m. Tuesday at Melton Mortuary Chapel, Beckley, with the Rev. Bernie Heinz officiating. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Park, Beckley. Friends may call 6 to 9 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Arrangements by Melton Mortuary, Beckley.
Catharine L. Gallagher, 89, of Maple Fork Road, formerly of Beckley, died Friday, May 18, 2001, in a local care facility following a long illness. Born July 31, 1911, at Kenneys Creek, she was the daughter of the late Edward C. and Catherine O'Connell Gallagher. Miss Gallagher was an elementary school teacher for 41 years with the Raleigh County Board of Education. She was a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School, Nazareth College, now known as Spalding University, and Concord College and obtained her master's degree from the Catholic University of America. She was a member of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, Beckley, and Catholic Daughters of America, and was an instructor of religious education at St. Francis. Miss Gallagher was presented a religious award in 1985 by the Knights of Columbus for her many years of service in Catholic education. She was also a member of the Raleigh County Retired Teachers Association. Miss Gallagher was a lifelong resident of Raleigh County. She was also preceded in death by two brothers, Edward C. Gallagher Jr. and Vincent O'Connell Gallagher. Survivors include two sisters-in-law, Frances D. Gallagher of Beckley and Doris M. Gallagher of Ghent; two nieces, Rita Jones and her husband, Tony, of Scott Depot and Martha Baker and her husband, Wayne, of Beckley; four nephews, Vincent Gallagher and his wife, Pam, of Shady Spring, Michael Gallagher and his wife, Nancy, of Barboursville, Joe Gallagher of Ghent and Chris Gallagher and his wife, Rebecca, of Mount Hope; six great-nephews, Andrew, Daniel, Thomas and Antonio Jones, Phillip Baker and Patrick Gallagher; and three great-nieces, Mandy and Anne Baker and Adell Gallagher. Funeral liturgy will be 10 a.m. Monday at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, Beckley, with the Rev. Samuel S. Sacus officiating. Rite of committal will follow in Mount Calvary Addition of Sunset Memorial Park, Beckley. Friends may call 6 to 8 p.m. today at Calfee Funeral Home, Beckley, where a rosary will be recited at 7:30 p.m. Pallbearers will be nephews Chris Gallagher, Patrick Gallagher, Michael Gallagher, Joe Gallagher, Wayne Baker and Daniel Jones. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Francis de Sales Catholic School, 614 S. Oakwood Ave., Beckley, WV 25801. Arrangements by Calfee Funeral Home, Beckley.
MOUNT HOPE - Hester Arnold Burgess, 85, died Friday, May 4, 2001, at Hidden Valley Health Care Center, Oak Hill, following a lengthy illness. Born March 22, 1916, in Skelton, she was the daughter of the late Denver and Lena Mae Bailey Arnold. Mrs. Burgess was a former antique dealer at Burgess Antique Shop. She was a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School, Beckley. She was preceded in death by her husband, Avrice K. "Buddy" Burgess; a sister, Edith Roberts; and a brother, Fred B. Arnold. Survivors include three sisters, Ruby Wolfe of Sebring, Fla., Doris Carlile of Lighthouse Point, Fla., and Marjorie Schapiro of Mount Hope; several nieces and nephews, including Fred Arnold and his wife, Barbara, of Shady Spring and Linda Arnold and her husband, John, of Charleston. Graveside rites and committal service will be noon Monday at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley, with the Revs. Richard Allen and Ronnie Stapleton officiating. Interment will follow. Friends may call 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Monday at Tyree Funeral Home, Mount Hope. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 129 Main St., Beckley. Arrangements by Tyree Funeral Home, Mount Hope.
Freda Verna Roop, 82, of Beckley, died Wednesday, April 18, 2001, at a Beckley hospital following a short illness. Born Nov. 25, 1918, in Beckley, she was the daughter of the late John Roop and Lillian Starr Roop. Ms. Roop lived in the Beckley area all of her life. She attended Woodrow Wilson High School. She was a homemaker and caregiver for her parents. She enjoyed music, sewing, baby-sitting and her pets. Survivors include two aunts, Opal Lewis of Vernon, Texas, and Delsie Zink of Maple Fork; cousins; friends; loving neighbors; and her dog, Susie. Graveside rites will be 1 p.m. Saturday at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley, with the Rev. Bill Calhoun officiating. Arrangements by Blue Ridge Funeral Home, Beckley.
Samuel Riffe Paris, 75, of 226 Woodpoint Ave. in Hagerstown, died Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2001, at Washington County Hospital. Born Oct. 10, 1925, in Thurman, W.Va., he was the son of the late Warden Dillon and Alma Sue Riffe Paris. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Christine Kesecker Paris, in 1968. He was a graduate of Beckley High School in Beckley, W.Va. He received a bachelor of science degree from Shepherd College in Shepherdstown, W.Va.; and a master's degree from Shippensburg (Pa.) College. He taught school for 35 years at Washington Street School and Western Heights Middle School. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and the Korean War, and retired from the Naval Reserve in 1985 as a chief aviation ordinanceman. He was a member of St. John's Episcopal Church. He was a member of Washington County Teachers Association; AARP; and VP 68 Plank Holder Black Hawks. He is survived by his wife, Frances Faith Paris; a daughter, Rebecca J. Lohr of Hagerstown; three sons, S. Thomas Paris of Owings Mills, Md., Robert L. Paris of Rock Hill, S.C. and Timothy L. Paris of Frederick, Md.; four granddaughters and two grandsons. He was preceded in death by a brother, Warden Thomas Paris. Services will be Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at St. John's Episcopal Church in Hagerstown. The Revs. Patrick Pierce and Don R. Stevenson will officiate. Burial will be in Broadfording Cemetery, with military honors by the U.S. Navy. The family will receive friends Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. at Minnich Funeral Home, 415 E. Wilson Blvd. in Hagerstown. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. John's Episcopal Church, 101 S. Prospect St., Hagerstown, MD 21740.
Mary Phillips Loflin, 92, of Beckley died March 19, 2000, at home after a long illness. She was a homemaker, a graduate of Beckley High School, had attended the Beckley Normal School and was a member of First Baptist Church, Beckley. Surviving: son, Lyle of Charleston; daughters, Mary Katheryn Carper of Derry, N.H., LaRene Jennings of Atlanta, Susan Loflin of Beckley; 12 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren. Service will be 2 p.m. Thursday at Calfee Funeral Home, Beckley, with the Rev. James Jennings officiating. Burial will be in Beaver Cemetery. Friends may call one hour prior to service at the funeral home.
Jose "Joe" Rodriguez Jr., 77, of Cobalt Lane, Beckley, died Wednesday evening on April 4, 2001, in a Beckley hospital following a long illness. Born June 6, 1923, at Blue Jay, he was the son of the late Jose and Sofia DeVila Rodriguez. He was a lifelong resident of Beckley. A graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School, where he lettered in three varsity sports, following service in the U.S. Marine Corps, he attended West Virginia University, where he played basketball. He also attended Glenville State College, where he was a member of the 1941-42 Glenville State College Basketball Championship team. Mr. Rodriguez then served in the U.S. Navy as a field medic and pharmacist's mate. Following service he earned his bachelor of science degree in chemistry from West Virginia Wesleyan College, where he was a member of the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity. Mr. Rodriguez was a former Raleigh County constable, justice of the peace, and magistrate. He was a devoted citizen of Raleigh County, where he provided unselfish community service as president of the Beckley Lions Club, president of the Beckley Babe Ruth and president of the West Virginia Young Democrats Association. Mr. Rodriguez was a member of the St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, where he was active in youth development as a basketball coach and PTA president for several years. He was preceded in death by a sister, Rafaela, and three brothers, Robert, Anthony Vera, and Manuel Rodriguez. Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Carmela "Nellie" Sparacino Rodriguez; three sons, Jose Rodriguez and his wife, Mary, of Abingdon, Va., Manuel Rodriguez and his wife, Susan, of Beckley, and Mark Rodriguez and his wife, Karen, of Goode, Va.; two daughters, Nancy Rodriguez and her husband, Dr. Eric Meisterling, of Somers, Conn., Andrea Rodriguez and her husband, Dr. Thomas Karrs, of Ronceverte; a brother, Frank Rodriguez of Charleston; 14 grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. The funeral liturgy will be celebrated on Monday at 11 a.m. at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church with Father Samuel Sacus as celebrant. The rite of committal will follow in the Mt. Calvary Cemetery at the Sunset Memorial Park, Beckley. Friends may call 7 to 9 p.m. this evening at the Melton Mortuary Chapel. A vigil prayer service will be conducted at 8:30 p.m. by Deacon Donald Wise. Pallbearers will be Mark Soliemon, George Fama, Anthony Sparacino Jr., Dr. Lewis Webb, Jose Rodriguez IV, Michael Cavendish, John and Joseph Sparacino, and Philip Shucet. Donations of sympathy may be made to the St. Francis de Sales Parochial School; 614 S. Oakwood Ave., Beckley, WV 25801. Arrangements by Melton Mortuary, Beckley.
DALTON, Ga. - William Wayne Stafford, 58, formerly of Beckley, died Sunday, March 25, 2001, at his home following a short illness. Born Dec. 7, 1942, in Beckley, he was the son of Lura Runyon Stafford of Beckley and the late Eurith Stafford. Mr. Stafford was a former circulation director for Beckley Newspapers and the former operator of the Thrifty Shopper publication in Beckley. He was employed as circulation director by the Daily Citizen newspaper in Dalton. Mr. Stafford was a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School, had attended Jones Memorial Baptist Church and was a U.S. Army veteran. He was preceded in death by a brother, Harold "Buddy" Stafford. Other survivors include two brothers, Eddie Stafford and his wife, Teresa, of Beckley and Larry Stafford and his wife, Patricia, of Lexington, Ky.; two sisters, Delores Treadway and her husband, Clinton Treadway Jr., and Yvonne Wheeler and her husband, Larry, all of Beckley; and his former wife, Connie Shirley Stafford. Service will be 11 a.m. Thursday at Rose and Quesenberry Peace Chapel, Beckley, with the Rev. Vondie Cook officiating. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Park, Beckley. Friends may call 6 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be Bob Kemp, Brett Kemp, Stephen Stafford, Nicholas Wheeler, Matthew Stafford and Eddie Treadway. Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, Beckley.
E. Deion Baker, 45, died Tuesday, March 27, 2001. Minister Baker was the daughter of Doris O. Smith of 701 Scott Ave., Beckley, and the late Willis R. Smith. She was baptized in Welcome Church at the age of six and was an usher. Deion graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School and attended Lourdes College and the University of Toledo, where she studied philosophy and bible. She was a licensed ordained minister of Body of Christ Church, Toledo, Ohio. She was a staff development manager for Buckeye Cable Systems, Toledo. She was preceded in death by a son, Marcus A. Baker. Other survivors include her husband, Gerald; two daughters, Leslie Reddish and her husband, Jarvis, of Virginia Beach, Va., and Kimberely at home; two brothers, Reggie Smith and his wife, Renee, of Beckley and Keith Smith and his wife, Remelle, of College Park, Ga.; and a host of nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and friends. Arrangements by C. Brown Funeral Home, 1629 Nebraska Ave., Toledo. Submitted by Ritchie and Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley.
TOPEKA, Ind. - Gregory Steven Gyovai, 39, formerly of Beckley, died Thursday, March 22, 2001, at his home. Born Aug. 14, 1961, in Fort Rucker, Ala., he was the son of Louis Steven Gyovai of Naoma and Violet Shrewsbury Everage of Topeka, Ind. Mr. Gyovai was a laborer for a rubber manufacturing company in Topeka. He was a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School and had completed LPN training. He was a 12-year veteran of the U.S. Army. He had been a resident of Topeka for the past six years and was of the Baptist faith. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandmother, Ruth Gyovai; and maternal grandfather, Jack Shrewsbury. Survivors include two sons, Karl and Kane Gyovai of Beckley; a daughter, Michelle Gyovai of Beckley; a brother, Stevie Gyovai and his wife, Nikki, of Wolcottville, Ind.; a sister, Kimberly Hicks and her husband, Dale, of Howe, Ind.; his paternal grandfather, Louis Gyovai of Naoma; his maternal grandmother, Vern Lyons of LaGrange, Ind.; two nephews, Joseph and Mark Hicks of Howe, Ind.; and several aunts, uncles and cousins. Service will be 1 p.m. Wednesday at Rose and Quesenberry Peace Chapel with Pastor Lester Blankenship of Detroit, Mich., officiating. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Park, Beckley. Friends may call one hour before the service Wednesday at the funeral home. Uncles and cousins will serve as pallbearers. Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, Beckley.
Michael Stephen Shrewsbury, 49, of MacArthur, went to be with the Lord on Monday, March 19, 2001, in a Beckley hospital. Born Aug. 13, 1951, in Princeton, he was the son of Ordie A. Shrewsbury and Helen Sue Nichols Shrewsbury of MacArthur. Mr. Shrewsbury spent his childhood in MacArthur and was a 1970 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School. He attended Beckley College and Morris Harvey College in Charleston. He was of the Baptist faith and owner of Computer Wiz and Exotic Fish. He also worked 13 years on the CSX railway. Other survivors include two sons, Eric and Ryan Shrewsbury of MacArthur; a daughter, Tonya Kay and her husband, Joe, of Charlotte, N.C.; a brother, Frederick Wayne of MacArthur; two aunts; three uncles; and several cousins. Service will be 3 p.m. Thursday at Melton Mortuary Chapel, Beckley, with the Rev. Harmon Davis officiating. Burial will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley. Friends may call 2 to 3 p.m. today at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be Bill Austin, Joe Kay, Jack Bishop, Mike Isom, Brandon Kiblinger and William Lester. Arrangements by Melton Mortuary, Beckley.
Lonnie Edward Pryor, 30, of Beckley, died Monday, March 19, 2001, at Raleigh General Hospital, Beckley, following a long illness. Born May 6, 1970, in Beckley, he was the son of Bill Sullivan and Charlene C. Pryor, both of Beckley. Mr. Pryor was a member of Heart of God Ministries and a member of the church choir. He was a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School and attended Beckley College. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather and grandmother, the Rev. Alvin K. and Amanda Pryor; four uncles, Johnny Pryor, Jimmy Bly, the Rev. Thomas Pryor and Alvin K. Pryor Jr.; and an aunt, Lorain Pryor. Other survivors include several half brothers and sisters of Beckley; five uncles, James Pryor of Hollywood, Fla., Godfrey Pryor of Beckley, Dennis Leroy and Frances Pryor and Donald and Yolanda Pryor, both of Virginia Beach, Va., and Joseph Pryor of Charleston; four aunts, Mary and the Rev. Robert Morton of Beckley, Thelma Gill of Virginia Beach, Betty and Willie Saunders of Modesto, Calif., and Loretta Pryor of Beckley; three great-uncles, Dennis Bolling of San Francisco, Willie "Sunny" Bolling of Washington, D.C., and James Pryor of Iowa; a great-aunt, Nettie Bly of Beckley; and a host of first and second cousins, relatives and friends. The family will be in the home of Godfrey Pryor at 217 Beckley Ave. Service will be 2 p.m. Thursday at Heart of God Ministries, Beckley, with Bishop Fred T. Simms, the Rev. Robert Morton and Minster Marie Catus officiating. Entombment will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley. Friends may call two hours before service Thursday at the church, where the family will receive friends one hour before service. Arrangements by Ritchie and Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley.
Larry Lee Lares, 56, [WWHS '63] of Jarrell Street, Beckley, died Friday, Feb. 9, 2001, in a VA medical center following a long illness. Born July 9, 1945, in Beckley, he was the son of the late Raymond Joseph and Myrtle Ogle Lares. Mr. Lares spent his childhood in Beckley, where he had been a lifelong resident. He was a former electrician for Westmoreland Coal Co., having last worked at Tams. He was of the Baptist faith. He was disabled for a number of years and a Vietnam Conflict veteran. He received the Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal and two Overseas Bars. He was an avid animal lover, enjoyed gardening and reading, and loved NASCAR racing. Survivors include his wife, Kitty Kasuba Lares and her family, Joe Kasuba and his wife, Danese, of Dover, Fla., William Franklin Kasuba and his wife, Mary, of Princewick, Bettie Kasuba Williams and her husband, Bob, of Prosperity and many nieces and nephews. A private graveside service was held Wednesday at Hurt Trail Cemetery at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley, with Dr. David Carrico officiating. Military graveside rites were conducted by Oak Hill VFW Post 3110. Arrangements by Melton Mortuary, Beckley.
CHARLESTON - Ondra Lajuan Trigg, 36, departed this life Sunday, March 11, 2001, in Washington County Hospital Association, Hagerstown, Md. He was born Sept. 14, 1964, in Beckley. Mr. Trigg was a member of Simpson Memorial United Methodist Church, Charleston. He was a 1983 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School, Beckley, and attended West Virginia State College, Institute. He last worked for the Kanawha County Board of Education as a teacher's aide. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandmother, Geneva Trigg of Raleigh. Survivors include his mother, Evangelist Elinora Cottrell, and his stepfather, Elder Melvin Cottrell Sr., of Cockeysville, Md.; a sister, Ladora Lee of Baltimore; five brothers, Melvin Cottrell Jr. of Cockeysville, Ronnie and Donald Vaughn of Detroit, Wayne Vaughn of Arizona and David Vaughn of Sterling, Va.; his maternal grandfather, Leon Trigg and his wife, Maxine, of Beckley; an aunt, Patricia Fields of Raleigh; nieces, nephews and cousins; a brother-in-law, David Lee; four special friends, Peaches Easley, Karen Williams, Bishop James Carter and Janice Vaughn; and a host of great-aunts, uncles, relatives and friends. Service will be 1 p.m. today at Simpson Memorial United Methodist Church, 607 Shrewsbury St., Charleston, with the Rev. Homer Davis and Bishop James Carter officiating. Burial will follow in Greenwood Cemetery, Beckley. Friends may call noon until time of service today at the church. Arrangements by Durgan Funeral Home, Beckley.
HAGERSTOWN, Md. - Harold W. Yost Jr., 62, formerly of Raleigh, died Tuesday, March 13, 2001, at his home following a short illness. Born July 15, 1938, he was the son of Harold W. Yost Sr. of Raleigh and the late Mary Ann Hilton Yost. Mr. Yost was a professional floor mechanic and had been a resident of Maryland for more than 40 years. Other survivors besides his father include two sisters, Ethel Yost of Raleigh and Patricia Ann Hartley and her husband, Wayne, of Bluefield. Service will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens Mausoleum with the Rev. Cleve Allen officiating, with burial immediately following. Family members will serve as pallbearers. The family respectfully requests that flowers be omitted. Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, Beckley.
Ronald Gene Anderson, 58, of Beckley, died at 12:45 p.m. Saturday, March 3, 2001, at a Beckley hospital after a two-and-one-half year bout with lung and brain cancer. Born Sept. 7, 1942, in Johnstown, Pa., he was the son of the late Jennings Bruce and Helen M. Anderson. Mr. Anderson was a 1960 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School, earned his bachelor of science degree from West Virginia Institute of Technology, and earned his master's degree from Marshall University. He taught in Kanawha County for 20 years and in Raleigh County at Beckley-Stratton Junior High School for 15 years. He was a skilled woodworker, master electrician and farmer, and he enjoyed classic cars. He is survived by devoted brothers and sisters-in-law, Don and his wife, Lana, of Beckley, and Bruce and his wife, Nancy, of Beckley; and his devoted sister Bonnie Wareham and husband, Scott, of Farmington, Utah; two nephews, Todd Anderson of Beckley and Jay Lilly of Mount Pleasant, S.C.; two nieces, Michelle McKinney and husband, Danny, of Beckley, and Terry Bradley and husband, Jim, of Mount Pleasant, S.C.; two great-nieces, Tearson Annie McKinney of Beckley and Meredith Grace Bradley of Mount Pleasant, S.C.; his loving companion, Sandra Boland of Beckley; and devoted caregivers, Linda McKinney, Kay Blankenship, and Bertha Welch. He wished to leave a special message to his many friends, colleagues and students: that life and family are very precious, and that everyone should cherish and embrace every second with them. He had great pleasure in laughing and joking with everyone. Visitation will be 3 p.m. today at the Sunset Mausoleum, and final committal will be 4 p.m. at the mausoleum. Final committal service will be conducted by Pastor Ronnie Abshire of Grandview Christian Church and Pastor Allen Johnson of Beaver United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Hospice of Southern West Virginia, 103 S. Eisenhower Drive, Beckley, WV 25801. Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, Beckley.
Vivian R. Pemberton Edwards, 50, of 200 Morris Ave., Beckley, died Thursday, March 1, 2001, at Raleigh General Hospital following a short illness. Born April 26, 1950, in Beckley, she was the daughter of the late Alexander and Dorothy Frances Pemberton. Mrs. Edwards was a member of New Hope Baptist Church in Beckley, was a 1966 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School, and attended West Virginia State College. She was preceded in death by her husband, Harry Edwards, on March 17, 1999; and two brothers, James Pemberton and Charles Pemberton. Survivors include one son, Stephon Ross of Detroit, Mich.; one sister, Harvenna Pannell of Fayetteville, N.C.; six brothers, Roger Pemberton and his wife, Carolyn, of Detroit, Mich., George Pemberton of Detroit, the Rev. John Pemberton and his wife, Rosetta, of Beckley, Ronald Pemberton and his wife, Dollie, of Princeton, Michael Pemberton and his wife, Sandra, of Detroit, and Alex Pemberton III and his wife, Jean, of Columbus, Ohio; a sister-in-law, Betty Pemberton of Beckley; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Service will be 1 p.m. Tuesday at Heart of God Ministries Church with Bishop Fred T. Simms and the Rev. Abner Wright officiating. Burial will be at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens. Friends may call one hour before service Tuesday at the church. Arrangements by Ritchie and Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley.
BLUEFIELD - Charles Roy Smith, of 2232 Jefferson St., died Friday, Feb. 9, 2001, at Princeton Community Hospital following a courageous battle with serious illness. Born March 30, 1928, at Beckley, he was the son of the late Roy I. and Eva G. Hopkins Smith. A former Mercer County prosecuting attorney, his career was marked by significant professional and volunteer service throughout this region. He received the American Legion's "Distinguished Citizenship Award" in 1999. A 1949 [or 1946? - jmiller] graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley (where he was inducted into the school's football Hall of Fame), he served in the U.S. Army and spent 18 months in the occupation of Japan. He enrolled in Washington and Lee University, where he was a starting lineman on the 1951 W&L Gator Bowl football team. After earning a degree in accounting, he enrolled in the West Virginia University School of Law and served as a volunteer football coach. After graduation from WVU Law School, he joined the Bluefield law firm of Richardson and Kemper, and later established professional association with local attorney Bernard McClaugherty. In 1965, he was appointed Mercer County assistant prosecuting attorney, serving in that capacity until June 1989, when he was appointed the county's prosecuting attorney by Judge David Knight. He served as the county's prosecuting attorney for nine years, until his retirement in 1998. A tireless advocate for the welfare and protection of children, Smith was recognized by the Child Protective Service Workers, who named the new conference room in the Division of Health and Human Services in his honor. He once volunteered to be "roasted" during a very successful fund-raising activity of the Children's Home Society of West Virginia. Quietly and often anonymously, he underwrote costs associated with deserving children's tuition to camps, the circus, and sporting/educational programs. He also supported the WE CAN program. For many years, he donned a Santa Claus outfit and talked to children about their holiday dreams. A recipient of the Boy Scouts' highest award - Eagle Scout - he served as an area scout master for many years. He supported the Windy Mountain Learning Center and worked with individuals at the Southern Highlands Community Mental Health Center. A chaperone for public school patrol trips to Washington, D.C., and Gettysburg, Pa., he also found time to assist the Bluefield Jaycees with their Soap Box Derby competition. He provided public address and play-by-play announcing services for Bluefield High School football and assisted in taking game films during the 1960s. He was an active member of Bland Street United Methodist Church and served as chairman of the Administration Board, along with numerous church committees. He organized a video ministry, making types of church services available to individuals unable to attend. A member of the Board of Ordained Ministry for the Southern District of the United Methodist Church, he also taught a weekly Bible study each Wednesday. He is survived by his brother, George and wife, Eloise of Tomball, Texas; his sister, Dora Lee Webster of Falmouth, Maine; nephews, John, Dick, Alan, David and James; niece, Susan; and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews. In addition to his family, Charlie leaves his adopted Bluefield family of Dr. Jim Nelson, his wife, Kitty, and daughter, Kathy, as well as Arnold "Nub" Porterfield. He leaves his adopted Princeton family of special friend, Margaret G. Bailey, her children, son David and his wife, Kris, son Mike and his wife, Tina, and her daughter, Michele, and grandchildren. A memorial service will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27, in the Bland Street Methodist Church with the Rev. Warren Faulkner and the Rev. Charles Echols officiating. At the family's request, there will be no visitation. It was his wish that, in lieu of flowers, those individuals wishing to honor his memory may do so by making contributions to the "We CAN" Children's Foundation, the "Make-A-Wish Foundation," the Boy Scouts of America, and/or Bland Street United Methodist Church. This information was submitted by Mercer Funeral Home, Bluefield.
Eileen Harper Gadd Fleshman, 77, of Curtis Avenue, Beckley, died Monday, Feb. 19, 2001, in a Beckley hospital following a short illness. Born Aug. 4, 1925, in Beckley, she was the daughter of the late Kyle D. and Mary Eva Ward Harper. Mrs. Fleshman spent her childhood in Beckley, was a 1944 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School and attended Bowling Green Business College in Bowling Green, Ky. She worked as a secretary for West Virginia Vocational Rehabilitation for many years. She was a member of First Baptist Church, Neville Street, and had been a resident of Curtis Street since 1985, having moved from Mabscott where she had lived for several years. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Ernest G. Gadd; her second husband, Everett Calvin "Sleepy" Fleshman; and a sister, Lyda Harper. Survivors include two children, David Gadd of Los Angeles and Kristin Gadd of Mabscott; two sisters, Margaret Harper of Beckley and Jeanette Dietz of Bowie, Md.; a brother, Kyle David Harper of Beckley; and Sleepy's daughter, Julia Mollohan and her husband, Howard, of Beckley. Service will be 1 p.m. Thursday at Melton Mortuary Chapel, Beckley, with Dr. David Carrico officiating. Burial will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley. Friends may call one hour before service Thursday at the funeral home. Friends will serve as pallbearers. Arrangements by Melton Mortuary, Beckley
SANFORD, Fla. - Opal Cantabery Keim, 85, of Lake Mary, Sanford, formerly of Beckley, died Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2001, in a Sanford hospital following a short illness. Born March 8, 1915, in Charleston, she was the daughter of the late Fred and Bertha Mae Simmons Cantabery. Mrs. Keim spent her childhood in Beckley, where she was a 1934 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School. She was a member of First Baptist Church on Neville Street when she lived in Beckley. In her early years she worked as a secretary for Purity Baking Co. for Paul Payne. She had been a resident of Florida for a number of years. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert F. Keim Sr.; a son, Robert F. Keim Jr.; and a brother, Walter "Cub" Cantabery. Survivors include two sons, Steve Keim of Sanford, with whom she made her home, and Thomas H. Keim and his wife, Betty, of Columbia, S.C.; five grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; a sister, Hazel Magee of Beckley; a niece, Carolyn Lucas; and a nephew, Rick Cantabery. In accordance with her wishes, Mrs. Keim was cremated. Her ashes are to be interred next to her husband and son in Tampa, Fla. Information submitted by Melton Mortuary, Beckley.
RICHMOND, Va. - Robert Leo Cipolat, 72, formerly of Atlanta, Ga., and originally of Beckley, died Saturday, Feb. 10, 2001. Born May 7, 1928, at Beckley, he was the son of the late Felix and Minnie Ramella Cipolat. Mr. Cipolat was a 1946 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley, was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, and attended Georgia Tech. Survivors include his wife, Kathryn S. Cipolat of Alpharetta, Ga.; two daughters, Sherry Cipolat-Scruggs and husband, Edward, of Atlanta, Ga., and Sandra Allrid of Alpharetta, Ga.; a granddaughter, Amy Leigh Allrid of Alpharetta, Ga.; two nieces, Andrea Erwin of Durham, N.C., and Shirley Stout of Roanoke, Va.; a nephew, Jack D. Williams of Shelby, N.C.; and numerous grandnieces and grandnephews. Memorial service will be 3 p.m. today at Bliley Funeral Home's Central Chapel, 3801 Augusta Ave., Richmond, Va. In lieu of flowers, donations of sympathy may be made to the American Cancer Society, 4240 Park Place Court, Glen Allen, VA 23060, or Our Lady of Perpetual Care, 760 Pollard Blvd. SW, P.O. Box 6805, Atlanta, GA 30315. Arrangements by Bliley Funeral Home, Richmond, Va.
[From the Beckley Post-Herald, Dec. 2, 1957; WWHS '58] Miss Teresa Alpha Thompson, 17, of 116 Earhart Street died at her residence yesterday at 7:45 a.m. after an illness of 15 months. She was born in Beckley on February 28, 1940, a daughter of Kelly Lee and Gladys Irene Lawrence Thompson of Beckley. She was an active member of the first Baptist Church where she was active in all young people organizations, the National Honor Society of the White Sulphur Springs High School band for one year. In addition to her parents she is survived by one brother, Lawrence Hugh at home; one sister, Irene Marie at home and her paternal grandmother, Mrs. O.E. Miller of Beckley. Funeral services are tentatively scheduled for 2: p.m. tomorrow at the First Baptist Church. Services will be conducted by Dr. Alvin J. Cook. Burial will be in the Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens. The body will be taken from the Melton Mortuary to the residence at 2: p.m. today.
[From the Beckley Post-Herald, Oct. 30, 1959; WWHS '58] Funeral services for Jerry Brian Cole, 19, of 401 Stanley Street. will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Methodist Temple by the Rev. J.B.F. Yoak Jr. Burial will be in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens. Cole died at 1:10 a.m., Thursday from an accidentally, self-inflicted bullet wound in his right temple. Beckley Police said Cole shot himself in the presence of his friends, Mr. and Mrs. James Lee Broome and his fiancee, Mary Ann Kosco. The accident occurred in the kitchen of the Broome home at 2109 S. Kanawha Street at about 11 p.m. Wednesday. Police termed the shooting accidental. The father of the shooting victim, Alfred L. Cole, termed it "a simple accident which could happen to anyone." [illegible] account of the accident, three persons saw the shooting - the Broomes and Miss Kosco. Cole and Miss Kosco were planning to get married. The senior Cole said "The four people were having a friendly card game. They had made some tea and J.B. got up to get a cup of tea." "He saw the new gun (a .22 caliber revolver) lying there and picked up the gun. He told Mary Ann 'If you ever want to get rid of me, all you have to do is pull the trigger.'" "Then he pulled the trigger and accidentally shot himself. It was a new gun Broome had bought because prowlers had been reported in the neighborhood." "J.B. fell to the floor and the only words he said were, 'Mary Ann.'" "J.B. was certainly not depressed or worried about anything. He worked in the store (Beckley Super Market) yesterday (Wednesday) and was whistling at his work and happy. He attended classes at Beckley College last night, and got out about 9:30 and he and his girl went to visit Jimmy Broome and his wife." "It was just a simple accident which could happen to anyone." Cole graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1958. He played football at Beckley Junior High School and WWHS. Survivors other than his father include his mother, Violet Brackman Cole, and two brothers, Larry Cole, a pre-medical student at West Virginia University and A.L. Cole Jr., stationed with the Air Force at Langley Field, Va. The body will remain at the Calfee Funeral Home until one hour prior to services.
Miss Loretta Eileen Bays, 55, [WWHS '58] of Daniels, died Thursday, May 18, 1995, in a Beckley hospital, following a short illness. Born Jan. 10, 1940, in Charleston, she was the daughter of Hetty Lantz Bays of Beckley and the late I. Wilbur Bays. Miss Bays was a 1958 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School, attended WV University and was a graduate of Marshall University. She was employed by the West Virginia Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, where she served as a counselor, until her retirement in 1984. She attended the United Methodist Temple. Other survivors include two sisters, Laura Rossmeyer of Beckley and Mrs. Richard (Linda) Cooper of Flat Top Lake; three nieces, Dr. Lisa Rossmeyer Wade of Memphis, Tenn., Lori Rossmeyer Cobb of Kansas City, Mo. and Laura Elizabeth Cooper of Flat Top Lake; a nephew, Thomas Richard Cooper III; two great-nephews, Marshall Wade of Memphis and Wesley Cobb of Kansas City and a great-niece, Meredith Bays Wade of Memphis. Services will be 3 p.m. Sunday at Melton Mortuary Chapel with Rev. Frank Bourner officiating. Interment will follow at the serenity Chapel of Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens Mausoleum, Beckley. Friends may call from 2 p.m. until time of the services Sunday at the funeral home. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers. Arrangements by Melton Mortuary, Beckley.
Carsel B. Manning Sr., 50, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2001. A beautiful lakeside memorial service was held near his home in Grant, Ala. Carsel was a 1969 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School, Beckley, and had lived in Alabama the last 30 years. He was the son of the late Robert J. Manning and his surviving mother, Maxine Manning, both of Beckley. Other survivors include his wife, Nannette Manning; two sons, Robert Manning and Carsel B. Manning, both of Oneonta, Ala.; a stepdaughter, Barbara Womack of Fort Payne, Ala.; a stepson, Michael Thomas Dolliver of Albertville, Ala.; a brother, Charlie Manning of Beckley; three sisters, Gloria "Nadine" Page of North Ridgeville, Ohio, Marlene Claypool of Shady Spring and Darlene Beckett of Beckley; and his favorite aunt, Verna Brown of Beckley. Arrangements by Grant Memorial Chapel, Grant, Ala.