Franklin Ray Blankenship

Franklin Ray Blankenship, 73, of Swiss, died Aug. 16, 2012.

Funeral services were Aug. 20 in the White Funeral Home at Summersville with Pastor Alva Blankenship officiating.

Arrangements by White Funeral Home, Summersville.



Richard Burl Craigo

Richard Burl Craigo, 64, of Oak Hill, died Aug. 16, 2012.

Born March 27, 1948, at Scarbro, he was the son of the late Elbin Craigo and Elberta Johns Craigo. He also was preceded in death by his son, Richard “Richie” Craigo, in February of 2011.

Richard was a coal miner, having last worked for Babcock Coal Company until being injured; he then went back to college and graduated with a degree in Medical Lab Technology. Richard then went to work for Montgomery General Hospital until retirement.

Richard was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, and a member of the Oak Hill Masonic Lodge #120 A.F. & A.M. with Scottish Rites, and was past president of the United Steel Workers Local 14310.

Richard loved softball and fairness in sports; in 1993 Richard and his good friend, Johnnie Ferri, fought for and helped win the right for the girls to have a softball team at Oak Hill High School.

Richard was an awesome softball coach; he was dedicated to the Oak Hill Little League, and touched so many young girls’ lives with his joking and stern way of teaching them how to play ball. Most of all, he taught them sportsmanship no matter the outcome of the game.

Thirty-eight years ago he married the love of his life, Jean Harris, whom he cherished and adored. There are no words to describe the sadness in our hearts, but he is rejoicing in Heaven with the angels.

Surviving: his wife, Jean Harris Craigo of Oak Hill; his mother-in-law whom he called Mom, Evelyn Harris; daughters, Christina Louisos and husband Alex, and Heather Foster and husband Gary, all of Oak Hill, and Jenny Bragg and husband Ernie of Eccles; grandchildren, Spc. Michael Craigo, Sarah Chaffin, Karli Louisos, Brian Dickens, Kayla Louisos, Michael Dickens, Ryan Foster, Jesse Foster and Tristen Louisos; great-grandchildren, Hannah, Justin, Arianna, Jaydon, and Aiden; brothers, Ted Craigo of Beckley and Terry VanBuskirk and wife Rita of Oak Hill; and a sister, Zelma “Sissy” Reid and husband Johnny of Maple Fork.

Funeral service was Aug. 19 at Spirit and Truth Ministries on Main Street in Oak Hill, with Bishop Samuel Calloway officiating. Burial with Masonic and military rites followed in Gethsemane Memorial Park.

Due to the long illness Richard has gone through, a request has been made that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the family.

Online condolences may be sent to www.highlawnfuneralhomechapel.com.

Arrangements by High Lawn Funeral Home Chapel, Oak Hill.



Zella Frances Sexton Epperly

Zella Frances Sexton Epperly, 95, of Fayetteville, died Aug. 18, 2012.

Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25, at the Oak Hill Nazarene Church. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at High Lawn Funeral Home Chapel.

Arrangements by High Lawn Funeral Home Chapel, Oak Hill.



Eugene F. Gwinn

Eugene F. Gwinn, 73, of Lilly Mountain Road, Meadow Bridge, died Aug. 13, 2012.

Mr. Gwinn wished to be cremated, and his ashes were buried at the Dave Gwinn Cemetery at Meadow Bridge Aug. 20, with Rev. Elzie Gwinn officiating.

Arrangements by Wallace & Wallace of Rainelle.



Phillip Glen Lively

Phillip Glen Lively, 50, of Oak Hill, died Aug. 11, 2012, at his home.

Born May 8, 1962, in Oak Hill, he was the son of James Glen Lively Sr. and Carol Pack Lively of Oak Hill.

He worked in housing construction.

Phillip was a member of the Oak Hill Church of the Nazarene and was a U.S. Navy veteran.

Surviving, in addition to his parents: a daughter, Robin Lively of Hampton, Va.; brother, James G. Lively Jr. of Oak Hill; and sisters, Pamela C. Clark of Alabama and Rhonda Skinner of Surry, Va.

Mr. Lively was cremated. There will be no visitation or service.

Online condolences may be sent at www.tyreefuneralhome.com.

Arrangements by Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill.



Glenn Leon Parsons

Glenn Leon Parsons, 90, of Fayetteville, formerly of Charleston, died Aug. 18, 2012, at the Beckley VA Medical Center.

Born June 4, 1922, at Belgrove in Jackson County, he was the eldest son of the late Rev. Edwin L. and Macel Casto Parsons. He also was preceded in death by brothers, John Daniel Parsons and Edwin Gene Parsons; and sisters, Gladys Lurleen Parsons, Ruth Berry Watkins and Phyllis “Fib” Davis.

He was a World War II Army veteran and a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

He was a member of Davis Memorial Baptist Church in Charleston and he was a member of the Gideon Society.

Surviving: his wife of 66 years, Charlotte Harkins Parsons; son, Samuel E. Parsons and his wife, Kim, of Lincoln, Calif.; daughter, Stephanie Harrah and her husband, James, of Oak Hill; grandchildren, Scott A. Harrah, James G. Harrah and his wife, Wendy, of Fayetteville, and Mary Kay Walker and her husband, Ron, of Charlton Heights; great-grandchildren, Britney Walker and fiancé Travis Hanshaw, Derek Walker of Charlton Heights, and Morgan Harrah and Lauren Harrah of Fayetteville; brothers, Gerald Ralph Parsons and his wife, Eva, of South Charleston, and Harry (Joe Bob) Parsons; and sister, Maxine Ocheltree of Charleston.

Funeral service was Aug. 22 at the Davis Memorial Baptist Church on Davis Circle in Charleston with Pastor Roger Vannoy and Rev. Mark Wood officiating. Entombment with military rites provided by VFW Post 4768 (Alum Creek) was at Tyler Mountain Memorial Gardens in Cross Lanes.

Online condolences may be sent at www.highlawnfuneralhomechapel.com.

Arrangements by High Lawn Funeral Home Chapel, Oak Hill.



Jerry Richard Patterson

Jerry Richard Patterson, 69, of Meadow Bridge, died Aug. 1, 2012, at his home following a short illness.

Born Aug. 29, 1942, at Meadow Bridge, he was the son of the late Marvin and Erma Fox Patterson. He also was preceded in death by his brother, Larry Patterson.

Jerry was a 1960 graduate of Meadow Bridge High School and a 1964 graduate of West Virginia University with a degree in electrical engineering.

Jerry served in the United States Army during the Cuban Missile Crisis and was stationed in Thailand, Viet Nam and Indonesia.

Most of his work career was spent with IBM.

He loved his family. For his 40th birthday, he did a German-style birthday, where he treated his entire family to a trip to Cincinnati, Ohio, to see a baseball game and enjoy some fine dining.

In addition to his parents,

Surviving: brothers, Harold and wife Kay of Bowie, Md., and Roger and wife Melanie of Frankford; his eight loving nieces and nephews whom he adored, Kimberly Rallo (Jim), Chris Patterson (Emily), Brian Patterson (Annie), Scott Patterson (Teri), Melanie Pasternak (Eric), Mandy Kopp (Chris), Kellie Dufault (Tony) and Carrie Burris (Matt); and 10 great-nieces and great-nephews.

A memorial service was held Aug. 18 in the Meadow Bridge United Methodist Church with Pastor Roger Booth officiating.

Online condolences may be sent at www.smathersfuneralchapel.com.

Arrangements by Smathers Funeral Chapel, Inc., Rainelle.



John Allen Rogers

Mr. John Allen Rogers, 38, of Charleston, formerly of Hilltop, died Aug. 11, 2012.

Memorial services were Aug. 18 at Prosperity Community Center Park, 1829 Maxwell Hill Road, Beckley.

Submitted by Ritchie & Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley.



Teressa Clairina Johnson Seal

Teressa Clairina Seal, 87, died peacefully Aug. 8, 2012, at Summit’s Trace Retirement Center in Columbus, Ohio.

Born Feb. 1, 1925, in Fayetteville, she was the daughter of the late James and Safronia (Neff) Johnson. She also was preceded in death by an infant son, George Edward Seal; former husband, Edward Seal; brothers, Albert, Joe, George and Lewis Johnson; sister, Verna Rood.  

Surviving: her son and daughter-in-law, Steve and Mary Seal of Reynoldsburg, Ohio; grandchildren, Renee (Dan) Dicerbo and Michael (Devon) Seal; sister, Louise Withrow of Wapakoneta, Ohio; sister-in-law, Josie Johnson of Fayetteville; several nieces, nephews and other extended family.

Teressa was laid to rest in Huse Memorial Park, Fayetteville.

Online condolences may be left at www.schoedinger.com.



William David Turner

William David Turner, 59, of Pax, died Aug. 20, 2012, on Paint Creek Road in Lively from injuries received in an ATV accident.

Born Oct. 27, 1952, at Beckley, he was the son of the late William and Ella Ratliff Turner. A daughter, Tina Turner, also preceded him in death.

Mr. Turner was disabled from the construction business.

Surviving: daughter, Megan Burton and husband Alan of Pax; step-son, Jacob Legg of Oak Hill; brothers, Gary Turner of Bristol, Va., Danny Turner of Beckley and Dennis Turner of Oak Hill; sisters, Rita Lee of Scarbro, Gail Wriston of Maple Fork and Cindy Thornquest of Pax; grandchildren, Paige Watters and Dustin Watters, both of Pax; many close nephews and nieces; special friends, Jessy Rhodes of Pax and Tim Young of Pax; and a host of other close friends.

Tic was like a father to so many. He is loved and will be missed.

Graveside rites and committal, followed by burial, will be on Thursday, Aug. 23 at 2 p.m. at Pax Community Cemetery with Pastor Mike Gunnoe officiating.

Online condolences may be sent at www.tyreefuneralhome.com.

Arrangements by Tyree Funeral Home, Mount Hope.



Lonnie Neal ‘Bubby’ Walters III

Lonnie Neal “Bubby” Walters III, 57, of Oak Hill, died Aug. 13, 2012, at CAMC - General Division in Charleston, of a massive heart attack.

Born April 3, 1955, in Oak Hill, he is survived by his mother, Barbara Epperly McGuffin, and his stepfather, Emory McGuffin of Oak Hill, and his stepmother, Anita Walters of Eleanor. His father, L. Neal Walters Jr., preceded him in death.

Bubby was a 1974 graduate of Collins High School in Oak Hill.

He was a 37-year employee of Kroger, having worked at Beckley Crossing.

Additionally surviving: his stepbrother, Dennis McGuffin and wife Cindy of Pineville, N.C.; half-sister, Michelle Robinson of Eleanor; special nephews, Alex McGuffin and Seth Cobb, and special niece, Haley McGuffin, all of Pineville, N.C.; and special friends, Jake and Belinda Jacobowski and godchildren, Keri and Jared Jacobowski.

Funeral services were Aug. 16 at Tyree Funeral Home in Oak Hill with Rev. Tom Clark officiating. Entombment was at High Lawn Memorial Park Mausoleum, Oak Hill.

Online condolences may be sent at www.tyreefuneralhome.com.

Arrangements by Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill.



Phillip Washington Sr.

Phillip Washington Sr. of Mount Hope died Aug. 10, 2012.

Service was Aug. 21 at the United Missionary Baptist Church, Mount Hope. Burial was in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Prosperity.

Arrangements by Ritchie & Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley.



Eugene H. Wood

Eugene H. Wood, 87, died July 9, 2012.

He was born in Dempsey in a log cabin, the son of the late Lilly Mae Floyd Wood and Robert D. Wood.

He also was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Loretta Green Wood; and a brother, Robert “Dip” Wood.

He spent the majority of his life in Oak Hill and Norfolk, Va.

Gene worked at the Norfolk Naval Base as a civilian in charge of deployment and docking of battleships and aircraft carriers. He retired in 1986 but was called back to work by the Department of the Navy several years later. Gene received many awards and much recognition for his efforts ensuring smooth transitions when ships were commissioned.

Due to illness, he moved to Boulder City, Nev., in 2009 to be close to his two sisters, Kathleen Spruill and Audrey Webb.

Surviving: nieces, Charleen Bryce and Linda Burns of Boulder City, Nev.; niece, Suzanne Osborne of Naples, Fla.; niece, Lee Ann Navicki of Oak Hill; nephew, David Wood of Oak Hill; nephew, Charles Burns of Dangerfield, Texas; and many great-nieces and great-nephews.

Interment was in Norfolk, Va.

Information submitted by the family.