Published: February 20, 2008 04:35 pm            

Obituaries -- Thursday, February 21, 2008

James Edward ‘Jimmy’ Arthur Jr.

James Edward “Jimmy” Arthur Jr., 48, of Fayetteville, died following an extended illness at the Charleston Area Medical Center General Division.

Born June 24, 1959, at Beckley, he was the son of Koneta Fuller Arthur Pridemore of Fayetteville, and the late James E. Arthur Sr. He also was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Bernard and Bessie Fuller; and paternal grandparents, Hazel and Garnet Arthur.

Mr. Arthur was of the Baptist faith, and had worked in the automobile business for 27 years, having worked in New York, Maryland, Virginia, and locally at Oak Hill, Princeton, and Charleston. His last employment was at C&O Motors in St. Albans as a finance manager.

Mr. Arthur was a graduate of Shady Spring High School in 1977, and was very active in sports, having been on the football, wrestling, and track teams. During his senior year following a football injury, he was a cheerleader at the school.

Surviving: his wife of 14 years, Belinda Arrington Arthur; his beloved sons, Brett James and Zack Tyler; a sister, Cindy Davis and husband, Luke, of Salisbury, N.C.; brothers, Gregory Arthur and wife, Sherry, of Mount Hope, and Patrick Pridemore and wife, Iris, of Mount Hope; special brother, Lathan Nowlin and wife, Rosetta, of Hiddenite, N.C.; nephews, Rick and Jonathan Nowlin, and Austin Pridemore.

Services were Feb. 20 at Rose and Quesenberry Peace Chapel in Beckley with a eulogy by his great-uncle, Jim Mayes. Entombment followed in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens Mausoleum, Beckley.

Online condolences may be sent at www.roseandquesenberry.net.

Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, Beckley.



Charles ‘Chick’ Bennett

Charles Edward “Chick” Bennett, 71, of Gatewood, died Feb. 14, 2008.

Born Aug. 6, 1936, at Gatewood, he was the son of the late Omer Bennett and Edith Cecil Bennett. He also was preceded in death by five brothers, William Bennett, Herman Bennett, Tom Bennett, Omer Bennett Jr. and John Bennett; and a sister, Helen Williams.

Mr. Bennett was an Army veteran and served during the Korean Conflict.

He was a retired carpenter and baker.

Surviving: his son, Charles Robert Bennett of Beckley; daughter, Lori Ann Coffman of Beckley; brothers, Everett Bennett of Cummins, Ga., George Bennett and Fred Bennett, both of Gatewood; sisters, Norma Hawley of Plymouth, Mich., and Patricia Kelley of Jackson, Mich.; seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were Feb. 18 at the Dodd-Payne-Hess Funeral Home Chapel, Fayetteville, with Rev. Morris Nutter officiating. Burial followed in the Bennett Family Cemetery, Gatewood.

Online condolences and other information available at www.doddpaynehessfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements by Dodd-Payne-Hess Funeral Home, Fayetteville.



Hazel Elizabeth Saunders Bennett

Hazel Elizabeth Saunders Bennett, 87, of Oak Hill, died Feb. 13, 2008, at Hidden Valley Nursing and Rehab Center in Oak Hill.

Born Feb. 6, 1921, at Sewell, she was the daughter of the late Ira Franklin and Hattie McDaniel Saunders. She also was preceded in death by her husband, Lunda Paul Bennett; a daughter, June Travis; and a sister, Eveleen Rowe.

Mrs. Bennett was a member of Summerlee Presbyterian Church and a homemaker.

Surviving: daughters, Deanna Nicosia and husband, Russ, of Bumpass, Va., and Anna Bennett and husband, Cabbie, of Oak Hill; sons, Basil “Jack” Bennett and wife, Carolyn, of Charleston and Paul Bennett Jr. and wife, Catherine, of Port St. Joe, Fla.; a sister, Irene Kelly of Columbus, Ohio; 13 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

Service was Feb. 17 at Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill, with the Rev. Jim Musgrave officiating. Burial was at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley.

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

Arrangements by Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill.



Freddie Zane Coleman Blake

Freddie Zane Coleman Blake, 77, a former resident of Fayetteville, and more recently a resident of Davis Street, Elkins, died Feb. 17, 2008, at the home of her son and daughter-in-law, Ron and Judy Blake of Elkins.

Born Saturday, May 24, 1930, at Garten, she was the daughter of the late Fredrick Richard Coleman and Jessie Wallace Donnelly Coleman. On June 4, 1950, at Garten, she was married to James Ronald Blake Sr., who preceded her in death June 30, 1993.

She was the last surviving member of her immediate family. Preceding her in death are two infant sons; brother, Donald Eldridge Coleman; and sisters, Betty Jane Cottle, Laura Alice Blake and an infant, Clara Coleman.

Mrs. Blake attended Fayetteville High School, had worked at the Fayetteville Jewelry Store, the Ben Franklin Department Store and Wiseman Drug Store.

She was a homemaker, enjoyed sewing and quilting, was a member of the Aerie No. 2344, Fraternal Order of Eagles Auxiliary, the Fayetteville Baptist Church and attended the Otterbein United Methodist Church.

Surviving: son, James Ronald Blake Jr. and wife, Judy, of Elkins; grandsons, Andrew Patrick Blake and wife, Jamie, of Martinsburg, and Christopher Adam Blake of Gaithersburg, Md.; stepgrandchildren, Peter Christopher Novallis of Morgantown, and September Howard and husband, Matthew, of Fairmont; a great-grandson, Carter Benjamin Blake; and a stepgreat-grandson, Levi Howard.

Funeral service, with Pastor Ann Fretwell officiating, was Feb. 19 at Lohr & Barb Funeral Home of Elkins, with burial following Feb. 20 at the Huse Memorial Park at Fayetteville. Graveside services were conducted by the Rev. David Sneed.

Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.lohrbarbfuneralhome. com.

Arrangements by the Lohr & Barb Funeral Home, Elkins.



Emmett R. ‘Jack’ Bolen

Emmett R. “Jack” Bolen, 78, of 1335 N. Sandbranch Road, Mount Hope, formerly of Glen Morgan, died Feb. 16, 2008, at his residence, following a long illness.

Born Dec. 7, 1929, in West Virginia, he was the son of the late Sanford Bolen and Annie Meadows Bolen Tate. He also was preceded in death by his late stepfather, John Tate; his first wife, Lilly “Mae” Bolen; his second wife, Gracie “Sylvia” Bolen; a son, John Edward Bolen; and a half-sister, Eva Bolen Miller.

Mr. Bolen was a longtime member of Glen Morgan Missionary Baptist Church. He was a member of the UMWA.

His favorite pastime was the collection and selling of antique automobiles. Another passion of Jack’s was his black poodle, “Midnight.” His CB handle was Santa Claus.

Surviving: sons, Emmett R. Bolen Jr. and his wife, Anita, of North Sandbranch Road and Joseph Bolen and his wife, Sherry, of Granite Falls, N.C.; daughters, Judy McLaughlin and her husband, Mike, of Shady Spring, Carol Duncan and her husband, Lewis, of Coal City, Anna Crook and her husband, Steve, of Crab Orchard, and Jeanie Daniels and husband, Clinton, of Crab Orchard; a brother, John Bolen and his wife, Arbutus, of Elkview; half-brothers, Earl Bolen and wife, Betty, of Coal City, and Wayne Bolen and wife, Retha, of Nimitz; a half-sister, Evelyn Hutchens of Coal City; special caregivers, Forest and Helen Vaught; 17 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

The funeral as Feb. 19 at Glen Morgan Missionary Baptist Church, with Rev. Grayson Lilly and Rev. Ernie Moye officiating. Burial followed at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens.

Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, Beckley.



Lucien ‘Lou’ Albert Bourgoin

Lucien “Lou” Albert Bourgoin, 88, of Oak Hill, formerly of Beckley, died at his home Feb. 17, 2008.

Born May 23, 1919, at Frenchville, Maine, Lou was the son of the late Albert and Antoinette Chase Bourgoin of Frenchville, Maine.

He was a World War II veteran, having served in the Air Force.

Lou worked for many local furniture stores in the Beckley area. He and his wife, Irma, owned and operated Ye Olde Fashioned Restaurant in Sophia for many years. Upon retirement they moved to the Oak Hill area.

Lou was a member of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Oak Hill, but also a member of Life Bridge Assembly of God Church.

Surviving: his wife of 64 years, Irma Goins Bourgoin; daughters, Karen Shott and husband, Mark, of Oak Hill, and Kathi Meadows and husband, Rusty, of Maidens, Va.; grandchildren, Matthew Shott, Laura Meadows and Thomas Meadows; a sister, Marie McGough of Oregon; brothers, Luke Bourgoin of Maine and Lionel Bourgoin of Arizona; brothers-in-law, Junior Goins of Stanaford, and Norman and Joyce Goins of New Jersey; sisters-in-law, Mary Alice Goins of New Jersey, and Josephine Anderson of Florida; and a very special caregiver, Tammy Burns of Oak Hill.

Funeral liturgy was Feb. 20 at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, with Father Paul Yuenger officiating and a eulogy by Pastor Joe Hoggard. Entombment followed at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens.

The family requests that donations of sympathy may be made to Saints Peter and Paul Catholic School or Hospice of Southern West Virginia.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.blueridgefuneralhome.com.

Arrangements by Blue Ridge Funeral Home, Beckley.



Patricia ‘Patty’ Ann McDaniel Bumbarger

Patricia “Patty” Ann McDaniel Bumbarger, 73, formerly of Fayette County, died Dec. 24, 2007.

She was born to Willard and Hazel McDaniel on Oct. 21, 1934, in Union.

Patricia had been a resident of the Leesburg, Fla., area since 1995. Her primary work was office management and accounting.

Patricia had managed a nursing home in Homewood, Ill., for a period of time.

Surviving: her husband, William B. Bumbarger; son, Michael Hume; sisters, Mary Lou Bryson of Atlanta, Ga., and Helen Goins of Valparaiso, Ind.; daughters-in-law, Rebecca (Don) Nason of Leesburg and Dee Ann Bumbarger of Roswell, N.M.; sons-in-law, Roger (Annette) Bumbarger of Albuquerque, N.M., and William J. (Linda) Bumbarger of Lake Panasofkee; and grandson, Michael Jason Hume of Leesburg.

Patricia was preceded in death by her parents and son, Montford (Monte Dale) Hume.

Any services and cremain site are pending.

Donations may be made to Hospice of Lake County, 12300 Lane Park Road, Tavares, FL 32778.



Patricia A. Colebank

Patricia A. Colebank, 65, of St. Albans, formerly of Mount Hope, died Feb. 11, 2008, at Thomas Memorial Hospital, South Charleston.

Arrangements by Bartlett-Chapman Funeral Home, St. Albans.



Eva Agnes Fraley

Eva Agnes Fraley, 83, of Summersville, a native of Lansing, died Sunday, Feb. 10, at Bowers Hospice House, Beckley.

Arrangements by White Funeral Home, Summersville.



Billy Joe Goins

Billy Joe Goins, 66, of Scarbro, died Feb. 12, 2008, at his home.

Born Aug. 23, 1941, at Minden, he was the son of Irene Buckland Goins of Backus Mountain and the late Curtis Goins. A sister, Brenda Goins, also preceded him in death.

Billy was a disabled coal miner and an avid hunter.

Surviving, in addition to his mother: his wife of 46 years, Emogene Goins; daughters, Sherry Goins of Scarbro and Karen Polk and husband, Wayne, of Oak Hill; a brother, Thurman Goins of Backus Mountain; sisters, Martha Berry of Backus Mountain and Connie Harvey of Cool Ridge; and grandchildren, Matthew Polk and his girlfriend, Mary Harvey, and Kelsey Polk, all of Oak Hill.

Service was Feb. 15 at Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill, with the Rev. Dorothy Osborne officiating. Burial was at Harrah Cemetery, Backus Mountain.

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

Arrangements by Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill.



Ruth E. Judd

Ruth E. Judd, 86, of Beards Fork, died Feb. 11, 2008, in Montgomery General Hospital Extended Care after an extended illness.

Born in Spartanburg, S.C., she was the daughter of the late Charley and Melon Hawkins. She also was preceded in death by her husband, William Judd; a daughter, Nellie Hawkins; and granddaughter, Patricia Murray.

Mrs. Judd was a member of Mount Olive Baptist Church, Beards Fork.

Surviving: children, Linda Stewart of Beards Fork, Brenda Evans of Washington, Pa., Cynthia Rollins of Beards Fork, William Judd Jr. of Beards Fork, Raymond Lee Judd of Montgomery, Meredith Judd of Beckley and Rhonda Lewis of Charlotte, N.C.; 19 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews.

Service was Feb. 16 at O’Dell Funeral Home, Montgomery. Burial followed in Kanawha Valley Memorial Gardens, Glasgow.

Arrangements by O’Dell Funeral Home, Montgomery.



Vivian Thelma Kelly

Vivian Thelma Kelly, 86, of Oak Hill, formerly of Thurmond, died Feb. 12, 2008.

Service was Feb. 15 at High Lawn Funeral Chapel, Oak Hill.

Arrangements by High Lawn Funeral Chapel, Oak Hill.



Mabel McGraw Sandige

Mabel June McGraw Sandige, 101, of Staunton, Va., died Feb. 15, 2008, after having lived a long and peaceful life.

Born June 28, 1906, in Fayette County, she was the oldest daughter of a family of nine of the late Alexander and Ida Judy McGraw.

She lived her early life in Hico, where she and her husband, Howard Lester Sandige, had a grocery store. They later moved to Staunton and lived on a farm outside of town, later moving into the city due to the ill health of her husband. She has resided the last 13 years at Ruxton Health of Staunton.

Surviving: a daughter, Alice Jean Sandige Thacker; grandchildren, David Lester Thacker and Terri Jeanne Thacker Pruitt and husband, Kenneth; triplet great-grandchildren, Adam, Kelly and Jonathan Pruitt, all of whom live in Norman, Okla.; sisters, Marie Fitzwater and Nila McGraw of West Virginia; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins of the McGraw family.

A graveside service was conducted Feb. 16 at Augusta Memorial Park in Waynesboro with the Rev. Bill Hinton officiating.

Relatives and friends may send condolences and share memories with the family at www.hamrickfuneralhome.com.



Charlton F. ‘Sonny’ Sevy

Charlton F. “Sonny” Sevy, 68, of Mount Airy, N.C., formerly of Danese, died at his home Feb. 11, 2008, following a long illness.

Born May 3, 1939, in Fayette County, he was the son of the late Ronald L. Sevy Sr. and Rhonda Hanshew Sevy. He also was preceded in death by sisters, Helen Stull and Marsha Underwood, and a brother, Ronald L. “Junior” Sevy.

Surviving: a special niece, Lori Caldwell of Hickory, N.C., and Rick Caldwell of Nettie; a sister-in-law, Dixie Sapp and husband, Jerry, of Mount Airy; sisters, Paulette Meadows of Crickmer and Diane Sevy of Elgin, S.C.; and many nieces, nephews, and extended family.

Graveside service were Feb. 15 at Simms Cemetery on Loops Road, near Rainelle, with Pastor Gene Bennett officiating.

Online condolences may be made at www.moodyfuneralservices.com or www.wallaceandwallacefh.com.

Arrangements by Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home, Rainelle.



Mazie Walker

Mazie Walker, 57, of Mount Hope, died Feb. 11, 2008.

Arrangements by Preston Funeral Home, Charleston.



Geneva Mae Welch

Geneva Mae Welch, 80, of Mount Hope, died Feb. 14, 2008, at Appalachian Regional Hospital in Beckley.

Born June 18, 1927, at Mount Hope, she was the daughter of the late Emory and Betha Plumley Bennett. She also was preceded in death by her husband, William T. “Bill” Welch; daughter, Jane Welch Wingrove; brother, Donald Bennett; and a sister, Velda Cochran.

Mrs. Welch was a homemaker.

Surviving: daughter, Brenda Welch Kirby of Lake Wiley, S.C.; sons, William “Willy” Welch of Piney View and David Lee Welch of Mount Hope; a stepson, Earl “Tommy” Welch of Union Beach, N.J.; sister, Irma Woodell of Bradley; grandchildren, Aaron Welch, Dwane Kessinger and Kathy Kessinger-Overman; and four great-grandchildren.

Services were Feb. 17 at Tyree Funeral Home, Mount Hope, with the Rev. George Wood officiating. Burial was at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley.

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

Arrangements by Tyree Funeral Home, Mount Hope.



Houston J. Wendell

Houston Jennings Wendell, husband of Patricia Phillips Wendell, died Feb. 11, 2008, at Bowers Hospice House, Beckley, surrounded by his family. He was 86 and a lifelong resident of Fayetteville.

Mr. Wendell, known as “Wheat,” lived a life characterized by hard work, intense devotion to his family, and service to his community. He was born in the old Fayetteville Hospital on March 24, 1921. His parents were the late Houston J. and Kathleen Light Wendell, and his only sibling was Jack Gray Wendell, who died in 2006.

While growing up, Mr. Wendell learned carpentry skills from his maternal grandfather, Thomas A. Light, a well-known builder in Fayetteville. He began working at various jobs in order to help support his mother and brother after his father died in 1936. In 1939, Mr. Wendell graduated from Fayetteville High School, where he played football and basketball, pole vaulted and threw discus.

In 1941, he joined the U.S. Navy, and served in the Pacific until the end of World War II.

He was a gunner’s mate on the USS PC 576 and the USS Tucson, and was in Tokyo Bay on V-J Day. After the war ended, he returned to his job at DuPont, where he had begun working before the war, and continued there until his retirement in 1982. In the 1970s, he owned and operated a lumberyard called WW Building Supply in Fayetteville, and, beginning in the 1970s, he helped his wife with her antiques businesses, including her first shop, Red Door Antiques.

He was a member of the Fayetteville Volunteer Fire Department for more than 25 years, several of which he served as its fire chief. He was also a member of Fayetteville Presbyterian Church.

In addition to his wife of more than 60 years, he is survived by his sons, Charles Houston and David Patrick, as well as by Charlie’s wife, Kay, and their children R. Preston, Preston’s wife, Sarah, and C. Stephen; and by David’s daughter, Abigail Grace Marie. He was preceded in death by his son, Richard Gray Wendell, in 1977. He is survived by Mason Gray Wendell and James Hunter Wendell, the sons of Richard and Anne Chiles Wendell, and by his great-granddaughter Lyra Gray, who was born to Mason and Megan Wendell in September of 2007.

He is also survived by his nieces, Patricia Proctor and Courtney Proctor Cross, whom he and his wife reared after the deaths of their parents, Dr. Pete and Courtney Phillips Proctor, in 1970, and by Patricia’s and Courtney’s siblings, Kimberley Proctor Crabtree, James D. Proctor, and John A. Proctor; by Courtney’s son, Fisher Cross, her husband, Patrick Hooten, and his daughter Rachel; by Kim’s and her husband Bob’s children, Seth, Blaine and Courtney Brooke; by Jim’s wife, Rebecca; and by John’s and his wife Karen’s children, Emily, Pete and Ethan.

He is also survived by his brother Jack’s widow, Pat, their son, Thomas, and daughter, Jennifer, and by Thomas’s son, Jonathan. He is survived by his wife’s seven living siblings and their spouses, Charles L. and Jeanne Phillips; Joseph and Kay Phillips; Martha V. Phillips; Eleanor and Cam Wimer; Mary Margaret Thrift; John and Martha Phillips; and Susan and Dennis Hanson, and their many children and grandchildren.

The funeral was Feb. 15 at Fayetteville Presbyterian Church with the Rev. John Harris and the Rev. Catherine George officiating. Interment followed at Huse Memorial Park, Fayetteville.

The family requests that contributions be made in Wheat’s memory to Bowers Hospice House, PO Box 1472, Beckley, WV 25802-1472.

Online condolences and other information available at www.doddpaynehessfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements by Dodd-Payne-Hess Funeral Home, Fayetteville.



Helen Lenora Wheeler

Helen Lenora Wheeler, 84, of Ronceverte, formerly of Fayette County, died Feb. 14, 2008, at Greenbrier Manor Nursing Home in Lewisburg.

Born Nov. 11, 1923, at Ramsey, she was a daughter of the late Wreathel O. and Daintie F. Cavendish Stover. She also was preceded in death by her first husband, Oren L. Cavendish, on July 29, 1980, and a brother, Ralph Stover.

Helen was a graduate of Ansted High School and attended West Virginia Technical College.

She was a resident of Ronceverte since 1998, was a former member of Trinity Baptist Church in Marion, Ohio, and was a retired cashier from ARA Federal Contractor in Ohio.

Surviving: her husband, Paul C. Wheeler; a daughter, Patricia L. Nevada and husband, Steven, of New Oxford, Pa.; a sister, Ruth Schneid of Bluffton, S.C.; three grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and four nieces and nephews.

Service was Feb. 18 at Wallace & Wallace Funeral Chapel, Ansted, with the Rev. James “Ozzie” Gray officiating. Burial followed in Restlawn Memorial Gardens, Victor.

Please send online condolences at www.wallaceandwallacefh.com.

Arrangements by Wallace and Wallace Funeral Home, Ansted.

        

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