Published: March 26, 2008 03:16 pm            

Obituaries -- Thursday, March 27, 2008

Willie B. ‘Bill’ Bryant

Willie B. “Bill” Bryant, 89, of Ansted, died March 23, 2008, in the Ansted Center in Ansted.

Born Nov. 27, 1918, in Buchanan County, Va., he was the son of the late Elick and Martha Statton Bryant. He was the last survivor of 11 siblings. In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy Bryant, on Feb. 16, 2001; five sisters and five brothers.

Mr. Bryant was a member of the Lovers Leap Baptist Church at Ansted. He was a retired coal miner and a member of the UMWA District No. 17.

Surviving: a daughter, Georgia Linkenhoker and her husband, Jim, of Ansted; a granddaughter, Sherri Miller and her husband, Mike, of Summersville; and great-grandchildren Ethan and Olivia Miller of Summersville, who knew him as PaPa Bill Bill.

Services were March 26 at the Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home in Ansted, with the Rev. Dr. Jack Eades and Pastor Stephen Fridenmaker officiating. Burial followed in Restlawn Memory Gardens at Victor.

Arrangements by Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home, Ansted.



Donald Wayne ‘Chipper’ Ellison

Donald Wayne “Chipper” Ellison, 47, of Oak Hill, died March 20, 2008, at Emogene Dolin Jones Hospice House in Huntington following a short illness.

Born Jan. 4, 1961, in Beckley, he was the son of the late Lloyd Franklin Ellison and Mary Frances Bell Ellison. He also was preceded in death by brothers, Lloyd Franklin “Buster” Ellison Jr. and Gary Ray Ellison.

“Chipper” was a former auto repairman. He loved gardening and animals.

Surviving: his fiancée, Dawn Williams; sons, Donnie of Oak Hill and Lloyd “Rappie” of Scarbro; sisters, Mary Ann Harrah and husband, Larry, of Columbus, Ohio, and Donna Elaine Dorado and husband, Bob, of Mount Hope; brothers, Charles Ellison and wife, Merinda, of Mooresville, N.C., and Larry “Dino” Ellison of Hilltop.

Service was March 22 at Rose and Quesenberry Peace Chapel, Beckley, with Pastor Elizabeth Stone officiating. Burial followed in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley.

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

Donations may be made to Emogene Dolin Jones Hospice House, 3100 Staunton Road, Huntington, WV 25702.

Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, Beckley.



Samuel Albert French Jr.

Samuel Albert French Jr., 74, of Oak Hill, died March 23, 2008, at Veterans Administration Hospital in Beckley.

Born Sept. 21, 1933, at Minden, he was the son of the late Samuel A. French Sr. and Dora Latham French. His daughter, Kathy Sue Wilson, also preceded him in death.

Mr. French was a carpet installer for Lee’s Carpet. He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict.

Surviving: wife, Madge Darlene “Ginger” Smithson David; sons, Samuel A. French III of Leesburg, Fla., and Mark Steven French and wife, Dottie, of Oak Hill; sister, Gladys Davis of West Virginia; grandchildren, Kelvin Warren Wilson II and wife, Jennifer, Kmberly Dawn Meador and husband, Herb III, Kristoffer Samuel Mark Wilson and wife, Keri, Kristin Mrie Shrewsbury and husband, Justin, Kara Ashley French and Sonny Keller; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Services will be Friday, March 28 at 1 p.m. at Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill. Burial will be at High Lawn Memorial Park, Oak Hill.

Visitation will be at the funeral home Thursday, March 27 from 6 to 8 p.m.

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

Arrangements by Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill.



Bradley John Lemasters

Bradley John Lemasters, 36, of Oak Hill, died March 19, 2008, at Thurmond.

Born Nov. 4, 1971, at Peoria, Ill., he was the son of Willard John Benson of Peoria, Ill., and the late Becky Huser Jeter.

Bradley was a freelance photographer. He was a member of the Christian Worship Center, Oak Hill, and was a U.S. Navy veteran of Desert Storm.

Surviving: daughter, Briana Lemasters of Kelso, Wash.; and sisters, Sue Skelton of Erin, Tenn., and Michelle Jones of Jacksonville, N.C.

Services were March 26 at the Christian Worship Center in Oak Hill with Rev. Dr. Eugene Blankenship officiating. Burial was at Gethsemane Memorial Gardens, Oak Hill, with military graveside rites by VFW Post No. 3110, Oak Hill.

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Christian Worship Center, 201 Maple Ave., Oak Hill, WV 25901, to assist with funeral expenses.

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

Arrangements by Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill.



Billie Skaggs

Billie Kaye Gilbert Skaggs, 65, of Oak Hill, died March 19, 2008, at her home following a long illness.

Born Sept. 7, 1942, at Beckley, she was the daughter of the late Dorothy Mae Gilbert Payne and Roy Houston Payne Sr.

She was the retired owner for B&B Ambulance Co.

Mrs. Skaggs was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Oak Hill. She was a member of the last graduating class of Kingston High School, Class of 1960.

Surviving: her true love, Robert Alden Skaggs I, formerly of Rick Creek; sons, Gary Payne of Virginia, David Skaggs of Oak Hill, Alan Skaggs of Oak Hill and Robert Skaggs II of North Carolina; daughters, Michelle Miller of Oak Hill, Angel Skaggs of Fayetteville, Melissa Malay of Page, Amanda Richardson of Ansted and Bobbi Skaggs of Oak Hill; a brother, Roy Payne Jr. of Oak Hill; sisters, Karen Elder of Oak Hill, Elsie Painter of Hilltop and Robyn Colemen of Hilltop; and grandchildren, Catherine Skaggs, Daniel Miller, Zachary Skaggs, Savannah Skaggs, Amanda Lynn Peters, Cameron Skidmore, Noe Skidmore-Skaggs and Davallen Skidmore.

Memorial service was March 24 at Calvary Baptist Church, Oak Hill.

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

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

Arrangements by Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill.



Robert Lee Suttle

Robert Lee Suttle, 67, of Mount Hope, died March 19, 2008.

Service was March 21 at Tyree Funeral Home, Mount Hope.

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

Arrangements by Tyree Funeral Home, Mount Hope.



Patricia ‘Patti’ Taylor

Patricia “Patti” Taylor, 58, of Fayetteville, died March 19, 2008, at Charleston Area Medical Center, Memorial Division.

Born May 16, 1949, at Robson, she was the daughter of the late George K. Taylor and Eula M. Dial Taylor. She also was preceded in death by a brother, Charlie Taylor.

She was retired.

Surviving: a daughter, Tina Maynor and her husband, Evan; sons, Carlos Adkins Jr. and his wife, Heather, and Michael Adkins and his wife, Lora; seven grandchildren; a great-grandchild; a beloved dog, Hershey; sisters, Barbara McKinney, Shelba Phillips, Sue McFadin, Sandra Schumtte and Linda Saunders; and brothers, Roger Taylor, George Taylor Jr. and Roy Taylor.

Service was March 22 at High Lawn Funeral Home Chapel, Oak Hill, with the Rev. Rick Barker officiating. Burial followed in High Lawn Memorial Park, Oak Hill.

Arrangements by High Lawn Funeral Home Chapel, Oak Hill.



Sherry L. VanEpps

Sherry L. VanEpps, 40, of Bryan, Ohio, died suddenly March 15, 2008, in Bryan.

Born Oct. 10, 1967, in Richmond, Va., she was a graduate of Oak Hill High School and had attended the Oak Hill Church of Christ.

Ms. VanEpps was a homemaker and a member of the Church of Christ in Paulding, Ohio.

Surviving: her mother and step-father, Joyce L. (Backus) Boyd and James L. Boyd, of Van Wert, Ohio; her father, Wayne Michael VanEpps of Florida; son, James Lee VanEpps of Fred, Texas; paternal grandmother, Loretta VanEpps of Florida; paternal stepgrandmother, Margaret Boyd of Van Wert, Ohio; half-brother, Michael VanEpps of Florida; sister, Michelle VanEpps Finger of Van Wert, Ohio; and nephew, Jeremy Finger of Van Wert, Ohio.

A graveside service will be held at a later date, with burial in the Oak Hill IOOF Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to a recipient of the donor’s choice.

Condolences may be sent to agfhc@embarqmail.com.

Arrangements by Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home & Crematory in Van Wert, Ohio.



Helen Ruth Walker

Helen Ruth Walker, 83, of Mount Hope, formerly of Ameagle, died on Easter morning, March 23, 2008.

Born Sept. 10, 1924, at Poca, she was the daughter of the late James and Clyda D. Smith Armstead. She was the last surviving member of her immediate family, also having been preceded in death by her brothers, Ivan Smith, Clarence Armstead, and Lawrence Smith; along with her husband, Everette F. Walker; a son, Gary W. Walker; and an infant son, Darrell R. Walker.

Mrs. Walker was a Christian; she was a longtime member of the Free Will Baptist Church in Ameagle.

Mrs. Walker treasured her family and loved her Lord. She had a love and great concern for many needy organizations and contributed unselfishly. She loved her spiritual television and radio programs.

Also dear to her was her calico cat “Liza.” She will be remembered as a gentle, kind, and loving mother and grandmother.

Surviving: her sons, Chris E. Walker and Everette F. Walker Jr. of Rural Retreat, Va.; and daughters, Arlene R. Pettry (Jack) of Mount Hope, Peggy D. Walker of Canandaigua, N.Y., Judy A. Cunningham (John) of Rochester, N.Y., Donna J. Stover (Byron) of Mount Hope, Sue Burgess (Wayne) of Lowman, N.Y., and Ruth E. Walker of Ameagle; 11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held at Valley Funeral Home in Whitesville on March 26, with the Rev. Cecil McClellan officiating. Burial service followed at the Stover Cemetery at Ameagle.

Arrangements by Valley Funeral Home at Whitesville.



Margaret Kathryn Jones Midrowsky Wood

Margaret Kathryn Jones Midrowsky Wood, 83, of Oak Hill, died March 19, 2008 at Plateau Medical Center in Oak Hill.

Born Nov. 29, 1924, at Calloway, Raleigh County, she was the daughter of the late Claudius Hart Jones Sr. and Eva Hoke Jones. Three brothers, Claudius H. Jones Jr., Lyle Jones and Charles Jones, also preceded her in death.

She was a retired nursing assistant for Plateau Medical Center.

Margaret was a member of the Mount Hope Christian Church.

Surviving: sons, Bobby Midrowsky and wife, Kathy of Tampa, Fla., Randy Midrowsky and wife, Linda, of Germany, David Jones of Rocky Mount, N.C., and Marshall Midrowsky and wife, Somkuan, of Las Vegas, Nev.; brothers, Rodney Jones and wife, Vicky, of Oak Hill, Carlos Jones and wife, Ethel, of Oak Hill, and Bernard Jones and wife, Mary Ann, of Liberty, N.Y.; sisters, Joyce Robinson of Midwest City, Okla., and Kathy Medina of League City, Texas; nine grandchildren and several great grandchildren.

Graveside rites and committal service were March 22 at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley. Burial was at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley.

The family requests memorial contributions be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tenn. 38105 for the health of our children.

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

Arrangements by Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill.

        

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