Published: April 21, 2008 01:46 pm            

Obituaries -- Thursday, April 17, 2008

Lucille L. (King) Bevley

Lucille L. (King) Bevley, 96, of Indianapolis, Ind., died April 7, 2008, at home following an eight-year illness.

Born March 12, 1912, at Dunlop, she was the daughter of the late Joseph Maddox and Nancy Payne of West Virginia.

Mrs. Bevley was a mother and friend. She was a member of First Baptist Church, Mount Hope.

Surviving: her daughter, Alfreda L. Duncan of Indianapolis; a brother, Gilbert Maddox of Washington, D.C.; a grandson who was Lucille’s devoted caregiver, Fredrick Douglas King (Marlyn) of Indianapolis; grandson, Michael Duncan of Indianapolis; granddaughters, Delores and Lantanya Duncan of Indianapolis; nephews, William “Skeeter” Payne (Kay) of Maryland, Frank Hannah and Clarence Hannah of Indianapolis; niece, Emma Jean Sanders of Indianapolis; and a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins and many wonderful friends.

Service was April 11 at United Missionary Baptist Church, Mount Hope, with the Rev. Robert Morton and the Rev. Phillip Copney officiating. Burial followed in Greenwood Memorial Park, Beckley.

Arrangements by Ritchie and Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley.



Clarence Bowen

Clarence Bowen, 78, of Oak Hill, died April 10, 2008, at the Bowers Hospice House in Beckley.

Born Oct. 10, 1929, at Longacre, he was the son of the late Clarence Bowen Sr. and Grace Tucker Bowen. He also was preceded in death by his loving wife, Lois Bowen, on March 7, 2006; a sister, Janet Bowen; a brother, Frank Bowen; and a son, Paul Bowen.

Clarence was a self-employed construction worker and a member of the Jones Avenue Church of God in Oak Hill, and attended the Carlisle Church of God.

Surviving: his son, Danny Bowen and wife, Vickie, of Fairfax, Va.; brothers, the Rev. Gene Bowen and wife, Marion, of Oak Hill, Allen Bowen of Charleston, James Bowen of Fredericksburg, Va., the Rev. John Bowen and wife, Jo, of Charleston, and the Rev. David Bowen of Malden; a sister, Jaunita See of Charlton Heights; granddaughters, Debbi Compton of Dumfries, Va., and Kim Bowen of Fayetteville; and great-grandchildren, Skyler and Kaitlyne Compton of Dumfries, Va.

Funeral service was April 16 at the High Lawn Funeral Home Chapel, Oak Hill. Interment was in High Lawn Memorial Park, Oak Hill.

Arrangements by High Lawn Funeral Home, Oak Hill.



Allen Chandler Jr.

Allen Chandler Jr., 79, of Mt. Hope, died April 11, 2008, in Columbus, Ohio.

Born July 18, 1928, he was the son of the late Allen and Vella (Lawson) Chandler. He also was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, June (Lay) Chandler; sister, Betty Hoylman; and recently by his brother, Don J. Chandler.

Allen returned to Mt. Hope after working for 30 years at Libbey-Owens-Ford in Rossford, Ohio, retiring in 1984. He was an Army veteran and a member of the Masonic Paragon Lodge No. 788 AF & AM for over 50 years.

Surviving: his daughter, Karen Akers and husband, Richard, of Gaithersburg, Md.; son, Timothy Chandler of Newark, Ohio; granddaughter, Kelly Chandler, and great-granddaughter, Rayanne Lehman of Toledo, Ohio; his beloved little dog, Jenny; siblings, Susan Cromwell, Gladys Davis, Jean Polk, Fred Chandler, and Mary Lou Fowler; and numerous nephews and nieces.

Services were April 16 at Blue Ridge Funeral Home, Beckley, with Rev. Ronnie Stapleton officiating. Burial followed in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens.

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

Arrangements by Blue Ridge Funeral Home, Beckley.



Rosie Mae Davis

Rosie Mae Davis, 92, died April 11, 2008, at Fayette Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Fayetteville following a short illness.

Mrs. Davis was born May 24, 1915, at Laurel Creek.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer Davis, on June 28, 1983; a daughter, Beulah M. Secrist, in 1992; her husband, Kenneth, in 1995; and a daughter-in-law, Carol Davis, in 1987.

Mrs. Davis was a member of Miller Baptist Church at Nallen, a volunteer at the Senior Citizens in Ansted for 23 years and was a homemaker.

Surviving: sons, Roy Elmer Davis of Edmond, Samuel L. Davis and his wife, Carol, of Winona, and James E. Davis and his wife, Karen, of Edmond; a half-brother, James Brooks of Gilbert; grandchildren, Mike Secrist and his wife, Bobbi, Patty Summerall and her husband, Charlie, Rose Marie Tetrault and her husband, Mike, Daniel Davis and his wife, Meredith, Matthew Davis and his wife, Brandi, Jeffrey Davis and his wife, Sonya, Vickie Buckland and her husband, Tommy, and Robert Davis; 14 great-grandchildren; three stepgreat-grandchildren; and 10 great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral service was April 13 at Wallace and Wallace Funeral Home, Ansted, with Pastor James Davis officiating. Burial followed in Richmond Cemetery, Sandstone.

Arrangements by Wallace and Wallace Funeral Home, Ansted.



Darrell ‘Billy’ D. Diehl

Darrell “Billy” D. Diehl, 80, of Meadow Bridge, died April 8, 2008, at Heartland of Rainelle following a long illness.

Born July 22, 1927, at Meadow Bridge, he was the son of the late William Sherman and Louella Gwinn Diehl. He also was preceded in death by his first wife, Frances Barrett Diehl, and brothers, Dale and Melburn Diehl.

Billy was a miner and a member of Meadow Grove Baptist Church at Dawson.

He loved fishing, attending church when he was able and enjoyed listening to gospel music.

Surviving: his wife, Shirley Barrett Diehl; sons, Darrell Diehl Jr. of Meadow Bridge and Terry Diehl of Columbus, Ohio; daughters, Joan Barker and husband, Ed, of Prosperity, and Tammy Diehl of Meadow Bridge; sisters, Bertie Lively of Green Sulphur Springs and Vena Powell and husband, Charlie, of Lewisburg; grandchildren, Jami Pittenger and husband, Bill, and Joni Casto and husband, Chris, all of Ripley, Tara Arias and husband, Vernon, of Columbus, and Troy Diehl of Meadow Bridge; and great-grandsons, Tyler, Cody and Matthew.

Service was April 13 at Smathers Funeral Chapel, Rainelle, with Pastor Les Mullens officiating. Burial followed in Wickline Cemetery, Meadow Bridge.

Arrangements by Smathers Funeral Chapel, Rainelle.



Alex Dayton Ford Sr.

Alex Dayton Ford Sr., 70, of Tucson, Ariz., formerly of Corliss and Page-Kincaid, died March 14, 2008, at Memorial Hospital, Salem, N.J.

Born March 22, 1937, at Drennen, he was the son of the late Alex Ford and Virginia Butcher, and grandson of William E. and Almedia Shelton Ford and Cecil H. and Blanche Lamont Hill Butcher. He also was preceded in death by three beloved brothers, Darrell Dean Ford, Larry Bell Ford and Richard Allen Ford.

A 1956 graduate of Nuttall High School, Lookout, he was a decorated Air Force veteran of 23 years who served in Alaska, Germany, Thailand, Vietnam and Laos, and spent his remaining years living out his passion as a self-employed long-distance truck driver.

Surviving: children, Deborah Mae Ford of Syracuse, N.Y., and Alex Dayton Ford Jr. of Tucson; their mother, Beverly Hagemann of Syracuse; sisters, Almedia Jo Ford Cotter of Fairfax, Va., and Fonda Eugenia North of Tampa, Fla.; brothers, Cecil Edward Ford of Laconia, N.H., James Sheldon Ford of Tampa, and Terry Wayne Ford; fiancee, Carol Burr Woods of Gauley Bridge; and dear lifelong friends, Alma Burr of Corliss and Greer Kincaid of Kincaid.

Graveside rites officiated by the Rev. Delmas Wolfe were April 16 at Shelton/Winebrenner Cemetery, Sulubon Lane, Drennen.

A reception followed at the Holiday Inn on U.S. Route 19 in Oak Hill following the graveside rites.



Roy Lewis Grose Jr.

Roy Lewis Grose Jr., 81, of Mount Hope, formerly of Claremont, Fla., died April 11, 2008, at Hilltop Center.

Born Feb. 19, 1927, in Swiss, he was the son of the late Roy Lewis and Elouise Justus Grose. He also was preceded in death by a brother, Freddie Everett Grose; and a son, Freddie Lewis Grose.

Roy was a 50-year member of the Masonic Lodge and attended Nicholas County High School until he enlisted in the Army to serve his country during World War II. Upon his return from military service, he graduated from Charleston Business School.

He was employed at Union Carbide, Jeffords & Moore as a bookkeeper and salesman, Playtex as a salesman, was a licensed real estate agent, and was the former owner and operator of the Grose’s Pike Motel on Harper Road in Beckley.

Roy will be remembered for his wit, gift of gab and the choices he made throughout his life. He was a free spirit and came and went through this life his own way.

Surviving: his loving and devoted wife of 44 years, Margie Mullins Grose; a daughter, Pamela (David) Wilson of Victor; sons, Roger (Sharon) Grose of Marietta, Ohio, and Robert (Debra) Grose of Bentree; stepdaughter, Mary Ann (Garry) Baker of Bentree; grandchildren, Fred (Jennifer) Renick of Holden, Mo., Jennifer and Rebecca Grose of Princeton, Noah (Nikki) Grose of Lexington, Ky., Natalie Grose of Cincinnati, Ohio, Amanda Shelton of Cannelton, Jonathan (Beth) Grose of Gauley Bridge, Kelly (Jeff) Morton of Bentree, Justin (Kristi) Wilson of Rangeley, Colo., and Matthew Wilson of Victor; stepgrandchildren, Theresa Holley of Bentree and Kim Liming of Claremont, Fla.; 12 great-grandchildren and three stepgreat-grandchildren.

At Roy’s request, his earthly body was cremated and there will be no visitation.

Memorial donations may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children, Route 1, Box 73, Scarbro, WV 25917.

Arrangements by High Lawn Funeral Home Chapel, Oak Hill.



Lillian C. ‘Maw’ Hendrix

Lillian C. “Maw” Hendrix, 69, of Russellville, died April 13, 2008, at Plateau Medical Center in Oak Hill.

Arrangements by High Lawn Funeral Home Chapel, Oak Hill.



Robert ‘Horsey’ Weldon Martin

Robert “Horsey” Weldon Martin, 81, of Oak Hill, died April 12, 2008, at Candlelight Cottage in St. Albans.

Born April 2, 1927, he was the son of the late Grady and Esther Sweeney Martin. He also was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret “Peggy” Martin; and a brother, Rudolph Martin.

Mr. Martin was retired from Appalachian Power Company, was a member of the Rotary Club, and was a World War II veteran having served during the occupation of Japan.

Surviving: his son, Kim Martin and wife, Andrea, of Chicago, Ill.; daughters, Christy Mills and husband, Kenneth, of St. Albans, and Lisa Martin Easter and husband, Robert, of Dunbar; grandchildren, Joshua Mills and wife Stacy, Jessica Ramirez, Michael Martin, and Emma Margaret Martin; and a sister, Helen Fowler of Virginia.

Services were April 16 at Blue Ridge Funeral Home, Beckley. Entombment followed in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens.

The family requests that memorial contributions be sent to Candlelight Cottage, 133 Dames Road, St. Albans, WV 25177.

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

Arrangements by Blue Ridge Funeral Home, Beckley.



James Edward Perkins

James Edward Perkins, 89, of Fayetteville, died April 14, 2008, at the Bowers Hospice House, Beckley, following an extended illness.

Born July 6, 1918, at South Caperton, he was the son of the late Edward and Anna M. Stotts Perkins.

Mr. Perkins, another member of the greatest generation, was a member of the First Church of God in Fayetteville. He was an Army veteran of World War II, serving with General Patton, and he received two Purple Hearts while serving his country.

Mr. Perkins was a retired newspaper pressman in Sacramento, Calif.

Surviving: his wife, Edith Perkins of Fayetteville; five sons; four daughters; 45 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were April 16 at the Dodd-Payne-Hess Funeral Home, Fayetteville, with Pastor Bob Coulter and Pastor Justin Seay officiating. Burial followed in Huse Memorial Park, Fayetteville.

Memorial contributions may be made in James Perkins’ memory to the Bowers Hospice House, 454 Cranberry Drive, Beckley, WV 25801.

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

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



Thomas Anthony ‘Tom’ Perkins

Thomas Anthony “Tom” Perkins, 86, of Oak Hill, died April 13, 2008, at Hidden Valley Nursing and Rehab Center in Oak Hill.

Born Dec. 26, 1921, at Oak Hill, he was the son of the late John A. and Henrietta Barrett Perkins. Tom was the last surviving member of his immediate family, also having been preceded in death by three brothers, Paul Perkins, Merrion Perkins and George Perkins; and three sisters, Ruth Halstead, Opal Short and Doris Goff.

Mr. Perkins was a retired sales clerk for Noyes Mens and Boys Store, with over 40 years of service.

He was a member of the First Brethren Church in Oak Hill where he served as a layman, a member of the American Legion and a former member of the Oak Hill Lions Club.

A U.S. Army veteran, he served in the U.S. Air Force.

Surviving: his wife, Dorothy Armstrong Perkins; and several nieces and nephews.

Services were April 16 at Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill, with Rev. William Skeldon officiating. Burial was at High Lawn Memorial Park, Oak Hill.

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

Arrangements by Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill.



Naomi Hope Rood Ratliff

Naomi Hope Rood Ratliff, 78, of Oak Hill, died April 8, 2008, at the UVA Medical Center in Charlottesville, Va.

Born March 20, 1930, at Middleport, Ohio, she was the daughter of the late Rev. Perry Uriah Rood and Lillian Shaver Rood. Her husband, James W. Ratliff, also preceded her in death on Dec. 14, 1994.

She was a seamstress and an artist.

Mrs. Ratliff was of the Protestant faith.

Surviving: sons, Eugene W. Ratliff and wife, Mary, of Oak Hill, and James E. Ratliff of Oak Hill; daughters, Rebecca A. Yellets and husband, Gary, of Charlottesville, and Alicia M. Fox of Bluefield; brothers, Ferrell Rood of Zaleski, Ohio, and Jonathan Rood of Hendersonville, Tenn.; sisters, Dorothy Rood of Wellston, Ohio, and Helen Wetherholt of Florida 13 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Service was April 12 at Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill, with the Rev. Ferrell Rood officiating. Burial was at Gethsemane Memorial Gardens, Oak Hill.

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

Arrangements by Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill.



Mary Ernestine Strunk

Mary Ernestine Strunk, 83, of Edmond, died April 12, 2008, following a short illness.

Born Dec. 18, 1924, in Winona, she was a daughter of the late Ernest Holliday and the late Hester Gill Holliday. She also was preceded in death by her two husbands, James W. Horrocks and Fred S. Strunk; a son-in-law, Michael Cope; grandson, Lindsey Thompson; a stepdaughter, Connie Hodge; a stepson, Garnie Strunk; and sisters, Charlotte Holliday and Nelda Holliday.

Mary Ernestine was of the Baptist faith, was a member of the Lansing Baptist Church of Lansing and a homemaker.

Surviving: daughters, Linda Thompson of Annandale, Va., Carolyn Cope of Charles Town, Ellen Thompson and her husband, Charles, of Epsom, N.C., and Barbara Joyce Bekooy of Amsterdam; sons, James E. Horrocks and his wife, Judy

        

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