Published: September 18, 2008 04:23 pm            

Obituaries -- Thursday, September 18, 2008

Kenneth Leon Avery

Kenneth Leon Avery, 47, of Beckley, died Sept. 6, 2008, after a long illness.

He was the son of the late Elder William H. Keith and the late Elder Rosetta Keith. He also was preceded in death by a niece, Takida Walker; and a nephew, Devon Wolfe.

Kenneth was a graduate of Mount Hope High School.

He was a long-time member of New Bethel Temple, as well as God’s House of Miracles. Kenneth held the position of deacon for many years, secretary of the Deacon Board, security guard for the W.Va. District Convocation and also a musician.

Surviving: his wife, Pam Avery of Beckley; children, Jaqualla Smith of Glen Jean, Nashayla and Brandon of Beckley, Lavond of Columbus, Ohio, Akeem of Charlotte, N.C.; four grandchildren; brothers and sisters, Darlene Keith of Georgia, Roger (Eunice) Jones of Beckley, Kay (Robert) Walker of Stanaford, Larry (Patricia) Avery of Beckley, John (Tina) Robinson of Beckley, Sharon Moore of Beckley, Delores Reynolds of Georgia and Michelle Coy of Charleston; a host of nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles along with two special friends, Timothy Gilbert and Jeff Kershner.

Celebration of his life was held Sept. 12 at the Heart of God Ministries, with Bishop Fred T. Simms officiating. Service followed immediately after noon with Bishop Alvester McConnell officiating. Burial followed in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens.

Arrangements by McConnell Funeral Home, Bluefield.



Donald Alan Davis Jr.

Donald Alan Davis Jr., 68, of Scarbro, died Sept. 14, 2008, at Plateau Medical Center.

Arrangements by High Lawn Funeral Home Chapel, Oak Hill.



Jean Kody Derby

Jean Kody Derby, 78, died suddenly on Sept. 11, 2008, after a brief illness.

Jean was from Mt. Hope, and was a graduate of Concord College.

She worked as an elementary school teacher and a librarian in Richmond, Va., until she retired and moved to her home in Tappahannock, Va. Jean loved her family and many friends, her books, bridge club, and cats. She was a tireless volunteer for many different organizations, including the Essex County Women’s Club. She was on the board of directors at Essex County Library.

A lifelong Catholic, Jean was an active member at St. Timothy’s Catholic Church.

Surviving: her beloved husband, Luther J. Derby Jr.; her children, Ann Horton (Rick), Pat Hodor (Scott), Tom Fleming, Katie Casey (Mike); her step-children, Anne McDougal (Bob), Jake Derby, Bret Derby (Sherry); her many grandchildren, Jen, Drew, Emily, Kelly, Judd, Patrick, Lauren, Ryan, Jeannette, Elizabeth, Connor, Charles and Jeffrey; her sisters, Betty Hambrick (Jim) and Sue Seagraves (Eddie); and brother, John Kody (Bev).

A funeral mass was celebrated Sept. 16 at St. Timothy’s Catholic Church in Tappahannock. Interment followed in Essex Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the Essex Public Library, PO Box 2722, Tappahannock, VA 22560.

On-line guest book at www.legacy.com.

Arrangements by Marks-Bristow Funeral Home, Tappahannock.



Albert Epperly

Albert Epperly, 90, of Garten, died Sept. 14, 2008, at homefollowing a long illness.

He would have been 91 on Sept. 20, and had lived at Garten since 1945.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Georgia Etta Epperly.

Albert was a member of the Fayette County hunting club for 35 years, a constable in Fayette County for eight years, from 1961 to 1969, a licensed pilot; he retired in 1979 from Allied Chemical Coal Co. as a blacksmith, welder and electrician.

He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II from 1943 to 1945; his tour of duty was South Pacific. He was a diesel motor mechanic and served in the Battleship North Carolina.

Surviving: his sons, Thomas, Ronald and Larry Epperly; daughter, Nancy Epperly; grandchildren, Scott, Kim, Kelly, Vicki, Todd, Rhonda, Ronald Lee, Stephanie and Billie Joe; great-grandchildren, Jonathan, Jessica, Justin, Lauren Mckenzie, James, Daniel, Samantha, Renee, Hunter, Patrick, Candice, Skyler, Brian and Gavin; and great-great-grandchildren, Mahayla, Jesselyn and Tracie.

Services were Sept. 17 at Blue Ridge Funeral Home, Beckley. Entombment followed at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley.

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

Arrangements by Blue Ridge Funeral Home, Beckley.



Chandler (Chan) Mischelle Fox

Chandler (Chan) Mischelle Fox, 18, of Meadow Bridge, died Sept. 9, 2008, from injuries received in an automobile accident.

Born Feb. 7, 1990, in Beckley, she was the daughter of Kathy Jo Roark of Oak Hill and Matthew Dale Fox of Danese.

She was preceded in death by her fiancé, David McClung.

She was of the Pentecostal faith. She will be remembered for her beautiful singing voice.

Surviving, in addition to her parents: a brother, Ryan Dale Fox, at home; paternal grandparents, Alva and Geneva Fox of Backus Mountain; maternal grandparents, James and Jeannie Roark of Danese; aunts, Dolly Smith and husband, Joey, of Danese, Donna Marcum and husband, Porky, of Beckley, Shannon McPeake and husband, Barry, of Beckley, and Sheila Barth of North Carolina; an uncle, Dean Fox and wife, Lena, of Backus Mountain; cousins, Natosha, Haylee, Taylor, Samantha, Tabitha, Sarena, Travis, Shaylen, Shanna, Tucker, Jeannie Marie, and Hanna; and a very special friend, Chrissy Martin of Danese; as well as her baby puppy, Gizmore.

Services were Sept. 14 at the Wallace & Wallace Chapel in Rainelle, with Evangelist Shirley Fox and Porky Marcum officiating. Burial followed in the Goddard Cemetery on Backus Mountain in Meadow Bridge.

Arrangements by Wallace & Wallace Inc. of Rainelle.



Donna Darlene Holliday Holcomb

Donna Darlene Holliday Holcomb, 51, formerly of Fayetteville, died Sept. 13, 2008, at the McDowell Nursing & Rehabilitation Center.

Born Dec. 12, 1956, in Oak Hill, she was the daughter of the late Rudolph Parker Holliday and Edna Kathleen Willis Holliday. She also was preceded in death by her infant daughter, Jennifer.

Mrs. Holcomb was a long time resident of the Twin Oaks Apartment Complex in Oak Hill. She was a former records clerk for Oak Hill Hospital.

Surviving: her brothers, Lee Holliday and wife Linda of Swiss, John Holliday and wife Oda of Dayton, Ohio, and Ralph Holliday of Lake Wales, Fla.; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

Funeral services were held Sept. 17 at the Dodd-Payne-Hess Funeral Home Chapel, Fayetteville, with Sister Shirley Harold and Brother Lee Holliday officiating. Burial followed in Good Hope Cemetery, Graydon.

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

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



Delma Agnes Hollingsworth

Delma Agnes Hollingsworth, 87, of Fayetteville, died Sept. 12, 2008, at Beckley Appalachian Regional Hospital.

Born Oct. 22, 1920, at Lansing, she was the daughter of the late Ernest and Vesta L. Neff Crookshanks. She also was preceded in death by her step-father, Elbert G. Koontz; husband, Edrie T. Hollingsworth, on April 6, 1999; brother, Dana O. Koontz; sisters, Audrey Koontz and Juanita Koontz; grandson, Thomas Burt; great-grandsons, Sean Michael Milam, Stefan Wayne Skaggs and Travis Wayne Skaggs; and a son-in-law, Nelson Sousa Buhatem.

Mrs. Hollingsworth was a member of the First Church of God, Fayetteville. She enjoyed her home and spending time with her family.

Surviving: her sons, Edrie T. Hollingsworth Jr. of California and Dana Ray Hollingsworth of St. Albans; daughters, Jo Ohlinger of Oak Hill, Camilla Jane Nutter and Brenda Carol Burt, both of Marion, Ohio, and W. Catherine Hollingsworth-Buhatem of Dunn Loring, Va.; brother, Raymond F. Koontz of Fayetteville; nine grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 22, at the Dodd-Payne-Hess Funeral Home Chapel, Fayetteville, with Rev. Morris Nutter officiating. Burial will follow in High Lawn Memorial Park, Oak Hill.

The family will receive friends 6 to 8 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 21, at the funeral home.

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

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



Emma E. ‘Toodles’ Martin Kennedy

Emma E. “Toodles” Martin Kennedy, 74, of Fayetteville, died Sept. 9, 2008, at Plateau Medical Center in Oak Hill.

Born Sept. 10, 1933, at Minden, she was the daughter of the late Jacob Charles and Creasey Foley Smith. She also was preceded in death by her first husband, James Edward Martin, on July 21, 1957, and her second husband, Ernest Charles Kennedy, on March 8, 1995.

She was a homemaker.

Surviving: brother, Roy Smith of Whipple; a sister, Georgia Smith of Glen Jean; and several nieces and nephews.

Service was Sept. 13 at Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill, with the Rev. Dorothy Osborne 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.



Provie Marchio

Provie Marchio, 88, of Mount Hope, died Sept. 10, 2008, at Bowers Hospice House in Beckley.

Born March 10, 1920, at Kilsyth, he was the son of the late Jack and Vincenza Marchio. He also was preceded by his wife, Margaret Dower Marchio, in 2005; brothers, Edward Marchio, Andrew Marchio and Frank Marchio; and sisters, Teresa Marchio, Mary Mushines and Virginia Orsine.

He was a member of the Mount Hope Baptist Temple.

Provie retired from the General Services Administration after 20 years of service as supervisor of maintenance at the Bureau of Mines building, Mount Hope.

He worked for 20 years as a coal miner for the McKell Coal and Coke Co. and New River Coal Company. Mr. Marchio also worked two years in the Butte Copper Mines, Butte, Montana.

He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, having attained the rank of sergeant.

Surviving: his son, Donald R. Marchio and wife, Jamnong, of Mt. Hope; sister, Daisy Tomei of Akron, Ohio; grandchildren, Tom, John, Mary and JoAnn; and six great- grandchildren.

Service was Sept. 12 at Tyree Funeral Home, Mount Hope, with the Rev. Sam Vance officiating. Burial was at High Lawn Memorial Park, Oak Hill.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Bowers Hospice House, 454 Cranberry Drive, Beckley, WV 25801.

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

Arrangements by Tyree Funeral Home, Mount Hope.



David Ray McClung Jr.

David Ray McClung Jr., 31, of Meadow Bridge, died Sept. 9, 2008, from injuries received in an automobile accident that also claimed the life of his fiancée, Chandler Mischelle Fox.

Born June 23, 1977, in Fairlea, he was the son of Sandra Lee Rodgers Cool and the late David Ray McClung Sr.

David was a finisher for the concrete construction company Top Dawg in Beckley.

He was of the Baptist faith.

Surviving, in addition to his mother: a daughter, Katelyn Marie McClung of Danese; sons, Charles David and James David McClung of Bay St. Louis, Miss.; stepfather, Mark A. Vandall of Rainelle; a sister, Jennifer Dawn Rodgers of Meadow Bridge; a brother, Mark Eric Vandall of Rainelle; his grandfather, James Rodgers of Meadow Bridge; and nephews, Brandon Smith, Logan Smith, and Mark Jayden Vandall.

Services were Sept. 15 at the Wallace & Wallace Chapel in Rainelle, with the Rev. Bennie Kenney officiating. Burial followed in the Patton Cemetery at Meadow Bridge.

Arrangements by Wallace & Wallace Inc. of Rainelle.



Doris M. McClung

Doris M. McClung, 89, of Oak Hill, died Sept. 14, 2008.

Doris was a resident of the Hilltop Nursing Home.

Born Aug. 4, 1919, at Wyco, in Wyoming County, she was the daughter of the late Henry Haire and Mary Jane Hooten. Doris also was preceded in death by her husband, William F. McClung; sisters, Pauline Crouch, Cora Wimbish and Leslie Decker; and a son-in-law, Ron Surbaugh.

Doris was a devoted Christian and loved her church and church family dearly; she was a member of the First Brethren Church of Oak Hill; prior to her death she had the distinction of being the oldest living member of her church.

Surviving: her children, Keith D. McClung and wife, Sharon, of Raleigh, N.C., Frances “Frankie” Surbaugh of Oak Hill, Richard D. McClung of Charleston, and Mark W. McClung and wife, Donna, of Oak Hill; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

The funeral service was Sept. 17 at the First Brethren Church of Oak Hill with the Rev. William Skeldon officiating. Burial followed in High Lawn Memorial Park.

Arrangements by High Lawn Funeral Home Chapel, Oak Hill.



William Farris ‘Bill’ McDaniel

William Farris “Bill” McDaniel, 78, of Merritt Island, Fla., died Sept. 6, 2008, at Wuestoff Hospice Care Center, Rockledge, Fla, following an extended illness.

Graveside services were held Sept. 15 at Huse Memorial Park, Fayetteville. Rev. Delvin Elwell officiated.

The family has requested donations be made to the Fayetteville Food Pantry, PO Box 33, Fayetteville, WV 25840.

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

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



William E. ‘Bill’ McGraw

William E. “Bill” McGraw died Sept. 8, 2008, at his Charleston home at the age of 82 after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. He was cared for in his home by his family.

Born Sept 6, 1926, in Fayette County, he was the son of the late William R. and Gertrude Kauff McGraw. He also was preceded in death by brothers, Wilbur Ray, Walter Damon and Gene.

He spent most of his life in Cedar Grove and Glasgow, and the last 10 years in Charleston.

At the age of 17, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and was sent to the Battle of Iwo Jima, where he sustained a severe wound to the neck when he was struck by enemy fire and fully paralyzed. But with strenuous rehabilitation, he regained most of his mobility. He was awarded the Purple Heart among other wartime medals and honors.

He was a charter member of the West Virginia Purple Heart Association, a member of the VFW, American Legion, DAV, 4th Marine Heritage Foundation, WV 4th Marine Division and the National 4th Marine Division. He retired from the WV Department of Highways as a highways technician.

He enjoyed spending time at his home at New Smyrna Beach, Fla., and his West Virginia mountain home.

Surviving: wife, Patsy Smith McGraw; son, William E. II “Bill” (Sharon) of Oak Hill; daughters, Dr. P. Jean Vorhees (Ralph) of New Jersey and Sherry Ann McDill (Scott) of Charleston; grandchildren, Ralph Voorhees, Erin McGraw, Matthew, Alex and Brianna Johnson; and great-grandson, Matthew Voorhees; brother, Denver of Cedar Grove; sisters, Maxine Leppelmaier of Ohio, Margaret Faye Edwards of Culloden, Deloris Max and Patty Sue Foster, both of Indiana.

Service was Sept. 12 at the Cooke Funeral Home Chapel, Cedar Grove, with the Rev. David Bowen and the Rev. Ralph Shupe officiating. Burial followed at Kanawha Valley Memorial Gardens, Glasgow, with military rites.

Condolences may be sent to the family via www.cookefuneralhome.com

Arrangements by Cooke Funeral Home & Crematorium, Cedar Grove.



Geraldine Kay Blackburn Miller

Geraldine Kay Blackburn Miller, 64, of Stanaford, died MAug. 25, 2008.

Service was Aug. 29 at Tyree Funeral Home, Mount Hope. Burial followed in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley.

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

Arrangements by Tyree Funeral Home, Mount Hope.



Donald Jeb Ramirez

Donald Jeb Ramirez, 28, of Danese, died Sept. 9, 2008, from injuries received from an automobile accident.

Born April 20, 1980, in Flagstaff, Ariz., he is survived by his mother, Cecile R. Daniels Tabor of Danese; his stepfather, Charles R. Tabor of Danese; his father, Charles Ramirez Jr. of Buckeye, Ariz.; a son, Dylan Trail of Hinton; brothers, Charles Salem Ramirez and Dallas Morton of Meadow Bridge; grandparents, Cecil and Dawn Daniels of Meadow Bridge and Charles and Belia Ramirez of Glendale, Ariz.; and nephews, Jared Salem Ramirez and Danny Ray Ramirez.

A memorial service was held Sept. 13 at the Wallace and Wallace Funeral Chapel in Rainelle, with Pastor Mark Spence officiating.

Arrangements by Wallace & Wallace Inc. of Rainelle.



Leona Marie Ward

Leona Marie Ward, 69, of Hico, died Sept. 11, 2008, in a Beckley hospital.

Born March 22, 1939, at Fire Creek, she was the daughter of Sadie Elizabeth Gilbert Ritter of Lookout and the late Jessie (Mike) Ritter. In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by a son, Christopher Ward; and a sister, Alice Petitt.

Mrs. Ward was a member of the Shady Grove United Methodist Church at Hico and was a homemaker.

She will be sadly missed by family and friends. She was a loving wife, a wonderful mother, and a cool grandmother.

Surviving: her husband of 54 years, Henry Ward of Hico; mother, Sadie Ritter of Lookout; daughters, Jessie Ward and Floyd Ramsey of Winona, Loretta Hypes and husband Danny of Hico, and Peggy Arthur and David Plum of Oak Hill; sons, Jamie Ward and wife Lou of Winona, Johnnie Ward and wife Michele of Danese, David Ward and wife Sharon of Danese, Archie Ward and wife Lisa of Layland, and Wayne Ward and wife Lisa of Winona; sisters, Dottie Rutledge of Coal City, Margaret Ritter of Lookout, Becky Ritter of Blooming Grove, Texas, Donna Smith of Lookout, and Rose Ritter of Edmond; brothers, Johnnie (Tex) Ritter of Coal City and Michael Ritter of Lookout; 16 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and 27 stepgrandchildren.

Funeral services were Sept. 15 at the Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home in Ansted, with Pastor Bill Kincaid and Pastor Mark Secrist officiating. Burial followed in the Restlawn Memory Gardens at Victor.

Arrangements by Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home in Ansted.

        

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