Anna Lee Canterbury Candler
Anna Lee Canterbury Candler, 83, of Oak Hill, died Sept. 13, 2009, at her home.
Born Jan. 6, 1926, at Summerlee (Bays Heights), she was the daughter of the late Ira and Nellie Mann Canterbury. A son, Larry Wayne Candler, and a grandson, Robert A. Candler, preceded her in death. As the last surviving member of her immediate family, she also was preceded in death by siblings Lee, Harry, Neal, Dick, Bob, Mary and Janie.
She was the former postmistress for the U.S. Postal Service at Summerlee.
Mrs. Candler was a charter member of the Summerlee Wesleyan Church.
Surviving: her husband of 63 years, Ralph William Candler; daughters, Debra McCoy of Goodview, Va., and Carol Rinehart of Hillsboro, Ill.; son, Ralph Joseph “Joey” Candler of Oak Hill; grandchildren, James D. Candler, Laura Candler, Sonja Perkins, Aaron Rinehart, Rebecca Moyer, Jeffery Rinehart, Jessica Nichols, Van E. White and Christopher White; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Services will be 11 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 17, at Tyree Funeral Home in Oak Hill with Rev. Darrell Prater and Rev. Robert James officiating. Burial will be at High Lawn Memorial Park, Oak Hill.
Online condolences may be sent at www.tyreefuneralhome.com.
Arrangements by Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill.
Robert ‘Bob’ Coleman
Mr. Robert “Bob” Coleman, 63, of Patterson, N.J., formerly of Lochgelly, died Sept. 8, 2009.
Arrangements by Ritchie & Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley.
Alice Faye Criss
Alice Faye Criss, 65, of Mount Hope, died Sept. 13, 2009, at Bowers Hospice House in Beckley.
Born May 26, 1944, at Lochgelly, she was the daughter of Ruby Mae Criss Kessinger of Oak Hill, and the late Clinton Elmer Criss and Margaret Lucas Rhoten. Two brothers, Jimmy Criss and Conard Criss, also preceded her in death.
Alice was a retired unit secretary for Plateau Medical Center with 28 years’ service and had previously been employed at ARH, Beckley, for one year and Martha Washington Hospital for 12 years.
She was a member of the Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Oak Hill, and attended the Mount Hope Methodist Temple.
Surviving: daughter, Lycricia Faith Criss of Charleston; granddaughter, Khadija Alia Ahmed and husband Chris of Charleston; Steve Criss of Chicago, Ill., who was like a son to her; a sister, Denise Smith of Mount Hope; and brothers, Jay Criss of Fayetteville, Lee Criss of Mount Hope, Mark Criss of Virginia and Michael Kessinger of Mount Hope.
Mass of Christian burial was Sept. 16, at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Oak Hill with Father Paul Yuenger officiating. Burial was at Hilltop Cemetery, Hilltop.
Online condolences may be sent at www.tyreefuneralhome.com.
Arrangements by Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill.
Mary E. Campbell Dorton
Mary E. Campbell Dorton, 86, of Oak Hill, died Sept. 9, 2009, at Plateau Medical Center in Oak Hill.
Born July 15, 1923, at Stuart’s Draft, Va., she was the daughter of the late Charles Mae and Ruth Elick Campbell. Her husband, Douglas F. Dorton; daughter, Lisa Ann Dorton Pittman; and sisters, Beatrice Ditchcreek, Virginia Watkins and Margaret Henderson also preceded her in death.
Mary was a well-known cook, having worked at the Skyline Drive at Hilltop for 30 years.
Surviving: her daughter, Elizabeth Carol Straub and Philip of Bradley; a sister, Dorothy Fitzgerald of Waynesboro, Va.; brothers, Frank Campbell and wife Margie of Waynesboro, Va., and Charles Campbell and wife Lupe’ of Brea, Calif.; grandchildren, Robert Gene Sheaves Jr. of Bradley, Erica Kelly Farley of Bradley and Geoffrey Allen Pittman and wife Amber Nicole of Fayetteville; great-grandchildren, Madelyn, Olivia, Malaquai and Kaesen; and close friends, Liz Calvert and Athena Louisos.
Services were Sept. 13 at Tyree Funeral Home in Oak Hill with the Rev. Phillip Fuller 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.
Mary Patricia Elkins
Mary Patricia Elkins of Oak Hill died Sept. 9, 2009, at CAMC — General Division in Charleston, from injuries received in an automobile accident.
Born Dec. 12, 1939, at Traverse City, Mich., she was the daughter of the late Leo A. Wolf and Barbara Elizabeth Zimmerman Wolf. Mary also was preceded in death by brothers, Tom and Lee Wolf; her son, Ricky Thomas Elkins; and a great-grandson, James Robert Perry.
Mary was a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church and the Ladies Guild in Oak Hill.
Mary graduated from St. Francis High School, Petoskey, Mich., in 1958. Upon graduation, Mary joined the United States Women’s Army Corps and served her country from 1958 to 1959.
In the 1970s she attended Beckley College where she earned her Associate’s Degree in Business and Medical Transcription. She retired from the New River Family Health Center in 2007.
Surviving: Max, her husband of 49 years; her daughters, Jane Gaas and Sandra Kidd, both of Oak Hill, and Carla Elkins of Colorado; her son, Dean and wife Sheryl of Oak Hill; her brothers, Jim Wolf and wife Bea of Petoskey, Mich., Jack Wolf and wife Aggie of Goodrich, Mich., Bill Wolf and wife Helen of Plymouth, Minn.; her sister, Margaret Johnson and husband Bill of Oak Hill; 12 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, other extended family members and special friends.
Mass of Christian burial was Sept. 14 at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Oak Hill with Father Paul Yuenger officiating. Burial was at Gethsemane Memorial Gardens in Oak Hill.
Memorial donations may be made to the Autism Recovery Resource Center (Autism Angel Fund) at Beckley Medical Arts Clinic, 2401 Suite 101 South Kanawha Street, Beckley, WV 25801.
Online condolences may be sent at www.tyreefuneralhome.com.
Arrangements by Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill.
Georgia Faye ‘Dolly’ Fleshman
Georgia Faye “Dolly” Fleshman, 57, of Meadow Bridge, died Sept. 8, 2009, at Bowers Hospice House in Beckley, following a short illness.
Born Feb. 19, 1952, at Hinton, she was the daughter of the late Marion Edward Adkins (08/21/1986) and Gladys Mae Ward Adkins (12/01/2002). She also was preceded in death by her husband, L.T. (T-bone) Fleshman Jr. on May 30, 1990, and a brother, Elwood Adkins in December of 1996.
She was of the Baptist faith.
Surviving: her sons, Dean Adkins and wife Cammy of Danese, and William “Jimmy” Adkins of Meadow Bridge; stepchildren, Joey Smith and wife Dolly of Danese, Janet Gill and husband Joe of Meadow Bridge, Kathy Killen and husband David of Lockbridge, and Mark Fleshman and fiancee Shelby of Danese; sisters, Dora Lilly “Sissy” and husband Charles “Bear” of Meadow Bridge, Brenda Gunter and husband Warren of Hump Mountain; brothers, Lovel “Red” Adkins of Cleveland, Ohio, Donald Adkins of Meadow Bridge, Roger Adkins and wife Diane of Backus Mountain, Meadow Bridge, and Ricky Adkins and wife Christy of Ohio; 14 grandchildren; a great-grandchild, Isaic; very special friends, Bertha Terry, John and Pam Redden, Vicky George, and Michael and Theresa Gilkerson, all of Meadow Bridge; and several nieces and nephews.
Services were Sept. 11 at Wallace & Wallace Chapel of Rainelle, with the Rev. Steve Martin officiating. Burial followed in Wallace Memorial Cemetery, Clintonville.
Arrangements by Wallace & Wallace of Rainelle.
William ‘Bill’ Grafton
William “Bill” Grafton, 70, of West Virginia Ave., Morgantown, died unexpectedly while at work at WVU on Friday, Sept. 11, 2009.
Born Nov. 20, 1938, in Lookout, he was the son of the late Albert and Esta Nutter Grafton. He also was preceded in death by his sisters, Marie and Neola “Bet;” and a brother, Michael.
He served in the U.S. Army from 1961 to 1963.
He graduated from West Virginia University with his Bachelor of Science in Wildlife in 1961 and his Master of Science in Forestry in 1965.
William was an avid environmentalist and considered an expert on the botany of the Appalachian region. He taught at WVU for 43 years during which time he impacted the lives of many throughout the state and in the College of Agriculture and Forestry.
William made major contributions to the state’s botanical archives and helped found the WV Master Naturalist program. He was a constant presence at National 4-H Forestry Contests, WV Forest Industries Camp, Conservation Camp, and was co-editor of the Checklist and Atlas of the Vascular Flora of West Virginia. He was active in the WV Native Plant Society, Wildlife Society, Forestry Alumni, American Forestry Association and Nature Conservancy. William was inducted into the WV Agriculture and Forestry Hall of Fame and was an honorary member of WVFFA.
In his personal life, William was a loving husband, father, brother, uncle, and friend. He was known for a wry sense of humor, joyful disposition, and steadfast dependability in all aspects. A highly intelligent person, William traveled on five continents during his life and was exploring the world to the end. Known for orchid hunting, he was happiest surrounded by nature and friends.
Surviving: his wife, Emily Williams Grafton, in a marriage of 29 years; a son, Daniel Grafton; his brothers, Edwin, James, Allen, Charles, Thomas, and Donald; and a sister Margarete.
Cremation services provided by Hastings Funeral Home.
Friends will be received at the Erickson Alumni Center in Morgantown on Sunday, Sept. 27 beginning at 1:00 in the afternoon.
In lieu of flowers, donations for a scholarship fund may be sent to Dick Waybright, West Virginia Forestry Association (WVFA), PO Box 718, Ripley, WV 25271.
On-line condolences may be sent at www.hastingsfuneralhome.com.
Douglas Elliot Greenwood
Douglas Elliot Greenwood, 77, of Miami, Fla., formerly of Athol, Mass., died Aug. 27, 2009.
Greenwood relocated to Miami in 1960, where he lived out his days. Prior to his retirement, he owned both 8th Street TV and TV Exchange.
He was an avid reader, and his interests spanned from politics to horse racing, computer programming to worldwide current events.
Greenwood is survived by his wife of 49 years, Carolyn, their son, Brian and Abbigail and three children McKayla, Cassidy and Jessica of West Virginia; daughter Nancy and Bryan Connerat and their two children, Catherine and Logan, of Georgia; daughter Jacqueline and Bernard King and their two children, Thomas and Benjamin Douglas, of Georgia; daughter Jennifer Greenwood of South Carolina; and sister Helen Greenwood of West Virginia.
George Gwinn
George Gwinn, of Harlem Heights, died Sept. 8, 2009.
Services were Sept. 12 at Life Bridge Assembly of God, Oak Hill, with the Rev. Michael Hoggard officiating.
Arrangements by Ritchie & Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley.
Faye A. Kincaid
Faye A. Kincaid, 78, of Bradley, formerly of Hopewell, died Sept. 9, 2009, at Raleigh General Hospital in Beckley.
Born July 21, 1931, in Fayette County, she was the daughter of the late Dewey and Tressie Pridemore. She also was preceded in death by her husband, Emory H. Kincaid Sr.
She was a homemaker.
Surviving: her son, Emory H. Kincaid Jr. and his wife, Sherry, of Fairdale; and grandchildren, Ashley Marie Kincaid of Fairdale and Emory H. Kincaid III and wife Anna of Fairdale.
As per her wishes, the body was cremated. A private memorial service was held at a later date.
Arrangements by Wallace & Wallace, Inc., of Ansted.
Bill Kiser
William Henry “Bill” Kiser, 73, of Swiss, died Sept. 1, 2009.
Graveside services were Sept. 15 in the Simms Methodist Church Cemetery at Swiss with the Rev. Paul Young officiating. Interment followed under the direction of the White Funeral Home at Summersville.
Arrangements by White Funeral Home, Summersville.
Deloris Ann Fox Maynard
Deloris Ann Fox Maynard, 65, of Mount Hope, died Sept. 11, 2009, at Ruby Memorial Hospital, at Morgantown.
Born May 15, 1944, she was the daughter of Thelma Pitsenbarger Fox and the late Andrew Earl Fox Sr. She also was preceded in death by two infant sisters, Freda Wanda Fox and Sadie Eleanor Fox, and a brother, Joseph C. Fox Sr.
She loved spending time with her son, his wife, and granddaughters and all the members of her family and she loved going to church. She graduated from Meadow Bridge High School and was a member of the Beckwith Apostolic Church.
She was dearly loved by all who knew her. She always had a smile and never complained. Even though she suffered with rheumatoid arthritis for 34 years, she always said she felt fine.
Surviving: her son, Arnold L. Maynard III and his wife, Jennifer L., of Mount Hope; granddaughters, Brittany, Megan and Bethany Maynard of Mount Hope; her mother, Thelma Fox of Maplewood; step-daughters, Angela Long of Whitesville and Loretta Dover of Hickory N.C.; step-grandson, Wayne Gullet; step-granddaughters, Ashlee Dover, Audrey Long, Alex Dover, Erika Long and Amelia Long; sisters, Juanita Donelow and Cynthia Smith, both of Maplewood, Lena Ward and husband Todd of Lexington, Ky., and Ruth Fleshman and husband Roger Sr. of Beckley; brothers, Andrew E. Fox Jr. (Bob) and wife Rose Marie of Maplewood and John Fox Sr. and wife, Ann of Beckley; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles.
Services were Sept. 13 at the Beckwith Apostolic Church at Beckwith with Pastor Richard Barker officiating. Burial 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.
Tammy Ellison Reed
Tammy Ellison Reed, 51, of Oak Hill, died Sept. 11, 2009.
Funeral services were Sept. 15 at High Lawn Funeral Home, Oak Hill, with Pastor James Johnson officiating. Burial was in Woods Avenue Historic Cemetery, Oak Hill.
Arrangements by High Lawn Funeral Home Chapel, Oak Hill.
Sydney Harlean Rice
Sydney Harlean Rice, 72, of Fayetteville, died Sept. 10, 2009, at Bowers Hospice House, Beckley.
Born July 12, 1937, at Pax, she was the daughter of Freel Boyd and the late Hila Humphrey Boyd. Besides her mother, Hila Humphrey Boyd, she was preceded in death by her husband, Billie Joe Rice, in 1977; and a brother, William Boyd.
Mrs. Rice was a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church, Fayetteville. She was a homemaker. She fought a courageous cancer battle for over 10 years.
Surviving: her son, Jerry Alan Rice of Fayetteville; father, Freel Boyd of Oak Hill; brothers, Gary Boyd of Boston, Mass., and Stanley Boyd of Fayetteville; and a sister, Savannah Jeffries of Ft. Pierce, Fla.
Funeral services were Sept. 16, at Huse Memorial Park Mausoleum Chapel, Fayetteville, with Pastor Justin Seay officiating. Burial in the cemetery followed the funeral services.
Donations may be made in her memory to 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.
John ‘Rusty’ Franklin Ross III
John “Rusty” Franklin Ross III, 61, of Garner, N.C., died Sept. 12, 2009, at Thomas Memorial Hospital in South Charleston.
Born Sept. 22, 1947, in West Virginia, he was the son of the late Beatrice “BeBe” Miller Ross and John Franklin Ross II.
Rusty was a 1965 graduate of Collins High School in Oak Hill.
Surviving: his companion, Janice “Becky” Kelly of Garner; a son, John Franklin “Chip” Ross IV and wife Michelle of Chandler, Ariz.; a daughter, Ashley Ross Brownson and husband Shane of Wilmington, N.C.; a brother, David Ross of Wadsworth, Ohio; and grandchildren, Amanda, Kaitlyn and Kyle Ross, all of Chandler, Ariz.
Services were Sept. 16 at Tyree Funeral Home in Oak Hill with Pastor Jerry Bush officiating. Burial was at High Lawn Memorial Park in Oak Hill.
Online condolences may be sent at www.tyreefuneralhome.com.
Arrangements by Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill.
Robert E. Skaggs
Robert E. Skaggs, 70, of Ansted, died Sept. 10, 2009, in Charleston, following a long illness.
Born July 27, 1939, in Ansted, he was a son of the late Everette Wesley Skaggs and Mary Ethel Skaggs. Also preceding him in death were grandchildren, Stefan Wayne Skaggs II and Travis Wayne Skaggs; a sister, Libby Critchley; and brothers, Charles Skaggs and Kenny Skaggs.
Robert was a truck driver for a strip mining company. He attended Ansted Freewill Baptist Church.
Surviving: his wife, Margaret (Peggy) Skaggs; sons and their wives, Robert Everette Jr. and Patricia Skaggs, and Floyd Allen and Debra Skaggs, all of Hughes Springs, Texas, Stefan Wayne and Daryl Skaggs of Oak Hill, and Delmar Shawn and Tammy R. Skaggs of Victor; a sister, Carol Hicks of Amherst, Ohio; brothers, Danny Skaggs of Victor, Tommy Skaggs of Berlin Heights, Ohio, and Herbie Skaggs of Victor; 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Funeral services were Sept. 14 at Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home Chapel in Ansted with Pastor Joe Cuthbertson and Pastor Danny Legg officiating. Entombment followed at the Chapel of Rest Mausoleum in Victor.
Arrangements by Wallace & Wallace of Ansted.
James Henry Withrow
James Henry Withrow, 95, of Summerlee, died Sept. 13, 2009, at Hill Top Center.
Born Dec. 25, 1913, in Somerset, Pa., he was the son of the late William and Elizabeth Saltsgiver Withrow. He also was preceded in death by his wife, Clara Erdeen Smith Withrow, on June 28, 2001, and a daughter, Linda Lee Withrow Martin, in October of 1979. He was the last surviving member of the immediate family.
James was a retired coal miner with 41 years of service at the New River Coal Company at Lochgelly.
Surviving: daughters, Carolyn Sue Withrow of Oak Hill, Elizabeth Ann Ellis and husband Henry of Oak Hill and Kathy Lou Cody and husband Stanley of Scarbro; a son, Donald Wayne Withrow and wife Linda of Scarbro; 16 grandchildren, 15+ great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were Sept. 15, at the Tyree Funeral Home Chapel, Oak Hill, with Richard Allen officiating. Burial followed in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens at Prosperity.
Online condolences may be sent at www.tyreefuneralhome.com.
Arrangements by Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill.
