Rudolph ‘Rudy’ Damon Arthur

Rudolph “Rudy” Damon Arthur, 82, of Bradley, died Oct. 19, 2008, at his home.

Born Aug. 3, 1926, at Oswald, he was the son of the late Golden William and Esther Marie Reid Arthur. He also was preceded in death by his wife, Peggy Jean Lloyd Arthur; brothers, Bill Arthur and Shirley Gene Arthur; and a sister, Betty Arthur Johnson.

Rudy attended the Maple Fork Baptist Church. He was a retired carpenter and was a U.S. Army veteran.

Surviving: sons, Rudy Arthur of Grandview and Robert Arthur of Bradley; daughters, Marie Tate of Maple Fork and Donice Gernhardt of Bradley; brother, Harold Arthur of Piney View; sisters, Geneva Gilliam of Mount Hope and Lodema Clay of Beckley; grandchildren, James Tate Jr., Joseph Tate, Jason Arthur, Sarah Keeling and Michael Gernhardt; and four great-grandchildren.

Service was Oct. 23 at Tyree Funeral Home in Mount Hope, with the Rev. Robert Barley officiating. Burial was at Arthur/Reid Cemetery, Prosperity.

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

Arrangements by Tyree Funeral Home, Mount Hope.



Virgie Colleen McGraw Bragg

Virgie Colleen McGraw Bragg, 72, of Rt. 1, Fayetteville, died Oct. 23, 2008, at Plateau Medical Center in Oak Hill.

Born Nov. 12, 1935, at Winding Gulf, she was the daughter of the late Charles V. and Hattie Mae Cree McGraw. She was preceded in death by a sister, Shirley Farley, and a brother, Larry McGraw.

She was a member of the Salem Road Freewill Baptist Church.

Colleen was a homemaker and a former employee of Westmoreland Coal Company having worked 17 years.

Surviving: husband, Raymond Bragg; son, Dean Garrison and wife, Pamela, of Lookout; brothers, James McGraw of Flat Top, Charles “DeWitt” McGraw of Princewick and Rocky McGraw of Alabama; sisters, Mabel Brooks of Michigan, Nelda Spasaro of Michigan, Shelia Jones of Maryland, Sherian Hall of Berkeley Springs and Mitzi Bowyer of Cirtsville; and grandchildren, Anna Marie Garrison of Sophia and Janina Schoolcraft of Lookout.

Services were Oct. 26 at Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill, with the Rev. Charles Hardy and the Rev. Eric Dangerfield officiating. Burial was at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Prosperity.

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

Arrangements by Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill.



Agnes Wright Brooks

Mrs. Agnes Wright Brooks, 69, of Hyde Park, Mass., formerly of Mount Hope, died Oct. 22, 2008, at home.

Service and burial were in Massachusetts Oct. 28.

Arrangements by Davis Funeral Home, 654 Cummins Hwy., Mattapan, MA 02126.

Submitted by Ritchie & Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley.



Genette Carty Coots

Genette Carty Coots, 92, of Mount Hope, died Oct. 20, 2008, at Crestview Manor in Dayton, Ohio.

Born May 2, 1916, at Wise County, Va., she was the daughter of the late Clark and Edna Goble Carty. She also was preceded in death by her husband, Vernon S. Coots, on May 17, 1975; son, Damon Coots; three brothers, three sisters and one half-brother.

Mrs. Coots was a member of the Bradley Freewill Baptist Church and a homemaker

Surviving: son, Michael Coots and wife, Shelia, of Dayton, Ohio; brother, Ernest Carty of Dixon County, Va.; half-brothers, Vernon Carty and Kyle Carty of Alexandria, Va., and Junior Carty, O’Dell Carty and Larkin Carty, all of Dixon County, Va.; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Service was Oct. 24 at Tyree Funeral Home in Mount Hope with the Rev. Daniel Legg officiating. Burial was at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Prosperity.

Online condolences may be sent at www.tyreefuneralhome.com

Arrangements by Tyree Funeral Home, Mount Hope.



Delbert R. Dorsey Jr.

Delbert R. “Skipper” Dorsey Jr., 43, of Hilltop, died Oct. 22, 2008, in Ruby Memorial Hospital, Morgantown.

Born May 17, 1965, in Charleston, he was the son of the late Delbert R. and Patricia Waugh Dorsey.

Mr. Dorsey was a disabled coal truck driver and attended the Living Word Church, Zela.

Surviving: his wife, Diane Dorsey; stepsons, Scottie Bragg of Montgomery and Tracy Bragg of Kimberly; grandchildren, Timothy, Ashley and Makayla Bragg; and sisters, Connie McGuire and Loretta Hamilton, both of Powellton, Sandra Bowers of Jodie, Kathy Kiser of Alta and Tina Gambrel of Summersville.

Service was Oct. 26 at the Pennington Funeral Home Chapel, Gauley Bridge, with the Rev. James Gilkerson and the Rev. Howard Presley officiating. Burial was in Vencill Cemetery, Dixie.

Arrrangements by Pennington Funeral Home Chapel, Gauley Bridge.



Robert H. Elswick

Robert H. Elswick, 94, of Dixie, died Oct. 21, at his home.

Born Sept. 9, 1914, in Dixie, he was a son of the late James H. and Grace Olive Skaggs Elswick. He also was preceded in death by a son, Robert H. “Bob” Elswick; and his brothers, James H. “Jimmy” Elswick Jr. and Paul Elswick.

Mr. Elswick was co-founder and president, along with his brother, Jimmy, of Elswick Lumber Company, Dixie, which was established in 1942.

He was a member of the Holiness Church, Dixie, and was the oldest resident of Dixie.

Surviving: sons and their wives, Carl Wayne and Frances Elswick and David and Kathy Elswick of Mount Nebo; daughters and their husbands, Cora Sue and Norman Niemeyer of Yadkinville, N.C., and Angela and Keith Ballengee of Dixie; brother, Everett Gene Elswick of Grand Blanc, Mich.; sisters, Ruth Pauline Buckley of Belpre, Ohio, Mary Morton of Belva, Stella Auxier, Della Brannon and Eva Mae Miller, all of Dixie, Evelyn Ellis of White Sulphur Springs and Naomi Myers of Fayetteville; 15 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.

Service was Oct. 24 at the Pennington Funeral Home Chapel, Gauley Bridge, with the Rev. John W. Niemeyer officiating. Burial followed in Restlawn Memory Gardens, Victor.

Arrrangements by Pennington Funeral Home Chapel, Gauley Bridge.



Nathaniel Mason Fox

Nathaniel Mason Fox, the precious son of Joseph Curtis and Crystal Fox of Layland, was born and died Oct. 22, 2008, at Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Charleston

Nathaniel was preceded in death by a paternal grandfather, Joseph Curtis Fox Sr., and a maternal uncle, Clarence “Pete” Dixon.

Surviving: his Daddy and Mommy, along with maternal grandparents, Lee and Pat Dixon of Meadow Bridge, and paternal grandparents, Dottie and Jimmy Gilkeson of Shady Spring; great-grandparents, Ruth Martin of Danese, and Thelma Fox of Maplewood; a stepgrandmother, Paula Fox of Layland; and stepgrandfather, Elden Critchley of Layland; special uncles and aunts, Mike and Kim Boguess of Covington, Va., Scott and Mistie Dixon of Meadow Bridge, Scott and Terri Vandall of Jane Lew, Joseph Young of Layland, and George Fox of Beckley; and special nieces and nephews, Mike Boguess of Norfolk, Va., Jonathan and Ashley Boguess of Covington, Va., Gabe Dixon of Danese, Danielle Gunnoe of Peterstown, Addison and Damian Dixon of Meadow Bridge, and Ashley, Erica and Kristyn Vandall of Jane Lew.

Graveside services were Oct. 28 at the Wallace Memorial Mausoleum in Clintonville, with Rev. Rick Martin officiating. Burial followed at Wallace Memorial Cemetery.

Memorial contributions can be made to Sturgeon Branch Baptist Church Building Fund, C/O Joe and Crystal Fox, PO Box 165, Danese WV 25831.

Condolences can be mailed to Joe and Crystal Fox, PO Box 165, Danese, WV 25831, or online at cryst3f@aol. com.

Arrangements by Wallace & Wallace Inc. of Rainelle.



Pamela Lynn Gates

Pamela Lynn Gates, 43, of Oak Hill, formerly of Ansted, died Oct. 22, 2008, at Raleigh General Hospital, following a short illness.

Born Nov. 15, 1964, in Somers Point, N.J., she was a daughter of Paul Cole of Ansted and the late JoAnn Barbara Megee Cole. In addition to her mother, she was preceded in death by her husband, Gordon Braxton Gates II.

Pamela was a member of Lovers Leap Baptist Church of Ansted. She was formerly employed by Wal-Mart and Fayette County Board of Education as a teacher’s aide.

Surviving: her father, Paul Cole, and stepmother, Beverly, of Ansted; sons, Gordon Braxton Gates III and Nicholas Lee Gates, both of Oak Hill; sisters, Bonnie Clackler and Paul Norvell of Oak Hill, Shari Watson and Danny of Maple Fork, and Holly Powell and Carlton of Richmond, Va.; and a brother, Paul W. Cole II of Oak Hill.

Funeral services were Oct. 25 at Wallace & Wallace Funeral Chapel in Ansted, with Pastor Gary Williams officiating. Burial followed in Restlawn Memory Gardens at Victor.

Arrangements by Wallace & Wallace of Ansted.



Margaret Gibson

Mrs. Margaret Gibson, 91, of Mt. Hope, died Oct. 23, 2008, in Plateau Medical Center, Oak Hill.

Arrangements by Ritchie & Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley.



William E. ‘Bill’ Hamilton

William E. “Bill” Hamilton, 86, of Sumter, S.C., husband of Dorothy Saunders “Dottie” Hamilton, died Oct. 22, 2008, at a local nursing facility.

Born in Oak Hill, he was the son of the late Frank Ira Hamilton and the late Laura Belle Bays Hamilton.

Mr. Hamilton was a member of Shaw Heights Baptist Church and the Hillcrest Masonic Lodge. He was a United States Army veteran of World War II and a retired Chief Master Sergeant of the United States Air Force, having served in Vietnam. During his time of service he earned many honors, including the Bronze Star, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Commendation Medal, the Air Force Good Conduct Medal with two clusters, the Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon with two Bronze Stars, the Army Good Conduct Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. Upon retiring, he worked as a civilian for the 9th Air Force and later became co-owner of Shaw-Oakland Hardware.

Surviving, in addition to his wife of Sumter: children, Susan Lynn (William E.) Caughman of Columbia, S.C., Barbara Gail Dougherty of Sumter, Linda Ann Hogarty (Kurt) of Green Bay, Wis., and William E. Hamilton II of Greenwood, S.C.; grandchildren, Courtney and Kyle Hogarty, and Thomas and Tyler Dougherty; and a sister, Adele Meadows (Jack) of Sumter.

Funeral services were Oct. 25 at Shaw Heights Baptist Church with full military honors. The Rev. Victor Cheek officiated.

Graveside services were held in the High Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Oak Hill, on Oct. 27.

Memorials may be made to Shaw Heights Baptist Church: Parking Lot Fund, 2030 Peach Orchard Road, Sumter, SC 29154.

Arrangements by Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter.



Eugene H. Harris

Eugene H. Harris, 87, of Meadow Bridge, died Oct. 24, 2008, at the Greenbrier Valley Medical Center.

Born Dec. 14, 1920, at Elton, he was the son of the late Cary and Roena Harris.

Gene, as he was known by his friends, also was preceded in death by a brother, William Harris, and a precious little daughter, Patricia Mae.

Mr. Harris worked as a contractor and timber man. He loved children and was an avid sports fan of football and wrestling. He loved doing things for others. He was of the Baptist faith.

Surviving: his wife of 70 years, Elta M. Harris; sons, Robert and wife, Evon, of Glen Allen, Va., and William “Toby” and wife, Claudia, of Crawley; grandchildren, Angela Armentrout and husband, Bryan, of Glen Allen, Va., Rob Harris of Glen Allen, Va., Joel and wife, Mindy, of Oak Hill, Chad and wife, Heather, of Mechanicsville, Va., and Cara Crookshanks and husband, Steven, of Smoot; great-grandchildren, Sarah Armentrout of California, Matthew Armentrout of Glen Allen, Va., Tanner, Carsyn, Troy, and Camryn Harris of Oak Hill, Harrison, Haden, and Ava Crookshanks of Smoot, and Liam, Jude, and Isa Harris of Mechanicsville, Va.; a niece, Mary Ann Harris of Crawley; a nephew, David Harris of Texas; a host of cousins; special friends, Owen and Dwayne Cales of Meadow Bridge; and a host of other friends.

Services were Oct. 27 at the Wallace Memorial Mausoleum in Clintonville, with Rev. William Gwinn officiating, assisted by Delvin Burns. Entombment followed after the service.

Arrangements by Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home, Rainelle.



Mary Praltauski Hash

Mary Praltauski Hash, 98, of Oak Hill, died Oct. 14, 2008, at Hilltop Center in Hilltop.

Born April 20, 1910, at Raleigh, she was the daughter of the late Stanley and Rosalie Praltauski. Her husband, John McKinley “Mack” Hash, and sisters, Dorothy Gallant, Bessie Stanis and Annie Bailey, also preceded her in death.

She was a retired school cook for the Fayette County Board of Education, having worked at Lochgelly, Rosedale and Oak Hill.

Mrs. Hash was a member of the Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Oak Hill, where she was a member of the Ladies’ Guild. She was also a member of the Fayette County Retired School Employees and AARP.

Surviving: daughter, JoAnn Ptak of Parkville, Md.; son, Larry Gene Hash of Richmond, Va.; three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Mass of Christian burial was Oct. 16 at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Oak Hill with Father Paul Yuenger 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.



Jerry W. Ingram

Jerry W. Ingram, 55, of Hambden Twp., Ohio, died Oct. 21, 2008, at the University Hospitals of Cleveland, Cleveland, Ohio.

Born Aug. 11, 1953, at Oak Hill, he was the beloved son of the late Sheldon and Wernith McCune Ingram.

Jerry was an avid golfer. He was very adept at photography, especially taking scenic pictures. His culinary abilities will be greatly missed by Nancy, Chuck, Paris, and Juan.

He was employed at Company Car and Limousine in Cleveland, Ohio, where he was the general manager.

He was a 1971 graduate of Collins High School, Oak Hill.

Mr. Ingram has been a resident of Hambden Twp. for three years, having previously lived in Solon, Ohio.

Surviving: his fiancee, Kathy Jackson of Hambden Twp., Ohio, and children, Nick and Brittany; his brothers, Stephen W. Ingram and wife Mary of Findley, Ohio, and Carl E. Ingram and wife Martha of Middletown, Va.; a sister, Peggy S. Stull and husband James of Mt. Lookout; and beloved nieces and nephews.

A celebration of his life took place at his home with an open house on Oct. 25.

Arrangements by McMahon-Coyne-Vitantonio Funeral Home.



Lucille Mae Burgess McClung

Lucille Mae Burgess McClung, 77, of Oak Hill, died Oct. 24, 2008, at Plateau Medical Center in Oak Hill.

Born Feb. 10, 1931, at Minden, she was the daughter of the late Frank W. and Helen Mae Carson Burgess. She also was preceded in death by her husband, Ray Summers McClung, and brothers, Bobby Lee Burgess, A. Leon Burgess and Donald C. Burgess.

Mrs. McClung was a retired bookkeeper for Wood and Merritt Accountants in Oak Hill.

Lucille was a member of the Oak Hill Baptist Church and attended the Minden Baptist Church.

She was a graduate of Oak Hill High School and member of a local sewing circle.

Surviving: a special cousin, Raymond Burgess and wife, Eloise of Oak Hill; sisters-in-law, Janice Burgess of Florida and Lois Burgess of Ohio; a very special friend, Herb Wilkerson and by several nieces and nephews and cousins.

Services were Oct. 29 at Oak Hill Baptist Church with Rev. David Sneed and Rev. Jack Barker officiating with a eulogy by Herb Wilkerson. 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.



Maxine Stamper Catlett Stover

Maxine Stamper Catlett Stover, 83, of Cocoa, Fla., formerly of Glen Morgan, died Oct. 22, 2008, at her home.

Born Sept. 30, 1925, at Cabin Creek, she was the daughter of the late John and Letha Cartwright Stamper. She also was preceded in death by her husband, Vivian Ben “Preacher” Stover, and children, Drema Lynn Catlett and Roy Lee Catlett. As the last surviving member of her immediate family, she was also preceded by brothers, Claude Stamper and David Stamper, and a sister, Goldie Fix.

Mrs. Stover was a member of the Sun Valley Christian Church, Titusville, Fla. She was a homemaker.

Surviving: daughters, Lillie Kay Stover of Cocoa, and Christa Driscoll of Falls Mills, Va.; sons, Ray Catlett of Cocoa, and Russell John Catlett of Maple Fork; 12 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Services were Oct. 27 at Tyree Funeral Home, Mount Hope, with Rev. Harmon Davis officiating. Burial was at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Prosperity.

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

Arrangements by Tyree Funeral Home, Mount Hope.



John ‘Boots’ Truman

John “Boots” Truman, 83, of Rainelle, died Oct. 23, 2008, at his home with his loving wife, Opal Samples Truman, by his side.

Born Jan. 7, 1925, in Clay County, he was the son of the late Ira A. and Ethel Darlington Truman. He also was preceded in death by brothers, Samuel, Thomas and Wyatt Truman; a sister, Valena Cooper; one stepson; and one stepdaughter.

“Boots” was a disabled veteran of World War II, a coal miner and co-owner of The Coffee Shop and Restaurant in Rainelle.

Surviving, in addition to his wife, Opal: brothers, Willard of Clendenin, Menford of Richwood and Denver of Brownsville; sisters, Hilda Walker of Maysel and Helen Moore of Lizemores; stepchildren, Dollie Suttle and husband, James, Garland Samples and wife, Connie, of Rupert and Junior Samples and wife, Regina, of Canvas; stepdaughters, Helen and Thelma by his first wife, Elva Carr; eight grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Services were Oct. 26 at Smathers Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Milton Kerr and the Rev. Charlie Taylor officiating. Burial followed in the Wallace Memorial Cemetery, Clintonville.

Arrangements by Smathers Funeral Chapel, Rainelle.



Beulah Mae Poe Ward

Beulah Mae Poe Ward, 81, of Price Hill, died Oct. 20, 2008, at Raleigh General Hospital in Beckley.

Born Sept. 2, 1927, at Metalton, she was the daughter of the late Page and Hattie Webb Poe, and stepdaughter of the late Ernest Smith. She also was preceded in death by her beloved son, Charles Layton “Chuckie” Ward, who passed away on Sept. 9, 1958, at the age of 10 years; brothers, Page Poe, Dewitt Poe, Harry Smith, Wayne Smith and Billy Howard Smith; and sisters, Edna Walker and Drema Cook.

Mrs. Ward was a member of the Maple Fork Baptist Church. She was a former member of the Price Hill Baptist Church from 1958 until 1977. She served as secretary and treasurer and was a singer in the church, having devoted 19 years of service there.

In the 1960s and ’70s, she drove people to various appointments and made sure all the needs in her community were met.

Beulah was a talented piano and guitar player. She loved singing and playing gospel music. A dedicated homemaker, she loved working on her lawn, especially riding her Murray mower.

Surviving: her husband of 61 years and 10 months, Charles Ward; daughters, Theresa Pittman and husband, Benny, of Maple Fork and Judy Dunbar and husband, Henry, of Beckley; brothers, Bobby Lee Smith and wife, Betty, of Mardela Springs, Md., and David Smith of Lewisburg; her dearly loved sister, Charlene Smith of Mount Hope; grandsons, Dean Russell and wife, Debra, of Maple Fork, Jason Pilliteri of Sophia, Randy Pittman and wife, Vickie, of Wilmington, N.C., and J.R. Dunbar of Beckley; granddaughters, Kim Smith and husband, Barry, of Midway, Lisa Walker and husband, Jeff, of Beckley, Deana Sexton and husband, Kevin, of Crab Orchard and Rachel Kiblinger and husband, Brian, of Beckley; great-grandsons, Jordan Russell, Troy “T.J.” Stiffler Jr., Jeremy Kiblinger, Brain Sexton, Shane Sexton and Chase Pittman; great-granddaughters, Katie Russell, McKenzie Walker, Karsyn Walker, Ashleigh Sexton, Heather Kiblinger, Alyssa Kiblinger and Randi Lynn Pittman; sisters-in-law, Mary Ellen Smith of Bradley and Dorothy Smith of Lewisburg; and many nieces, nephews, friends and her church family.

Service was Oct. 24 at Tyree Funeral Home, Mount Hope, with the Rev. Robert Barley, the Rev. Dean Russell and the Rev. F.D. Sexton officiating. Burial was in the Garden of Everlasting Life at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Prosperity.

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

Arrangements by Tyree Funeral Home, Mount Hope.