Obituaries — November 12, 2009

Bennie Carte

Bennie Carte, 70, of North Sandbranch Road, Mount Hope, died Nov. 8, 2009, at his home following an extended illness.

Arrangements pending at Blue Ridge Funeral Home, Beckley.



James Harrah

James Lee Harrah, 85, of Oak Hill, died Nov. 8, 2009, at Plateau Medical Center, Oak Hill.

Born Feb. 7, 1924, at Elverton, he was the son of the late Thomas Lee and Jessie Kate Johnson Harrah. He also was preceded in death by his wife, Emogene Elizabeth Harrah, in 1982; a son, Charles Grady Harrah; a grandson, Russell Moore Jr.; and three brothers.

Mr. Harrah was a World War II U.S. Army veteran.

He was a UMWA member and he worked 34 years in the coal mines.

Surviving: his daughter, Dorothy Queen of Oak Hill; sons, Thomas Harrah of Oak Hill and James Edward Harrah of Columbus, Ohio; granddaughters, Connie Galford and Sherry Harrah; grandsons, Josh Harrah and Brian Harrah; and brothers, Kenneth Long of Indiana, Charlie Harrah of North Carolina, and Edward Long of Clearwater, Fla.

Funeral services were Nov. 11 at the Dodd-Payne-Hess Funeral Home Chapel, Fayetteville. Burial with military honors by American Legion Post 149 followed at High Lawn Memorial Park, Oak Hill.

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

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



Janice Hope Lewis

Janice Hope Minnix Lewis, 84, of Fayetteville, died Nov. 5, 2009, with her family by her side.

Born July 25, 1925, at Lansing, she was the daughter of the late Lloyd and Edith Workman Minnix. She also was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence Woodrow Lewis, on Aug. 24, 1992; her brother, Darrell Minnix; and a granddaughter.

Mrs. Lewis was a member of Lansing Baptist Church.

Besides being a homemaker, she was a retired LPN, having worked at various nursing homes in Fayette County. She was past president of Cameras in Action Club of Oak Hill, a member of AARP, and a member of The ANGEL Support Group.

She loved to travel and had traveled to all 50 states.

Surviving: her sons, Lloyd Lewis of Fayetteville, and Clarence Lewis of Pittsburgh, Pa.; daughters, Patricia Hope Beaver of Greenfield, Ind., and Melanie Elaine Lewis of Fayetteville; granddaughters, Lori Lewis McKinney, Melissa Beaver Moore, and Kris Lewis Lescinsky; grandsons, Robert Jason Beaver and Edward John Lewis; and six great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were Nov. 8 at Dodd-Payne-Hess Funeral Home, Fayetteville, with Pastor Justin Seay officiating. Burial followed at Lansing Cemetery.

Memorials in her memory may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, WV Chapter, 1111 Lee St. E., Charleston, WV 25301.

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

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



Stella Mae Hypes Malcolm

Stella Mae Hypes Malcolm, 102, of Rt. 2 Fayetteville, died Nov. 6, 2009, at Hilltop Center in Hilltop.

Born April 17, 1907, at Tipton, she was the daughter of the late Albert Luther and Maude B. Rader Hypes and stepdaughter of the late India May Johnson Hypes. Her husband, John Malcolm, and sons, Harmon Shelton Jr., Ray Shelton, Mancil Shelton and Charles Shelton also preceded her in death.

Mrs. Malcolm was a homemaker. Her pride and joy was taking care of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Surviving: daughter, Eulah Wamsley of Rt. 2 Fayetteville; stepson, Don Malcolm; sister, Ruth Smith of Buckeye, Ariz.; 17 grandchildren and many loving great-grandchildren.

Graveside rites and committal services, followed by burial, will be on Thursday, Nov. 12 at 2 p.m. at Zoar Baptist Church Cemetery in Kesslers Cross Lanes with Rev. William Johnson officiating.

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

Arrangements by Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill.



Inez Marie Rucker Hornsby Orler

Inez Marie Rucker Hornsby Orler, 78, of Scarbro, died Nov. 8, 2009, at Bowers Hospice House in Beckley.

Born Sept. 9, 1931, at Pond Gap, she was the daughter of the late James and Betty Pearl Hapney Rucker. Her first husband, William Clayton Hornsby; second husband, John Orler; son, James W. Hornsby; and sisters, Mildred Milner, Elsie Baker and Margie Mayer also preceded her in death.

Mrs. Orler was a homemaker.

Surviving: sons, Gary W. Hornsby of Hilltop and Randy A. Hornsby of Danese; daughters, Betty Thompson of Scarbro, Sharon Toney of Carlisle and Vicki Walker of Scarbro; brothers, Delbert Rucker of Hughes Creek, Fred Rucker of Cedar Grove, Lonnie Rucker of Coal City, Ralph Rucker of North Carolina, Omer Rucker of Kentucky and Bill Rucker of Indiana; sisters, Louise Wiseman of Oak Hill, Nancy Barnett of Belle and Glada Callender of Coal City; and 14 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Services will be 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, at Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill, with the Rev. Ron Sanger officiating. Burial will follow in High Lawn Memorial Park, Oak Hill. Friends may call one hour prior to the service Friday at the funeral home.

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

Arrangements by Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill.



Helen V. Pomykata

Helen V. Pomykata, 85, of Beckley, died Nov. 7, 2009, at the home of her daughter, Maryann Humphrey.

Born March 13, 1924, at Scarbro, she was the daughter of the late Mike K. and Mary Shanta Vargo. She also was preceded in death by her husband, John J. Pomykata; brothers, Mike and Joe Vargo; and a sister, Anna Vasilchak.

Mrs. Pomykata retired from the U.S. Bureau of Mines in Mount Hope with 24 years of service.

She was a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Oak Hill.

Surviving: daughters, Maryann Humphrey (husband Boyd Jr.) of Beckley and Elizabeth Tankersley Foley (husband Larry) of Beckley; grandsons, Daniel J. Humphrey, Neil J. Humphrey, Steven Tankersley and Adam P. Tankersley and wife Amanda; and a great-grandchild, Isabel Tankersley.

Mass of Christian burial was Nov. 9 at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Oak Hill with Father Paul Yuenger officiating. Burial was at High Lawn Memorial Park in Oak Hill.

Donations of sympathy may be made to Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Oak Hill.

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

Arrangements by Tyree Funeral Home of Oak Hill.



Chester Weston Walker

Chester Weston Walker, 87, of Springdale, died Nov. 6, 2009, at the VA Medical Center, Beckley.

Born Feb. 15, 1922, in Springdale, he was the son of the late Elsie Mae White and William C. Walker. He also was preceded in death by a daughter, Deanna Harvey; sisters, Grace Campbell, Glenna Jett, Pansie Twohig, Thelma Peters, Evelyn Rose and Jewell Miller; and a brother, Lawrence, and twin brothers, Eugene and Jennings, who died during infancy.

Chester was a veteran of World War II and was wounded twice during his combat duties in the Invasion of Normandy, Battle of the Bulge and the final invasion of Berlin. He was awarded the Bronze Star, two Purple Hearts and many other military honors. He served with the 325th Glider Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, as an Airborne medic.

The evidence of how well he served his country is recounted in the following by documentary producer Steve Droter of The National World War II Museum in New Orleans, La. “Several years ago, I had the privilege and honor of meeting Chester Walker when I visited him in Springdale to interview him about his experiences in World War II. In particular, I was interested in his story of landing by glider in Normandy, France, on June 7th, 1944. The gliders — wood and canvas structures without power, weapons or armor — crash-landed in small fields surrounded by thick hedgerows, tall trees and German soldiers. I spoke to several men in Private Walker’s outfit who specifically recalled seeing him dash from glider to glider, tending to the many soldiers who were badly wounded in the crashes, but this was just the beginning.

“Private Walker’s company was issued one of the most important combat orders in the entire Normandy Invasion. For three days, paratroopers had fought for control of La Fiere Bridge, which was one of the most critical arteries inland for the American forces landing on Utah Beach. Private Walker’s company, which had never seen combat before, was told that they had to dash across the small stone bridge and down a 700-yard causeway, over a flooded marsh to the other side, where they would take on the Germans face-to-face until every last one was either killed or captured.

“When they finally got the order to go, Walker and company received the worst volley of lead and shrapnel that anyone in the outfit would ever see again. I’ve interviewed at least six veterans in Chester’s company who specifically recalled seeing Private Walker run repeatedly to the bridge without regard for his own personal safety, administer first aid and carry wounded soldiers to a nearby stone wall, then run back to do it all over again. Several men in his company have told me that seeing the fearlessness and bravery of Private Walker was what made them get up and charge the causeway.

“It’s hard to say how many lives Chester Walker saved that day, but it is absolutely certain that his actions at La Fiere Bridge inspired his comrades to make that charge. By the end of the day, the battle was won, but more than half the men in the company were killed or wounded. And Private Chester Walker was there to inspire them and comfort them every step of the way. To me, that is the true essence of a hero. May he rest in honor and glory, and may we thank him eternally for his courage and sacrifice.”

Chester returned home after the many hardships of war and worked for a few years in coal mining, both deep and surface mines. He was self-employed over 40 years, owned and operated Walker’s Sawmills in Springdale.

He was of the Baptist faith and enjoyed his work, hunting with his sons, flea markets and gardening, but most of all he enjoyed his family and friends who will miss him and his wonderful “witty” sense of humor.

Surviving: his loving wife of 66 years, Mildred (“Biddie”); sons, Gary and his wife, Kami, of Springdale, and Marty and his wife, Beverly, of Meadow Bridge; daughter, Rhonda Grant and her husband, “Musky,” of Petersburg, Va.; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; a sister, Wanda Gregory of Kingsville, Md.; and a brother, Earl of Springdale.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 12 at Wallace and Wallace Funeral Home in Rainelle. A funeral service will be held on Friday, Nov. 13 at 1 p.m. at the Wallace and Wallace Chapel, Rainelle. Burial with military honors will be in Wallace Memorial Cemetery in Clintonville.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations in memory of Chester W. Walker to The Alzheimer’s Association, 1111 E. Lee St., Charleston, WV 25301.

Arrangements by Wallace and Wallace Inc., Rainelle.



Lois ‘Ray’ Warren

Mrs. Lois “Ray” Warren, 82, of 206 Tennessee St., Mount Hope, died Nov. 8, 2009, in Bowers Hospice House.

Arrangements pending at Ritchie & Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley.



Frank E. Zamiela

Frank E. Zamiela, 75, of Charleston, died Nov. 6, 2009, after a long illness.

Frank was the son of the late Walter and Rose Zamiela of Oak Hill. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Helen Zamiela Young; brother, Johnny Ray Zamiela; and a brother-in-law, Louis Reinacher.

Frank attended the Durham Barber College in North Carolina. He worked as a barber in the Charleston area for over 50 years, where he was a resident.

He attended Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Charleston, and ushered at the Charleston Symphony for many years.

Surviving: his wife of 49 years, Marian E. Zamiela; sons, Kevin Zamiela and his wife, Ellen, of Dunbar, and Keith Zamiela, his wife Jill, and their children, Christian, Tallee and Chloe, all of Stuart, Fla.; brother, Stanley Zamiela and his wife, Betty; sisters-in-law, Gaye Reinacher and Janet Zamiela; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral service was Nov. 10 at Barlow Bonsall Funeral Home, Charleston, with the Rev. Ron Schlak officiating. Burial followed at Cunningham Memorial Park, St. Albans.

The family suggests donations be made to: Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1600 Kanawha Blvd. E., Charleston, WV 25311-2115, and/or Hubbard Hospice House, Hospice Care, 1606 Kanawha Blvd. W., Charleston, WV 25312.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.barlowbonsall.com.

Arrangements by Barlow Bonsall Funeral Home, Charleston.

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