Obituaries - Saturday, May 23, 2009

May 22, 2009 08:06 pm

— Patty William Bragg
Patty W. Bragg, age 73, of Cool Ridge, passed away Thursday, May 21, 2009, at Beckley Appalachian Regional Hospital following a long illness.
Mr. Bragg was born on Nov. 25, 1935, at Abraham, W.Va.; he was the son of the late George Bragg and Gertrude (Carson) Bragg.
Mr. Bragg owned his own construction company, Bragg Construction, and was in the business for over 30 years.
Those who preceded him in death other than his parents are a son, Ricky Bragg; brothers, Eldridge, Herbert and Johnnie Bragg; and a sister, Gladys Bragg.
Those left to cherish his memory are his loving wife of 54 years, Nadine Bragg at home; a son, Jeff Bragg and wife, Diana, of Ghent; daughter, Teresa Carter and husband, Paul, of Salem, W.Va.; sisters, Ann Payne and husband, Kenneth, of Daniels, Gloria Mae Elliott and husband, Loye, of Shady Spring, Clara Bragg of Beckley, and Trecia Farley and husband, Earnest, of Chester, Va.; grandchildren, Alex and Kayla Bragg of Ghent, and Josh and Jacob Carter of Salem, W.Va.
A celebration of Mr. Bragg’s life will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, May 24, 2009, at the Rose and Quesenberry Shady Spring Chapel with the Rev. David Trump officiating. Interment will follow at Josiah-Farley Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 9 p.m. today, Saturday, at the funeral home for visitation.
Friends and family will serve as pallbearers.
Online condolences may be sent to our guest book at www.roseandquesenberry.net.
Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, Shady Spring.
Eloise O. Counts
NETTIE — Eloise O. Counts, 72, formerly of Cleveland, Ohio, died Tuesday, May 19, 2009.
Service will be 2 p.m. Sunday at Simons-Coleman Funeral Home, Richwood. Friends may call 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Burial will follow in West Virginia Memorial Gardens, Calvin.
Condolences may be sent to scfh@verizon.net.
Arrangements by Simons-Coleman Funeral Home, Richwood.
Patricia Norris Swarthout Ferrell
HUNTINGTON — Patricia Norris Swarthout Ferrell, 62, formerly of Beckley, passed away Wednesday, May 20, 2009, at St. Mary’s Medical Center, Huntington.
A celebration of her life will be 1 p.m. today, Saturday, May 23, at Ferrell-Chambers Funeral Home, Huntington. Burial will follow at a later date in Arlington National Cemetery.
Online at www.ferrell-chambersfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements by Ferrell-Chambers Funeral Home.
Christy Lee Honaker
Christy Lee Honaker, 34, of Beckley went to be with the Lord on the 19th day of May, 2009.
Christy will be sadly missed by her fiancé, Nathan Ray Wise, and her loving son, Dakoda Charles Edward Honaker. Also, she will always be remembered by her loving parents, Charles Edward Honaker and Martha Elaine Richardson Honaker.
Christy was preceded in death by her grandparents, Charles Edward Honaker, and Ted and Mavis Richardson.
She will also be sadly missed by her two sisters, Mindy Lee Honaker and fiancé, Donald Ray Nicholson, of Bud and Lisa Lee Honaker and fiancé, Brian Green, of Crab Orchard; three nephews, Donald Ray Nicholson Jr., Keaton Ray Nicholson, and Ethan Ray Nicholson, all of Bud; a grandmother, Addie Rae Cozart Honaker of Eccles; several aunts and uncles; and several cousins.
Committal services will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Honaker Family Cemetery on Upper Sandlick Road with the Rev. Tommy Craft officiating. Friends may call from noon until 1 p.m. at the Melton Mortuary. Those wishing to attend the graveside services are asked to be at the mortuary by 1:30 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.
Family members will serve as pallbearers.
Condolences may be mailed to the family at melton@wvdsl.net.
Arrangements by Melton Mortuary, Inc., Beckley.
Vera Lamb Lester
OCEANA — Vera Lamb Lester, 91, of Oceana, passed away Thursday, May 21, 2009, at her residence following a long illness.
Born May 4, 1918, at Crany, she was the daughter of the late William Johnson Lamb and Mahala Catherine Gunnoe Lamb.
Mrs. Lester was a charter member of the Bible Baptist Church where she was the Sunday school secretary for 28 years. She was also a member of the Ladies Aid and enjoyed going to church, reading, crocheting and being a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Wallace Lester Jr.; six brothers, Darrell Lamb, Drexel Lamb, Roby Lamb, Ithel Lamb, the Rev. Orville Lamb, and Woodrow Lamb; a sister, Violet Lamb; four half brothers, Burke Lamb, Don Lamb, Homer Gunnoe and Oke Lamb; and two half sisters, Bessie Rose and Clara Kennedy.
Survivors include three sons, Darrell Lester of Lynco, Denny W. Lester and his wife, Judy Bailey Lester, of Oceana, David W. Lester and his wife, Judy Cox Lester, of Statesville, N.C.; four daughters, Darice Bradford and her husband, Butch, of Oceana, Deanna Cook and her husband, J.B., of Oceana, Leah Cook and her husband, Merle, of Welch, Darita Green and her husband, Rodney, of Oceana; a sister, Edna Evans who lived beside her for 65 years and now resides in Ona, W.Va., with her son, Larry; 10 grandchildren, David Dancy, Jacquline Castellano, Rodney Bradford, Darice Gordon, Master Sgt. James R. “J.R.” Cook, Jared Cook, Shelley Lester Webb, Shawn Stafford, Tristan Lester and Megan Green; and 20 great-grandchildren, Zachary Dancy, Branndon and Andrew Castellano, Becky Rowe, Susan Bradford, Justin Lusk, Katie and Jamie Cook, Matthew and Nathan Gordon, Jayden and Shaylee Cook, Joseph O’Neal II, Kaylee Cook, Kailey Webb, Ben, Kiera and Sylvia Stafford and Bailey and Lacee Hartness.
A celebration of Vera’s life will be 2 p.m. Sunday, May 24, 2009, at Evans Memorial Chapel, Oceana, with the Rev. Roger Browning and Pastor Earl Brewer officiating. Burial will follow in Palm Memorial Gardens, Matheny.
Sons and grandsons will serve as pallbearers.
Family will receive friends from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, May 23, 2009, at the funeral home.
Online guest book may be signed at www.evans-funeralhome.com or e-mail condolences to the family at evans-funeralhome@stei.com.
Evans Funeral Home of Oceana is serving the Lester family.
John Paul Miller
GAITHERSBURG, Md. — John Paul Miller, of Goshen Estates, formerly of Oak Hill and Rainelle, passed away on Tuesday, May 19, 2009.
He was the beloved husband of the late Margie S. Miller; father of John Miller and wife, Barbara, of Laurel, Md., Jeane Briggs and husband, Paul, of Falling Waters, W.Va., and William Miller and wife, Kathy, of Damascus, Md.; grandfather of 26 grandchildren, and great-grandfather of five great-grandchildren.
Mr. Miller is also survived by three brothers, Mike Miller of Wyandotte, Mich., Tom Miller of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Steve Miller of Peterstown, W.Va., and by his only sister, Elizabeth Riser of Mabscott, W.Va.
Mr. Miller was a veteran of World War II, serving as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, for whom he commanded tank and heavy equipment landing craft in numerous invasions in the South Pacific.
Mr. Miller was a high school teacher at Rainelle High School in Rainelle, and at Walter Johnson High School in Bethesda, Md., and a successful football coach at both schools.
Friends may call 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, May 27, at Molesworth-Williams Funeral Home, 26401 Ridge Road, Damascus, Md.
Service will be 11 a.m. Thursday, May 28, at St. Paul United Methodist Church, 21720 Laytonsville Road, Laytonsville, Md. Burial will follow in the All Souls Cemetery, Germantown, Md.
Arrangements by Molesworth-Williams Funeral Home, Damascus, Md.
Robert O’Hara
EBENSBURG, Pa. — Robert O’Hara, 91, entered into eternal rest with the Lord and his beloved wife, Dessie, May 22, 2009, in Johnstown, Pa.
Born July 18, 1917, Ebensburg, Pa., son of the late John Leo and Lucy Miller O’Hara.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, the former Dessie Griffin; sister, Margaret Layman and husband, Earl; brother, Jack O’Hara and wife, Lillian, and sister-in-law, Pauline O’Hara McCallister.
Survivors include his children, James O’Hara and wife, the former Sara Rickard, of Oak Hill, Michael O’Hara and wife, the former Janet Fogel, of Ebensburg, Kathy Kelly and husband, Dan, of Ebensburg, David O’Hara and wife, the former Debbie McNeill, of Pittsburgh, Pa., Thomas O’Hara and wife, the former Sharon Meadows, of Raleigh, N.C., Carl O’Hara of Beckley, Marty Grubb and husband, Pat, of Columbia, S.C., Shirley Hunt and husband, Jeff, of Coldwater, Miss., and Robert O’Hara II of Charleston; 23 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and a brother, James O’Hara of Ebensburg.
Mr. O’Hara was a Army veteran of World War II, Past Commander of Beckley, American Legion, member of Post No. 363 Legion, Ebensburg, Past Grand Knight, Knights of Columbus, Beckley, and was a 4th Degree Knight Assembly 1523 of Beckley, life member of Raleigh County Veterans Museum, Beckley, and was very active at the St. Francis deSales Church, Beckley.
He started the O’Hara Sign and Paint Supply with his father in 1939, in Ebensburg and was in that business until 1973, when he moved with his wife, Dessie, and worked for Coles Signs and Danny Shelton Signs in Beckley. Bob returned to Ebensburg in 2003.
Friends may call from 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at the Matevish and Matevish Funeral Home, 307 North Center St., Ebensburg, Pa.
Funeral Mass will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Joseph’s Mission Church, Hart Sleeping Place, Carrolltown, Pa., with the Rev. Msgr. Sam Sacus and Msgr. Arnold L. Gaus co-celebrants. Committal will follow in the Holy Name Cemetery at Ebensburg.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. Joseph’s Mission Church, c/o P.O. Box 629, Carrolltown, PA 15722, in Bob’s memory.
Arrangements by Matevish and Matevish Funeral Home, Ebensburg.
Connie Sue Brooks Ramsey
ALDERSON — Connie Sue Brooks Ramsey, 68, of Alderson, formerly of Pineville, passed away Thursday, May, 21, 2009, in Greenbrier Valley Medical Center.
A celebration of Connie’s life will be 11 a.m. Monday, May 25, at Pineville Southern Baptist Church with the Rev. Dwight Stafford officiating. Graveside service will be 2:30 p.m. Monday, May 25, at Alderson Community Cemetery. Family will receive friends from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday, May 24, at the church.
Online guest book may be signed at www.calfeefuneralservice.com or e-mail condolences to the Ramsey family at calfeefuneralservice@stei.com.
Calfee Funeral Service of Pineville is serving the Ramsey family.
Steven F. Rose
ANSTED — Steven F. Rose, 61, of Ansted, went home to be with the Lord, Thursday, May 21, 2009, following a short illness.
He was born September 17, 1947, in Winona, W.Va., and was a son of the late Albert and Beufah Smith Rose.
He was of the Holiness faith, preaching God’s word everywhere he could. He was an auto mechanic.
Those left to cherish his memories are his wife, Sandra Settle Rose of Ansted; children, Jeanette White, Stephanie Singletary and Steven F. Rose II of Dublin, Ga.; the children’s mother, Phyliss of Dublin; sisters, Diana Bill of Handley, Roberta Brewer of Ansted; brothers, Floyd E. Rose of Ansted, Robert R. Rose of Fayetteville, Roger L. Rose of Ansted, eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Sunday at Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home Chapel in Ansted, with Pastor Ronnie Persinger officiating. Burial will be Tuesday.
Friends may call one hour prior to the service.
Pallbearers will be Dale Brewer, Cody Birchfield, Johnny Rose, Rodney Rose, Pete Caudill and Greg Brewer.
Wallace & Wallace of Ansted is in charge of the arrangements.
Shaler B. Tate Jr.
Shaler B. Tate Jr., age 89, of Shady Spring, died Friday, May 22, 2009, at his home following a long illness.
Born March 27, 1920, in East Big Gap, Va., he was the son of the late Shaler B. and Maude Wampler Tate.
Other than his parents he was preceded in death by sisters, Mrs. Bernard (Etta) Stone, Mrs. Elo (Frankie) Richards, Mrs. Earl (Belva) Runion, Mrs. Howard (Alpha) Teague, Mrs. Jarvis (Myrtle) Pigge and sister-in-law, Mrs. John (Lillian) Saunders, and a brother-in-law, Glenn P. Golden.
Mr. Tate attended schools in Virginia and was active in the family’s farms. He previously worked in Ohio at the Goodyear Aircraft Corp., Patterson Air Force Base, Jackson Farm Implement, Jackson’s Foundry and operated Tate’s Garage. He was an avid collector of antique farm equipment.
After moving to Shady Spring in 1948, he operated Tate Coal Company and Tate’s Service Station and Garage. He has been owner and operator of Shady Spring Stone Company for the past thirty-six years.
He was a charter member of Perry Memorial Methodist Church at Shady Spring and a Ruritan officer of the Shady Spring Lions Club and the Raleigh County Horseman’s Association for many years. He was very active in many community service projects for area churches, schools and organizations.
Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Beulah Golden Tate; one son, Shaler “Buddy” Tate III and wife, Susan, of Shady Spring; daughter, Patty Hylton and husband Warren of Grandview; grandchildren, Shaler Tate IV and wife, Stephanie, Adam Hylton and wife, Nichole, Traci Jo and Morgan Hylton; and great-grandchildren Tristan and Colton Tate and David, Alec and Ethan Hylton; a sister, Jean Cunningham and husband, Denver, of Charlotte, N.C.
Funeral services are scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday at the Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Chapel, Shady Spring.
Friends may call on the family between the hours of 4 to 7 p.m. today, Saturday, at the funeral home.
Entombment will follow in the Blue Ridge Cemetery, Mausoleum #3, Beckley.
Friends and family will serve as pallbearers.
In lieu of flowers donations of sympathy may be made to Hospice of Southern West Virginia, 454 Cranberry Drive, Beckley, WV 25801.
Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Chapel in Shady Spring.
Everette Ronald Wickline
FAYETTEVILLE — Everette Ronald Wickline, 70, passed away Thursday, May 21, 2009, at Plateau Medical Center, Oak Hill.
Arrangements by High Lawn Funeral Home Chapel, Oak Hill.