Published: June 28, 2009 12:10 am      

Obituaries, Sunday, June 28, 2009

Virgil Lee Adkins

Virgil Lee Adkins, age 81, of Piney View, passed away Friday, June 26, 2009.

Born November 13, 1927, at Hamlet, W.Va., he was the son of the late Lonnie and Alma Adkins.

Virgil was a retired Coal Miner. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He was a member of the Stanaford Missionary Baptist Church.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Doris Adkins Welch; and brothers and sisters, James Compton, Roy Adkins, Lacy Adkins, Myrtle Blankenship, Mildred Smith, Maxine Smith, and Vester Adkins.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Edith M. McDaniel Adkins of Piney View; one son, Roger Adkins and wife Judy of Gloster, Va.; two grandchildren, Rick Adkins and Aaron Welch; son-in-law, William Welch of Piney View; one sister, Leoda Harrah of Meadow Creek; and many nieces and nephews.

Services will be held Monday, June 29, 2009, at 11 a.m. at Blue Ridge Funeral Home, Beckley, with Rev. Phillip Lilly officiating. Burial will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley.

Family and friends will serve as pallbearers.

Friends may gather with the family today, June 28, 2009, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

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

Blue Ridge Funeral Home, 5251 Robert C. Byrd Drive, Beckley, W.Va., is in charge of the arrangements.





Wallace ‘Cabby’ R. Bennett Jr.

Wallace “Cabby” R. Bennett, Jr., 59, of Oak Hill, W.Va., died on Thursday, June 25, 2009, at Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital in Weston, W.Va.

Born October 10, 1949, at Oak Hill, W.Va., he was the son of Mable Marie Dixon Bennett of Oak Hill and the late Wallace R. Bennett, Sr.

He was a master appraiser for the U.S. Department of Interior-National Park Service.

Cabby attended the First Presbyterian Church in Oak Hill and was a U.S. Air Force veteran.

A brother, Barry Bennett, preceded him in death.

In addition to his mother he is survived by his wife, Anna (Bennett) Bennett; one son, Wallace “Ross” Bennett, III, and wife, Dr. Crystal Bennett, of Oak Hill; a daughter, Beth Bennett Powers and husband, Roger Powers, Jr., of Edmond; one sister, Janice Bennett of Oak Hill; two half sisters, Joan McClain of Charlotte, N.C., and Connie Ellison of Erie, Pa.; one half brother, Robert “Bobby” Blackburn and wife, Loretta, of Fayetteville; and three grandchildren, Bryson Powers, Grace Bennett and Abby Bennett.

Services will be on Monday, June 29, 2009, at 2 p.m. at Tyree Funeral Home in Oak Hill with Rev. Allen Travis officiating. Burial will be at High Lawn Memorial Park, Oak Hill.

Visitation will be held at Tyree Funeral Home today, June 28, 2009, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Rick Pannell, Tom Oxley, Mike Painter, Richard Bragg, Tim Huffman and Brian Zutaut will serve as pallbearers.

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

Arrangements by Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill, W.Va.





Jack Brown

Jack Brown, 81, of Beckley, passed away June 27, 2009, at a local hospital.

Born May 11, 1928, he was the son of the late Ben and Verlie Clay Brown. He was a member of the U.S. Army having served 20 years.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by sisters Gertude Jarrell of Pineknob, W.Va., Loretta Perry of Brook Park, Ohio, a brother Ted of Burlington, Colo.; and brothers-in-law Robert Jarrell and Jim Pfost.

Survivors include his wife Mui Brown of Beckley; son, Jackie Dewayne of Rifle, Colo.; two grandchildren, Christopher and Allyssa of Marian, Texas; two sisters, Ruth and her husband Jack Massey of Manning, S.C., and Pebble Pfost of Nitro, W.Va.; two brothers, Wannie and his wife Bernice of Dry Creek, W.Va., and Jim and his wife Lavina of Fairdale, W.Va.; one brother-in-law, Jack Perry of Naples, Fla.; and several nieces and nephews.

In keeping with Jack’s wishes, there will be no visitation. There will be a private memorial service for the family today, June 28, at Calfee Funeral Home, Beckley, with the Rev. Jerry Brown officiating.

Online condolences may be left at www.calfeefh.com.

Arrangements by Calfee Funeral Home, Beckley.





Richard Farrell

FAYETTEVILLE — Rich-ard Wayne “Ricky” Farrell, 51, of Fayetteville, died after a short illness in Charlottesville, Va., on Thursday, June 25, 2009.

Born on February 4, 1958, in Washington, D.C., he was the son of the late Robert Vernon and Alice Faye Moore Farrell.

He was of the Baptist faith. He was a carpenter by trade. Ricky was a loving man who had a deep passion for family and friends. He was an avid sports fan, favorite teams being the Wa-shington Redskins and Fayetteville Pirates. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing. Rick will be sadly missed by all that knew and loved him.

Besides his parents, Rob-ert and Faye Farrell, he was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Charles and Eleanor Farrell, and maternal grandparents, Bernard and Alma Dearstine.

Survivors include his loving wife, Patsy of Fayetteville; children, Alice Dehart and spouse, Paul, of Fayetteville, Samantha Johnson and spouse, Bob, of Fayetteville, Amanda Sharp and spouse, Dale, of Kincaid, Ricky Farrell II and companion, Lauren Harper, of Fayetteville, Vernon and Troy Farrell at home; sisters, Brenda Pierson and companion, Bub Gill, of Oak Hill, Cindy Proskin of Fayetteville, Sherry Trofy of Fayetteville, Pam Farrell and companion, Bobby Hobbs, of Fayetteville; a special uncle and aunt, Bubby and Mary Moore of Ansted; 11 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; 34 nephews; and 23 nieces.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, June 29, 2009, at Cotton Hill Baptist Church, Beckwith, with Rev. Mack Canterbury and Rev. John Parrish officiating. Burial will follow at Huse Memorial Park, Fayetteville.

The family will receive friends two hours before the funeral at Cotton Hill Baptist Church, Beckwith.

Josh and Seth Proskin, Ernie Rhodes, Joey and Roy Moore, Shane Trofy, Davey Canterbury, and Danny Farrell will serve as pallbearers.

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

Dodd-Payne-Hess Funeral Home, 350 W. Maple Ave., Fayetteville, will be assisting the family.





Julia Elizabeth Ford

Julia Elizabeth Ford, 75, of Mabscott, died Saturday, June 27, 2009, at her home surrounded by family and friends.

Born October 30, 1933, in Ar-ista, W.Va., she was the daughter of the late Garland Sisk and Marie Cole.

In addition to her parents, Julia was preceded in death by her husband, Bill Vance Ford; a son, Keith Alvin Church; and eight brothers and sisters.

Julia was a homemaker, a lifelong resident of Raleigh County, and a member of the Shady Spring Pentecostal Holiness Church.

She is survived by three daughters, Julia Lynn Ford Brooks of Shady Spring, Eloise Ward and her husband Johnathan of Beaver, and Tommie Jo Adkins of Canton, Ohio; two sons, Dale Church and his wife Susan of Canton, Ohio, and Glenn Church and his wife Rita of Laurel, Del.; 10 grandchildren, Katie Ickes and Natalie Brooks, both of Shady Spring, Johnathan David Ward II of Beford, S.C., Brandon Todd Adkins, Shanda Diano, Kara Gildersleeve, Sebastian Charles Church, all of Canton, Ohio, Glenn Church II of Laurel, Del., Lennie Church of Beckley, Jason Church of Trout-ville, Va.; seven great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, five brothers and sisters.

As well as seven great-grandchildren, Julia was the backbone as well as the funnybone of her family. She never missed an opportunity to guide someone or to make them laugh. Almost everyone looked to her as a second mother, someone who would provide shelter from whatever your storm. Her heart knew no boundaries. She reached out to everyone she could and helped in any way. She will be greatly missed here on earth but greatly cherished in heaven where she will rejoin the ones we have lost.

Funeral services will be conducted at 4 p.m. Monday, June 29, 2009, in the Calfee Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Robert Barley officiating. Burial will follow in Calfee Cemetery at Mt. Tabor. Friends may call at the funeral home from 2 p.m. to time of service Monday.

Pallbearers will be Jeff Brooks, Johnathan Ward, Brandon Adkins, James Sisk, Roger Sisk, and Jonathan Ward II.

The family suggests in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Mabscott Fire Department.

Online condolences may be left at www.calfeefh.com.

Arrangements by Calfee Funeral Home, Beckley.





Marie Bertha Gibson

LEWISBURG — Marie Bertha Gibson, 88, of Lewisburg, passed away on Friday, before noon, June 26, 2009, at The Seasons Assisted Living facility, following a long illness.

Born Dec. 7, 1920, she was the daughter of the late Elsie Romans and Lyda Allen Romans.

Mrs. Gibson was a member of Rupert Missionary Baptist Church, and a homemaker.

Other than her parents, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Caro-lyn Esther Tubbs, and six brothers, Ernest, Homer, Walter, Howard, Watson, and Okey Romans.

Those left to mourn are her husband, James E. Gibson of Lewisburg; two daughters, Patricia Ellen Huffman and husband John of Fincastle, Va., and Barbara Gail Trout and husband Luther Jr. of Rainelle, W.Va.; two sons, Larry Gibson and wife Sue Ann of Lewisburg, and David Eshmel Gibson and wife Redith of Columbus, Ohio; two sisters, Josephine TenEyck of Silver Springs, Md., and Georgia Neal of Kenova, W.Va.; one brother, Kenzie Romans of Orient Hill, W.Va.; nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday, June 29, 2009, at Wallace & Wallace Chapel in Rainelle, with Pastor Brian Tubbs officiating. Entombment will follow at Wallace Memorial Mausoleum, at Clintonville. Friends may call one hour prior to the service (1 to 2 p.m.) at Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home in Rainelle.

Grandsons will serve as pallbearers.

Arrangements by Wallace & Wallace of Rainelle.





Franklin D. Jack

Franklin D. Jack, 70, of Beckley, passed away Friday, June 26, 2009.

Services will be 1 p.m. Tuesday, June 30, at Blue Ridge Funeral Home, Beckley. Friends may gather with the family from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, June 29, at the funeral home.

Blue Ridge Funeral Home, 5251 Robert C. Byrd Drive, Beckley, is in charge of the arrangements.





Billie Jo Muovich

Billie Jo Muovich, 68, of Oak Run Road, Beckley, passed away Saturday, June 27, 2009, at the Bowers Hospice House following an extended illness.

Condolences may be mailed to the family at melton@ wvdsl.net.

Arrangements by Melton Mortuary, Beckley.





Greta Mae Smith

Greta Mae Smith went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, June 24, 2009.

Born January 8, 1928, at Mullens, W.Va., she was the daughter of the late Vida Toler Dixon and the late William Avery Dixon.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Samuel Ira Smith, and her older brother, Eugene Douglas Dixon.

Mrs. Smith was a devout Christian, and a wonderful wife, mother, and grandmother. She was also a talented artist. After age 60, she began hand crafting reproductions of 18th and 19th century doll shoes for antique dolls. She developed this talent into a business which expanded to selling her doll shoes to buyers all over the world. Also, during this time, she designed and produced prototype doll shoes for Ashton-Drake Galleries, a national company which produces fine quality collectible dolls. During the late 1990s, Mrs. Smith and her doll shoes were featured in many major national antique doll and craft magazines and periodicals.

She is survived by her three daughters, Sandra K. Farley of Princewick, W.Va., Patricia L. Smith of Roanoke, Va., and De Ann Smith and fiancé Joey Shiplette of Salem, Va.; two grandsons, Keith S. Farley of Murfreesboro, Tenn., and John P. Farley of Boston, Mass.; three sisters, Peggy J. Huffman of Pineville, W.Va., Patty Salcines and husband Marshall of Pineville, W.Va., and Marge Short and husband Jim of St. Paul, Va.; one brother, Steve Dixon and wife Vikki of Lynchburg, Va.; and many beloved nieces, nephews, and friends.

Graveside services will be held Monday, June 29, 2009, at 11 a.m. at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens Mausoleum with Pastor Betty Lusk from the United Methodist Temple officiating.



Luke Chapter I

45And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.

47and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Greta Smith’s name to the American Cancer Society “Relay for Life,” c/o Raleigh Regional Cancer Center, 275 Dry Hill Road, Beckley, WV 25801.

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

Blue Ridge Funeral Home, 5251 Robert C. Byrd Drive, Beckley, W.Va., is in charge of the arrangements.





Clyde ‘Buddy’ L. Starks Jr.

VIRGINIA BEACH — Clyde “Buddy” L. Starks Jr., 69, passed away at his sister’s home on Sunday, June 21, 2009, in Virginia Beach.

Buddy was born in Beckley, W.Va., lived the majority of his life in Norfolk and Virginia Beach, graduated from Maury High School, attended Old Dominion University and Tidewater Community College, served in the U.S. Navy with a specialty as an electronics technician, worked at NAS Norfolk, and Raytheon Corporation. He had been an active Boy Scout Leader, including Scout Master and District Commissioner. His passion was garden railroading and he was actively involved for many years with the Tidewater Big Train Operators designing and building backyard layouts. Buddy was an avid history buff who generously shared his knowledge with family and friends, was a voracious reader and a self-professed audiophile.

Buddy is preceded in death by his father, Clyde L. Starks Sr., mother, Olga M. Starks, and son David E. Maddix.

Survivors include four sisters, April E. Starks of Grovetown, Ga.; Elizabeth S. Morgan and husband George Morgan of Cape Coral, Fla., Theresa S. Rogers of Great Falls, Mont., and Korolon S. Biggs of Virginia Beach, Va.; and son, Brian A. Maddix and wife Laura, grandson Drake, and granddaughter Lucia of Austin, Texas; and longtime girlfriend Molly Todd of Virginia Beach, Va.

A memorial service is planned for family and friends in September.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Tidewater Council, Boy Scouts of America, 1032 Heatherwood Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23455.

He was of the Catholic faith.

Online condolences may be made at www.hdoliver.com.

H.D. Oliver Laskin Road Chapel is handling arrangements.





John Edward Warren

LEWISBURG — John Edward Warren, 91, of Lewisburg, W.Va., passed away at home June 27, 2009. Born Dec. 17, 1917, in Alderson, he was the son of the late Everett H. and Grace Shields Warren.

He was a 1935 graduate of Alderson High School and served in the U.S. Army. During his life, he was a dairy farmer, a parts manager for Greenbrier Tractor Sales and a salesman and board member at Martin and Jones, Inc., until his retirement in 1989.

He was a member and Elder at Clifton Presbyterian Church, a 50-year member of the AF and AM Masonic Lodge #42, and a charter member of the Maxwelton Ruritan Club. During his retirement years, he enjoyed gardening and WVU sporting events.

He was predeceased by brothers Everett and Ralph and a sister, Sara Warren Kidd.

He is survived by his devoted and loving wife of 67 years, Virginia Neely Warren; sister, Mary Warren Hampton, and brother-in-law, Fred B. Neely, Jr. He is also survived by his close-knit family, including sons, John Edward, Jr., and wife, Ann, of Morgantown, W.Va.; Doug and wife, Patty, of Lewisburg, W.Va.; Joe and wife, Carolyn, of Lewisburg, W.Va.; grandchildren, Kelly Chadbourne and husband, Wayne; Mark Warren and wife, Joyce; Laura Morton and husband, Ben; Beth Hundley and husband, Chris; Carrie Withrow and husband, Tommy; Nikki Warren; Leslie Anderson and husband, Drew; John D. Warren; six great-grandchildren, Elizabeth Chadbourne, Alex and Kate Morton, Drew Hundley, John K. Withrow, and Tyler Anderson.

A memorial service will be held at Clifton Presbyterian Church in Maxwelton, W.Va., on Monday, June 29, 2009, at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Janice Johnson officiating. A time of visitation will follow the memorial service.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial gifts be made to Clifton Presbyterian Church.

McCraw Funeral Home, Lewisburg, is in charge of arrangements.





Evert Whitt

Evert Whitt, 84, of Eatonton, Ga., formerly of Basin, passed Friday, June 26, 2009, at the Carl Vinson Veterans Medical Center in Dublin, Ga., following a long illness.

Condolences may be mailed to the family at melton@wvdsl.net.

Arrangements by Melton Mortuary, Beckley.