Obituaries, Saturday, July 4, 2009

July 03, 2009 09:57 pm

— Billy G. Altizer
Billy G. Altizer, 79, of Island Creek, near Pettry, formerly of Premier, died peacefully early Thursday morning, July 2, 2009, at his home after a long illness.
Born September 18, 1929, at Landville, he was the son of the late Willis Garland Altizer and Martha Jane Vance Altizer.
Mr. Altizer was a graduate of Man High School. He served with the U.S. Army Engineers prior to the Korean Conflict.
While living in McDowell County, Mr. Altizer worked in management for Massey Stores and later, along with his devoted and loving wife, owned and operated M & B Grocery at Premier for many years.
Mr. Altizer was a member of Painters Chapel United Methodist Church. He was a devoted and caring husband, father, grandfather and friend. He loved the outdoors, was an avid fisherman and enjoyed farming and operating his tractor.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a grandson, Michael Joseph Roberts, two great grandchildren, Jennifer Hatchett and Alex Haynes, along with a sister, Janice Hope Altizer.
Those left to cherish his memory are his loving and caring wife of 60 years, Mildred Weeber Altizer; Four Children and their spouses Joyce Evelyn and Ken Roberts of Island Creek, Cathy and Darrell McKinney of Daniels, Billy David and Eva Altizer of London Ky, and Timothy Lee and Crystal Altizer of Island Creek; 12 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; Two siblings, John Altizer and wife Linda of Plant City, Florida, and Joyce Ann Bond of Huntington; and his close friend, Jack Maxwell and his wife Maxine.
Services to celebrate the life of Billy G. Altizer will be held 2:30 p.m. Sunday, July 5, 2009, from the Painters Chapel United Methodist Church at Speedway, with his son Billy David Altizer officiating, and his son Timothy Lee Altizer delivering the Eulogy. Burial will follow in the Altizer Family Cemetery at Island Creek.
Friends may visit with the family today from 6 until 8 p.m. at the Memorial Funeral Directory on the Athens Road in Princeton and one hour prior to services at the church.
Serving as pallbearers will be his grandsons; Richie Roberts, Robbie Ortiz, Tim Altizer, Davie Altizer, his great grandsons; Jacob Roberts, Robbie M. Ortiz, Hunter Hatchett, Jameson Roberts, Landon Stacy, Zachary Johnston and Shaine Aust.
Family & friends may share messages of love and concerns via www.memorialfd.com
The Altizer Family is being served by the Memorial Funeral Directory & Cremation Center on the Athens Road in Princeton.

Nancy Chesunas Blake
Nancy Chesunas Blake, 92, of Oak Hill went to be with the Lord on Thursday, July 2, 2009.
Born April 27, 1917, in Eccles, she was the daughter of the late Ben and Jadwiga Legonis Chesunas of Salem Road.
Nancy married the late William Robert Blake on August 26, 1936, and together they had eight children. She spent her life as a homemaker and an obedient servant of God.
Eight brothers, three sisters, son-in-law, Charles E. "Joe" Bragg, Jr. and a grandchild, Lieutenant Commander Thomas Edward Blake, Jr. preceded her in death.
She is survived by her eight children, William Robert Blake Jr. and wife, Sue of Portsmouth, VA, Thomas Edward Blake and wife, Carole of Spencer, NE, Benny Blake and wife, Claire of Oak Hill, Nancy Tomasek and husband, Jeff of Oak Hill, Lillian Casey and husband, Doug of Dunlap, TN, Shirley Bragg of Oak Hill, James Blake and wife, Joy of Oak Hill and Karen Bennett and husband, David of Huntsville, AL.
One sister, Anna Bias of Oak Hill, eleven grandchildren, fifteen great grandchildren, three great-great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews also survive her.
Services will be on Monday, July 6, 2009, at 11 a.m. at Tyree Funeral Home in Oak Hill with Rev. Bill Drennen officiating. Burial will be at Gethsemane Memorial Gardens, Oak Hill.
Visitation will be held at Tyree Funeral Home on Sunday, June 5, 2009, from 6 to 8 p.m.
Family members will serve as pallbearers.
Online condolences may be sent at www.tyreefuneralhome.com.
Arrangements by Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill, WV.

L C Blankenship, Sr.
L C Blankenship Sr., 83, of Mallory, West Virginia died Wednesday, July 1, 2009. A service will be Tuesday, July 7, 2009, at 1 p.m. at the Mounts Funeral Home in Gilbert. To honor his wishes, Mr. Blankenship was cremated.
Arrangements by Mounts Funeral Home, Gilbert.

Wanda L. Gunther Brown
Wanda L. Gunther Brown, age 82, of Beckley, went home to be with the Lord, Thursday, July 2, 2009, at her home.
Born on January 25, 1927, at Cranberry, WV, she was the daughter of the late Earl and Bessie Venters Lilly.
Wanda graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School and went to work at C & P Telephone Company that summer. She worked for them until she retired in 1981. She was a lifelong member of the Beckley First Christian Church. She was a loving mother and grandmother.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Levi Brown; one son, Clarence (Sandy) Gunther; two brothers, Henry Lilly and Charles Lilly and her grandparents.
Those left to cherish her memory include one son, Terry Gunther and wife Sabrina of Beckley; one daughter, Patricia Burnett and husband Wally of Medicine Bow, WY; a sister Betty Lilly of Oak Hill; a brother, David Lilly of Martinsburg; two sisters-in-law, Jean Lilly of Daniels and Helen Lilly of Beckley; grandchildren, Wayne Waddell and wife Lisa (Nichole) of Glen Allen, VA, Shawn Gunther and wife Kathy (Terryn) of Crab Orchard, Jennifer Coulter and husband Theron (Jonathan, Dana, and Adrianna) of Rawlins, WY, Amanda West and husband Garrett (Scarlett Phillips) and (Shelby West) of Gillette, WY, Tara Harper and son Tyler of Beckley, Chris Gunther of Brazil, Elaine Myer and husband David (Ezra) of Nashville, TN, and Latricia Gunther of Beckley; many nieces and nephews and friends; her caregiver, Anna Paradowski, and lifelong friends, Charles and Joyce Savage of Collerville, TN.
Services will be held Sunday, July 5, 2009, at 4 p.m. at Blue Ridge Funeral Home, Beckley with Pastor Richard Carbaugh officiating. Burial will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley.
Friends may gather with the family from 2 p.m. until the time of the service 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, WV is in charge of the arrangements.

Lou Ellen Smith Feazell
Lou Ellen Smith Feazell, 55, of Beckwith, died July 2, 2009 at the Bowers Hospice House, Beckley.
Funeral services will be held at noon Monday, July 6, 2009, at Dodd-Payne-Hess Funeral Home, Fayetteville, with Rev. Mack Canterbury officiating. Burial will follow at Pate-Adkins Cemetery, Crow Hollow Road, Beckwith, WV.
Arrangements by Dodd-Payne-Hess Funeral Home, Fayetteville.

Percy R. Hazelwood
Percy R. Hazelwood, age 69, of Beckley, died Wednesday, July 1, 2009, at his home following a long illness.
Born on January 8, 1940, in Beckley, he was the son of the late James and Ollie Dancy Hazelwood.
Mr. Hazelwood was a retired building construction worker and was of the Catholic faith.
He had made his home in Beckley for the past 11 years, having previously resided in Chicago, Illinois.
He was the last surviving member of his immediate family.
Mr. Hazelwood was preceded in death by a brother, Walter Hazelwood; by sisters, Vellie Vaught, Ennias Underwood, and Ollie Strock; surviving wife Lois Vaught Hazelwood; sons Frankie Hazelwood and wife Sheila of Beckley, Percy Allen Hazelwood and wife Jodie of Lawrenceburg, TN; a daughter Anita Bolen and husband Emmett of Beckley; step-sons Joe Warner and wife Betty of Beckley and James Warner of Beckley; 22 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday at the Rose and Quesenberry Peace Chapel in Beckley with Rev. Mr. John F. Ziolkowski officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Park in Beckley.
Friends may call at the funeral home one hour prior to services. Family members will serve as pallbearers.
Online condolences may be sent to our guestbook at www.roseandquesenberry.net
Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home in Beckley.

Beulah Mae Kingdon
Beulah Mae Kingdon, 87, of Mullens, died Friday, July 3, 2009, in a Beckley Hospital following a short Illness.
Arrangements are incomplete at Tankersley Funeral Home, Mullens.

Kathy Evelyn Sams
Kathy Evelyn Sams, 54, of Cyclone, went to be with the Lord Wednesday, July 1, 2009, from Fairdale after injuries sustained in an automobile accident.
She was born June 11, 1955, at Oceana, the daughter of Terry Lusk of Cyclone and the late Pearl Lusk.
In addition to her mother, she was preceded in death by her husband, Forrest “Frosty” Sams.
Kathy was a home maker who loved spending time with her family, especially her grandson Blake.
Those left to cherish her memory are two daughters, Terri Sams at home and Tina (Michael) Parsons of Cyclone; one grandson, Blake Parsons of Cyclone; three sisters, Anna (Jerry) Lusk of Princeton, Kathleen (Robert) Tilley and Margie (Lonnie) Boothe, both of Cyclone; two brothers, Mickey (Patsy) Lusk and Rodney (Wanda) Lusk, both of Cyclone; her beloved dog, Sasha; many nieces and nephews along with a host of other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Sunday, July 5, 2009, at the Church of God at Cyclone with Rev. Ricky Lusk officiating. Burial will follow in Brown Cemetery at Cyclone.
Visitation will be held from 6 to10 p.m. Saturday at The Church of God at Cyclone and one hour prior to services.
Online condolences may be sent to krantzmcneely@yahoo.com
Krantz-McNeely Funeral Home at Man is in charge of the arrangements.

Clownie E. Wallace
Clownie E. Wallace, age 61, of Shady Spring, passed away at the Bowers Hospice House in Beckley on Thursday, July 2, 2009.
Born March 13, 1948, he was the son of Clayton Wallace and the late Kadella Wallace.
Clownie was retired from the Rockville Maryland branch of the U.S. Postal Service. He was loved by all on his route in Potomac. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy.
Survivors include his wife of 42 years, Janice Midkiff Wallace; one son, Shawn Casey Wallace of Largo Maryland; one daughter, Jenny Wallace and husband Pete Cornish of Frederick, MD.
Clownie is also survived by his father, Clayton Wallace of Josephine, WV; one brother, Gerry Wallace and wife Ruth of Tuscumbia, AL; and one sister, Judy Aguilar and husband Joe of Albuquerque, NM; two sisters-in-law, Pat Calhoun of Beckley and Debbie Bragg and her husband Ray of Shady Spring; and many nieces and nephews.
Services will be held Saturday, July 4, 2009, at 2 p.m. at Blue Ridge Funeral Home, Beckley with Pastor Donald Carpenter and Pastor Ron Browning officiating. Burial will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions may be made to the Bowers Hospice House, 454 Cranberry Drive, Beckley, W.Va 25801.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at blueridgefuneralhome.com
Blue Ridge Funeral Home, 5251 Robert C. Byrd Drive, Beckley, WV is in charge of the arrangements.

Paul Edward Watson
Paul Edward Watson, age 85 of Maple Fork, passed away Thursday, July 2, 2009, at his residence following a sudden illness.
Paul was born on October 26, 1923, in Wyoming County to the late Foy Watson and Diane ‘Tolliver’ Watson.
He was a coal miner for New River Coal Company for 32 years. He was also a member of the Maple Valley Baptist Church.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 53 years until her passing Pearl Watson; brothers David and Junior Watson; and a sister Irene Rosenbawn.
Those left to cherish his memory are his children Roger Watson of St. Albans, Danny Lee Watson and his wife Shari of Maple Fork, Barbara Clinton of Maple Fork, Mary Carter and husband Joe of Concord, N.C., Donna Miller and husband Don of Coal City; sister Joan Evans and husband Ronnie of Kerryville, Texas; and fifteen grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Mr. Watson will be conducted 2 p.m. Monday, July 6, 2009, at the Rose and Quesenberry Peace Chapel in Beckley with the Rev. Harman Davis officiating. Interment will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Prosperity.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
Family and friends will serve as pallbearers.
Online condolences may be sent to our guestbook at www.roseandquesenberry.net
Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, Beckley

Judy Wells
Judy Wells, 69, of Mount Hope, died Friday, July 3, 2009, at Bowers Hospice House. Service will be Monday, July 6, 2009, at 1 p.m. at R & J Chapel. Friends may call 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, July 5, 2009, at R & J Funeral Parlor.
Arrangements by Ritchie & Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley.

Reed J. Wheby
Reed J. Wheby, 82, of Mercer Street, Princeton, died early Thursday morning, July 2, 2009 at Lewis-Gale Medical Center, Salem, Virginia following a sudden illness.
Born July 18, 1926, in Princeton, he was the son of the late Reed J. & Lula Moses Wheby.
Reed was a 1944 graduate of Princeton High School. Reed was a proud veteran, having served both in the U.S. Navy and the U. S. Army during World War II, he served with the 11th Airborne Division in the Philippines and Okinawa and retired as a 2nd Lieutenant.
Reed was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Harrison Street in Princeton and an active member of the Knights of Columbus, and was serving as its treasurer, and was chairman of the Bingo committee. Also, Reed was an Usher, past member of Parish Council and served on the 1964 Building Committee for the present church.
He along with is brother, Joe, owned and operated Wheby’s Sales & Service on Mercer Street in Princeton over 50 years. Reed was a graduated of the National Radio Institute in Washington D.C. in 1949. and Sprayberry Academy of Radio in Chicago, Ill.
Reed had been a member of the B.P.O.E. Lodge #1459 of Princeton for more than 50 years. He was a member of the Mercer County Historical Society and served as a volunteer for the Those Who Served Museum in Princeton. Reed was a member of the V.F.W. Chapter 2703 of Princeton.
Those left to cherish his memory are his son and daughter in law, Frank & Sarah Wheby of Hinton; two Grandsons
Nicholas Reed Wheby and Parker Kane Wheby; his devoted sister, Mary Jane Bowling of Princeton and her son William Joseph Bowling of Missouri City, Texas; his loving brother and his family, Joe F. & Connie Wheby of Princeton; and their children, Elizabeth Ann Wheby of Spencer Indiana, Joseph F. Wheby Jr. of Greensboro, NC, Deena Marie Wheby of Lexington, Ky. and John A. Wheby of Princeton, all of whom he loved very much.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10 a.m. Monday, July 6, 2009, from the Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Harrison Street in Princeton with Father Paul Wharton serving as the celebrant. A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Monday at the St. Andrews Cemetery in Roanoke, Virginia.
A Christian Wake Service will be held Sunday, 5:30 p.m. at the Memorial Funeral Directory on the Athens Road in Princeton. A time of sharing and gathering will follow at the funeral home from 6 to 8 p.m. for friends and family.
Family & friends are welcomed to share messages of love and concerns via www.memorialfd.com
Serving as pallbearers will be the Knights of Columbus, Joseph F. Wheby Jr., John A. Wheby and William Joseph Bowling.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to the World War Those Who Served Museum, 1500 West Main Street, Princeton WV 24740.
The Honor of Serving the Wheby Family has been given to the Memorial Funeral Directory & Cremation Center on the Athens Road in Princeton.

David Earl Williams
David Earl Williams, of Beckley died Thursday, July 2, 2009 at his home following a short illness. David was 56 years of age.
Due to the timing of the 4th of July weekend, this funeral arrangement continues to be incomplete. Condolences may be mailed to the family at melton@wvdsl.net
Arrangements by Melton Mortuary, Inc, Beckley, WV

Winson Woodson
Winson Woodson, 56, of Beckley, died July 2, 2009 at Beckley Appalachian Regional Hospital.
Arrangements are being made by Ritchie & Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley.