Published: October 11, 2008 10:16 pm         

Obituaries - Sunday, Oct. 12, 2008

Charlotte Louise ‘Cookie’ Abel

Charlotte Louise “Cookie” Abel, 67, of 268 Greenbrier St. in Rupert, died Thursday, Oct. 9, 2008, at her residence.

Born Aug. 16, 1941, in Charlottesville, Va., she was the daughter of Robert Mahlon Seese of Manassas, Va., and the late Charlotte Temple Wood Seese.

She was a retired clerk with the Greenbrier County Tax Office.

Cookie loved her family and felt the world was a wonderful place to be. She believed in keeping a positive attitude and holding on to the love of God and Son, our country, and family to serve as an example for future generations.

In addition to her mother, a son, Martin Robert Abel; and three brothers, John McNeil Jr., Mannis McNeil, and Joseph McNeil, preceded her in death.

Survivors include three daughters, Deborah Cox and husband Lowell of Rupert, Suzanne Schoolcraft and husband Walter of Smoot, and Stephanie Abel of Rupert; a son, Dwayne Abel of Rupert; nine grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and a brother, Robert Cathey and wife Nancy of Elgin, N.C.

In keeping with Cookie’s wishes, the body has been cremated.

A private family memorial service will be conducted at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made to a favorite charity.

Online condolences may be sent to www.seaverfuneralservice.com.

Seaver Funeral Home in Princeton is serving the Abel family.

Eunice Irene Bowe Alexander

Eunice Irene Bowe Alexander, age 78, of Maple Fork, W.Va., died Friday, Oct. 10, 2008, at the Raleigh General Hospital, following a long illness.

Born on July 18, 1930, at Racine, W.Va., she was the daughter of the late Arnold Johnson and Verna Mae Walker Johnson.

She was a retired glass factory employee in New Jersey, and was a member of the Maple Fork Baptist Church at Maple Fork. She had made her home at Maple Fork for the past 18 years.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Osher M. Bowe; a son, James Allen Bowe; and by brothers, Charles Emmett Johnson and Arnold Ray Johnson.

Survivors include her husband, Youl Alexander; a son, Steve Bowe and wife Terri of Maplewood, W.Va.; stepchildren, Urie Alexander, Sharon Harris, Debra Thompson, and Linda Pettry; three brothers, Jackie L. Johnson and wife Shirley of Bridgeton, N.J., Boyd Johnson and wife Jacque of Millville, N.J., and Dean Johnson and wife Judy of South Sandbranch, W.Va.; sisters, Phyllis Woodus and Macil “Midge” Wolbert of Bridgeton, N.J., and Jean Cobb and husband Maurice of Cedarville, N.J.; one grandson, two granddaughters, and four great-grandchildren; and several loving nieces and nephews also survive.

Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Monday at the Rose and Quesenberry Peace Chapel in Beckley, with Minister James Lucas officiating. Burial will follow at the Pineview Cemetery at Orgas, W.Va.

Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Family members will serve as pallbearers.

Online condolences may be sent to our guest book at www.roseandquesenberry.net.

Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home in Beckley.

Blanche Woods Ashworth

Blanche Woods Ashworth, of 206 Elkins St., Beckley, passed away Friday, Oct. 10, 2008, at Raleigh General Hospital.

She was the youngest of 10 children born to Andrew Byron and Sara Elizabeth Acord Clay of Beckley. She lived her entire and very full life in Raleigh County and had been the last surviving member of her immediate family.

Mrs. Ashworth attended Woodrow Wilson High School, Marshall University, and Beckley College.

She was the first woman to be elected to the Board of Trustees of Mountain State University in 1976. She later was named a Trustee Emeritus and a Life Trustee at the school. She and her husband, Jay W. Woods, owned State Adjustment Service and Medical-Dental-Hospital Bureau of Beckley, a business which operated successfully from offices in the former Raleigh County Bank for 59 years. After Jay’s death, she continued to manage the company for 23 years.

She was a member of Alpha Zeta Delta sorority. Blanche was a member of the Woman’s Club of Beckley and the Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce. She was a member of the Beckley Art Group and held various responsible positions with the First United Methodist Church, including President of the Woman’s Society of Christian Service. She had been a member of the Black Knight Country Club and the Flat Top Lake Association.

Blanche especially cherished her “little bridge and birthday groups,” as she affectionately termed them. These groups consisted of some of her very dear friends.

Her second husband, Robert J. Ashworth, preceded her in death, passing away on Oct. 2, 2008.

She is survived by a son, Barry C. Woods and his wife, Constance, of Flat Top Lake; two stepdaughters, Nancy Sanderbeck and her husband, Jack, of Concord, N.C., and Joan Ashworth of Beckley; a grandson, Dr. Hunter K. Woods and his wife, Tanja, of Wytheville, Va.; and three nieces. She is also survived by a very caring associate, Nadene Stover.

Services will be 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2008, at Calfee Funeral Home, 800 Oakwood Ave., Beckley, W.Va., with Dr. Robert Stoddard officiating. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Park.

Friends may call one hour prior to service on Tuesday.

Pallbearers will be Dr. Robert Harris, Judge J. L. Kirkpatrick, Ronald Lear, Kenneth Litton, Rivers Varn, and James Vaughan. Honorary pallbearer will be Gov. Hulett C. Smith, who served as best man at Blanche’s wedding to Robert J. Ashworth 20 years ago.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 217 S. Heber St., Beckley, WV 25801, and to the Woods Family Endowment Fund at the Beckley Area Foundation, 129 Main St., Suite 203, Beckley, WV 25801.

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

Arrangements by Calfee Funeral Home, Beckley.

Harry A. Egner Jr.

COVINGTON, Va. — Mr. Harry A. Egner Jr., 74, of Covington, Va., formerly of Pickaway, W.Va., passed away at his home, following a long illness.

Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2008, at the New Lebanon Cemetery, Pickaway, W.Va. Family will receive friends from 12 to 12:30 p.m. prior to service at the Broyles-McGuire Funeral Home in Union, W.Va.

Arrangements by Broyles-McGuire Funeral Home in Union.

Mary Charlotte Thompson Finder

Mary Charlotte Thompson Finder died in Long Beach, Calif.

Born in Stotesbury, W.Va., on Sept. 30, 1918, she was the daughter of the late Clara Mae Welch Thompson and Frank Houston Thompson of Stotesbury and Beckley.

She attended Stotesbury’s Mark Twain High School and graduated in 1936.

She was married to Al Finder Skovrinski of Shamokin, Pa. (now deceased).

Her son, Richard Edward Skovrinski, resided in Delta Junction, Alaska, before his death in 2005. Two other siblings are now deceased: her brother, Clell H. Thompson of Buckhannon, W.Va., and her sister, Elizabeth Ann Thompson of Eureka, Calif.

She is survived by her daughter, Linda Gail Wood of Reston, Va.; her son, James Randolph Skovrinski of Sterling, Va.; and her brother, Frank Welch Thompson of Eureka, Calif.

She is also survived by her granddaughter, Eileen Wood Talbert of Reston, Va.; her grandson, Steven Skovrinski of Delta Junction, Alaska; and great-grandchildren, Ariel, Coral, Rickie, and Steven.

A memorial service will be held graveside at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 20, 2008, at Sunset Memorial Park.

For more information, call 703-715-0424.

William ‘Bill’ Little

William “Bill” Little, a brother, uncle, and friend, passed away peacefully in Morgantown, W.Va., on July 7, 2008.

Bill was born on May 2, 1920. He was the son of the late Bonnie and Newman Little.

Bill was preceded in death by his sisters, Ann Mullens, Elizabeth “Earlene” Reedy, and Leona Wilcox; and brothers, Ralph Little and Newman “Dick” Little.

He is survived by his sisters, Dorothy Dye of Allen Junction, Rose Evans of Smyrna, Del., and Bonnie Young of Baltimore, Md.; and numerous nephews and nieces also survive.

He served in the Army Air Corps in World War II. He traveled extensively throughout his life. Bill will be greatly missed but not forgotten.

Private services were held in Beckley.

Arrangements by Melton Mortuary Inc., Beckley.

Virginia Frances Harper Wilcox

NIMITZ — Virginia Frances Harper Wilcox, 91, went to be with the Lord in her home in Nimitz, W.Va., after a time of illness. Her life was a beacon of hope and charity to all who knew her.

She was born on Aug. 5, 1917, at Harper, W.Va., to parents Frank and Jenny Davis Harper.

Virginia was preceded in death by her dear husband of 67 years, John L. Wilcox; brothers, Dorsey, Ross, James, and Walter Harper; and sisters, Gay Riffe, Fay Pettrey, Myrle Kennedy, and infant Pearl.

Those left to cherish her memory include sons, Pat Wilcox and wife Carol of Richmond, Va., and Curtis Wilcox and wife Barbara of Jumping Branch; daughters, Doris Newey and husband Ray of Roseburg, Ore., and Betty Day and husband Stan of Nimitz; brothers, John Harper and wife Patsy and Hobert Harper of Beckley; and dear friend, Jenny Lee Ellison of Nimitz. Others who brought joy to her life were her 13 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

During her life, her hobbies have included ceramics, painting, quilting, canning, and squirrel hunting. With a steadfast faith, she was a faithful member of Bluestone Baptist Church for 59 years where she sang in the choir and directed Vacation Bible School for 12 years. Other activities included supportive and leadership roles in 4-H clubs, Civil Air Patrol, the Republican Executive Committee, and the Ladies Home Extension Club. She was instrumental in getting U.S. Mail service along Sand Knob Road in Nimitz.

Virginia was known for her gracious hospitality, thoughtfulness, encouragement, and her ability to make people laugh as she related her real-life stories. Her kitchen, home, yard, and heart were always open for young people, relatives, friends, and strangers.

She was a prayer warrior for her children and grandchildren, especially. Her wisdom, humor, and courage have continued to amaze and inspire her family and friends since becoming bedfast in January 2008. Her life reflected the unique, virtuous woman as seen in Proverbs 31:10-31.

Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2008, at the Bluestone Baptist Church in Jumping Branch, with Pastor Bill Fox officiating. Burial will follow in the Lilly-Crews Cemetery at Nimitz.

Friends and family may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at the Bluestone Baptist Church.

Dennis Riffe, Donald Riffe, Darrel Pettry, Alan Harper, Steve Stack, Jimmy Stack, and Marvin Harper will serve as pallbearers. Bill Stack, Phillip Maddy, Arlie Ellison, Benny Ellison, and Mark Ellison will serve as honorary pallbearers.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Beckley Area Foundation – John L. and Virginia Wilcox Fund, at United Bank Building, 129 Main St. Suite 203, Beckley, WV 25801.

Condolences may be sent to the family at info@ronaldmeadowsfp.com.

Arrangements are by the Ronald Meadows Funeral Parlors of Hinton.

Fred Milton Wilson Jr.

ALDERSON — Fred Milton Wilson Jr., age 50, of Alderson, W.Va., went to rest on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2008, at his home in Alderson, following a short illness.

The family will receive friends on Monday, Oct. 13, 2008, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Lobban Funeral Home, Alderson.

Arrangements by Lobban Funeral Home, Alderson.

Juanita G. Wyatt

GLEN FORK — Juanita Wyatt, 77, of Glen Fork, went to be with her Lord on Friday, Oct. 10, 2008, at her residence, following a long illness.

Born April 23, 1931, at Glen Fork, she was the daughter of the late Hoyt and Nell Lafferty Bailey.

Mrs. Wyatt was a lifelong resident of Wyoming County. She was a member of the Church of God. Juanita was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Debbie Haynes; two grandsons, Jamie Cook and James Hatfield; four brothers, Bill Bailey, Oscar Bailey, Coy Bailey, and Robert Bailey; a half brother, Onnie Bailey; four sisters, Pansy Day, Faye Brooks, Dollie Rollins, and Virginia Walker; and two half sisters, Violet Wyatt and Marie Cirinelli.

Survivors include her loving husband of 61 years, Jack Wyatt of the residence; two daughters, Diana Bailey and her husband, George Bailey Jr., of Glen Fork and Victoria Weis and her husband, Randy, of Glen Fork; four grandchildren, Larry Cook and his wife, Michelle, Debbie Hazelwood and her husband, Michael, Victor Jack Haynes and his wife, Sandy, and Brian “D.B.”Haynes; 11 great-grandchildren, Rachelle Weis, Chantel Hazelwood, Porche Cook, Larry Cook, Travis Cook, Christian Haynes, Bryson Haynes, Charlie Haynes, Sharissa Hutchinson, Merissa Haynes, and Victor “Bub” Haynes; a stepgreat-grandchild, Laura Weis; four sisters, Jean Baugh, Irene Burleson, Peggy Cook, and Allie Day; and two brothers, Joe Bailey and Franklin Bailey.

A celebration of Juanita’s life will be 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 13, 2008, at Evans Memorial Chapel, Oceana, with the Rev. Ernest Francis officiating. Burial will follow in Palm Memorial Gardens, Matheny.

Family and friends will serve as pallbearers.

The family will receive friends from noon until time of service at the funeral home on Monday.

Online guest book may be signed at www.evans-funeralhome.com or e-mail condolences to the Wyatt family to evans-funeralhome@stei.com.

Evans Funeral Home of Oceana is serving the Wyatt family.