Published: October 26, 2009 07:00 pm      

Obituaries - Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009

Marie Belcher

PINEVILLE — Marie Belcher, 48, of Pineville, passed away Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009, at her residence following a short illness.

There will be no services.

Calfee Funeral Service of Pineville is serving the Belcher family.





Jerry Ray Blankenship

GLEN ROGERS — Jerry Ray Blankenship, 61, departed this life Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009, at Bowers Hospice House surrounded by his loving family following a courageous battle with cancer.

Born April 17, 1948, in Mullens, he was the son of the late John and Inez Elswick Blankenship.

Jerry loved spending time with his family and friends.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a brother, Richard Lee Blankenship; and two sisters, Norma Sinecoff and Josephine Pearl Lafftery Bailey.

Those left to cherish his memory are his loving wife of 35 years, Pansy Bailey Blankenship; a son, Billy Wayne Blankenship and wife, Marlena, of Milton; three brothers, Jim Blankenship, Henry Blankenship and wife, Barbara, and Johnny Blankenship and wife, Kathy, all of Glen Rogers; seven sisters, Ruby Cole of Fairdale, Maxine Lafferty and husband, Jimmy, of Glen Rogers, Pat Armstrong and husband, Roy, of Glen Rogers, Phyllis Lafferty of Sophia, Eleanor Lafferty and husband, Darrell, of Ravencliff, Marlene Tabor and husband, Stanley, of Glen Rogers and Darlene Lafferty and husband, Willis, of Glen Rogers; three grandchildren, Robert, Daniel and Cheyanne Blankenship, all of Milton; 41 nieces and nephews and a host of friends.

A celebration of Jerry’s life will be 1 p.m. today, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009, at Pinegrove Community Church with Rev. Kevin Francis officiating. Jerry will be laid to rest in Pinegrove Community Cemetery at Ravencliff.

Casketbearers will be family and friends.

The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. until time of service today at the church.

A video tribute, guestbook and condolences at www.adamtolermemorialfuneralhome.com.

Services entrusted to Adam Toler Memorial Funeral Home, Oceana.





Betty Chrislip

LOGAN — Betty Chrislip, 81, of Logan, departed this life Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009, at Logan Regional Medical Center.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, at Honaker Funeral Home in Logan with the Rev. Burl Lemon officiating. Burial will follow in Highland Memory Gardens at Godby. Friends may call one hour prior to services Thursday at the funeral home.

For e-mail condolences go to www.honakerfuneralhome.org.

Honaker Funeral Home in Logan is in charge of arrangements.





Ruth E. Darlington

HINTON — Ruth E. Darlington, 95, of 403 Cedar Ave., Hinton, died Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009, in Summers County A.R.H. in Hinton following a long illness.

Born April 18, 1914, at Marie, she was the daughter of the late William F. and Minnie V. Woodrum Ellison.

Ms. Darlington was a 1933 graduate of Hinton High School and was a member of Bellepoint Baptist Church in Hinton. She was a seamstress her entire life, having worked for Don Array Shop, and Kesler’s both in Hinton and also George’s and the Quality Shop both in Beckley. She had lived most of her life in Hinton.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Denny R. Darlington, and a sister, Imajean Ballard.

Survivors include two nephews whom she raised, William C. (Poodie) Ballard Jr. and wife Janice of Hinton and Charles F. (Butch) Ballard and wife Janie of White Mills, Ky.; great-nephews, Timothy C. Ballard and wife Linda of Slippery Rock, Pa., James R. Ballard and wife Rebecca of Hinton and Robert W. Ballard of Las Vegas, Nev.; great-nieces, Ruth Basham and husband Harold of Nimitz, Karen Jo Pack and husband Herman of Streeter, Robin L. Bragg and husband Greg of Grandview, W.Va., and Peggy S. Ballard of Hinton; four great-great-nephews; four great-great-nieces; three great-great-great-nephews and three great-great-great-nieces also survive.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009, at Pivont Funeral Home Chapel in Hinton with Elder Tom Pack officiating. Burial will follow in Greenbrier Burial Park in Hinton.

Friends may call from 1 p.m. until time of services today, Tuesday, at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be Mason Jones, Herman and Brandon Pack, Coleman and Greg Bragg and Harold Basham.

Online condolences and guest register at www.pivontfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements by Pivont Funeral Home, Hinton.





James Ellis Green

James Ellis Green, 80, of Beckley, passed away Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009.

Born Aug. 7, 1929, in Beckley, he was the son of the late John H. Green Jr. and the late E. Kathleen Ellis Green.

James was a teacher in Raleigh County, and worked for Raleigh Insurance for 14 years. He graduated from Beckley College, obtained a Master’s degree from WVU, obtained a Master’s degree from Marshall University in Mining Engineering, and obtained a Bachelor’s Degree from Morris Harvey College.

He worked for Eastern Associated Coal as a Mine Foreman. He was a member of the Bethel Freewill Baptist Church, where he was a Sunday school teacher of the adult class. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge since 1950, and was a member of the United States Power Squadron in North Carolina.

James served his country proudly in the United States Navy.

In addition to his parents, James was preceded in death by a brother, H. Blaine Green.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Betty Jean French Green; a daughter, Sara Lynn Neal, M.D., of Kernersville, N.C.; two sisters, Shirley J. Ulaki of Monroe County, W.Va., and Carol Bennette and husband, Robert, of Gibsonville, N.C.; nieces and nephews, J. Ladier Ulaki Canterbury, D.O., and husband, Greg, and Sandra K. Ulaki Mann and husband, Jerry, Stephen D. Ulaki, D.O., Marla L. Hurley and husband, Glen, and Darla Lynn Sprague and husband, Jeff.

Services will be held 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct.28, 2009, at Blue Ridge Funeral Home Chapel, 5251 Robert C. Byrd Drive, Beckley, with Rev. L.C. Calhoun and Rev. Terry Hatcher officiating. Burial will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley. Military Graveside Rites will be conducted by the Oak Hill VFW Post #3110.

Tommy Darnell, Tom Darnell, Stephen Ulaki, Raymond Lester, Ronnie McKinney, and Dillard Lawson will be serving as pallbearers.

Friends may gather with the family from 6 to 8 p.m. today, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009, at the funeral home.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.blueridgefuneralhome.com.

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





Paul Hood

Paul Hood, 61, of Fairdale passed away Monday, Oct. 26, 2009.

Arrangements are incomplete at this time. Evans Funeral Home of Oceana is serving the Hood family.





William R. ‘Ralphie’ King

Mr. William R. “Ralphie” King, 33, of Bradley, died Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009, at Raleigh General Hospital.

Born July 5, 2009, in Beckley, he was the son of George and Julia Edwards King of Beckley.

He was a photo technician at Walgreen’s and a member of Word of Truth Church of God in Christ.

Preceding him in death are his paternal grandparents, George Franklin and Eva Mae King; maternal grandparents, James and Allise Edwards; and cousin, Stanley Martin.

In addition to his parents, those left to cherish his memories are his ex-wife, Nicole Harris King of Beckley; sons, William King II and D’Andre Harris, both of Beckley; brother, George (Tenesha) King II of Mt. Hope; sisters, Vicky (Darnell) Ziegler of Winston-Salem, N.C., and Diane (James) Draper of Roanoke, Va.; special goddaughter and niece, Raeshawna King of Beckley; special friends, Sharon Hairston and Shawana Turner; and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009, at Word of Truth Church of God in Christ, 911 Terrill St., Beckley, with Pastor Sandra R. Jackson officiating. Burial will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley.

Friends may call one hour prior to the service at the church.

Condolences may be e-mailed to ritchie-johnson@suddenlinkmail.com.

Arrangements entrusted to Ritchie & Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley.





Glenna J. Legg

MT. LOOKOUT — Glenna J. Legg, 62 years of age, of Mt. Lookout, died Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009, in the Hubbard Hospice House in Charleston.

She was the daughter of the late William Herman and Iva Olive Legg Reedy and was born at Clay Oct. 31, 1946. She was a homemaker.

She was also preceded in death by one son, James Edgar Persinger; brother, Wilbur Reedy; and sister, Nancy Holcomb.

Surviving are a son, William R. Persinger Jr. of Summersville; two brothers, Lee Reedy of Summersville and Joseph Reedy of Ohio; a sister, Sandra Ballengee of Ohio; three grandchildren: Zachary Joseph, William Wesley and Amanda Bailey Persinger; and one great-grandson: Micah James Persinger.

Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Wednesday, October 28, 2009, in the Waters Funeral Chapel at Summersville with Pastor Dennis Chasteen and Pastor Gene Campbell officiating. Burial will follow in the Ward Road Cemetery at Canvas.

Friends may call at the funeral chapel one hour prior to the service on Wednesday.

E-Condolences: watersfuneralchapel@verizon.net.

Arrangements by Waters Funeral Chapel, Summersville.





Winifred Bill Messer

STOLLINGS — Winifred Bill Messer, 66, of Stollings departed this life Oct. 14, 2009, at Logan Regional Medical Center.

Mr. Messer will be cremated, and there will be no services. His cremains will be interred in Ohio following his wishes.

Honaker Funeral Home in Logan is in charge of arrangements.





Blanche Mooney

THE VILLAGES, Fla. — Blanche Mooney, 88, of The Villages, Fla., formerly of West Logan, passed away Monday, Oct. 26, 2009, at Cornerstone Hospice House at Lady Lake, Fla.

Arrangements by Honaker Funeral Home, Logan.





Clarence Nicholas

Mr. Clarence Nicholas, 78, of 602 E Street, Beckley, died on Oct. 24, 2009, at Raleigh General Hospital after a long illness.

Born Dec. 23, 1930, in Layland, W.Va., he was the son of the late James P. Nicholas and Mary Penn Nicholas.

He was a member of Central Baptist Church and the American Legion.

Mr. Nicholas was retired from the Navy, Air Force, and the Veteran’s Hospital.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, James R. Nicholas, and sisters, Mary Christine Nicholas, and Mabel Virginia Nicholas.

Left to cherish his precious memories are his wife: Eunice Smith Nicholas of Beckley; a special niece, Edith Wright, of San Antonio, Texas, and a special nephew, Roland Mills, of Baltimore, Md., and a host of other nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009, at Central Baptist Church, Brooks and G Street, Beckley, with Rev. Charles Gore officiating. Entombment will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens Mausoleum, Beckley.

Friends may call one hour prior to the services at the church.

Condolences may be e-mailed to ritchie-johnson@suddenlinkmail.com.

Arrangements entrusted to Ritchie & Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley.





James Taylor

James Taylor, 57, of Shady Spring, passed away Monday, Oct. 26, 2009, at Raleigh General Hospital.

Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry, Shady Spring.





Marshall Edward Walthall

COVINGTON, Va. — Marshall Edward Walthall, age 88, of 2704 Valley Ridge Road, Covington, died Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009, at Alleghany Regional Hospital, Low Moor, Va.

Born June 2, 1921, in Summers County, W.Va., Marshall was a son of the late Dewey Ernest Walthall and Eva Mann Walthall.

He served in the United States Army during World War II, marched with General George C. Patton, and was in the Battle of the Bulge. He was a retired trainmaster for both Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad and CSX Transportation, and was a member and deacon of Temple Baptist Church. He loved golfing, gardening, spending time with his family and friends, and coin collecting. He made sure everyone had their new quarters.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Anna Lee Farley.

He is survived by his wife, Betty June Phillips Walthall of Valley Ridge, Covington; three daughters, Kim Hipes and husband David, Pam Crance and husband Linnie, and Sharon Walthall, all of Clifton Forge, Va.; a son, Phillip Walthall and wife Gaye of Vincennes, Ind.; a sister, Pauline Meadows of Hinton; seven grandchildren, Drew Hipes and wife Ashley, Emily Hipes, Jessika Crance, Tyler Crance, Sarah Crance, Bailey Walthall, and MacKenzie Walthall; three great-grandchildren, Hunter Baron, Hannah Hipes, and Abigail Riley, and many close friends.

A funeral service will be 1 p.m. Thursday at the Temple Baptist Church, Covington, with Rev. Bill Hartsfield officiating. Interment will follow in Alleghany Memorial Park, Low Moor. Military rites will be conducted at the graveside by members of the Curtis A. Smith VFW Post 1033.

Pallbearers will be selected from the deacons of Temple Baptist Church.

The family will receive friends 6 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday evening at Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge, and other times at the Walthall residence.

Nicely Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

The family suggests memorial tributes take the form of contributions in Marshall’s name to Temple Baptist Church, 300 Stratton St., Covington, VA 24426, or to the charity of your choice.

To send condolences the family online, please visit www.nicelyfuneralhome.com.