Published: October 27, 2009 10:21 pm      

Obituaries — Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009

Jo Ann Craft Anderson

BETHEL, Del. — Jo Ann Craft Anderson, age 71, passed away on Oct. 24, 2009, at the Delaware Hospice Center in Milford, Del., where she was surrounded by her loving family.

She was born on Dec. 6, 1937, at Rupert, a daughter of the late Clarence Linwood Craft and Flossie Madelyn Craft.

She was the matriarch of her family setting a wonderful example as a loving homemaker, mother, grandmother, wife and sister. She fought her courageous battle with a sense of humor and continued that wonderful attitude until the very end. Her family will miss her tremendously, but they have great peace and comfort knowing that she will no longer have pain and suffering.

She is survived by her husband of 50 years, Charles Anderson of Bethel; a daughter, Debbie Anderson Porter of Annapolis, Md.; her sister, Phillis Adkinson of White Sulphur Springs, W.Va.; a sister-in-law, Anita Craft of Bridgeville, Del.; her loving grandchildren: Ridge, Grant, Addison, and Lily Porter; several nieces and nephews also survive her.

In addition to her parents she is preceded in death by her brother, Marshall Craft.

A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009, at the Wallace Memorial Mausoleum in Clintonville. The Rev. Houston Boothe will be officiating.

A luncheon will be held immediately following the memorial service at the Blackwell’s Restaurant on Route 219 North in Lewisburg, W.Va.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to Delaware Hospice, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, Delaware 19963.

Arrangements by Wallace and Wallace of Rainelle.





Virginia Fitzwater

FAYETTEVILLE — Virginia Rose Dent Fitzwater, 73, of Fayetteville, passed away, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009, at CAMC Memorial Division, Charleston.

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





Cathy Ann Gill

BOZOO — Cathy Ann Gill, 64, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009.

Graveside services will be 11 a.m. Thursday at the Sunset View Cemetery, Bozoo, with Minister Terry Kornegay officiating.

The family will meet at Wickline Funeral Home Thursday, Oct. 29, at 10 a.m., friends may call 6 to 8 p.m. today, Wednesday at the funeral home.

Arrangements by Wickline Funeral Home, Lindside.





James Ellis Green

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

Born August 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 Masters degree from WVU, obtained a Masters degree from Marshall University in Mining Engineering, and obtained a Bachelors 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, MD 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, DO and husband, Greg and Sandra K. Ulaki Mann and husband, Jerry, Stephen D. Ulaki, DO, Marla L. Hurley and husband, Glen, and Darla Lynn Sprague and husband, Jeff.

Services will be held 1 p.m. today, 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 No. 3110.

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

Friends gathered with the family from 6 to 8 p.m. on 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 Darrell Hood, 61, of Fairdale, passed away Monday, October 26, 2009.

A celebration of Paul’s life will be at 11 a.m., Friday, Oct. 30, 2009, in the Evans Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Rodney Skeens officiating. Burial will follow in Palm Memorial Gardens, Matheny.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 9 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009, at the funeral home.

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

Evans Funeral Home of Oceana is serving the Hood family.





Charles Randolph Hoover

Charles Randolph (Randy) Hoover, of Maxwell Hill, passed away on Monday, in a Roanoke, Va. hospital following a short illness. He was 86 years of age.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.meltonmortuary.com

Arrangements by Melton Mortuary, Inc, Beckley.





Lorena Mae James

RAINELLE — Lorena Mae James, 67, ascended to Heaven on Oct. 26, 2009. She was born Sept. 23, 1942, at Charmco, and after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer, she passed away in Charlotte, N.C., at the home of her daughter.

She was a graduate of Rainelle High School, a former employee of the G.C. Murphy Co. and of Royal Distributors, and a member of the First Baptist Church of Rainelle.

Lorena was known by all as a kind and gentle soul who put others before herself and was always willing to help those in need. She was loved by many and will be greatly missed by her family and her many friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Earl and Rita Loudermilk of Charmco.

Survivors include her husband of 47 years, Paul A. James; a son, Michael James and wife, Georgane of Clintonville; daughter, Donna Mahaffey and husband, Doc of Charlotte, N.C.; sister, Patricia Wilson and husband, Bill of McRoss; a niece, Lisa Morgan and husband, Jason of Ronceverte and five grandchildren, Myka and Chris James, Justin Saunders and Garrett and Alexandra Mahaffey.

A service to celebrate her life will be 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, at the First Baptist Church of Rainelle with Pastor Bob Scharnhorst officiating. Burial will follow in the Wallace Memorial Cemetery in Clintonville.

Pallbearers will be grandsons: Chris James, Justin Saunders and Garrett Mahaffey; son-in-law, Doc Mahaffey; brother-in-law, Bill Wilson and Jason Morgan.

The family would like to thank all of Lorena’s friends and the First Baptist Church of Rainelle for their ongoing prayer and encouragement during her illness. Also thank you to the Presbyterian Hospice team in Charlotte, N.C. for their wonderful care and support.

To honor Lorena’s giving spirit, the family requests that donations be made to the food pantry of the First Baptist Church of Rainelle in lieu of flowers.

Arrangements by Wallace & Wallace, Rainelle.





Patricia Ann Knapp

CALLAGHAN, Va. — Patricia Ann Knapp, 62, formerly of White Sulphur Springs, passed away Sunday, October 25, 2009.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. on today, Wednesday, October 28, 2009 in the chapel of Shanklin Funeral Home with the Rev. Garland Humphreys officiating. Burial will follow in the Alvon Methodist Cemetery in Alvon.

Shanklin Funeral Home, White Sulphur Springs, is serving the family.





Leonidas Dee ‘Scrub’ McGraw

CINCINNATI, Ohio — Leonidas Dee “Scrub” McGraw, 66, formerly of The Lane, Meadow Bridge, passed away on Friday, Oct. 23, 2009, at Raleigh General Hospital in Beckley, following a long illness.

Born Aug. 21, 1943, in Meadow Bridge, he was the son of the late Duffa Wilson and Mary Cordelia Bridges McGraw.

He was an electrical and instrument engineer for Procter and Gamble, and a member of the Addyston Baptist Church of Addyston, Ohio.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Eugene McGraw.

Survivors include his wife, Essie Rookstool McGraw of Cincinnati; a daughter, Valerie Lois Hutson of Cincinnati, Ohio; four sons, Jeffrey Leon McGraw and his wife, Kathy of Hamilton, Ohio, Gregory Dee McGraw and his wife, Melissa of Hamilton, Ohio, Paul Lee McGraw and his wife, Kara of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Daniel Wayne McGraw and his wife, Linda of Cincinnati, Ohio; three sisters, Virginia Dare McGraw of Naperville, Ill., Myrtle Ann Gill and husband, Edward of Mullins, S.C., and Mary Elizabeth (Suzi) Chambers and husband, William of Houston, Texas; three brothers, Grady Wilson McGraw and wife, Elsie of Princeton, W.Va., John Loye McGraw and wife, Janie of Carrolton, Ga. and Sherman Lee McGraw and wife, Debra of Naperville, Ill.; 14 grandchildren; two step grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009, at the Wallace & Wallace Chapel in Rainelle with Assistant Pastor Milburn Pack officiating.

Burial will follow in the McGraw Cemetery in Meadow Bridge.

Friends may call 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, 2009, at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Rainelle Christian Academy, P.O. Box 784, Rainelle, W.Va. 25962.

Arrangements by Wallace & Wallace of Rainelle.





Blanche Druselle Gee Mooney

Blanche Druselle Gee Mooney, 88, formerly of Aracoma, died Monday, Oct. 26, 2009.

Funeral services will be 4 p.m. Saturday Oct. 31, 2009, at the West Logan Church of God in West Logan, with the Rev. James Hughes officiating. Burial will follow in Highland Memory Gardens at Godby.

Friends may call on the family from 3 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectively request the donations be made to the Missionary Department of the West Logan Church of God.

For email condolences go to: www.honakerfuneralhome.org.

Honaker Funeral Home of Logan is in charge of arrangements.





Charles W. Parker, Sr.

Charles W. Parker Sr. quietly passed away on Oct. 27, 2009, at the Charleston Area Medical Center, Charleston, following a short illness.

Born in Winona, W.Va., to the late Adie and Stella Parker, his sister, Deloris Harris and brother, Alonzo Parker, preceded him in death.

He received Christ and always said that God was taking care of him.

Charles graduated from Stratton High School and entered the United States Air Force where he served his country for 27 years before retiring.

Following his career in the military he was employed at the United States Post Office in Beckley for ten years.

He leaves to cherish his memory his wife: LaDale Parker of 43 years and ten months; one son, Charles (Karen) Parker Jr. of Chambersburg, Pa.; his daughter, Toy (Francisco) Tavarez of Burke, Va.; five grandchildren, Gabrielle, Emoni, Desiree, Katie, and Ella; four brothers, Harvey (Marcie) Parker of Fort Wayne, Ind.; Floyd (Mammie) Parker and Odie Parker of Charleston; Donald (Norma) Parker of Beckley; one sister, Christine (Melvin) Green of Baltimore, Md.; and one sister-in-law, Gwendolyn Parker also of Baltimore, Md.; and one aunt, Hazel Wilson of Beckley.

In addition he left behind four godchildren, Jamie, Jackie, Jerome, and Jasmine Parks of Frederick, Md.; and a host of relatives and friends, including his special friend Mr. Ed Cochron of Beckley.

Funeral services will be 1 p.m., Friday, Oct. 30, 2009 at Ritchie & Johnson Funeral Parlor Chapel, 748 S. Fayette Street, Beckley, with the Rev. Abner Wright officiating.

Burial will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley.

Friends may call one hour prior to the services at the funeral parlor.

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

Arrangements entrusted to Ritchie & Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley.





Early Eugene Smoot

FAYETTEVILLE — Early Eugene Smoot, 92, of Rt. 1 Fayetteville, died on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009, at Raleigh General Hospital in Beckley.

Born Dec. 29, 1916, at Orange, W.Va., he was the son of the late Ernest Doubtful and Laura A. Dolin Smoot.

Early was retired from Lackey Smokeless Coal at Anjean and was a member of the U.M.W.A. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II.

Survivors include wife, Della Elizabeth Thomas Smoot; one son, Early Eugene Smoot Jr. of Palm Bay, Fla.; one daughter, Jeanette Ann Smoot of Rt. 1 Fayetteville; a stepson, Walter Oscar Crawford of Jasper, Ala., and a sister, Lilly Mae Smoot of Arlington, Va.; a grandson, Brandon Ray Smoot and great grandson, Liam Smoot both of Paraguay, also survive him.

Services will be 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009, at Tyree Funeral Home in Oak Hill. Burial will be at High Lawn Memorial Park, Oak Hill.

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

Online condolences may be sent at www.tyreefuneralhome.com

Arrangements by Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill.





James Ray Taylor

James Ray Taylor, 57, of Shady Spring went to be with the Lord Monday Oct. 26, 2009.

Born May 14, 1952, at Beckley, he was the son of the late Wiley Raymond and Maggie Shirkey Taylor and 2nd Mom, Mary Ann Taylor.

Other than his parents he was preceded in death by a sister, Catherine Emogene Taylor Wyrick, three brothers; Jerry Taylor, Danny Taylor and Gary Mills.

Mr. Taylor was disabled from Deans Paving Inc.

Mr. Taylor was a member of the Open Door Church, Shady Spring, and a member of the National Rifle Association.

He was a loving husband and father.

He loved life to the fullest. Enjoyed hunting, fishing and spending time with his grandchildren. He also loved to spend time with his family and Church family.

Survivors include his loving wife of three years, Neva Taylor, of Shady Spring; two sons; Billy Taylor and wife Karen of Smoot, W.Va., and Maurice Jarrett and wife Jennifer of Shady Spring; a daughter, Crystal Epperly of Shady Spring; four brothers; David Taylor and wife Angela of Liberty, N.C., Dale Taylor and wife Kathy of Amelia, Va., Steven Taylor and wife Dawn of Beckley, and Wiley Lee Taylor also of Beckley; three sisters, Debbie Carson of Daniels, Loretta Williams of Glen Morgan, and Pauline Mills of Akron, Ohio; sister in law Tina Richmond and husband Daniel; brother in law Terrence “Orrieo” Griffith and wife Rebecca.

Also survived by nine grandchildren and a host of extended family and friends.

Services will be at 1 p.m. on Thursday Oct. 29, 2009, at the Open Door Church, Shady Spring with Pastor Don Kelly officiating.

Friends may call on the family one hour prior at the Church.

Burial will follow in the Richmond Cemetery at Sandstone Falls.

Friends and family will serve as pallbearers.

In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to the Open Door Church, P.O. Box 1137, Shady Spring, WV 25918.

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

Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, Shady Spring.





Donald E. Valley

CROSS LANES — Donald E. Valley, 85, went home to the Lord on Monday, Oct. 26, 2009.

Don will be cremated according to his wishes, there will be no service.

Online condolences may be sent to www.hardingfamilygroup.com

Arrangements by Gatens-Harding Funeral Home, 147 Main St., Poca.





Leonard Webb

In the early morning hours of Sunday, October 25th, our beloved Leonard Webb of Pikeview Drive, Beckley passed away at his home. He was in his 79th year.

Born James Leonard Webb on Nov. 8th, 1929 at Glen White, he was the 3rd of six children born to the late James Corbett and Dorothy Faye Wahl Webb. His brother, Richard and sister, Elizabeth Ann Webb also preceded him in death.

Leonard spent his early childhood at Glen Rogers, he then settled with his family in Glen Daniel. Entering the coal mines at the age of 20, he retired from Westmoreland Coal Company, at Eccles with over 40 years in the industry. He has been a resident of Pikeview Drive for the past 34 years. Leonard was a member of the First Baptist Church at Eccles.

When his wife, children and grandchildren recall Leonard, they remember a man dedicated to his family. He enjoyed boating and camping on the Greenbrier, these events were always centered around them. A great story teller, he loved to ride a motorcycle. Leonard especially enjoyed high school football at Trap Hill and Liberty High Schools, and never missed a game when his grandsons played. An avid wrestler fan, he and his great grandson, Cody would watch the matches together. At the end of the day, as we his family reflect on Leonard’s life, we will remember his great love for us and ours for him.

On October 3, 2009 Leonard and his loving wife Twila celebrated 60 years of marriage. He was the proud father of three daughters, Debbie Pennington and Donnie of Glen Daniel, twins, Melisssa Southern and her husband Steve of Glen Daniel and Melinda Griffith and her husband Duke of Fairdale. “He was a wonderful Dad.” His son-in-law, Ronald Charles Pennington preceded Leonard in death. The doting Pawpaw of six grandchildren, they are: Scott Griffith, Tracy Osborne and her husband Jeff, Shawn Pennington and his wife Stephanie, Heather Griffith, Brian Southern, and Michelle Birchfield and her husband Scott. On December 14, 2002 the family would endure the tragic loss of Scott. And so now, “Oh Glad Reunion!” Pawpaw and Scott are together again. Leonard was the great grandfather of seven great grandchildren: Kaitlynn and Dakota Osborne, MaKayla, Tyler and Chase Pennington, Jordan and Logan Birchfield; the brother of three sisters, Betty Brown of Elyria, Ohio, Polly Hurd of N. Royalton, Ohio, and Elsie Snuffer of Parma Heights, Ohio; the uncle of many nieces and nephews and a host of friends.

Funeral services will be Thursday, at 1 p.m. at the Melton Mortuary Chapel with the Rev. Garry Hall officiating. Burial will follow in the Callaway Cemetery at Glen Daniel. The family will receive friends on Wednesday evening from 6 to 9 p.m. and one hour prior to the services on Thursday.

Pallbearers will be: Brian Southern, Shawn Pennington, Sam Shannon, Scott Birchfield, Doff and David Brown.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.meltonmortuary.com

Arrangements by Melton Mortuary, Inc, Beckley.