Miscellaneous Mercer County, West Virginia
Obituaries & Death Notices

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Parke Wright
ASHLAND, Ky. - Parke Wright, 81, formerly of Tarpon, Va., died at King's Daughters Medical Center, Ashland, Ky., Wednesday, January 21, 1998.
A native of Dickenson County, he was a son of the late Rufus and Betty Whitt Wright. He was a retired coal miner and a member of United Mine Workers of America. He also was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, having served in the Panama Canal Zone, and he was a member of Clintwood Masonic Lodge No. 66.
Survivors include: his wife, Elsie Hay Wright; a daughter, Rosemary Colley of Ashland; a sister, Eula Wright Newberry, of Greenville, Tenn.; two granddaughters, Kimberly and Rebecca Colley, both of Ashland.
Funeral service will be conducted 11 a.m. Saturday, January 24, at Haysi Funeral Home Chapel with Jerry Vitatoe. Burial will follow in the Wright Family Cemetery, Tarpon, Va.
Pallbearers will be Lynn Colley, R.C. Hay, Gary Dingus, Homer Bowen, Emil Artrip and Jessie Deel. Dickenson County VFW 8979 and DAV Chapter 35 will conduct military graveside rites.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Haysi Funeral Home where Clintwood Masonic Lodge 66 will conduct a service at 7 p.m.

Steve Toth
JENKINJONES - Steve Toth, 79, of P.O. Box 153, Jenkinjones, died Wednesday, January 21, 1998, at a Bluefield hospital.
Born on October 23, 1918, at Gary, he was a son of the late Andrew and Rosa Toth. He had been a lifelong resident of Jenkinjones and was of the Baptist faith. He was a coal miner having retired with 34 years of service from U.S. Steel and was a member of the U.M.W.A. #1628. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, served in World War II, and was preceded in death by one sister, Martha Kawalski Chiodo.
Survivors include: his wife, Louise Shatley Toth of the home; four sons, John W. Toth and wife Cynthia of Anawalt, Arthur A. Toth and wife Nancy of Bluewell, Steve E. Toth and wife Margaret of Hemphill and Donald E. Toth of Boissevain, Va.; one daughter, Mrs. Robert (Rose Marie) Fullen of Welch; three sisters, Mrs. Joe (Annie) Hessenthaler of Ardsley, Pa., Judy Lambert of Hollywood, Fla., and Betty Koziol of Philadelphia, Pa.; nine grandchildren, Matthew Fullen, Austin Toth, Amanda Toth, Stevie Toth, Amber Sizemore, Sara Toth, Shauna Toth, Adam Toth and Bobbie Childress.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 24, at 1 p.m. at the Cravens-Shires Funeral Home Chapel in Bluewell with Rev. Bob McKinney and Dr. Larry Hendey officiating. Burial will follow at Roselawn Memorial Gardens Mausoleum in Princeton where members of the McDowell County Ambulance Authority will serve as pallbearers.
Friends may call today from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.

James Wayne (Bill) Hopkins
BLUEFIELD, Va. - James W. (Bill) Hopkins 47, of 1112 Virginia Ave., Bluefield, Va., died Tuesday, January 20, 1998, in a Winston-Salem, N.C., hospital.
He was born in Bluefield and was a son of the late James Hopkins and Verna Hopkins. He was employed by the Norfolk and Southern Railroad, having worked as an engineer. He was a former employee of Consolidated Coal Co., having worked at Turkey Gap and Jenkinjones. He was of the Protestant faith.
Survivors are: his wife, Judy Lynn Rose Hopkins; daughters, Trish Setser of Bluefield, Jessica Boitnott of Bluefield, Peggy Boitnott and Kesha Hopkins of Bluewell.
Funeral services will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Dudley Memorial Chapel in Bluefield, Va., with Dr. Walter Clot officiating. Burial will follow in the Maple Hill Cemetery in Bluefield, Va.
Friends may call today between 7 and 9 p.m. at the funeral home.

Ruey Elswick
MEADOWVIEW, Va. - Ruey Elswick 72, of Meadowview, Va., formerly of Harman, Va., died Wednesday, January 21, 1998, at Johnston Memorial Hospital, Abingdon, Va. 
Born in Pike County, Ky., he was a son of the late Will and Leatia Slone Elswick. He was a resident of Buchanan County several years prior to moving to Abingdon. He was a member of Macedonia Church of Christ, Abingdon, and was a retired coal miner. He is preceded in death by: two sisters, Reba Sanford and Gladys Shortridge; one brother, Corbett Elswick.
He is survived by: his wife, Velsie Belcher Elswick of Meadowview; three sisters, Opal Belcher of Freemont, Ohio, Clarsie Moore of Abingdon and Clara Yates of Abingdon; two brothers, Oliver Elswick of Fremont and Crawford Elswick of North Bergen of N.J.; several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, January 24, at 1 p.m. at Grundy Funeral Home Chapel with Evangelists Mike McCoy and Russell Baldwin officiating with burial to follow in Mountain Valley Memorial Park, Big Rock, Va.
Friends may call at the funeral home today at 5 p.m. There will be services at 7 p.m.
Active pallbearers will be the nephews.

Woodrow Fields
MOUTH CARD, Ky. - Woodrow Fields 75, of Mouth Card, Ky., died Thursday, January 22, 1998, at his home following an extended illness.
Born at Short Pole, he was a son of the late Richard and Chloie Lester Fields. He had been a resident of Pike County several years, had served in the United States Army during World War II and was a retired coal miner. He was preceded in death by one daughter, Wanda Sue Fields; two sisters and three brothers.
He is survived by: his first wife, Stella Mitchell of Phelps, Ky; second wife, Caroline Farmer Fields of Pikeville, Ky.; one daughter, Catherine Sue Rowe and husband Tommy Rowe of Elkhorn City, Ky.; three sons, Leslie Thomas Fields and wife Alfreda Fields of Mouth Card, Ky.; Randy Carson Fields and wife Mable Fields of Phelps and Jerry Clarence Fields and wife Linda Fields of Phelps; one sister, Vergie Lockhart of Summerville, S.C.; 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted Sunday, January 25, at 2 p.m. at Grundy Funeral Home Chapel, Grundy, Va., with Evangelist Frank Crum and Evangelist Bill Ford officiating with burial to follow in Mountain Valley Memorial Park, Big Rock, Va.
Friends may call at the funeral home chapel today at 6 p.m.
Active pallbearers will be family and friends.
Full Military Rites will be conducted at the cemetery by members of John Ratliff Post #164 of the American Legion and Childs Gentry Post #7360 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
There will be services at the funeral home chapel Saturday, January 24, at 7 p.m.

Mary Cook Bowes
LEBANON, Va. - Mrs. Mary Cook Bowes, 80, of Lebanon passed away Thursday, Jan. 14, 1999, in a Lebanon hospital. 
Born Dec. 15, 1918, in Russell County, Va., she was a daughter of the late Noah and Louise Barton Cook. She had resided in Lebanon for the past 10 years, moving there from Chesapeake. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Oakey M. Bowes; three sisters and two brothers.
Survivors include one special granddaughter, Michele B. Worley of Princeton, N.C.; two sisters, Rachel Ball and Effie Karsoner, both of Northeast, Md.; five brothers, Basil Cook of Alpena, Mich., Taze Cook of Madison Heights, Mich., Noah Cook Jr. of Cleveland, Va., Norman Cook of Oakwood, Va., and Millard Cook of Honaker, Va.; two stepdaughters, Treva Harmon and Dorothy Black, both of Bluefield; three stepsons, Milton R. Bowes, Edgar H. Bowes and William L. Bowes, all of Chesapeake, Va.; 19 stepgrandchildren; 34 step great-grandchildren; and three step great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 17, at Honaker Funeral Home Chapel in Honaker with the Rev. Cecil Musick officiating. Burial will follow at Russell Memorial Cemetery at Lebanon.
Nephews will serve as pallbearers.
Friends may call at the funeral home after 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16.

Edward "Junior" Duncan Jr.
BRAMWELL - Edward Brady "Junior" Duncan Jr., 74, of Bramwell, and formerly of Jenkinjones, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 13, at Baptist Hospital in Knoxville, Tenn., after a long illness.
Born March 8, 1924, in Leckie, he was a son of the late Edward Brady Duncan Sr. and Mary Elizabeth Vider Duncan Greer. He was a retired U.S. Steel coal miner, a member of the U.M.W.A. in Gary, a registered forest fire crew member, a member of the International Association of Arson Investigators and a former first lieutenant of the Bramwell Volunteer Fire Department. He was also a veteran of World War II having served in the U.S. Navy. He was a member of the Church of God. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one daughter, Tammy Lynn Duncan; and one brother, Stevie Duncan.
Survivors include his wife, Alice Lorene Mitchem Duncan of Bramwell; daughters, Alice and husband Roger L. Lauderback Sr. of Dandridge, Tenn., and Regina and husband Lynn A. King Jr. of Newport, Tenn.; sons, Larry E. Duncan Sr. and wife Vivian of Bramwell, and Larry E. Duncan Jr. and wife Rachel of Anawalt; sisters, Rosie Lane of Bramwell, Mildred St. Clair of Conklintown, and Ivelee Dick of Bigelow, Ark.; brothers, George Duncan of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Donald Duncan of Roanoke, Va.; nine grandchildren, Mrs. William (Debbie) Heath, Ms. Lynn Bullins, Roger L. Lauderback Jr., Michelle Monaghan, April Duncan, Lynn A. King III (Trey), Andria K.R. King (Andie), Missy Duncan and Tina Gangelpese; great-grandchildren, Kandice A.N. Heath, Tabitha L.N. Heath, William R. Heath Jr., Brandon L. Bullins, Heath Gangelpese and Troy Gangelpese; nine nieces and six nephews.
Funeral services will be conducted Sunday, Jan. 17, at 2 p.m. at Cravens-Shires Funeral Home in Bluewell with the Rev. Ernest Westmoreland officiating. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Bluewell.
Pallbearers will be family and friends.
Friends may call Saturday, Jan. 16, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.

Edith "Ma" James
HONAKER, Va. - Mrs. Edith "Ma" James, 86, of Route 2, Honaker, passed away Friday, Jan. 15, 1999, at the home of her daughter in Venia, Va.
Born Sept. 20, 1912, at Venia, she was the daughter of the late Elisha and Venia Harris Hess. She had lived in Venia until 1960, when she moved to Honaker. She was a member of Venia's Chapel Free Will Baptist Church and attended Gent's Chapel in Honaker, where she was a youth class teacher for 30 years. She was a member of the Countiss Rebekah Lodge 31 of Honaker. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Frank James; three brothers; one granddaughter and two great-grandsons.
Survivors include four daughters, Martha McGlothlin, Lucille Austin and Nilah Dillard, all of Route 2, Honaker, and Fayrene Rasnake of Davenport; two sons, Dallas James and Darrell James, both of Route 2, Honaker; four sisters, Dolly Austin, Mint McGlothlin and Hazel Combs, all of Route 2, Honaker, and Ruth Hughes of Johnson City, Tenn.; two brothers, Ralph Hess of Lebanon, Va., and Arthur Hess of Abingdon; 29 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 17, at Honaker Funeral Home Chapel in Honaker with the Revs. Guy Harris and Jackie Perkins officiating. Burial will follow at Austin Cemetery at Venia.
Pallbearers will be McKinley McGlothlin, Darnell McGlothlin, Thomas Austin, Ivan Rasnake, Johnny Rasnake, Tony Dillard, Michael James and Stevie Sauls.
Honorary pallbearers will be Keith McGlothlin, Kermit Keen, Roger Combs, Dayton Hughes, Clifford Hess, Lowell Hess, Gerald Hess, Clinton Hess, Eugene Austin, Charles Gent and Robert Gent.
Friends may call at the Honaker Funeral Home after 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16, where a service will be conducted by the Rebekah Lodge 31 of Honaker at 7. 

Helen Faye Marler
PRINCETON - Mrs. Helen Faye Hercey, 62, of 501 Unity Road, Princeton, died Thursday, Jan. 14, 1999, at Princeton Community Hospital.
Born Aug. 19, 1936, at War, she was the daughter of Alma Crockett Hercey of Princeton and the late Andrew Hercey. She was a very active member of First Assembly of God Church on New Hope Road near Princeton for many years. She served as a Sunday school teacher for the toddler class as well as serving with the children's church.
In addition to her mother, Alma Crockett Hercey, survivors include her husband of 32 years, Luther "Luke" A. Marler; two sons, Donald Renn and James Allen Marler, both of Princeton; two daughters, Donna Fay Miller and Julie Ann Marler, both of Princeton; three sisters, Ramona Robinett and husband Ralph of Princeton, Gay Totten and husband Pat of Delbarton, and Mary Danieley and husband Ellis of Radford, Va.; two brothers, Raymond Johnson and wife Anna of Worcester, Mass., and James Hercey of Princeton; and five grandchildren, Donald III, Charles, Jeffrey, Jennifer and Michele.
Funeral services will be conducted at 8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 17, from the Burns Wornal Chapel of Memorial Funeral Directory on Athens Road in Princeton with the Revs. Max Linkous and Charles Allen officiating.
Graveside services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 18, at Roselawn Memorial Gardens on Courthouse Road in Princeton.
Friends may call Sunday, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Those wishing to attend the services are asked to meet at the funeral home on Monday by 9:30.

Mildred Novella Sloan
BLUEFIELD - Mildred Novella Sloan, 82, of 1119 Lyndale Ave., Bluefield, died Thursday, Jan. 14, 1999, in Brian Center Rehabilitation Center, Windsor, N.C.
Born in Tennessee, she was the daughter of the late James and Rosa Hinch Nesbit. She was a nurse, a homemaker and a faithful member of Scott Street Baptist Church, Bluefield. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charlie Sloan.
Her survivors include four brothers, Joseph and Elbert N. Tyree of Cleveland, Ohio, Gerald Tyree of Winton, N.C., and John Tyree of Spring Lake, N.C.; one sister, Evelyn Hardin of Waner Robins, Ga.; five sisters-in-law; nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Funeral services will be conducted Monday, Jan. 18, at 1 p.m. at Rodriguez Bluefield Funeral Home Chapel in Bluefield, Va., with the Rev. Garry Moore officiating. Burial will follow at Roselawn Memorial Gardens in Princeton.
Friends may call from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday at the funeral home chapel.

Beulah Anderson Phillips
LERONA - Mrs. Beulah Anderson Phillips, 63, of Old Lerona Road, Lerona, died Friday morning, Jan. 15, 1999, at her home.
Born Oct. 10, 1935, at Pettry, she was the daughter of the late Gene Anderson and Zona Coburn Anderson Begil. She was educated in Athens and was a member of the Lerona Church of Christ. She was preceded in death by one granddaughter, Trixie Smith, and one sister, Wanda Easter.
Survivors include her husband, Benny Phillips; one son, Tony Phillips and wife Darlene of Lerona; four daughters, Teresa Keaton and husband Eddie, Brenda Larue and husband Jerry, Linda Nelson and husband Michael, all of Princeton, and Rhonda Young and husband Jimmy of Pipestem; two sisters, Kathryn Hall and husband Danny, and Debra Bowles and husband Jim Bob, all of Pipestem; one brother, Raymond Begil and wife Lisa of Bluefield, Va.; 10 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted Sunday, Jan. 17, from the Burns Wornal Chapel of Memorial Funeral Directory on Athens Road in Princeton. Burial will follow at Farley-Keaton Cemetery at Pipestem.
Friends may call Saturday, Jan. 16, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be Doug Edwards, Jimmy and Dwight Easter, and Jon, Gary and Terry Keaton.

Nancy C. Helmandollar
BLUEFIELD - Nancy C. Helmandollar, 62, of Route 3, Box 572, (Lorton Lick Road) Bluefield, died Thursday, Jan. 14, 1999, at the residence of her daughter.
Born June 6, 1936, in Mercer County, she was the daughter of the late Edward H. and Thelma Parcell Purdy. She had lived in the Bluefield area all of her life and had graduated from McComas High School. She had worked for Bluefield Sanitarium and Bluefield Regional Medical Center with 34 years of service before retiring. She was of the Christian faith. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one brother, Eddie M. Purdy.
Survivors include one daughter, Lorna Conner and husband Gerrall of Princeton, with whom she made her home; nephew, Marvin Purdy of Pipestem; and niece, Linda Bentley of Stitsonville, Wis.
Friends were received at the funeral home Friday, Jan. 15, from 6 to 8 p.m.
Friends may also call from 9 a.m. until time of service at Cravens-Shires Funeral Home, Bluewell, on Saturday, Jan. 16.
Graveside services will be conducted Saturday, Jan. 16, at 2 p.m. at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Bluewell with the Rev. John Atkinson and Terry Easter officiating. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Park. Those wishing to attend graveside services are asked to meet at the funeral home by 1:30 p.m.
The family may be contacted at the home of the daughter, Lorna and Gerrall Conner, Elgood Road, Route 3, Box 253-B-2, Princeton, or by phone (304) 898-6171.
The family asks that memorial contributions be made to the American Cancer Society.

Bell Marie Bowman
COALWOOD - Bell Marie Bowman, 76, of Coalwood died Thursday, Jan. 14, 1999, at Bluefield Regional Medical Center.
Born Dec. 20, 1922, in Abbs Valley, Va., she was the daughter of the late Charlie Puckett and Willie Tabor Puckett. She was a homemaker and a mother. She was a member of the Coalwood United Methodist Church where she served in the Ladies Auxiliary. She was a member of the Coalwood Gardens Club. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Wiley Bowman.
Survivors include three sons, Sam Bowman of Lexington, S.C., Ron Bowman of Welch and Tim Bowman of Beckley; three daughters, Janet Grisinger of Willow Springs, N.C., Delores Mays of Rosedale, Va., and Kathy Chinsolo of Welch; one brother, James Puckett of Teweksbury, Mass.; one sister, Willie Mae Grammer of Hopewell, Va.; nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted Sunday, Jan. 17, at 11 a.m. at United Methodist Church in Coalwood with the Rev. Gerald Roberts officiating. Burial will follow at Grandview Memory Gardens, Bluefield, Va.
Friends may call Saturday, Jan. 16, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the church.
Grandsons will serve as pallbearers.
Douglas Mortuary in Welch is in charge of arrangements.

Jane Newton Fortune
ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Jane Newton Fortune of Alexandria died Tuesday, Jan. 12, 1999, in an Alexandria hospital.
Born in Pocahontas, Va., she was the daughter of the late Rev. and Mrs. Rufus T. Newton of Rocky Gap, Va.
She is survived by two sons, Walter B. "Tim" Fortune of Sarasota, Fla., and Henry N. "Hank" Fortune and wife Stephanie of Woodbridge, Va.; one daughter, Madeline Fortune and husband Timothy Blackwell of Greenville, S.C.; two sisters, Ruth Fisher of Christiansburg, Va., and Ann Ayers of Axton, Va.; four grandchildren, Kimberly Blackwell and husband Michael Sheridan of Smyrna, Ga., Timothy H. Blackwell Jr. of Rock Hill, S.C., and Caitline Fortune and Kelsey Fortune, both of Woodbridge.
Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, Jan. 16, at 2 p.m. at Clear Fork Baptist Church in Rocky Gap, Va., with the Rev. Thomas Furrer officiating. Burial will follow at Clear Fork Baptist Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the church Saturday from 1 p.m. until time of service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Inova Alexandria Cancer Treatment Center, 4320 Seminary Road, Alexandria, VA 22304.
Newberry Funeral Home in Bland, Va., is in charge of arrangements.

Everett "Bear Dog" Robertson
PEMBROKE, Va. - Everett Eugene "Bear Dog" Robertson, 65, of Pembroke died Thursday, Jan. 14, 1999, in Carilion Giles Memorial Hospital, Pearisburg, Va.
Born Oct. 18, 1933, he was a lifelong resident of Giles County and was the son of the late Cleveland and Bertha Kelly Robertson. He was a retired employee of the Radford AAP Plant and was a member of Castle Rock Lodge 334 A.F. & A.M. in Pembroke. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Teresa Davis Robertson.
He is survived by one brother, Raymond L. Robertson of Narrows, Va.; and four sisters, Lura Sexton of Narrows, Christine Stafford of Flint, Mich., Shirley Witt of Mt. Airy, N.C., and Reba Pruett of Grundy, Va.
Funeral services will be conducted Sunday, Jan. 17, at 2 p.m. at Riffe's Funeral Chapel in Narrows with the Rev. Kimball Jones officiating. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Narrows.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home Saturday, Jan. 16, after 3 p.m. where a Masonic memorial service will be conducted at 7 by Castle Rock Lodge 334.

Robert E. ``Bunnie'' Brown, 60, of 607 Court St., Welch, died Friday, Jan. 15, at the VA hospital in Beckley. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Page Funeral Home, Welch.

Frank W. Smith, 84, of Pearisburg, Va., died Friday, Jan. 15. Fuenral arrangements are incomplete at Givens Funeral Home, Pearisburg.

Fred Ernest Lester: 88, of Rt. 2, Box 61 (Montcalm>, Rock, died Thursday, January 22, 1998, at a Princeton nursing home. Arrangements are incomplete at Cravens-Shires Funeral Home in Bluewell.

Maceo Palmer: 90, of Bluefield, died Thursday, January 22, 1998, at McDowell's County Continuous Care Center. Arrangements are incomplete at McConnell's Funeral Home, Bluefield.

Volena Gibson: of Bluefield, died Wednesday, January 21, 1998. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Richardson Funeral Home in Bluefield.

Marjorie Lamastus: 74, of Wytheville, formerly of Falls Mills, Va., died Thursday, January 22, 1998, in a Wytheville hospital. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Rodrigues Pocahontas Funeral Home.


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