U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Velva J. Smith
DAMASCUS -- Velva J. Smith, 91, died Saturday, Jan. 9, 1999, in Valley Health Care Center, Chilhowie.
She was a native of Scott County, had lived in Damascus most of her life and was a member of the Damascus Senior Citizens.
She was a member of the First Baptist Church, Damascus, and the widow of her first husband, Ben F. Shoemaker, and her second husband, Hayes Smith.
Survivors include four sons, Lawrence E. Shoemaker, Kingsport, Walter F. Shoemaker, Fayetteville, N.C., John C. Shoemaker, Boone, N.C., and Conley H.
Smith Jr., Waynesville, N.C.; two stepdaughters, Bernice Cornett, Damascus, and Patsy Rosky, Cleveland, Ohio; a sister, Bertha Ellis, Flint, Mich.; two brothers, James Arnold, Kingsport, and Walter Arnold, Pontiac, Mich.; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; eight step-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Johnson Funeral Home, Damascus, is in charge.
Ernest Sproles
Ernest Sproles, 78, of 24394 Junction Drive, Bristol, Va., died Saturday, Jan. 9, 1999, in Bristol Regional Medical Center.
He was a lifelong resident of the Washington County and Bristol Virginia areas, was a farmer for many years and later retired from carpentry.
He was a member of Scenic Park Baptist Church, Bristol, Va.
Survivors include his wife, Christine Sproles; a son, Lynn Sproles, Bristol Virginia; a daughter, Nina Gilmer, Bristol Virginia; a sister, Fannie Mitchell, Bristol Tennessee; and two half-brothers, Bob Sproles, Mendota, and Don Sproles, Mansfield, Ohio.
Weaver Funeral Home is in charge.
George C. Tabor
BLOUNTVILLE -- George C. Tabor, 69, died Saturday, Jan. 9, 1999, in Knoxville.
He was a 1958 graduate of the University of Tennessee, (electrical engineering), and a serious Big Orange fan, leaving only one game before its conclusion due to necessity.
He was a member of Colonial Heights Christian Church.
Mr. Tabor retired from Holston Defense Corporation, engineering department, in 1992. In addition to being an electrical engineer, he was a farmer and a builder, including a builder of churches.
Survivors include his wife, Sue Tabor; three daughters, Nancy, Mary Alice and Janie; two sons, Tim and Terry; a sister, Mary Ann Cox; two brothers, Parker A. Tabor and Robert F. "Tony" Tabor; and five grandchildren.
East Lawn Funeral Home, Kingsport, is in charge.
Marjorie L. Wilson
CEDAR BLUFF -- Mrs. Marjorie Lester Wilson, 88, died Sunday, Jan. 10, 1999, in a Richlands hospital.
Hurst-Scott Funeral Home, Richlands, is in charge.
Joe T. Bailey
CHURCH HILL, Tenn. -- Joe Thomas Bailey, died Monday, Jan. 11, 1999, in Holston Valley Hospital and Medical Center.
He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and was active in the Experimental Aircraft Association.
He served for several years as a Major in the Civil Air Patrol and was a 32nd degree Mason.
He received a master's degree in education from East Tennessee State University, and retired from the Hawkins County School System with more than 30 years of service.
He was a member of First Broad Street United Methodist Church, Kingsport.
Survivors include cousins and many friends.
Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home, Kingsport, is in charge.
William F. Blevins
MARION -- William Faymon Blevins, 78, died Monday, Jan. 11, 1999, in Smyth County Community Hospital.
He was a retired barber and a U.S. Air Force veteran.
Survivors include three sisters: Mrs. Conley (Viola) Gamble, Marion, Mae McClure, Chilhowie, and Katherine Ellison, Creedmore, N.C.
Williams Funeral Home is in charge.
Donald L. Bowers
Donald L. Bowers, 62, of 347 Melrose St., Bristol, Tenn., died Tuesday, Jan. 12, 1999, at his home.
He was a lifelong resident of Bristol, a salesman for H.T. Hackney Company, and an avid golfer.
He was a U.S. Army veteran and was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include his wife, Hilda J. Bowers; three sons, Steven W. Bowers, Bristol Tennessee, Christopher L. Bowers and Chad A. Bowers, both of Bristol Virginia; two sisters, Peggy Calhoun, Bristol Tennessee, and Betty Carden, Bristol Virginia; a brother, Charles J. Bowers, Manassas, Va., six grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Weaver Funeral Home is in charge.
Clarence Callahan Sr.
Johnson CITY -- Clarence M. Callahan Sr., 97, formerly of 746 Myrtle Street, Kingsport, died Tuesday, Jan. 12, 1999.
He was a native of Pulaski, Va., and had lived in Kingsport most of his life.
He retired from Kingsport Foundry and was a member of Oakwood Forest Christian Church.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia Callahan.
Survivors include a daughter, Marie Clayton, Pinehurst, N.C.; a son, Clarence M. Callahan Jr., Jonesborough, Tenn.; two granddaughters, Teresa Strickler and Tina Whiteaker; and three great-grandchildren.
Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home is in charge.
Thomas J. Clear
DeFUNIAK SPRINGS, Fla. -- Mr. Thomas Jefferson Clear, 53, formerly of Saltville, died Friday, Jan. 8, 1999, in North West Hospital, Pensacola.
He graduated from R.B. Worthy High School, Saltville, in 1963, attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute and was a graduate of Milligan College. He earned his master's degree from East Tennessee State University.
He was employed as a guidance counselor at Science Hill High School,
Johnson City, and worked with the Upward Bound System at ETSU for a number of years. His most recent appointment was Head Guidance Counselor at Fort Walton High School in DeFuniak Springs.
Survivors include his wife, Carolyn Clear; two sons, Jacob Clear, of the home, and Mark Clear, Fishers, Ind.; a stepdaughter, Kristen Privette, of the home; his mother, Viola C. Clear, Saltville, a sister, Mrs. Charles (Elizabeth) Jones, Winston-Salem, N.C.; a brother, George Clear Jr., Austin, Texas; a nephew; a niece; a cousin;a uncle; and two aunts.
D.R. Henderson Funeral Home, Saltville, is in charge.
William W. Davis
KINGSPORT -- William Walker "L.D." Davis, 57, of 1217 Saratoga Road, died Monday, Jan. 11, 1999, in Holston Valley Hospital and Medical Center.
He was native of Scott County, Va., but had lived in Kingsport.
He was a U.S. Army veteran and was employed at AFG in quality control.
He was a member of Loyal Order of Moose, Lodge No. 972, Kingsport, and VFW Post No. 6975, Bristol Tennessee.
He was also of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include his wife, Betty Maddox Davis; two daughters, Donna Bernard, Denise Perry and Leslie Lewis, all of Kingsport; five grandchildren; two brothers, Lee Roy Davis, Church Hill and James P. Davis, Kingsport; and several nieces and nephews.
Colonial Funeral Home is in charge.
