U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Blair Spraker Painter
Blair Spraker Painter, 73, of Cripple Creek, died Tuesday, July 1, 1997, at the Wythe County Community Hospital.
Funeral services were held Thursday, July 3, at 2 p.m. at the Gillman Funeral Chapel. Interment followed in the West End cemetery.
He had worked part-time for the Gillman Funeral Chapel.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Ray and Jettie Painter; and a brother, Rex Painter.
Survivors include his wife, Jean B. Painter of Cripple Creek; two sons and daughter-in-law, Steve B. and Frances D. Painter, and Joseph W. Painter, all of Cripple Creek; and one grandson, Joshua Painter of Cripple Creek.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Crockett's Chapel United Methodist Church Building Fund.
Gillman Funeral Chapel in Wytheville was in charge of the arrangements.
Dorothea Humphrey Shockley
Dorothea Humphrey Shockley of Bland, died late Wednesday, July 2, 1997, in the Lewis-Gale Hospital in Salem.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 5, at 11 a.m. at the Newberry Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Joe Taylor officiating. Interment will follow in the Morning Star cemetery in Bland.
She was born in Wythe County, a daughter of the late Charles S. and Alma Shaffer Humphrey.
She is survived by her husband, Junior V. Shockley of the home; two daughters and sons-in-law, Dolores and Roger Thompson of Bland, and Debra and Terry Davis of Little Creek; three sisters and brothers-in-law, Elizabeth and Garnett Neikirk of Newport News, Virginia and Bill Mabe of Max Meadows, and Kathryn and Richard Hyland of Jacksonville, Fla.; one brother and sisters-in-law, Charles S. Jr. and Ruth Humphrey of Max Meadows; and three grandchildren, Sarah E. Thompson, John C. Thompson, and Julia Renae Shockley Davis.
The family requests that those who prefer, may make memorials to the Dorothea Humphrey Shockley Athletic Scholarship Fund, C/O the First Virginia Band - Southwest, Bland, VA 24315.
Newberry Funeral Home in Bland is in charge of the arrangements.
Henry Roscoe Corvin
Henry Roscoe Corvin, 77, of Wytheville, died Wednesday, Oct. 29, 1997, in the Asbury Center at Birdmont Nursing Home.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, Nov. 1, at 2 p.m. at the Gillman Funeral Chapel. Interment will follow in the Lebanon Lutheran Church cemetery.
He is survived by his wife, Martha Pauline Corvin of Wytheville; a daughter and son-in-law, Lisa and Eugene Davis of Wytheville; a son and daughter-in-law, Mickey and Sandy Corvin of Wytheville; two brothers, Herbert Charles Corvin and Sawyer Leyvine Corvin, both of Wytheville; and three grandchildren, Clifton Davis, Jill Davis, and Andy Corvin, all of Wytheville.
Gillman Funeral Chapel in Wytheville is in charge of the arrangements.
Martha Elizabeth Counts
Martha Elizabeth Lilly Counts, 94, of Wytheville, died Wednesday, Oct. 29, 1997, in the Birdmont Health Care Center.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, Nov. 1, at 2 p.m. at St. Paul United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dr. Charles C. Burnette officiating. Interment will follow in the West End cemetery.
She was born in Holston, a daughter of the late John Henry and Maggie Holmes Lilly. She was a member of the St. Paul United Methodist Church and a Past Matron of Evansham Chapter No. 97, Order of the Eastern Star. She was a retired elementary school teacher.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Dennis James "D.J." Counts; one sister and two brothers.
Survivors include a son, D. Reed Counts Sr. of Wytheville; three grandchildren, Mrs. Jimmie (Susan) Tickle of Elkton, Mrs. Harry (Betty) Johnston of Richmond, and Dennis R. Counts Jr. of Wytheville; and nine great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends Saturday, Nov. 1, after the interment at the St. Paul United Methodist Church's Wesley Hall.
The family suggests that those who prefer may make memorials to the St. Paul United Methodist Church Building Fund.
Barnett Funeral Home in Wytheville is in charge of the arrangements.
Cecil Virginia Sayers Davis
Cecil Virginia Sayers Davis, 84, of Ivanhoe, died Wednesday, Oct. 29, 1997, in the Wythe County Community Hospital.
Funeral services were held Friday, Oct. 31, at 2 p.m. at the Church of God of Prophecy in Ivanhoe with the Rev. Don Crockett, the Rev. Ralph Jones, the Rev. W.R. Passmore, and the Rev. Rocky Dalton officiating. Interment followed in the Odd Fellows cemetery.
She was born in Wythe County, a daughter of the late Frank and Emma Jane Manuel Sayers. She was the widow of David Junior Davis and was a member of the Church of God of Prophecy.
She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Linda Ruth and Ball Jones of Ivanhoe; a son and daughter-in-law, John Dyer and Brenda King of Route 3, Wytheville; three sisters, Kate White of Pulaski, Ruth Delp of Galax, and Annie Akers of Greenwood, Ind.; a brother, Lorenza Dale Sayers of Ivanhoe; and six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Reese Funeral Home in Austinville was in charge of the arrangements.
Todd Emmanuel Taylor
Todd Emmanuel Taylor, 36, of Chesterfield, died Tuesday, Oct. 21, 1997.
Funeral services were held Friday, Oct. 24, at 3 p.m. at the Church of the Nazarene Southside in Richmond. Interment was in the Dale Memorial Park.
He was the owner/operator of 288 Auto Sales, Inc. in Chesterfield County.
He is survived by his wife, Kathleen Nunnally Taylor of Chesterfield; a son, Ryland Seth Taylor of Chesterfield; his parents, Fred Lee and Brenda Lephew Taylor of Richmond; two sisters, Tonya Michele Taylor and Leslie Shannon Taylor; and his maternal grandmother, Vergie Humphrey Lephew of Austinville.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that contributions be made to the Church of the Nazarene Southside Building Fund, 4003 Cogbill Rd., Richmond, VA 23234.
Morrissett Funeral Home in Richmond was in charge of the arrangements.
Thomas Edward Simmerman
Thomas Edward "Tom Boy" Simmerman, 72, of Route 2, Max Meadows, died Wednesday, Oct. 29, 1997, in the Evansham Manor Nursing Home.
Funeral services will be Saturday, Nov. 1, at 1 p.m. in the Grubb Funeral Home Chapel conducted by the Rev. Richard Lindamood. Interment will be in the West End cemetery.
He was a well-known Wythe County farmer and a U.S. Army veteran of World War II.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas E. Simmerman II and Miriam Robinson Simmerman; and a sister, Nancy S. Weaver.
Survivors include three brothers, John Simmerman of Atlanta, Ga., William Simmerman of Thaxton, and Graham Simmerman of Radford; and several nieces and nephews.
Grubb Funeral Home in Wytheville is in charge of the arrangements.
Margaret Hoilman Collins
Margaret "Winks" Hoilman Collins, 85, of Winter Park, Fla., died Saturday, Nov. 1, 1997, in Winter Park Hospital.
Graveside services were held Tuesday, Nov. 4, at 11 a.m. in the East End cemetery, Wytheville, with Dr. Charles Burnett officiating.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Howard Collins.
Survivors include one daughter and son-in-law, Melinda and Dr. John Larson of Chicago, Ill.; two grandchildren, Dr. Kelly M. Larson of Indianapolis, Ind., and Michael Collins Larson of Iowa City, Iowa; two nieces, Martha Warren of Wytheville and Rebecca Turner; and two great-nieces.
The Grubb Funeral Home in Wytheville was in charge of arrangements.
Louise Jackson Garcia
Louise Jackson Garcia, 79, of Wytheville died Saturday, Nov. 1, 1997, in Edgemont Center.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Nov. 5, at 1 p.m. at Barnett Funeral Chapel in Wytheville with the Rev. Shelly Kyle and the Rev. Leonard Davis officiating. Interment will follow in the Black Lick cemetery.
She was born in Wythe County, a daughter of the late Charles Odell and Lula Belle Davis Jackson. She spent most of her married
life in Philadelphia, Pa.
She was preceded in death by her husband, George Garcia.
Survivors include one sister, Emma M. Jackson of Wytheville; one brother, Willis Jackson of Baltimore, Md.; and several nieces, nephews and friends.
Barnett Funeral Home in Wytheville is in charge of arrangements.
H. Thurman Belcher
H. Thurman "H.T." Belcher, 85, of Bland, formerly of Richlands, died Tuesday, Nov. 4, 1997, in a Bristol, Tenn. hospital following a brief illness.
Funeral services were held Thursday, Nov. 6, at 1 p.m. at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Richlands with Barry Dean Marshall, the Rev. Jimmy Davidson, and the Rev. Warren Stewart officiating. Interment followed in Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
He was born in Russell County and was a son of the late Fletcher and Mattie Baldwin Belcher, both Russell County natives. He had lived in Richlands 17 years, moving to Bland 27 years ago and was a retired contractor and coal operator. He was a member of the Bland United Methodist Church, the Sandy Valley Lodge No. 17 A.F. & A.M., and the Kazim Temple and Scottish Rite Bodies of Roanoke.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Eva Marshall Belcher; three sisters and three brothers.
Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law, A.R. and Eileen Belcher of Abingdon, and Dr. James H. and Becky Belcher of Richlands; a special caregiver, Lavena Rosenbalm; two sisters, Alma Kelly, and Evelyn Dillow, both of Tucson, Ariz.; one brother, Robert Jack Belcher of Wytheville; four grandchildren, Mrs. Andy (Cheryl) Groves, Mrs. Stacey (Deborah) Whitt, Mrs. Tom (Diana) Byrne, and Scott and Kelli Belcher; and three great-grandchildren, Tyler Whitt, Matthew Andrew Groves, and Rebecca Groves.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Bland United Methodist Church Building Fund, Bland, VA 24315, or any local Alzheimer's foundation.
Richlands Funeral Home in Richlands was in charge of the arrangements.
Edward Cecil Copenhaver
Edward Cecil "Johnny" Copenhaver, 80, formerly of Crockett, died Monday, Nov. 3, 1997, at his home in College Park, Ga.
Graveside services and interment were held Thursday, Nov. 6, in College Park, Ga.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Judy; his parents, Pepper K. and Nannie Riggle Copenhaver; and one brother, Robert Copenhaver.
Survivors include his wife, Frances Kent Copenhaver; two children, David Copenhaver and Cathy Copenhaver Clyburn, both of Temple, Ga.; three grandchildren; three brothers, Alfred Copenhaver of Wytheville, Richard Copenhaver of Pottstown, Pa., and John Copenhaver of Austin, Texas; and several nieces and nephews.
Carmichael Funeral Home in College Park, Ga. was in charge of the arrangements.
Frank R. King
Frank R. King, 84, of Route 1, Crockett, died Wednesday, Nov. 5, 1997, in the Bristol Regional Medical Center.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, Nov. 8, at 11 a.m. at the Lindsey Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Rance Edwards officiating. Interment will follow in the Kings Grove cemetery.
He was born in Wythe County, a son of the late William Pyatt and Dovie Malinda Riggle King. He was a member of the Kings Grove United Methodist Church in Crockett.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Lula Rosenbaum King; and a grandson, W.F. "Bill" King Jr.
Survivors include one daughter and son-in-law, Betty and Sam Lowe of Marion; one son and daughter-in-law, W.F. "Sonny" and Adair King of Crockett; one brother and sisters-in-law, Trent W. and Hazel King of Crockett, and Eva H. King of Arlington; two step-grandchildren and one step-great-grandchild.
The family requests that those who prefer may make memorials to the Rural Retreat Emergency Services or to the Kings Grove cemetery Fund.
Lindsey Funeral Home in Rural Retreat is in charge of the arrangements.
