U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Roger L. Whalen
Roger L. Whalen, 55, of Roanoke, formerly of Wythe County, died Friday, Sept. 26, 1997.
Memorial services were held Monday, Sept. 29, at 2 p.m. at Unity Church with the Rev. Diane Scribner Clevenger and the Rev. Harold Moyer officiating. Services were also held Tuesday, Sept. 30, at the Speedwell United Methodist Church with the Rev. Bill Perkins and John Davis officiating.
He was a member of Unity Church and its choir. He attended Berea College and graduated from Warren Wilson College. He was the first student to receive the John F. Kennedy Scholarship Award which allowed him to study in Tel Aviv, Israel. He was also a Master Gardener.
He was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters and one brother.
Survivors include six sisters, Marie Cox, Mae Lynch, Gaye Rash, Kathlen Walters, Mary Lee Shrader, Eula Fielder, all of Wythe County, and Gladys Page of Baldwin, Md.; six brothers, Wade Whalen, John Whalen, J.R. Whalen, Rex Whalen, all of Wythe County, Charles Whalen of Willoughley, Ohio, and Richard Whalen of Baltimore, Md.; and several nieces and nephews.
In lieu in flowers, the family requests that donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 1290 Seminole Trail, Charlottesville, VA 22901.
Oakey's Roanoke Chapel in Roanoke was in charge of the arrangements.
Theresa Cline Bedwell
Theresa Cline Bedwell, 81, of Edgemont Center in Wytheville, died Sept. 29, 1997, after a long illness.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, Oct. 2, at the Lindsey Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Robert Countiss officiating. Interment will follow in the Fairview United Methodist Church cemetery in Rural Retreat.
She was born in Louisa, Ky., and was the last surviving member of six.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James Fred Bedwell.
Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Roger K. and Neva Bedwell of Wytheville; a daughter and son-in-law, Rita M. and Frank Vaught of Wytheville; a brother-in-law, Homer G. Bedwell of Knob Noster, Mo.; two granddaughters, Brenda S. Bedwell, and Lynda M. Jones, both of Rural Retreat; a grandson, David J. Bedwell of Wytheville; a step-grandson and his wife, Eddie and Karen Kegley, son, Kenneth, and daughter, Lacy, all of Crockett; step-granddaughters and their husbands, Rita and Jeb Huddle, and daughter, Nikki, all of Wytheville, and Karen Sue and Kevin Anderson, and son, Dalton, all of Rural Retreat; three great-granddaughters, Kayla Jones, Anna M. Bedwell, and Amy Lephew, all of Wytheville; a great-grandson, Brad Jones of Wytheville; and several nieces, nephews, and friends.
The family will receive friends Wednesday, Oct. 1, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Lindsey Funeral Home.
Lindsey Funeral Home in Rural Retreat is in charge of the arrangements.
Rufus William Havens
Rufus William Havens, 86, of Wilderness Road, Bland, died Sunday, Sept. 28, 1997, in Wythe County Community Hospital, Wytheville.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Oct. 1, at 2 p.m. at the A. Vest & Sons Funeral Home Chapel, White Gate, with the Rev. Ted Anders and Rev. Frank Clifton officiating. Burial will be in the Shiloh cemetery.
He was born April 7, 1911, at Bland, a son of the late Sheppard and Lillie Woods Havens. He was a retired farmer and a member of the Shady Grove United Methodist Church.
He was preceded in death by four sisters, Grace Fanning, Alice Hall, Edna Townley, and Bertie Lee Harden; three brothers, Marvin Havens, Sidney Havens, and Alfred Havens; one grandchild and one great-great-grandchild.
Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Lida Hughes Havens of Bland; five sons and daughters-in-law, Hale and Ola Havens of Independence, Ky., Raymond and Irma Havens, Edward and Marlene Havens, Dane and Jane Havens, Garland and Mary Lee Havens, all of Bland; one daughter and son-in-law, Marie and Jerry Yates of Fairview, N.C.; one sister, Flora Pruitt of Bland; 23 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren; and his caretakers, Linda Hicks and Nona Conley.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Community Hospice of America Inc., 540 W. Main St., Wytheville, VA 24382, or the Bland County Rescue Squad.
A. Vest & Sons Funeral Home Chapel in White Gate is in charge of the arrangements.
Britton Elliott Arnold
Britton Elliott Arnold, 79, of Wytheville, died Wednesday, Sept. 24, 1997, in the Wythe County Community Hospital.
Graveside services were held Friday, Sept. 26, at 2 p.m. at the Mt. Zion cemetery with Dr. Barry Losey officiating.
He was born May 2, 1918 and was retired from the Virginia Department of Transportation. He was the son of the late Guy and Frances Arnold.
He is survived by his wife, Eula Bralley Grubb Arnold of the home; one son and daughter-in-law, Roger and Naomi Arnold; one grandson, Scott Arnold; two granddaughters and husband, Jennett and Alan Alderman, and Candy Copeland; two great-grandchildren; one step-daughter-in-law, Angerine Harris of Bumpass; eight step-daughters, two step-sons, seven step-grandchildren, 19 step-great-grandchildren, seven step-great-great-grandchildren, and a host of friends and relatives.
The family suggests that those who prefer may make memorials to the Wythe County Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 389, Wytheville, VA 24382.
Barnett Funeral Home in Wytheville was in charge of the arrangements.
Geneva Alene Blankenship
Geneva Alene Blankenship, 70, of Bluefield, formerly of Bastian, died Monday, Sept. 22, 1997, at her home.
Funeral services were held Thursday, Sept. 25, at 2 p.m. in the Bastian Church of God with the Rev. Tony Barnes and Pastor Bill Hand officiating. Burial was in the Rose Hill cemetery, Bastian.
She was born Nov. 15, 1926, in Bath County, a daughter of the late William McKinley and Mossie Hyden Dykes.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Randolph Madison Blankenship; a son, Estil McKinley "Kenny" Blankenship; a daughter, Mary Ann Blankenship; two brothers, Wallace Dykes and Charles "Shorty" Dykes; and three sisters, Marie Harless, Matanna Layton and Berthel Deel.
Survivors include one daughter, Linda C. Berry of Nikina, N.C.; three sons, Raymond L. Blankenship of Lexington, N.C., Michael Blankenship of Bastian and Terry Blankenship of Lexington, N.C.; one sister, Regina Fern Harmon of Bastian; and 17 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.
A.Vest & Sons Funeral Home in White Gate was in charge of the arrangements.
Deborah Ann Corvin
Deborah Ann Corvin, 43, of Wytheville, died Wednesday, Sept. 24, 1997, in the Wythe County Community Hospital.
Funeral services were held Friday, Sept. 26, at 2 p.m. at the St. Luke Lutheran Church. Interment followed in the St. Luke cemetery.
She is survived by her parents, Jim and Patsy Corvin of Wytheville; one son, Charlie Heldreth of Wytheville; one sister, Regina Pickle of Wytheville; two brothers, Henry Corvin of Rural Retreat and Tony Corvin of Wytheville; her grandmothers, Willie Felty of Wytheville and Edith Corvin of Triangle; a special friend, Curtis Davis of Wytheville; and one granddaughter, Ivy Dawn Heldreth of Wytheville.
Gillman Funeral Chapel of Wytheville was in charge of the arrangements.
James Harold Edmonds Sr.
James Harold Edmonds Sr., 65, of Carolina Ave., Bristol, Tenn., died Tuesday, Sept. 23, 1997, in the VA Medical Center in Mountain Home, Tenn.
Funeral services were held Thursday, Sept. 25, at 2 p.m. at the Weaver Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Frank Lethcoe and the Rev. Cass Farrior officiating. Interment followed in the Weaver cemetery. Military honors were conducted by the members of the Fort Campbell Kentucky Honor Guard.
A native of the Max Meadows area, he had lived in the Bristol area for the last 27 years. He was a retired U.S. Army veteran serving in the Korean and Vietnam wars with 23 years of service and receiving the Vietnam Service Medal with four battle stars. He was a member of the Virginia Avenue Baptist Church.
He was preceded in death by his parents, R.L. "Kiser" and Hallie Burcham Edmonds; and a sisters, Esther Jackson.
Survivors include his wife, Irene Byrd Edmonds of Bristol, Tenn.; two sons, James Edmonds Jr. and Jerry Edmonds, both of Bristol, Tenn.; two daughters, Joni Stanley and Judy Wyatt, both of Bristol, Tenn.; three brothers, John Clarence Edmonds of Route 3, Max Meadows, Roy Edmonds of Hiwassee and the Rev. William "Bill" Edmonds of Route 3, Max Meadows; three sisters, Dorothy Ayers of Route 3, Max Meadows, Roberta Manuel of Speedwell and Bonnie "Susie" Grubb of Atkins; and six grandchildren, Justin, Bryan, April, Matthew, Cody and Jessica.
Weaver Funeral Home in Bristol, Tenn. was in charge of the arrangements.
Santos Gabriel Lopez
Santos Gabriel Lopez, infant son of Terrie L. Williams and Emilo Lopez of the Flatwoods Community, Wythe County, died Friday, Sept. 19, 1997, in the Roanoke Community Hospital.
Graveside services will be held Wednesday, Sept. 24, at 2 p.m. at the West End cemetery with the Rev. Don Scott officiating.
Other survivors include his paternal grandparents, Gabriel and Rosa Lopez of Mexico.
Barnett Funeral Home in Wytheville is in charge of the arrangements.
Goldia Isabell Harvey Rodgers
Goldia Isabell Harvey Rodgers, 84, of Crockett, died Sunday, Sept. 21, 1997, at her residence.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, Sept. 23, at 11 a.m. at the Salem Presbyterian Church in Organ Cave, W.Va., with the Rev. Mark W. Flynn officiating. Interment followed in the church cemetery.
She was born in Greenbrier County, W.Va., the daughter of the late Samuel and Lydia Fry Harvey. She was a member of Elizabeth Chapel United Methodist Church in Greenbrier, W.Va., and a member of the United Methodist Women. She was a retired LPN from Greenbrier Valley Hospital.
She is survived by her husband, Fred D. Rodgers Sr. of Crockett; a son and daughter-in-law, Fred D. Jr. and Suzette Rodgers of Crockett; four grandchildren, Shannon Rodgers, Delena Fletcher, Fred Rodgers III, and Allen Rodgers; a brother, Buster Harvey of Ronceverte, W.Va.; and several nieces and nephews.
The family suggests that those who prefer may make memorials to the Rural Retreat Emergency Services, Rural Retreat, VA 24368.
Lindsey Funeral Home in Rural Retreat is in charge of the arrangements.
Christopher Dean Underwood Sr.
Pastor Christopher Dean "C.D." Underwood Sr., 43, of Wytheville, died Saturday, Sept. 20, 1997.
Funeral services were held Monday, Sept. 22, at 11 a.m. at the Maranatha Church of God with the Rev. D. Keith Gunter and the Rev. Richard Hall officiating. Interment was held Tuesday, Sept. 23, in the Stone Family cemetery in Middlesex, N.C.
He spent 29 years in the ministry, serving as pastor of the Wytheville Maranatha Church of God for the past 11 years and previously served in Parkersburg and Craigsville, W.Va. He was an alumnus of Lee University, Cleveland, Tenn.; a member of the Virginia State Council Church of God; chairman of ministerial development, internship and laymen; director of ministry program; district overseer of the Wytheville district, and served in various other capacities at the state level of church administration.
He is survived by his wife, Vickie Stone Underwood of Wytheville; two daughters, Kelli Nicole Underwood, and Bethany Michelle Underwood, both of Wytheville; a son and daughter-in-law, Christopher Dean II and Tina Underwood of Wytheville; his parents, Rev. James and Wilma Underwood of Rocky Mount; four sisters, Rebecca Jo Smithwood of Garland, Texas, Tina Chambers of Lincolnton, N.C., Stephanie Underwood of Los Angeles, Calif., and Gina Boston of Ironton, N.C.; three brothers, Jimmy Underwood, Daniel Underwood, both of Rocky Mount, and Rev. Todd Underwood of Hopewell; his mother-in-law, Thelma Stone of Middlesex, N.C.; and numerous brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and a host of friends.
The family suggests that those who prefer may make memorials to the Underwood Scholarship Fund, c/o Maranatha Church of God, P.O. Box 665, Wytheville, VA 24382.
Barnett Funeral Home in Wytheville was in charge of the arrangements.
Emory Mack Felty
Emory Mack Felty, 72, of Route 2, Wytheville, died Wednesday, Sept. 10, 1997.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, Sept. 13, at 11 a.m. in the St. Luke Lutheran Church conducted by Pastor Amy Oehlschlaeger. Interment will be in the church cemetery. A Masonic service was conducted Friday, Sept. 12, at 8 p.m. by the Wytheville Masonic Lodge in the Grubb Funeral Home Chapel.
He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, was a retired supervisor from the American Screw Company and was a member of the Wytheville Fraternal Lodge No. 82 A.F. & A.M. He was a member of the St. Luke Lutheran Church where he served as trustee and past superintendent and as an adult Sunday school teacher for 35 years. He was a lay leader for the Lutheran Mountain Ministries.
He is survived by his wife, Craig Felty of Wytheville; a son and daughter-in-law, Emory C. "Mike" and Shirley Felty of Wytheville; and two granddaughters and grandson-in-law, Erin Renea Felty, and Alyson Janelle and Yancy Cassell.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the St. Luke Lutheran Church cemetery fund.
Grubb Funeral Home in Wytheville is in charge of the arrangements.
Rev. Robert Lewis Gravley
The Rev. Robert Lewis "Robbie" Gravley, 62, of Max Meadows, died Wednesday, Sept. 10, 1997, in the Wythe County Community Hospital.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, Sept. 13, at 2 p.m. at the Max Meadows Pentecostal Holiness Church with the Rev. Bobby Lewis and the Rev. Curtis Stoots officiating. Interment will follow in the Bland cemetery. The body will be taken to the church one hour before service time.
He was born in Wythe County, a son of the late Howard H. and Virginia Blair Gravley. He was pastor of the Stony Fork Pentecostal Holiness Church, founder of Barren Springs Pentecostal Holiness Church, and a charter member of Piney Ridge Pentecostal Holiness Church. He was a U.S. Army veteran.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Mary Lou Blair.
Survivors include two daughters and sons-in-law, Shelly and David Darden of Beckley, W.Va., Charmin and Ronnie Toler of Bland; three grandchildren, Jordan Darden, Jacob Darden, and Cheyenne Toler; two sisters and brother-in-law, Emily Sue Crigger, and Glenna and Johnny Jackson, all of Max Meadows; and one brother, Henry Gravley of Bland.
Barnett Funeral Home in Wytheville is in charge of the arrangements.
