U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Nellie D. French
Nellie Davis French, 90, of Bluefield, VA, died Nov. 12, 2003 at Westwood Health Care Center.
Born at Clearfork-Rocky Gap, she was a daughter of the late Thomas Millard Davis and Ada Lee Stimson Davis.
She was an active, faithful and loving member of the First United Methodist Church in Bluefield, VA, where she was a member of Wayfarers Sunday School Class and a member of Circle #2.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert E. French; two brothers, T. Orrin Davis and Carl E. Davis; two sisters, Emma Lou Mullin and Mary Lee Davis; and one nephew, Edward Jarrett.
Survivors: sister, Helen Davis Jarrett of Bluefield, WV; sister-in-law, Norma Farris Davis of Bluefield, VA; and nephews, Donald E. Davis and wife, Linda, of Poughkeepsie, NY, Lee Davis and wife, Dolly, of Joplan, MO, Wayne Mullin of Nemours, WV, Randy Davis and wife, Nancy, of Kingsport, TN, and Barry Davis and wife, Tina, of Ft. Wayne, IN.
The funeral was conducted Nov. 15 at 11 a.m. at the Dudley Memorial Chapel in Bluefield, VA, with Rev. Hugh Kilgore officiating.
Burial followed in the Grandview Memory Gardens.
Donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 200 S. College Ave., Bluefield, VA 24605.
Wilber Homer
"Trey" Gruver III
Wilber Homer "Trey" Gruver, III, 49, of Lake Charles, LA, died Nov. 25, 2003 in Nacogdoches, TX.
He was a 1972 graduate of Richlands Senior High School. He later attended SVCC.
Born in Elizabeth, LA, he was the son of Bertha F. Gruver of Nacogdoches and W.H. "Bill" Gruver, Jr. of Lillington, NC.
Additional survivors: sisters, Cathy G. Brown and family of Nacogdoches, formerly of Richlands, Sandra G. Corbett, and family of Leland, NC, formerly of Richlands.
Burial was held Nov. 28 at Nacogdoches.
Shirley F. Hopson
Shirley Faye Hopson, 47, of the Poplar Creek section of Route #2, Grundy, died Nov. 19, 2003 at the Holston Valley Medical Center in Kingsport, TN, following a brief illness.
Born in Buchanan County, she was the daughter of the late Clarence and Dollie Hess Smith.
She was a 1975 graduate of Grundy Senior High School, a student at Southwest Virginia Community College, where she would graduate in May, a member of the Nascar Bowling League of Sandy Valley Lanes, a housewife and student and enjoyed planting flowers and crafts.
She was preceded in death by one son, Tony Eugene Hopson Jr.; three brothers, Carson Ray Smith, Bill Smith and Ernest Smith; and one sister, Phyllis Jackson.
Survivors: husband, Tony Eugene Hopson; daughters, Tonya Faye Hopson of Wytheville, Mrs. Tom (Arena Lynn) Jones of Clinchco; sisters, Nancy Ramey, Molly Smith and Peggy Hopson, all of Grundy, Pauline Cash of Afton, Allene Yates of Prater; and brothers, Ralph Smith of Rural Retreat, Woodrow Smith of Keen Mountain and Clarence Smith Jr. of Vansant.
The funeral was conducted Nov. 23 at 1 p.m. at the Grundy Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Ronald Rose officiating.
Burial followed at the Stiltner cemetery on Poplar Creek near Grundy.
Services were conducted Nov. 21 and 22 at 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Julia C. Keene
Julia Caroline Keene, 95, of HC 67 Patterson, died Nov. 29, 2003 at her residence following an extended illness.
Born in Buchanan County, she was the daughter of the late Cam and Nancy Keene Horne.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Harvey Milton Keene; her second husband, Earl Keene, two sons, Curtis Keene and Herman Keene; two daughters, Flossie Horne and Hazel Gouge; five brothers; three sisters; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Survivors: daughters, Myrtle Horne of Doran, Lovis Owens of Beckley, WV, Mrs. Larry (Okie) Pettry of Statesville, NC, Mrs. Leon (Opal) Davis of Patterson, Mrs. Larry (Wanda) Sparks of Oakwood; sons, Harvey and wife, Juanita Keene, of Pilgrim Knob, Roger and wife, Phyllis Keene, and James Keene, all of Patterson; two daughters-in-law, Adele Keene of Pilgrim, Beatrice Keene of Pilgrim Knob; sisters, Creda Horn of Pilgrim Knob, Edgar Ratliff of Maxwell, Lola Ward of Richlands; 35 grandchildren; 66 great-grandchildren; 28 great-great-grandchildren; three step- grandchildren; seven step-great-grandchildren; and three step-great-great-grandchildren.
The funeral was conducted Dec. 1 at 11 a.m. from the Buchanan Funeral Service Chapel with the Rev. Ancil Childress and Rev. Andy Maynard officiating.
Interment followed in the Esaw Rife cemetery at Keen Mountain.
A song service was held at the funeral home Nov. 30 at 7 p.m.
Garland "Buddy" Ketron
Garland Earl "Buddy" Ketron, 82, of Seaboard, died Nov. 25, 2003 at a Richlands hospital following a lengthy illness.
Born in Toms Creek, he was a son of the late Henry Hicks Ketron and Martha Elizabeth Carico Ketron.
He was a graduate of Ervinton High School at Ervinton, and was a World War II U. S. Army Veteran.
He had made his home in the Richlands area the past 57 years and was a retired miner with Pittston Coal Corp. at Laurel Creek #12.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two grandchildren, Robert Allen Ketron and James Edward Ketron; one great-grandchild, McKensie Fore; four sisters, Ida Davis, Margie Reynolds, Alice Chandler, and Vena Lundy; and seven brothers, Joe Ketron, Leslie Ketron, Omer Ketron, James Ketron, Clyde Ketron, Hershel Ketron, and Samuel Ketron. He was the last surviving member of his immediate family.
Survivors: wife, Betty F. Alley Ketron; daughter, Linda Glover of Richlands; sons, Larry Ketron of Key West, FL, Lester Ketron and Robert Ketron, both of Richlands; 11 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
The funeral was conducted Nov. 29 at 2 p.m. at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Richlands with Rev. Carl Tegeler officiating.
Interment followed in Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
Members of the Casey-Shortt VFW Post #9640 of Richlands and Disabled American Veterans Tazewell Co. Chapter #31 conducted military graveside rites.
George David "Bud" Murray, Sr.
George David "Bud" Murray, Sr., 69, of Tazewell, died Nov. 25, 2003 at Tazewell Community Hospital in Tazewell.
Born at Tazewell, he was a son of the late George Dula Murray and Charlotte Graham Murray.
He was a member of the Calvary Assembly Baptist Church. He was a US Army Veteran of the Korean War, a lifetime member of the Barns-Beavers VFW Post #7136 of Tazewell. He was a retired carpenter.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by an infant sister.
Survivors: wife, Betty Murray; son, George David Murray, Jr. of Bishop; sisters, Katherine L. Crouse and husband, James, of Bluefield, VA, Carol Sue Hicks and husband, Jerry, of North Carolina; brother, William Roger Murray of North Tazewell; and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral was conducted Nov. 29 at 11 a.m. at Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home Chapel in Tazewell with the Rev. Avery Lynch, the Rev. Chester Hurst, and the Rev. Eugene Herald officiating.
Burial followed at Grandview Memory Gardens in Bluefield, VA.
Rev. Richard P. Neel
The Rev. Richard P. Neel, 82, of Meadowview, formerly of Bishop, died Nov. 24, 2003 at Johnston Memorial Hospital in Abingdon.
Born in Tazewell County, he was a son of the late Cecil and Bessie Crouse Neel.
He was a member of the Midway Memorial Chapel in Saltville. He was a retired coal miner and member of the UMWA Local #6025 at Bishop.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Essie Dunford Neel, and his second wife, Mary D. Neel.
Survivors: wife, Lessie Dunford Neel; daughters, Shirley Neel Griffith and Brenda Neel Marrs, both of Athens, WV; sons, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Neel of Fort Pierce, FL, Harless Neel of Bishop, Raymond Neel, and wife, April, of Roanoke, Curtis Neel and wife, Sue, of Tazewell, Darrell Neel and wife, Sally, of Pocahontas; step children, Charlotte Rose, Gwen Ray, and Starr Hill, all of Pounding Mill, Ann Garza of Saltville, Clara Felty and Thurman Holmes, both of Bristol, VA, Harless Holmes of Gaithersburg, MD, Gladys Handley of Middletown, MD; sister, Mary Crouse of Florida; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The funeral was conducted at 2 p.m. Nov. 29 at Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home Chapel in Tazewell with the Rev. Bob Briggs and the Rev. Bill Taylor officiating.
Burial followed at Grandview Memory Gardens in Bluefield, VA.
Juanita H. Pippin
Juanita Hurley Pippin, 79, of Cedar Bluff, formerly of Gate City, died Nov. 26, 2003 in a Charlottesville hospital following a brief illness.
Born at Inboden, she was the daughter of the late Charles Vernon and Effie Selena Jones Hurley.
She attended the Nottingham United Methodist Church at Gate City.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one brother, Edward Hurley, and two sisters, Elizabeth Hurley and Imogene Hurley.
Survivors: husband, Charles Pippin; daughter, Debbie Lester and husband, Danny, of Cedar Bluff; son, Larry M. Pippin of Medina, OH; sister, Edith Lipscomb of Owens Mills, MD; brother, Clarence Hurley of Kingsport, TN; and grandchildren, Chelsey Lester and Cody Lester.
The funeral was conducted Nov. 29 at 11 a.m. at the Singleton Funeral Service Chapel in Cedar Bluff with Rev. Bill Porter officiating.
Burial followed in the Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
Estel Ray
Estel Ray, 84, of the Fletcher’s Ridge section of Route 1, Vansant, died Nov. 27, 2003 at his home.
Born in Buchanan County, he was a son of the late Lincous and Patsy McGlothlin Ray.
He was a lifelong resident of the area. He was a member of the Fletcher’s Ridge Free Will Baptist Church for over 50 years and was a deacon for over 40 years. A United States Army veteran, he had served in the European Theater of World War II and was a 100% disabled veteran having been honored with the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star of Bravery, and was classified as an expert marksman. He was a retired coal miner and a member of the American Legion Post #164 of Grundy.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Hattie Ray; one son-in-law, Kermit Keen; four brothers, Bascome Ray, Luther Ray, Hunter Ray and Sam Ray; and one sister, Goldie Hale.
Survivors: son, Lowell Dexter Ray and wife, Glenna, of Fletcher’s Ridge; daughters, Mrs. Delmer (Phyllis) Hess of Fletcher’s Ridge, Joyce Keen of Honaker, Mrs. Bernard (Lois) McGlothlin and Mrs. Tommy (Judy) O’Quinn, all of Fletcher’s Ridge; sisters, Narcie Perkins of Honaker, Flossie Fields of Abingdon; grandchildren, Mrs. Jeff (Regina) Hawkins, Derek Ray, Mrs. Bruce (Tabitha) Crowder, Brian and Jessica Hess, Mrs. Nelson (Cathy) Ray, Mrs. Donovan (Candy) Helton, Mrs. Christopher (Tammy) Leonard, Nathan and Sharon O’Quinn, Mrs. Richard (Alicia) Woodard and Amelia McGlothlin; great-grandchildren, Daphne and Major Hawkins, Jaxon Hess, Zack and Blake Ray, Gavin and Jadelyn Leonard, Daniel O’Quinn and Andrew Crowder; special caregivers, Jeanette McGlothlin, Cathy McGlothlin and the staff of Hospice and Palliative Care of Virginia; and several brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews.
The funeral was conducted Nov. 30 at 11 a.m. in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel at Honaker with Rev. Ancil Childress, Rev. Carl Burmeier, Rev. Troy Harris and Honorary Rev. Edward Dye officiating.
Interment followed in the McGlothlin cemetery on Fletcher’s Ridge.
Military graveside honors were conducted by American Legion Post #164 of Grundy.
Russell "Rusty" Robinson Jr.
Russell "Rusty" Winfred Robinson, Jr., 56, of Zuni, died Nov. 25, 2003 at his home.
Born in Amonate, he was a son of Geraldine Farney Robinson of Tazewell and the late Russell "Wimpy" Winfred Robinson.
Additional survivors: daughter, Shelly Gay Robinson of Zuni; former wife, Gay Robinson Davis of California; brother and sister-in-law, Roger Lee Robinson, Sr. and wife, Norma, of Tazewell; nephew Roger Lee Robinson, Jr. of Tazewell; niece and nephew-in-law, Maharani and David Cleveland of Germany; and grandnephew, Richard K. Garrison of Germany.
Memorial services were conducted at 2 p.m. Nov. 29 at the Herald-Hill Funeral Home in Suffolk followed by a scattering of ashes at Blackwater River in Franklin.
Information submitted by Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home of Tazewell.
