U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Bessie Marie Wade Short
Bessie Marie Wade Short, 80, of Route 618, Buchanan County, died Aug. 11, 2005 in a Kingsport, TN, hospital following a lengthy illness.
Born in Buchanan County, Feb. 3, 1925, she was a daughter of the late Bert and Lettie Sisk Wade.
She was a dedicated mother and homemaker. She was a member of the Levisa Assembly of God Church.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Amos Short, and one sister, Garnie Vandyke.
Survivors: sons, Larry Short and wife, Kathy, of Castlewood, Gary Short and wife, Carlene, of Birmingham, AL; daughters, Carol Benge and husband, Calvin of Kingsport, TN; Judy Rife of Richlands; son-in-law, Danny Rife of Raven; brother, Dalley Wade and wife, Blanche, of Cedar Bluff; sister, Mae Wells of Cedar Bluff; grandchildren, Aimee Benge Stefanick, Dana Rife Smith and Zara Lee Short; great grandchild, Phoebe Stefanick; and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral was conducted Aug. 14 at 2 p.m. at Buchanan Funeral Service Chapel in Keen Mountain with Rev. James Horton and Rev. Rick Whitt officiating.
Burial followed in the Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
Charles Addington, Sr.
Charles Raymond Addington, Sr., 74, of Bluefield, VA, died July 30, 2005 after a brave battle with cancer.
The youngest of nine children, he was born Nov. 13, 1930 in Coeburn to Adolphus W. and Ila J. Addington.
He spent most of his life in the Gospel ministry and education.
In a ministry spanning 50 years, he was a full-time pastor of five churches, including Memorial Baptist Church in Bluefield, VA, and served as interim pastor of several area churches. He was an administrator and professor at Bluefield College, his Alma Mater, for 19 years.
He graduated valedictorian from Coeburn High School; with honors in an Associate of Arts Degree from Bluefield College; magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Carson-Newman College; and obtained a Bachelor of Divinity from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Master of Guidance and Counseling from Appalachian State University. He will be remembered for his love of family and of sports, and will be missed by all who knew him. It can be said of him that if you were blessed to have him as a friend, you had a friend for life. His humble, sincere and faithful service to the Lord touched many lives.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers and one sister.
Survivors: wife of 53 years, Betty Collins Addington; daughter, Rebecca Gess and husband, David, of Roanoke; daughter, Martha Oblinger and husband, Mark, of Bluefield, VA; son, Charles Addington, Jr. and wife, Paula, of La Quinta, CA; granddaughters, Sarah and Lora Gess and Amy and Emily Oblinger; sisters, Nita Grizzle of Tullahoma, TN, Mary Main of Charlottesville, Evelyn Baker of San Diego, CA, Fay Roller of Scottsboro, AL; brother, Jack Addington of Rowlett, TX; and many nieces and nephews.
The funeral was conducted Aug. 3 at 1 p.m. at Parkview Baptist Church in Bluefield, VA, with Rev. Roger Roller, Rev. Danny Collins and Rev. Travis Hilton officiating.
Burial followed at Maple Hills cemetery in Bluefield, VA.
Contributions may be made to Gideons International at P.O. Box 100, Falls Mills, VA 24613; or Community Hospices of America at 520 Virginia Ave., Bluefield, VA 24605.
Dudley Memorial Mortuary in Bluefield, VA, was in charge of arrangements.
Hon. Frederick Harmon Combs II
Born Mar. 22, 1946 in Hampton, he departed this life Aug. 7, 2005 from injuries sustained in a tractor accident.
Raised in Grundy, "Freddie" graduated from Grundy High School in 1964. As a youth, he earned the distinction of being an Eagle Scout. Fred went on to graduate from the University of Richmond in 1968 with a B.S. in Business. During his college tenure, he was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity and the Omicron Delta Kappa honor society.
After teaching for one year in Grundy, he returned to the University of Richmond's T.C. Williams School of Law where he earned his Juris Doctor Degree in 1973. After graduation, Fred and his family moved to Tazewell, where he began practicing law with the firm of Gillespie, Chambers and Combs.
In 1985, he was appointed Judge of the General District Court of the 29th Circuit of Virginia including Tazewell, Russell, Buchanan, Dickenson, and formerly Bland County. He served as Judge of the General District Court for over 20 years, retiring from the Bench on June 30, 2005. During his term as Judge, he served on many statewide judicial committees including the Judicial Review and Inquiry Commission. After retirement, he had been appointed as a substitute Judge and was continuing to serve the Commonwealth of Virginia in that capacity.
Fred had been an exemplary Rotarian in the Rotary Club of Tazewell since 1978. He joined the club shortly after returning from a Rotary sponsored Group Study Exchange to Sweden. He served his club as president in 1984-1985. In addition to his local service, he served Rotary District 7570 as the inbound youth exchange coordinator, assisting with the placement of foreign exchange students throughout the district. He was also instrumental in the successful formation of the Russell County Rotary Club in 1991. He was a multiple Paul Harris Fellow and Skelton Fellow.
He was also active in the Tazewell Community where he served on the Tazewell Community Hospital Board and the Board of the Historic Crab Orchard Museum. He was an avid gardener and had completed the Master Gardener program. He enjoyed farming, traveling, fishing, carpentry, spending time with his family and friends, and many other activities too numerous to mention.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Claude Horace "Rink" Combs and Marion Shelton Combs, his aunt Helen Combs Johnson, and several aunts and uncles from the Shelton Family.
Survivors: wife of 38 years, Elene Monk Combs; his children: Kelly Combs Necessary, and husband, Andrew Neal Necessary, of Tazewell; Amy Carter Combs of Christiansburg; Emily Reeves Combs of Richmond; Eric Reynolds Combs and wife, LeighAnn Nelson Combs, of Elliston; and Mark Goodwin Combs of Tazewell; and his grandchildren: Spenser Neal Necessary, Carter Reynolds Necessary, Conner Reeves Necessary, Parker Blake Necessary, and Frederick Harmon Combs III "Trey" expected in Sept., 2005.
He is also survived by his sisters, Carol Combs Irvin, husband John Christopher Irvin, and family of Richmond, TX, Martha Ellen Combs of Abingdon; his cousins Michael Joseph Johnson and family of Grundy, and Santa Fe, NM, Patrick Reynolds Johnson, wife Sandy Johnson, and family of Grundy; many cousins on the Shelton side of his family; and by his neighbors, Donnie and Maggie Pruitt who live on the Combs farm.
He touched many during his lifetime, and continues to touch others by being an organ and tissue donor.
A "Memorial Celebration" of his life was held Aug. 9 at 3 p.m. at the Tazewell Presbyterian Church in Tazewell followed by a reception in his memory immediately following in the fellowship hall of the Main Street United Methodist Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Four Seasons Wellness Center-Tazewell Community Hospital, 141 Ben Bolt Ave., Tazewell, VA 24651; The Historic Crab Orchard Museum, Rt. 1 Box 194, Tazewell, VA 24651; or the Tazewell Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 26, Tazewell, VA 24651.
Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home of Tazewell was in charge of arrangements.
Betty Jo Patteson Jackson
Betty Jo Patteson Jackson, of Tazewell, formerly of Richlands, died Aug. 7, 2005 at Tazewell Community Hospital in Tazewell.
She was the daughter of the late Harry Thomas Patteson and Margaret Thelma Williams Patteson.
She was a member of the Tazewell Presbyterian Church and a former member of the Richlands Presbyterian Church. She was a graduate of Mary Washington College.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one brother, Thomas Lee Patteson.
Survivors: husband, William G. Jackson; sons, William G. “Gil” Jackson, Jr. and wife, Rita Lee Jackson, of Powhatan, Thomas P. Jackson and wife, Susan Crickmer Jackson, of Salisbury, MD; daughters, Ann J. Hyde and husband, Kevin Hyde, of Powhatan, Cindi J. Lowe and husband, Crockett A. Lowe, of Tazewell; brother, the Rev. Harold R. Patteson of Lexington, SC; grandchildren, Erin, Dana, Thomas II, Katie, Megan, Stuart, Morgan, and Sarah; great grandchildren, Shane and Joshua; and special caregivers, Cecilia Rose, Carol Jones, and Faye Davis.
Graveside services were conducted Aug. 9 at 11 a.m. at Maplewood cemetery in Tazewell with Dr. James H. Grant, Jr. officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the building funds at either the Tazewell Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 26, Tazewell, VA, or the Richlands Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 446, Richlands, VA 24641, or a favorite charity.
Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home in Tazewell was in charge of arrangements.
Billy Dean Marshall
Billy Dean Marshall, 74, of Richlands, died Aug. 4, 2005 at a Richlands hospital.
Born in Belfast, he was a son of the late William Matthew and Ocie Katherine Vencil Marshall, both Russell County natives.
He had made his home in the Richlands area the past 43 years and was a retired employee of Long-Air Dox Company at Claypool Hill. He was a member of the UMWA Local #1737 and was a U.S. Army Korean War Veteran.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one son, Billy Dean Marshall, Jr., five brothers, Joe, Charles, Eugene, Edward, and Earl Marshall; and three sisters, Louella Gillespie, Jane Horn, and Edith Marshall.
Survivors: loving wife, Merlene Marshall; daughter, Deana Linowsky and husband, Tom, of Newberry, SC; son, Ronald Wayne Marshall and wife, Sherry, of York, SC; sister, Margaret Whitt of Tazewell; brother, Robert Glen Marshall and wife, Ruby, of Pounding Mill; grandson, Zachary Dean Linowsky; step-granddaughter, Stephanie McGlothlin; and step-great grandson, Logan Tyler McGlothlin.
The funeral was conducted Aug. 6 at 2 p.m. at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Richlands with Rev. Carl Robinson and Rev. Dennis McLemore officiating.
Interment followed in Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
Members of The American Veterans Association Honor Guard and Tazewell County Chapter #31 D.A.V. conducted military graveside rites.
Edna J. Miller
Edna J. Miller, 86, of Chandler, AZ, formerly of Honaker, died Aug. 1, 2005 in Arizona.
Born Oct. 9, 1918 in Pike Co., KY, she was a daughter of the late James and Fannie Thornsbury Barker.
She was a retired employee of the State of Virginia, having been employed for many years at Honaker High School Cafeteria, where she was loved and respected by students and staff alike. She was a member of the Chandler First Assembly of God.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Dallas Miller; three brothers; three sisters; one daughter, Dr. Sharon Miller-Kobayashi; and one son-in-law, Darrell Crow.
Survivors: daughters, Susie Crow of Chandler, Alice (Jim) Street of Lebanon; son, Ben H. (Cyndi) Miller of Millersburg, MN; son-in-law, Mas Kobayashi of Chandler; sisters, Mary Maynard of Phelps, KY, Mildred Wolford of Tazewell, TN; five granddaughters; four grandsons; seven great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral was conducted Aug. 7 at 11 a.m. in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Ancil Childress, Rev. Jack Keene and Rev. Ralph Horton officiating.
Entombment followed in the Greenhills Memory Gardens Mausoleum at Claypool Hill.
Kenneth “Bub” Miller
Kenneth Junior “Bub” Miller, 49, of Swords Creek, died Aug. 5, 2005 in a Richlands hospital.
Born Sept. 19, 1955 in Richlands, he was a son of Junior Herald and Nola Perkins Miller.
A lifelong resident of the Russell County area, he was a disabled coal miner.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Ira and Tiny Miller; his maternal grandparents, Noah and Ocie Perkins; one infant sister, Rita Faye Miller; and three nephews, Derrick Matthew Chapman, Brandon Dewayne Chapman and Brian Owens.
Survivors: wife of 26 years, Barbara Sue Austin Miller; son, Kendall Dale Miller of Honaker; daughter, Vanessa Charlene Jackson of Grundy; granddaughters, Kacie Rain Jackson of Grundy, Harmony Grace Miller of Honaker; one expected grandchild; brother, Burley Miller and wife, Lisa, of Honaker; sisters, Narcie Miller of Honaker, Beck Deloris Whited and Donna Chapman and her husband, Shannon, all of Swords Creek; and several nieces, nephews and special friends.
The funeral was conducted Aug. 9 at 2 p.m. in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Eugene Miller, Rev. David Perkins and Rev. Ellis Whited officiating.
Interment followed in the Perkins cemetery at Miller Creek.
Doris Mae Proffitt
Doris Mae Shelton Proffitt, 59, of Doran, died Aug. 5, 2005 in a Richlands hospital.
Born in Richlands, she was a daughter of Mattie Virginia Cordle Shelton of Doran, and the late Fred Thomas Shelton.
She was a member of the Bible Way Church.
In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by her husband, James Pete Proffitt; one son, Teddy T. Sparks; and three sisters, Louis Faye, Margaret Shelton and Shirley Dye.
Additional survivors: daughter, Melissa M. Proffitt Doud and husband, Jim, of Raven; sons, Ricky D. Sparks and fiancée, Michelle, of Richlands, Curtis E. Sparks of Indiana, Benjamin F. Sparks of Richmond; brothers, Melvin Shelton of Rosedale, Joe Shelton of Richlands, George Shelton of Wardell, Jeff Shelton of Doran; sisters, Anna Mae Dye of Bucyrus, OH, Mary Rose of Richlands, Patsy Loening of Ponder, TX; 12 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
The funeral was conducted Aug. 9 at 2 p.m. at Singleton Funeral Service Chapel in Cedar Bluff with Rev. Dannie Short officiating.
Burial followed in the Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
Peggy Sue Robinson
Peggy Sue Robinson was born Feb. 22, 1958 and departed this world into the loving arms of Jesus Aug. 4, 2005 at her home.
She was an employee of Lear Corporation in Lebanon. She was a member of Perkins Chapel in Swords Creek.
She was preceded in death by her father, Robert Andrew Robinson.
Survivors: mother and stepfather, Vivian B. and Ronnie S. Ray of the home; sisters, Rose Mary Robinson of the home, Tamara J. Plaster and husband, Larry, of Rosedale; brothers, Robert H. Robinson and wife, Reba, of Miller Creek, W. Andrew Robinson and wife, Wanda Kay, of Charleston, IL, James E. Robinson and John D. Robinson, both of Hillsville; three nieces; one nephew; special aunts and uncles; and many special friends.
The funeral was conducted Aug. 6 at 11 a.m. in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Jess Whited, Rev. David Perkins and Rev. Daniel Richardson officiating.
Interment followed in the Ketron Memorial Gardens in Lebanon.
Michelle Y. Rutherford
Michelle Yvonne Rutherford, 35, of Honaker, died Aug. 5, 2005 at her home.
Born Oct. 20, 1969 in Richlands, she was a daughter of Harry T. and Yvonne Taylor Rutherford of Honaker.
She had resided in the Honaker area most of her life and was a 1987 graduate of Honaker High School and attended Appalachian State University. She was a homemaker and a member of Fellowship Baptist Church at Blackford, where she blessed many with her singing.
Additional survivors: daughter, Taylor Renee Rutherford of Honaker; sister, Marla Renee Shortt and husband, Dennis “Dink”, of Swords Creek; and niece, Makayla Brooke Shortt of Swords Creek.
The funeral was conducted Aug. 7 at 2 p.m. in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Rick Blevins and Rev. Chris Musick officiating.
Interment followed in the Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
