U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Mary G. Sparks
Mary G. Sparks, 61, of Bandy, died July 4, 2005 in a Richlands hospital following a brief illness.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands.
Basil L. Ballard
Basil Leonard Ballard, 80, of Bluefield, VA, died June 23, 2005 at Bluefield Regional Medical Center.
Born Sept. 19, 1924 at Midway, he was the son of the late Radar Ballard and Ollie Compton Ballard. He was a lifelong resident of Bluefield, VA.
He served in the U.S. Navy from 1943-1946 and was a veteran of WWII having served in the Pacific. He was a member and past Deacon of Bluefield Church of the Nazarene and was retired from Consolidated Coal Central Shop.
Survivors: his devoted wife of 62 years, Elizabeth Tabor Ballard; son, Basil Ballard, Jr. and wife, Linda, of Abingdon; daughter, Donna Kessler and husband, Joe, of Bluefield, VA; daughter, Kathy Winkler and husband, John, of Princeton, WV; son, Jimmy Ballard and wife, Lisa, of Columbus, OH; sisters, Elsie Beasley of Poland, OH, Louella Barrett and Clara Nunn, both of Bluefield, WV; grandchildren, Rick Herald, Sarah and Andy Ballard, Erin and Tyler Winkler, Katelin and Matthew Ballard; and two great-grandchildren.
The funeral was conducted June 25 at 2 p.m. at the Mercer Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Jeff Beckett and Rev. Dan Campbell officiating.
Burial followed at Grandview Memory Gardens in Bluefield, VA.
Hattie Holley Heath
Hattie Holley Heath, 103, of Tazewell, died June 17, 2005 at Tazewell Community Hospital.
The 11th of 13 children, she was born July 25, 1901 in Tazewell to Leander C. and Malvina Smith Holley, both of whom were born in slavery, but freed after the Civil War.
She attended local schools in Tazewell and Bramwell, WV and then went to Storer College in Harpers Ferry, WV, a school established by the Freewill Baptist Church of Massachusetts to provide education for newly emancipated African-American slaves. She continued her education at Bluefield College, where she earned her bachelor’s degree, and at Eastern Michigan University and the University of Virginia, where she did her graduate work.
After returning to Tazewell in the mid 1930s, she began teaching at an elementary school for African-American children in the county’s Carline section and for more than 30 years was a teacher, principal, mentor, and role model to generations of young people. After the schools were integrated, she served as librarian briefly, and then finished her career as a fifth grade teacher at Tazewell Elementary School. In 1966, she was named “Teacher of the Year” by the Jeffersonville Woman’s Club. Over 60 years ago she became a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, the first African-American sorority founded at Howard University in 1908. The sorority is dedicated to serving all mankind. She was inducted in 2002 in the Delta Kappa Gamma sorority, which is an international professional sorority for educators.
She was a founding member of the Tazewell Community Hospital Board of Directors. In 1999 the Tazewell Town Council designated July 10, as “Hattie Holley Heath Day.” Council also erected a sign formally designating the Holleytown Section, in recognition of the family’s longtime commitment to the entire community. In February of 2000 the Virginia General Assembly passed Senate Joint Resolution 265 commending Hattie Holley Heath for her exceptional contributions to the citizens of Tazewell County. The resolution was presented to her at her home on July 10, 2000 by Virginia State Senator Phillip Puckett during a reception called in her honor.
She was a longtime member of Wilbur Memorial United Methodist Church in Tazewell, where she served in many capacities which included, Secretary of the church, Treasurer of the United Methodist Women and the Senior Choir, Representative to the District Conference for the United Methodist Women, and Sunday school teacher. She was a life member of the NAACP.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Curtis Heath, seven sisters, and five brothers. She was the last surviving member of her immediate family.
Survivors: nieces, Bernice Bond and her husband, Clifton, Marie Hope, Lois Cunningham Marion Moorman and Mary Davis; nephews, Ray Williams and his wife, Ursula, and John Williams; care givers, JoAnn Hopkins, Freda Smith, Frances Barnes, Shirley Dennis, Hattie Mitchell, Barbara Jordan, Rose Johnson, and Robert Dennis; and several other nieces and nephews and grand nieces and grand nephews.
The funeral was conducted June 23 at 2 p.m. at Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home Chapel in Tazewell with the Rev. Dr. Carolyn Browning officiating.
Burial followed at Maplewood cemetery in Tazewell.
Carolyn W. Hilmandollar
Carolyn W. Hilmandollar, 70, of Tazewell, died June 22, 2005 at Tazewell Community Hospital.
Born July 23, 1934 in Tazewell County, she was a daughter of the late B.H. and Margaret Johnson Hilmandollar.
Survivors: son, Larry Hilmandolar and wife, Brenda, of Chesapeake; grandchildren, Jesse and Sara; brother, Buster Hilmandollar of Kentucky; aunts, Georgia Pyott of Tazewell, Martha Williams of Abbs Valley, Betty Smith of West Virginia, Beulah Bowman of Hollywood, FL, Viola Leedy of Tampa, FL; and several nieces and nephews.
Graveside services were conducted June 27 at 2 p.m. at Grandview Memory Gardens in Bluefield, VA with the Rev. Russell Hatfield officiating.
Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home of Tazewell was in charge of the arrangements.
Paul Denton Price
Paul Denton Price, 85, of the Finney section of Honaker, died June 20, 2005 in a Kingsport, TN hospital.
Born Nov. 26, 1919 in Russell County, he was a son of the late Samuel Columbus and Myrtie Lee Honaker Price.
A lifelong resident of the area, he was of the Baptist faith and was a farmer. He was a United States Army veteran, having served in World War II.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one son, Richard Lee Price; three brothers, Taze Price, Douglas Price and Otis Banner Price; and three sisters, Betty Honaker, Elgie Wolford and Dosie Mae Peevy.
Survivors: wife of 57 years, Kathleen Price; daughters and sons-in-law, Linda and George Raevsky of Spotsylvania, Judy and Herb Schneider of Robbinsville, NJ, Audrey Pauline and Gary Hart and Lena and Terry Dye, all of Honaker; three sons and two daughters-in-law, Gary and Jean Price of Council, Billy and Joyce Price of Honaker, James Price of the home; sisters, Molly Johnson of Cream Ridge, NJ, Mary Ellen Sauls of Honaker; brothers, Grady Price of Pounding Mill, Henry Price and George Price, both of Honaker, John Lee Price of South Carolina, Coy Price of Baptist Valley; 11 grandchildren; one expected great-grandchild; and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral was conducted June 23 at 11 a.m. in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel in Honaker with Rev. Stephen Musick and Rev. Michael Dye officiating.
Interment followed in the Dye cemetery at Finney.
Christopher T. Rasnake
Christopher Todd Rasnake, 32, of Abingdon, formerly of Bluefield, VA, died June 24, 2005 at a Wytheville hospital.
Born in Bluefield, he was the son of Winfred “Wimpy” Rasnake and Ruth Bandy Rasnake of Bluefield, VA.
He was a member of the Parkview Baptist Church in Bluefield, VA and the Highlands Fellowship Church in Abingdon. He was a U.S. Marshall and former employee at Lebanon Tire and Recapping Co. in Lebanon.
A 1990 graduate of Graham High School, he served in the U.S. Air Force during the Gulf War and was also in the Army Reserves. He was a member of Abingdon Lodge 48, American Legion, VFW and the Single Action Shooting Society. He was a former employee of the Tazewell County Sheriff’s Dept.
Additional survivors: wife, Lynn Heath Rasnake; sons, Aaron Christopher Hall, A1C, of Langley Air Force Base, Jonathon Paige Hall of Abingdon; brothers, Scott W. Rasnake and wife, Leslie, of Plattsburg, NY, Tony M. Rasnake and wife, Sandi, of Colorado Springs, CO, Randall W. Rasnake of Bland; paternal grandmother, Flossie Rasnake Fields of Abingdon; mother and father-in-law, Bill and Linda Heath of Chilhowie; and his loving dogs, Max and Josie.
The funeral was conducted June 28 at 11 a.m. at the Dudley Memorial Chapel in Bluefield with Pastor Jimmie Davidson officiating.
Burial followed in the family cemetery in Bland Co.
Graveside services were conducted by the Honor Guard of the Highlands Fellowship Church.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the VFW or to the American Legion.
Ardelle M. Reed
Ardelle McMillen Reed, 77, of Cedar Bluff, died June 17, 2005.
She was a native of Evans City, PA, attended Kutztown College and graduated from Duffs-Iron City College.
In 1951, she married
Vernon J. Reed of Slippery Rock and then lived in Lyndhurst, OH, until 1980. She was a Girl Scout leader for more than ten years and volunteer for numerous organizations.
She was a member of the Eastern Star and the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution. She served as regent of the NSDAR for Maiden Spring Chapter in Tazewell and as District IV director of NSDAR Virginia. She was an avid genealogist and compiled the “Wahl Ancestors, Descendants and Related Families” in 1982.
Survivors: three daughters and two sons-in-law, Carol and Louis Short of Raven, Deborah Reed of Parker, CO, Lisa and Ken Lloyd of Lakewood, CO; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; one step-great-grandchild; brother, Dean R. McMillen and wife, Mary Belle, of Evans City; three nephews; and one niece.
A memorial service was held June 26 at 1 p.m. at the Kinsey-Volz Funeral Home in Evans City.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to NSDAR, P.O. Box 98288, Washington, D.C. 20090; the Western Pennsylvania Historical Society, 1212 Smallman St., Pittsburgh, PA 15222 or to Evans City Library, Main St., Evans City, PA 16033, for books on tape.
Ray D. Stowers
Ray Dunn Stowers, 78, of Bluefield, VA, died June 14, 2005 at Bluefield Regional Medical Center.
Born in Bluefield, he was a son of the late Ward Dunn Stowers and Ollie Mae Shrader Stowers.
He was a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church in Bluefield, VA, and was retired from the N & S Railroad. He had served in the U.S. Navy during WWII from 1944-1947 and graduated from Concord College in 1951 in Business Administration.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one sister, Marie S. Nash.
Survivors: wife, Gerry Leffel Stowers; daughter, Rayette S. Hendrick and husband, Kevin, of Roanoke; sons, Clay Dunn Stowers and wife, Geraldine Faulkner Stowers, of Abingdon; Mark Samuel Stowers and wife, Amy Yost Stowers, of Bluefield, VA; grandchildren, Carrie R. Hendrick of Blacksburg, John Mark W. Hendrick of Roanoke, Brett and Michael Stowers, both of Abingdon, Hannah, Samuel, Jacob and Luke Stowers, all of Bluefield, VA; special niece who helped with much care, Betty Blevins; other nieces, Gail Graham of Christiansburg, Sharon Leffel of Bluefield, Rhonda Hawkins of Bluefield; and nephew, Douglas Leffel of Vinton.
The funeral was conducted June 17 at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Bluefield, VA, with the Rev. Hugh Kilgore officiating.
Entombment followed in the Woodlawn Mausoleum in Bluewell.
Donations may be made to The Assistance Fund, First United Methodist Church, 200 S. College Ave., Bluefield, VA 24605.
Dudley Memorial Mortuary in Bluefield, VA, was in charge of arrangements.
Edgar Lynn Tibbs, Sr.
Edgar Lynn Tibbs, Sr., 78, of North Tazewell, (Springville) died June 16, 2005 at his home.
Born in Bluefield, VA, he was a son of the late Richard Hamilton Tibbs and Fannie Jane Woody Tibbs.
He was a former employee for Platnick Brothers in Bluefield, VA and attended church at the Mt. Zion United Methodist Church. He served in the U.S. Army during WWII and was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Elizabeth Earls Tibbs; and two brothers, John Thomas Tibbs and George W. Fox; and one sister, Ruby Painter.
Survivors: sons, Edgar Lynn Tibbs, Jr. of Bluefield, Tony J. Tibbs and wife, Sue, of Springville; grandchildren, Allen Lee Tibbs, Bryan David Tibbs, Christine Elizabeth Fuller and Toni Leana Tibbs; great-grandchildren, Priscilla Catherine Tibbs and Matthew Tibbs; brothers, James E. Tibbs of Bluefield, VA, Hobert A. Tibbs of Ypsilanti, MI; and sisters, Jean Painter of Ypsilanti, Frances McDaniel of Tazewell and Louise Leedy of Bluefield, VA.
The funeral was conducted June 18 at 2 p.m. at the Dudley Memorial Chapel in Bluefield, VA, with the Rev. Howard Edwards officiating.
Burial followed in the Grandview Memory Gardens.
Clarence H. Whited
Clarence Howard Whited, 90, of Raven, died June 25, 2005 at an Abingdon hospital following a lengthy illness.
Born in Russell County, he was the son of the late Rass Whited and Flora Elizabeth Boyd Richardson Whited.
He was a member of the New Hope Assembly Church at Claypool Hill and a retired coal miner and member of the U.M.W.A.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Edith Virginia Plaster Whited; one infant daughter, Linda Ruth Whited; one son, William Thomas Whited; one great-granddaughter, Katelyn Elizabeth Ball; and three half sisters, Mrs. Charlie (Dora) Owens, Mrs. Neeley (Tora) Vance and Mrs. Walter (Bessie) Lawson.
Survivors: daughter, Alice Faye Ball and husband, Larry, of Abingdon; grandsons, Dwayne Alan Ball and wife, Whitney, of Abingdon, Brian David Ball and wife, Amy, of Valrico, FL; great-grandchildren, Laura Elizabeth Ball, Benjamin Alan Ball and Jonathan Luke Ball of Abingdon, Ethan David Ball and Nicholas Ryan Ball of Valrico; half sisters, Mae Ball of Swords Creek, Juanita Cordle and Kathleen Brown, both of Raven; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Clinton and Gayle Plaster of Mansfield, OH, Russell Plaster of Galion, OH, Ruth Mallory of Radcliff, KY, Marie and Emory Short of Richlands, OH, Trudy Woodrum and David and Peggy Plaster, all of Raven, Jean and Tolbert White of Abingdon, and Judy and Jim Patton of Cedar Bluff.
The funeral was conducted June 27 at 11 a.m. at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Home Chapel in Richlands with the Reverend Claudie Throgmartin officiating.
Interment followed at the Greenhills Memory Gardens in Claypool Hill.
James “Jimmy” Altizer
James “Jimmy” Moody Altizer, 58, of Cedar Bluff, died June 17, 2005 at his home following a brief illness.
Born in Raven, he was the son of the late Jim Tom and Nell Hankins Altizer, both Bandy natives.
He had made his home in the Bandy area all of his life and was a retired, disabled coal miner of Jones Fork Mines in Kentucky and a former employee of Ferrell Gas and Blue Gas Oils of North Tazewell. He was a U.S. Army Vietnam Conflict Veteran and was a member and former President of the UMWA Local #2322 of Amonate.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by paternal grandparents, Bliss and Corey Beavers Altizer of Whittaker Ridge; maternal grandparents Troy and Mae Bandy Hankins of Baptist Valley; father and mother-in-law, Daniel Andy and Ruby Mitchell Sparks of Baptist Valley; three sisters, Dianna Grace Altizer, Mary Elizabeth Altizer, and Judy Katherine Altizer; and one very special brother-in-law, Gary Thomas Beavers.
Survivors: wife of 34 years, Joan Sparks Altizer; daughters, Jolena Dawn Rasnake and husband, Christopher, of Colorado Springs, CO, Jonell Nicole Altizer and Justina Opel Altizer, both of the home; son, James “Jamie” Moody Altizer, Jr. of the home; sisters, Barbara Ellen Beavers, Mrs. Stan (Mona) French and Mrs. Rick (Freda) Keen, all of Bandy; sisters-in-law, Mrs. Jimmy (Shirley) Blankenship of Mt. Holley, NC, Doris Love and Glenda Sparks, both of Lincolnton, NC; special grandchildren, Jami Danielle Altizer, Noah Christopher Rasnake, and Cody Welch; God daughter, Brittnay Nicole Blankenship; and a host of friends and family.
The funeral was conducted June 20 at 11 a.m. at Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands with Rev. Kenny Fields and Rev. Danny Starling officiating.
Interment followed at the Altizer Family cemetery on Whitaker Ridge near Bandy.
Members of Casey-Shortt VFW Post #9640 conducted military graveside rites.
