U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Gay S. VanDyke
Gay S. VanDyke, 82, of North Tazewell, died Dec. 10, 2005 at her home.
Born March 3, 1923 at Rich Valley, she was a daughter of the late Joseph D. Smith and Lucille Smith Kinder.
She was a retired Plant Clerk with General Telephone and Electronics Company having worked with the company 32 years. She was a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America and the Barns-Beavers VFW Post #7136 Ladies Auxiliary in Tazewell. She attended Trinity Presbyterian Church in Tazewell.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one brother, Charles Smith; one sister, Mable Smith Johnson; one half-brother, Boyd Carter Kinder; and one half-sister, Mamie Kinder Centani.
Survivors: husband of 64 years, Eugene "Van" VanDyke; son, Thomas J. "T.J." VanDyke and wife, Sherry, of Dublin; daughter, Anita V. Reynolds and husband, Donald, of North Tazewell; grandchildren, Doniell and James D. "J.D." Reynolds of North Tazewell, Thomas J. "Joey" VanDyke, Jr. of Richmond, Stephanie R. VanDyke of Tazewell; brother, Harry D. Smith and wife, Paulette, of Tazewell; and half-sister, Earlene K. Taylor of New Orleans, LA.
Graveside services were conducted Dec. 12 at 2 p.m. at Maplewood cemetery in Tazewell with the Rev. Henry Johnson officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family request memorial contributions be made to the American Cancer Society, 1808 Jefferson St., Bluefield, WV 24701.
Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home in Tazewell was in charge of arrangements.
Bobby Yates
Bobby Yates, 64, of Rt. 1, Vansant, died Dec. 11, 2005 at Buchanan General Hospital following a brief illness.
Born in Buchanan County, he was a son of the late Ruffice Airis and Pinkie Mae Deel Yates.
He was a lifelong resident of Buchanan County and attended Shiloh Pentecostal Church. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather and was a retired coal miner.
He was preceded in death by one brother-in-law, Kermit Nelson, and one nephew, Jimmy Roger Yates.
Survivors: wife, Debra Lynn Thacker Yates of Vansant; daughter, Bobbi Rena and husband, Gary Shaun Baker, of Cedar Bluff; son, Bobby Gene Jr. and wife, Monique Dianne Yates, of Haysi; sisters, Shirley and husband, Albert Horn, and Lois Jean "Sissy" Nelson, all of Vansant, Lula and husband, Doye Stanley, of Oakwood, Patsy Ann Grey of Richlands; brother, Jimmy Roger and wife, Linda Yates, of Vansant; and grandchildren, Mandy Larae Yates of Clintwood, Amy Lauren Coleman of Rt. 1, Vansant, Skyler Drew Baker and Gunner Sean Baker, both of Cedar Bluff.
The funeral will be conducted Dec. 14 at 1 p.m. at the Grundy Funeral Home Chapel with Evg. Mike Rife and Rev. Terry Colley officiating.
Burial will follow at the Yates cemetery in Vansant.
Services were held at the funeral home Dec. 13 at 7 p.m.
Thomas Chase Ball
Thomas Chase Ball, 20, of Abingdon, died Dec. 4, 2005 in an Abingdon hospital.
Born July 17, 1985 in Richlands, he was a son of Mary Ellen Peck of Honaker and the late Thomas Stephen Ball.
A 2004 graduate of John Battle High School, he was of the Baptist faith.
In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Martin and Shirley Ball.
Survivors, in addition to his mother, include his step-father, Alvin Deel of Honaker; aunts, Thelma Massie, Bobbie Jo Peck, Stephanie Ball, Sharlene Ball, Suzanne Aughtry, Penny Stinson and Kelly New; maternal grandparents, Glen and Ella Peck of Drill; step-grandparents, Elmer and Laura Deel of Honaker; fiancée, Amber McMurray of Abingdon; and many friends and cousins.
The funeral will be conducted Dec. 9 at 11 a.m. in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel in Honaker with Rev. Craig Barber officiating.
Interment will follow in the family cemetery.
Helen L. Bowling Brown
Helen L. Bowling Brown, 87, of Tazewell, went to be with the Lord, Dec. 4, 2005 at Tazewell Community Hospital in Tazewell following a long illness.
Born Nov. 4, 1918 in Tazewell County, she was a daughter of the late Charles and Mamie Lawson Bowling.
She was a member of the Tazewell Pentecostal Holiness Church. She was employed at Pop Shop #1 in Tazewell.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, John J. Brown, five brothers and three sisters. She was the last surviving member of the Brown family.
Survivors: daughters, Nancy Louise Jones and husband, Virgil, of Bladensburg, MD, Mary Ellen Rose and husband, Bill, of Culpeper, Shirley G. Rose and husband, Michael, and Carol Anne Cornwell and husband, Danny, all of Tazewell, Patricia Sue Maloyed and husband, C.H., of Marion; sons, John Thomas Brown and wife, Joey, of Rixeyville, Wayne Cecil Brown and wife, Kathy, of Tazewell; sister, Frances Lewis of Tazewell; brother, Bill Bowling of Tampa, FL; 18 grandchildren; 29 great grandchildren; and 11 great-great grandchildren.
The funeral will be conducted Dec. 7 at 2 p.m. at Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home Chapel in Tazewell with the Rev. Jessie Hunt and the Rev. Danny Cornwell officiating.
Burial will follow at Maplewood cemetery in Tazewell.
The family request memorial contributions be made to Tazewell Home Health, C/O Tazewell Community Hospital, 141 Ben Bolt Ave. Tazewell, VA 24651.
Bessie Gay Cox
Bessie Gay Cox, 88, of Belfast, died Dec. 2, 2005 at Clinch Valley Medical Center in Richlands.
Born Oct. 7, 1917 in Russell County, she was the daughter of the late Frank and Rosa Mutter Cox.
She was a member of the Dennison United Methodist Church in Belfast.
In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her husband, Garnett Smith Cox; sons, Buford Elliot Cox and Jerry Dale Cox; infant children, Perry Dean Cox, Carl Smith Cox, Garland Finney Cox and Shelby Keith Cox; son-in-law, Roy Earls; sisters, Ruby White and Madge Mutter; and brother, George Burlen Cox.
Survivors: sons, Marvin Ellis Cox, Gailen Henry Cox and wife, Ethel, and David Graham Cox, all of Belfast; daughters, Bonnie Lee Carpenter and husband, Bob, of Corn Valley, Joan Cox Dickenson and husband, Mark O., of Castlewood, Tena Gay Earls of Belfast; sister, Pauline Langford of Lafayette, IN; brother, James Garmen Cox of Frankfort, IN; 16 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
The funeral was held Dec. 4 at 2 p.m. at Dennison United Methodist Church in Belfast with Rev. Paul Hite officiating.
Interment followed at the Cox Family cemetery in Belfast.
Donations may be made to the Bessie Gay Cox Memorial Fund for diabetes research at Dennison United Methodist Church, HC 64, Box 34, Rosedale, VA 24280.
Owens Funeral Service was in charge of arrangements.
Leo Harlan Cox, Sr.
Leo Harlan Cox, 83, of Bluefield, VA, died Nov. 27, 2005 at Bluefield Regional Medical Center.
Born in Parksville, KY, he was a son of the late Ira and Ethel Combs Cox.
He graduated from Bland High School in 1941. He was a member of the Highland Ave. Bluefield Va. Church of God and retired in 1983 having worked for 24 years as a salesman for Cole Baking Co. and Purity Maid Bakery.
He entered the Army Dec. 17, 1942 and served with the Communication Services Battery B. at Ft. Bragg, NC and served in WWII, serving three years in England and France and landed on D-Day in 1945. He served in battles during the Invasion of Normandy, landing at Omaha Beach and also in Northern France, received American Theater and European African Middle Eastern Service Ribbons and Good Conduct Medal and Victory Ribbon of WWII. He was a life member of the American Legion Post 20 in Bland and also a life member of the Bluefield, VA VFW Memorial Post 9696. He was a member of the Teamsters Union Local 175 and had resided in Bluefield, VA, (Double Gates), since 1963.
He was preceded in death by his twin sister, Cleo Cox and other sisters, Norma Ruth Cox, Evelyn Barbour, and brothers, James Walter Cox, Karl Dennis Cox and Dean Cox.
Survivors: daughter, Donna Brown and husband, Sam, of Bastian; son, Harlan Cox and wife, Beth, of Bastian; brother, Ralph Cox of Glouster; grandchildren, John Brown of Lovell, WY, Chris Brown of Bastian, Marcus Brown of Bristol, TN, Jennifer Scott of Draper, Nathan Cox and Hannah Cox, both of Bastian; five great grandchildren; and special friends and caregivers, Nancy and Pete Smothers of Bluefield, VA.
The funeral was conducted Nov. 29 at 8 p.m. at the Highland Ave. Bluefield VA Church of God with Rev. Tony Ellis officiating.
Graveside services were held Nov. 30 at 11 a.m. at the Rose Hill cemetery in Bastian.
Military rites were conducted by the VFW Post 9696 and the Pocahontas American Legion #14.
Donations may be made to the Church of God Building Fund, 104 Highland Ave., Bluefield, VA 24605.
Dudley Memorial Mortuary in Bluefield, VA was in charge of arrangements.
Luther McKinley Davis
Luther McKinley Davis, 88, of Raven, died peacefully at his home with his family by his side Dec. 1, 2005 following a brief illness.
Born in Marvin, he was the son of the late Oliver and Ollie Proffitt Davis, both Buchanan County natives.
He had made his home in the Raven area most of his life and was a retired miner from Knox Creek Coal Company. He was a member of UMWA Local #6199 Red Ash. He was a U.S. Navy World War II Veteran and a member of John Ratliff American Legion Post in Grundy.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one daughter, Mary Elizabeth Davis; one daughter-in-law, Claretta Davis; and one son-in-law, William E. Hale. He was the last surviving member of his immediate family.
Survivors: wife of 63 years, Mary Elizabeth Brown Davis; daughters, Barbara Sue Keene of Raven, Patsy J. Ball and husband, Dennis, and Lisa M. Stanley and husband, Buddy, all of Richlands, Stephanie M. Tatum and husband, Steven, of Dublin; sons, James L. Davis of Morristown, TN, Jerry J. Davis and wife, Marie, of Claypool Hill; grandchildren, William E Hale, II and wife, Eloise, of Charlotte, NC, Karen Davis Beggs and husband, Mark, of Church Hill, TN; Dr. Tamra Davis and Jamie H. Davis, both of Morristown, TN, Sheri Hale of Belfast; and great grandchildren, Avalon Elizabeth Beggs and William Dahmon McKinley Hale.
The funeral was conducted Dec. 3 at 11 a.m. at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Richlands.
Burial was private.
Members of Casey-Shortt VFW Post #9640 conducted military graveside rites.
Mabel Rhudy Ellis
Mabel Rhudy Ellis, 83, of Roanoke, died Nov. 20, 2005.
Surviving: daughters and sons-in-law, Frances and Ed Metcalf of Moneta and Hedda and Kenny St. Clair of Buchanan; son and daughter-in-law, Boyd Greever and Julie Walls of Newport News; grandchildren, Lisa Mullins, Tracy Broughman, Todd St. Clair, Shane St. Clair, Jason St. Clair, Jake Greever and Emma Greever; seven great-grandchildren; brother, Jacob L. Rhudy, Jr. of Burkes Garden; sister, Colleen Cox of Burkes Garden; and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral was conducted Nov. 23 at 1 p.m. at Oakey's North Chapel with The Rev. Fred Ellsworth officiating.
Interment was in Sherwood Memorial Park.
Memorials may be made to Burkes Garden cemetery Association, Burkes Garden, VA 24600.
Annie Loular Gross
Annie Loular Smith Simmons Gross, 89, of Richlands, died Dec. 4, 2005 in a Tazewell hospital following a lengthy illness.
Born Sept. 14, 1916 in Tazewell County, she was the daughter of the late Calup Jackson and Loula Elizabeth Lawson Smith.
She was a member of the Primitive Baptist Church.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, William M. Simmons; her second husband, James C. Gross; three brothers, Roy Smith, George Smith and Calvin Smith; and two sisters, Bendie Smith and Mary Meadows.
Survivors: daughters, Delores (Dottie) Jordan and husband, Tom, of Gaithersburg, MD, Effie Hicks and husband, Ken, of Richlands, Naomi Puckett and husband, Randy, of Richlands; sister, Lou Meadows of Baltimore, MD; 13 grandchildren; and several great grandchildren.
The funeral will be conducted Dec. 7 at 11 a.m. at Singleton Funeral Service Chapel in Cedar Bluff with Elder Ronnie Beavers and Elder Robert Whitt officiating.
Burial will follow in the Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
Sandra Lynn Hill
Sandra Lynn Hill, 45, of Raven, died Dec. 4, 2005 at a Richlands hospital.
Born in Cleveland, OH, she was a daughter of John and Beulah Adams Lamie, both of Jewell Valley.
She was a graduate of Whitewood High School Class of 1977. She was a homemaker and had made her home in the Raven area for the last 19 years. She had attended the Living Word Outreach Church in Whitewood.
She was preceded in death by one brother, Eddie Dewayne Lamie.
Additional survivors: husband, Leonard E. Hill; sons, Jamey Hill and wife, Shawna, of Raven, Travis Hill of the home; sisters, Treva Meadows and husband, Mark, and Julie Clifton and husband, Timothy, all of Jewell Valley; brother, Jeffrey Glen Lamie and wife, Angel, of Claypool Hill; and father and mother-in-law, George and Mary Hill of Raven.
The funeral will be conducted Dec. 7 at 11 a.m. at the Keen Mountain Pentecostal Church at Keen Mountain with the Rev. Clell Daniels, Rev. James Ray, Terry Stacy and Luther Rife officiating.
Interment will follow in the Fairview cemetery in Pea Patch.
Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands is in charge of the arrangements.
Ermel Lynton Hunt, III
Ermel Lynton Hunt, III, 34, of HC Route 1, Raven, died Dec. 2, 2005 at his place of business after an apparent heart attack.
Born in Pike Co., KY, he was the son of Ermel Lynton Hunt Jr. of Deel and the late Vivian Carol Smith Hunt.
He was a lifelong resident of Buchanan County and a graduate of Grundy Senior High School Class of 1988. He was a self employed contractor who enjoyed spending his time with family and friends.
In addition to his mother, he was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Deaton and Vicy Smith, and his paternal grandfather, Ermel Lynton Hunt, Sr.
Additional survivors: sister, Laura Lee and husband, Jerry Landrum of Catharphin; paternal grandmother, Amalee Elliott Hunt of Deel; niece, Olivia Landrum of Catharphin; and nephews, Zach Landrum, Austin Landrum and Jett Landrum, all of Catharphin.
The funeral was conducted Dec. 5 at 11 a.m. at the Grundy Funeral Home Chapel with Evg. Mike Rife and Rob Taylor officiating.
Burial followed in the Mountain Valley Memorial Park at Big Rock.
