U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
POWERS
Pearl H. Powers, 89, of Manakin-Sabot, died Thursday, July 19, 2001. She was preceded in death by her husband, Clinton Earl Powers; and a daughter, Diane P. Trapani. Survivors include a son, Gary Powers, and his fiancee, Peggy Balsbaugh; two grandchildren, Anthony J. Trapani Jr. and Michael A. Trapani; and a great-granddaughter, Stephanie Trapani. Friends may call 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the West Chapel of Bennett Funeral Home, 11020 West Broad Street. Services will be held 11 a.m. Monday at Westhampton Memorial Park Mausoleum. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to Centerville Volunteer Fire and Rescue Squad, Company 3, 52 Broad Street Road, Manakin-Sabot, Va. 23103.
ROBINSON
Helen Livesay Robinson, 64, passed away Saturday, July 21, 2001 after a long illness. She will be truly missed by her family. She is survived by her lifetime companion, Leroy G. Robinson of Richmond; her mother, Mary Armstrong of Richmond; her three daughters, Cheryl Valenti of Richmond, Janet Wilson of Marina-del-Rey, Calif. and Mary Ellen Robinson of Reston, Va.; three sons, Roy and Russell Robinson of Orlando, Fla., and Leslie Robinson of New Kent, Va.; two sisters, Jean Moore and husband, Loyal of Glen Allen and Anne
Williams and husband, A.J. of Woodford, Va.; brother, Ed Livesay of Denver, Colo.; and half-brother, Edward Livesay of Richmond, Va.; her daughter-in-law, Carolyn Robinson; and grandchildren, Grant and Nicholas Robinson, all of New Kent, Va.; her uncle and aunt, Gary and Grace
Williams of Richmond; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her father, Norton M. Livesay. She was a member of Fort Lee Baptist Church, receptionist for Marsh Inc. in Richmond, and former owner of Stitches Inc. She dedicated her life to her family and animal rights. The family would like to express our mother's sincerest appreciation to her many devoted friends for their love and support. A private service will be held at Washington Memorial Park on Monday, July 23, 2001 to honor her life. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the American Cancer Society and the Richmond Animal League.
RYLAND
Elizabeth
Wells Ryland, 89, of Old Church, died July 20, 2001. Born May 21, 1912 in Orange, Va., she was the daughter of Robert Henry and Mabel Carver Wells. She was the widow of Edward Temple Ryland Sr. She is survived by her daughter, C. Lindsay Ryland of Old Church; her son, Edward Temple Ryland Jr. of White Stone, Va.; and her brother, Robert William
Wells of Virginia Beach. She was an active member of Immanuel Episcopal Church in Old Church for over 50 years, serving on the Vestry, the Altar Guild and as a member of the Episcopal Church Women. She was a member of the Pamunkey Woman's Club and the Patrick Henry Book Club. She was past president of the Hanover Historical Society and designed the commemorative medal for the county's 250th anniversary. For many years, she was the librarian and secretary at Battlefield Park Elementary School. A memorial service will be held on Monday, July 23, 2001 at Immanuel Episcopal Church in Old Church at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Immanuel Episcopal Church, 3263 Old Church Rd., Mechanicsville, Va. 23111 or to the East Hanover Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 454, Mechanicsville, Va. 23111.
SANDERS
Marilyn E. Sanders, 41, of Richmond, passed away Friday, July 20, 2001. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Woodrow and Mildred Sanders, and brother, Vernon Sanders. She is survived by four sisters, Sue Ellen Sanders, Nanalou Rock and family, Jennifer
Johnson and family and Sherry Hershey and family; one brother, Woodrow Sanders Jr. and family; and numerous nieces and nephews. Her remains rest at the Bliley Funeral Homes' Chippenham Chapel, 6900 Hull Street Rd., where the family will receive friends from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday. Funeral notice later.
SCUDDER
Todd Ragsdale Scudder, 31, of Richmond, died Friday, July 20, 2001. He is survived by his parents, Robert and Sherry Scudder of Richmond; a sister, Julie Hilliard of Redding, Conn.; a brother, Greg Scudder of San Bernardino, Calif. Todd was an exchange student at the University of the Virgin Islands, the University of Malta and Rome. Friends will gather at Todd's parent's home from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Friday, July 27, 2001. A memorial service will be held in Russellville, Ark. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Richmond SPCA or Hospice of Central Virginia.
SWANN
Elizabeth Pauline Jewell Swann, 85, of Walmsley, died July 20, 2001. Surviving are a daughter, Norma Deane Anderson of Centreville; sons, Irving Wayne Swann of Hughesville, Md., and Charles Marvin Swann of Heathsville; seven grandchildren, six great-grandchildren; brothers, L.M. Jewell, Jimmy Jewell and Berkley Jewell, all of Lottsburg, Richard Jewell of Raleigh, N.C., and Bobby Jewell of Mechanicsville; sisters, Alease Murphy of Falls Church, Annette Newman of Lottsburg, Eldine Mould of Mechanicsville, and Maxine Beatley of Wicomico Church. Funeral services 3 p.m. Monday at Coan Baptist Church, Heathsville. Interment in the church cemetery. Friends may call 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at Jones-Ash Funeral Home, Rainswood.
THOMAS
Marguerite (Peggy) Cullingsworth Thomas, 76, died July 21, 2001. She was preceded in death by her husband, Roy (Joe) E. Thomas; and her son, Roy (Little Joe) E. Thomas Jr. Cherishing her memory are her two daughters, Jo Ann Thomas of Henrico, and Peggy Lee Brinkley of Chesterfield; six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Also her loving companion, Mack B. Bivins Jr. of Lanexa, Va., where she lived for the past seven years. Mrs. Thomas was retired from the American Tobacco Co. with 33 years of service. Her remains rest at the Nelsen Funeral Home, 4650 S. Laburnum Ave., where the family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. both Sunday and Monday, and where funeral services will be conducted 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 24. Interment Washington Memorial Park. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 6359, Glen Allen, Va. 23058.
THOMAS
Myrtle Kapiloff Thomas passed away on Friday, July 20, 2001 at her home after a lengthy illness. She was the widow of David Kapiloff. Born in Powhatan county, Myrtle was the daughter of the late Herbert Ellsworth West and Ida Wilburn West. Survivors are her husband, Herbert G. Thomas; nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. A graveside service will be held at Maury Cemetery on Monday, July 23, at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the West End Volunteer Rescue Squad. Bliley Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
TURNER
Michael E. Turner of 6910 Walmsley Blvd. departed this life July 19, 2001 at MCV Hospital. He leaves to cherish his memories his son, Michael Orrin Turner; two stepdaughters; a devoted and loving mother, Louise Allen Turner; one sister, Sandra Turner; two brothers, Osborne (Virginia) and Wendell Turner; a special friend, Phyllis Walker; four aunts, two uncles, one great-aunt, one nephew, one niece, and a host of other relatives and friends. Remains rest at the Carlton T. Brooks Funeral Home, 2200 Hull St. Funeral services will be held Monday, 3 p.m. in
Brown Grove Baptist Church, 12816 Bailey Bridge Rd., and where remains will lie in state at 2 p.m. Dr. Thomas J. Long officiating. Interment church cemetery. Family and friends attending services assemble at the church 2:30 p.m.
WORDEN
Frank Newell Worden, born August 14, 1921, in Friendship, N.Y. departed this life at DeWitt Army Hospital on July 18, 2001, after a lengthy illness. Commander Worden was preceded in death by his son, James Carlisle Worden. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Nancy Jane Worden; son, Jon Marsh Worden and wife, Elizabeth Draper Worden; his daughter, Jane Newell Shepherd and husband, Jerry Alvin Shepherd; as well as three grandchildren and one great-grandson. A memorial service will be held Tuesday, July 24, 2001 at 11 a.m. at Heritage Presbyterian Church, 8503 Fort Hunt Rd., Alexandria, Va. The family requests, in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Frank Worden Memorial Fund at Heritage Presbyterian Church.
Robert R. Gwathmey III
Aug 27, 2001
Robert R. Gwathmey III, who served Hanover County for over four decades as a commonwealth's attorney, member of the Virginia House of Delegates and finally as the county's first full-time general district court judge, died Saturday after a lengthy illness.
A nearly lifelong resident of Hanover, Mr. Gwathmey, 83, began his service to the county in 1948, after winning election as commonwealth's attorney.
He served in the post until 1955, when he resigned to become an associate county judge.
In 1957, Mr. Gwathmey ran for and won the 24th district seat in the General Assembly.
Mr. Gwathmey became the ranking member of numerous powerful House committees, including Insurance and Banking, and served as a champion of greater accessibility to state higher-education institutions. He was also a devoted advocate of handicapped and special-needs children.
While in the House he won a reputation as one always willing to listen to both sides of an issue. But he was also ready to move on with the business at hand rather than allow the process to bog down in excessive and unproductive debate.
"I remember Speaker John Warren Cooke would say [Mr. Gwathmey] liked to 'move the pending question,'" said Elmo Cross Jr., who represented Hanover in the state Senate from 1976 to 1995.
"He wanted to stay on track," said Cross, laughing as he recalled his colleague's reputation for efficiency on the House floor. "We don't have too many who 'move the pending question' today."
In 1977, Mr. Gwathmey decided not to seek re-election in his district that, during the nearly 20 years he served, had variously included four counties and the city of Fredericksburg.
A year after leaving the assembly, Mr. Gwathmey returned to county service, receiving appointment to the Hanover General District Court bench, where he once again liked to 'move the pending question.'
"He could cut right through the issues of a case," said Cross, who also practiced law in front of his former assembly mate. "He liked to move his docket along."
Mr. Gwathmey retired from the bench in 1984.
A World War II Navy veteran, Mr. Gwathmey was a lifelong member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Hanover Courthouse. "He never opened a prayer book," said fellow church member Daisy Buchanan . "He knew every prayer by memory."
Survivors include two daughters, Mary Michaux of Greensboro, N.C., and Robin Nigro of Mechanicsville; a son, Robert R. Gwathmey IV of Ashland; and a sister, Becky Swann of Hanover.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday at 3 p.m. at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Hanover Courthouse, with private interment in Hollywood Cemetery.
Dennis Whatley, ex-'doughboy,' dies
Sep 06, 2001
Dennis Whatley, one of the last survivors among the 4.3 million American "doughboys" who served in World War I, has died at age 105.
Mr. Whatley died Friday at Cypress Gardens nursing home in Riverside, Calif., said Robert W. Johnson, retired Air Force lieutenant colonel who serves as adjutant of the California Veterans of World War I.
Mr. Whatley enlisted in Cody, Wyo., in May 1918. As a private first class in the 135th Infantry Regiment of the American Expeditionary Force, he shipped to France and marched for more than 20 days to reach the front lines.
But with fortuitous timing, he arrived too late to see any action. Armistice ended "the war to end all wars" on Nov. 11, 1918, and Mr. Whatley's most vivid memory of his foreign wartime service was a leave in Paris.
Johnson said Mr. Whatley shaved with his Army-issue razor for the remainder of his life.
Born in Higbee, Colo., the third of 13 children, Mr. Whatley grew up working on a farm. After the war, he worked on Colorado railroads and became a boilermaker.
In 1942, at the onset of another war, Mr. Whatley moved his family to Southern California and spent the rest of his working life as a boilermaker in the Long Beach shipyards.
He was among two dozen World War I veterans on hand Nov. 11, 1993, at the Long Beach Veterans Affairs Medical Center to observe the 75th anniversary of the Great War's end.
Widowed in 1998 after 79 years of marriage, Mr. Whatley is survived by two sons, Charles and Frank; a daughter, Madeline; 11 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
BALLARD
Mst. Sgt. Virgil Ballard, 83, passed away Sunday, September 8, 2002. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Alma Ballard; his daughter, Nancy Durrette and her husband, Alvin; his son, Boyd Ballard and his wife, Pam; four granddaughters, Laurie, Jennifer, Patty and Carolyn; other devoted family and friends. He served his country in the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force, retiring after 31 years. He was a member of Sandston Baptist Church and enjoyed crafts and gardening. Remains rest at the Nelsen Funeral Home, 4650 S. Laburnum Ave., where the family will receive friends 12 to 2 and 6 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, and where funeral services will be conducted 2 p.m. Thursday. Interment Washington Memorial Park. Memorial donations may be made to Henrico Vol. Rescue Squad and/or Circle Center Adult Day Care. NELSEN FUNERAL HOME REGISTER CONDOLENCES WWW.NELSENFH.COM
BISHOP
Died September 8, 2002, Mrs. Anna W. Bishop of 1204 S. Meadow St. Remains rest at Joseph Jenkins Jr. Funeral Home, 2011 Grayland Ave. Funeral notice later.
COLES
Departed this life September 7, 2002, Richard Coles of Beaverdam, Va. His remains rest at the Henry W. Dabney Funeral Home, 518 N. Washington Hwy., Ashland. McCarthy, Director
DARDEN
Dr. Oscar Bruton Darden Jr., 78, of Wintergreen, died Sunday, September 8, 2002 at the University of Virginia Medical Center following a brief illness. He was born in Richmond on July 17, 1924, son of the late Dr. O.B. Darden Sr. and Mary Elizabeth Dunlap Darden. He was a member of Rockfish Presbyterian Church and a U.S. Marine veteran of World War II. He was a graduate of Hampden-Sydney College, where he was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity, and also served as a math teacher. He was a graduate of the Medical College of Virginia and served his internship in Winchester. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at the McGuire Veterans Hospital in Richmond. He practiced Internal Medicine in Bedford for over 30 years before retiring to Wintergreen. He served on the Board of Directors of Bedford Memorial Hospital, where he was instrumental in establishing the Cardiac Care Unit. He was the Staff Physician at the Elks National Home. While a resident of Bedford, he was a member of Bedford Presbyterian Church, where he served as an Elder and Sunday School teacher. He was instrumental in establishing the Bedford Christian Ministries and also served on the Bedford County School Board. Dr. Darden was devoted to his God, his family and his community. He will be remembered as a man who taught his family, and those around him, the joy of life. He was a devoted grandfather, an avid skier, fisherman and gardener. He handcrafted fine furniture, loved reading on multiple topics and took great joy in repairing whatever was broken. He took joy from taking short cuts that turned into long cuts and driving trips with interesting visits off the beaten path. He is survived by his wife, Ann
Johnson Darden; a son, David Bruton Darden of Christiansburg; three daughters, Dr. Nan Darden Holland and her husband, Dr. R. Duane Holland of Franklin, Tenn., Mary Darden McGee and her husband, Robert C. McGee of Richmond, Carol Darden Miller and her husband, Larry W. Miller of Midland; also eight grandchildren, Jennifer Miller Klein, Jeremy P. Holland, Kristin E. Holland, Ashley N. Brennan, Mary C. Holland, Jordan A. Darden, Meagan D. McGee and Jacob M. Darden. Two memorial services are planned in Dr. Darden's honor. The first will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Rockfish Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. David Cameron officiating. The second will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at Bedford Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Joseph S. Gaston officiating. Receptions in the church fellowship halls will follow each service. Those wishing to make memorials are asked to consider Wintergreen Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 711, Wintergreen, Va. 22978, Rockfish Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 278, Nellysford, Va. 22958, Bedford Presbyterian Church, 101 West Main St., Bedford, Va. 24523 or Bedford Community Health Foundation, 321 N. Bridge St., Bedford, Va. 24523. Arrangements by Carder-Tharp Funeral Home, Bedford, 540-586-3443. To send condolences online, please visit www.carder-tharp.com.
DAVIS
Alice McCracken Davis, 74, of Richmond, passed away Saturday, September 7, 2002. She is survived by her husband, William Richard Davis; son, William McCracken (Buff) Davis and his wife, Susan L.; grandsons, Kevin Dwayne Davis and Kristopher Michael Davis; and a sister, Louise M. Hughes. Mrs. Davis worked for E.I. Dupont during World War II, and retired from C&P Telephone in 1985. Services will be private. Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of choice.
DOUGLAS
Hilda Hall Douglas, 84, of Richmond, widow of Jesse C. Douglas, died September 8, 2002. She was preceded in death by a son, Jesse C. Douglas Jr. She is survived by her daughter, Toy L. Douglas and her husband, George Lechner; son, Thomas W. Douglas and his wife, Lynne; four grandchildren, Roger Lee Dowdy Jr., Jessica Dowdy, Carlie Gabbert and Jesse Douglas. Mrs. Douglas was a registered nurse at Stuart Circle Hospital and a longtime member of Providence United Methodist Church. Her remains rest at the Bliley Funeral Home's Chippenham Chapel, 6900 Hull Street Rd., where the family will receive friends 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, and where funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday. Interment Greenwood Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to a charity of choice.
FULWIDER
Charles R. (Bob) Fulwider, 64, died Saturday, September 7, 2002. Born in Richmond, Va. where he resided until moving to Orlando in 1983. Owner of Bob's Hobby Center Inc., Orlando. Member of Ramsey United Memorial Methodist Church, Richmond, Va. and several Radio Control Airplane Clubs in Orlando. Preceded in death by his father, Robert N., mother, Euna B. and brother, William N. Fulwider. Survived by wife, Betty of Orlando; daughter, Kimberly S. Fulwider, Orlando; sisters, Kathleen F. Kimbrel and Virginia F. Absher, Mechanicsville, Va.; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Jeanne and Jim Mauzy, Orlando; several nieces and nephews. Funeral service will be held Tuesday, September 10, 2002, 10 a.m., at Woodlawn Funeral Home, with Rev. William Pickett, Pinecastle United Methodist Church, officiating. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. today with prayer service at 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Arrangements by Woodlawn Funeral Home and Memorial Park, (407) 293-1361.
