U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Homer C. Lester
Homer C. Lester, 76, of Davenport, Virginia, died Saturday, March 28, 1998, in Buchanan General Hospital. He was a native of Buchanan County, was a coal miner and nurseryman. Survivors include two daughters, Brenda Edwards, Clinchco, and Patricia Gail Lester, Bucyrus, Ohio; four sons, James Lester, Phoenix, Roger Lester, Gary Lester and Danny Lester, all of Bucyrus; one sister, Edna Lester, Davenport; two half-sisters, Lorene Cox, Garden Creek, Va., and Helen Sisk, Virginia; 11 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Phillip Dwayne Scarberry
Phillip Dwayne Scarberry, 16, of the Punchin Camp Section of Hurley, Virginia, died Monday, March 23, 1998, from injuries received in an automobile accident. He was a native of Buchanan County and was a student at Hurley High School where he was a member of the junior class. He attended the Buchanan County Vocational School where he was enrolled in the Auto Mechanics Class and was a member of the Virginia Wildlife Club. Survivors include his parents, Bennie Darrell and Nancy Spencer Scarberry, Hurley; two sisters, Shelia Blankenship and Samantha Davis, both of Grundy; one brother, Christopher Benny Darrell Scarberry, Rowe, Va.; his paternal grandmother, Ellen Scarberry, Grundy; his maternal grandparents, Jordan and Florence Spencer, Hurley; one niece; and one nephew.
Lula Crockett Preece
Lula Crockett Preece, 84, of the Weller Yard section of Buchanan County, Virginia, died Sunday, March 22, 1998, in Henrico Doctors Hospital, Richmond. She was a native of Buchanan County, a 1931 graduate of Grundy Presbyterian School and a graduate of Radford University, Radford, Va. She was a former teacher in the Buchanan County school system, the widow of Cecil H. Preece, and a member of Hurley Presbyterian Church. Survivors include one daughter, Mrs. Don (Virginia Ann) Campbell, Quinton, Va.; one foster son, Danny Ray Whitt, Grundy; two sisters, Ruth Davis, Hurley, and Ethel Kennedy, Jolo, W.Va.; five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Earl Rife
Earl Rife, 86, of Grundy, Virginia, died Sunday, March 22, 1998, in Buchanan General Hospital. He was a native of Buchanan, a former resident of Richlands, and a retired coal miner. He was of the Protestant faith. Survivors include his wife, Lydia Rowe Rife; three daughters, Mrs. Edd (Ann) Osborne, Grundy, Mrs. Lacy (Shirley) Justus, Russell Prater, Va., and Wilma Ward, Honaker; six sons, Paul and William C. "Bill" Rife, Pilgrims Knob, Ralph Rife, Grundy, Charles Rife Sr., New Castle, Del., Lowell Rife Sr., Newark, Del., and Frank Rife, Wilmington, Del.; one sister, Alice Hoback, Tazewell, Va.; 33 grandchildren; 40 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
Mrs. Betty Jane Street Ward
Mrs. Betty Jane Street Ward, 56, of the Big A Mountain section of Russell County, Virginia, died Saturday, March 21, 1998, in a Richlands, Va., hospital. She was a native of Buchanan County, had resided in Honaker most of her life and was a member of the Outreach Temple. Survivors include her husband, Norman Eugene Ward; four daughters, Mrs. Susie Mae Farmer and Mrs. Melissa Faye Harris, both of Honaker, Mrs. Patricia Ann Street, Rowe, and Mrs. Elizabeth Diane Ray, Swords Creek; two sons, Richard Leon Ward, Honaker, and Jeffery Daniel Ward, Lebanon; three sisters, Mable Brown, Kathleen Peck and Ollie Mae Lester, all of Rowe; two brothers, Luther Street and Hobert Street, both of Rowe; and 11 grandchildren.
David Albert Vandyke
David Albert Vandyke, 65, of Keen Mountain, Virginia, died Friday, March 20, 1998, in a Richlands hospital. He was a native of Buchanan County, a retired employee of Island Creek Coal Company and a member of UMWA Local 1509. He was of the Baptist faith. Survivors include his wife, Linda Horne Vandyke; two sons, Chuck Vandyke, of the home, and Timothy Vandyke, Wardell, Va.; one daughter, Sandy Underwood, Jewell Valley, Va.; two sisters, Mrs. Betty Young and Mrs. Edith Keen, both of Raven; one brother, Thomas William Vandyke Jr., Grundy; one brother, Gilmer Vandyke, Defiance, Ohio; two grandsons; and one granddaughter.
Eugene Justus
Eugene Justus, 46, of Wolford, Virginia, died Tuesday, March 17, 1998. He was a native and lifelong resident of Buchanan County, a graduate of Hurley High School and a self-employed trucker. He was a U.S. Army veteran with seven years of service including two tours in Vietnam. He was the recipient of the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal and the Vietnam Campaign Medal. Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Christine Blankenship Justus; one daughter, Kimberly Renee Justus, Pikeville, Ky.; one son, Chris Justus, Abingdon; one sister, Delorius Justus, Augusta, Ga.; two brothers, Ernest "Tab" Layne, Hurley, and Bobby Justus, Grundy.
Mrs. Gertrude Short
Mrs. Gertrude Short, 68, of Route 1 Cedar Bluff, Virginia, died Monday, March 16, 1998, in Heritage Hall Nursing Home. She was a native of Buchanan County, was formerly employed as a nurses aide and was a member of Bandy Freewill Baptist Church. Survivors include her husband, Charlie R. Short; one son, Glen Short, San Antonio, Texas; one daughter, Judy Jasmin, North Augusta, S.C.; five brothers, Radford Stacy, James Stacy, Barnes Stacy, Clinard Stacy and Freddy Stacy, all of Grundy; four sisters, Naomie Stacy Campbell, Abingdon, Anita Maggard, Pine Top, Ky., Marie Dotson, Hurley, and Shelby Jean Bailey, Mentor, Ohio; and five grandchildren.
Mrs. Shirley E. Davis Horn
Mrs. Shirley E. Davis Horn, 51, of Chesterfield, Virginia, died Thursday, March 12, 1998, at her home. She was a native of Buchanan County. Survivors include her husband, Luther (Ed) Horn; one daughter, Mrs. Lisa Morgan, Chesterfield; three sons, Gary Horn, Jerry Horn and Kenny Horn, all of Chesterfield; two sisters, Mrs. Jean Cantrell, Mosley, Va., and Mrs. Alma Willis, Amelia, Va.; two brothers, John Davis, Gloucester, Va., and Rondall Davis, Chesterfield; and three grandchildren.
Ethel Lester Justus
Ethel Lester Justus, 57, of Big Rock, Virginia, died Friday, March 13, 1998, in Holston Valley Medical Center, Kingsport. She was a native of Buchanan County and a homemaker. Survivors include her husband of 39 years, Lawrence Justus; two daughters, Mrs. Michael (Dinah) Deel, Honaker, and Mrs. Sonny (Della Louise) Ratliff, Deel; one son, David Justus, Big Rock; three sisters, Matilda Quinley, Grundy, Edna Mae Ling, Big Rock, and Martha Charles, Hurley; eight brothers, Jackson Lester, Earl Lester, James Lester, Robert Lester, Tolby Lester and Tommy Lester, all of Big Rock, Ira Lester, Feds Creek, Ky., and George Lester Jr., Grundy; and one grandson.
Ralph Dennis Hagy
Ralph Dennis Hagy, 49, of Grundy, Virginia, died Monday, March 9, 1998, in Buchanan General Hospital. He was a native and lifelong resident of Buchanan County and a member of Harman Memorial Baptist Church, where he served as choir director and chairman of the deacons. He was a graduate of Grundy High School, class of 1965, a graduate of Phillips Business College, Lynchburg, and had served on the Grundy Town Council from 1993 to present. He was a member of Grundy Volunteer Fire Department for the past 33 years, had served as former fire chief, was a member of Grundy Lions Club, Sandy Valley Lodge 17 AF&AM where he served as Past Master. He served on the Board of Directors of the John Flannagan Water Authority and Grundy Water and Sewage Commission, was former coach of Buchanan County Basketball Little League Program and was actively involved in Grundy Band Boosters. He was employed with Jewell Coal and Coke Corporation for the past 27 years where he was screening plant supervisor and administrative assistant. He was Director of the Baxter Foundation. Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth Diane Stiltner Hagy; one son, Matthew Dennis Hagy, Grundy; three sisters, Mrs. Lena B. Keen, Bristol Virginia, Mrs. Bernice Conner, Charlottesville, and Mrs. Bessie Koehan, Rockford, Ill.; two brothers, James S. Hagy, Knoxville, and Jerry P. Hagy, Inman, S.C.; and several nieces and nephews.
Mason W. Owens
Mason W. Owens, 79, died Monday, March 9, 1998, in Sacramento, California. He was a native of Buchanan County, resided most of his life in Sacramento and was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, retiring after 32 years of service. Survivors include his wife, Ruth Owens; one daughter, Verna Lou Caruthers; one sister, Lola Gay Childress, Honaker; two brothers, Lester Clark and Jackie Clark, both of Honaker; one grandson; and two great-grandchildren.
Bertha Ward Church
Bertha Ward Church, 87, of Left Fork of Lester's Fork in Buchanan County, Virginia, died Sunday, March 8, 1998, in Buchanan General Hospital. She was a lifelong resident of Buchanan County, a member of Old Sulphur Springs Regular Baptist Church for 29 years and was a homemaker. She was the widow of Harvey Church. Survivors include three daughters, Mrs. John (Pauline) Hurley, Mrs. Buford (Narcie) Stacy and Mrs. Clyde (Janet) Justus, all of Grundy; one son, Lenvil Church, Big Rock; two sisters, Flora Church and Birdie Slone, both of Grundy; 18 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
