Lynn E. "Eddie" Adkins, 69, of Beckley, died Thursday, April 17, 2003, following a short illness.
Born Dec. 5, 1933, in Fayette County, he was the son of the late Eddie and Mary Hall Adkins.
Mr. Adkins was a Christian and a retired coal miner, having last worked for Beckley Coal Mining Co. He was a member of the UMWA.
Survivors include his wife of 25 years, Linda L. Radford Adkins; a son, Mark E. Adkins of Beckley; a daughter, Debra Gunnoe and husband, Terry, of Oak Hill; a grandson, Adam Gunnoe of Oak Hill; four brothers, John R. Adkins and wife, Brenda, Billy Joe Adkins and wife, Lottie, Roy Adkins and wife, Sheila, and Jackie "Hagar" Adkins and wife, Carolyn, all of Piney View; four sisters, Ruth Gullian and husband, Melvin, of Lanark, Wilma Semsick of Beckley, Rose Mary Berry and husband, Joe, of Beckley and Julie Sader and husband, Sam, of Crab Orchard; and a host of nieces and nephews.
Service will be 1 p.m. Monday at Blue Ridge Funeral Home, Beckley, with the Rev. Gene Hall officiating. Burial will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley.
Friends may call one hour before service Monday at the funeral home.
Family and friends will serve as pallbearers.
Arrangements by Blue Ridge Funeral Home, Beckley.
Violet Irene Adkins
GLEN JEAN — Violet Irene Adkins, 82, passed away Monday, Feb. 6, 2006, at Hilltop Center.
Arrangements by High Lawn Funeral Home Chapel, 1435 East Main St., Oak Hill.
Billiejean Martha Ayers
RAINELLE — Billiejean Martha Ayers, 51, passed away Feb. 2, 2006, at her home. Born May 7, 1954, at Hinton, she was the daughter of the late Sherman Elmo and Eva Ellen Bowles Ayers.
Billiejean worked as a general laborer in the health care field as a caregiver, at Hardee’s, in a factory in Chicago and she spent three or four years in the No. 7 coal mines.
Survivors include her long-time companion, Doug Lewis of Rainelle; a daughter, Angela Dawn Jones of Quinwood; two sons, Brian Wade Ayers and his wife, Tammy, of Collinsville, Va., and Jimmy Joe Rodriguez, at home; four sisters, Genevieve Harrah and husband, Lawrence, of Clintonville, Imojean Gilbert and husband, Jackie, of Rainelle, Geraldine Nunn of Collinsville, Va., and Diana Fleshman of Grassy Meadows; three brothers, Alfred Ayers and wife, Daisy, of Rainelle, Lawrence Ayers of Rainelle, and Dale Ayers of Rainelle; three granddaughters, Sierra Nichole Mutter, Brianna Rose Jones and Haley Rodriguez; two grandsons, Caleb Rodriguez and Damian Tyler Perry; and 20 nieces and nephews.
Service will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at Wallace & Wallace Chapel with the Rev. Troy George officiating and Rose Camp assisting. Burial will follow in the Claypool cemetery at Meadow Bridge.
Friends may call two hours before the service Wednesday at the funeral home.
There will be no evening visitation.
Pallbearers will be David Fleshman, Marcel Adkins, Sean Helms, Stanley Harrah, Cory Bragg and Larry Ayers.
Arrangements by Wallace & Wallace Inc. of Rainelle.
Ida Mae Bower
HILLDALE — Ida Mae Bower, 85, went to be with the Lord at 11:10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, 2006, at the Summers County Nursing and Rehabilitation Center at Hilldale, following a long illness.
Born May 14, 1920, in Summers County, she was the daughter of the late Frank M. and Lettie Beatrice Meador Beasley.
Mrs. Bower was a lifelong resident of Summers County, a member of the Roles Chapel Baptist Church and was a homemaker.
She passed her love and know-ledge to anyone whom she knew here on earth. She was a very loving mother and grandmother who touched our lives and hearts very deeply.
She was very active at the nursing home until she was unable. She was president of the Resident Council. She delivered and read the mail to many of the residents, she also took time to read the Bible to them. She welcomed the new residents and always sent cards to the sick residents and also had a penpal in South Carolina. She was always willing to go the extra mile for anyone.
At the age of 83, she was chosen to attend a Nursing Home Beauty Pageant at Charleston, W.Va.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Reginald A. Bower Sr.; a son, Scottie Bower; three sisters, Eloise Andrews, Jewel Thompson and Hazel Williams; and a brother, Pat Beasley.
Survivors include three sons, Reggie Bower of Forest Hill, Eddie Bower and wife, Debbie, of Barger Springs and Benny Bower and wife, Judy, of Dublin, Va.; two daughters, Peggy Roberson and husband, Tex, of Julian, N.C., and Debbie Martin and husband, Calvin, of Forest Hill; three brothers, Joseph Emory Beasley of Pittsburgh, Pa., Frank Beasley of Hilldale and Bill Beasley of Greensboro, N.C.; three sisters, Joyce Ramsey of Torch, Ohio, Ruth Barber of Brown Summit, N.C., and Jo Ann Wood of Manassas, Va.; 16 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
Service will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at Roles Chapel Baptist Church at Forest Hill with Pastor Jeff Canterbury officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Friends may call 6 to 9 p.m. today at the Ronald Meadows Funeral Parlors, Hinton, and one hour before the service Wednesday at the church.
Her grandsons will serve as pallbearers.
The family would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff of the Summers County Nursing and Rehabilitation Center at Hilldale for the wonderful care that she received while a resident there. A special thanks to Dr. Chhabra and staff.
Condolences may be sent to the family at info@ronaldmeadowsfp. com.
Arrangements by Ronald Meadows Funeral Parlors, Hinton.
Eugene Keith ‘Gene’ Cantley
Eugene Keith “Gene” Cantley, 87, of Glen Daniel, passed away Sunday, Feb. 5, 2006, at home following a courageous battle with cancer.
Born Aug. 5, 1918, at Marsh Fork, W.Va., he was the son of Hubert Sr. and Grace Price Cantley.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Larry Gene Cantley; two sisters, Doris Dickens and Thelma “Sugar” Briguglio; and three brothers, Eustace Glenn, Ronald B. and Hubert Cantley Jr.
Gene worked 10 years all together in the coal mines, with a two year interruption from the mines for World War II, where he served as a sergeant in the United States Army stationed in Baffin Island near the Artic Circle. When the coal mine work disappeared in the 1950’s, he began working in Michigan as a car carrier transport driver. He retired from driving with 30 years of service for Gate City Transport and returned home to West Virginia, where he spent his remaining 25 years.
He was a member of the Glen Daniel Worship Center, a board member of the Glen White Trap Hill Public Service District and was also a long standing member of the Raleigh County Republican Executive Committee. He enjoyed fishing, playing his Gretsch Country Gentlemen guitar and tinkering in his garage. One of his proudest moments in recent years was getting to meet and shake the hand of President George W. Bush during his Beckley campaign visit. President Bush, noticing his WWII veteran cap, shook his hand and thanked him for his years of service to our country.
Those left behind to cherish and honor his memory include his loving wife of 64 years, Audrey Jarvis Cantley; a son, Jerry Cantley and wife, Tish, of Glen Daniel; two brothers, Noel Dean Cantley and wife, Mary Lou, of Perrysburg Ohio, David Dee Cantley and wife, Kay, of Atlantis Florida; and two sisters, Barbara Asbury and husband, Bill, of Cleveland, Ohio, Betty Billings and husband, Bill, of Orlando, Florida; two grandsons, Jay Cantley and wife, Kim, of Glen Daniel, Travis Cantley and wife, Heather, of Saxon; two granddaughters, Lesha Acord and husband, Bret, of Glen Daniel and Lindsey Stone and husband, Keith, of Surveyor; and twelve great-grandchildren.
Service will be 1 p.m. Wednesday at Melton Mortuary, Beckley with the Revs. Mike Kessinger, Neil Byrge and Aaron England officiating. Burial will follow at the Cantley Family cemetery at Rock Creek, W.Va.
Friends may gather with the family 6 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Grandsons and nephews will serve as pallbearers
Arrangements by Melton Mortuary, Beckley.
Margaret Brady Cline
SUMMERSVILLE — Margaret Ann (Peggy) Brady Cline, 72, beloved wife and mother, passed away Feb. 6, 2006, with her family by her side.
Peggy was born July 16, 1933, in Morgantown, W.Va. She was the daughter of the late Samuel Dun-lap and Margaret Vaughan Brady.
Margaret was a graduate of Nicholas County High School and graduated with honors from West Virginia University in 1955, where she was active in the Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority. After graduation, Peggy was an Air Force wife, taught school for a time, bought and sold real estate and was a devoted mother (”Mother of the Year,” chosen by her children year after year).
Among Peggy’s many interests were swimming, fishing, snow and water skiing, horseback riding, gardening, needlework, reading, cooking and she was a loyal Mountaineer fan. She and her husband, Jack, were well-traveled, spending time each year in one of her favorite spots, the Grand Cayman Islands. Perhaps she is best known for her love of golf. A member of the West Virginia Golf Association, Peggy served as treasurer of the Glade Springs Women’s Golf Association; was past president of the Women’s West Virginia Golf Association; and served as chairman of the West Virginia Golf Association rating committee.
Over the years, Peggy was involved in many social and civic organizations. She was a Girl Scout leader, was a member of the Mountain Azalea Garden Club in Summersville and was a member of the Bridge Club of Summersville. Peggy was a member of the Summersville Presbyterian Church.
Surviving are her husband of 50 years, Jack Cline; a son, Robert Lee Cline (Pam) of Summersville; son, Dr. John Morgan Cline of Summersville; daughter, Dr. Carolyn Ann Cline (Dr. Marcus Gordon) of Boston, Mass.; daughter, Mary Cline Vest (Brian) of North Myrtle Beach, S.C.; 12 grandchildren, ranging in age from 4 to 25; sister, Clarissa Brady (Phil) Mahin of Summersville; and brother, Samuel D. (Blanche) Brady III of Summersville.
A memorial service to celebrate Peggy’s life will be 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at Summersville Presbyterian Church. Entombment will follow in West Virginia Memorial Garden.
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that memorial contributions be made in Margaret’s name to Summersville Presbyterian Church.
There will be no visitation.
Arrangements by White Funeral Home, Summersville.
Robert Edsel Cline
GILBERT — Robert Edsel Cline, 49, died Friday, Feb. 3, 2006.
Service will be 1 p.m. Wednesday at Mounts Funeral Home Chapel, Gilbert. Friends may call 6 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Arrangements by Mounts Funeral Home, Gilbert.
Lois V. Crouse
Lois V. Crouse, 80, of Alderson and Baileysville, passed away Sunday, Feb. 5, 21006, in McDowell Continuous Care, Gary, following a long illness.
Calfee Funeral Service of Pineville is serving the Crouse family.
Charles Arnold Ford
Charles Arnold Ford, 56, of Midway, passed away Friday, Feb. 3, 2006.
Born Sept. 20, 1949, at Pemberton, he was the son of the late Burton Horce Ford and June Melinda Wiles Ford.
Charles was a graduate of Sophia High School in 1967. He worked for Verizon for 33 years, retiring on Jan. 1, 2006.
He was a member, trustee and deacon of the Pemberton Missionary Baptist Church, where he was also a Sunday School teacher and treasurer for the church.
Charles served his country in the United States Army for three years and spent 18 months in Vietnam.
In addition to his parents, Charles was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Sarah Anne Ford; and an infant brother,
Burton Ford, Jr.
Those left to cherish his memory include his loving wife, Debra Anne Shumate Ford of Pemberton; a daughter, Laura Anne Ford of Pemberton; two grandsons, Orion Scott Ford of Pemberton and Edward Ford of Midway; two brothers, James Ford and wife, Nellie, of Pemberton and Henry Ford and wife, Linda, of Pemberton; two sisters, Rhelda Summerell and husband, Tom, of Beckley and Fay Cunningham and husband, Glen, of Falling Waters.
Service will be 11 a.m. today at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley, with Rev. James Field officiating.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.blueridgefuneralhome.com.
Blue Ridge Funeral Home, 5251 Robert C. Byrd Dr., Beckley, is in charge of the arrangements.
Mabelene Smith Fulton
Mabelene Smith Fulton, 67, of Vinton, Va., formerly of Eccles, died Saturday, Feb. 4, 2006, at a Vinton, Va., nursing facility, following a lengthy illness.
Born Nov. 25, 1937, in Norton, Va., she was the daughter of the late William Henry Burnett and Geneva Burnett.
Mrs. Fulton was retired as a social worker for the Department of Social Services with 25 years of service. She was a member of St. Paul Baptist Temple, and was a graduate of Stratton High School, having attended Beckley College, where she received her degree in social services.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter Franklin Smith; and two brothers, Frank and Willie Lee Scott.
Those left to cherish her memories are three sons, Victor André Smith and his wife, Dee Dee, of Charlottesville, Va., and Walter Scott Smith II and his life mate, Brenda Harrison, of Vinton, Va., and Shawn William Smith of Charlotte, N.C.; a daughter, Shawndyl Boggs of Beckley; nine grandchildren; two brothers, Lee Roy (Naomi) Scott of Jackson, S.C., and Bishop Charles Benny Scott of New Castle, Del.; a cousin whom she thought of as a sister, Loita Catherine Solomon of Jamaica, N.Y.; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends.
Service will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at St. Paul Baptist Temple, 129 Rice St., Beckley, with the Rev. Walter M. Leach officiating. Burial will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley.
Friends may call one hour before the service Wednesday at the church.
Services are entrusted to Ritchie and Johnson Funeral Parlors, Beckley.
David Issac Laxton
It is with deepest sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved son, David Issac Laxton. David passed from this world to a new life on Jan. 31, 2006, at 1:40 p.m. at Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, W.Va. He was surrounded by his Mom and Dad, his brothers and his sister. David received a bone marrow transplant almost six years ago and lived a healthy, rich and full life for more than five and a half years before suffering a relapse last summer. He received a second transplant in November and seemed on his way to a recovery until complications occurred that took his life.
David is the son of Edward and Barbara Laxton of Keyrock Road. He was born on Nov. 28, 1977, in Beckley, W.Va., and graduated from Pineville High School in 1996 and was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He leaves behind his cherished fiancé, Carrie Kish, of Martinsburg, W.Va., his brothers, Scott Laxton of Palm Harbor, Fla., Mike Laxton of Keyrock in Pineville, Matthew Laxton of Beckley, and a sister Brell Mitchell and husband, Jerry, of Sophia. His nieces and nephews are Sara Laxton, Michael, Wil, Kaid and Hali Laxton, Hayden Laxton and Isaac Mitchell. His paternal grandmother is Aldeen Browning of Keyrock Road, and his maternal grandmother is Helen Graham of Wyoming.
He is also deeply loved by his aunts and uncles, Gary Stewart, Doris Laxton, Bob and Betty Asbury, Frances and Ernie Mikles, Beverly and Andy Riling, Patrick and Tracey Graham, Judy and Paul McNair and Yolanda Graham, and many cousins. Waiting for him in the next life are his grandfathers, Center Laxton, Boyd Stewart, Lovell Browning and Willard Graham. David also leaves behind hundreds of friends who meant so much to him, including his former wife and friend, Jill Frances; and special friends, Jesse, Leslie and Vogan.
David was a wonderful artist and cartoonist who loved Jazz music. He loved to travel and had visited many of the states hiking and exploring. He also visited Germany. David loved his life and his family and was joyous about everything he did. He packed more fun and love into 28 short years than most will have in a hundred years. We are eternally grateful to his beloved Carrie for her devotion to David, having given up her own life pursuits and employment in order to stay with David in the hospital 24 hours a day since September to care for him and make his life a joy in spite of his trials.
We are also grateful to all those who have prayed for David and have given all of us so much support. We hope that everyone will join us at his grandmother’s church, Rockcastle Baptist Church at Keyrock 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, 2006, to celebrate David’s life and to share memories. Friends can meet with David’s family 11 a.m. to 12 noon. The memorial service will begin at noon and be followed by another time of remembrance and light refreshment. Because it was David’s request to be cremated, there will be no interment service.
David’s father, Elder Edward Laxton, will conduct the service. We extend special thanks to the Rockcastle Baptist Church congregation and especially Hoppy Mounts of the Mounts Funeral Home of Gilbert for their kind support.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in David’s name to Rosenbaum Family House, P.O. Box 8228, Morgantown, WV 26506.
