LEWISBURG — Abda Johnson Conyers, 94, formerly of Georgia, died Friday, April 13, 2007.
A memorial service will be 5 p.m. Sunday, April 22, at the St. James Episcopal Church in Lewisburg, with the Rev. James C. Conyers officiating.
Arrangements by Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home, Lewisburg, and Owen Funeral Home, 12 Collins Drive, Carterville, GA 30120.
Augustus ‘Preacher’ Durgan
CINCINNATI, Ohio — Augustus “Preacher” Durgan, 81, of Cincinnati, Ohio, died Saturday at home, following a long illness. He is the brother of Rev. Andrew J. Durgan Sr. of Beckley.
Durgan Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Omar Elliott
On Friday, April 13th, 2007, after a nice visit with his son Denny, Omar Elliott of Beaver, formerly of Blue Jay, passed peacefully at Hill Top Care Center. He was in his 88th year.
Born James Omar Elliott on Dec. 1st, 1918, at Blue Jay, he was the fifth of 11 children born to the late James Durham and Grace Jane Smith Elliott.
Omar spent his early life at Beaver. His family then settled in Blue Jay where he resided for 70 years until making his home with his daughter, Teresa Arthur, and her husband James the past four years. A graduate of Shady Spring High School, Class of 1937, he entered WWII in 1941, serving in the 11th Army, the European Theater. He held the rank of Master Sergeant upon his discharge on Nov. 3rd, 1945.
Omar graduated from Beckley College (Mountain State University) in 1953. Working in the lumber and construction industries for a number of years, he began a career with the West Virginia Department of Highways in 1961 retiring as an inspector. A 50-year member of the Blue Jay United Methodist Church, he was an active man well into the final years of his life. He loved to garden and did so the past year, hunting with his two sons, and keeping up with current events. A keen sense of humor, he will be remembered for his stories. He especially enjoyed studying his Bible with his Jehovah’s Witness friends. His three children will remember him with great respect and love.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Violet Hou-chins Elliott; a brother, Ray Elliott; and his sisters, Brid-gie Moye, Belva James, Eula Carter, Maxine Bartlett, Fairy Skelton, and Nedra Jones.
In addition to his daughter, Teresa, and her husband James, he is survived by two sons, Douglas Elliott and his wife Connie of Daniels; Dennis Elliott and his wife Lynne of Beckley; he was the dear grandfather of Michael Elliott and his wife Dawn of St. Albans; Douglas Elliott and his companion Shannon of Youngsville, N.C.; Melissa Beckwith and her husband Vinson of Hillsboro, N.C.; Jay Arthur and his wife Amy and Matthew Arthur all of Morgantown; great-grandchildren: Blaine and Hannah Beckwith; Casey, Caylee and Camden Elliott; his sisters and brother, Lorena “Pat” Trail of Beaver, Paula Workman of Naoma, and Paul Elliott and his wife Evelyn of Oak Hill. A large extended family of nieces and nephews and friends also survive.
Funeral services will be Monday at 1 p.m. at the Melton Mortuary Chapel with Mr. Merrill Koop officiating. Burial will follow in the Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens at Prosperity.
Friends may call today from 6 to 9 p.m. and one hour prior to the services on Monday.
His sons and grandsons will serve as pallbearers.
Condolences may be mail-ed to the family at melton@wvdsl.net.
Arrangements by Melton Mortuary, Beckley.
Mildred Lois Farley
Mildred Lois Farley, age 90, of Maple Fork, formerly of Ghent, died Thursday, April 12, 2007, at the Raleigh General Hospital in Beckley following a short illness.
Born at Meadows of Dan, Va., on Feb. 16, 1917, she was the daughter of the late Pearl McPeake.
Mrs. Farley was a homemaker and had lived most of her life in West Virginia, having lived the past three years at Maple Fork. She was of the Baptist faith.
Mrs. Farley was preceded in death by her husband, Woodrow W. Farley; daughter, Lois Saranzak; grandson, Jamie Farley; granddaughters, Donna Marie Farley and Sue Ann Ray; a daughter-in-law, Phyllis Farley.
Survivors include sons, Woodrow W. Farley Jr. of Mullens, and Daniel Monroe Farley and wife, Barbara, of Mullens; daughters, Connie Ray of Maple Fork, Reva Graham and husband, Mike, of Bensalem, Pa., and Judy Smith and husband, Terry, of Cool Ridge; 13 grandchildren, Cheri Riggs, whom she reared, John Murphy, Cheryl Poff, Jalaynna Graham, Patricia Cook, Theresa DeGuiseppi, Tracy Klotz, Danny Farley Jr., Rusty Ray, Marsha Terry, Libby Sargent, Bethann Buckland, and Beckley Heath; 23 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
She is also survived by sisters-in-law, stepgrandchildren, stepgreat-grandchildren, cousins, nephews, nieces, and a number of other family members and friends.
A dedication of her life will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday at the Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home Shady Spring Chapel with Rev. Gerald Roberts officiating. Burial will follow at Roselawn Memorial Gardens at Princeton.
Friends may call 6 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be John Murphy, Rusty Ray, Danny Farley Jr., Frank Cook, Kyle Heath, and Martin Sargent.
Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home at Shady Spring.
James ‘Bedford’ Hinkle
LEWISBURG — James “Bedford” Hinkle, 61, of Lewisburg, passed away Friday, April 13, 2007.
Mr. Hinkle was born Sept. 3, 1945, at Unus, and was the son of the late Earl C. and Neoma Pusey Hinkle.
Bedford was a former strip foreman and a self-employed horseman at Belgian View Farms.
Other than his parents, Bedford was preceded in death by three children, Dwayne Hinkle in 1989, Robbie Hinkle in 1987, and Kristina Hinkle in 1992; and a brother at the age of 4, Eugene Hinkle.
Survivors include his wife, Carol Hinkle of Lewisburg; two sisters, Gracie Deitz and husband Ashby of Lewisburg and Emma Freeman and husband Bill of Lewisburg; a brother, Eddie Hinkle and wife Doris of Clarksville, Tenn.; a niece; six nephews; and seven great-nieces and nephews.
Services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Wallace and Wallace Funeral Home in Lewisburg, with Dr. Dexter J. Taylor and Rev. Sally Woodard officiating. Burial will follow in Morningside cemetery.
Visitation will be Monday from 6 until 9 p.m. at the funeral home in Lewisburg.
Wallace and Wallace Funeral Home in Lewisburg is in charge of arrangements.
Evelyn Mae Kershner
Evelyn Mae Kershner, 80, of Cool Ridge, passed away Friday, April 13, 2007. Born April 27, 1926, she is the daughter of Fred and Alberta Coffman.
Evelyn was a homemaker who enjoyed reading, gardening and working cross word puzzles.
Evelyn is preceded in death by her father Fred Lee Coffman; brothers Fred Lee and Danny.
Those left to cherish her memory include her mother Alberta Price Coffman of Beckley; daughters; Sharon Tackett and husband Ronnie of Pounding Mills, Va.; Donna Worley and husband James of Hinton, Va.; Kitty Sue McKinney and husband James of Barkers Ridge, W.Va.; sons James Kershner and wife Alice of Asbury, W.Va.; Sherrill Kershner and wife Diane of Stephenson, W.Va.; Steve Kershner and wife Attie of Cool Ridge, W.Va.; Ronnie Kershner and wife Mary of Cool Ridge, W.Va.; brothers Jackie Coffman of Minden, W.Va.; Sherrill Coffman of Tennessee; sisters Linda Lilly of Spanishburg, W.Va.; Brenda Kuhn of Buckhannon, W.Va.; 21 grandchildren; 30-plus great-grandchildren.
Services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, April 16, 2007, at Blue Ridge Funeral Home, Beckley, W.Va., with Pastor David Byrkit officiating.
Friends may gather with the family from 11 to 1 Monday at Blue Ridge Funeral Home.
Burial will follow at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley, W.Va.
Arrangements by Blue Ridge Funeral Home, 5251 Robert C. Byrd Drive, Beckley, W.Va.
James Calvin Lyons
James Calvin Lyons, 82, of Wirtz, Va., formerly of Pineville, W.Va., died peacefully at his home on April 13, 2007. Born in Beckley, W.Va., Dec. 2, 1924, Jim was preceded in death by his parents, John Arley and Winnie H. Cook Lyons; three brothers: George, Bill, and Louis; and two sisters: Emma and Mary. He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Doreen Box Lyons, and three daughters: Pamela Cook and her husband, Earl, of Waxhaw, N.C., Suzanne Cook and her husband, Arlis, of Cody, Wyo., and Elaine Dannemiller and her husband, Al, of Charlottesville, Va. Grandchildren who adored him are Jeffrey Earl Cook and his wife, Deonna, of Kernersville, N.C., James Lyon Garrett Cook of Greensboro, N.C., Amanda Cook of Fort Collins, Colo., and Rebecca Caitlyn Durham of Charlottesville, Va. “Grandan” also leaves two great-grandsons, Tyler and Tanner Cook of Kernersville, N.C. In addition to his immediate family, Jim is survived by two brothers, John of Kansas and Joe of Oregon; a sister, Pat Parker of Florida; a sister-in-law, Janet Lyons of Martinsburg, W.Va.; several special nephews and nieces.
Jim enlisted in the U.S. Army in January 1943. During WWII Jim served with the 180th Chemical in the Pacific Campaign in New Caledonia, Cebu and Mindanao in the Philippine Islands, and Guadalcanal and New Georgia in the Solomon Islands. He was with the first troops to occupy Japan under Gen. Douglas MacArthur.
Jim was a 1943 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School. He attended Concord College, Mercer University (Macon, Ga.), and earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence from Washington and Lee University in 1951. After graduation, he and his family moved to Pineville, where he enjoyed the practice of law for 38 years. In addition to serving as Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for six years, Jim served as Divorce Commissioner for many years. Serving as Mental Health Commissioner in Wyoming County was one of his most rewarding positions. During his career, Jim served as Judge on the W.Va. Court of Appeals for six years, and as a Judge on the W.Va. Court of Claims for several years.
Jim was a member of the West Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, W.Va. State Bar, and served as past president of Rotary International in Pineville. He was also a member of the American Legion and the Washington and Lee Alumni Association. He was a current member of the Red Valley United Methodist Church, and a former member of the First United Methodist Church of Pineville, where he served on the Methodist Board of Trustees.
After retiring from his law practice in 1989, Jim moved to Burnt Chimney, Va., to enjoy a leisure life with boating as a favorite activity.
Jim’s body was cremated according to his wishes. His cremains will be interred in Arlington National cemetery.
Family visitation will be held at the Red Valley United Methodist Church on Monday, April 16, one hour prior to a 2 p.m. Memorial Service.
Condolences may be sent to P.O. Box 298, Wirtz, VA 24184, or www.tharpfuneralhome.com.
Memorial donations may be made to Good Samaritan Hospice, 3825-A Electric Road, SW, Roanoke, VA 24018, or Red Valley United Methodist Church, 30 Red Valley Road, Boones Mill, VA 24065.
Arrangements by Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Smith Mountain Lake, 721-9375.
Robert S. ‘Bob’ Patterson
ST. ALBANS — Robert S. “Bob” Patterson, 81, of St. Albans, died Thursday, April 12, 2007, after a brief illness.
He was born in Rochester, Pa., on Nov. 6, 1925. He first left Rochester to serve in the U.S. Army Air Corp during World War II. His unit served in the Pacific Theater. After the war, he went to West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon and completed a degree in education. He also played football, basketball, and baseball for the school.
During his college days, he met and married his wife of 58 years, Jean Johnson. They began their married life in Fairlea. Bob taught and coached at Renick, Williamsburg, and Greenbrier high schools and served as principal at Williamsburg High School. During this time he also played semi-pro baseball for several barnstorming teams and obtained a master’s degree from West Virginia University.
In 1965, Bob and Jean moved their family to Charleston, where Bob worked for the West Virginia Department of Education until his retirement in 1984. He and Jean retired to their original homestead in Fairlea until moving to St. Albans a few years ago to be closer to his family.
Throughout his life, Bob remained active in the local church, including Trinity United Methodist of Ronceverte, Christ Church United Methodist of Charleston, and St. Andrew United Methodist of St. Albans. He was active in youth activities including coaching and scouting and he served on various committees such as finance, building improvement and others.
Bob is preceded in death by his parents, William Slentz and Mae Dever Patterson.
Along with his wife, Jean, survivors include his four children, Caren Patterson Thomas of St. Albans, Robert Ross Patterson and his partner John Godown of Atlanta, William Ernest Patterson and his wife Shawn of Charleston, and Rebecca Patterson Metz and her husband Mark of Barboursville.
Grandchildren include Joel Ernest Thomas and his wife Jennifer Mary Swallow of Pittsburgh, Laura Elizabeth Thomas of St. Albans, Robert Kirby Patterson of Charleston, Clara Mae Metz and Sarah Jean Metz of Barboursville.
Bob is also survived by four siblings, Eugene Patterson, Lois Wilkie, Charlotte Steffen, and Margaret Black; plus several nieces and nephews.
Family and friends visitation will be today from 7 until 9 p.m. at Wallace and Wallace Funeral Home in Lewisburg.
Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. on Monday at Trinity United Methodist Church in Ronceverte. There will be a graveside service immediately after at Rosewood cemetery.
Friends may visit one hour prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Robert Patterson’s honor to the Trinity United Methodist Building Fund at 707 Pocahontas Ave., Ronceverte, WV 24970.
Arrangements by Wallace and Wallace Funeral Home of Lewisburg.
Rachel Mae Ramsey
CRAIGSVILLE — Rachel Mae Ramsey, 91 years of age, of Craigsville, died Thursday, April 12, 2007.
Funeral services will be conducted 2 p.m. Monday in the Waters Funeral Chapel at Summersville. Friends may call at the funeral chapel one hour prior to the service on Monday.
E-Condolences may be sent at watersfuneralchapel@verizon.net.
Jane Marshall Smith
On Friday, April 13th, 2007, Jane Marshall Smith of North Vance Drive, Beckley, passed peacefully at the Lucy Bowers Hospice House. She was in her 75th year.
Born June 6th, 1931, at Cincinnati, Ohio, she was the only child of John Harold and Mildred Christine Jones Keene.
Jane spent her childhood in Cincinnati and Lexington, Ky. A graduate of Lafayette High School in Lexington, she was a graduate of Cincinnati Bible Seminary with a degree in Christian education.
A resident of Beckley since 1970, Jane was of the Christian faith. She was a volunteer at the Beckley Veterans Area Medical Center for 15 years.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband William Obediah Smith on Oct. 26th, 1983.
The family of Ronald and Yvonne Chambers and their daughters, Michelle Wahl and her husband Jason and their daughter Kylie and Sherry Richmond and her husband David and their children Cody and Kierra all of Daniels, were blessed to be her adopted family. Jane had a host of friends.
Funeral services will be Monday at 7 p.m. at the Melton Mortuary Chapel with the Revs. Julian Grubb and Vondie Cook officiating. Friends may call from 6 p.m. until the time of the services. On Tuesday Jane will be taken to Lexington and buried with her grandparents, parents and her husband William at the Hillcrest Memorial Park. The Committal service will be at 1 p.m.
Donations of sympathy can be made to the Lucy Bowers Hospice House c/o Hospice of Southern West Virginia; P.O. Box 1472; Beckley, WV 25802.
Condolences may be mailed to the family at melton@wvdsl.net.
Arrangements by Melton Mortuary, Beckley.
Corrine S. Wood
LEWISBURG — Corrine S. Wood, 81, passed away suddenly Wednesday, April 11, 2007, at the University of Tennessee Medical Center, Knoxville, Tenn.
She was born Sept. 10, 1925, in Taunton, Mass., the daughter of H. Judson and Vivian Robinson.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, David A. Robinson; her beloved husband, Winston L. Wood; and three sons, Barry Winston Wood, Mark Robinson Wood, and Brian Sanford Wood.
She is survived by her son, David L. Wood and his wife Deborah of Sevierville, Tenn.; daughter-in-law, Martha G. Wood, widow of son Barry of Abington, Md.; sisters-in-law, Sarah Robinson of Murrells Inlet, S.C., and Ann H. Wood of Pearland, Texas.
She was proud of her grandchildren, Marcus S. Wood and Nicholas W. Wood of San Antonio, Texas, Sarah A. Wood of Largo, Fla., Tara C. Wood and Emily Corrine Wood of Holliston, Mass.; a great-grandson, Elijah C. Wood of San Antonio, Texas; several nieces, nephews, and cousins; as well as many wonderful friends, by whom she was dearly loved.
She was a graduate of Wheaton College in Massachusetts, an active member of Old Stone Presbyterian Church, serving on many committees as well as helping with the renovation of the Americana Thrift Store. She was also an officer and Vice President of Newcomers and Old Friends.
Mrs. Wood has donated her body to the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, as did her husband, in hopes that the knowledge learned will help others.
Memorial services will be led by the Rev. Dextor Taylor on Wednesday, at 1 p.m., at Old Stone Presbyterian Church in Lewisburg.
The family will receive friends after the service in the fellowship hall.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations in her name to Old Stone Presbyterian Church, 200 Church St., Lewisburg, WV 24901, or The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, 400 Seventh St., N.E., Suite 300, Washington, DC 20004.
