OAK HILL — Russell Gordan Sullivan, 82, of Oak Hill, went to be with Jesus, Friday, March 2, 2007.
He was born Sept. 20, 1924, at Cane Branch, the son of the late Richard Sullivan and Lura Jayne Carte Sullivan.
Russell was a self-employed contractor and a member of the Gum Spring Baptist Church.
Other than his parents, he was preceded in death by sisters, Oliva Josephine (Bea) Arthur, Mable Belcher, Dreama Miller, Maxine Barber, Helen Belcher and Irene Sullivan; and brothers, Eugene Sullivan and Paul Sullivan.
Those left to cherish his memory include his children, Gloria Jeanne Wallanse and husband, Jamie A. Wallanse, of West Lard, Mich., Bonnie Lou Sullivan of Oak Hill, and Steven Ray Sullivan of Oak Hill; his sister, Shirley Miller of Robson; his grandchildren, Melissa Hudson of Michigan, Keith Hammontree of Michigan, Jamie L. Garcia of California, Tina L. Lester of Oak Hill, George Dilley, Jr. of Exmore, Va., Elizabeth A. Nester of Princeton, Steven R. Sullivan of W.Va., Lura Sullivan of Mount Hope, and Terry Sullivan of North Carolina; and great-grandchildren, William Mach, Allison Hudson, Jeremy Hudson, Morgan Hudson and Aaron Hudson, all of Michigan, Davin R. Garcia and Baby Garcia, II both of California, Heather M. Lester, Kristin M. Lester, Brenton Lester, and Hailey E. Lester (Sullivan), all of Oak Hill, Jacob R. Dilley and Jayden N. Dilley, both of Virginia, Summer Hamilton, Trace Hamilton, Kelcey Nester and Kaitlin Nestor, all of Oak Hill.
His remains rest at High Lawn Funeral Home Chapel, 1435 E. Main Street, where the family will receive friends 6 until 9 p.m. today.
Service will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Gum Spring Baptist Church at Chimney Corner, with the Rev. Dave Minturn and Rev. Joe Brown officiating. Burial will follow in the Lansing cemetery.
Military rites will be conducted by the Oak Hill V.F.W. Post 3110.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sullivan family to help with funeral expenses.
Arrangements by High Lawn Funeral Home Chapel, Oak Hill.
Wilbert Richard ‘Web’ Van Meter
LESLIE — Wilbert Richard ‘Web’ Van Meter, 65, of Leslie, passed away on Saturday, March 3, 2007, at Greenbrier Valley Medical Center in Fairlea, following a long illness.
Born July 24, 1941, in Evelyn, he was a son of the late Ervin C. and Bertha C. Cade Van Meter.
Web worked at a sawmill in Goshen, Va., as an operator on the belt line and saws.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Piney Myers and Verna Van Meter; as well as two brothers, Albert and George Van Meter.
Survivors include his wife, Juanita Emma Ramos Van Meter of Leslie; a daughter, Nancy Elmore of Beckley; two stepdaughters, Connie Atwell of White Sulphur Springs and Kathy Finn of Virginia; two sisters, Betty Soos of Leslie and Louise Richmond of Monroe, N.C.; five brothers, Denver and Johnny of Quinwood, Charles of Goshen, Va., Hubert of Rainelle and Frederick of Crichton; six grandchildren, David, Billy and Wilbert Finn, Dean and Billy Elmore, Jr., and Nathaniel Aldridge; four step-grandchildren, Laci, Heather, Jeanie and Crystal Smith; and two great-grandchildren, Karligh Sailor and David Hunter Finn.
Service will be Wednesday at the Wallace and Wallace Chapel in Rainelle, with the Rev. Brandon Smith officiating. Burial will follow at the Wallace Memorial cemetery in Clintonville.
Friends may call 6 until 9 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Arrangements by Wallace and Wallace, Inc. of Rainelle.
Kenneth Ward
OAK HILL — Kenneth Ward, 61, of Oak Hill, passed away Saturday, March 3, 2007, at Plateau Medical Center, Oak Hill, following an extended illness.
Arrangements are incomplete.
Dodd-Payne-Hess Funeral Home will be serving the family.
Joan Elaine Wilkes, of Beckley, died at her home, after a long illness, Friday, March 2, 2007.
Born in Beckley, she will live in our memory as a very prominent member of the Beckley Community. Joan was the daughter of the late William Wesley Wilkes and wife Grace Lilly Wilkes, who arrived from Bramwell, W.Va., at the turn of the century. Wesley was very successful in the insurance business.
From this wonderful marriage came seven children, David Philip, Wesley Jr., Grace Lilly, Lewyn, Jimmy, Joan and Betty. All died in their order of birth, leaving only Betty as the sole survivor.
Joan was born in Beckley. She graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School, Beckley College, Concord College and West Virginia University. She attended Marshall University, studying special education and received her Master’s Degree plus 45 hours from West Virginia University.
Her 41 years of teaching were at Crab Orchard Elementary and Lincoln Elementary. Her lifetime devotion was teaching the third grade.
In 2000, Joan was inducted into Mountain State University Alumni Hall of Fame and received the YMCA Spirit Award 2003. She was an active member of the First Baptist Church, Friendship Class, deaconess of the First Baptist Church, member of the Laura Hinchman Circle, corresponding secretary for the Daughters of American Revolution, member of the Moose and Kiwanis Clubs, secretary to the former Rhododendron Club, advisory board member of Beckley Salvation Army, charter member of Raleigh County Historical Society and Humane Society, XI Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma International Society and lifetime member of Raleigh County Library.
Joan traveled extensively all over the world, sharing stories of her experiences and adventures with friends and students.
She is survived by her sister, Betty Wilkes of Beckley; nephew, John Wilkes and wife, Rosemary, of Pax; niece, Nancy Powell and husband, Fred, of Knoxville, Tenn.; niece, Jenny Breeden of Lawton, OK; niece, Connie Wilkes of Knoxville, Tenn.; nephew, Robert Wilkes and wife, Debbie, of Cordova, Tenn.; nephew, Bill Wilkes, II of Tomball, Texas; niece, Jane Ann Rymer and husband, Edward, of Knoxville, Tenn.; as well as several great nephews and nieces.
Joan loved her devoted animals, Benji, Sassy, Sally, Boo-Boo, Sue and Phanton. She also loved her faithful and loving caregivers, Helen Kidd, Blondena Hendrick and Faye Crouch. The Hospice of Southern West Virginia was wonderful and her family appreciated their outstanding care.
Pallbearers are Earl Whitener, Johnny Scott, Jim Lytton, Michael Farris, Roy Bazzare, George Wilson, Dwayne Sellards, Jim Sheatsley, Bob Maynard, Rev. Bob Matherly, Capt. Bob Cornett, Paul Hutchinson, Steve Ballard and Charlie Houck.
Friends may gather with the family noon until 2 p.m. Tuesday at the First Baptist Church on Neville Street. Funeral service will follow at 2 p.m., with Dr. Phillip Smith officiating. A eulogy will be given by former students Marjorie Hale Bair of Charleston and Helen Bonham Lytton of Florida. Burial will take place at the Wilkes Triangle in Sunset Park located on Harper Road.
Donations of sympathy may be sent to Wilkes Family Foundation, c/o Beckley Area Foundation, 129 Main St., Suite 203, Beckley, WV 25801; First Baptist Church, 422 Neville St., Beckley, WV 25801; Beckley Salvation Army, 312 South Fayette St., Beckley, WV 25801; or Hospice of Southern West Virginia, P.O. Box 1472, Beckley, WV 25802.
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Arrangements by Calfee Funeral Home, Beckley.
Darrell ‘Budgie’ Williams
MOUNT HOPE — Darrell Alton ‘Budgie’ Williams, 80, of Mount Hope, passed away Saturday, March 3, 2007, at his home.
Arrangements are incomplete at Tyree Funeral Home, Mount Hope.
Frank A. Mizia
Frank A. Mizia, 59, of Daniels, died Friday, Dec. 9, 2005, at the Raleigh General Hospital in Beckley, following a long illness.
Born at Chicago, Ill., on May 30, 1946, he was the son of the late Albert George Mizia and Rose Jurcezswki Mizia.
Mr. Mizia was a retired coal miner and cabinet maker, and was a member of the UMWA. He was a member of the Glen Morgan Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. Mizia enjoyed the outdoors, having loved to hunt and fish.
Survivors include his wife of nearly 41 years, Mabel Lynch Mizia; his sons, John Mizia and his wife Christy of Salem, Jim Mizia and his wife Shannon of Shady Spring, and Rob Mizia and his wife Donette of Ronceverte; a brother, George Mizia and wife Christie of Indianapolis, Ind.; a sister, Geraldine Mazur and husband John of Berwin, Ill.; his cherished grandchildren, Jenny, Ryan, Lexie, Seth, and Chase; and numerous nieces and nephews and church family.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. today at the Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home Shady Spring Chapel, with Rev. Grayson C. Lilly officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Park in Beckley.
Friends called from 6 until 9 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, 2005, at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be John, Jim, and Rob Mizia, Doug Meador, Dennis Meador, Danny Gibson, and honorary pallbearer, Ray “Curly” Cadle.
Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home at Shady Spring.
Rita Pietrantozzi Richmond
Rita Pietrantozzi Richmond, 62, of Scott Ridge Road, Beaver, died Dec. 9, 2005, at home, following a long illness.
Born March 21, 1943 at Portsmouth, Va., she was the daughter of the late Dido Pietrantozzi and the late Andril Torrico Pietrantozzi.
Mrs. Richmond was a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School, Class of 1961, where she served as class president. She attended Beckley College. Mrs. Richmond was a homemaker, a former administrative assistant at BJW Printing and Office Supply, and a former Service Coordinator at Raleigh General Hospital. She also served for many years as a volunteer at the hospital.
Mrs. Richmond was a member of Grandview Christian Church for more than 40 years. She served as President of the Christian Women’s Fellowship and Director of Vacation Bible School.
She is survived by her husband of 41 years, Ronald Richmond. Other survivors include her two sons, Dr. Brian Richmond and wife Linda of Charleston, W.Va., and Eric Richmond and wife Carrie of Racine, Wis. Three beloved grandchildren also survive her, Hailey Richmond of Charleston, and Samuel and Gabriel Richmond of Racine. Mrs. Richmond is also survived by her only brother, Gene Pietrantozzi and wife Susan of Grandview.
Services will be 1 p.m. today, Dec. 12, 2005, at Blue Ridge Funeral Home, with Pastors Oscar Schwitzerlette and Terry Newton officiating. Burial will follow at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, donations of sympathy may be made to the Grandview Christian Church Building Fund c/o Grandview Christian Church, 185 Table Rock Road, Beaver, WV 25813.
Family and friends will serve as pallbearers.
Blue Ridge Funeral Home, Beckley, is serving the family.
Ruby Hamilton Shawver
Ruby Hamilton Shawver, 77, of Beckley, passed away Saturday, Dec. 10, 2005.
Ruby was born Jan. 19, 1928, in New Town, W.Va.; she was the daughter of the late Charlie Hamilton and Elizabeth Bowyer Hamilton.
Mrs. Shawver was of the Baptist faith and a very active member of the Maxwell Hill Baptist Church.
She worked at the New River Company Store and was employed with Hills Department Store for 33 years.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Fred Sam Shawver, and a brother, Billy L. Hamilton.
Those left to cherish her memory are two brothers, Charles S. Hamilton and wife, Laveania, of Charles Town and Robert Bruce Hamilton and wife, Joanne, of Thousand Oaks, Calif.; and two sisters, Ilean Everett and husband, Calvin, of Delaware and Katherine Petrowski of Maple Fork.
Services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at Blue Ridge Funeral Home Chapel, 5251 Robert C. Byrd Drive, with Pastor Ken Killen officiating. Entombment will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley.
Friends may gather with the family from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Blue Ridge Funeral Home, 5251 Robert C. Byrd Drive, Beckley, is serving the family.
Willard Blankenship
PIERPOINT — Willard Blankenship, 62, died Friday, March 31, 2006, in a Beckley hospital following a short illness.
Born June 19, 1943, in Blackie, Va., he was the son of the late Cloyd and Ocie Stacey Blankenship.
Mr. Blankenship was a former employee of Twin Falls State Park, a 35-year resident of Pierpoint and in his leisure he enjoyed hunting and fishing.
In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by several brothers and sisters.
Those left to cherish his memory are his loving wife of 40 years, Tommie Jean King Blankenship; daughter, Debra Kay Hodges and her companion, Carl Wood, of Corinne; three sons, Willard Blankenship Jr. at home, Daniel Ray Blankenship and his wife, Tonya, of Claremont, N.C., and Ricky Blankenship and his wife, Heather, of Rocklick; three sisters, Violet Lester of Paynesville, Lois Audet and her husband, Dennis, of McGraws and Etta Perdue and her husband, Larry, of Ravencliff; a brother, Hillard Blankenship and his wife, Magaline, of McGraws; five grandchildren and five stepgrandchildren.
Services will be 11 a.m. Monday at Tankersley Funeral Home Chapel, Mullens, with Elder Jerry McGrady officiating. Burial will follow in Birchfield cemetery at Maben.
Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. today at Tankersley Funeral Home, Mullens.
Family and friends will serve as pallbearers.
Arrangements by Tankersley Funeral Home, Mullens.
Anna Laura Williams Bowling
FAYETTEVILLE — Anna Laura Williams Bowling age 74 of Fayetteville went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, April 1, 2006.
She was born May 23, 1931 in Wayland, Ky., and was the daughter of the late Everett and Garnet Butcher Williams.
She was also preceded in death by her husband, James Donald Bowling, and two brothers, Everett Williams Jr. and Bronley Gene Williams.
Anna was a former register nurse having worked in this area for close to fifty years. She was a 48-year resident of Fayetteville. She graduated from Wayland High School and received her nursing degree from Laird Memorial Hospital in Montgomery.
Surviving: sons, James Donald Bowling Jr. and his wife Evelyn of Hurricane and Mark Bowling and his wife Janie of Fayetteville; brother Jack Blake Williams and his wife Rita of Franklin, Indiana; and 5 grandchildren, Betty Bowling Holt, Jacob Mark Bowling, Blake Douglas Bowling, Dana Nicole Bowling and Christopher James Bowling.
A special thanks to Hilltop Healthcare Center for filling her final days with kindness and compassionate care.
Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at O’Dell Funeral Home, Montgomery, with Rev. Ron George and Rev. David Stackpole officiating. Burial will follow in Montgomery Memorial Park at London.
Friends may call one hour prior to service at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Birthright of Beckley, 400 Vance Drive, Beckley, West Virginia 25801.
