HILLDALE — Emily D. Mann, 74, of Hilldale, died Friday evening, Jan. 6, 2006, at Heartland of Rainelle following a long illness.
Arrangements by Ronald Meadows Funeral Parlors, Hinton.
Armond Owens
Armond Owens, 80, of 100 Virginia St., Beckley, died Sunday, Jan. 1, 2006.
Memorial service will be 11 a.m. Monday at Ritchie and Johnson Funeral Parlor Chapel, Beckley. Friends may call one hour before service Monday at the funeral parlor.
Arrangements entrusted to Ritchie and Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley.
Lonnie Darl Queen
DENVER, N.C. — Lonnie Darl Queen, 91, formerly of Beckley, died Thursday, Jan. 5, 2006, at the Brain Center in Mooresville, N.C.
Born Oct. 23, 1914, at Stiltner, he was the son of the late Lindsey and Julia Maynard Queen.
Mr. Queen graduated from Wayne County High School in 1934. He then moved to Logan County, and worked for Haner Brothers General Merchandise Co. He joined the Civil Conservation Corps and served three years. Upon leaving the CCC he was employed by Beckley Hardware Co. until the start of World War II. At that time he moved his family to Baltimore, Md., to work in the shipyards. He returned to Beckley after the war and returned to Beckley Hardware Co.
Mr. Queen purchased Lilly Hardware Co. in Beaver in 1951, which he operated with his son until he retired to Florida in 1976. He was one of the founders of the Beaver Volunteer Fire Department and was one of the original members of Flat Top Lake Association.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 22 years, Sibyl Keatley Queen.
He is survived by his son, Gary Darrell Queen of Denver, N.C.; a granddaughter, Debra Underwood of Charlotte, N.C.; two grandsons, Michael Lon Queen of Crouse, N.C., and Gary Don Queen of Lincolnton, N.C.; two great-grandsons; five great-granddaughters; and two sisters, Macy Bonda of Charlotte and Narva Gelardi of Fort Myers, Fla.
Service will be 2 p.m. today at Calfee Funeral Home Chapel, Beckley, with the Rev. Vondie Cook officiating. Entombment will follow in Sunset Memorial Park, Beckley.
Friends may call one hour before service today at the funeral chapel.
Pallbearers will be Michael Lon Queen, Gary Don Queen, Derek Queen and Zakkary Underwood.
Arrangements by Calfee Funeral Home, Beckley.
Mary Helen Willey Seldomridge
HINTON — Mary Helen Willey Seldomridge, 76, of Hinton, formerly of Forest Hill, died at 6:20 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6, 2006, at Princeton Healthcare Center, where she had been a resident for the past 13 years.
Born Dec. 28, 1929, in Hinton, she was a daughter of the late Samuel A. and Virginia Carson Keffer.
Mary Helen was a lifelong resident of Summers County, a member of First Baptist Church in Hinton and a longtime employee of the Hub Clothing Co. in Hinton. She was active in the Summers County Republican Party, and worked as a volunteer at the Summers County Senior Citizens.
She was preceded in death by several brothers and sisters and her former husband, Howard E. Willey.
Survivors include her husband, Billy Joe Seldomridge of Winter Haven, Fla.; three sons, Jerry K. Willey of Atlanta, Ga., Frederick E. Willey and wife, Katherine, of Atlanta and Steven H. Willey of Barger Springs; two daughters, Deborah E. Wykle and husband, Elmer, and Pamela Willey Honaker and husband, Gary, all of Hilldale; two stepsons, Steve Seldomridge of Coral Springs, Fla., and Billy Seldomridge of Danville, Ill.; 13 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; two sisters, Ruby Wheeler and Shirley Wheeler, both of Hinton; and three brothers, Ted and Homer Keffer, both of Hinton, and Eugene Keffer of Elkins.
Memorial service will be 5 p.m. today at Ronald Meadows Funeral Parlors Chapel, Hinton, with Pastor Bobby Rex Ratliff officiating.
The family will receive friends 4 to 5 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Additional memorial service and burial will be held at a later date.
Arrangements by Ronald Meadows Funeral Parlors, Hinton.
Merl Talbert
CLEAR FORK — Merl Talbert departed this life Friday, Dec. 30, 2005, at the age of 58 years, one month and six days.
Born Nov. 24, 1947, at Hatcher, she was a daughter of the late Arley C. and Ruth Eva Lefler Toler.
Merl was a homemaker, was employed by Lloyds Grocery and Pizza Hut, and enjoyed reading. She was liked by all who knew her and was the “World’s Greatest Nana.”
Those left to cherish her memory are two sons, Todd Landis and his wife, Jannie, of Clear Fork and Arley Talbert of Covel; her companion, Mark Cook of Clear Fork; a bro-ther, Edward Toler of St. Albans; three sisters, Alice Bailey of Cross Lanes, Teresa Miller of Morgantown and Anna Frazier of Pliny; two grandchildren, Kirsten and Derek Landis; a stepson, Bubbie Talbert of Pineville; several nieces and nephews and a host of friends.
At Merl’s request, her body was cremated. Memorial service was 1 p.m. Thursday at Clear Fork Independent Church of God with the Rev. Hanibal Blankenship officiating.
Services entrusted to Adam Toler Memorial Funeral Home, Oceana.
Laura Carolene Vance
Laura Carolene Vance, 68, of Prosperity, went to be with the Lord on Friday, Jan. 6, 2006, at Raleigh General Hospital following a long illness.
Born July 13, 1937, at Stephenson, she was the daughter of the late Lonza Meadows and Mabel Shrewsbury Meadows.
Mrs. Vance was a homemaker. She was a member of Cranberry Baptist Church and lived in Prosperity most of her adult life.
She was preceded in death by an infant brother and sister.
Survivors include her husband of 52 years, Jack Vance; son, Jack E. Vance Jr. and wife, Sandra, of Oak Hill; daughter, Debbie Semenske and husband, Charlie, of Stanaford; brothers, Sherman Meadows and wife, Naomi, of Daniels, Bob Meadows and wife, Linda, of Prosperity and Burliss Meadows of Prosperity; sisters, Betty Sizemore and husband, James, of Beckley, Imorene Barron and husband, Tom, of Hurricane, Dixie Harvey of Oak Hill, Sandy Trent and husband, Dwight, of Daniels and Donna Morris and husband, Larry, of Beckley; grandchildren, Kim Runyon and husband, Kenny, of Prosperity, Chuck Semenske and wife, Hillary, of Troutman, N.C., Stacy Vance and fiancé, Ashley Cannon, of Radford, Va., Jason Vance and girlfriend, Kim Ross, of Oak Hill and Jamie Harvey of Roanoke, Va.; great-grandchildren, Brandon and Chad Runyon of Prosperity, and Payten and Kendall Semenske of Troutman; and an adopted pet, Teddy Snookums.
Service will be 3:30 p.m. today at Rose and Quesenberry Peace Chapel, Beckley, with Pastor Roger Pauley officiating. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Park, Beckley.
Nephews will serve as pallbearers.
Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, Beckley.
James Wesley Weiford
James Wesley Weiford, of Shady Spring, loving husband, father, grandfather and best friend, died Friday, Jan. 6, 2006, at his home, with his loving family by his side.
He had fought a courageous battle with lung and adrenal cancer for one year. He will be sadly missed by everyone who knew and loved him very much.
James was born at Buckeye on Dec. 1, 1920. He was 85 years old. He was the son of the late Mary A. Weiford (Kellison) and D.N. Weiford.
He was also preceded in death by brothers, William, Stewart and Fred Weiford; his sisters, Beulah Beard, Vesta Holly and Georgia Carpenter.
Those left to cherish his love and memory are his loving wife and best friend of 52 years, Carrie L. Weiford; his daughter, LeRue Stone Mahaffey of Shady Spring and her fiance, Leonard Dickerson; his grandchildren, Zane W. Crook Jr. of Richmond, Va., and Tonyae L. Crook Smith and her husband, Terry; his one special great-grandchild, Colby T. Smith of Shady Spring; and special nieces and nephews.
Mr. Weiford was a veteran of World War II, having served in the Army Air Force for 3 1/2 years. During World War II, he served in the 100th Bomb Group. Mr. Weiford retired from C&O Railroad with 33 years of service, and was a member of Grandview Christian Church, where he served as deacon.
Upon his request, there will be no night visitation.
Service will be held 1 p.m. Monday at Rose and Quesenberry Peace Chapel, Beckley, with Pastor Oscar Schwitzerlette and Terry Newton officiating. Burial will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley.
Family and friends may gather two hours prior to services at the funeral home.
Nephews will serve as pallbearers.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Hospice of Southern West Virginia, P.O. Box 1472, Beckley, WV 25802.
The family would like to give thanks for the wonderful care that he received during his illness to Raleigh Regional Cancer Center, especially Dr. El-Harake, and the wonderful people of Hospice.
Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, Beckley.
Beverly Thomas ‘Tommy’ Wilson Jr.
PRINCETON — Mr. Beverly Thomas “Tommy” Wilson Jr., 76, of 815 Highland Ave., died Saturday, Jan. 7, 2006, at Princeton Community Hospital.
Born June 27, 1929, at Bud, he was the son of the late Beverly Thomas Wilson Sr. and Viola B. Hash Wilson.
Tommy retired from the District of Columbia, working in the Transportation Department. He was a veteran, serving with the U.S. Navy as a seaman on the USS Roosevelt.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Ida Ruth Shaffer, on Dec. 26, 1997; a sister, Nan Wilmouth; and a half brother, Guy Thornton Jr.
Survivors include his daughter, Virginia Ruth Klarman-Burkhead of Raleigh, N.C.; brothers and sisters, Mary A. Wilson of Princeton, Willis Glover and wife, Frances, of Princeton, William Runion and wife, Dorothy, of Beckley and Daniel L. Wilson of Ashburn, Va.; and several nieces and nephews.
Graveside service and burial will be 2 p.m. Monday at Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Courthouse Road, Princeton.
Friends may call 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Monday at Memorial Funeral Directory, Athens Road, Princeton.
Those wishing to attend graveside service are asked to meet at the funeral home by 1:30 p.m. Monday.
The family of Tommy Wilson is being served by Memorial Funeral Directory and Cremation Center, Princeton.
Macel H. Backus
MOUNT NEBO — Macel H. Backus, 83, died Thursday, Jan. 5, 2006, at Charleston Area Medical Center, General Division, from injuries received in an automobile accident in Summersville.
She was the daughter of the late Willard and Lyda O’Dell Hughes and was born at Fowlers Knob on March 4, 1922.
She was a Mount Nebo postmaster for 35 years and a member of Gilgal United Methodist Church. She was a former employee of Summersville Lumber Co. and a secretary in Washington, D.C., during World War II.
Survivors include her husband, Blume F. Backus; a son, Dencil Backus of McDonald, Pa.; two daughters, Sharon B. Roop of Summersville and Myra Houser of Clayton, N.C.; three sisters, Ivaloo King of Mount Nebo, Mattie Thompson of Charleston and Doris McLaughlin of Little Hocking, Ohio; seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Service will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Gilgal United Methodist Church, Mount Nebo, with Pastor Jim Daily and the Rev. Pete Roberts officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Friends may call 6 to 8 p.m. today at Waters Funeral Chapel, Summersville.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Gilgal UMC building fund.
Arrangements by Waters Funeral Chapel, Summersville.
Leo Barnabi
Leo Barnabi, 74, of Beckley, died Thursday, Jan. 5, 2006, at Beckley Appalachian Regional Hospital following a long illness.
Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, Beckley.
Genoveva J. Belcher
SETH — Genoveva Jean Avila Belcher, 79, of Seth, died Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2006.
Service will be 1 p.m. Saturday at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Whitesville. Friends may call two hours before service Saturday at the church.
Arrangements by Armstrong Funeral Home, Whitesville.
