Virginia Vertie Hughes Kennedy, 87, of Pinecrest nursing home, formerly of Crab Orchard and Portland, Ore., departed this life on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2006, after a long illness.
Virginia “Vertie” was the fourth child born to the late Robert Thomas and Louisa Massey Hughes on the 5th day of September, 1918, at Affinity.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, James Kennedy, on Nov. 14, 2002; a sister, Minnie Lilly; and four brothers, Homer, Gilmer, Ted and Lamer Hughes.
She worked as a secretary in the Beckley area before moving to Portland and worked as a secretary in various areas such as banking and real estate. She and her husband retired back to West Virginia in 1988 to the Crab Orchard area.
She is survived by a son, Kenn Kennedy and wife, Betty, of Coos Bay, Ore.; a daughter, Sue Loe and husband, Rueben, of Milwaukie, Ore.; two sisters, Brookie Angle of Midway and Ethel Cole of Fayetteville, Ga.; a sister-in-law, Naoma Hughes of MacArthur; grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Kenn Kennedy Jr. and wife, Brenda, and their daughters, Mackenzie, Megan and Madison, of Anchorage, Alaska, Connie Antonson and husband, Mark, and their children, Tanner, Courtney, Trevor and Lindsey, of Wilsonville, Ore.; Chrissy Moore and husband, Tim, and their daughter, Katlin, of Camby, Ore., Shawn Loe and wife, Christy, and Christopher Loe and wife, Kim, of Portland, Ore.; and a host of nieces and nephews.
Service will be 3:30 p.m. Sunday at Rose and Quesenberry Peace Chapel, Beckley, with the Rev. Allan Copenhaver officiating. Entombment will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens Mausoleum, Beckley.
Friends may call 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be nephews.
Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, Beckley.
Donald ‘Ridge Runner’ Legg
FRANKFORD — Donald Gene “Ridge Runner” Legg, 58, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2006, from injuries received in a tractor-trailer accident on Route 33, near Seneca Rocks.
Mr. Legg was born Dec. 27, 1947, in Frankford, and was the son of Louise Spence Legg of Renick and the late George Thomas Legg.
Donald was an over-the-road trucker and the owner of the Lazy “L” Farm, breeder of Texas longhorn battle and Boer goats. He held membership in the TLBAA, American Boer Goat Association, American Donkey and Mule Society and Over the Road Truckers. His enjoyments in life were spoiling his kids, grandkids and all of his “adopted kids and grandkids,” hunting, fishing, collecting and trading, farming, trucking and raising donkeys, mules and Boer meat goats.
He was preceded in death by his father; a brother, William Dwain Legg; a niece, Tammy, and a nephew, Eric.
Survivors include his wife, Louise Spence Legg of Renick; a lifetime friend, “The Cook” Joyce Jackson Case of Frankford; former wife of 25 years, Donna Johnston Legg of Lewisburg; daughter, Shaunda Renee Legg of Columbia, Md.; a son, Thomas Gene Legg and his wife, Meagan, of Ronceverte; grandchildren, Gaven and Brodie Legg; a sister, Rebecca Johnson and her husband, Daniel, of Renick; three brothers, Eddie Legg and his wife, Vera, of Asbury, Thomas Legg and his wife, Brenda, of Frankford and Robert Legg of Charlotte, N.C.; nephews, Remington, Dalton, Dakota, Tony and Chris; nieces, Laura, Alanna and Madeline; uncles, Lloyd Spence and wife, Catherine, of Chester, Va., Dave Allen of Salem, Va., and Billy Legg of Maxwelton; aunt, Annie Fuller and husband, Seldon, of Frankford; and special friends and trucking buddies.
Service will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home, Lewisburg, with the Rev. Emory Hanna officiating. Burial will follow in Morningside cemetery, Renick.
Friends may call 6 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be Chuck Parrish, John Layton, Gary Pennington, C.W. Brown, Eddie Mullenax, James Hoke, Shayne Monteith, Duane Sheets, Bart Mowery and William Case, Jr.
Honorary pallbearers will be Bruce Kershner, Dick McClung, Jack Wykle, Richard Shields, Bill Warner, Walter Hanson, Darrell Hoke and Curtis Gillian.
Arrangements by Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home, Lewisburg.
Patrick McGuire
CUNARD — Patrick McGuire, 56, died Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2006.
Service will be 2 p.m. Sunday at High Lawn Funeral Home Chapel, Oak Hill. The family will receive friends 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
Arrangements by High Lawn Funeral Home Chapel, 1435 E. Main St., Oak Hill.
Linda Ann Gray Merritt
OAK HILL — Linda Ann Gray Merritt, 57, departed this life Monday, Jan. 30, 2006, at Hidden Valley Nursing Home.
Born Oct. 13, 1948, at Mount Hope, she was the daughter of the late William Gray and Louise Johnson Gray.
Linda was a member of Faith Temple of Deliverance Church and was preceded in death by four brothers, William, Eugene, John and Lee Philip Gray.
Those left to cherish her memory are her husband, Clinton Merritt; daughter, Clinetra Pannell and her husband, William; grandchildren, Keshawn and Katyra, and newborn twin baby girls; a sister, Patricia Beasley and her husband, Sherman, of Mount Hope; three brothers, Richard and Freddie Gray of Mount Hope and Robert Gray of New York; an aunt, Catherine Gray of Mount Hope; and a host of other relatives.
Service will be 2 p.m. Saturday at High Lawn Funeral Home Chapel, Oak Hill, with the Bishop Bobby Tunstalle officiating. Burial will follow in High Lawn Memorial Park, Oak Hill.
The family will receive friends noon until time of service Saturday at the funeral home.
Arrangements by High Lawn Funeral Home Chapel, 1435 E. Main St., Oak Hill.
Robin Moore
Robin Moore, born March 4, 1955, in Clay County, completed his work here and went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2006, at the age of 50.
Robin was of the Christian faith, loved the outdoors and spent most of his work years outside as a professional fishing guide and owner of Castaway Fishing Co. He was a veteran whitewater raft guide with more than 20 years providing memorable days on the New and Gauley Rivers for thousands of guests of Class VI River Runners.
He was a nationally certified swiftwater rescue instructor and taught rescue clinics for the Navy SEAL teams, Air Force ParaRescue, U.S. Coast Guard and other military Special Forces. In addition, he did rescue training for West Virginia Division of Natural Resources officers, various fire department personnel and hundreds of river guides throughout West Virginia.
One of his career highlights was being a member of a 12-person expedition team to the Colca River Canyon in Peru, a trip sponsored by National Geographic Magazine (January 1993 issue) under the leadership of adventurer/explorer Piotr Chmielinski.
Those left to cherish his memory include his loving wife, Terry Moore of Oak Hill; a daughter, Cathi Jo Moore of Ansted; a granddaughter, Cayla Dixon of Ansted; mom and dad, Bill and Norma King of Lashmeet; brother, Dennie Moore of Bowling Green, Ky.; sister, Dora Metheny and husband, Jerry, of Kegley; father and stepmother, Denver and Peggy Moore of Oak Hill; brother, Steve Moore of Virginia; sisters, Diane Mayo of Huntington and Lori Moore of Fayetteville; and several nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind more friends than most people have in a long lifetime.
Service will be 2 p.m. today at Blue Ridge Funeral Home, 5251 Robert C. Byrd Drive, Beckley, with Pastor Cecil Smith officiating. Burial will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley.
Friends gathered with the family 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Friends at Class VI River Runners have established the Robin Moore Memorial Fund. In lieu of flowers, donations of sympathy can be sent to Robin Moore Memorial Fund, c/o Fayette County National Bank, P.O. Box 209, Fayetteville, WV 25840-0209.
Blue Ridge Funeral Home, Beckley, is in charge of the arrangements.
Everette Brown Neel
PETERSTOWN — Everette Brown Neel, 87, of Peterstown, passed away Thursday, Feb. 2, 2006, at his residence.
Born Dec. 21, 1918, at Zenith, he was the son of the late Everette Cassius and Lizzie Myrtle Hinchee Neel.
Mr. Neel was a retired supervisor from Celanese Corp., a World War II combat engineer veteran and a member of Crimson Springs Baptist Church. He was a farmer, avid hunter and fisherman, father of nine children, avid rook player and a die-hard Atlanta Braves fan.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by four sisters, Leona Martin, Ocie A. Bell, Odessa C. Hammett and Elma J. Hale; and a grandson, Matthew E. Neel.
Survivors include three sons, Daniel E. Neel and wife, Amy, of Lindside, Bobby Dillon and wife, Evelyn, of Worchester, Mass., and Everette L. Neel of Rich Creek, Va.; two stepsons, Louis Buckland and wife, Dehronda, and Kenneth Buckland and wife, Mary Jane, all of Bozoo; three daughters, Betty J. Brown and husband, Bill, of Peterstown, Neica P. Miller and husband, Marshall, of Zenith and Teresa N. Fletcher and husband, Franklin, of Pearisburg, Va.; a sister, Myrtle N. Bell of Lakeland, Fla.; nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Graveside service will be 1 p.m. Saturday at Carmel cemetery, Gap Mills, with Rev. Jimmie Rogers officiating.
Friends may call 6 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Chuck King, Randy Dowdy, Randall Neel, James Brown, Mark Brown, William Brown and Arven Neely will serve as pallbearers.
Arrangements by Broyles-Shrewsbury Funeral Home, Peterstown.
Ramona Gail Payne
MORRISTOWN, Tenn. — Ramona Gail Payne, 68, formerly of Mossy, died Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2006, at Lakeway Regional Hospital, Morristown.
Eva Cordell Ritchie
Eva Cordell Ritchie began her run on Oct. 12, 1926, and ended her race with a “shout” down the streets of gold on Glory Avenue on Monday, Jan. 30, 2006, following a extended illness.
Spectators cheering her on Glory Avenue are the “love of her life,” William O. Ritchie Sr.; her mother and father, Samuel and Geneva Williams; her sister, Shirley Williams, and her brother, Reginald Williams.
Supporters still at the starting gate and still in the run are her children; two sons, William Ritchie Jr. (Alfreda) of Clinton, Md., Douglas Ritchie (Charlotte) of Fort Washington, Md.; a daughter, Terri Brown (Jerrold) of Decatur, Ga.; two stepdaughters, Brendolyn Jasper (Robert) of Southfield, Mich., and Gwendolyn Ray (Charles) of Dayton, Ohio; two sisters, Gwendolyn Payne (Hezekiah) of Baltimore, Md. and Juanita Parham (Rayfus) of Roanoke, Va.; a brother, Samuel Williams (Peggy) of Baltimore, Md.
Eva was educated in the public schools of Fayette County, graduating from DuBois High School and later attended Beckley College. After graduation, Eva joined William O. Ritchie in holy matrimony on Jan. 9, 1949 in Derry Hale, W.Va. Eva accepted the Lord as her Savior at an early age. She was an active member in her church, St. Matthew A.M.E. Church in Beckley. She served faithfully in numerous capacities as the Scholarship Chairperson for the Keys-Miller Scholarship for West Virginia Women’s Missionary Society, a Steward and Stewardess, member of the Senior Choir, Usher Board, and Missionary Society and publisher of the church bulletin.
Eva retired in 1988 after 25 years of service from the WV Department of Welfare.
Her Masonic affiliations included membership in the Beckley Assembly 305 Order of the Eastern Star, Golden Circle and the Daughter of Isis. She was one of the founding members of the Friendly Few Savings Club.
Family meant a great deal to Eva. Thus, supporters still at the starting gate and in the race to cherish her memory include her sisters-in-law, Goldie Diamond of Cleveland, Ohio, Evelyn Bibb of Forestville, Md., and Trula Ritchie of Detroit, Mich., brothers-in-law, Joseph Ritchie (Dorothy) of Garten, W.Va., Thomas Ritchie (Yasuko) of Vacazille, Calif., Samuel Vatelle Ritchie of Washington, D.C., and Harold Lonelle Ritchie of Falls Church, Va.; her granddaughters, Arian Ritchie Joiner (Kris) of Grand Prairie, Tex., and Casey Brown of Decatur, Ga.; a grandson, Kenneth Ritchie of Fort Washington, Md.; three great-grandchildren, Delonte, Devin, and Destiny Joiner, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Services will be 1 p.m. Saturday at St. Matthew A.M.E. Church, 103 Mills Ave., with the Rev. Abner Wright officiating. Burial will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley.
Friends may call 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, and the family will receive friends from noon to 1 p.m. at the church.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to the St. Matthew A.M.E. Church, 103 Mills Ave., Beckley, W.Va. 25801.
Arrangements entrusted to Ritchie and Johnson Funeral Parlors, Beckley.
Marie Irene Thompson
CRAIGSVILLE — Marie Irene Thompson, 84, died Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2006.
Service will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Simons-Coleman Funeral Home, Richwood. Friends may call 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
In honor of our mother, flowers or donations may be made to First Baptist Church of Craigsville, Route 55 Boone Hill, Craigsville, WV 26205.
Arrangements by Simons-Coleman Funeral Home, Richwood.
Rannie Lawrence Vance
Rannie Lawrence Vance, 78, of Beckley, formerly of Davin, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2006.
Service will be 1 p.m. Saturday at Claypool United Methodist Church. Friends may call 6 to 9 p.m. today at the church.
Evans Funeral Home, Oceana, is serving the Vance family.
Carl R. Adkins, M.D.
AIKEN, S.C. — Carl R. Adkins, M.D., 61, formerly of Fayetteville, died Thursday, Feb. 2, 2006, in Aiken.
He was born July 16, 1944, at Holden, son of the late Carl L. Adkins and Louise Adkins.
He is survived by his wife, Susan Hanlin Adkins of Aiken; a son, Jonathan Adkins of Arlington, Va.; and a sister, Frances Povlich.
He earned an undergraduate and medical degree from West Virginia University and an MBA from Wake Forest. For 11 years he served as a family practitioner in Fayetteville. He was also elected West Virginia State Medical Association president.
Additionally, he was chief of staff at Raleigh General Hospital in Beckley, and he was an executive in managed care with renowned medical care corporations.
During the 1970s and early 1980s, Dr. Adkins was active in the Fayette County community. He was a member and an elder of Fayetteville Presbyterian Church and was a member of the Rotary chapter.
He was a licensed pilot with an IFR rating and was an FAA medical flight examiner.
He was a dedicated sports fan of the WVU Mountaineers and an avid golfer.
Dr. Adkins and his wife retired to Hilton Head, S.C., in 1998. In 2005, they moved to Aiken.
The family is planning a memorial service in South Carolina.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to the Dr. Carl R. Adkins Fund, c/o WVU Foundation, P.O. Box 1650, Morgantown, WV 26507.
