Alfred Charles Branham, 74, of South Charleston passed away Friday, March 12, 2010, at home, surrounded by his family.He was a retired truck driver and member of Teamsters and United Mine Workers of America. He was a member and served as an usher at Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Leonard and Nell Branham.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Flo; daughter and son-in-law, Rhonda and Jay Marino; son and daughter-in-law, Jeff and Tina Branham; son, Greg Branham; grandchildren, Nichole Sweeney, Charles Marino, Cara Branham, Jeffrey Shane Branham, Scott Edward Branham and Emily Branham; and great-grandchildren,Sophia and Coleson Sweeney and Shane and Jacob Branham.
Service will be 1 p.m. Monday, March 15, at Hopewell Baptist Church, located at junction of 119 South and Brounland Road, South Charleston, with Pastors Dwight McClure and James Parsons officiating. Burial will be in Graceland Memorial Park, South Charleston.
Friends may call from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the church.
Arrangements are in the care of Curry Funeral Home, Alum Creek.
Thelma “Jean” Craddock, 73, of Hewett, Boone County, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, March 11, 2010, at Hubbard Hospice House, Charleston.Born April 4, 1936, at Missouri Fork of Hewett, she was the daughter of the late Cebert and Gaynell Hager Ellis.
Jean was a faithful member of Meadow Fork Freewill Baptist Church.
Mrs. Craddock was also preceded in death by her loving husband, Jucal Craddock; three brothers, Kenneth, Ivan, and Joey Ellis; and three sisters, Joann Craddock, Edith Spencer, and Becky Hintz.
Survivors include her children, David (Tina) Craddock of Lake, Bunny (Ralph) Caudill of Ottawa, and Dennis (Donna) Craddock of Hewett; nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
The family would like to send a special thanks to Teddy Craddock and the staff at Hubbard Hospice House.
Services will be 2 p.m. Sunday, March 14, at Meadow Fork Freewill Baptist Church with Gary Tomblin and Ralph Caudill officiating. Burial will follow in Epling Cemetery, Hewett.
Visitation will be two hours prior to services.
Collins Funeral Home, Switzer, is in charge of the arrangements.
Loretta J. Elkins, 70, of Sissonville died March 11, 2010, at her home, with her loved ones by her side, and went on to join her husband, Chris, who waits for her.Loretta was born on June 1, 1939, on Horse Creek, Morrisvale, Boone County, and was the youngest child of Tom and Vinnie Linville. As one of 12 children, life was sometimes a struggle, but never boring. Loretta met her husband, Chris Elkins, after being introduced by her sister, Dessie Elkins, and Chris's brother, Edgar Elkins, who were already married. A courtship ensued and Loretta and Chris married on Loretta's birthday, June 1, in the front yard at the home of sister and brother-in-law, Romaleta “Scrappie” and Leland “Pig” Estep.
Once you met Loretta, or “Mo”, as granddaughter, Savanna, called her from an early age, you never forgot her. She was a loving, caring woman who loved people, but was never afraid to speak her mind. She loved the shopping channel, QVC, and was jokingly referred to by the family at the QVC Queen! Loretta was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend to us all. She will be missed more than we can express in words.
Loretta was preceded in death by her husband of 41 years, Chris E. Elkins; parents, Tom and Vinnie Linville; sisters, Georgia Adkins, Dolly Hicks, Dessie Elkins and Macel Walls; and brothers, Dennis Linville and Junior Linville.
Loretta is survived by a son, Jeff Elkins of Charlotte, N.C.; daughter, Lisa Elkins Painter and husband, Clinton Painter, of Sissonville; granddaughter, Savanna Ellen Painter of Sissonville; and brother, Bill Linville of Sissonville, who all helped care for her in the final days; sister, Romaleta “Scrappie” Estep of Morrisvale; brothers, Rexel “Gay” Linville and Jerry Linville of Madison, and Dennis “Corky” Linville of North Carolina; and many niece and nephews, cousins, extended family, friends and neighbors.
The family would like to send a special thank you to Dr. Arvind Shah and his staff for 19 years of excellent care and support of Loretta, the HospiceCare team who provided our family tremendous support, especially RN Deanna Berry and CNA Melinda Boggess, who treated us like their own family in there care of Mom. Another thank you goes to longtime neighbors, Larry Shamblin and Bob and Brenda Hackney, who kept an eye out for Mom, both before she got sick and after, as well as the countless folks who either sent a card or food, called or offered their help or support to us. We love you all and will never forget your kindness and compassion.
Lastly, a special thank you goes to Julie Keeton, who came to us as a stranger, hired to help care for our mother, but became part of our family so quickly. Mom truly grew to love Julie, whom Loretta referred to as “my little angel.” Having Julie care for Mom during these past few months was a blessing and the family is eternally grateful.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Monday, March 15, at Long & Fisher Funeral Home, Sissonville, with the Rev. Al Mendez and Paul Mendez officiating. Burial will follow in Floral Hills Garden of Memories.
At Loretta's request, pallbearers will be her son Jeff's longtime friends: Jonathan Hay, Tim Britton, Jeff Mosteller, Paul Mendez, Kevin Harmon and Matt Woosley.
Visitation will be from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
Condolences may be sent by visiting www.longfisherfuneralhome.com.
Dorothy Mae Graybeal, 75, of Rock House Road, Lester, died Thursday, March 11, 2010, in a Charleston hospital following an extended illness.Born on December 17, 1934, in Montcoal she was the daughter of Generva Greiner Beard of Charleston and the late Nelson C. Beard. She was also preceded in death by a brother, Charles, this past January.
Dorothy was a 1952 graduate of Marsh Fork High School and also graduated from West Virginia State College. She, along with her husband, operated Graybeal Auto Supply from 1976 to 1990. She also worked in the Purchasing Department of Massey's Elk Run Coal Company from 1988 until her retirement in 1997. In her leisure time, she enjoyed painting and making quilts.
In addition to her mother, she is survived by her husband of 57 years, Joseph Graybeal; two sons, Joseph Graybeal Jr. and wife, Melody, of Peytona and Kevin Graybeal of Houston, Texas; a daughter, Cindy Runyon and husband, Archie, of Grandview; six grandchildren, Matthew Graybeal and wife, Nikki, of Peytona, Stephanie Graybeal of New Smyrna Beach, Fla., Evan Graybeal of Albuquerque, N.M., Erica Grippin and husband, Derrick, of New Smyrna Beach, Fla., Grant Runyon of Hinton and Galen Runyon of Grandview; and five great-grandchildren, Autumn Stout of Seth, Zack Britt of Peytona, Phoenix Paul and Kallie Lockhart, both of New Smyrna Beach, Fla., and James Runyon of Hinton. She is also survived by a brother, Frank Beard and wife, Jean, of Beckley; and four sisters, Mary Armstrong and Maude Sweeney and husband, Homer, all of St. Albans, Gloria Saddler of Charleston, and Doris Withrow and husband, Pete, of Columbus, Ohio.
Dorothy will be sadly missed by all who knew her.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 14, at Sylvester Baptist Church with the Rev. David Minturn and the Rev. Dewey Lowe officiating. Burial will follow in Pineview Cemetery, Orgas.
Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the Melton Mortuary and one hour prior to the service time at the church.
Condolences may be e-mailed to the family at melton@wvdsl.net.
Arrangements are by Melton Mortuary, Beckley.
Born on July 9, 1940, in Newton, she was the daughter of the late Kenna and Dora Parker.
She was a retired CNA for several nursing homes.
Survivors include her husband, Darel Haines of Procious; son, Mark Haines of St. Paul, Minn.; daughters, Pam Perea of Westminster, Colo., and Michelle Lazoran of Morrison, Colo.; 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Funeral service will be 1 p.m. Sunday, March 14, Wilson-Shamblin-Smith Funeral Home, Clay, with the Rev. Melody Haines officiating. Burial will follow in the King Cemetery, Grannies Creek.
Friends may call one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.carlwilsonfuneralhome.com.
David Lee Hardman Sr., of Charlotte, N.C., went to be with the Lord on March 12, 2010, at the Levine & Dickson Hospice House after a gallant battle with multiple-system atrophy Parkinson's disease.David was born on August 27, 1941, in Charleston. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mary and Rufus Hardman; his brother, Don Hardman; and sister, Deloris Goff.
David was a retired master electrician with IBEW Local 466 with 38 years of service. He loved to travel and spend time with his children and grandchildren. He also enjoyed working on building and woodworking projects and his handiwork is visible in all his children's homes, as well as his own home. He was a Baptist, a graduate of Stonewall Jackson High School with the class of 1959, and also served four years with the US Marine Corps. He was loved and will be missed by many.
He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Beverly Dunbar Hardman; daughter, Natalie Bohnert and her husband, Jim; son, David Hardman Jr. and his wife, Xinia; daughter, Christa Sudipo and her husband, Ketut; and his grandchildren, the joys of his life, Vincent and Brandon Bohnert and Mateo and Kimora Sudipo.
A celebration of his life will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, March 15, at Tyler Mountain Funeral Home and Memory Gardens, 5233 Rocky Fork Road, Cross Lanes. Entombment will follow in Sunset Memorial Park, South Charleston.
Visitation with the family will be from 4 to 7p.m. Sunday at Tyler Mountain Funeral Home and Memory Gardens.
You may express online condolences at tylermountainfuneralhome.com.
He was born in Given on October 27, 1941, and grew up on the Wolfe Creek family farm established by his great-great grandfather, William Hopkins.
A graduate of Ripley High School, he served as president of the class of 1959 and played varsity football and baseball. Mike received a B.S. degree in accounting from West Virginia Institute of Technology in 1963. He was a retired federal government employee, having spent his entire career with the Department of Veterans Affairs, where he worked as an auditor and management analyst stationed in Pittsburgh, Pa., Palo Alta, Calif., and Washington, D.C.
Mike was an avid reader, history buff and sports fan. He returned to the family farm each October to view West Virginia's fall foliage, watch the World Series with his father and brother and enjoy his mother's cooking, especially her biscuits. His retirement years were spent in Pittsburgh, Pa., and Lexington and Louisville, Ky.
He was preceded in death by his father, Emory H. Hopkins.
He is survived by his mother, Reva Halbert Hopkins of Given; brother, Walter S. “Steve” Hopkins of South Charleston; and sister, Anna Hopkins Virbick of Dallas, Texas and Given.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Sunday, March 14, at Waybright Funeral Home, Ripley, with the Rev. Dennis Sparks officiating. Interment will follow in Fairplain Cemetery, Fairplain.
Friends may call one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
Born on June 11, 1945, in Montgomery, he was the son of the late Karl William Parrish and Martha Brinsdon Parrish.
Mr. Parrish was a retired heavy equipment operator for Arch Coal.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Eric Neal.
Left to cherish his memory include his wife, Jan Whanger Neal of Fayetteville; four daughters, Robin Haynes of Defuniak Springs, Fla., Dale Parrish of Florida, Hilary Brown of Charleston, S.C., and Cindy Neal White of Beckley; one son, Jason Parrish of Florida; five grandchildren; and a host of other family and friends.
The family will receive friends from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, March 14, at the Dodd-Payne-Hess Funeral Home Chapel, Fayetteville.
Graveside services will follow calling hours in Huse Memorial Park, Fayetteville, at 3 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to your favorite charity in his memory or if you would like to help someone in need.
Online condolences and other information are available at www.doddpaynehessfuneralhome.com.
Dodd-Payne-Hess Funeral Home, 350 W. Maple Ave., Fayetteville, will be assisting the family.
Mabel Lynn Rastle, 72, of Charleston passed away on Thursday, March 11, 2010, at her daughter's residence.She enjoyed traveling and spending time with her family and friends.
Mabel was preceded in death by her parents, Charles Preston Shaffer and Syble Lafold Shamblin; her husband, Charles H. Rastle; and son, Charles H. Rastle Jr.
Surviving: daughters, Syble Ann Rastle of Charleston and Ronda Kay Rastle of Pinch; special friend, adopted daughter and caregiver, Cel Stribling; brothers, Norman Shaffer, Charles Preston Shaffer Jr. and Herbert Ray Shaffer; sisters, Ella McGraw and Helen Fay Shaffer; and a grandchild, Shane Haymond Rastle.
Service will be 2 p.m. Sunday, March 14, at the Hafer Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Dana Clay officiating. Burial will follow in Tyler Mountain Memory Gardens, Cross Lanes.
Friends may call one hour prior to the service on Sunday.
Online condolences may be sent at www.haferfuneralhome.net.
Hafer Funeral Home, Elkview, is in charge of the arrangements.
Mary B. Smith of Charleston died Feb. 26, 2010, at Hubbard Hospice House, Charleston.She was a graduate of Point Pleasant High School and also a graduate of Kanawha Valley Hospital School of Nursing, where she worked as a registered nurse. She was very active in the Alumni Association of Kanawha Valley Hospital and the League of Women Voters. Mary loved floral arranging and dogs. She was an active member of Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, Charleston.
She was preceded in death by her daughter, Robyn B. Smith.
She is survived by her husband, Judge Robert K. Smith of Charleston; and her beloved dog, April.
A memorial service will be at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 14, at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, Price Street, Charleston, with the Rev. Doug Minnerly officiating.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, 805 Price St., Charleston WV 25302, or the Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association Animal Shelter, 1248 Greenbrier St., Charleston, WV 25311.
Wilson Funeral Home, Charleston, is serving the Smith family.
Virginia was a homemaker, mother and animal lover. She attended Mount Gilead Baptist Church, Pool. In recent years, Virginia has been active in the Mount Nebo Song Convention.
She was born on March 19, 1926, and was the daughter of the late Roy and Lucy Pearl Norman. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Hylbert Allen Stickler Sr.; one son, Robert Lee Stickler; six brothers and two sisters, Lynn, Lee, Lester, Letcher, Lawrence, and Lewis Norman, Lucille Kerner and Olga Poling.
Virginia is survived by three sons, Thomas (Connie) Stickler of Kopperston, Allen (Teri) Stickler of Kenai, Alaska, and Jim (Sue) Stickler of Mount Lookout; and four daughters, Karen (Richard) Kirby of Mount Zion, Jenny (Mark) Griffith of Mount Lookout, Judy (Matt) McCauley of Fairmont and Mary (Scott) Smith of Mannington. Virginia is survived by 16 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to her immediate family, Virginia is survived by her friend and companion, Lugene Groves.
Virginia donated her body to WVU Medical Research in 1993.
The family will hold a memorial service at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 13, at Mount Gilead Baptist Church, Pool, with the Rev. Douglas Beam officiating.
Virginia would have appreciated donations to the Nicholas County Humane Society in her honor.
Lorene Lona Barnette Stover, 88, beloved mother, grandmother and friend, met her Savior Friday morning, March 12, 2010, at home after a long illness.Cherished by her family, respected within the community, Lorene touched the lives of many. She was a gentle spirit who gave freely of herself and possessed an incredible inner strength. She was an active member of Grasslick Baptist Church, serving as Love Gift chairwoman of American Baptist Women. Her life exemplified her love for Christ, and she lived what she believed.
Lorene was born June 20, 1921, on a Rockcastle Farm, the youngest child of Camden Barnette and Birty Pickens Barnette, well-known herb doctor and midwife. Lorene lived her entire life in the Kenna area. She was a homemaker, dairy farmer, tree farmer and a gifted seamstress who owned the Fabric Boutique in Ripley.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Wallace; a granddaughter, Emma Lorene Stover; and a grandson, Jamie Lee Stover.
Lorene is survived by eight children, Robert (Joyce) Stover of Kenna, Patty (Gareth) Smith of Statts Mills, Sandra (Bernard) Bailey of Kenna, Stephen (Linda) Stover of Kenna, Charles (Helen) Stover of Cross Lanes, James (Sharon) Stover of Kenna, Darlena “Dottie” Landis of Kenna, and Cathy (Michael) Rhodes of Scott Depot; 16 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Monday, March 15, at Grasslick Baptist Church, Kenna. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.
Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the church, located on Pleasant Valley Road, just off of U.S. Route 21, Kenna.
Waybright Funeral Home, Ripley, is serving the Stover family.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in honor of Lorene be made to the American Baptist Women's Mission Society, the Grasslick Baptist Church Building Fund or AWANA. All donations may be sent in care of Grasslick Baptist Church, Route 1 Box 156, Given, WV 25245.
Born on May 27, 1908, in Schenectady, N.Y., she was the daughter of the late Walter Foster and Bernice Andrews Foster.
Mrs. Whanger attended Fayetteville Presbyterian Church and served in the Women's Circle. She graduated from Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. Mrs. Whanger retired as a Fayette County WVU Extension Agent, receiving national recognition. She was a longtime advocate for women's rights.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, A.E. Whanger; one brother, Harold Foster; and a grandson, Eric F. Neal.
Left to cherish her memory include her two sons, Richard E. Whanger and Thomas F. Whanger, both of Newport News, Va.; two daughters, Jan Neal of Fayetteville and Sara Capodilupo of Boston, Mass.; one sister, Ruth Northup of Lancaster, Pa.; one brother, Richard Foster; eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; caregiver, Judy Horrocks of Oak Hill; and a host of other family and friends.
The family will receive friends from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, March 14, at the Dodd-Payne-Hess Funeral Home Chapel, Fayetteville.
Graveside services will follow calling hours in Huse Memorial Park, Fayetteville, at 3 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to your favorite charity in her memory or if you would like to help someone in need.
Online condolences and other information are available at www.doddpaynehessfuneralhome.com.
Dodd-Payne-Hess Funeral Home, 350 W. Maple Ave., Fayetteville, will be assisting the family.
With his very last ounce of energy, Gerald L. “Jerry” Whittington, 75, of St. Albans fought a courageous battle with lung cancer, only to succumb on Thursday, March 11, 2010, surrounded by his family, in Thomas Memorial Hospital.He was born June 19, 1934, in Buffalo. He moved to Columbus, Ohio, after graduation in 1952. He worked at Lustreware Plastics for 27 years as a machine operator. He played banjo with several local bluegrass groups, rubbing elbows and playing with some of the biggest name stars, including his idol, Earl Scruggs, from whom he had personally bought his banjo in 1957. He was an avid crossword puzzler, as well as a writer of poems, short stories and songs. He and his band even had a # 1 record on the charts in the middle 1960s. He was a Mr. Fix-it and a real jack-of-all-trades. He moved back to West Virginia in 1985 and worked 13 years for the city of Dunbar before retiring. After a short while, he came out of retirement to work as a security guard for Tri-State Gaming Center, looking after his beloved puppies and making friends with the deer, until he became too ill to work in November, 2009. He was a wonderful husband, son, brother, poppaw and friend, but of all his accomplishments, being a dad was his best.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Florence Whittington of Buffalo; one brother and five sisters; a son-in-law, Ed Taylor; and his “sweetie,” Peaches.
Survivors include his wife, Karen Toppins Whittington of St. Albans; children, Jeani Whittington-Leighton and husband, Bob, of Nitro, Earl Whittington and Marlene Fisher of St. Albans, Diane Whittington-Santamaria and husband, José of Nitro, and Stephanie Lemley and fiancé, Adam Hudson, of Cross Lanes; brother, Bob Whittington of Apache Junction, Ariz.; sisters, Ada Cain and Macel Jividen of Eleanor and Reba Phillips of Nitro; 13 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren; former wife, Violet Whittington; and his special “little buddy,” Kipper.
Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 14, at Raynes Funeral Home, Buffalo, with the Rev. Wayne Burch officiating. Burial will follow in the Whittington family cemetery, Buffalo.
Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
The family would also like to acknowledge the wonderful care given to him by his doctors, Dr. Sheth, Dr. Shah, and Dr. Kayi, and the ICU nursing staff at Thomas Memorial Hospital.
Online condolences may be sent to the Whittington family and the online guestbook signed by visiting www.raynesfuneralhome.com.
Raynes Funeral Home, 2117 Buffalo Road, Buffalo, is in charge of arrangements.
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