Bertha Mae Keyser
Bertha Mae Keyser went to be with God on Sunday, April 2, 2000. She was born September 24, 1909 in Boone County, WV. She will be reunited with her husband Elisha Boyd Keyser, her parents, Coy and Mary McComas Garretson, her brothers, Kenneth and his wife Helen, Luther, Seabert and Alfred Garretson, her three sisters, Stella Pelphrey, Dorothy and Ruby Garretson, two loving sisters-in-law, Lucille Wadell and Cleo Keyser and one daughter-in- law, Nancy Keyser. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Colonel Roy L. and Virginia Corinne (Rene) Thomas of Huntington with whom she made her home and lovingly cared for her for many years; three sons, Robert L. and his wife Frances Keyser of Salt Rock, Carl Thomas and his wife Delores Keyser of Huntington and Howard L. Keyser of New Haven, WV.
She is also survived by two sisters, Tookie Williams of Belleville, Michigan, Elsie Black and her husband Al of Monroe, Michigan, a special sister-in-law, Helen Garretson of Barboursville; twelve grandchildren; eighteen great grandchildren; one great great grandchild; many loving nieces, nephews as well as a host of friends including six very special friends, Charlene Clagg, Rene Bocook, Aretta Rood, Mildred Dailey, Carroll Thompson and Kaye Thompson. She was the only remaining charter member and co-founder of Roach Missionary Baptist Church. She was also a Deaconess in her church. She served her church in so many capacities until ill health overtook her. She spent her life taking care of her family and doing everything she could for her friends and neighbors. She was very comforted and appreciative of the many visits from Pastoral Staff and members of Roach Baptist Church and Lewis Memorial Baptist Church during her long illness. She was a retired employee of Sears and a devoted volunteer for the American Red Cross. Wallace Funeral Home & Chapel, Barboursville, was in charge of arrangements. Funeral services were conducted Wednesday, April 5, 2000 by Reverend Bill Cassady and Reverend Carl Merritt. Interment
followed at White Chapel Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers were Steven Thomas, Steven Thomas II, Mark Esslinger, Bill Keyser, Jack Keyser, Robert Keyser and Carroll Thompson. Honorary pallbearers were Jess Davis, Burl Frye, Sherman Frye, Bob Frye, Marty Wadell, Lucian Stiltner and Wandel White. Bertha's family wants to thank Dr. Shawn Coffman, the doctors, nurses and staff at St Mary's Hospital, Health South and Heritage Manor for being so wonderful and taking such good care of our mother.
Alton E. Jordan
Alton E. Jordan, 68, of Hurricane died April 1, 2000, in Putnam General Hospital.
He was a retired service station attendant and a lifelong resident of Hurricane.
Surviving: wife, Elizabeth Searls Jordan; brother, Delbert Jordan of Hurricane, sisters, Iris Jordan and Charolette Jordan, both of Lacross, Florida, and Lillian McComas of Charleston.
Service was held April 4, 2000 at Allen Funeral Home, Hurricane, with Pastor Don Cremeans officiating. Burial was in Valley View Memorial Park.
Wayne Meador
Wayne Meador, 79, of Hurricane, formerly of Belle, died April 3, 2000, at home after a long illness.
He was a ret ired operator from DuPont with 36 years' service and an Army veteran of World War II.
Surviving: daughter, Deborah M. Bonham of Hurricane; sons, Robert Wayne of Belle and Russell E. of Hampton, Virginia; sisters, Anna Farley of Cross lanes, Bernice Anderson of Round Lake Beach, Illinois, and Betty English of Deltona, Florida; four grandchildren.
Private family service was held April 6, 2000 in Sunset Memorial Park Mausoleum Chapel, South Charleston, with the Rev. Lloyd Daubenspeck officiating. Entombment was in the mausoleum. Fidler & Frame Funeral home, Belle, was in charge of arrangements. The family suggests memorial donations to Kanawha Hospice Care, 1143 Dunbar Avenue, Dunbar WV 26064.
Clell Billups
Clell “Shorty” Billups, 89, of Hurricane died April 6, 2000, at home.
He was an Army veteran of World War II and retired from INCO, Huntington.
Surviving: wife, Orpha Billups; daughters, Andrea L. Kneeland of Silver Spring, Maryland and Annette Billups of Charleston; sister, Bertha Brown of Hurricane.
Service was held April 8, 2000 at Allen Funeral Home, Hurricane, with Jim McGehee officiating. Burial was in Mount Vernon Cemetery, Hurricane.
Eleanor H. Eichelman
Eleanor H. Eichelman, 59, of Hurricane died April 4, 2000, in Memorial Division, CAMC, after a short illness.
She was a member of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Charleston, served as president of the church council, served on the church's Evangelism Committee and was secretary to the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. She waas a Boone County schoolteacher.
Surviving: son, David H. Eichelman Jr. of Phoenix; father, the R ev. Elwood Hoffman of Beaver, Pennsylvania; brother, George Hoffman of solon, Ohio.
Service was held April 8, 2000 at Trinity Lutheran Church with the Rev. Ron Schlak officiating. Burial was in Beaver Cemetery, Beaver, Pennsylvania. Wilson Funeral Home, Charleston, was in charge of arrangements. The family suggests memorial donations to Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1600 Kanawha Boulevard East, Charleston WV 25311.
Mollie W. Bailey
Mollie Withrow Bailey, 93, of Bancroft died April 9, 2000 in SunBridge Nursing Center, Hurricane, after a long illness.
She was a member of Bancroft Church of God Mission.
Surviving: daughters, Evelyn Shamblin of Orlando, Florida, Doris Wells of Vienna and Betty Withrow of Bancroft; son, Robert Benjamin of Martinsburg; nine grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; three stepgreat-grandchildren.
Service was held April 11, 2000 at Gatens Funeral Home, Poca, with the Rev. Ray Humphrey officiating. Burial was in Schowen Hill Cemetery, Bancroft.
Ronald Lee Morton
Ronald Lee Morton, 47, of Hurricane died April 7, 2000, at home after a long illness.
He was a mechanical engineer for ITT Gould Pump Co. Huntington, and a former employee of Bethlehem Steel, Mingo Coal Co. and Logan Coal Co. He was a member of Forrest Burdette Memorial United Methodist Church, Hurricane, and a former resident of Nicholas County.
Surviving: wife, Terri Lea Paul Morton; daughter, Kelli Dawn Morton, at home; father and stepmother, Arthur M. and Jeanette Morton of Lizemores; sister, Susan L. Ellison of Danville; brothers, Ricky J. Morton of Lizemores and Kermit R. Morton of Winfield.
Service was held April 10, 2000 at Chapman Funeral Home, Teays Valley, with the Rev. Dan A. Hogan officiating. Burial was in the Paul family Cemetery, Sod.
Yashaswini Shah
Yashaswini Shah, 63, of Hurricane died April 8, 2000, in Thomas Memorial Hospital, after a long illness.
Surviving: wife, Kirtikumar; daughter, Bela Shah of New York; son, Tushar Shad of Hurricane; four grandchildren.
The body was cremated. Elk Funeral Home, Charleston, was in charge of arrangements.
Jack G. Williams
Jack Garland Williams, 85, of Hurricane died April 5, 2000, in Putnam General Hospital.
He was a retired truck driver from Colonial Carpets, a Baptist and an Army Air Forces veteran of World War II.
Surviving: wife, Ruth L.; brother, James C. Williams of South Point, Ohio.
Graveside service with military rites was held April 6, 2000 in West Virginia National Cemetery, Grafton. Chapman Funeral Home, Teays Valley, was in charge of arrangements.
Willa Bumgardner
Willa “Woodie” Parkins Bumgardner, 90, of Liberty died March 26, 2000, at home after a short illness.
She was a retired Liberty postmaster, a former Putnam County schoolteacher, a membaer and former secretary at Liberty Community Church.
Surviving: son, Milford of Liberty; daughters, Velma Witt of Grove City, Ohio and Freda Witt of Cross Lanes; grandchildren, Jeannie Hicks, Bob Bumgardner and Tim Bumgardner, all of Liberty; several great-grandchildren.
Service was held March 29, 2000 at Emma Chapel United Methodist Church, Liberty, with the Rev. Nyle Fisher and the Rev. Ralph Ranson officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery. Gatens Funeral Home, Poca, was in charge of arrangements.
Martha Barnett
Martha C. Jeffries Barnett, 82, of Red House died March 28, 2000, at home after a long illness.
She was a lifelong resident of Putnam County.
Surviving: daughters, Phyllis Crago, Sharon Garton and Bessie Casto, all of Red House, and Donna Workman of Hurricane; 14 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren.
Service was held March 31, 2000 at Gatens Funeral Home, Poca, with Paul Arthur officiating. Burial was in Jeffries Cemetery, Liberty.
Raymond V. Atkins
Raymond V. “Vince” Atkins, 77, of Hurricane, formerly of St. Albans, died March 29, 2000, in Putnam General Hospital after a long illness.
He was a retired maintenance supervisor from Union Carbide Corp., South Charleston, with 35 years' service and was an Army veteran of World War II. He was a member and trustee at Forrest Burdette Memorial United Methodist Church, Hurricane, and a member of Masonic Lodge 139, Hurricane, Scottish and York Rite bodies, Knights Templar Commandery 9, Huntington, and Beni Kedem Shrine, Charleston.
Surviving: wife, Mary Atkins; daughter, Debbie Russell of Columbus, Ohio; son, David of Hurricane; brother, William of Spencer; four grandchildren.
Service was held April 1, 2000 at Forrest Burdette Memorial United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dan A. Hogan and the Rev. Charles Thompson officiating. Burial was in Forest Memorial Park, Milton, with Masonic rites by Lodge 139. Chapman Funeral Home, Teays Valley, was in charge of arrangements. The family suggests memorial donations to Forrest Burdette Memorial United Methodist Church Building Fund, PO Box 156, Hurricane WV 25526.
Lorene W. Atkinson
Lorene W. Hill Atkinson, 81, of Red House died March 29, 2000, in Putnam General Hospital after a long illness.
She was a homemaker, a caregiver and a Baptist.
Surviving: daughters, Faye Roush of Red House and Ann Sayre of Nitro; sons, Paul of Eleanor and Bobby Lee of Muncie, Indiana; brother, Jack Hill of Hometown; eight grandchildren.
Service was held April 1, 2000 at Raynes Funeral Home, Buffalo, with the Rev. Arles Covert officiating. Burial was in Shiloah Cemetery, Red House.
Richard Burch
Richard Burch, 13, of Winfield died March 29, 2000, at Putnam General Hospital.
He was a student at Winfield Middle School.
Surviving: parents, Rick and Debbie Burch of Winfield; sister, Rachel Burch at home; paternal grandmother, Elsa Burch of Charleston, South Carolina; maternal grandparents, Russell and Susan Martin of Dunbar.
Service was held April 1, 2000 at Church of the Good Shepherd, Kanawha City, with the Rev. Esber Tweel officiating. Burial was in Grandview Memorial Park, Dunbar. Cunningham-Parker-Johnson Funeral Home, Charleston, was in charge of arrangements. The family requests memorial donations to the Medical University of South Carolina, Children's Hospital Fund, Richard Burch Pediatric-Cardiology, PO Box 250201, Charleston SC 29425.
Billy L. Lovejoy
Billy L. Lovejoy, 47, of Liberty died March 31, 2000, at home after a short illness.
He was a lifelong resident of Liberty and a graduate of Poca High School.
Surviving: mother, Glendola Lovejoy; brothers, Gary Wayne Lovejoy of Kelleys Creek, Glendall Ray Lovejoy and William Carroll Lovejoy, both of Liberty.
Service was held April 2, 2000 at Gatens Funeral Home, Poca, with the Rev. Paul Arthur officiating. Burial was in Center Point Cemetery, Liberty.
