Bantz Jay Kemper
Bantz Jay Kemper, 47, of Buffalo passed away Sept. 28, 2002, in Daytona, Fla., of injuries sustained in a vehicle accident. He was a mechanic, a U.S. Army veteran and a former member of the Order of DeMolay. He was preceded in death by his father, Bantz Eugene Kemper. Survivors include his mother, Mildred Jackson Kemper Goddard of Buffalo; brothers, Larry Kemper of Kingwood, John Kemper of Melbourne, Fla., Lark Kemper of Collingdale, Pa., Fred Carman of Pembrokee Pines, Fla. Service were conductec Friday, Oct. 4, at Raynes Funeral, Home, Buffalo, with Pastor, Herbert Buck and Pastor Wayne Conley officiating. Burial in Grandview Memorial Park, Dunbar.
Birdie Bryan Bates
Birdie Bryan Bates, 74, of Huntington, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2002, at St. Marys Hospital Funeral Home. Funeral services were conducted Friday, Oct. 4, 2002, at the Wallace Funeral Home and Chapel by Minister Bob Tucker and Minister Ronnie Wright. Burial in Oaklawn Memorial Park She was born Oct. 2, 1928, in Lincoln County, a daughter of the late William M. and Della Reynolds Bryan. She was a retired employee of the Cabell County Board of Education. She was a member of the Order of Eastern Star #95 in Barboursville and a member of Johns Creek Church of Christ. She was preceded in death by one son, Gary Melvin Bates. She is survived by her husband, Melvin Bates; one daughter, Melba Curry of Huntington; one granddaughter, Melanie Curry of Huntington; four sisters, Jean Wallace of Barboursville, Dorcas Dillard of Huntington, Reba Johnson and her husband Gail of Huntington and Mary Dillon of West Hamlin; three brothers-in-law, Cecil Bates, Ronnie Bates and his wife Shirley and Harless Bates and his wife Betty; five sisters-in-law, Esther Perry and her husband Keith, Garnet Blake, Sue Hensley and her husband Bruce, Iva Shaffer and her husband. Junior and Carolyn Murphy and her husband Larry; and all other “adopted” children and grandchildren that she loved so dearly.
Patricia L. “Tootsie” Wiseman
Patricia L. “Tootsie” Wiseman, 57, of Milton, was called home on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2002, after a long illness. Funeral services were conducted Saturday, Oct. 5, 2002, at Heck Funeral Home, Milton. Burial in Forest Memorial Park. She was born Feb. 13, 1945, in St. Albans, a daughter of the late Harold E. and Tennie F. Adkins Hawkins. She was also preceded in death by an infant sister, Venetta Jean Hawkins; two brothers, Harvey W. Hawkins and James D. Hawkins; two sons, Robert “Scott” Wiseman and David A. Wiseman; and mother-in-law, Arminnia Vannatter. A 1963 graduate of Milton High School. Patricia worked for Milton Drug Store, Family Dollar Store and Johnson’s Foodland before being forced to retire due to health problems. She is survived by her husband, James H. Wiseman Sr.; one son, James Jr.; one daughter, Vanada Joan Wiseman and one granddaughter, Rachel E. Huffman, all of Milton; a sister-in-law, Barbara L. Hawkins of Nitro; and a very close and dear friend, Shirley Sunderland of Milton; and many cousins and friends. Register online at www.heckfuneralhome.net.
Orman Lyndell Adkins
Orman Lyndell Adkins, 65, of Barboursville died Saturday, Oct. 5, in St. Mary’s Hospital. Funeral services were conducted Tuesday, Oct. 8, at Kuhn Memorial Presbyterian Church, by the Rev. Jerry Harrah Entombment in the Christus Chapel Mausoleum in White Chapel Memorial Gardens. He was born March 16, 1937, in Huntington, a son of the late Ernest and Idona Queen Adkins. He was also preceded in death by one brother, Herman Adkins. He graduated from Huntington High School and was employed by W.Va. Division of Highways for 41 years until his retirement. He attended Kuhn Memorial Presbyterian Church. He is survived by his wife, Kathryn “Kay” Thompson Adkins; two daughters, Clara Lynn Adkins of Barboursville and Kathryn Beth Adkins and her husband, Dr. Brian Smentkowski of Cape Girardeau, Mo.; two grandsons, Nicholas Smentkowski and Noah Smentkowski; one sister, Mary Fannin and her husband Chester of Troy, Ohio; one aunt, Betty Queen of Las Vegas, Nev.; and two nephews, David Adkins of Huntington and Mike Adkins of Chesapeake, Ohio. Pallbearers were Lester Toler, Tom Sadler, Brian Smentkowski, Mike Adkins, David Adkins, Chester Fannin and Dr. J. Evan Sadler Ill. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Chapel Restoration of Kuhn Memorial Presbyterian Church, 955 Main St., Barboursville, WV, 25504.
Helen L. Daley
Helen L. Burns Daley, 60, of Scott Depot died September 22, 2002, in Thomas Memorial Hospital after a long illness.
Mrs. Daley wads born July 7,1942, a daughter of the late Jack and Dorothy Dean Russell. She was a member of the Valey of Decision hurch, Milton, and was a homemaker.
Surviving: husband, William “Shorty” Daley; children, James Burns Jr. of South Charleston, Jerry Dale Burns of Milton, Donna Lea Page of Cross Lanes, Robert Alan Burns of Sissonville, and Linda Darlene McMillion of Tuppers Creek; brother, Paul E. “James” Russell of Huntington; 18 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; former father-in-law, Charley Burns of Scott Depot.
Service was held Wednesday, September 25, 2002, at Chapman Funeral Home, Teays Valley, with the Rev. Sonny Sovine officiating. Burial was in Teays Valley Memorial Gardens, Winfield.
Sadie Ray Childers Nicely
Sadie Ray Childers Nicely, 85, of Huntington W.Va, passed away Thursday, Sept 26, 2002 at St. Mary’s Hospital. Funeral services were conducted at 11 a.m. Sunday, Sept 29, 2002 at the Wallace Funeral Home and Chapel Barboursville, by the Rev. Carlos Gibson. Burial in Baylous Cemetery. She was born July 7, 1917, in Cabell County, a daughter of the late Elias and Ruth Adkins Childers. She was retired from Perry-Norvell Shoe Factory. She was a member of the Salem United Baptist Church for 75 years and the oldest member of the church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Howard “Curly” Nicely, one daughter, Carla Adkins; seven sisters, Zonia, Roma, Lidia, Eula, Normal, Sophia and Beulah; and two brothers, Erman and French. She is survived by two daughters, Eunice Newland of Catlettsburg, Ky., and Shirley Stephens of Barboursville; three sons, Harold Nicely and Carl Odell Nicely, both of Branchland, and James Nicely of Payne, Ohio; 20 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildern; and a host of nieces, nephews and friends. Grandsons served as pallbearers. Wallace Funeral Home, Barboursville, was in charge of arrangements.
Maxel J. Ferguson
Maxel J. Ferguson, 67, of Cedar City, Utah, went home to be with his Lord on August 11, 2002, after a long battle with diabetes. A memorial service will be held Saturday, October 12 at 2 p.m. in Z Warner Church on Big Seven Mile Road. In lieu of flowers, it is suggested that donations be sent to the Diabetes Foundation.
Max was born in a log cabin on Seven Mile Creek, West Virginia on June 27, 1935, to Okie and Ruby Ferguson. He married Jean (Peregrine) Ferguson on December 18, 1960, and they had one daughter, Brenda. The son of a West Virginia hill farmer, Max earned a doctorate. He became a college professor and author. While he has had many jobs, his favorite occupation was teaching, especially in Southern Utah University. He loved to share his many interests and faith in Jesus with his students, friends and grandsons. He liked to study people of varied cultures, learning their customs. His hobbies included rock collecting, photography, genealogy, and writing.
Though he traveled far, his heart never left the hills of West Virginia. He returned here annually to visit friends, and continue his research on the history of the area. He loved the land, but even more he loved the people. He was always proud of his heritage and sought to instill a love for that background in his grandsons.
Max leaves a deeply grieving wife and daughter. He is survived by his son-in-law, Lee Walsh, and six grandsons, Ben, Tim, Jon, Greg, Sam and Joshua, all of Boise, Idaho. He is preceded in death by his parents, and his 3 brothers, Jesse (Trig), Glen (Shag) and Doyle (Charlie). He leaves many friends everywhere he has lived: West Virginia, Virginia, Guam, New York, Alaska, Arizona, New Mexico, Taiwan, among the Ohio Amish, California, Idaho, and Utah.
Valkie H. Fetty
Valkie H. Fetty, 71, of Milton went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, Sept 24, 2002, at his residence. Funeral service were conducted Friday, Sept 27, 2002, at Heck Funeral Home, Milton, with the Rev. Greg Hudson and the Rev. Kim Stone officiating. Burial in White Chapel Memorial Gardens, Barboursville. He was born Sept 10, 1931 in Milton, W.Va., a son of the late Dan and Ida Brumfield Fetty. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Janice Hinkle Fetty. He was a self-employed electrician with Ensign Electric. He was a member of Freedom Baptist Church and active in the Milton Senior Citizens. He is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Kathy and Buster Bragg of Milton and Debbie and Clyde Hatfield Jr. of Hurricane; three grandsons, Jason Burger, Christopher Burger and Adam Bragg; four sisters, Doris Neal of Milton, Lucille Bostic of Hurricane, Eloise Hinkle of Ford, Va, and Betty Ann Miller of Galena, Ohio; four brothers, Irland Fetty of Milton, Earl Fetty of Ona, Kennith Fetty of Huntington and David Fetty of Williamstown, W.Va.
Velva Margaret Black Nicholas
Velva Margaret Black Nicholas, 82, of Milton, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2002, in Mariner Health of Huntington. Funeral services were conducted Friday, Sept. 27, 2002 at Union Baptist Church, Milton, with the Rev. Tracy Mills and the Rev. Jackie Clark officiating. Burial in White Chapel Memorial Gardens. She was born Aug. 20, 1920, a daughter of the late James Arnold and Murlia Meadows Black and was also preceded in death by her husband, Willy “Bud” Nicholas. Mrs. Nicholas was a member of Union Baptist Church, Milton. She is survived by three sisters, Dorothy Foster, Eloise Courts and Phyllis Harbour; four brothers and sisters-in-law, Woodrow and Lula Black, Paul and Vicky Black, Dale and Mary Black and Baxel and Paula Black. She is also survived by several nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and one special great-nephew, Justin Rogers. The family would like to give a special thank you to the staff at Mariner Health of Huntington. Heck Funeral Home, Milton, was in charge of arrangements. Register online at www.heckfuneralhome.net
Coral Edna Atkinson
Coral Edna Atkinson, age 91, died September 23, 2002 at her residence. She was a member of West Broad St. Church of Christ and was preceded in death by husband Philip; brothers Ted and Glen Henson; sister Louise Dawson. Survivors include a daughter Marjorie “Margie” (John) Cummins of Hilliard, OH; a sister Electra Young, and a brother Harold Henson both of Dunbar, WV; grandchildren John Philip (Diana) IL, James (Nicole) GA, and Jared (Suzanne) Cummins, Hilliard, OH, Jeffery (Loren) Cummins; Susan (Howard) Hamilton both Of PA, Sarah (Russell) Cooper, Hillard OH,. and Philip (Julie) Cummins, Westerville, OH; 16 great grandchildren, one great great grandson. Graveside services were held Friday, September 27, 2002 with interment
at Grandview Cemetery, Dunbar, WV. Arrangements were completed at Jerry Spears Funeral Home, 2693 West Broad St.
Alma M. Shepherd
Alma M. Shepherd, 79, of Huntington, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2002 at Heritage Center, Huntington. Graveside services were conducted Thursday, Sept. 26, 2002, by the Rev. Chris Farrow at White Chapel Memorial Gardens. She was born Nov. 24, 1922, in Lincoln County, a daughter of the late Clinton and Nora Ross Ballard. She is survived by one daughter, Iris Smith of Lavalette; two sons, Roger Shepherd of Huntington and Dallas Shepherd of Barboursville; two sisters, Tina Mount of Huntington and Virginia Plumley of South Charleston, WV; and one sister-in-law, Violet Shepherd of Barboursville; three grandchildren, Chris Smith, Dallas Lee Shepherd and Garrett Shepherd. The family would like to thank Hospice of Huntington and Heritage Center for the care during their mother’s illness. Wallace Funeral Home, Barboursville, was in charge of arrangements.
Delmar Clay Harless
Delmar Clay Harless, 67, of Milton, WV, passed away Tuesday, Sept 24, 2002, at St. Mary’s Hospital. Funeral services were conducted Thursday, September 26, 2002, at the Wallace Funeral Home, Milton, by Minister Winfred “Bud” Lucas. Burial in White Chapel Memorial Gardens. He was born June 4, 1935, in Milton, WV, a son of the late Alvin and Ruby Ashworth Harless. He was also preceded in death by one sister, Annabelle Booth. He was retired from Perry-Norvell Shoe Factory and Black Diamond Produce. He was a member of Milton Church of Christ. Survivors include five daughters, Linda Moore of Wauconda, Ill., Kathy Smith of Lesage, Dorothy Schweinsburg of West Portsmouth, Ohio, Jackie Pullen of West Hamlin and Brenda Ferguson of Branchland; one son, Kenneth Harless of Barboursville; 13 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Wallace Funeral Home, Milton, was in charge of arrangements.
