Louise E. Parker
NEWARK, N.J. - Louise E. Parker, 52, of Newark, N.J., died July 27, 2002. Service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 3, at Welcome Baptist Church, Beckley. Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Park. Ritchie & Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley, is in charge of arrangements.

Helen May Federline Roach
OAK HILL - Helen May Federline Roach, 88, of Oak Hill died July 29, 2002. There will be no service or visitation. Mrs. Roach was cremated. Interment will be in High Lawn Memorial Park, Oak Hill. Tyree Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Archie M. Robertson
Archie M. Robertson, 93, of Charleston died July 30, 2002, in Thomas Memorial Hospital. He was retired from the State of West Virginia. He was preceded in death by his wife, the late Cornelia Robertson; and parents, the late Wade and Ella Bell Robertson. Survivors include sons, William Wade Robertson and Archie Robertson Jr.; grandchildren, Anton K. Robertson and Wade Miller Robertson; sister, Beatrice Dobson; sister-in-law, Patricia Henderson; brothers-in-law, Mack Toye Gaither, Lester Gaither and Leroy Dobson. Service will be noon Saturday, Aug. 3, 2002, at St. James Epicopal Church with Father Dan Lunch officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Park, South Charleston. Friends may call from 11 a.m. to noon Saturday at the church. Preston Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Sharon "Susie" Thaxton
Sharon "Susie" Thaxton, 58, of Wolf Pen died Aug. 1, 2002, in St. Francis Hospital after a seven-year battle with cancer. She was a homemaker and member of Elizabeth Baptist Church, Wolf Pen. Surviving are: her husband, Orville Thaxton; sons, Ronald Thaxton of Charleston and Donald Thaxton of Wolf Pen; daughter, Rhonda Henson of Wolf Pen; brother, Jerry McFarland of Wolf Pen; sisters, Vickie McFarland of Wolf Pen, Janice Carpenter of Charleston, Dreama McFarland of Hurricane and Sandra Myers of Florida; grandchildren, Brandon Henson, Haley Thaxton, Ronald Tyler Thaxton and Daneen Key. Service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 3, at Cunningham-Parker-Johnson Funeral Home, Charleston with the Rev. Walter Means officiating. Burial will be in Thaxton Cemetery, Wolf Pen. Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2, at the funeral home.

Annabelle Clark Townsend
Annabelle Clark Townsend, 89, of Madison, Boone County, died Wednesday, July 31, 2002, at the Lewis-Gale Hospital, Salem, Va., after an extended illness. Born Dec. 13, 1912, at Marietta, Ohio, she was the daughter of the late Elias and Tabitha Ingram Clark. Mrs. Townsend was also preceded in death by her husband, Earnest M. Townsend. Mrs. Townsend was a homemaker and a member of the Madison Baptist Church. Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law,, June and Walter Walowac of Salem, Va.; grandchildren, June and Chip Malus, Lisa and David Dixon, Julie and Bobby Rogers, all of Salem; great-grandchildren, Jennifer and Allie Malus, Holly and Matt Dixon, all of Salem, Va.; sister, Helen Prohovich of Gulf Breeze, Fla.; several nieces and nephews. Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Saturday at the Stevens Funeral Home, Madison with the Rev. James Sheets officiating. Burial will follow in Boone Memorial Park, Madison. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Jackie L. Ward
Jackie L. Ward of Charleston died July 24, 2002. Service will be Sunday, Aug. 4, at the Carroll Terrace Community Room. Information was provided by B.C. Hooper Funeral Home, Montgomery.

Rita Marie Wells
ST. ALBANS - Miss Rita Marie Wells, 53, of St. Albans, died July 29, 2002, in Teays Valley Nursing and Rehabilitation Center after a long illness. She attended Scott Depot Christ Fellowship and was preceded in death by her parents, Willard D. and Ruth G. Runyon Wells. Surviving are: her sister, Sue Starcher of Cottageville; brothers, Max G. Wells of St. Albans and Donnie Wells of Scott Depot; several nieces and nephews. Service will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Chapman Funeral Home, Hurricane. Burial will be in Mount Vernon Cemetery, Hurricane. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. You may email condolences to the family at chapmanfuneralhome@charter.net.

Charles Curtis Abshire
Charles Curtis Abshire, 47, of Charleston died Oct. 15, 2002, after a sudden illness. He was a lifelong resident of Belle and was a member of Judson Baptist Church, Belle. He worked as a salesman. He was preceded in death by his father, Ronald Abshire. He is survived by his companion, Delores Adkins of Charleston; daughters, Amy Hanson of Dunbar, Katie Abshire of Charleston; mother, Jane Semesco Scanlon of Port St. Lucie, Fla.; brothers, Barry Abshire of Gretna, Va., Kris Abshire of Winston-Salem, N.C.; sister, Jennifer Abshire of Ashville, N.C.; grandchildren, Tyler and Eric Hanson, Triston Abshire. Visitation will begin at 7 p.m. Thursday at Fidler & Frame Funeral Home, Belle. The body will be cremated and no funeral service will be held. A memorial service will be held at Pier 54 Marina in Dunbar at 2 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 18, 2002.

Mary Agnes Burgess
Mary Agnes "Dutch" Burgess, 80, of Belle died Oct. 14, 2002, in St. Francis Hospital. Mary was a nursing supervisor at St. Francis Hospital. Originally from Philadelphia, Pa., she was a World War II veteran serving as a Navy nurse, where she met her husband, Lloyd, and moved to Belle. Dutch was a dedicated and loving mother to her surviving children, Nancy and Robert Hill of Charleston, Kathleen Burgess Gatskie of Belle, Mike and Denise Burgess of South Charleston, John Patrick and Carol Burgess of Charleston; grandchildren, Mike Hill, Annie Gatskie, Aaron and Drew Burgess and Maddie and Jack Burgess, all of Charleston; brother, John W. Newman of Philadelphia, Pa. She was known to her grandchildren and their friends as Mama Peachcake and Mom Dutch. Service will be 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 18, at St. John Catholic Church, Belle, with Father Albert Alexandrunas officiating. Entombment will follow in Tyler Mountain Memory Gardens Mausoleum, Cross Lanes. Friends may call after 6 p.m. Thursday at Fidler & Frame Funeral Home, Belle. Donations may be made to St. John Catholic Church, 10th Street East, Belle, WV 25015.

Ida Elizabeth Otey Cash
Ida Elizabeth Otey Cash, 85, of Pratt, formerly of Montgomery, died Oct. 15, 2002, in Montgomery Elderly Care Center following a short illness. Born July 1, 1917 in Acme on Cabin Creek, W.Va., she was the daughter of the late Wesley Ballard and Minnie Hale Foster Otey. She was also preceded in death by her husband, a daughter and son, a sister, and two brothers. She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Buddy Hall of Pratt; two grandsons and their wives, Timothy Edward and Jene Ann Hall, James Allen and Jennifer Hall; two great-grandsons, Kolby Mathew and soon-to-be born Eli James; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Otey and Kaythleen Otey of Charleston; special nephew, Bob Otey and his wife, Mary Jo, of St. Albans and their son, Curtis; special niece, Debbie Otey and her son, Jason, of Charleston. She was a member of the First Christian Church, Montgomery, and was a former office manager of Dr. C.V. Thompson, Optometrist, in Montgomery. She was a member of the Board of Directors of the United Community Services in Montgomery. Service will be 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, at O'Dell Funeral Home, Montgomery, with the Rev. Jim Smith officiating. Friends may call two hours prior to service Thursday at the funeral home.

Betty Jo Crawford
Betty Jo Crawford, 72, of Hurricane died Oct. 15, 2002, in Thomas Memorial Hospital, South Charleston, after a long illness. She was retired from Central Employment Service, Inc., Charleston, with 30 years' service. She was formerly from Marmet and Kelley's Creek, W.Va. She is survived by her husband of 50 years, C.L. Crawford of Hurricane; daughter, Cheryl Moss of Huntington; sons, Kerry Lee Crawford of Charleston, Rodney L. Crawford of Tampa, Fla.; grandchildren, Eddie Moss, Shauna Moss, Christina Crawford and Brandon Crawford. Service will be 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18, at Chapman Funeral Home, Teays Valley, with the Rev. Richard Work officiating. Burial will be in White Chapel Memorial Gardens, Barboursville. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. You may email your condolences at chapmanfuneralhome@charter.net. Chapman Funeral Home, Hurricane, is in charge of arrangements.

Delores Maureen White Curry
GOOSE CREEK, S.C. - Delores Maureen White Curry, 70, of Goose Creek, formerly of Canton, Ohio, and wife of Douglas Curry, died Oct. 15, 2002, in a North Charleston hospital. Mrs. Curry was born on July 12, 1932, in Charleston, W.Va. SHe was the daughter of Charles Calloway White and Katherine Painter White. She graduated schools of Charleston. She was a member of the VFW Ladson Post #3433 Auxiliary and the American Legion Auxiliary. She was a retired ceramic shop owner and was Presbyterian. She is survived by her husband Douglas; daughter, Debra Barber and her husband Doug of Whitehall, Ark.; son, Douglas Curry and his wife Barbara of Summersville, S.C.; grandchildren, Seth Barber of Batesville, Ark., Tara Barber of Whitehall, Ark., Vanessa Otts of Summersville, S.C., Douglas Curry of Columbia, S.C., Jennifer Curry of Goose Creek, S.C., Victoria Curry of Summersville, S.C.; brothers, David White of Charleston, W.Va., Keith White of Georgia. A memorial service will be held Saturday, Oct. 19, 2002, at 11 a.m. in James A. Dyal Funeral Home, Summersville. Burial will be private. Friends may call one hour prior to service Saturday at the funeral home.

M. Annie McBride Edds
ALDERSON - M. Annie McBride Edds, 85, died Oct. 14, 2002. Service will be Oct. 18, 2002, at 2 p.m. in Flat Mountain Missionary Baptist Church, Alderson. Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Lobban Funeral Home, Alderson, and one hour prior to service Friday at the church.

Rosalee Ferguson
PECKS MILL - Rosalee Ferguson, 86, died Oct. 15, 2002. Service will be 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, at Evans Funeral Home, Chapmanville. Burial will be in Highland Memory Gardens, Godby. Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Kennylee A. Burgess Frost
OAK HILL - Kennylee A. Burgess Frost, 57, of Oak Hill died Oct. 15, 2002, in Warren Memorial Hospital, Front Royal, Va., after a long illness. Tyree Funeral Home, Mount Hope, is in charge of arrangements.

Halla Darlene Gurski
DANVILLE - Halla Darlene Gurski of Danville died Oct. 15, 2002. Graveside service will be 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 18, 2002, in Mid-Ferrell Cemetery, Bandytown. Handley Funeral Home, Danville, is in charge of arrangements.

Gwendolyn Jane Hession
Gwendolyn Jane Hession, 41, of Dunbar passed away Oct. 15, 2002, after a short illness. She had worked for Charleston General Hospital. She is survived by her daughter, Laura "Emily Jane" Marie Hession of Dunbar; brothers, Robert Russell, Matthew Russell and Timmy Russell, all of Dunbar; sisters, Georganna Romano of Craigsville, Margaret Mary Sampson of Elkview, Magdalen Hession and Jane F. Russell, both of Dunbar, Joyce Good of Charleston. The body will be cremated. There will be no visitation. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Keller Funeral Home, Dunbar, is in charge of arrangements.

Vada Taylor Kidd
NAPIER - Vada Taylor Kidd, 93, died Oct. 16, 2002, at home. Service will be 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18, at Stockert-Gibson Funeral Home, Flatwoods, with the Rev. William E. Griffin officiating. Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Tommy Kinser
HETZEL - Tommy Kinser, 66, of Hetzel died Oct. 15, 2002. Service will be 11 a.m. Oct. 18, 2002, in Hetzel Community Church. Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the church. James Funeral Home, Logan, is in charge of arrangements.

Thelma A. Lovejoy
Thelma A. Lovejoy, 90, of Hamlin died Oct. 15, 2002, in St. Mary's Hospital. Service will be 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18, at Handley Funeral Home, Hamlin. Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Donald Marks Jr.
Donald Marks Jr., 43, of Hurricane passed away Oct. 14, 2002, in Putnam General Hospital. He was born February 27, 1959, in Wood County, son of Donald E. Marks Sr. and the late Vivian H. Stull Marks. Prior to being Director of Materials Management at Putnam General Hospital, he was employed at St. Joseph's Hospital for 18 years. He was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Parkersburg, and he also attended Mount Vernon Baptist Church, Teays Valley. He was also a member of the West Virginia Bow Hunter's Association. He is survived by his wife of two years, Wanda G. Parsons Schreckengost Marks; father, Donald E. Marks Sr. and special friend, Willa Surbaugh of Washington, W.Va.; son, Donald E. Marks III of Parkersburg; stepson, Todd Schreckengost of Hurricane; daughter, Melissa Taylor of Goldtown; grandchildren, Hannah Marie and Elizabeth Ann Taylor of Goldtown; sisters, Rebecca S. Miller and husband Robert of Wadsworth, Ohio, Donna K. King of Parkersburg, Jerri L. Coss of Creston, Ohio; three nieces and four nephews, Robert Miller II, Anthony Miller, Vivian, Paul and Rebecca King, Paige Flanigan and Shane Radabaugh. Service will be 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 18, at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home, Parkersburg, with the Rev. David Freshour officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Memory Gardens. Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. A memorial service will be held in Hurricane at Putnam General Hospital. For more information, call (304) 757-1792

Ethel Louise McVey
SAN FRANCISCO - Former West Virginia state senator Ethel Louise McVey Nelson died in San Francisco Oct. 14, 2002, after an extended illness. She had recently celebrated her 83rd birthday with family and friends. Mrs. Nelson was born in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 7, 1919. She grew up in Havre de Grace, Md., where she developed a lifelong love for the water, especially enjoying the sports of swimming and sailboat racing. After graduating from high school, she began working for the federal government in various departments. During World War II, she spent 1 1/2 years in Alaska with the Corps of Engineers building the ALCAN highway. She then spent six months in Calcutta, India, working for the Office of Strategic Services until the war ended. She returned to Washington, D.C., and entered George Washington University, earning her degree in foreign affairs in 1948, after which she began work in the State Department. During this period, she "bumped into" Marine Corps captain Robert P. Leonard, whom she had met in India and they were married in 1948. In 1952, they relocated an hour away, to Harper's Ferry, W.Va., where they opened and operated a small, exquisite restaurant for the following eight years. During this period, Mrs. Leonard became very active in local, state and national politics, culminating in her being elected to the West Virginia state senate from 1970 to 1974. She served on numerous committees and was a delegate to Republican National Conventions on several occassions. One of her proudest efforts was traveling to Paris in an attempt to meet with the North Vietnamese officials to argue for the immediate release of all American military personnel being held captive. Although they refused to meet with her, she was able to deliver to them her written arguments for their release. After LTC Leonard died in July 1975, she returned to school and earned her Masters degree in political science from Georgetown University. She traveled extensively during the following ten years and one of her trips, she met Dr. Clarence Nelson of San Francisco. They married in 1985 and enjoyed a very loving marriage until Oct. 2001, when Dr. Nelson passed away. Mrs. Nelson was active in many organizations, including the Episcopal church, St. Francis Yacht Club, Metropolitan Club, Century Club, San Francisco Garden Club and the Daughters of the American Revolution, as well as many Republican organizations. She was a member of Alpha Delta Pi and Phi Pi Epsilon and is listed in Who's Who in American Politics, Who's Who of American Women, and World's Who's Who of Women. She was a Dame in the Sovereign Order of St. John's of Jerusalem Knights Hospitaller. Mrs. Nelson touched and thereby enriched many lives during her 83 years. She leaves behind many extended family members and dear friends, all of whom loved her dearly and will miss her greatly. There will be a service commemorating her life at the San Francisco Towers, 1661 Pine St., San Francisco, on Tuesday, Oct. 22, at 3:30 p.m. Later she will be interred in Arlington National Cemetery. Memorial gifts may be made to your favorite charity.

George C. Pedley
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - George C. Pedley, 84, died peacefully at his home on Oct. 15, 2002, after an extended illness. His family will miss his great love, quick wit and the spirit of never giving up. He was truly a friend to those in need and a wise counselor. He especially enjoyed being Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and any other role involving costumes. He was born June 18, 1918, in Philadelphia, Pa., to Harry and Myrtle Pedley. He served in the South Pacific during World War II and later moved to Charleston, W.Va., where he attended Morris Harvey College. He founded the Pedley Equipment Co. in Charleston, where he worked until his retirement in 1981. While in West Virginia, he helped establish the local chapter of the National Kidney Foundation and served on several civic clubs including the Lions Club, the Kiwanis Club, the Rotary Club, the Instruments Club and the Shriners. He volunteered many hours of community service while living in Charleston. He was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church. He was especially fond of his "coffee group" at Shoney's where many world problems were solved. He and his wife Virginia enjoyed dancing and belonged to the Latin Club, Passpied, the Elks Club, Lucas Dance Studios and the senior citizens dance group in Brownsville, Texas. In Winston-Salem he was a long term member of Breathing Plus and the Kiwanis. His family is grateful for the help of Lincare, Hospice and the many doctors and nurses involved in his care, especially Myrtle Childress, Peggy Farley, April Miller, Nezetta Hampton and Dr. David Stauffer. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Naomi Meyer, and his son, Dr. Charles Pedley, who was married to Kathy. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Virginia Pedley; sister, Ruth Schwenk and her husband, Gordon; children, Robert Pedley and his wife, Dianne; daughter, Dr. Carolyn Pedley and her husband, Dr. Robert Bloomfield; grandchildren, Dr. David Pedley and his wife, Carolyn, Dr. Chad Pedley, Thomas Pedley and his wife, Elizabeth, Robin Highlander and her husband, Sean, Adam Bloomfield, and Laura Bloomfield; great-grandchildren; Hunter and Ethan Highlander, McKenzie and Scott Pedley; numerous nieces and nephews. Service will be held by Chaplain Fred Moretz at at Vogler & Sons Funeral Home, Winston-Salem, N.C., on Friday, Oct. 18, 2002, at 2 p.m. Burial will follow in Forsyth Memorial Park. Friends may call one hour prior to service Friday at the funeral home. Memorials are requested to be made to American Lung Association, North Central Area, 3409-D W.Wendover Ave., Greensboro, NC 27407, Hospice of Forsyth County, 1100-C S. Stratford Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27103, or to the American Cancer Society, 4 A Oak Branch Dr., Greensboro, NC 27405.

Ethel E. Prather
Ethel E. Prather, 70, of St. Albans passed away Oct. 15, 2002, in Thomas Memorial Hospital following an apparent heart attack. Mrs. Prather was born April 27, 1932, in Industry, Calhoun County, daughter of the late Archie Jefferson and Dora Bell Rose. She was a homemaker and enjoyed working with flowers. She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Bernard Prather; sons, Stanley B. Prather of Nitro, Kenneth M. Prather of Scott Depot, Donald G. Prather of Houston, Texas, Jeffrey B. Prather of Belle; daughters, Nancy K. Cartwright and Sandra J. Prather, both of St. Albans, Tammy S. Pauley of Nitro; brothers, Archie "Junior" Rose and Alfred "Buck" Rose, both of Munday; sister, Edith Mills of Brohard; 12 grandchildren; Christopher and Carrie Cartwright of St. Albans, Gregory Cartwright of Hurricane, Amanda and Tara Pauley of Nitro, Nicholas and Jeffrey Prather of Scott Depot, Douglas Prather of Belle, Jennifer and Lauren Jenkins of Belle, Emily Prather of Houston, Texas, Alex Goodnight of Macfarlan; three great-grandchildren, Ryan, Blake and Gwyneth. She was preceded in death by one sister, Edna Rose in 1934. Service will be 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18, at Busch Funeral Home, Elizabeth, with Evangelist Eugene L. Conger officiating. Burial will follow in Belt Cemetery, Industry. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, and until time of service Friday, at the funeral home.

Martha J. Pridemore
Martha J. Pridemore, 88, of Chapmanville died Oct. 15, 2002. Service will be 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18, at Evans Funeral Home, Chapmanville. Burial will be in Pridemore Cemetery, Chapmanville. Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.