STEELE, Ronald A. "Skinny" -- Service has been changed to 2 p.m. Thursday at Montgomery Memorial Park Mausoleum Chapel, London, with the Rev. Frank Plass officiating. Burial will be in Montgomery Memorial Park with Masonic graveside rites. Steele, 88, of Charlton Heights died Monday, Jan. 26, 1998, at home after a long illness. Pennington Funeral Home, Gauley Bridge, is in charge of arrangements.

THOMAS, Ruth L. -- Service was to be 2 p.m. today at Gatens Funeral Home, Poca, with the Rev. O.R. Gunno, Pastor Ralph Workman and Roy Williams officiating. Burial was to be in Thomas Cemetery, Lanham. Mrs. Thomas, 94, of Lanham, Putnam County, died Sunday, Jan. 25, 1998, in St. Francis Hospital after a long illness. Correction on background: She was a charter member of Harmons Creek Church of the Nazarene.

WAGNER, Phillip J. "Phil" -- Service has been changed to 1 p.m. Thursday at Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill, with the Rev. Nancy Cale officiating. Burial will be in Wade Chapel Cemetery, Confidence. Wagner, 47, of Oak Hill died Saturday, Jan. 24, 1998, in Plateau Medical Center after a short illness.

Edward F. Merrifield Sr.
One of the last survivors of the deadly 1949 Woolworth's fire in Charleston has died. Former Charleston firefighter Edward F. Merrifield Sr., 86, who crawled along a lunch counter in the store to escape when the floor collapsed, died Tuesday in Americare of Dunbar after a short illness. Merrifield and one other firefighter escaped from the March 1949 blaze, which raged for eight hours and claimed the lives of seven firemen. Merrifield's son, Ed Merrifield Jr., research director for the state Bureau of Employment Programs, recalled his father's story of escaping from the fire. "There were nine men in that building when the floor collapsed," Merrifield said. "As the floor gave way, he remembered a lunch counter and jumped on top of it." "He crawled out along the counter, but the rest of his crew was wiped out." Merrifield's son said despite the tragic consequences, his father "always said, that wasn't really that bad a fire. There were others that were worse, although they didn't result in loss of life." "But that was far and away the worst fire Charleston ever saw, in terms of the people killed," he said. Merrifield went on to a distinguished career with the Charleston Fire Department, retiring in 1976 with 35 years of service. His son said Merrifield never considered giving up his career after his brush with death in the Woolworth's fire. "It was a freak accident. The men really should have never been in there," he said. "So no, I don't think he ever considered doing something else." Merrifield was a member of Charleston Professional Fire Fighters Local 317, a member and usher of St. Anthony's Catholic Church, Charleston, and a member of Knights of Columbus. He was a lifelong resident of Charleston. Also
Surviving: sister, Nina Mays of Dunbar. Service will be 10 a.m. Friday at St. Anthony's Catholic Church with Father Richard Zelik officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Park, South Charleston. Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Cunningham-Parker-Johnson Funeral Home where a Scriptural prayer service will be at 7 p.m.

Carolyn S. Adkins
SHARPLES -- Carolyn Sue Adkins, 33, of Sharples, Logan County, died Wednesday, Jan. 28, 1998, in Logan General Hospital after a long illness. She was a housewife and a member of Monclo Freewill Baptist Church, Sharples.
Surviving: husband, Leonard Adkins; son, Leonard Thomas Adkins at home; daughters, Jessica Sue Adkins at home; parents, Thomas and Elcene Crisp of Sharples; brothers, Claude and Thomas Crisp of Sharples; sisters, Canatta Bias, Patricia Burgess, Reneda Burgess, Misty Dunlap, Cynthia Lane and Jeanette McGuire of Sharples, Tonia Green of Julian. Service will be 11 a.m. Friday at Monclo Freewill Baptist Church with the Rev. Joe Lane and the Rev. Albert Setser officiating. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Pecks Mill. Friends may call after 6 p.m. today at the church. Handley Funeral Home, Danville, is in charge of arrangements.

Geneva P. Armstrong
Geneva Phillips Armstrong, 89, of Charleston died Saturday, Jan. 24, 1998, in Montgomery General Elderly Care after a long illness. She was a homemaker and attended Morris Memorial United Methodist Church, Charleston.
Surviving: daughters, Maralea A. Nucker of Laurel, Md., Virginia A. Nutting of Bridgewater, N.J.; sistes, Betty Ann Cruz of Dixie, Edith "Sparkie" Phillips of Buffalo, Patricia Adkins of Cross Lanes, Ruth Adkins of Pratt, Sarabelle Nuwell of Florida; brothers, Homer Phillips Jr. of Greenwood, Clyde Phillips of Ravenswood, Ray Phillips of Dixie; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren. Service will be 11 a.m. Friday at J.E. Johnson Funeral Home, Charleston, with the Rev. Roy Roach officiating. Burial will be in Mountain View Memorial Park, Charleston. Friends may call one hour prior to service at the funeral home.

Ivan N. Barlow
MARLINTON -- Ivan Neal Barlow, 85, of Marlinton died Tuesday, Jan. 27, 1998, in Pocahontas Memorial Hospital. He was Navy veteran of World War II, a farmer and a member of Marlinton United Methodist Church and VFW.
Surviving: wife, Mary Frances Faulkner. Service will be noon Friday at VanReenen Funeral Home, Marlinton, with the Rev. Dennis Mehazzie officiating. Burial will be in Mountain View Cemetery. Friends may call two hours prior to service at the funeral home. The family suggests donations be sent to the Pocahontas Memorial Hospital building fund.

Elizabeth Baskin
COLUMBUS, GA. -- Elizabeth Baskin, 74, of Columbus, Ga., formerly of Esdale, W.Va., died Monday Jan. 26, 1998, in St. Francis Hospital, Columbus, Ga., after a long illness. She was a homemaker, a member of the Canaan Baptist Church, Columbus, Ga., and former member of the Little Zion Baptist Church, Esdale, W.Va.
Surviving: husband, Richard Baskin Sr.; sons, Richard of Columbus, Ga., Tyrone of South Point, Ohio; daughters, Susie Gerren, Shela Hall and Janice Austin of Columbus, Ga., Patrice and Elizabeth Baskin of Weaton, Md., Ruby Robinson Oliver of Chesepeake, W.Va.; sisters, Azabell King and Lillian Batts of Columbus, Ga.; caregiver, Otis Geles. Service will be 2 p.m. Saturday at the Canaan Baptist Church, Columbus, Ga., with the Rev. J. Harold Carter officiating. Burial will be in Mount Carmel Baptist Cemetery, Union Spring, Ala.

Raymond R. Canterbury
WHITMAN -- Raymond R. Canterbury, 65, of Whitman, Logan County, died Wednesday, Jan. 28, 1998, in Logan General Hospital. He was a retired miner from Island Creek Coal Co., an Army veteran and a member of Harvest Gospel Church and the Masonic Lodge.
Surviving: wife, Carolyn Adkins Canterbury; daughter, Hester Browning of Whitman; son, Kenny Canterbury of Godby; sister, Faye Gallion of Oceana; brother, Kenneth Canterbury of Holden; two grandchildren. Service will be 11 a.m. Friday at James Funeral Home, Logan, with the Rev. Doug Isaacs officiating. Burial, with Masonic rites, will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Pecks Mill. Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Betty M. Cook
Betty McBride Cook, 73, of Charleston died Wednesday, Jan. 28, 1998, at home after a long illness. She was a homemaker and a member of Asbury Methodist Church, Charleston.
Surviving: husband, Harold L. Cook; son, H. Craig Cook of Charleston; sisters, Esther Couch of Charlottesville, Va., Lynn Eversale of Hedgesville; brothers, Cullen McBride of Clifton Forge, Va., John McBride of Lewisburg; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren. Service will be 1 p.m. Saturday at Asbury Methodist Church with the Rev. Fredric W. Villinger officiating. Burial will be in Elk Hills Memorial Park, Big Chimney. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Wilson Funeral Home, Charleston. The family suggests donations be sent to Asbury Methodist Church.

Virginia S. Curry
VERDUNVILLE -- Virginia S. Curry, 71, of Verdunville, Logan County, died Tuesday, Jan. 27, 1998, in CAMC, Memorial Division. James Funeral Home, Logan, is in charge of arrangements.

Christie W. Cyphers
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. -- Christie Wynette Cyphers, 47, of Williamsburg died Monday, Jan. 26, 1998, at home after a long illness. She was a native of Charleston, W.Va., a cum laude graduate of Emory & Henry College and the Marshall Wythe School of Law, interned under William T. Stone, then entered private practice. She was active in many legal organizations.
Surviving: daughter, Jennifer Cyphers of Williamsburg; son, David Cyphers of Williamsburg; mother, Christine Moore Rader of Cross Lanes, W.Va.; sister, Calene Rader of Nashville, Tenn. Service will be 1 p.m. Friday at Grace Baptist Church, Williamsburg, with the Rev. Stephen Wiley officiating. Burial will be in Cedar Grove Cemetery. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Whitings Funeral Home, Williamsburg.

Betty A. Dolan
HARRISVILLE -- Betty Ann Dolan, 86, of Harrisville, formerly of Jolo, died Wednesday, Jan. 28, 1998, in St. Joseph Hospital, Parkersburg, after a long illness. She was a homemaker and a member of Harrison Street United Methodist Church, Harrisville.
Surviving: brother, Bertie Bailey of Hazelgreen. Service will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Krantz-McNeely Funeral Home, Man, with the Rev. Carlton Wilson officiating. Burial will be in Cook Cemetery, Cyclone. Friends may call three hours prior to service at the funeral home.

Gertrude D. Duff
CULVER, Ind -- Gertrude D. Duff, 86, of Culver, Ind., formerly of Hurricane, died Tuesday, Jan. 29, 1998, in Miller's Merry Manor, Culver, Ind. She was the former owner of Duff's Coffee Shop in Spring Hill and Hurricane.
Surviving: son, Charles T. of Culver, Ind.; brother, Richard Parsons of Dayton, Ohio; sisters, Betty Gilkie and Geneva Shackleford of Middleport, Ohio, Gracie Blue of South Charleston, Grovie Lanham of Dunbar; seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren. Service will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Cunningham-Parker-Johnson Funeral Home, Charleston, with the Rev. Clarence Edens officiating. Burial will be in Tyler Mountain Memorial Gardens, Cross Lanes. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

George F. Fakhoury
BECKLEY -- George Fouad Fakhoury, 39, of Beckley died Tuesday, Jan. 27, 1998, in a Beckley hospital after a sudden illness. Blue Ridge Funeral Home, Prosperity, is in charge of arrangements.

Clarence V. Flesher
SUMMERSVILLE -- Clarence V. Flesher, 67, of Summersville died Wednesday, Jan. 28, 1998, in CAMC, General Division, after a long illness. He was retired from Bell Atlantic, a deacon and member of Summersville Baptist Church, a former member of Summersville City Counsel and Summersville Little League, a former Boy Scout master for 18 years and a Marine Corps veteran.
Surviving: wife, Iris Green Flesher; son, Paul Douglas Flesher of East Liverpool, Ohio; sister Betty Rager of Vermilion, Ohio. Service will be 11 a.m. Friday at Waters Funeral Chapel, Summersville, with the Rev. Phil Smith and the Rev. Nelson Harris officiating. Burial will be in Walker Memorial Park, Summersville. Friends may call one hour prior to service at the funeral home.

Jackie L. Haga
SOPHIA -- Jackie L. Haga, 61, of Sophia died Tuesday, Jan. 27, 1998, in a Beckley hospital after a long illness. Williams-Blue Ridge Funeral Home, Sophia, is in charge of arrangements.

Christine Hagood
WHITMAN -- Christine Hagood, 95, of Whitman died Tuesday, Jan. 27, 1998, in Logan General Hospital after a long illness. She was a native of Anderson, S.C., a member and usher of Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, Huntington.
Surviving: son, James Hagood of Whitman; granddaughter, Gemitta Hagood of Huntington. Service will be 11 a.m. Saturday at St. James Missionary Baptist Church, Kistler, with the Rev. Franklin Murphy officiating. Burial will be in Franklin Hill Memorial Gardens, Winchester, Ohio. Friends may call two hours prior to service at the church. Pond Funeral Home, Logan, is in charge of arrangements.

Katherine S. Hardy
LEWISBURG -- Katherine Shaffer Hardy, 83, of Lewisburg, formerly of Charleston, died Tuesday, Jan. 27, 1998, of leukemia. She attended the National Cathedral, Washington, was a graduate of Sweet Brier College and taught ceramics at Carnegie Hall, Lewisburg.
Surviving: sons, Frank A. Hardy Jr. of Lewisburg, Leslie Rand Hardy of New York City; daughter, Patricia H. Davis of Santa Fe, Tenn.; sister, Mrs. Edward H. Stringer of Pinehurst, N.C.; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren. Memorial service will be April 1, 1998. The body was donated to the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine. Information provided by McCraw Funeral Home, Lewisburg. The family suggests donations be sent to the Family Refuge Center, 117 East Washington St., Lewisburg, WV 24901.

Opal V. Holstclaw
CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Opal Virginia Bray Holstclaw, 87, of Cincinnati, Ohio, formerly of Kanawha County, died Monday, Jan. 26, 1998, at Manor Care Nursing Home, Cincinnati, after a long illness. She was retired from the Diamond Department Store, Charleston.
Surviving: daughter, Donna Oldrieve of Cincinnati, Ohio; sons, Charles Holstclaw of Kentucky, Jim Holstclaw of Nitro; eight grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren Graveside service will be Saturday 11 a.m. at Cunningham Memorial Park Lower Mausoleum, St. Albans, with the David Williams officiating. Burial will follow in Cunningham Memorial Park. Friends may call one hour prior to the service at Cunningham Memorial Park Mausoleum. Curry Funeral Home, Alum Creek, is in charge of arrangements.

Anna S. Kidd
Anna S."Susie" Taylor Kidd, 91, of Hugheston, Kanawha County, died Wednesday, Jan. 28, 1998, in St. Francis Hospital, Charleston, after a short illness. She was a homemaker, a member of the Hughes Creek First Church of God and a lifelong resident of Kanawha County. She was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Waid Kidd Sr. and her daughter, Louise Proctor.
Surviving: sons, Harold of Robson, W.Va., Waid Kidd of Chesapeake, Va.; daughters, Sue Nichols and Elizabeth Landers of Glasgow, W.Va., Alice Maxwell of Oxford, Ohio. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Cook Funeral Home Chapel, Cedar Grove.

Cory M. Kinder
SETH -- Cory Matthew Kinder, infant son of James Dewayne and Cathy Sue Abbott Kinder Jr. of Seth, was stillborn Monday, Jan. 26, 1998, in Women and Childrens' Hospital, CAMC. Also
Surviving: sister, Ciera Dawn Kinder at home; grandparents, Loretta Abbott of Seth, Alice McNeely of Comfort, James D. and Debbie Kinder Sr. of Seth; great-grandparents, Don and Doris McNeely of Seth, Hazel Kinder of Ridgeview; great-great-grandfather, Romie Williams of Julian. Graveside service will be 1 p.m. Friday in Pineview Cemetery, Orgas, with the Rev. Phil Nicholas officiating. Armstrong Funeral Home, Whitesville, is in charge of arrangements.

Jewel J. Lane
SUMMERSVILLE -- Jewel June Lane, 69, of Summersville died Tuesday, Jan. 27, 1998, at home after a long illness. She was a retired secretary from Pittston Coal Co.
Surviving: son, Ira Joe Lane of Walton; sister, Joyce Long of Buckhannon; brother, William "Bill" Barnette of Tucson, Ariz.; half sister, Veronica Cantrell of Eufaula, Okla.; one grandchild. Private graveside service was to be 11 a.m. today in the Walnut Grove Cemetery, Strange Creek. Carl Wilson Funeral Home, Clay, is in charge of arrangements.

Bobbie J. Mallion
Bobbie J. Mallion, 66, of Sissonville died Tuesday, Jan. 27, 1998, in Thomas Memorial Hospital, South Charleston, after a long illness. She was a homemaker, attended Pocatalico Community Church and worked in nursing homes for 23 years.
Surviving: husband, Charles S. Mallion; daughter, Pamela Foster of Sissonville; stepdaughter, Michell E. Mallion Parvin of Florida; son, James Carnell of Sissonville; stepsons, Shane S. Mallion of Charleston, Eric L. Mallion of Florida; mother, Goldie Clendenin of Sissonville; sisters, Lakie Britton, Lillie Pritt, Beverly Layne and Diana Payne of Sissonville, Nellie Davis of Mansfield, Ohio, Helen Lanham of Poca, Drema Green of Marmet, Karen Richards of Charleston; brother, Brady Clendenin of Little Rock, Ark.; four grandchildren. Graveside service will be 1 p.m. Friday in Floral Hills Garden of Memories, Pocatalico, with the Rev. Buddy Mairs and the Rev. Randy Camp officiating. Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. today at Long & Fisher Funeral Home, Pocatalico.