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Richard Joe Walker, 53, of Winston – Salem, NC, formerly of Oceana, WV, passed away on Sunday
December, 13, 2009 at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. He was born February 27, 1956
in Welch, WV a son of the late Billie Freelin and Maye Fern Cook Walker. He was a member of Toneda
Baptist Church, 1974 graduate of Oceana High School and a graduate of Concord College. Survivors
include his two sons Andrew Joe Walker of Fayetteville, NC and Ryan Marshall Walker of Medford, MA; a
sister Jean Lusk and husband Landon of Oceana, WV; his companion Connie Clifton of Winston –
Salem, NC; the mother of his children Beth Farley Gillespie of Richlands, VA; two nephews Bradley P.
Lusk and wife Tracey of Venecia, PA and Kevin B. Lusk and wife Sandra of Follansbee, WV; and a host
of other loving family and friends. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Wednesday December 16,
2009 at the Toneda Baptist Church with Rev. Ron Lee and Rev. James Hamrick officiating. He will be
laid to rest in Kennedy cemetery, Craney, WV. Friends may gather with the family from 6 – 9:00 PM on
Tuesday December 15, 2009 at the Stafford Family Funeral Home, Lynco, WV. Pallbearers will be
family and friends. Letters of sympathy may be sent to Stafford Family Funeral Home.. The
family is being served by the Stafford Family Funeral Home, Lynco, WV.
Betty Lou Nolan, 66, of Rock View, WV, passed away on Wednesday December 9, 2009 at her home.
She was born January 29, 1943 in Huntington, WV a daughter of the late Alfred and Denia King Russell.
Betty was a homemaker and loving mother. Survivors include two sons Freddy Nolan and wife Susan of
Rock View, WV and Lester Nolan and wife Gail of Rockview, WV; a brother Donald Russell of Pineville,
WV; several grandchildren and a host of other loving family and friends. In keeping with her wishes she will
be cremated. Private family visitation will be held. Letters of sympathy may be sent at
www.staffordfamilyfuneralhome.com. The family is being served by the Stafford Family Funeral Home,
Lynco, WV.
Seldon Wayne Blankenship, 52, of Clear Fork, WV, passed away on Monday December 1, 2009 at
Welch Emergency Hospital. He was born January 15, 1957 at Sunhill, WV, a son of the late Hoppy
Turner and Roselee Burgess. His mommy Mildred Donna Jean Blankenship also preceded him in death.
Survivors include two sisters Lisa Burgess and Laura Gay Fisher and husband Gary all of Concord, NC;
two brothers Roger Burgess and wife Sundie of Matheny and David Allen Burgess of Gilbert; three aunts
Beatrice Harvey and husband Billy of Sunhill, Virginia Lafferty and husband Benny of Matheny and
Genette Rollins and husband Steve of Oceana; an uncle Iryan Eugene Blankenship of Lynco; and a host
of other loving family and friends. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM Friday December 4, 2009 at
the Chapel of Stafford Family Funeral Home with Rev. Jerry McCoy and Rev. Jay Blankenship
officiating. Seldon will be laid to rest in Toler cemetery, Sunhill, WV. Friends may gather with the family
from 11:00 AM until service time at the funeral home. Letters of sympathy may be sent at
www.staffordfamilyfuneralhome.com. The family is being served by the Stafford Family Funeral Home,
Lynco, WV.
Ralph Martin Bledsoe, 47 of Fayette County, WV, formerly of Pineville, WV, passed away on Tuesday
December 1, 2009 at Thomas Memorial Hospital, Charleston, WV. He was born September 18, 1962 in
Pineville, WV, a son of the late Ralph Daniel Bledsoe and Zada Marie Spence Bledsoe Angle. He was a
carpenter and graduate of Pineville High School. In keeping with his wishes he will be cremated. Memorial
services will be held at a later date, followed by burial beside his father in Palm Memorial Gardens,
Matheny, WV. Letters of sympathy may be sent to Stafford Family Funeral Home.. The family is
being served by the Stafford Family Funeral Home, Lynco, WV.
Elmer Lee “Pete” Simpson, 63, of Clear Fork, WV, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday
November 21, 2009 at Raleigh General Hospital. He was born March 29, 1946 in Clear Fork, WV, a son
of the late Charlie Lee and Belva Toler Simpson. He was a retired coal miner having worked for
Peabody Coal Company and was a graduate of Oceana High School. Pete was a member of the Clear
Fork Independent Church of God, where he loved to sing and praise God! and a member of the C.M.A.
Group Thunder and Praise. Survivors include his loving wife of 27 years Sherry Tapscott Simpson; a
daughter Carol Rose and husband Jerry of Kopperston; a son Michael Simpson of Oceana; two loving
step-daughters Christina Toler of Zolfo Springs, FL and Tammy Morgan of Lexington, KY; two
grandchildren, who he loved dearly Tyler Toler and Jordan Rose; two sisters Phyllis Bishop and husband
Bobby of Talcott and Peggy Hager and husband David of Clear Fork; a brother Mitch Simpson and
fiancé Susan of Lynco; and a host of nieces, nephews and other loving family and friends. Funeral
services will be held at 1:00 PM on Wednesday November 25, 2009 at the Chapel of Stafford Family
Funeral Home, Lynco, WV with Pastor Hannibal Blankenship, Jr. officiating. Pete will be laid to rest in
Toler cemetery, Clear Fork, WV. Friends may gather with the family from 6 – 9:00 PM on Tuesday
November 24, 2009 at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be Michael Simpson, Tyler Toler, Tim Ulrich,
Eddie Gilley, Darnell Belcher and Todd Landis. Letters of sympathy may be sent at www.
staffordfamilyfuneralhome.com. The family is being served by the Stafford Family Funeral Home, Lynco,
WV.
Douglas Rondy “Doug” Aliff, 72, of Fanrock, WV, went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ, and to be reunited with his loving wife of 47 years, Susie Aliff, whom he missed dearly, on Thursday
November 19, 2009 at the Bower’s Hospice House surrounded by his loving family. Doug was born on
September 27, 1937 at Fanrock, WV, a son of the late Ulbert and June Morgan Aliff. He was a retired coal
miner of 25 years from Keppler National Mines and a member of the UMWA Local 1599. Doug was of the
Baptist faith and had been a Christian for many years. He enjoyed going to church, reading his Bible and
serving the Lord, he also loved the outdoors, camping at Bluestone, fishing, gathering wood, spending
time with his family, especially his eight grandkids. In addition to his parents Doug was also preceded in
death by his loving wife Brenda “Susie” Aliff; a sister Joann Aliff and his in-laws Glen and Leola Williams.
Those left to cherish his memory are his four sons, Mark Aliff, Marvin Aliff and wife Angie, Donald Aliff and
wife Becky, and Eddie Aliff and wife Mandy all of Fanrock; six brothers and sisters Edna Thomas of
Indianapolis, IN, David Aliff and wife Mary of Annapolis, MD, Carol Wheaton and husband Ernest of
Ormond Beach, FL, Patricia Blankenship of Salsbury, NC, Charles Aliff and wife Betty and Shirley Aliff all
of Indianapolis, IN; eight grandchildren Lyndsey Cline and husband Jonathon of Sunhill, Tonya Cline and
husband Cody of Fanrock, Joshua Aliff of Harrisville, WV, Erica and Emily Aliff of Fanrock, Kayla and
Isabella Aliff of Bob White, and Jeremiah Aliff of Fanrock; a very special friend Sam Vance; and a host of
nieces, nephews and friends. Funeral services will be at 1:00 PM on November 22, 2009 at the Briar
Creek Tabernacle with Rev. Hannibal Blankenship, Ernest Francis III and Steve Acord officiating. Doug
will be laid to rest by his wife in Morgan – Hatfield cemetery, Fanrock, WV. Friends may gather with the
family from 6 – 9:00 PM Saturday November 21, 2009 at the church. Grandsons and nephews will serve
as pallbearers. The family would like to express their most heartfelt gratitude to the Bower’s Hospice
House for their part in taking care of Doug. To all the family and friends, we appreciate all the prayers and
visits to Doug. Letters of sympathy may be sent to Stafford Family Funeral Home.. The family
is being served by the Stafford Family Funeral Home, Lynco, WV.
Willard Lovins, 82, of Key Rock, WV went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday
November 18, 2009 at his home. He was born February 11, 1927 in Mingo County, WV, a
son of the late Andy Lovins and Maude and Bradley Stepp Lovins Cassidy. He was a
retired coal miner having worked 25 years at Eastern Associated Coal’s Kopperston # 2
Mines. He was also a retired US Army Veteran. Also preceding him in death was a son
Roy Lovins, brother Clarence Lovins, two sisters Viola Webb and Arlene Lovins, four
grandchildren, three great grandchildren. Survivors include his loving wife of almost 60
years Ruth Prichard Lovins; eleven children Delores “Gay” Osborne of Oceana, Thelma
Frazier and husband Roger of Bristol, VA, Jimmy Lovins and wife Linda of Beckley, Belvia
Meade and husband Jerry of Oceana, Betty Keene and husband Ronald of Key Rock,
David Lovins of Key Rock, Sheryl Fritz of Ohio, Nadine Lovins of Mullens, Carolyn
Shumate of Key Rock, Brad Lovins and wife Belinda of Matheny and Willard Andrew
Lovins of Key Rock; a daughter-in-law Betty Lovins of Clear Fork; 27 grandchildren; 34
great grandchildren; one Great great grandchild; two sisters Belvia Akers of Jackson, OH
and Flornia Chaffin of Kermit, WV; and a host of other loving family and friends. Funeral
services will be held at 12:30 PM on Saturday November 21, 2009 at the Oceana
Freewill Baptist Church. Willard will be laid to rest in Palm Memorial Gardens,
Matheny, WV. Friends may gather with the family from 6 – 9:00 PM on Friday November
20, 2009 at the church. Letters of sympathy may be sent at www.
staffordfamilyfuneralhome.com. The family is being served by the Stafford Family
Funeral Home, Lynco, WV.
Geneva Blankenship Pennington, 35, of Lynco, WV, passed away on Thursday
November 5, 2009. She was born April 26, 1974 in Mullens, WV a daughter of Robert Gene
Blankenship of Lynco, WV and the late Shirley Caroline Burrell Blankenship. She was a
loving mother and wife. A brother Samuel Matthew Blankenship also preceded her in death.
Survivors include her husband Joshua Thomas Gene Pennington; two daughters Megan
Renee Hicks and Nevaeh Alisha Caroline Pennington; a son Joshua Thomas Grat
Pennington; her father Robert Gene Blankenship of Lynco, WV; three sisters Edith and
Bobby Rollins of Lynco, Caroline and Gary Eakle of Harrisville, WV, Anita Blankenship and
fiancé Leon Kennedy of Hanover, WV; a brother David and Norma Blankenship of Lynco,
WV; a sister-in-law Chasity Whitson and husband Herbert of Bristol, TN; 13 nieces and
nephews; six great nieces and nephews; and a host of other loving family and friends.
There will be private services for the family, and she will be cremated in accordance with
her wishes. Letters of sympathy may be sent to Stafford Family Funeral Home..
The family is being served by the Stafford Family Funeral Home, Lynco, WV.
