U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Ernest W. Bolling
NORTON -- Ernest W. Bolling, 80, died Friday, Dec. 4, 1998, in Holston Valley Hospital, Kingsport.
He retired from Old Dominion Power Company and was a member of Hoge No. 8 Masonic Lodge, Wise. He was a member of VFW Post 4301, Norton, and was preceded in death by his wife, Lena M. Bolling.
Survivors include three half-brothers, Bill Stidham, Lawrence Bolling and Carl Bolling, all of Jackson, Miss.; a half-sister, Florence Bolling, Jackson; and several nieces and nephews.
Hagy Funeral Home, Norton, is in charge.
Gerald P. Dunlap
GRAY -- Gerald P. "Jerry" Dunlap, 58, died Friday, Dec. 4, 1998, at his home.
Weaver Funeral Home is in charge.
Evelyn C. Godsey
Evelyn Carrier Godsey, 76, of Bristol Tennessee, died Thursday, Dec. 3, 1998, at her home.
She was retired from United Sprint, after 40 years of service. She was an avid swimmer and had won numerous awards with the Senior Olympics.
She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband, E. Clyce Godsey; a daughter, Brenda Robbins, Bluff City; a son, Jeff Godsey, Greenville, S.C.; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and several niece sand nephews.
Akard Funeral Home is in charge.
Annie L. Graybeal
RICHMOND -- Annie Belle Lingerfelt Graybeal, 92, died Thursday, Dec. 3, 1998.
She was a native of Bluff City, had lived in the Bluff City and Bristol Tennessee areas most of her life before moving to Richmond in 1993.
She was the last charter member of Sunset Village Baptist Church and the widow of Robert O. Graybeal.
Survivors include a son, Hylton Lee Graybeal, Richmond; a daughter, Betty G. Pullon, Bristol Tennessee; three grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Weaver Funeral Home is in charge.
Charles E. Harris
Charles E. Harris, 76, of 901 Hill St., Bristol, Tenn., died Thursday, Dec. 3, 1998, in Bristol Regional Medical Center.
He was a native of Danville, Ky., and had made his home in the Bristol area most of his life.
He was a retired employee of Reynolds Metals Company, a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, and a member of Tennessee Avenue Baptist Church where he served as deacon and usher.
Survivors include his wife, Betty W. Harris; a daughter, Mrs. Bill (Charlotte) Carty, Siler City, N.C.; two granddaughters, Deirdre
Brown and Jillyan Cunnup; a great-granddaughter; and several nieces and nephews.
Weaver Funeral Home is in charge.
Robert L.
Johnson Sr.
Robert Lee
Johnson Sr., 66, of Bristol Virginia, died Thursday, Dec. 3, 1998, in Bristol Regional Medical Center.
He was a native of Abingdon, moving to Bristol 30 years ago. He was a graduate of William King High School, Abingdon, and attended Georgia Tech.
He was of the Baptist faith, attended First Christian Church, Bristol Virginia, and was president of R.L.
Johnson Construction.
Survivors include his wife, Jane C. Johnson; three sons, Robert Lee "Robby"
Johnson Jr., Charlotte, N.C., Randall P. Johnson, Bristol Virginia, and Lt. Christopher L. Johnson, Yucca Valley, Calif.; a stepson, James Michael Wright, Knoxville; a daughter, Karen Lee Johnson, Alexandria, Va.; two brothers, Luther P.
Johnson and Herbert Johnson, both of Abingdon; two sisters, Helen J. Holliday, Abingdon, and Lucille J. Scott, Fort Pierce, Fla.;. three granddaughters; and a step-granddaughter.
Farris Funeral Service, Abingdon, is in charge.
Faith and Hope King
KINGSTON, Tenn. -- Faith and Hope King, twin infant daughters of David and Tracy King, died Tuesday, Dec. 1, 1998, in St. Joseph's Womens Hospital, Tampa, Fla.
Survivors in addition to their parents include a sister, Sophie King of the home; the paternal grandparents, Robert A. and Jean Harris, Kingston; the maternal grandparents, J.B. and Kay Rife, Bristol Tennessee; and the maternal great-grandmother, Halcia Wood, Bristol Virginia.
Kyker Funeral Home, Kingston, is in charge.
Sara F. Leslie
DAVIDSON, N.C. -- Sara Frances Leslie, 89, of 400 Avinger Lane, died Friday, Dec. 4, 1998, at The Pines, Davidson.
She was a native of Bristol Tennessee, a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church, Bristol Tennessee, which her mother helped found.
She was a graduate of Virginia Intermont College and Westhampton College of the University of Richmond. After graduation, she taught for a brief period before going to the Kingsport Press to become a journeyman printer. When World War II began, she was called to work at the State Department, Washington, D.C. Her assignment was to attend plenary conferences, beginning at Dunbarton Oaks, Washington, D.C., and leading to development of the proposed Charter of the United Nations. She was present at the final meetings and at the signing of the Charter on June 26, 1945 in San Francisco. She was later employed with the Federation of American Societies for experimental biology as Editor of Scientific Journals until her retirement.
In 1988, she moved to The Pines, Davidson, and assisted in establishing /{The Pinepost/}, a publication of resident stories, poetry and musings.
Survivors include a brother, Carl Leslie, Greenville, S.C.; four nieces, Mrs. Dan (Patricia Leslie) Pomeroy, Nashville, Mrs. Jeff (Salley Leslie) Odhner, Amherst, N.H., Melinda Leslie, Apopka, Fla., and Anne Leslie, Louisville, Ky.; four great-nieces; three great-nephews; and two sisters-in-law.
A memorial service will be held Sunday in Davidson.
Neill Funeral Home, Mooresville, N.C. is in charge.
Freelin Lester
CLAYPOOL HILL -- Freelin Lester, 90, died Friday, Dec. 4, 1998, in a Richlands hospital.
He was a native of Big Rock, Va., a retired coal miner from Buchanan Coal Corporation and a member of UMWA.
He was a member of Central Church of Christ, Baptist Valley, and was preceded in death by his wife, Eliza Charles Lester.
Survivors include two sons, Eugene Lester, Claypool Hill, and Everett Lester, Shortt Gap, Va.; a daughter, Mrs. Norman (Ruth) Riggs, Defiance, Ohio; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Singleton Funeral Service, Cedar Bluff, is in charge.
James F. Mears
JONESBOROUGH -- James F. Mears, 68, of 1517 Persimmon Ridge Road, died Thursday, Dec. 3, 1998, in the James H. Quillen Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Mountain Home.
He was a native of Jesup, Ga., and had moved from Atlanta to Washington County, Tenn., in 1963.
He was a 1956 graduate of Southern Tech, Atlanta, with an associate degree in electronics technology, and was the retired owner and president of Mears Two Way Radio, Inc.
Mr. Mears was a U.S. Navy veteran of the Korean War and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he served as an elder.
Survivors include his wife, Dorothy Ann Mears; six sons, Mark S. Mears, Kingsport, Charlie Mears, Salisbury, N.C. Jimmy Mears, San Antonio, Texas, Paul Mears, Valdese, N.C., Robert Mears, Greeneville, Tenn., and Jason Mears, Jonesborough; a daughter, Nancy Whistine, Jonesborough; his mother, Myrtis Lloyd Mears, Jonesborough; and 19 grandchildren.
Appalachian-Hartman Funeral Home,
Johnson City, is in charge.
