U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Curtis Ray Tibbs
Curtis Ray Tibbs, 82, of Route 2, Rural Retreat, (the Groseclose Community) died Tuesday, March 11, 1997, at his residence.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, March 13, at the Lindsey Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. William Watson Sr. and the Rev. Thomas Bunting officiating. Interment will follow in the Pleasant Hill cemetery in Groseclose.
He was a retired employee of the General Shale Corporation and a member of the Groseclose First Church of God.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Hazel Lillian Smith Tibbs; and one son, David Lee Tibbs.
Survivors include three daughters, Ila Jean Pickle of Rural Retreat, Linda Armstrong of Marion, and Lori Hayes of Crockett; two sons, Danny Tibbs of Rocky Gap, and Curtis Tibbs of Atkins; three sisters, Ruth Tibbs of Marion, Mary Faine of Damascus, and Dora Lee Woods of Atkins; two brothers, James Armstong of Atkins, and Claude Tibbs of Marion; and eight grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, 12 step-grandchildren, four step-great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
The family requests that those who prefer, may make memorials to the Hospice of America (the Wythe County Chapter).
The family will receive friends Wednesday, March 12, from 7 to 9 p.m. or at the residence at any time.
Lindsey Funeral Home in Rural Retreat is in charge of the arrangements.
Edgar F. Ayers Sr.
Edgar F. "Edd" Ayers Sr., 89, of Max Meadows died Tuesday, March 11, 1997, at his residence.
Funeral services were held Friday, March 14, at 2 p.m. at the Barnett Funeral Chapel in Wytheville with the Rev. Oscar R. "Sonny" Ayers officiating. Interment followed in the Draper Valley Pentecostal Holiness Church cemetery.
He was born in Carroll County the son of the late Andrew Jackson and Sarah Emma Tate Ayers.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Lessie Viars Ayers; and a daughter, Frances Lee Ayers.
Survivors include two daughters and son-in-law, Madeline and Andrew Viars, and Mary Lee "Nancy" Ayers, all of Max Meadows; four sons and daughters-in-law, Carl E. and Shirley C. Ayers of Wytheville, Garnett E. "John" Ayers, Edgar F. "Edd" Jr. and Libby Ayers, and Gary M. and Benita Ayers, all of Max Meadows; two sisters, Mae Ogle of Pulaski, and Elizabeth Taylor of Abingdon; one brother, Cloyd J. "Jack" Ayers of Roanoke; and seven grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
Barnett Funeral Home in Wytheville was in charge of the arrangements.
Roy Stephen Crockett
Roy Stephen Crockett, 80, of Route 1, Draper, died Tuesday, March 11, 1997, in the University of Virginia Hospital in Charlottesville.
Funeral services were held Thursday, March 13, at 1 p.m. at the Barnett Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Donald E. Drake and the Rev. Vinton Williams officiating. Interment followed in the West End cemetery.
He was born in Wythe County, the son of the late Robert Lee and Mahala Vaughn Crockett. He was a member of the Fellowship Baptist Church and a retired self-employed plumber.
He is survived by his wife, Nova McPeak Crockett of the home; two daughters and son-in-law, Jean and Rev. Vinton Williams of Warrenton, and Joann Lee Crockett of Bluefield, W.Va.; one son, Howard Stephen Crockett of Pulaski; five grandchildren, Derek Williams, Randa Sherman, C. Stephen Crockett, Suzanne Crockett, and Mahala Crockett; and three great-grandchildren, Alexis Crockett, Leah Nicole Sherman, and Rebekah Lynn Sherman.
Barnett Funeral Home in Wytheville was in charge of the arrangements.
Harry C. Delp
Harry C. Delp, 85, of Elk Creek died Wednesday, March 12, 1997, at Twin County Regional Hospital, Galax.
Born May 17, 1911, at Elk Creek to Robert E. Delp and Phinnie Copenhaver, he was a member of Fellowship Baptist Church. He was retired from Department of Transportation as an equipment operator.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 15, at 11 a.m. in Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home Chapel, Independence with Harold Nelson, the Rev. Fred E. Jennings, and the Rev. Atwood officiating. Interment will be in the Lebanon cemetery at Elk Creek.
He is survived by his wife, Ruth James Delp of the home; two daughters and son-in-law, Joanna and Curtis Rutherford of Independence, and Phyllis Cuthbertson of Memphis, Tenn.; eight sons and daughters-in-law, Donald and Shirley Delp of Speedwell, James and Bonnie Delp of Morristown, Bobby and Helen Mae Delp of Wytheville, Billy and Mary Ann Delp, Johnny and Shelby Delp, Roy and Carolyn Delp, Jessie and Sue Delp, and Charles and Carolyn Delp, all of Elk Creek; one brother, Gordon H. Delp of Baltimore, Md.; and 11 grandchildren, five step-grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
Flowers will be appreciated or memorial contributions may be made to Elk Creek Valley Volunteer Fire Department or Elk Creek Rescue Squad.
Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home in Independence is in charge of the arrangements.
Cynthia Umberger Hudson
Cynthia Umberger Hudson of Covington, Ga., formerly of Wytheville, died Monday, March 10, 1997.
Funeral services were held Thursday, March 13, in Covington, Ga.
She was preceded in death by her father, Carl B. Umberger Jr.
Survivors include her husband, Stephen Craig Hudson; a daughter, Alison Whitney Hudson; son, Andrew Stephen Hudson; her mother, Margaret Sue Umberger of Wytheville; a sister and brother-in-law, Marissa and Scott D. Corbin of Overland Park, Kan.; a brother and sister-in-law, Christopher and Freida Umberger of Morristown, Tenn.; and several nieces and nephews.
Maude Elizabeth Jonas Jones
Maude Elizabeth Jonas Jones, 92, of Annadale, formerly of Cripple Creek, died Tuesday, March 11, 1997.
Graveside services will be held Sunday, March 16, at 2 p.m. at the St. Peter's Lutheran cemetery in Cripple Creek.
She is survived by two daughters, Delores G. Ferguson of Annadale, and Audrey Pearson of Eastern, Md.; three sons, Cloyd O. Jones Jr. of Manassas, Clayton Jones of Del Ray, Fla., and Douglas E. Jones of Annandale; two sisters, Lucille Goad, and Edith Stuart, both of Fries; and 14 grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends Saturday, March 15, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Gillman Funeral Chapel.
Gillman Funeral Chapel in Wytheville is in charge of the arrangements.
Hazel Wohlford Neese
Hazel Wohlford Neese of Wytheville died Tuesday, March 11, 1997, in the Wythe County Community Hospital.
Funeral services were held Friday, March 14, at 11 a.m. in the Grubb Funeral Home Chapel conducted by the Rev. Robert Smith. Entombment was in the Rosewood Mausoleum, Rural Retreat.
She was preceded in death by her son, Dallas R. "Bucky" Neese.
Survivors include her husband, Frank W. "Bus" Neese of Wytheville; a sister, Isabell Reed of Roanoke; two brothers, Joe Wohlford of Columbus, Ohio, and James "Hub" Wohlford of Ft. Pierce, Fla.; a daughter-in-law, Anne W. Neese of Wytheville; three grandchildren and spouse, Deidre and Scott Urban, Wendy Neese, and Todd Neese; and one great-grandson, Tyler Andrew Urban.
The Grubb Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
Roy Lee Saunders
Roy Lee Saunders, 69, of Route 2, Bland, died Wednesday, March 12, 1997, in the Wythe County Community Hospital.
Funeral services were held Friday, March 14, at 11 a.m. at the Church of God in Bastian with the Rev. Sylvia Hill officiating. Interment followed in the Rose Lawn cemetery in Princeton, W.Va.
He was born in Giles County a son of the late Roy Lee and Myrtle French Saunders.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Riley Saunders.
Survivors include his wife, Alice C. Saunders of Crandon; a daughter and son-in-law, Belinda and Isaac Hockett of Bland; two sons and daughters-in-law, Royce and Kelley Saunders of Floyd County, and Dean and Linda Saunders of Bedford; a brother, Monroe Saunders of Giles County; and four grandchildren and eight step-grandchildren.
The family suggests that those who prefer may make memorials to the Bland County Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 75, Bastian, Va. 24314.
Newberry Funeral Home in Bland was in charge of the arrangements.
Edna G. Stephenson Smythers
Edna G. Stephenson Smythers, 85, of Wytheville died Thursday, March 6, 1997, in Largo Florida.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, March 12, in the chapel of the Grubb Funeral Home conducted by the Rev. Edward Richardson. Interment in the East End cemetery.
She was a member of the Wytheville Pentecostal Holiness Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, William C. Smythers; and a son, William D. Smythers.
Survivors include two daughters, Martha C. Hoback of Riverside, Calif., and Lyndel Finch of Pinellas Park, Fla.; one son, Michael L. Smythers of Rocklin, Calif.; and six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
The Grubb Funeral Home in Wytheville was in charge of the arrangements.
Shelby Anne Vineyard and Paige Anne Vineyard
Shelby Anne and Paige Anne Vineyard, infant daughters of Jeffrey Lee and Gail Geralyn Di Matteo Vineyard of Rural Retreat, died Thursday, March 13, 1997, in the Wythe County Community Hospital.
Private graveside services will be held.
Survivors other than parents include maternal grandparents, Victor Anthony and Wyneth Jean Di Matteo of New Jersey; paternal grandparents, Brad and Ladonna Vineyard of Rocky Gap; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.
Barnett Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
John Carroll Walters
John Carroll Walters, 95, of Rural Retreat died early Thursday, March 13, 1997, at his residence.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 15, at 3 p.m. at the Lindsey Funeral Home with Pastor Edward R. Schaak officiating. Interment will follow in the Black Lick cemetery in Rural Retreat.
He was born in Rural Retreat on Aug. 20, 1901.
He is survived by his wife, Louise Brown Walters of the home; two sisters-in-law, Elizabeth Greever Brown of Rural Retreat, and Virginia Brown Pearce of Cockeysville, Md.; and many nieces and nephews.
The family requests that those who prefer, may make memorials to the Black Lick cemetery Association, c/o Mary N. "Sis" Cassell, Route 2, Box 712, Wytheville, Va. 24382.
Lindsey Funeral Home in Rural Retreat is in charge of the arrangements.
Alvin Lee West Sr.
Alvin Lee West Sr., 79, of Route 2, Independence, died Wednesday, March 12, 1997, at the Veterans Administration Hospital, Salem.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 15, at 2:30 p.m. in Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home Chapel, Independence. Interment will be in Pleasant Home cemetery, Grassy Creek, N.C.
Born June 26, 1917, at Grassy Creek, N.C., to Roscoe West and Mary Pasley, he was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II.
He was preceded in death by two daughters, Mary Lou Bowen and Joan West.
Survivors include his wife, Dorothy West of the home; three sons and daughters-in-law, Alvin Lee Jr. and Margit West, Roscoe and Robin West, all of Independence, and Michael and Alma West of Baywood; two daughters and son-in-law, Dianna Cassett of Galax, and Ella and Larry Richardson of West Jefferson, N.C.; a brother and sister-in-law, Gilbert and Faye West of Independence; a sister and brother-in-law, Mae and Fred Hash of Independence; a uncle, George West of Grassy Creek, N.C.; and 12 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home in Independence is in charge of the arrangements.
James Luther Hamblin
James Luther "Bubba" Hamblin, 34, of Route 2, Wytheville, died Saturday, March 15, 1997, from injuries received in an automobile accident.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, March 18, at 2 p.m. at the Barnett Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Eugene Moore officiating. Interment followed in the West End cemetery.
He was an employee of AMSCO Products, Inc.
He is survived by his wife, Carol Falwell Hamblin; his parents, Louis and Audrey Harrell Hamblin of Austinville; a sister, Sharon H. Sperry of Dublin; and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
The family suggests that those who prefer may make memorials to the American Cancer Society, Relay for Life, c/o Mary J. Wysor, 890 N. 16th St., Wytheville, Va. 24382.
Barnett Funeral Home in Wytheville is in charge of the arrangements.
