U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Frank W. Spraker
Frank W. Spraker, 78, of Grundy, formerly of Cripple Creek, died Thursday, Sept. 19, 1996.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, Sept. 21, at 1 p.m. at the Grundy Methodist Church with burial in the Norton cemetery.
He was well-known as "Torar" at the old Wytheville High School. He was preceded in death by his parents, Billy and Mamie Spraker of Cripple Creek, and seven brothers.
He is survived by his wife, Virginia Boatwright Spraker of Grundy; a daughter, Cynthia Musick of Charlotte, N.C.; two sons, Frank W. Spraker Jr. of Grundy and Robert Spraker of Woodbridge; a sister, Mary Ella Corvin, of Wytheville; a brother, Paul Spraker of Richmond.
Grundy Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Philip Hale Delp
Philip Hale Delp, 70, of Rural Retreat, the Cedar Springs Community, died Wednesday, Nov. 18, 1998, at his residence.
Funeral services were held Friday, Nov. 20, at 11 a.m. at the Grace Lutheran Church with Pastor Joe Shumate officiating. Interment followed in the Mountain View cemetery in Rural Retreat. The Marion V.F.W. Post No. 4667 conducted graveside military rites.
He attended Virginia Tech and was a retired school teacher with the Wythe County school system and was a member of the Grace Lutheran Church in Rural Retreat.
He was preceded in death by his father, Glenn P. Delp.
Survivors included his wife, Jean Kidd Delp of the home; two daughters and sons-in-law, Debra Delp and Richard Terry, and Sarah Delp and Stacy Dixon, all of Rural Retreat; three sons and daughters-in-law, David and Kristen Delp, Richard and Karen Delp, all of Rural Retreat, and Ken and Susan Delp of Roanoke; his mother, Edith Hale Delp of Wytheville; one brother, Mark Delp of Mosely; seven grandchildren, Ann Delp Caudill, Amy Delp, Bobbi Delp, Chad Delp, Cara Delp, Brandon Terry and Fallon Delp; two great-grandchildren, Tyler Caudill and Lilly Caudill; two step-grandchildren, Brian Ashford and Kathryn Ashford; and several nieces and nephews.
The family suggests that those who prefer, may make memorials to Grace Lutheran Church Endowment Fund, P.O. Box 478, Rural Retreat, VA 24368, or to the American Cancer Society.
Lindsey Funeral Home in Rural Retreat was in charge of the arrangements.
Willie Spoone Felty
Willie Spoone Felty, 85, of Wytheville, died Tuesday, Nov. 17, 1998, in the Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
Funeral services were held Friday, Nov. 20, at 11 a.m. at St. Luke's Lutheran Church with the Rev. Amy Oehischlaeger officiating. Interment followed in St. Luke's Lutheran Church cemetery.
She was born in Wytheville, a daughter of the late William D. and Ollie Wyrick Spoone. She was a member of St. Luke's Lutheran Church and the Walker Mountain Lutheran Parish Women.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Randolph Trinkle Felty; a granddaughter, Debbie Corvin; and two grandsons, Mark Corvin and Julian Repass "Butchie" Bowles Jr.
Survivors include two daughters and son-in-law, Jean Bowles of Roanoke, and Patsy and Jimmy Corvin of Wytheville; three sons and daughters-in-law, David and Wanda Felty of Salem, Donnie and Barbara Felty of Elliston, and Allen Felty of Atlanta, Ga.; two sisters, Evelyn Stephenson of Hagerstown, Md., and Ethel Keyes of Sugar Grove; 15 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild, and many nieces and nephews.
The family suggests that those who prefer may make memorials to the St. Luke's Lutheran Church cemetery Fund.
Barnett Funeral Home in Wytheville was in charge of the arrangements.
Mabel Kathleen Parris Wheeler
Mabel Kathleen Parris Wheeler, 64, of Wytheville, died Tuesday, Nov. 17, 1998.
Graveside service and interment were held Friday, Nov. 20, at 2 p.m. at the West End cemetery with the Rev. Tony Holley officiating.
She was preceded in death by her husband, William "Bill" Wheeler; one daughter, Debra Lynn Wheeler; one son, Jerry Lee Wheeler; and her father, Ernest Parris.
Survivors include two daughters and sons-in-law, Belinda Jean and Terry Hubble, and Teresa Gale Davidson, all of Wytheville; four sons and daughters-in-law, William "Butch" and Jane Wheeler of Rural Retreat, Douglas "Pete" and Nancy Wheeler of Eastbend, N.C., Dennis W. Wheeler of Sylvatis, and Terry L. Wheeler of Evansville, Ind.; three sisters, Diane Stamper and Brenda Rogers, both of Wytheville, and Sissy Grubb of Columbia, S.C.; two brothers, Fred Parris and Edd Parris, both of Wytheville; her mother, Mary Hall of Wytheville; a special friend, Maurice Bralley of Wytheville; 22 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.
Barnett Funeral Home in Wytheville was in charge of the arrangements.
John Reginald Crowgey Sr.
John Reginald Crowgey Sr., 79, of Austinville, died Monday, Nov. 23, 1998.
The family will receive friends on Wednesday, Nov. 25, from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Barnett Funeral Home.
Barnett Funeral Home in Wytheville is in charge of the arrangements.
Marzetta Fay Kidd
Marzetta Fay Kidd, 74, of Bastian, died Thursday, Nov. 19, 1998, in Princeton Community Hospital, Princeton, W.Va.
Graveside services were held Sunday, Nov. 22, at 2 p.m. in Temple Hill cemetery, Bland.
She was born in Bland County on Oct. 4, 1924. She graduated from Radford University with a master's degree in education and was a retired school teacher having taught in Bland County and Mercer County, W.Va. for 50 years.
She is survived by many cousins.
A. Vest & Sons Funeral Home in White Gate was in charge of the arrangements.
Doris Eddins Pugh
Doris Eddins Pugh, 62, of Randleman, N.C., died Friday, Nov. 20, 1998, in Randolph Hospital, Asheboro, N.C.
Funeral services were held Friday, Nov. 23, at 2 p.m. at Neighbors Grove Wesleyan Church in Asheboro, N.C. with the Rev. Paul Griffin and the Rev. Darrell Scruggs officiating. Burial was in the Randolph Memorial Park.
A native of High Point, N.C., she was an employee of Arrow International and a member of Neighbors Grove Wesleyan Church.
She is survived by her husband, Colon Pugh of Randleman, N.C.; two daughters, Pam Richardson of Asheboro, N.C., and Donna Underwood of Randleman, N.C.; one stepson, Gary Pugh of Randleman, N.C.; her father and stepmother, James L. and Mary Eddins of High Point, N.C.; her stepfather, Arthur Worley of High Point, N.C.; one brother, David Eddins of Randleman, N.C.; five grandchildren and one stepgrandson.
Memorials may be made to Neighbors Grove Wesleyan Church, 1928 N. Fayetteville St., Asheboro, NC 27203.
Pugh Funeral Home in Randleman, N.C. was in charge of the arrangements.
John W. Sparks Sr.
John William Sparks Sr., 77, of Elkton, Md., died Saturday, Nov. 21, 1998, at home.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Nov. 25, at 10 a.m. at the Hicks Home for Funerals, Elkton, Md. with the Rev. Woodrow Fannin officiating. Burial will be in Gilpin Manor Memorial Park with military honors by American Legion Mason-Dixon Post 194 of Rising Sun.
He was born Oct. 15, 1921, in Wytheville. He was retired from Westvaco in Newark, Del., where he worked in consumer packaging. Prior to that he worked at Elk Paper Manufacturing Company in Childs. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was a member of Dogwood Baptist Church in Elkton, Md.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Robert Lee Sparks and Woodrow Wilson Sparks; three sisters, Maude Sparks, and infant twin sisters.
Survivors include his wife of 42 years, Wanda Faye Sparks; three daughters, Betty Blankenship and Mary Jane Whitt, both of Elkton, Md., and Brenda Blackburn of Port Deposit, Md.; a son, John William Sparks Jr. of Elkton, Md.; a sister, Mary Julia Smith of Wytheville; and eight grandchildren.
Hicks Home for Funerals in Elkton, Md. is in charge of the arrangements.
Ethel Jane Atwell
Ethel Jane Atwell, 63, of Rural Retreat, died Wednesday, Nov. 25, 1998, at her residence.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, Nov. 28, at 11 a.m. at the Lindsey Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Hubert Meadows officiating. Interment will follow in the Kimberlin Lutheran cemetery in Rural Retreat.
She was a member of the Green Mountain Baptist Church.
She is survived by her husband, Charles W. Atwell of Princeton, W.Va.; two daughters and sons-in-law, Maggie and Nathan Lovern of Rural Retreat, and Mary and Gary McPeak of Wytheville; one son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Laura Atwell of Wilmington, Ohio; two sisters, Betty Hudak of Pennsylvania, and Marie Schaeffer of Gloucester, N.J.; two brothers, Jimmy Schaeffer of Gloucester, N.J., and Raymond Schaeffer of California; and three grandchildren, Crystal Dawn McPeak, Nikki Atwell and Steven Atwell.
Lindsey Funeral Home in Rural Retreat is in charge of the arrangements.
Leona M. Clark
Leona M. Clark, 92, of Wytheville, died Friday, Nov. 27, 1998, in the Birdmont Health Care Center.
A graveside service will be held Sunday, Nov. 29, at 2 p.m. in the Zion Lutheran cemetery with Pastor Steve Ridenhour officiating.
She was a daughter of the late Andy and Gussie Neff Clark.
She was preceded in death by her sister, Elizabeth Clark Patton.
Survivors include a niece and spouse, Nancy and F.W. Cox of Wytheville; a nephew and spouse, Don and Joyce Patton of Wytheville; a great-niece and great-nephew, Tracy Calfee and Russell Cox, both of Wytheville; special cousin, Sidney and Oma Clark of Wytheville; and several other cousins.
The family will receive friends on Saturday, Nov. 28, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Grubb Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Wythe County Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 389, Wytheville, VA 24382.
The Grubb Funeral Home in Wytheville is in charge of the arrangements.
John Reginald Crowgey Sr.
John Reginald Crowgey Sr., 79, of Austinville, died Monday, Nov. 25, 1998.
A graveside service was held Friday, Nov. 27, at 3 p.m. at the Holston Conference cemetery in Emory with the Rev. Dr. Thomas Sproule officiating.
He was a son of the Henry L. Crowgey and Mary E. Akers Crowgey and was born in Saltville. He grew up in Emory and graduated from Glade Spring High School. He graduated from Emory & Henry College in 1946 with a bachelor of arts degree. He served in the United States Naval Reserve from March 1941 to November 1945 as a naval aviator with three years of overseas duty piloting multi-engine patrol planes. He was awarded the air medal and the distinguished flying cross. He was discharged from active duty in November 1945 with the rank of lieutenant commander. In 1947 he became the owner of a farming operation in the Huddle Community of Wythe County. He operated a dairy and beef cattle farm that remains with the family. He was employed by the Wythe County School System in 1951 and taught at the Austinville Elementary School for five years. In 1956 he was employed by the New Jersey Zinc Company at Austinville. He became the personnel chief in 1957. At the time of the closing of the mines at Austinville, he retired with 25 years of service. For 30 years he was a member of the Virginia Safety Association and served as chairman of the mining section on two separate occasions. He was a member of the Lead Mines Ruritan Club from 1956 to1966. During this period he served the club as secretary, vice-president and president. He also served as lieutenant governor and district governor of Ruritan National. For the past 10 years he belonged to the Wytheville Rotary Club. He was named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. In 1971 he was appointed to the Board of Directors of Wythe County Community Hospital. He served the hospital in various capacities over 25 years, including terms as president and chairman of the board. In 1964 he was elected to the board of the Wytheville-Wythe-Bland Chamber of Commerce and served for over 20 years. He was appointed to Wythe County Industrial Authority in 1981, serving two terms as chairman of that organization. In 1997 he and his Austinville friends saw the culmination of their efforts to establish the Stephen F. Austin Memorial Park at the Lead Mine Bridge in Austinville.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Rita H. Crowgey of Austinville; his daughter, Margaret Ellen Tiemann of St. Louis, Mo.; two sons and a daughter-in-law, John R. Crowgey Jr. of Pulaski, and Terence H. and Maeve N. Crowgey of Roanoke; three granddaughters, Rachel M. Tiemann and Katherine A. Tiemann, both of St. Louis, Mo., and Amanda M. Crowgey of Roanoke; a grandson, Benjamin J. Crowgey of Roanoke; two sisters, Elizabeth C. Young of Roanoke and Rosalind C. Campbell of Hendersonville, N.C.; and a brother, Harry G. Crowgey of Emory.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Lead Mines Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 502, Austinville, VA 24312.
Barnett Funeral Home in Wytheville was in charge of the arrangements.
Roy Lee Gibson Jr.
The Rev. Roy Lee Gibson Jr., 57, of Dublin, died Thursday, Nov. 26, 1998, in the Radford Community Hospital.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, Nov. 28, at the Draper Valley Pentecostal Holiness Church with Bishop B.E. Underwood, the Rev. Edward W. Wood, and the Rev. Edward A. Richardson officiating. Interment will follow in the Appalachian Conference cemetery, Dublin.
Born Oct. 18, 1941, in Bluefield, W.Va., he was the son of the late Roy Lee Gibson Sr. and Lottie Rock Gibson. He was a member of the Appalachian Conference of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church and was pastoring the Max Meadows Pentecostal Holiness Church. He also was a retired school teacher, having taught in Virginia for 31 years, with the last 28 years in Pulaski County. He taught at Riverlawn Elementary School and Dublin Middle School.
He is survived by his wife, Deloris Caldwell Gibson of Dublin; one son, Jeffrey Wayne Gibson of Garden City Beach, S. C.; two daughters, Faith Gibson Harris of Oklahoma City, Okla., and Stephanie Gaye Gibson of Roanoke; four grandchildren, Matthew Wesley Gibson, Christiane Elaine Gibson, Jared Heath Harris and Hunter Jordan Harris; and three sisters, Nancy Ann Gibson, Carolyn Sue Pugh and Teresa Karen Croy, all of Bluefield, W.Va.
In lieu of flowers the family suggestions donations be made in his memory to World Missions, c/o Appalachian Conference Headquarters, P.O. Box 1086, Dublin, VA 24084.
Bower Funeral Chapel in Pulaski is in charge of the arrangements.
Ernest William Lawson
Ernest William Lawson, 80, of Max Meadows, died Thursday, Nov. 26, 1998, in the Birdmont Health Care Center.
Funeral services will be held Sunday, Nov. 29, at 2 p.m. at the Barnett Funeral Chapel in Wytheville with the Rev. Willie Yates officiating. Interment will follow in the West End cemetery.
He was born in Wythe County, the son of the late Samuel and Cosby Alexander Lawson and was a retired truck owner and driver. He was a member of the Liberty Hill Pentecostal Holiness Church.
He was preceded in death by four brothers and two sisters.
Survivors include his wife, Grace Caviness Lawson of Max Meadows; two sons and daughters-in-law, Jack W. and Frances Lawson, and Ronald P. and Onetta Lawson, all of Max Meadows; eight grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends Saturday, Nov. 28, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Barnett Funeral Home or at the residence of his son and daughter-in-law, Jack and Frances Lawson of Route 1, Max Meadows, any time.
Barnett Funeral Home in Wytheville is in charge of the arrangements.
