U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Virgie M. Mabe
Virgie M. Mabe, 94, of Raven, died Dec. 6, 2003 in a Richlands hospital following a brief illness.
Born in Buchanan County, she was the daughter of the late Harve and Biddie McNulty Jackson, both Buchanan County natives.
She was a life long resident of the Raven area and was a member of the Mill Creek Primitive Baptist Church.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Earnest Mabe; one son, Alfred Mabe; three sisters; and two brothers.
Survivors: daughters, Edith Sauls and husband, Roy, of Alderson, WV, Sally Osborne and husband, Whorley, of Raven; sons, Eugene Mabe and wife, Norma, of Richlands, Curtis Mabe and wife, Ruby, of Pasedena, MD, Harold Mabe and wife, Sharon, of Upper Marlboro, MD; sister, Edgar Turpin of Iager, WV; 17 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
The funeral was conducted Dec. 9 at 1 p.m. at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Richlands with Elders Delford Ward and George Ben Combs officiating.
Interment followed at the Shelton Family cemetery on Red Root Ridge near Raven.
Kathleen H. Osborne
Kathleen H. Osborne, 82, of Bluefield, VA, died Dec. 3, 2003 in a Bluefield hospital.
Born in Norton, she was a daughter of the late Edgar C. Burnz and Dorothy Hawley Burnz.
She was a member of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Bluefield, VA, where her father was a former minister. She was a member of the Altar Guild at the church and an active volunteer worker for St. Lukes Hospital (Senior Friends). She was sometimes known as "Sarge, " was in the WACS during WWII, working at the Federal Prison in Leavenworth, KS.
She was preceded in death by one brother, Jimmy Burnz.
Survivors: husband, William E. Osborne; son, Ronnie Osborne and wife, Mary, of Lincoln, NE; grandchildren, Lisa Anne Blalock and husband, Jack, of Virginia Beach, Ron Osborne Jr. of Omaha, NE, Carrie Osborne of Lincoln; great-grandchildren, Alex and Andrew Blalock; brother, Robert Burnz and wife, Clem, of Kauai, HI; nephews, Robert and David Burnz of Kauai; nieces, Janette Cantolay of Kauai, Linda Garrison and husband, Bruce, of Bluefield, VA, Marsha McNeer of North Tazewell; great-nephew, David Garrison of Virginia Beach; great-niece, Susan Scheper and husband, Scott, of San Diego, CA; and great-great nephew, Luke Scheper.
The funeral was conducted Dec. 6 at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Bluefield, VA, with Rev. Russ Hatfield officiating.
Private burial was held at a later date at Maple Hill cemetery.
Donations may be made to the St. Mary’s Episcopal Church or the Church Altar Guild, 101 Logan St., Bluefield, VA 24605.
Dudley Memorial Mortuary in Bluefield, VA, was in charge of arrangements.
Thelma Sims
Thelma Sims, 91, of Fort Lauderdale, FL, died Dec. 3, 2003 in Fort Lauderdale.
The funeral was conducted Dec. 6 at Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home Chapel in Tazewell.
Burial followed at Maplewood cemetery in Tazewell.
Martha G. Starling
Martha G. Starling, 66, of North Tazewell, died Dec. 4, 2003 in a Bluefield hospital.
Born in Washington, D.C., she was a daughter of the late Stephen J. Garrity and Anna Smith Garrity.
She was a member of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Tazewell and had worked for over 30 years for Acacia Life Insurance Co. in Washington.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Starling, and one stepson, Eddie Starling.
Survivors: sisters, Ellen Hakes of Arlington, Mary Duffy of Owings, MD; stepdaughters, Rhonda Starling and Kim Stevenson, both of North Tazewell; and stepsons, Barry Starling of Gainesville, FL, and Joey Starling of Maryland.
Services were conducted Dec. 9 at 1 p.m. at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Tazewell with Father Dan Brady officiating.
Burial followed in the Grandview Memory Gardens.
Dudley Memorial Mortuary in Bluefield, VA, was in charge of arrangements.
Edwin A. Calfee
Edwin Albert Calfee, 81, husband of Nell Purcell Calfee, of Bluefield, VA, went home to God Nov. 25, 2003 at Roanoke Memorial Hospital with his family and loved ones by his side.
Born in Princeton, he was a son of the late Albert P. Calfee and Daisy Mae Bailey Calfee.
He was a WWII Army Veteran having fought in the European Theater’s major battles including the Battle of the Bulge. He was a P.O.W. of the war and received three Purple Hearts and the Bronze Star. He was a former employee of Warehouser Pacific Northwest, an insurance adjuster and retired as an auto-bodyman at Evans Chevrolet. He was a musician and enjoyed woodworking and talking to people. He was a member of the VFW Memorial Post #9696 in Bluefield, VA. He was a member of Graham Christian Church.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Mary Byrd and Wilma Kirby.
Survivors: wife of 40 years, Nell Purcell Calfee; son, Steve Calfee and wife, Alyce, of North Myrtle Beach, SC; step-daughters, Darlene Bowers and husband, David, of Bluefield, VA, Connie Cassell and husband, Scott, of Roanoke; sister, Lucy Smith of Princeton, and her daughter, Carol; seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild of which includes Kevin Bowers and wife, Stephanie, and daughter, Kylie, Leslie Bowers, David Cassell, Lydia Ingrassia and husband, James, Ruth Ebriham and husband, Farid, John Cassell and James Cassell.
The funeral was conducted Nov. 28 at 2 p.m. at the Dudley Memorial Chapel in Bluefield, VA, with Minister Mike Harrison officiating.
Burial followed in the Roselawn Memorial Gardens in Princeton.
Kermit W. Carter
Kermit William Carter, 81, of Springville, died Nov. 18, 2003 at a Bluefield hospital.
Born in Springville, he was a son of the late John Bailey Carter and Hattie Lipscomb Carter.
He was retired from the General Telephone Co. after 38 years of service, served in the Air Force during WW II and was of the Protestant faith – Methodist.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Ethelene Meadows Carter; one brother, James Carter; and one sister, Maude Robinson.
Survivors: son, William A. Carter and wife, Charlene, of Springville; daughters, Barbara Rose and husband, James, of Hickory, NC, Virginia McPherson of Springville; brothers, John B. Carter and wife, Nancy, and Albert Carter and wife, Nora, all of Bailey Switch; sister-in-law, Ruby Carter of Bailey Switch; brothers-in-law, Phillip Robinson of Maryland, Raymond Meadows and Shirley of Rocky Gap; special friends, Scott and Lisa Rasnake, Don and Linda Ellison; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews.
The funeral was conducted Nov. 22 at 2 p.m. at the Dudley Memorial Chapel in Bluefield, VA, with Rev. Michael Gibson officiating.
Entombment followed in the Greenhills Mausoleum at Claypool Hill.
Donations may be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 12110, Charleston, WV 25302 or the American Diabetic Association, P.O. Box 1115, Dunbar, WV 25064.
Anna L. Christian
Anna Louise Roe Christian, 65, died Oct. 21, 2003 in Australia after a long battle with cancer.
She was a graduate of West High School and Fort Sanders School of Nursing.
She was preceded in death by her father, John J. Roe, Sr.; one sister, Martha May Householder; and one brother, John J. Roe, Jr.
Survivors: husband, Jerald D. Christian; daughter, Cynthia L. Davis of Austin, TX; son, Mark L. Christian of Australia; mother, Louise Tarter Roe of Knoxville; sisters, Billie Sue McNeilly and husband, David, of Walland, TN, Sarah Reeves of Douglasville, GA; and nieces and nephews.
Services were held at 3 p.m. Oct. 28 at Pinnaroo Valley Crematorium Chapel in Padbury, Australia.
Gladys H. Compton
Gladys Hess Compton, 84, of Venia, died Nov. 30, 2003 in Russell County Medical Center at Lebanon.
Born in Venia, she was a daughter of the late Elijah Henry "Doll" and Mary Ellen Harris Hess.
A lifelong resident of the area, she was a charter member of Venia Chapel Free Will Baptist Church for 61 years, where she served as a Sunday School teacher for 37 years. She also served as a clerk or assistant clerk for the Sandy Valley Association and the Buchanan County Conference for over half of her life. She was a member of the Council Senior Citizens and the former Venia Community Club.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one infant daughter, Nora Ellen Compton; one infant grandson, David McGlothlin; one son-in-law, Ryland Ball; three brothers, Elmer Hess, Dewey Hess and Hobert Hess; and three sisters, Ethel Shope, Hattie O’Quinn, and her identical twin, Dora Harris.
Survivors: husband of 65 years, Kinzer Compton; son and daughter-in-law, Raymond and Joyce Compton of Roanoke; daughters and sons-in-law, Helen Ball of Council, Faye and Rean McGlothlin of Vansant, Annie and Earl Ball of Council, Rema and Danny B. Harris of Honaker; sisters, Myrtle McGlothlin of Venia, Cora Clayton of Sunbury, OH; 15 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; seven step-great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; one step-great-great-granddaughter; several nieces and nephews; and a host of friends and neighbors.
The funeral was conducted Dec. 2 at 11 a.m. in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel at Honaker with her nephews, Rev. Russell Harris, Rev. Guy Harris and Rev. Troy Harris officiating.
Interment followed in the Hess cemetery at Venia.
Billie Sue Dye
Billie Sue Absher Dye, 25, of Richlands, died Nov. 30, 2003 following a brief illness.
Born in Tazewell County, she was the daughter of Billy Joe and Bonnie Absher of Richlands.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Willie and Mary Keene and Willie Absher.
Additional survivors: son, Jadan Absher of Richlands; sisters, Selena Absher Javed and Melena Absher, both of Richlands; and grandmother, Sadie Absher of Richlands.
The funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Dec. 4 at Trinity Tabernacle in Raven with Rev. Mike Altizer, Rev. Jim Richardson and Rev. Barry Absher officiating.
The body will be taken to Trinity Tabernacle one hour prior to service.
Burial will follow in the Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 3 at Singleton Funeral Service in Cedar Bluff.
Virginia B. Farmer
Virginia Bennice Farmer, 87, of the Sunnyside Retirement Community died Nov. 27, 2003 at Sunnyside.
Born in Virginia, she was a daughter of the late Edgar and Bennie Smith Steele.
She was past president of the Intermediate Woman’s Club in Richlands, a lifelong Presbyterian and past president of the women of the church in the Abington Presbytery and in the Synod of Appalachia.
She moved to Sunnyside in the late ‘70s from Richlands and served as Director of Resident Services at the Sunnyside Retirement Community until her retirement.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James Peery Farmer.
Survivors: sons, Thomas K. Farmer of Danville, KY, William Peery Farmer of Louisa; daughter, Rebecca Farmer Lofton of Manchester, GA; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Memorial services were conducted Nov. 30 at 2:30 p.m. by Rev. Paul O’Gorek in the Bethel Chapel at Sunnyside.
Memorial donations may be made to the Sunnyside Presbyterian Community, 100 Sunnyside Dr., Harrisonburg, VA 22801.
Her body was cremated at the Kyger Funeral Home Crematory in Harrisonburg and burial was private.
