U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Edward May
HURLEY, Va. -- Edward May, 80, died Saturday, Nov. 20, 1999, at his home. He was a lifelong resident of Buchanan County and a son of the late Joseph H. and Ella Hurley May. He was a charter member of Kelsa Freewill Baptist Church, which he helped to build in 1951, a retired coal miner and was self-employed for several years. He was the widower of Hazel M. Dotson May. Surviving are a daughter, Joann Hess of Hurley; a sister, Ruby Steele of Richmond; four brothers, Robert May, Melvin May and Billy Joe May, all of Hurley, and Billy Coleman of Bland, Va.; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday at 11 a.m. in Kelsa Freewill Baptist Church in Kelsa, Va., by Grundy Funeral Home. The Rev. Britt Jackson will officiate. Burial will be in Mountain Valley Memorial Park in Big Rock, Va., with full military rites by members of John Ratliff Post 164 of the American Legion. Mr. May was also preceded in death by a son, Fairly Q. May; a sister, Jewell Coleman; and two brothers, Landon and Earl May. Among survivors are a son-in-law, Jerry Hess of Hurley; grandchildren, Diana Dotson, Vickie Justus and Jill Lester, all of Hurley and Lisa Hess of Burlington, N.C.; and great-grandchildren, Brandon Tester, Amber Dotson, Tiffany Justus and Jeffery Wolford. Pallbearers will be Christopher Justus, Cline Dale Estep, Terry Dotson, Danny Jackson, Bobby Hurley and Kenny Jackson. Honorary pallbearers will be Earl Tester, Randall Hurley, Ervin Hurley and Berlin Wolford. Friends may call at 5 p.m. Monday at the church. Grundy Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Lona Underwood Vandyke
JEWELL RIDGE, Va. -- Lona Underwood Vandyke, 64, died Friday, Nov. 19, 1999, in Tazewell Community Hospital in Tazewell, Va. She was a lifelong resident of Buchanan County and a daughter of the late William and Laura Day Underwood. She was a member of Jesus Only Church and a homemaker. She was the widow of Patton Dillard Vandyke. Surviving are four daughters, Mona Kay Duncan of Bluefield, Va., Florence Vandyke of Lenore, N.C., Michelle Lynn Vandyke of Grundy and Regina Ann Louthan of Indiana; two sons, Leslie Keith Vandyke of Jewell Ridge and Jackie Lee Vandyke of Bradshaw, W.Va.; three sisters, Rosie Reed of Oregon, Belvie Deskins of Atwell, W.Va., and Nancy Sparks of California; a brother, Johnny Underwood of Jewell Ridge; 16 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday at 1 p.m. in Grundy Funeral Home Chapel. The Rev. Joe Gross will officiate. Burial will be in Esaw Rife Cemetery in Keen Mountain, Va. Mrs. Vandyke, a devoted wife, loving mother and grandmother, was also preceded in death by two grandchildren, and nine brothers and sisters. Pallbearers will be family and friends. There will be a service at 7 p.m. Monday in Grundy Funeral Home Chapel.
Mr. Stuart Rife
Funeral service for Mr. Stuart Rife will be conducted 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, 2000, in the Buchanan Funeral Service Chapel at Keen Mountain, Va., with Elders Benny Dales, Andy Deel, Danny Hurley and Earl Dean Yates officiating. Burial will follow in the Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill, Va. Pallbearers will be James Keen, Robert Rife, Roy Rife, Bruce Rife, Keys Blankenship, Keith Blankenship and Ronald Cantrell. Honorary pallbearers will be Mack Lester, Carl Keene, Marlin Justice, Charlie Cooper, Clay Payne, Charles Smith, Burton Cooper, Arthur Cooper, Ralph Horn, Arthur Whitt, Hurdle Cantrell, Dr. Ramon Motos, Bill Fiess and Don Ashby. Special thanks from the Rife family to his home health nurses, Pat Rife and Tamara Wright. The family will receive friends at the Buchanan Funeral Service at Keen Mountain from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday. Mr. Rife, 86, of the Pilgrim Knob section of Buchanan County, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2000, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Jack (Brenda) Cole, following a long illness. Born in Buchanan County, he was the son of the late Sylvester and Syrilda Horn Rife. He was a member of Hale Creek Old Regular Baptist Church for 14 years, a member of the U.M.W.A. and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He was a retired coal miner, having worked 36 years with the Jewell Ridge Coal Co. In addition to his parents, Mr. Rife was preceded in death by his wife, Ida Mae Rife; a daughter, Irene Rife Lester; ten brothers, George, John, Millard, Ervin, Gordon, Alda, Earl, Burl, Authur and Nelson Rife; and one sister, Watie Deel. Mr. Rife is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Brenda Cole and husband, Jack, of Pilgrim Knob; two sons, Kermit Rife and wife, Lee, of Winnabow, N.C., and Ken Rife and wife, Cindy, of Abingdon, Va.; three brothers, Henry Rife of Flint, Mich., Carl Rife of Burton, Mich., and Bill Rife of Pickens, S.C.; two sisters; Mrs. Georgia
Smith of Hurley, Va., and Mrs. Mary Rowe of Pilgrim Knob; nine grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Buchanan Funeral Service at Keen Mountain is in charge of arrangements.
Janice Deel
GRUNDY, Va. -- Janice Deel, 55, of Rt. 4, passed away Saturday, Dec. 9, 2000, at Buchanan General Hospital. A native of Buchanan County, she was a daughter of Sarah Ann Oquinn Deel and the late Charlie "Hop" Deel. She was of the Old Regular Baptist faith and a former employee of Food City at Grundy. In addition to her mother, she is survived by her husband, Jerry "Don" Deel; three sons, Danny Deel, Jerry Wayne Deel and Kevin Deel, all of Prater, Va.; a daughter, Marla Deel of Prater, Va.; a brother, Garnie Deel of Prater, Va.; five sisters, Mrs. Olin (Scema) Deel, Mrs. Johnny (Betsy) Kelly, Mrs. Kyle (Pansy) Kelly, all of Haysi, Va., Mrs. Tommy (Joyce) Boyd of Grundy, Va., and Mrs. Marell (Katie) Deel of Vansant, Va.; and eight grandchildren. Funeral service will be conducted Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2000, at 11 a.m. at Haysi Funeral Home with Elders Freddie Ramey, Freelin Yates and David Oquinn officiating. Burial will follow in the Perry Deel Family Cemetery, Prater, Va. Nephews will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends at Haysi Funeral Home after 6 p.m. on Monday where an evening service will be held at 7 p.m. Haysi Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Ralph Harrow Mitchell
Ralph Harrow Mitchell, 42 years of age, of the Dry Fork Section of Vansant, Va., passed away Saturday, Dec. 9, 2000, following a short illness. Born in Buchanan County, he was a son of the late Beatrice Marrow Mitchell and Jennings Mitchell, Rt. 1, Raven, Va. He was a lifelong resident of Buchanan County, a member of the New Life Full Gospel Church, a graduate of Grundy Senior High School Class of 1977, and a disabled coal miner. Mr. Mitchell is survived by his wife: Cathy Sandra Yates Mitchell of Vansant, Va.; one son: Joshua Caine Mitchell, Rt. 4, Grundy, Va.; two sisters: Elizabeth Gay Yates, Patterson, Va., and Kathy Lynn Dennis, Wellington, Ohio; and one brother: Doug Mitchell, Bristol, Va. Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2000, at 1 p.m. at Grundy Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Ernie Mounts and Elder William McClanahan officiating with burial to follow in Mountain Valley Memorial Park, Big Rock, Va. Friends may call at Grundy Funeral Home Chapel Tuesday afternoon at 5 p.m. Active pallbearers will be: family and friends. There will be services at the funeral home chapel Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. Grundy Funeral Home of Grundy is in charge of all arrangements.
Mcarthur "Mack" Davis
Funeral services for Mcarthur "Mack" Davis will be conducted Sunday, Dec. 10, 2000, at 2 p.m. at Grundy Funeral Home Chapel with Evangelist Michael Trent and Rev. Joe Thornton officiating with burial to follow in Mountain Valley Memorial Park, Big Rock, Va. Friends may call at Grundy Funeral Home Chapel Saturday afternoon at 5 p.m. Active pallbearers: Rick Stacy, Kenneth Stacy, Mark Hackney, Mark Cooper, Terry Hensley, Wesley Stacy and Bobby Justus. Honorary pallbearers will be: Tommy Blankenship, Chuck Stacy, Tommy Hopkins, Doug Clevinger, Tim Prater, Dr. Jose A. Alemparte and Butch Crockett. There will be a song service at the Chapel Saturday evening at 7 p.m. Mr. Davis, 56, of the Wolford section of Route 1, Hurley, Va., passed away at the Buchanan General Hospital Thursday, Dec. 7, 2000, following an extended illness. Born in Buchanan County, he was a son of the late Junior and Maggie Stacy Davis. He was a lifelong resident of Buchanan County and a retired employee of M.W. Mining Corp., Phelps, Ky. Mr. Davis is survived by his wife: Brenda "Bunny" King Davis, Route \1, Hurley, Va.; 1 daughter: Stephanie Stiltner and husband Tony Stiltner, Abingdon, Va.; 3 sons: Brian Davis, Hurley, Va., Bradley Davis and wife Teresa Davis, Stopover, Ky., and Brandon Davis, Emory, Va.; and 1 sister: Margie Davis, Floyd, Va. Also, survived by 2 grandchildren: Toby Slone and Haley Stiltner. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his stepfather, Frank Davis; and grandparents: Bud and Lou Davis and Ben and Sally Stacy. Grundy Funeral Home of Grundy is in charge of all arrangements.
James E. Murphy
James E. Murphy, 86, of Mavisdale, Va., died Monday, Dec. 11, 2000, in Buchanan General Hospital, Grundy, Va., following an extended illness. Born in Buchanan County, he was the son of the late Bud and Rosa Belle Looney Murphy. He was co-owner and general manager of Ben Franklin Stores in Iaeger and Bradshaw, W.Va., for many years, a 32nd degree Mason, Past Master of Iaeger Masonic Lodge 148, Past District Deputy Grand Mast of 6th Masonic District, Past Patron Lotus Chapter Eastern Star, Past Director McDowell Shrine Club, member of Beni Kedem Shrine Temple, former director McDowell Library, former director Welch March of Dimes Chapter, former Iaeger Town Cuncilman, past president of Iaeger Rotary Club, past chairman and trustee Iaeger Methodist Church and many other activities. He was a retired miner and of the Methodist faith. Mr. Murphy is survived by his wife, Thelma Honaker Murphy of Mavisdale; three stepdaughters: Lucy Sheets of Pilgrim Knob, Va., Mary Hampton of Pilgrim Knob and Patsy Keen of Whitewood, Va.; one sister: Lucy Adkins of Yelm, Wash.; two stepsons: Jack Keen of Wirtz, Va., and Michael Keen of English, W.Va.; 17 step-grandchildren; and 16 step-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Leah Viers Murphy; his second wife, Bessie Hill Murphy; one daughter; one son; four brothers; and one sister. Funeral services will be conducted Thursday, Dec. 14, 2000, at 1 p.m. at the Grundy Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Leonard Meadows officiating with burial to follow in the Clinch Valley Memorial Cemetery, Richlands, Va. Friends may call at Grundy Funeral Home Chapel Wednesday evening at 5 p.m. Active pallbearers: members of Prayer Warrior House. Honorary pallbearers: Coy Keen, Jack Keen, Michael Keen, Gary Hampton, Hurley Ratliff, Joel Burks, Tim Hess, Harold Creed and Dr. V. Modi. There will be services at the Grundy Funeral Home Chapel Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. Grundy Funeral Home of Grundy Va. is in charge of all arrangements.
James W. O'Quinn
WEBER CITY, Va. -- James W. O'Quinn, 93, formerly of Haysi, Va., died in Brian Center Nursing Home, Monday, Dec. 11, 2000. Born in Buchanan County, he was a son of the late John and Mary Owens O'Quinn and was the widower of Edkar Deel O'Quinn. He was also preceded in death by brothers, Frenchman, Finis and Rufus. He was a retired UMWA miner and was a member of Russell Prater Old Regular Baptist Church. He is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Shirley and C.B. Slemp of Blountville; granddaughters, Sabrina and husband, William Groceclose, and Martha Slemp; great-grandchildren, Samuel Groceclose and Sarah Groceclose; sisters, Cora O'Quinn, Emily Yates, Louannie Yates and Bertha O'Quinn, all of Haysi, and Rosie Mitchell of Blacksburg; and one brother, Walter O'Quinn of Holister, Fla. Funeral service will be Thursday, Dec. 14, 2000, at 1 p.m. at Haysi Funeral Home Chapel with Elders Frank O'Quinn and Freelin Yates officiating. Burial will follow in A.F. Deel Cemetery, Route 2, Haysi. Nephews and friends will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends from 4 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home. Haysi Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Delmer Lester Stiltner
Delmer Lester Stiltner, 81 years of age, of Grundy, Va., passed away Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2000, in the Buchanan General Hospital following an extended illness. Born in Buchanan County, he was the son of the late Charlie W. and Julie Ann Clevinger Stiltner. He was a lifelong resident of Buchanan County and a member of the United States Armed Forces, having served in the United States Army during World War II. During his enlistment, he earned the rank of corporal and was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, Victory Medal for World War II, American Campaign Medal and the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal. He was a retired heavy equipment operator. Mr. Stiltner is survived by one daughter: Doris Lee Stiltner of Grundy; one son: Delmer Lester Stiltner Jr. of Florence, S.C.; one grandson: David Lester Stiltner of Renton, Wash.; six sisters: Mrs. Polly S. Parish of Abingdon, Va., Mrs. Zona Dyer of Longweed, Fla., Mrs. Lona Kerley of Taylorsville, N.C., Mrs. Lockie McDonald of Painesville, Ohio, Mrs. Mary McPhail of Winter Park, Fla., and Mrs. Janice
Smith of Altamonte Springs, Fla.; one brother: Frenchman Stiltner of Grundy. He was preceded in death by his wife, Eloise Ridenour Stiltner on April 18, 1997, and three brothers, Leon, Elmer and Kirby Stiltner. Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, Dec. 16, 2000, at 1 p.m. at the Grundy Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Joel Thornton officiating, with burial to follow in the Mountain Valley Memorial Park at Big Rock, Va. Friends may call at the Grundy Funeral Home Chapel after 6 p.m. Friday. Active pallbearers will be friends. Grundy Funeral Home of Grundy, Va., is in charge of all arrangements.
Mrs. Nora Florence Childress
Mrs. Nora Florence Childress, 87, of Tazewell, Va., formerly of Amonate, Va., passed away Saturday, Dec. 16, 2000, following a long illness. Born in Buchanan County, she was the daughter of the late Basil Hatfield Stacy and Cynthia Looney Stacy. She was of the Free Will Baptist faith. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, James Arvil Childress; daughter, Watie Gay Edgin; and two infant daughters. She was the last surviving member of her immediate family in her generation. Mrs. Childress is survived by five daughters, Mrs. Nora Bostic of Springfield, Ohio, Mrs. Janice Patrick of Tazewell, Mrs. Elizabeth Monk of Tazewell, Mrs. Wilma Hall of Bristol, Tenn., and Mrs. Darlene Lewis of Salem, Va.; three sons, James Childress of Bell Spring, Va., Clyde Childress of North Tazewell and Raymond Childress of Bandy, Va.; 16 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson also survive. Funeral services will be conducted 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 18, 2000, in Singleton Funeral Service Chapel in Cedar Bluff, Va., with Rev. Sam Altizer officiating. Burial will follow in the Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill, Va. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends at Singleton Funeral Service in Cedar Bluff from 6-9 p.m. Sunday. Singleton Funeral Service in Cedar Bluff is in charge of arrangements.
Ralph E. Dotson
Ralph E. Dotson of Hurley, Va., 37, of the right fork of the Paw Paw area of Hurley, passed away Monday, Dec. 18, 2000, at Buchanan General Hospital. Born in Buchanan County, he was a son of the late
Green Dotson Jr. and Mrs. Pearl Scarberry Dotson of Hurley. He was a lifelong resident of Buchanan County, a graduate of Hurley High School and was a tree surgeon. Mr. Dotson is survived by his mother: Mrs. Pearl Scarberry Dotson, Hurley; three sisters: Darlene Dotson of Paw Paw, Ky., Ella Mae Prater of Hurley and Brenda Sargent of Hurley; two nieces: Stephanie Hurley and Jessica Lynn Spencer; and two nephews: Hershal Lee Prater and Allen James Spencer. Also, he is survived by a host of friends. He was preceded in death by one sister: Barbara Ann Dotson. Funeral services will be conducted Thursday, Dec. 21, 2000, at 1 p.m. at Grundy Funeral Home Chapel with Steve T. Bowman officiating with burial to follow in the Scarberry Cemetery on the right fork of Paw Paw, Ky. Friends may call at Grundy Funeral Home Chapel Wednesday afternoon at 5 p.m. Active pallbearers will be: family and friends. Grundy Funeral Home of Grundy is in charge of all arrangements.
