U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Barker
Estel Ray Barker, 90, died Wednesday, May 7, 1997 in the Smyth County Community Hospital. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ethel Hall Barker.
He is survived by one daughter and son-in-law, Veralene and Ted Dunford of Marion; one son and daughter-in-law, Wayne and Sue Barker of Meadowview; two sisters, Edna Hall of Lansing, N.C., and Blanche Ham of Seffner, Fla.; five grandchildren: Melanie Barker and husband Tim, Melissa Lujan and husband Ivan, Miranda Dunford, Kelli Barker and Carson Barker.
Funeral services were held Friday, May 9, at 8 p.m. at Seaver-
Brown Chapel with the Rev. Billy Dean and the Rev. Otis Barker officiating. Burial will follow in the Hall Family Cemetery in Ashe County, N.C.
Brown
Rex Gale Brown, 66, of Roanoke, died Thursday, May 8, 1997 at the VA Medical Center in Salem. He was a veteran of both the Army and the Navy.
Mr.
Brown was preceded in death by his father, Herman D. Brown; his mother, Laura V. Lucas; two brothers, James Garland Brown, and Lewis Ray Brown.
Surviving are five brothers: William S.
Brown and wife Mary of Marion; Robert D.
Brown and wife Judy of Roanoke; Charles R.
Brown of Springfield; J. Frank Huffman of Roanoke; Chester Huffman and wife Grace of Middleburg; two sisters, Betty Ruth Perkins of Roanoke and Patricia B. Berga of Falls Church.
Graveside services will be conducted today, May 10, at 1 p.m. in the Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens with the Rev. Kenneth R. Butterworth officiating.
Haga
Roy Haga, 84, of Damascus, died Wednesday, May 7, 1997 in Johnston Memorial Hospital, Abingdon.
He was a native of Konnarock and had lived in Elberson, Penn., for 22 years before moving back to Konnarock 25 years ago.
He was a retired crane operator from St. Peters Granite Company in Pennsylvania and was a member of Azen Baptist Church in Konnarock.
Survivors include his wife, Vera L. Haga; one daughter, JoAnn Bennett, Beverly, W.Va.; two sons, Russell Scott Haga, Elberson, and Gerald Lee Roy Haga, Valparaiso, Ind.; one sister, Rissie Poe, Bristol, Tenn.; nine grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be conducted today, May 10, at 2 p.m. in Azen Baptist Church with burial in Azen Cemetery.
Hounshell
Lena Lambert Hounshell, 69, of Bland, died Thursday, May 8, 1997 in the Wythe County Community Hospital. She was born in Tazewell County, the daughter of the late Morton and Myra Hounshell Lambert and was a member of the Bland Community Church.
She is survived by her husband, Harvey H. Hounshell of Bland; two sons, Barry H. Hounshell and Eddie D. Hounshell; four sisters: Mayme L. Harden of Meadowview, Ethel L. Lambert, Pearl L. Lambert, Lloyd F. Lambert, all of Bland; two brothers and one sister-in-law, Clair Lambert, Frazier Lambert , and Jean A. Lambert , all of Bland.
Funeral services will be held today, May 11, at 2 p.m. at the Newberry Funeral Chapel in Bland with the Rev. Claude Dove and the Rev. Will Shewey officiating. Interment will follow in the Old Bethel Cemetery in Bland. The family will receive friends tonight from 5 to 8 at the Newberry Funeral Home.
Nipper
Douglas Allen Nipper, 70, of Saltville, died Tuesday, May 6, 1997 in Smyth County Community Hospital.
He attended McCready United Methodist Church. He was a veteran of World War II and a member of the Hardy Roberts VFW Post 732 in Saltville.
He was a retired employee of the Olin Corporation as well as the American Furniture Corporation.
Survivors include his wife, Carrie Call Nipper, Saltville; one daughter, Mrs. Charlie (Connie) Jackson, Abingdon; one brother, J.W. Nipper, Portsmouth; two sisters, Mrs. Charlie (Sarah) Surber, Saltville, and Mrs. Malcolm (Pansy) Surber, Princeton, W.Va.; one grandson, Drew Jackson; several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were conducted at 2 p.m. Friday, May 9, in D.R. Henderson Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Howard Hawk and the Rev. Glenda Dennison officiating. Burial was in Elizabeth Cemetery with a military graveside service conducted by VFW Post 7328. Memorial donations may be made to the Saltville Rescue Squad.
Roop
Beulah Faye Hash Roop, 82, widow of Edward Roop, died Wednesday, May 7, 1997 in the Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, Md.
Mrs. Roop was a native of Whitetop. She was a homemaker for most of her life and was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include one daughter, Joyce A. Moore, Rockville, Md.; three sons, Gail D. Roop, Ogden, Utah, Boyd S. Roop, Frederick, Md., and Jackie C. Roop, Rockville, Md.; one brother, Willard Hash, Marion; two sisters, Olive Gillespie, Rural Retreat, and Jackie Gay, Tip City, Ohio; 10 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Sunday, May 11, at 2 p.m. in Barnett's Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor P.A. Pennington officiating. Interment will follow in the Miller Cemetery in Whitetop. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 tonight at the funeral home.
Billings
James Abe Billings, Sr., 74, died Saturday, May 10, 1997 at his residence in the Stoney Battery community of Marion.
Mr. Billings was a native of North Carolina and had been living in the Smyth County area for over seven years. He was a veteran and a P.O.W. of WWII. He served in the 82nd Airborne Division of the U. S. Army, and achieved the rank of sargeant. Mr. Billings earned two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star. He was a member of the Francis Marion V.F.W. Post 4667, the Disabled American Veterans and the American Legion.
He was also an avid hunter and fisherman.
Survivors include two daughters, Rebecca Sue Ensor of Marion, and Tammy Rachel Arnold of Whitehall, Md.; three sons, James Abe Billings, Jr., Rainelle, WV, Jerry Allen Billings of Burbank, Ohio and Dennis Ray Billings of Aloha, Ore.; one brother, George Billings of Belair, MD; one sister, Clara
Smith of Havre De Grace, Md.; 10 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Barnett's Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Mike Sage officiating. Interment followed in the Fairwood Cemetery with military honors rendered by the Francis Marion V.F.W. Post 4667. Barnett's Funeral Home of Marion was in charge of the arrangements.
Blevins
Bruce V. Blevins, 80, died Monday, May 12, 1997 in Chilhowie.
Mr. Blevins, a native of Grayson County, lived most of his life in Smyth County. He was owner and operator of Bruce's Grocery in the Ebenezer community in Marion. He was also a licensed barber and a member of the Falling Water Baptist Church.
Mr. Blevins was preceded in death by his wife, Virgie Jane Blevins.
He is survived by two sons, Donald Blevins of Lynchburg and David Blevins of Chantilly; one brother, Willard Blevins of Marion; one granddaughter, Victoria Blevins; several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Mr. Blevins will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Barnett's Funeral Chapel with Pastor Tim Boyette officiating. Burial will follow in the Roselawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends Wednesday from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Barnett's Funeral Home of Marion, is in charge of the arrangements.
Cregger
Fred W. Cregger, 73, died Saturday, May 10, 1997 in Johnston Memorial Hospital, Abingdon.
He was a U. S. Navy veteran of World War II and the Korean War.
He was a member of Saltville VFW Post 7328 and retired from Bryant Electric Company.
Survivors include one daughter, Janelle McCoy of Dinwiddie; one brother, Garland M. Cregger of Salisbury, NC; and three sisters, Pauline Jacobs of Salisbury, NC, Dorothy White and Lucille Cheek, both of Greensboro, NC.
D. R. Henderson Funeral Home, Saltville, was in charge of arrangements.
