FAYETTEVILLE — John Aaron Caldwell Sr., 99, passed away Thursday, May 10, 2007, at the Hilltop Center.
Born May 17, 1907, at Elliott, he was the son of the late Walter S. and Ora Kesler Caldwell.
Mr. Caldwell was the last survivor of his immediate family. He was a member of Kesler Memorial Presbyterian Church on Sunday Road at Hico. He retired from the New River and Pocahontas Coal Cos. and he worked as a security guard in Fairfax, Va.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Zola Carte Caldwell in December 1989; a daughter, Kathryn Caldwell Thomassson in December 2002; a son, John A. Caldwell Jr. on Aug. 21, 2005; a sister, Flossie Crist; and nine brothers, McElwee, J. Ray, Brainard, Dave, Harold, Willis, Ernest, Randall and Randolph.
Left to cherish his memory are his daughter, Evelyn Caldwell Calvert of Fayetteville; six grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and 10 great-great-grandchildren.
Service will be 2 p.m., Sunday, May 13, at Dodd-Payne-Hess Funeral Home Chapel, Fayetteville, with Rev. Catherine George and the Rev. Charles Kinder officiating. Burial will follow in Huse Memorial Park, Fayetteville.
Friends may call on the family 6:30 to 8 p.m. Saturday, May 12, at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Fayetteville Presbyterian Church or Kesler Memorial Presbyterian Church.
Arrangements by Dodd-Payne-Hess Funeral Home, Fayetteville.
Wilda Y. Chappel
HILLSBORO — Wilda Y. Chappell, 79, died Wednesday, May 9, 2007.
Service will be 2 p.m. Saturday, May 12, at Oak Grove Presbyterian Church, Hillsboro. Friends may call 6 to 9 p.m. today at VanReenen Funeral Home, Marlinton.
James Raymond ‘Ray’ Haynes Sr.
SKIN FORK — James Raymond “Ray” Haynes Sr., 47, passed away Wednesday, May 9, 2007.
Graveside service will be 3 p.m. today at Haynes Family cemetery, Skin Fork. Those wishing to attend the service are asked to meet at the cemetery at 3 p.m.
TALCOTT — Jerry Eugene Howerton, 50, died Wednesday afternoon, May 9, 2007, at his home following a long illness.
Arrangements by Ronald Meadows Funeral Parlors, Hinton.
Billy Ray Jeffries
FAYETTEVILLE — Billy Ray Jeffries, 75, passed away Tuesday, May 8, 2007.
Service will be 2 p.m. Monday, May 14, at Dodd-Payne-Hess Funeral Home Chapel, Fayetteville. The family will receive friends noon until time service Monday at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Jeffries family.
Arrangements by Dodd-Payne-Hess Funeral Home, Fayetteville.
Diana Kathleen Crook Pack
Diana Kathleen Crook Pack, 71, of Shady Spring, passed away Thursday, May 10, 2007, at the Bowers Hospice House in Beckley following a long illness.
Born in Summers County on Aug. 8, 1935, she was the daughter of the late M.S. Crook and Lottie Campbell Crook.
She was a homemaker.
She was preceded in death by brothers, Walter, Matt Jr., Eugene and Dallas Crook; and two sisters, Mary Campbell, and Eva Mae Hubbs.
Survivors include a son, Alan Ray Pack; a sister, Thelma Buckland of Hilldale; a brother, Frank Crook and wife, Judy, of Daniels; and sisters-in-law, Tina Crook of Beckley and Louise Crook of Jumping Branch.
Committal service will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Sunset Memorial Park Mausoleum, Beckley, with the Rev. Elmo Alderman officiating. Burial will follow in the cemetery.
There will be no visitation.
Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, Beckley.
Col. William A. Rawl Jr.
LEWISBURG — Col. William A. Rawl Jr., 95, passed away Wednesday, May 9, 2007, at Greenbrier Manor Nursing Home.
Born March 29, 1912, in Irvine, Fla., he was the last surviving child of the late William A. Rawl Sr. and the late Ella Louise Aldridge Rawl.
Mr. Rawl grew up in Batesburg, S.C. He graduated from The Citadel, Charleston, S.C., with an A.B. degree, graduated from Duke University, Durham, N.C., with an M.A. degree, and took additional graduate work at the University of South Carolina and the University of Colorado.
He taught English at Walterboro, S.C., High School and Riverside Military Academy. He came to Lewisburg in 1938 and taught English at Greenbrier Military School where he became secretary-treasurer and part owner of the school and Camp Shaw-Mi-Del-Eca until they closed in 1972.
He served on active duty with the U.S. Army from 1941 to 1946 as a first lieutenant, captain and major in the U.S. Army Reserves where he was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the reserves upon his retirement. He was a graduate of the Coast Artillery School, the Anti-Aircraft Artillery School and the Command and General Staff School, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
Mr. Rawl was active in civic affairs in education, and in the life of the Old Stone Presbyterian Church, where he taught Sunday school for many years, and was a deacon and an elder for over 46 years. He had also served as clerk of the session. He was formerly a member of the Lewisburg Rotary Club, Elks Lodge No. 1758, and was a member of Lewisburg Lodge No. 42 AF and AM. He was also a life member of the Association of Citadel Men.
He was married to the former Brown Watson Moore, who preceded him in death on Oct. 4, 2004.
Survivors include two daughters, Tay Rawl Spicer of Lewisburg and Louise Rawl Haberfeld and husband, Ralph, of Jackson; grandchildren, Sarah Spicer Anway and husband, Bill, of Columbus, Ohio, Cathy Spicer of Cleveland, Ohio, Rebecca Haberfeld Scherbarth and husband, Scott, of Fort Collins, Colo., William Haberfeld of Lincoln, Neb., and Susie Haberfeld of Jackson; and two great-grandchildren, Hazel Scherbarth and Rain Scherbarth.
Memorial service will be 11 a.m. Monday at Old Stone Presbyterian Church, Lewisburg, with Dr. J. Dexter Taylor officiating.
There will be no visitation.
A luncheon will follow the memorial service in the fellowship hall of the church.
In lieu of flowers, donations of sympathy may be made to Old Stone Presbyterian Church in Lewisburg.
Arrangements by Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home, Lewisburg.
Margaret Ellen Roberts
Margaret Ellen Roberts, 96, of Indianapolis, Ind., died Wednesday, April 25, 2007, at Greystone Inn in Beaver following a long illness. She was born April 23, 1911, in Little Rock, Ark. She was preceded in death by her husband of 48 years, Horace N. Roberts, in 1983.
Her acting and dancing career began at age 15, touring the country with a group called the “Aristocrats,” formed from her days at Perry Mansfield Dance camp. She was a professional dancer in vaudeville, performing throughout the United States. Settling in Indianapolis with her husband, H.N., she spent six decades with the local Civic Theatre as a performer. She directed for 35-plus years the Civic Theatre-sponsored Children’s Civic. She also performed for Starlight Musicals for 28 consecutive summer musicals. She did extensive television and voice commercials that were broadcast throughout the country. She was the recipient of the 1982 E. Edward Green Memorial Award for outstanding contributions to community theatre. One of her last performances, at the age of 82, included a 15-minute solo tap performance.
She also loved to water ski, snow ski and swim. She did all avidly until her early eighties. She was a nature lover and would take walks up until she was no longer able. She loved all animals, especially cats, and took in many that appeared at her door. She also took French lessons, practiced yoga, played bridge and gave her time to the better than new shop at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. The way she lived her life, treating people with fairness and grace, loving every second God gave her, deserves a standing ovation.
Survivors left to cherish her memory include a daughter, Linda True and her husband, Tom, of Daniels; a son, David M. Roberts, and his wife, Toni, of Melbourne, Fla.; six grandchildren, Heather True Maynard of Beckley, Cortney True Castle of Pinehurst, N.C., Jon True of Milton, Chris True of Milton, Michael Roberts of Melbourne and Ellen Carleton of Atlanta, Ga. She also has 10 great-grandchildren. Her dear lifelong friend, Nelda Warren, of Campbell, Calif., who was like a daughter to Margaret, will also miss her dearly.
The family of Margaret would also like to give special thanks to all of her caregivers at Greystone Inn. We so appreciate all that you did to entertain her, love her, laugh with her and make life palpable in these last few difficult years.
Memorial service will be 2 p.m. Saturday, May 12, at St. Stephens Episcopal Church, Beckley. Any donations of sympathy should be sent to the local Humane Society in her memory.
Arrangements by Melton Mortuary, Beckley.
James Eugene Cadle
James Eugene Cadle, 78, of Beckley, died Wednesday, May 9, 2007, at Beckley Appalachian Regional Hospital following a long illness.
Born at Charleston on Nov. 26, 1928, he was the son of the late Carnie Dotson and Goldie Beckelhimer Dotson.
Mr. Cadle was a retired coal miner and a member of the UMWA. He was a Korean Conflict veteran, having served in the U.S. Army. He was a member of the Oak Hill Masonic Lodge, having recently received his 50-year pin.
Survivors include his wife, Lavon Hodges Cadle; a son, Richard Pettry and wife, Angela, of Beckley; daughters, Lorie Williams and husband, Bucky, of Glen St. Mary, Fla., Juanita Chapman and husband, Mike, of Beckley and Melanie and fiancé, Eric Mastrippolito, of Charlotte, N.C.; 16 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and several cousins.
Committal service will be 1 p.m. Monday at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens Mausoleum Chapel of Peace, Beckley. Entombment will follow.
Pallbearers will be Richard Pettry, Mike Chapman, Eric Mastrippolito and Bucky Williams.
Friends may call 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday at Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, Beckley.
Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, Beckley.
Clinton Marion Crosier
ANSTED — Clinton Marion Crosier, 80, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, May 9, 2007, following a long illness.
Arrangements by Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home, Ansted.
Elsie Pinson Dameron
KISSIMMEE, Fla. — After 20 years, Elsie P. Dameron was reunited with her loving husband, Millard F. “Buddy” Dameron. Elsie, who was known to her family as Sissy, GiGi and Mom, will also join her beloved “boys,” Joseph Cirer Dameron, John Lee “Bob” Cirer, James “Tony” Cirer and Frank Cirer.
Elsie lived in Sophia for many years before retiring to Florida. A member of Sophia Church of God, she was very loving and caring person who provided a safe haven for many throughout her long life.
Born Jan. 23, 1909, in Pike County, Ky., she died peacefully at her home in Kissimmee on April 27, 2007. She leaves behind youngest son, Walter “Dubby” Blackwell and wife, Ann, of Pinehurst N.C., Bob’s wife, Alma Lois Cirer of Sophia, Jim’s wife, Eunice Cirer of Fort Myers, Fla.; and many grandchildren, and nieces and nephews who will miss her very much.
A celebration of her life was April 30, 2007, at Osceola Memory Gardens in Kissimmee. Memorials may be sent to Vitas Hospice Care, 5151 Adanson St., Orlando, FL 32804.
Submitted by Blue Ridge Funeral Home, Beckley.
Boyd Ward Elkins
GILBERT — Boyd Ward Elkins, 73, died Tuesday, May 8, 2007.
Graveside service will be 11 a.m. Sunday at Hatfield cemetery, Sharon Height, Hampden. Friends may call 6 to 9 p.m. today at Mounts Funeral Home, Gilbert.
Arrangements by Mounts Funeral Home, Gilbert.
Eva A. Gentry
FAYETTEVILLE — Eva Akers, Gentry, 85, passed away Friday, May 11, 2007.
In keeping with Eva’s wishes, she was cremated and there will be no service.
Arrangements by Dodd-Payne-Hess Funeral Home, Fayetteville.
Harold Hardin Jr.
Harold Hardin Jr., 58, of Fairdale, died Friday, May 11, 2007, at a Beckley hospital following a long illness.
