MOUNT HOPE — Dolly Champion, 57, died Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2006, at Raleigh General Hospital following an extended illness.
Arrangements by Ritchie and Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley.
Everett L. ‘E.L.’ Halstead
HUNTINGTON — Following a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s disease, lasting many years, death is gracious, kind and gentle as it returns a beautiful spirit to Our God.
Everett L. Halstead, 91, of Huntington, entered eternal rest surrounded by his family on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2006, at Community Hospice Care Center in Ashland, Ky.
Everett was born at Stanaford, the son of the late Charles and Mamie Sophia (Davis) Halstead.
He was developer and sales manager for Associated Cemeteries Inc., and a former affiliate manager with Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens in Beckley. He also developed and managed cemeteries in Harrisonburg, Va., Elkins and Weston, as well as memorial gardens in Springfield, Newark, Chillicothe and Medina, Ohio.
While Mr. Halstead enjoyed the challenge of developing new cemeteries, he felt his true calling was to assist families with compassion in their time of greatest need.
During World War II, Mr. Halstead served his country as an electrician on U.S. battleships docked in California and Oregon. He enjoyed recalling events such as spending days at sea restoring radar and power to disabled ships, enabling their return to port for repair.
Mr. Halstead and his wife, Margaret, were charter members of The Church in The Valley at Milton. The church family held a very special place in both their hearts.
Mr. Halstead was a generous, outgoing person who never met a stranger. He truly believed a smile was a person’s greatest asset and was well known for his sense of humor and contagious laugh. He genuinely loved people and was happiest when he had the opportunity of greeting those he met with his special smile, warm handshake and encouraging words.
In addition to his parents and two infant sisters, Mr. Halstead was preceded in death by his loving and beautiful wife of 62 years, Margaret (Walters) Halstead; sisters, Margaret Keesee, Nina Honaker and Ada Luther; and brothers, Lester, Ed, John, Aubrey and Clinton Halstead. His grandson-in-law, Jonathan A. Ferguson, also preceded him in death.
He is survived by his loving and devoted daughter and son-in-law, Jo Ann and Kyle Cook of Huntington, with whom he made his home; granddaughter, Dr. Cheryl Cook of Ashland, Ky.; special nephews, K.H. Keesee of Elkins and Gene Young of Cross Lanes, and their beautiful families.
Service will be 2 p.m. Friday at Beard’s Mortuary, 3001 Third Ave., Huntington, with Dr. Stan Maynard, the Rev. David Ashworth and the Rev. Dwight McCormick officiating. The family will receive visitors one hour before service.
Interment will follow at Tyler Mountain Memorial Gardens, Cross Lanes.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Community Hospice Care Center, 2330 Pollard Road, Ashland, KY 41101. The loving kindness and expertise of their staff has been so greatly appreciated. They truly “light the way home.”
Arrangements by Beard Mortuary, Huntington.
Michael Richard Hyre
LEWISBURG — Michael Richard Hyre, 58, died at his residence, surrounded by his family, on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2006.
Born Dec. 3, 1947, he was the son of the late Richard and Betty Ward Hyre of Elizabeth. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Frank Hyre.
A veteran of the U.S. Navy, he was the recipient of the Silver Star, Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts. Although disabled for the past 10 years, his many occupations included being a structural engineer orthopedic tech and he also formed the ADD/ADHD chapter in Beckley.
Mr. Hyre was an avid outdoorsman who loved camping, fishing and canoeing. He cherished his grandchildren and was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend to all.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Nancy Rimmer Hyre of Lewisburg, formerly of Beckley; and three children, Adrienne Sewell and husband of Christiansburg, Va., Denise Rodriguez of White Sulphur Springs and Adam Gwinn of Lewisburg. Siblings include Estelle Fulmer and husband of Elizabeth, Becky and husband of Palestine, David Hyre of Parkersburg and Donald Hyre and wife of Vienna, Va. His grandchildren include Hunter, Kierstyn and Alexandra Sewell, Ethan Rodriguez and Raelyn Eggleston. He also has 25 nieces and nephews and eight great-nephews.
Service will be 2 p.m. Friday at the Memorial Chapel of McCraw Funeral Home, Lewisburg, with his brother-in-law, Pastor Mark Lowe of Palestine, officiating.
Mr. Hyre’s last wishes were to be cremated and scattered in his favorite place.
The family will receive friends 7 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Arrangements by McCraw Funeral Home, Lewisburg.
Emogene E. Lickliter
Emogene E. Lickliter, 77, of Beaver, died Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2006, at her sister’s residence in Marietta, Ohio.
Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, Beckley.
Helen Kish McCluskey
Helen Kish McCluskey, 101, of Beckley, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2006, at her home.
Funeral liturgy will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Francis deSales Catholic Church, Beckley. Friends may call 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, Beckley, where a vigil prayer service will be held at 7:30 p.m. by the Rev. Mr. Don Wise.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Southern West Virginia, P.O. Box 1472, Beckley, WV, or to the St. Francis deSales Catholic Church or School, 626 S. Oakwood Ave., Beckley, WV 25801.
Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, Beckley.
Ernest Miller
Ernest Miller, 80, of Beckley, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2006.
Blue Ridge Funeral Home, Beckley, is serving the family.
Service will be 1 p.m. Friday at Mounts Funeral Home Chapel, Gilbert. Friends may call 6 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Arrangements by Mounts Funeral Home, Gilbert.
William Albert Pettry
William Albert Pettry, 92, of Drews Creek, died Monday, Feb. 6, 2006, at Heartland of Beckley after a long illness.
Born April 24, 1923, at Edwight, he was a son of the late Grady and Brady Jarrell Pettry.
Mr. Pettry was a retired employee for Hamer Lumber Co. of Edwight and a longtime resident of Drews Creek.
Along with his parents, Albert was preceded in death by three brothers, Ross, Charlie and Kenneth Pettry; and a sister, Imogene Bays.
He is survived by three sons, Lowell Cook of Rock Creek and Leonard Pettry and wife, Tammy, and Lyle Pettry and wife, Nancy, all of Drews Creek; a daughter, Schevon Rhodes of Abingdon, Va.; four sisters, Phyllis Miller, Pauline Dickens, Cassie Bailey and husband, Joe, and Louise Cantley, all of Naoma; seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Service will be 2 p.m. Friday at Pine Knob Union Chapel, Drews Creek, with the Rev. David Cook officiating. Burial will follow in Dickens-Pettry cemetery, Drews Creek.
Friends may call two hours before service Friday at the church.
Arrangements by Armstrong Funeral Home, Whitesville.
Robert H. Rose
BIRCH RIVER — Robert H. Rose, 79, died Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2006.
Service will be 11 a.m. Friday at Waters Funeral Chapel, Summersville. Friends may call 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral chapel.
Arrangements by Waters Funeral Chapel, Summersville.
Ruth Sanford
FRAZIER’S BOTTOM — Ruth Sanford, 87, of Frazier’s Bottom, Putnam County, formerly of Logan, departed this life Sunday, Jan. 22, 2006, in Sunbridge Nursing Home, Teays Valley.
Born April 29, 1918, at Keyrock, she was the daughter of the late Rev. E.I. and Lucinda Jackson Hill.
She was also preceded in death by her husbands, Othar Estep, who was killed in Korea, and her second husband, Eugene Sanford; a daughter, Judy Lynn Estep; her brothers, Lanta, Ivan, Ralph, Clair, Buren, Elbert I. Jr. and Edwin; and her sisters, Myrtle Goddard, Ella Brooks and Marie Bailey.
Survivors include a daughter, Sharon Bundy of Frazier’s Bottom; two brothers, Joe Hill of Mullens and Carmel Hill of Pineville; two grandchildren, Kenneth Bundy and Ruth Nwosu; a special niece, Lucille Cook of Oceana; four great-grandchildren; and many additional nieces, nephews and friends.
Service was 1 p.m. Jan. 25 at Honaker Funeral Home, Logan, with Dr. J. Gregg Hickman officiating. Burial followed in Forest Lawn cemetery, Pecks Mill.
Friends called one hour before service at the funeral home.
Submitted for the Hill family by Calfee Funeral Service, Pineville.
Athelene Copen Seabolt
MARFRANCE — Athelene Copen Seabolt, 82, died Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2006, in Alleghany Regional Hospital, Low Moor, Va., following a brief illness.
Born March 1, 1923, in Kanawha County, she was the daughter of the late Effie Parcell Copen and Lewis J. Copen.
Mrs. Seabolt was a homemaker.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Vangel V. Seabolt, on Nov. 20, 1978; a daughter, Judy Seabolt Burke; three sisters and five brothers.
Survivors include a daughter, Joy Seabolt Spearman and her husband, Jesse, of Fort Smith, Ark.; a son, Ronald L. Seabolt and his wife, Nancy, of Covington, Va.; a son-in-law, Charles Burke of Beckley; two sisters, Dama Whitt of Marfrance and Maxalena Christy of Crichton; seven grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
Service will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Wallace & Wallace Funeral Chapel, Rainelle, with Pastor Billy Price officiating. Entombment will follow in Wallace Memorial Mausoleum, Clintonville.
Friends may call 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be Charles Burke, Michael Burke, Paul Burke, Seth Burke, Anthony Holland and Ron Seabolt II.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to First Baptist Church of Quinwood Building Fund, P.O. Box 129, Quinwood, WV 25981.
Arrangements by Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home, Rainelle.
Anna Lou Skeens
RICH CREEK, Va. — Anna Lou Skeens, 68, died Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2006.
Service will be 11 a.m. Friday at Broyles-Shrewsbury Funeral Home Chapel, Peterstown. Friends may call 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Arrangements by Broyles-Shrewsbury Funeral Home, Peterstown.
Curtis M. Stewart Sr.
GREENWOOD, S.C. — Curtis M. Stewart Sr., 91, of 306 Clairmont Drive, widower of Maggie L. Stewart, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2006.
He was born in Scooba, Miss., on June 26, 1914, and was the son of the late Robert L. and Holon M. Stewart.
Curtis attended Bowling Green College in Kentucky. He was office manager for Lillybrook Coal Co. in Lillybrook and served as secretary and treasurer for Certified Grocery in Ocala, Fla.
He was a member of First Christian Church in Ocala.
Mr. Stewart was married to the late Maggie L. Stewart for 67 years and is survived by his son, Curtis Jr. and wife, Jackie Stewart, with whom he made his home since 2004, of Greenwood; three grandchildren, Timi Eddy and Teri Lake, both of Greenwood, and Jeanie Michaels of Dunnellan, Fla.; six great-grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a son, James “Bobby” Stewart.
Cryptside service will be 11 a.m. Friday at Oakbrook Memorial Park Mausoleum Chapel with the Rev. Mark Phillips officiating.
The family is at the home in Druid Hills and will receive friends at Oakbrook Memorial Park Family Center immediately following the service.
Memorials may be made to the charity of one’s choice.
Arrangements by Blyth Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Greenwood.