RONCEVERTE — Mary Madeline O’Brien, 80, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2005, at her home after a short illness.
Born Jan. 20, 1925, at Ronceverte, she was the daughter of the late John L. and Laura Fink O’Brien.
Ms. O’Brien was a lifelong resident of Ronceverte, member of Trinity United Methodist Church of Ronceverte and a member of the Philathea Circle, a graduate of Greenbrier High School and was retired from ABB in Lewisburg and was a homemaker.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Betty Jane O’Brien; a sister-in-law, Helena O’Brien; and three brothers, Kenneth O’Brien, John O’Brien and Jerry O’Brien.
Survivors include a son, Donnie L. O’Brien of Silver Spring, Md.; two sisters, Helen O’Brien of Ronceverte and Geraldine Shaver and husband, Charles, of Union; two sisters-in-law, Betty O’Brien and Ruth O’Brien, both of Ronceverte; two grandsons, Adam C. O’Brien of Morehead City, N.C., and Wesley C. O’Brien of Alvon; and several nieces and nephews.
Service will be 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Trinity United Methodist Church, Ronceverte, with Pastor Mike Estep officiating. Burial will follow in Greenbrier Memorial Gardens, Lewisburg.
Friends may 6 to 8 p.m. today at Longanacre Funeral Home, Fairlea, and one hour before service Saturday at the church.
Nephews will serve as pallbearers.
Longanacre Funeral Home, Fairlea, is in charge of the arrangements.
Richard Dairell Perry
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS — Richard Dairell Perry, 75, died Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2005.
There will be no visitation. Graveside service will be 1 p.m. Saturday at Hoke Chapel cemetery, Callaghan, Va.
The family requests that expressions of sympathy be made to the Hoke Chapel cemetery upkeep fund in memory of Richard D. Perry, c/o Donna Salzers, 2619 Dogwood Ave., Covington, VA 24426.
Arrangements by Shanklin Funeral Home, White Sulphur Springs.
Dr. Kenneth K. Rand
Dr. Kenneth K. Rand, 101, of Beckley, died Tuesday evening, Nov. 8, 2005, at his residence of natural causes.
Born Dec. 18, 1903, at Cottageville, he was the son of the late Austin Clark and Lula Davis Rand.
Dr. Rand was a graduate of Ravenswood High School, Ohio College of Dental Surgery and a 1927 graduate of the University of Louisville Dental College. While in dental college he was inducted into the Psi Omega dental fraternity. He practiced dentistry in Coalwood and Coretta in McDowell County, moved his dental practice to Beckley in 1932, retiring in 1968 with the exception of two years served during the Korean War. He entered the U.S. Navy with the rank of lieutenant commander and before his discharge he was promoted to the rank of captain.
Dr. Rand was a member and ordained deacon of First Baptist Church of Beckley, member of the Baraca Sunday School Class, active member of the Gideon Bible Program and was one of the founders of the Flat Top Lake Association.
He was a member of Black Knight Country Club, Elks and Moose Lodge, Lions Club and New River Dental Society, where he served as president for one term, and was a lifelong member of the American Dental Association.
Dr. Rand married Nell Combs in 1947 and they had two daughters, Kyra and Carolyn, before Nell preceded him in death in 1953. He later married Pauline Carter. In addition to his first wife, he was preceded in death by a brother, Ernest D. Rand of Sistersville.
Surviving are his wife, Pauline Carter Rand; his daughters, Kyra Rand Pease and her husband, Donn, of Arizona and Carolyn Rand Boggs of California; a stepdaughter, Peggy Holliday of Beckley; stepson, Jerry Carter of Beckley; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Service will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Calfee Funeral Home Chapel, Beckley, with the Rev. Gary Johnson officiating, with a eulogy given by Earl Whitener. Entombment will follow in Sunset Memorial Park Mausoleum A, Beckley.
Friends may call noon until time of service Saturday at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be Donn Pease, Alan, Alan Jay and Michael Holliday, James Floyd and Robert Burns.
Memorial contributions may be made to Gideon’s, c/o A.K. Walker, 517 Orchard Ave., Beckley, WV 25801.
Arrangements by Calfee Funeral Home, Beckley.
Vala Viva Rose
Vala Viva Rose, 82, of Old Pemberton Road, Beckley, died Thursday, Nov. 10, 2005, in a Sissonville care facility following a long illness.
Arrangements by Melton Mortuary, Beckley.
Alfonso ‘Al’ Sandoval Jr.
PRINCETON — Alfonso “Al” Sandoval, Jr., 83, of 112 Eleventh St., died Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2005, at his residence.
Born in Alpoca on Feb. 14, 1922, he was the son of the late Alfonso Sandoval Sr. and Elisa Balbuna Sandoval.
He retired from Slab Fork Coal Co. after 33 years of service. He was a member of Princeton Presbyterian Church, American Legion and Princeton Moose Lodge No. 1521. Al served his country as a 1st class petty officer in the U.S. Navy during World War ll. He participated in the invasions of Sicily, Salerno and France on D-Day. In addition to his numerous service decorations, he received a Special Commission Jubilee Medal in 2001 for his service during the D-Day landings.
He had been a resident of Princeton since 1988, moving here from Kenova. In addition to his parents, three sisters and one brother preceded him in death.
Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Velma Duncan Sandoval; two sons, Donald Sandoval and his wife, Susie, of Dillon, S.C., and Marc Sandoval and his wife, Gail, of Milton; a daughter, Judy Joyce and her husband, Butch, of Richmond, Va.; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and a brother, David Sandoval of Baltimore, Md.
Service will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Princeton Presbyterian Church with Rev. Ed Pettus officiating. Burial will follow in Roselawn Memorial Gardens where the Mercer County Veterans Council will conduct military graveside rites.
Donations may be made to Princeton Presbyterian Church, 1809 W. Main St., Princeton, WV 24740.
Friends may call 6 to 8 p.m. today at Seaver Funeral Home, Princeton.
Arrangements by Seaver Funeral Home, Princeton.
Samuel P. Shaver Jr.
PETERSTOWN — Samuel P. Shaver, Jr., 72, died Monday, Nov. 7, 2005.
Service will be 11 a.m. Saturday 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.
David Alexander ‘Bimbo’ Smith Jr.
CLIFFTOP — David Alex-ander “Bimbo” Smith Jr., 51, of Puckett Lane, died early Thursday morning, Nov. 3, 2005, near his home.
Born Oct. 25, 1954, in Ohio, he was a son of the late David Alexander Smith Sr. and the late Maude Ilene Bragg Smith.
He was a self-employed laborer and often attended Zickafoose Memorial Church at Danese.
Surviving family members include six sisters, Mary Alice Cole of Loveland, Ohio, Nancy Cole of Batavia, Ohio, Brenda Ellis of Owensville, Ohio, Ruth Migner of Victor, Martha Robinson of Washington, D.C., and Janice Johnson of Pax; two brothers, James Bragg of Williamsburg, Ohio, and Johnny Smith of Spring Dale; 16 nieces; 14 nephews; and several great-nieces and nephews.
Service will be noon Saturday at Wallace & Wallace Chapel, Rainelle, with the Rev. Steve Martin officiating. Burial will follow in Campbell/Smailes cemetery, Landisburg.
Friends may call 11 a.m. to 12 noon Saturday at the funeral home. There will be no evening visitation.
Arrangements by Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home, Rainelle.
Max Ann Tyree
MATOAKA — Max Ann Tyree, 74, died Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2005.
Service will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Rowland H. Bailey Funeral Chapel of Bailey-Kirk Funeral Home, Princeton. Friends may call 6 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Arrangements by Bailey-Kirk Funeral Home, Princeton.
Dora Lillian Vandall
GREEN BAY, Va. — Dora Lillian Vandall, 90, formerly of Meadow Bridge, passed away early Wednesday morning, Nov. 9, 2005, at the home of her daughter, Ruth, in Green Bay following a long illness.
Born March 1, 1915, at Lawn, she was a daughter of the late Henry Washington and Victoria Bryant Davis.
Mrs. Vandall was a mother and homemaker, and had made her home at Sandy Hook, Va., for more than 30 years.
Other than her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, James Hubert Vandall, in 1988; two sisters, Myrtle Wooldridge and Roxie Campbell; a half sister, Fannie Bryant; and two brothers, Ray and Samuel Davis.
Surviving family include two daughters, Gaynelle Ruth Austin of Green Bay and Helen Jane Hodges of Sandy Hook; a sister, Ida Cox of Rupert; three brothers, Robert “Joe” Davis of Lawn, Thomas “Tom” Davis of Lawn and Alfred Davis of Greely, Colo.; seven grandchildren, Bruce Gwinn of Chesterfield, Va., Deanna Austin of Virginia Beach, Va., Randy Gwinn of Mechanicsville, Va., Theresa Melton of Ashland, Va., Ronnie Hodges of Chester, Va., Steve Hodges of Richmond, Va., and Lee Hodges of Sandy Hook; and 12 great-grandchildren.
Service will be 2 p.m. Sunday at Wallace Memorial Mausoleum Chapel, Clintonville, with the Rev. Rick Keener officiating. Entombment will follow in Wallace Memorial Mausoleum.
Friends may call 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Wallace & Wallace Funeral Chapel, Rainelle.
Arrangements entrusted to Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home, Rainelle.
Sarah Lynn Ward
OAK HILL — Sarah Lynn Ward, 18, of Oak Hill, died Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2005.
Born June 5, 1987, at Beckley, she was the daughter of Beechie Ward and Stephanie Stevens of Oak Hill.
Sarah was a student at Oak Hill High School.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Michael Ward; paternal grandmother, Virginia Ward; and maternal grandparents, Alonzo and Evelyn Stevens.
Besides her parents, she is survived by a brother, Tyler Ward of Oak Hill; two half brothers, Jackie Ward of Meadow Creek and Scott Ward of New York; three half sisters, Dianne Mahoney of Cleveland, Ohio, Rebecca Sovine of Rainelle and Kim Campbell of Florida; and her grandfather, Jessie H. Ward of Fayetteville.
Service will be 2 p.m. Saturday at High Lawn Funeral Home Chapel, Oak Hill. Burial will follow in High Lawn Memorial Park, Oak Hill.
The family will receive friends noon until time of service Saturday at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be family and friends.
Arrangements by High Lawn Funeral Home Chapel, 1435 E. Main St., Oak Hill.
Harold Lee Dufour Sr.
GATEWOOD — Harold Lee Dufour Sr., 73, of Gatewood, died Wednesday, June 21, 2006, at his home.
Born Nov. 4, 1932, at Caperton, he was the son of the late George and Margaret McCormick Dufour.
He was a retired surveyor for the West Virginia Department of Highways. Harold was a great WVU and Chicago Cubs fan. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict, having attained the rank of sergeant 1st class.
His wife, Ruth Marilee Bearfield Dufour, and twin daughters, Barbara Ann and Debra Ann Dufour, preceded him in death.
Survivors include two sons, Michael Dufour of Lynchburg, Va., and Harold L. Dufour Jr. of Johnson City, Tenn.; four daughters, Yvette Dufour of Oak Hill, Ruth A. Dufour and fiance, Randy A. Hornsby, of Danese, Djuna Dufour of Oak Hill and Kathy Dufour of Akron, Ohio; six brothers, George Dufour, Frank Dufour, Richard Dufour, Danny Dufour and James Dufour, all of Ashtabula, Ohio, and Jack Dufour of Cool Ridge; two sisters, Evelyn Birchfield of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Emma Sturgill of Ashtabula; 14 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill.
Service will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home with Pastor Jimmy Hornsby officiating. Burial will be at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley, with military graveside rites by VFW Post 3110, Oak Hill.
Pallbearers will be Joshua Gordon, George Kayee, Danny Dufour, Daniel Gordon, Randy Hornsby and Richard Dufour.
Elizabeth A. Farley
Elizabeth A. Farley, of Coal City, died Friday, June 23, 2006, of injuries resulting from a car accident on U.S. 19 at Oak Hill. She was 57.