NIMITZ — On Friday, May 4, 2007, Wanda Jewell Campbell Lilly, 80, of Nimitz, went home to be with her Lord and Savior following a short illness.
Born Nov. 9, 1926, at Hinton, she was the daughter of the late Jennings Bryan and Lottie Jane Colter Campbell.
Mrs. Lilly was a lifelong resident of Summers County; she was a homemaker and a member of the Nimitz Missionary Baptist Church. She was a mother who enjoyed her family, bird watching, flowers, reading, quilting and playing her guitar and singing. She was a graduate of Hinton High School and attended Beckley College.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Billy Dan Lilly; three sisters, Mrs. Robert (June) Neely, Mrs. Darrell (Bonnie) Lilly and Barbara Thompson; an infant sister, Alice Joyce Campbell; and a brother, Jack Edward Campbell.
She is survived by a son, Danny M. Lilly and wife, Ellen, of Shady Spring; a daughter, Jane Ellen Fix and husband, Rodney, of Nimitz; four grandchildren, Sarah E. (Pack) Fox and husband, Bobby, and Samuel “S.J.” Pack II and wife, Tracey, all of Jumping Branch, Kelly E. (Lilly) Richmond and husband, Joseph, of Meadow Creek and Casey M. (Lilly) Johnson and husband, Todd, of Shady Spring; seven great-grandchildren, Allison Fox, Nathaniel Pack, Britney Pack, Grace Johnson, Raegen Lilly, Megan Richmond and Hunter Richmond; a brother, Jennings Bryan Campbell Jr. of Bastain, Va.; two sisters, Thelma Louise (Lilly) Simmons of White Oak and Margaret Jane Hank and husband, Billy, of Hinton; and several nieces and nephews.
Service will be 11 a.m. Monday at Ronald Meadows Funeral Parlors Chapel, Hinton, with Pastor Don Hannah officiating. Burial will follow in Lilly-Crews cemetery, Nimitz, where gravesides service will be conducted by Pastor Delmas Wolfe.
Friends may call 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral parlors.
Pallbearers will be S.J. Pack, Bobby Fox, Joey Richmond, Todd Johnson, Matthew Ratliff and Herman Pack.
Following the graveside service, the family will receive friends at Nimitz Missionary Baptist Church.
Arrangements by Ronald Meadows Funeral Parlors, Hinton.
Kathryn Phillips
HARVEY — Kathryn Phillips 76, of Harvey, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Thursday, May 3, 2007, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Huntington following a short illness.
Born Oct. 18, 1930, at Red Star, she was the daughter of the late Reese James Fitzgerald and Retta Mae McClung Fitzgerald.
She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Harless of Hiram, Ga.
She was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, having spent her life as a homemaker caring for her family.
Left to cherish her memory include her husband of 58 years, Loyd Phillips; a daughter, Vonda Bailey and husband, Rick, of Red Star; a son, Terry and wife, Pam, of Chesapeake, Va.; a son, Paul and wife, Sharon, of Dewitt, Va; a daughter, LeAnn of Hopewell, Va.; four grandchildren whom she loved dearly, Travis Phillips, Lindsey Wood, Dakota Newman and Casey Phillips; five great-grandchildren; four brothers, S.E. Fitzgerald and wife, Trina, of Hollandale, Fla., Charles and wife, Barbara Fitzgerald, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; sister-in-law, Mary Frances Fitzgerald of Hiram, Ga., and Carl Fitzgerald and wife, Jan, of Dade City, Fla.; three sisters, Loretta Lattie and husband, Ted, of Somerset, Ky., Betty Higginbotham and husband, Nathan, of Chesterfield, Va., and Mary Ann Higginbotham and husband, Arnett, of Chesterfield; and a host of other family and friends. She will be sadly missed.
She loved the Lord, having given her heart to Him at the age of 17 and served Him for many years. She was a pianist, Sunday school teacher, worked in the Ladies Missionary Circle and gospel singer. She was a member of Red Star Missionary Baptist Church for 45 years, a member of Gentry Baptist Church and attended Packs Branch Baptist Church for the past several years. Her Christian faith was evident in her life and in the raising of her children.
She loved children and opened her heart and home to them as a foster parent, having cared for several who were seriously ill.
Service will be 11 a.m. Monday at Blue Ridge Funeral Home, Beckley, with Pastor Sam Vance and Pastor Buck Sanford officiating. Burial will follow at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley.
Per Kathryn’s request, there will be a private viewing for family only.
Friends may gather with the family 6 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.
We all would like to especially thank her dear friend Gladys Farr for her loving kindness and help the past several years. Mom had often said, “I don’t know what I would do without her help.”
Arrangements by Blue Ridge Funeral Home, 5251 Robert C. Byrd Drive, Beckley, W.Va.
Harold Lee Bower
SOPHIA — One Friday, May 4, 2007, in the late night hours our loving husband, father, and beloved grandfather joined the saints in Heaven. We are joyful for his new home but will miss him as we await our homecoming.
Born March 24, 1941, in Beckley, Harold Lee Bower was the son of Frank and Elizabeth Collins Bower.
Harold devoted his life to the services of our Lord and was a dedicated member of the Sophia First Baptist Church. Harold was a 40-year employee for the Town of Sophia Water Co. In addition to his employment Harold served as councilman for the Town of Sophia.
Harold was preceded in death by his mother, Elizabeth Collins Bower, and also his brother, Kenneth Bower.
Survivors include his father, Frank Bower, and stepmother, Avilene, of Jumping Branch; his beloved wife, Carol Geneseo Bower; a son, Arlan Geneseo and wife Stephanie of Chesapeake, Ohio; devoted grandsons, Justin and Joseph Geneseo; and four nephews, Bill, Kevin, Sam and Mike Bower.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Sophia First Baptist Church in Sophia, with Rev. Danny Bowman officiating. Burial will be in the Vest cemetery at Jumping Branch.
Friends may call from 6 until 9 p.m. today at the church.
Arrangements by Pivont Funeral Home in Hinton.
Ritchie Carper
On Saturday, May 5, 2007, Ritchie Carper, of Grandview Road, Beaver, died in the V.A. Medical Center, at Salem, Va., following a short illness. He was 79 years of age.
Born Ritchie Van Carper on Oct. 8, 1927, at Grandview, he was the son of the late Van W. and Alma Lowther Carper.
In addition to his parents, Ritchie was preceded in death by his loving wife Lorraine.
He is the beloved father of Stephen V. Carper and Leisa Carper Stovall and her husband Perry all of Grandview; the dear grandfather of Kelly Morris and her husband Robert of Missouri and Benjamin Stovall and his wife Julie of Grandview and Joe Carper of Fayetteville; the great-grandfather of Colin Morris and Savannah Stovall; the brother of Dona Walker of Shady Spring and Martha Furrow and her husband Robert of Florida; his loving companion Ethel Milam of Virginia Beach, Va.
In keeping with his wishes, Ritchie was cremated. There will be no formal services. Family and friends are welcome to a memorial gathering at his home on Grandview Road today, May 7, from 4 to 6 p.m.
Arrangements by Melton Mortuary, Beckley.
Charles ‘Buddy’ Claypool Jr.
ST. ALBANS — Charles “Buddy” Claypool, Jr., 63, of St. Albans, W.Va., passed away Saturday, May 5, 2007, at his residence.
Charles retired from Kanawha County Board of Education with 36 years of service having taught at Ben Franklin Career and Technical Center, Dunbar, for 21 years and was a former teacher at Stonewall Jackson High School, Charleston, for 15 years. He received his Bachelor’s Degree from West Virginia Institute of Technology, and Master’s Degree from Marshall University, both in Industrial Arts. Charles was an avid outdoorsman. He was a 41-year resident of St. Albans.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Elsie Clemens Claypool.
Surviving are his loving wife Martha L. McComas Claypool; daughter and son-in-law, Leanne and Matt Holley of St. Albans; sons and daughters-in-law, Loren and Hollis Claypool of Mequon, Wis., and David and Oksana Claypool of St. Albans; sisters, Janice Poe of Milton and Margaret Gilmer of Rock Springs, Wyo. Also surviving are his grandchildren, Stefan, Kathleen, Jillian, Ivan and Addison.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 8, 2007, at Bartlett-Chapman Funeral Home, St. Albans, with the Rev. Joel M. Harpold officiating. Burial will be in Cunningham Memorial Park, St. Albans.
Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers the family suggest donations to: American Cancer Society, 301 RHL Blvd., Charleston, W.Va.
Bartlett-Chapman Funeral Home, 409 Sixth Ave., St. Albans, is in charge of arrangements.
William C. Cook
KOPPERSTON — William C. Cook departed this life Saturday, May 5, 2007, at the age of 78 years, 6 months, and 13 days, at his residence, surrounded by his loving family.
Born Oct. 22, 1928, at Marianna, he was the son of the late A. Elmer and Addie Stewart Cook.
Mr. Cook was a life-long resident of Wyoming County, retired supervisor for Eastern Peabody Coal Co., a loving father and grandfather. He was an avid supporter of Westside High School and a member of New Life Community Church.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Pauline Cook; and a grandson, Will Cook.
Those left to cherish his memory are two sons, Larry Cook and his wife Connie of Oceana and Mackay, Australia, and Mike Cook and his wife Kathy of Clear Fork; two sisters, Carrie Williams of Oceana and Juanita Barker and her husband Charlie of Stuart Draft, Va.; two brothers, Edsel Cook and his wife Juanita of Brenton and Alfred Cook and his wife Ann of Pineville; two granddaughters, Haley Cook of Morgantown and Ashley Hamon of Beckley; two grandsons, Chad Hamon and his wife Danielle of Prosperity and Robbie Pichardo of Charleston; a great-grandson, Owen Chad Hamon of Prosperity; a “special niece,” Marie Marcum and her husband Lonnie of Kopperston; several nieces and nephews; and a host of friends.
A celebration of Mr. Cook’s life will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at New Life Community Church at Jesse, with Rev. Jay Morgan officiating. Entombment will follow in Palm Memorial Gardens, Matheny.
Casketbearers will be Jimmy Hopkins, Mark Gunter, Jackie Repass, Kevin Roach, Chad Hamon, and Toney Bowles.
The family will receive friends from 6 until 9 p.m. today at the Adam Toler Memorial Chapel.
The family would like to thank the doctors and nurses from the Open Heart ICU, the Cardiac Care Unit, and the 5 South Unit at CAMC for their professional and caring treatment of our dad during his stay at CAMC. Also a special thank you to Southern WV Hospice in Beckley.
Services entrusted to Adam Toler Memorial Funeral Home, Oceana.
Malcolm Junior ‘MJ’ Crouse
Malcolm Junior “MJ” Crouse, 66, of Shady Spring passed away Saturday, May 5, 2007.
Born April 17, 1941, at Maylene, Ala., he was the son of the late Obie Duncan and Afra Delene Garner Crouse Duncan.
“MJ” loved spending time with his grandchildren, sports, horses and fishing. He was a building contractor, and of the Baptist Faith. He served his country proudly in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War; he was also a survivor of the USS Forrestal Explosion.
In addition to his parents, “MJ” was preceded in death by his father, Alva Crouse, and a brother, Robert Crouse.
Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Wanda Bennett Crouse of Shady Spring; two daughters, Rhonda Sue McKinney and husband, Joe, of Shady Spring and Sonda “Dee” Toney and husband, Mike, of Shady Spring; beloved grandchildren, Nicholas “little man” McKinney and Abigail “Gookie” Toney; sister, Betty Anthony of Dallas, Texas; brother, Tommy Duncan and wife, Monika, of Dallas, Texas; nieces, Tammy Burnette and husband, James, of Calera, Ala., and Buffie Holt and husband, Steve, of Calera, Ala.; nephews, Barry Duncan of Dallas, Texas, and Lee Anthony of Dallas, Texas; great-niece, Olivia Holt; great-nephew, Aubrey Holt; and sister-in-law, Ann Pilkington.
Services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at Blue Ridge Funeral Home Chapel, 5251 Robert C. Byrd Drive, Beckley, with Pastor Delmas Cox officiating. Burial will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley, with Military Graveside Rites conducted by the Oak Hill VFW Post #3110.
Family and friends will be serving as pallbearers.
Friends may gather with the family from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Blue Ridge Funeral Home, 5251 Robert C. Byrd Drive, Beckley, is in charge of the arrangements.
Richard Lee Groves
LAUREL, Md. — Richard Lee Groves, 56, of Laurel, Md., formerly of Orient Hill, passed away Thursday, May 3, 2007, at the Veterans Hospital in Baltimore, Md., following a short illness.
Born Dec. 9, 1950, at Orient Hill, he was a son of Bonnie Lee Legg Groves of Rockville, Md., and the late Ira Oliver Groves.
He served two years in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany.
Other than his father, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Wayne and Waldo Groves.
Surviving are his mother, Bonnie Lee Legg Groves of Rockville, Md.; two brothers, William Frederick “Fred” Groves of Bowie, Md., and Darrell Julian Groves of Rockville, Md.; and several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
Service will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Meadow Grove Baptist Church at Dawson, with Rev. Houston Boothe officiating, assisted by Rev. Les Mullins. Burial will follow at Wallace Memorial cemetery, Clintonville.
There will be no evening visitation.
Friends may call one hour prior to the services at the church from 10 until 11 a.m.
Arrangements by Wallace and Wallace of Rainelle.
James L. Hanson
AUTO — James L. Hanson, 76, of Auto, died Thursday, May 3, 2007.
Memorial services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at Woodland Community Church in Auto.
Morgan Funeral Home, Lewisburg, is in charge of the arrangements.
