Bristol, Virginia, Obituaries:  Bristol Herald Courier, April 3, 2003

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Bristol Herald Courier
Thursday, April 3, 2003

Edward Belcher
PINEY FLATS -- Burial for Edward Belcher will be Thursday at 11 a.m. in McKinney
Cemetery, Paddle Creek Road, Bristol, Tenn. 
Pallbearers will be Ryan Henard, Larry Guy Moore, Ben Campbell, Nathan Carrier,
Jack Buchanan, Lynn Harkleroad, Chris McCarter, Gabriel Woodby, Justin Woodby,
Cory Groseclose and Mathew Groseclose.
E-mail condolences may be sent online at www.weaverfuneralhome.net.
Mr. Belcher, 27, of 691-5 Hamilton Trail, went to be with the Lord Saturday,
March 29, 2003, and is in the arms of Jesus.
Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mark Henry Bentley
Mark Henry Bentley, 70, of 243 Ramey Road, Bristol, Tenn., went to be with the
Lord March 21, 2003, at Bristol Regional Medical Center. 
Mark was born March 21, 1933, a son of the late Sandy C. and Lunabelle Oliver
Bentley, and has made his home in the Bristol area all of his life. He was a
former employee of Burlington Mills and a sales technician for Burns Chemical.
Mark started the State Line All Scale Model Railroad Club and was the first to
build an outside garden G-Scale railroad in the Bristol area. Mark was a member
of Bethel Baptist Church and a U.S. Army veteran serving with the 101st Airborne
Rangers.
Surviving are his wife, Teddy Bentley; daughter, Brenda Vanover and husband
Gary; son, Cecil Bentley; grandson, Gary Allen Vanover; sister, Audrey Smith and
husband Bobby; brothers, John Bentley and wife Patsy, Roy Bentley and wife Kathy
and Ronald Bentley and wife Phyllis; special friends, Reba Lowe, Dave and Sue
Schmidt and Mark's church family.
At Mark's request his body has been cremated. A memorial service will be
conducted Sunday, April 6, 2003, at 11 a.m. in the Bethel Baptist Church with
Pastor Gordon Hughes officiating.
In lieu of flowers, Mark requested that memorials be made to Bethel Baptist
Church Building Fund, 431 Hilton Hill Road, Kingsport, TN.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.weaverfuneralhome.net.
Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Dasie Marie Bevins
WISE -- Dasie Marie Bevins, 84, passed away Tuesday, April 1, 2003, at the
Bristol Regional Medical Center, Bristol Tennessee. She was born at Wheelwright,
Ky., and lived most of her life at Wise. She was a mother and a homemaker. Dasie
was a member of the Duncan Gap Freewill Baptist Church and attended the Norton
United Methodist Church. 
She was a daughter of the late Ralph and Frankie Little Mullins, and was also
preceded in death by a daughter, Pat Collins; a son, Jerry Bevins; two brothers,
Estil Mullins and Jessee Mullins; and also by an infant sister.
Survivors include a daughter, Betty Sue Jones, Wise; two sons, Goffery Earl
Bevins and Fred Bevins, both of Wise; 17 grandchildren, Wayne A. Bevins,
Wyoming, Del., Kim Susan Rochford, Dover, Del., April Burris, St. Louis, Mo.,
Steven Bevins, Chad Bevins, Emily Bevins, Melanie Deel, Pamela Rhodes, Randall
Manis, Doug Collins and Steve Collins, all of Wise, Chasity Holden, Harlan, Ky.,
Beverly Martin, Mt. Olive, N.C., Eddie Brummett, Greeneville, Tenn., Jeffery
Brummett, Barbourville, Ky., Angela Blair, Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Chief Warrant
Officer Scott Brummett, Fort Rucker, Ala.; 32 great-grandchildren; four great-
great-grandchildren; a sister, Hazel Hall, Vickery, Ohio; god-mother, Rebecca
Quillen, Wise; a sister-in-law, Reba Piercy, Wise; three aunts, Arizona Bentley,
Myra, Ky., Lona Mullins, Detroit, and Alvonia Hall, Melvin, Ky.; several nieces
and nephews; and a host of friends.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, April 5, 2003, at Carty Funeral Home
Chapel with Rev. Greg Sergent and Rev. Amy Cook-Alcorn officiating. Interment
will be in Powell Valley Memorial Gardens, Big Stone Gap, Va. Pallbearers will
be family members. Visitation will be 6-9 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Funeral arrangements cared for by Carty Funeral Home, Norton-Wise, Va.

Ralph Boy Jr.
Mr. Ralph Boy Jr., 82, died Tuesday, April 1, 2003, at the John M. Reed Nursing
Home, Limestone, after a lengthy illness. 
Mr. Boy was a Washington County native and son of the late Ralph Ernest and Dora
Nuckols Boy Sr. He moved from Kingsport to the Limestone community following his
retirement from Eastman Chemical Co. where he was employed as research chemist.
In his retirement years he served as a lay pastor for the Providence and
Leesburg Presbyterian Churches. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II
serving in the South Pacific.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Boy was preceded in death by his wife, Bettie
Andis Boy in 2002.
He was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Johnson City.
Survivors include one son, William R. Boy, Telford; two daughters, Barbara
Brookshire, Bluff City and Beverly Rohs, Longmont, Colo.; eight grandchildren,
Hari Dharm Singh Khalsa, Maryville, Sarah Knight and TaraKane Brookshire, both
of Bluff City, Kathryn Rohs, Daniel Rohs, Andrew Rohs and Patricia Rohs, all of
Longmont, and Jack Brookshire, Bristol Virginia; and five great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted at 7 p.m. Friday, April 4, 2003, at the
Dillow-Taylor Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Baron Eliason officiating. The
family will receive friends from 6-7 p.m. Friday prior to the service. Interment
services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday at Monte Vista Burial Park.
Memorial donations may be made to the Salvation Army, 208 Ashe St., Johnson
City, TN 37604, the Alzheimer's Northeast Tennessee Chapter, 207 N. Boone St.,
Suite 1050, Johnson City, TN 37604 or to John M. Reed Nursing Home, 124 John M.
Reed Nursing Home Road, Limestone, TN 37681.
Condolences may be sent to the Boy Family at www.dillow-taylor.com.
Dillow-Taylor Funeral Home, Jonesborough, 753-0514.

Robert Carl Casey
ABINGDON -- Mr. Robert Carl (Bob) Casey, 72, died Tuesday, April 1, 2003, at
Johnston Memorial Hospital. 
Mr. Casey was a native and lifelong resident of Washington County. He was the
son of the late Bert and Bessie Cuttie Casey and was a member of Gospel
Tabernacle. He was the former owner of Tastee Freeze and was a former assistant
kitchen manager of Martha Washington Inn.
He is survived by his wife, Laura Casey; two daughters, Lana Sue Worley and
husband David Wayne Worley, Janet Carol Riley and husband Timothy Owen Riley;
three grandchildren, Amanda Nicole Anderson, Matthew Riley and Mackenzie Riley,
all of Abingdon; two brothers, Jackie Nash of Abingdon, Tom Casey of Bristol
Virginia; two sisters, Ruth Gobble, Betty June Morrison and Joyce Harmon, all of
Abingdon.
Funeral services will be held Friday, April 4, 2003, at 2 p.m. at Farris Funeral
Chapel. Rev. Paul Price will officiate. Interment will follow in Forest Hills
Memory Gardens.
The family will receive friends Thursday evening from 7-9 p.m. at the funeral
home.
Pallbearers will be Mickey Gregory, Steven Gregory, Terry Gregory, Buddy Parris,
Gary Gregory, Lonnie Farmer, Bunny Toliver and Jerry Belise.
Honorary pallbearers will be Gary Roark, Ronnie Roark, Bobby Hamilton, Greg
Farmer and George Wyatt.
Farris Funeral Service is serving the family of Mr. Robert Carl (Bob) Casey.

Olen Collins
WISE -- Olen Collins, 90, passed away Wednesday, April 2, 2003, at St. Mary's
Hospital, Norton. 
He was a retired coal miner and was self-employed as owner of A & C Coal Co. He
was of the Pentecostal faith.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Hazel Marie Swanson Collins; his parents,
Elbert and Etsy Schoolcraft Collins; and one brother, Waldo Collins.
Surviving are five sons, Eugene Collins and wife Shirley of Pound, Glenn Cecil
Collins and wife Rhonda, Freddy Collins and wife Sue, Gerald Douglas Collins and
wife Cindy and David Ray Collins, all of Wise; two brothers, Hassel Collins of
Wise and Orlando Collins of Jenkins, Ky.; seven grandchildren; and three great-
grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday at Sturgill Funeral Home
Chapel, Wise, with Rev. Leon Meade officiating. Burial will follow in the Powell
Valley Memorial Gardens, Big Stone Gap, Va. The family will receive friends 6-9
p.m. Thursday at Sturgill Funeral Home, Wise.
Sturgill Funeral Home, Wise, is in charge of arrangements.

Hassie Dotson
MAVISDALE, Va. -- Funeral services for Mrs. Hassie Dotson will be conducted at 2
p.m. Thursday in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel, Honaker, with Pastor Bill Boyd
officiating. Interment will follow in Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool
Hill, Va. 
Relatives and friends will serve as pallbearers and honorary pallbearers.
Mrs. Dotson, 85, passed away Monday evening, March 31, 2003, at Pleasant View
Home for Adults at Honaker following a long illness.

Ruth K. Elliott
WISE -- Mrs. Ruth K. Elliott, 95, passed Away Monday, March 31, 2003, at the
Wellmont Lonesome Pine Hospital, Big Stone Gap, Va. She was born in Dickenson
County, Va., on Sept. 18, 1907, and moved to Wise County, Va., in 1928. She
worked for a number of years in the ladies department at the company stores of
Clinchfield Coal Company and also taught school for a number of years. Mrs.
Elliott was a charter member of the Glamorgan Chapel Freewill Baptist Church and
was also a longtime member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Gladeville Chapter
171. 
She was a daughter of the late Walter and Maggie Powers Kennedy and was also
preceded in death by her husband, Avery W. Elliott; an infant son; two sisters,
Beulah Maggard and Reba McIntyre; and two brothers, Ernest Kennedy and Aaron
Kennedy.
Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Walter S. and Barbara Elliott,
Wise; four grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-
grandchild; two sisters, Pauline Wright, Jenkins, Ky., and Geraldine Noel,
Abingdon, Md.; a brother, N.A. Kennedy, Mechanicsville, Va.; several nieces and
nephews; and a host of friends.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday, April 4, 2003, at Carty Funeral Home
Chapel with Rev. Greg Sergent officiating. Interment will be in Powell Valley
Memorial Gardens, Big Stone Gap, Va. Pallbearers will be family members.
Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Funeral arrangements cared for by Carty Funeral Home, Norton-Wise, Va.

Margaret C. Fritz
Margaret C. Fritz, 78, of 1102 North Paperville Road, Bristol, Tenn., died
Wednesday, April 2, 2003, in Bristol Regional Medical Center. 
Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced at a later date. E-
mail condolences may be sent to the Fritz family at akardfh@peercom.net.
Akard Funeral Home is serving the Fritz family.

Helah Graybeal
BLOUNTVILLE -- The spirit of Helah Sherman Adams Graybeal, 78, of 234 Banner St.
went to be with the Lord Tuesday, April 1, 2003, at her home. Mrs. Graybeal was
born in Clinchburg, Va., to the late William and Jettie Adams. She has lived in
the Blountville area since 1960 and was a housewife. Mrs. Graybeal was a very
loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was a member of the
Rush Creek Primitive Baptist Church, loved listening to bluegrass music and
working on crafts. Mrs. Graybeal was a defense worker during World War II. Mrs.
Graybeal was preceded in death by two brothers, Carl Adams and Haines Adams; and
two sisters, Edith Adams and Elsie Adams. 
Mrs. Graybeal is survived by her husband of 58 years, James E. Graybeal; two
sons, James H. "Jim" Graybeal and wife Roselle of Blountville and Jack M.
Graybeal and wife Betty of Blountville; one daughter, Cosette Graybeal Cox of
Blountville; five grandchildren, Rocky Graybeal, Alicia Spain Hyland and husband
John, Aaron Graybeal and wife Sherri, Helah Spain and Adam Graybeal; three
great-grandchildren, Kirsti Layla Graybeal, Elsie Cole Graybeal and James Ryan
Graybeal; one brother, William J. Adams of Abbeville, S.C.; and one sister,
Mildred Nutter of Woodlawn, Va.
Graveside service will be held Friday, April 4, 2003, at 2 p.m. in the Rush
Creek Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery with Elder Kurt Heath and Elder Billy
Cook officiating. Pallbearers will be Kenneth Hopkins, David Hopkins, Danny
Hopkins, Tony Malone, Rocky Graybeal, Aaron Graybeal and Adam Graybeal. The
family will receive friends Thursday evening from 7 until 9 p.m. in the Weaver
Funeral Home. Online condolences may be sent at www.weaverfuneralhome.net.
The Graybeal family would like to extend a special thanks to Hospice for their
love and kindness to their mother and their family and also a special thanks to
Dr. Benny Cowan.
Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Ruby Keene Hale
CLAYPOOL HILL, Va. -- Mrs. Ruby Keene Hale, 71, passed away Wednesday, April 2,
2003, at her home following a lengthy illness. 
Born in Buchanan County, Va., she was the daughter of the late Earnest and Lula
Sisk Keene. She was a member of the Cliffield Church of Christ. She was a
devoted and loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. In addition to her
parents, she was preceded in death by one brother, Dexter Keene.
She is survived by two sons, Bill Hale and wife Cathy of Honaker and Carl (Skip)
Hale and wife Karen of Claypool Hill, Va.; two daughters, Mrs. Linda Matney and
husband Keith of Wardell, Va., and Mrs. Brenda Weddle and husband Jimmy of
Smyrna, Tenn.; three brothers, Paul Keene of Tazewell, Va., Arnold Keene and
wife Wilda of Wardell and Ralph Keene and wife Grace Ann of Lebanon; two
sisters, Anna Ruth Lambert and husband J.C. of Tazewell, Va., and Ann Justice
and husband Mike or Rosedale, Va.; nine grandchildren, Sonya Laisure, Jason
Matney, Heather Jackson, Charles Hale, Ashley Roberts, Josh Hale, Travis
Roberts, Jeremy Matney and Zachary Hale; and four great-grandchildren, Justin
Matney, Taylor Matney, Sydney Jackson and Erin Jackson.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Friday, April 4, 2003, in the
Singleton Funeral Service Chapel in Cedar Bluff with Brother Keith Matney
officiating. Burial will follow in the Greenhills Memory Gardens Cemetery at
Claypool Hill. Pallbearers will be grandsons. Honorary pallbearers will be Dr.
Mary Valley, Connie Lambert and Hospice & Palliative Care of Virginia nurses,
Lisa Fields, Mert Stephenson, Elizabeth Deel and Sandy Duty.
The family will receive friends at the Singleton Funeral Service in Cedar Bluff
from 6-9 p.m. Thursday.
E-mail condolences may be sent to singleton@netscope.net.
Singleton Funeral Service is serving the Hale Family.

Carl Harr
BLOUNTVILLE -- Robert Carl Harr, 97, of 400 Harr Town Road, passed away Tuesday,
April 1, 2003, at Indian Path Medical Center. 
He was born in Sullivan County, Tenn.
Mr. Harr was a lifelong member of Immanuel Lutheran Church.
He retired from Eastman Chemical Company as an electrician.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Jacob E. Harr and Annie Whisman Harr;
and two brothers, James W. Harr and Clyde Harr.
Surviving are his wife of 71 years, Cleo H. Myers Harr of the home; daughter,
Carolyn H. Herring and husband Monroe, Blountville; son, Bruce Harr and wife
Faye, Kingsport; grandchildren, Michael Herring and wife Diana, Robert
Christopher Herring and wife Karen, H. Keith Harr and Audrey H. Hooker and
husband Greg; great-grandchildren, Joshua Herring, Meredith Herring, Nathaniel
Hooker and wife Pam, Amanda H. Myers, Aaron Hooker, Robert Carl Herring and
Nicole Herring; great-great-granddaughter, Rhiannon Hooker; and several nieces
and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews.
Calling hours are Thursday, April 3, 2003, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Carter-Trent
Funeral Home, downtown Kingsport.
Funeral services will be conducted at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Blountville, on
Friday, April 4, 2003, at 1 p.m. with Rev. Don Fritz officiating. Burial will
follow the service at Immanuel Lutheran Church Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church, 191
Central Heights Road, Blountville, TN 37617.
Condolences may be sent to the family via e-mail at cartertrentfh@chartertn.net.
Carter-Trent Funeral Home, downtown Kingsport, is in charge of arrangements.

Thelma M. Howard
LEBANON -- Thelma May Howard, 71, died Tuesday, April 1, 2003, in Johnston
Memorial Hospital in Abingdon. 
Born Oct. 22, 1931, in Berwind, W.Va., she was the daughter of the late Riley
Ezra Edison Johnson and Pansy Etoil Glass Johnson. She was the widow of Emory
Bruce Howard and was of the Baptist faith. She was a loving mother, grandmother
and great-grandmother to all of her children, grandchildren and great-
grandchildren.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a brother,
Casey Dean Johnson.
Survivors include three daughters and a son-in-law, Teresa and Glenn Herbert,
Lebanon, Sherrie Darlean Cribb, Bristol Virginia, and Ruby Ann Howard, Shady
Valley, Tenn.; six sons and three daughters-in-law, Emory Bruce Howard, David
and Lisa Howard, Chuck Howard and Bobby and Leisha Howard, all of Lebanon,
Robert Jackson Howard, Kingsport and Max and Ellen Howard, Bristol Virginia;
three brothers, John Riley Johnson, Plant City, Fla., Charlie Ray Johnson,
Temple Hill, Md., and Emory Eddison Johnson, Indianapolis; 24 grandchildren; 12
great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday, April 4, 2003, in the
Combs Funeral Service Chapel with the Rev. Howard Reynolds officiating. Burial
will follow in Ketron Memorial Gardens. Serving the family as pallbearers will
be Roger Wayne Howard, Glenn David Herbert, James Travis Herbert, Shawn Howard,
David Matthew Howard Jr., Casey Dean Howard and Bruce Anthony Howard. Honorary
pallbearers will be Glenn Herbert and Denver E. Johnson. The family will receive
friends after 6 p.m. Thursday, April 3, 2003, at the funeral home.
Combs Funeral Service is serving the family of Mrs. Howard.

Eva Church Johnson
Eva Church Johnson, 71, of 825 Highland Ave., Bristol, Va., died Tuesday, April
1, 2003, at Bristol Regional Medical Center. She was a well-known resident of
the Highland Avenue and Park Street neighborhood. She was born in Excelsior,
W.Va., and had lived in Bristol since 1975. She was preceded in death by her
husband, Barney Johnson; her parents, Nute and Mary Mullins Church; a sister,
Lizzie Church; and two brothers, Jody Church and Forster Church. 
Survivors include her daughter, Eva "Katie" Johnson of Gray, Tenn.; sisters,
Faye Church and Maude Pickle of West Virginia; half sister, Lorine Church of
West Virginia; half brother, Junior Church of Virginia; half sisters, Pauline
Lane of Virginia, and Ella Mae Hagerman of West Virginia; and several nieces and
nephews.
The committal service and burial will be at 2 o'clock Friday afternoon in
Mountain View Cemetery with Pastor Bill Lester officiating with Brother James W.
Salyer assisting. Honorary pallbearers will be friends who visited with Mrs.
Johnson on her front porch.
The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 o'clock Thursday evening at
Blevins Funeral Home. The family wishes to acknowledge with appreciation Mrs.
Johnson's friendship with the members of the Bristol Virginia Police Department,
the care given her by the Bristol Life Saving Crew and the assistance and
concern of Elbert Creed and the Bristol All Volunteer Community Actions Team.
Condolences and memories may be sent via e-mail to
condolences@blevinsfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements especially for Mrs. Johnson have been made through Blevins Funeral
Home, 417 Lee St., Bristol, Va.
Dennis James Kirkman
Dennis James Kirkman, 47, of 1209 Florida Ave., passed away Wednesday, April 2,
2003, at his residence. 
Arrangements are incomplete. Weaver Funeral Home is serving the family of Mr.
Kirkman.

Robert G. Mangum
POUND -- Robert G. Mangum, 79, passed from this earthly life Friday, March 28,
2003. He was the son of the late Robert G. and Vertie Hill Mangum. He was also
preceded in death by son, Thomas J. Mangum; and sisters, Lorine Stallard and
Jean Olinger. 
Robert was an Army staff sergeant World War II veteran. He served in
Headquarters and Service Company 24th Infantry Division, Military Police
Platoon, as a motorcycle patrolman. He was stationed at Scholfield Barracks when
Pearl Harbor was bombed. His military decorations included an American Defense
Service Ribbon with one Bronze Star, a good Conduct Medal and an Asian Pacific
Theater Ribbon with two Bronze Stars. He also earned expert rating in rifle and
carbine. He was a past member of Wise V.F.W., past member of Masonic Lodge and
Amalgamated Transit Union. He retired from W.M.A.T.A. after 29 years of service
in 1987.
He is survived by wife of 27 years, Brenda; daughter, Tracy; sisters, Velma
Newman and Catherine Graham Johnson; aunt, Ora Pritchard; several nieces and
nephews; and other family and close friends.
Memorial services with military honors by Pound V.F.W. Post 9600 will be
conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 5, 2003, at his residence at 11413
Waterplant Road, Pound.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sulphur Springs Baptist Church, P.O.
Box 117, Pound, VA 24279.
Sturgill Funeral Home, Wise, is in charge of arrangements.

D.J. Murray
D. J. "Dee" Murray, 67, of Bristol Virginia, died Wednesday, April 2, 2003. 
Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements which are incomplete.
Lena Mallory Reese
GALAX -- Lena Mallory Reese, 86, died Wednesday, April 2, 2003, at Grayson
Nursing and Rehab Center. 
Born in Grayson County, Va., on June 6, 1916, she was the son of the late late
Emmett Crockett and Nettie Messer Mallory.
Survivors husband, Jesse Mike Reese of Galax; sons, Michael Reese of St. Louis,
Mo., and Eric Reese of Abingdon; grandchildren, Tim Reese, Carrie Schlimme and
Lori Reese; and great-grandchild, Betsy Schlimme.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday at 11 a.m. at Vaughan-Guynn Chapel
with Rev. Glenn Gunter officiating. Interment will be in Felts Memorial
Cemetery.
The family will receive friends Friday evening from 7 until 9 p.m. at Vaughan-
Guynn Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be
Alzheimer's Association, Central & Western Virginia Chapter-Roanoke Region, 2728
Colonial Ave., SW, Suite 2, Roanoke, VA 24015.
The family extends a special thanks to the staff of Grayson Nursing & Rehab
Center.

William C. Rushton
William C. Rushton, 77, of Bristol Tennessee, died Thursday, Feb. 20, 2003, at
Bristol Regional Medical Center. 
Per Mr. Rushton's wishes, upon his death his body was donated to ScienceCare
Anatomical of Phoenix, Ariz., so it could be used to advance medical research
and education.
The son of Will and Grace (Abel) Rushton, he was born on March 21, 1925, on the
family homestead located in Indiana County, Pa.
He attended Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bristol.
Mr. Rushton served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.
He graduated from Marion Center High School, Marion Center, Pa., in 1942 and
from DeVry Technical Institute, Chicago, in 1955 with a degree in electronics
technology.
Mr. Rushton worked in the coal mines and as a coal truck driver in Pennsylvania
as a young adult. For 24 years until his retirement in September 1981, he was
employed by Unisys in Utica, N.Y., and in Bristol Tennessee.
He enjoyed gardening, reading, listening to country music, relaxing in Dollywood
and spending time with his grandsons.
He was married to his wife, Betty, for 49 years.
He is survived by his wife, currently residing in Harrisburg, Pa.; his daughter,
Dianne McInturff, husband Tom and three grandsons, Eric, Kevin and Stephen
McInturff, all of Harrisburg.
He is also survived by his two sisters, Idella Ober of Marion Center and Dorothy
Marshall and husband Robert of Blairsville, Pa.; a sister-in-law, Virginia
Bothel of Creekside, Pa.; and a number of nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Lawrence, James and
Ralph Rushton; and his brothers-in-law, Dwight Ober and Lloyd Bothel.
Friends will be received from 1-2 p.m. on Saturday, April 5, 2003, at the
Rairigh Funeral Home, Ltd., Hillside. A 2 p.m. memorial service will be held at
the funeral home with Pastor Raymond Sistek officiating. A graveside committal
service with military honors will follow at the Greenwood Cemetery in Indiana,
Pa., where Mr. Rushton will be laid to rest beside his parents, grandparents and
brother, Ralph.
Mr. Rushton's family suggests memorial contributions be directed to Faith
Lutheran Church, 2909 Weaver Pike, Bristol, TN 37620.

Lillian Strong
GATE CITY -- Lillian "Ruth" Strong, 72, of Route 2, went to celebrate her new
life with our Lord and Savior in the early morning hours of April 2, 2003,
following a brief illness. 
Ruth was born May 18, 1930, to the late Emory and Edith Gillenwater Saunders.
She was a life long resident of Scott County, Va. She was saved while a young
woman and was a member of Midway Memorial United Methodist Church where she
loved her church family.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Roy E.
Strong Sr.; granddaughter, Penny Sturgill Gillenwater; brother, McCoy Saunders;
and two sisters, Catherine Sanders and Josephine Stewart.
Ruth is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Judy and David Scott,
Hendersonville, Tenn.; son and daughter-in-law, Roy E. and Debbie Strong Jr.,
Hiltons, Va.; and daughter and son-in-law, Tammie and Lyle Hartsock,
Nickelsville, Va.; six grandchildren, Tonya Scott, Christopher Scott, Justin
Strong, Matthew Scott, Benjamin Hartsock and Elizabeth Ruth Hartsock; four
great-grandchildren, Coty Sturgill, Chasity Strong, Abigail Strong, Mariah
Gillenwater; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Calling hours are 6-8 p.m. Thursday, April 3, 2003, at Colonial Funeral Home,
Weber City, Va., and other times at the home.
Funeral services will be conducted at the funeral home chapel at 8 p.m. with
Pastors Don Large and Steve Collins officiating. Music will be provided by Greg
and Valerie Skelton.
Graveside services will be Friday, April 4, 2003, at 2 p.m. at Holston View
Cemetery. The family will meet at 1 p.m. at the funeral home to go in procession
to the cemetery. Pallbearers will be the grandchildren and nephews.
The family issues a prayer of thanksgiving to the Hospice staff, Dr. James
Wolfe, Rita and Linda of Mountain Regional Family Medicine and the many family
members and friends who came by, provided food and offered prayers and
fellowship to the family.

Kristen Kauffold Tomlin
HOPEWELL, Va. -- Kristen Kauffold Tomlin, 33, died March 27, 2003, at Medical
College of Virginia Hospital, Richmond. 
She is survived by her mother, Margery Peavler Kauffold of Chester, Va.; her
father, John T. Kauffold of Hopewell; one son, James Cleere Tomlin of Hopewell;
three daughters, L. Elizabeth Tomlin, Rebecca Grace Jarratt and Victoria Belle
Jarratt, all of Hopewell; one sister, Beth Schold of Chester; and one brother,
Michael Rush of Hopewell.
Interment services will be conducted at Weaver Cemetery, Bristol Tennessee, on
Friday, April 4, at 11 a.m.
The Akard Funeral Home is serving the family of Ms. Tomlin.

Talt Wolford
CLINCHCO, Va. -- Rev. Talt Wolford, 82, went home to be with the Lord on Monday,
March 31, 2003, after a lingering illness. 
The son of the late Green and Francis Wolford. He and his wife, Minnie Belle
Deel Wolford, lived in Clinchco and preached the word of God for several years.
He was a member of Bartlick Freewill Baptist Independent Association Church, a
retired UMWA coal miner and a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. Preceding him
in death were, a son, Ranall Wayne Wolford; son-in-law, Roy Fullen; one brother;
and several sisters.
Surviving are his wife, Minnie Belle Wolford, Clinchco; daughters, Barbara
Garnette O'quin and Robert, Monica Boyd and Freddy, Sonya Sexton and Michael,
all of Clinchco; son, Dennis Larry Wolford, Clinchco; two sisters, Elizabeth
Cuppet, Clinton, Md., and Dorothy Carter, Gilbert, W.Va.; grandchildren, Grant,
Vaughn, Denise, Damon, Daniel, Meagan, Natasha, Trevor and Caleb; and great-
grandchildren, Paige, Grant, Angela, Rachelle and Dylan.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday from the Tarpon Freewill
Baptist Church with ministers Jerry Vitatoe, Junior Deel and Glen Sykes
officiating. Burial will follow at the Hill Ridge Cemetery, Route 1, Clintwood.
The body will be taken to the church where the family will receive friends after
6 p.m. Thursday with services to follow at 7 p.m. VFW Post 8979, DAV Chapter 35
and American Legion Post 227 will conduct military graveside services.
Pallbearers will be Freddy Boyd, Michael Sexton, Grant Fullen, Vaughn Fullen,
Daniel Carico, Duane Deel, Kemper Damron and Buddy Carico.
Clintwood Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.