Bristol, Virginia, Obituaries: Bristol Herald Courier, July 16, 2003 Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Bristol Herald Courier http://www.bristolnews.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=TRI/Page/TRI_FrontPage ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities, when written permission is obtained from the contributor, so long as all notices and submitter information are included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bristol Herald Courier Wednesday, July 16, 2003 Today's Deaths Savannah Mary "Vannie" Buchanan, 94, Coeburn, Va. Ralph Norman Clarke, 78, Bristol Virginia Michael Mullins, 41, Big Stone Gap, Va. Edith Harrington Perry, 79, Bristol Tennessee Gregory Taylor, 42, Norton Rhonda P. Tolbert, 73, Chilhowie William E. "Bill" Wagner, 76, Surgoinsville, Tenn. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Susie Ann Bowers BRISTOL, Va. -- Funeral service Susie Ann Bowers will be held Wednesday, July 16, 2003, at 6 p.m. in the Weaver Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. Dexter Terry and Rev. Luke Martin officiating. Visitation will follow the funeral service. Graveside service will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. from the Mountain View Cemetery. Pallbearers will be grandsons, Tony Bowers, Danny Bowers, Eric Bowers, Josh Bowers, Jonathan Bowers and Jeff Bowers. Honorary pallbearers will be grandchildren, Craig Bowers, Justin Bowers, Andrew Bowers, Lyndsey Bowers, Blake Bowers, Pam Vaught, Lisa Vaught, Mike Bowers, Brian Bowers, Gary Bowers and Amanda Tweed. Online condolences may be sent at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Mrs. Bowers, age 92, of 20488 Blue Spruce Road, went to be with the Lord Monday, July 14, 2003, at the residence of her son. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Savannah Buchanan COEBURN, Va. -- Savannah Mary "Vannie" Buchanan, 94, died Tuesday, July 15, 2003, at her daughter's residence in Chesapeake, Va. Mrs. Buchanan was a lifelong resident of Coeburn and a member of South Coeburn Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Odis Buchanan; and two sons, James Frank Buchanan and Lester Eugene Buchanan. Survivors include two sons, James Buchanan, Coeburn and William "Bill" Buchanan, St. Anthony, NF; 1 daughter, Joyce Fail, Chesapeake, Va.; 1 sister, Maxie Williams, Coeburn; 15 Grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and several nephews and several nieces. Visitation for Savannah Mary "Vannie" Buchanan will be held after 6 p.m. Thursday, July 17, 2003, at Estes Funeral Home Chapel, where funeral services will be held at 7 p.m., with Rev. Marty Puckett and Rev. Les Ritchie officiating. Burial will be in the Greenwood Memorial Gardens in Coeburn Friday at 11 a.m. Estes Funeral Home, Inc. (276) 396-2441. Ralph Norman Clarke BRISTOL, Va. -- Ralph Norman Clarke, born June 26, 1925, died Tuesday, July 15, 2003, in Select Specialty Hospital. Mr. Clarke was a member of Central Presbyterian Church. He was a retired director of customer service of the Bristol Virginia Sectional Center of the United States Postal Service. Mr. Clarke was a graduate of Beaver Falls College, Beaver Falls, Pa., and a member of the Bristol Elks Lodge. Mr. Clarke was a World War II veteran of the Army Air Corps. He was preceded in death by his wife, Vivian Joyce Clarke, on June 17, 2002. Survivors include two sons, Jerry and Ann Clarke and Larry and Lois Clarke, both of Bristol; one daughter, Patricia and Duke James of Bristol; and one sister, Virginia Rutter of Warrenton, Va. Also surviving are seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be conducted at 8 p.m., Thursday, July 17, 2003, in Central Presbyterian Church, with Dr. David Wadsworth officiating. Committal services will be conducted at 11 a.m., Friday, July 18, 2003, in Mountain View Cemetery Mausoleum Chapel, with entombment to follow. Honorary pallbearers will be his numerous fellow postal workers, E. J. Johnson, John Boggs, Earl Rose and Herschel Stevens. The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8 p.m., Thursday, July 17, 2003, at the church prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Central Presbyterian Church or Reynolds Memorial United Methodist Church. E-mail condolences may be sent to the family of Mr. Clarke at akardfh@peercom.net. Akard Funeral Home is serving the family of Mr. Clarke. Noah M. Dotson Jr. COEBURN, Va. -- Funeral services for Noah Milburn Dotson Jr. will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday from the Clintwood Funeral Home Chapel, with Ministers Keith Dotson and Lynn Vanover officiating. Burial will follow at the Phipps Memorial Cemetery, with military graveside services conducted by VFW 8979, DAV Chapter 35 and American Legion Post 227. Pallbearers will be Jackie Dotson, Darrell Dotson, Martin Hawkins, Donnie Dotson, Ronnie Mullins, Johnny Dotson, Allen Dotson and Tommy Dotson. Honorary pallbearers will other nephews. Mr. Dotson, age 77, died at his home on Sunday, July 13, 2003. Clintwood Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Spencer Jackson RUSSELL COUNTY, Va. -- The committal service and burial for Spencer Jackson will be conducted at 3 p.m. Wednesday, July 16, 2003, in Greenhills Memory Gardens in Claypool Hill. Those attending are requested to meet at the church by 2:15 p.m. Wednesday to go in procession to the cemetery. Serving the family as pallbearers will be Chris Cline, Dickie Cox, Mickey Cox, Harvey Taylor, Earnie Jackson and William Taylor. Honorary pallbearers will be Curtis Jackson, Bill Jackson, Earnest L. Jackson Sr., A. M. Jackson, Frank Nunez and David Cox. Spencer loved flowers or contributions in his memory may be made to Dennison United Methodist Church, HC-64 Box 34, Rosedale, VA 24280. Mr. Jackson, 77, of the Rosedale-Belfast Community died Sunday, July 13, 2003, at his home. Combs Funeral Service in Lebanon is serving the family of Mr. Jackson. Michael Mullins BIG STONE GAP, Va. -- Michael Mullins, 41, passed away Monday, July 14, 2003, at Norton Community Hospital after a brief illness. He was of the Holiness faith. Michael was preceded in death by his stepfather, Curtis Kilgore. Survivors include daughters, Kammi Mullins, Pound and Angel McGraw, Pound; son, Josh Mullins, Pound; sisters, Mona Huff, Coeburn and Patsy Mullins, Big Stone Gap; brother, Ernie Mullins, Coeburn; good friend, Buddy Herron, Coeburn; several nieces and nephews; a host of caring family and friends; mother, Gwendoylan Mullins, Coeburn; and grandchildren, Olivia Mullins, Payton McGraw and Kamai McGraw. Services will be 11 a.m. Thursday, July 17, 2003, in Sadie Baker Memorial Chapel of Baker Funeral Home, with Reverend Ronald Mullins officiating. Pallbearers will be family and friends. Interment will be in Dotson Cemetery, Pound. Calling hours are 5-9 p.m. Wednesday, July 16, 2003, in Baker Funeral Home with a 7 p.m. song service. Baker Funeral Home, Pound, is entrusted with the care of Michael Mullins. Nell Ruth Owens NORTH HIGHLANDS, Calif. -- Funeral services for Mrs. Nell Ruth Owens will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Clark Cemetery on Big A Mountain, Va., with Rev. Jerry Clark officiating. Interment will follow. Those wishing to attend the service are asked to assemble at the cemetery. Mrs. Owens, age 72, passed away Wednesday, July 9, 2003. Honaker Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Edith H. Perry BRISTOL, Tenn. -- Edith Harrington Perry, age 79, of 1908 Weaver Pike, went to be with the Lord Tuesday, July 15, 2003, at the residence of her son. Mrs. Perry was born on Oct. 2, 1923, in Bluff City, a daughter of the late Albert Ray and Florence Booher Harrington. She had lived all her life in the Bluff City and Bristol area. Mrs. Perry had retired from Big Jack Manufacturing Company and was a former employee of ETWNC Freight Lines and Burlington Mills. She was of the Lutheran faith and was a 1942 graduate of Bluff City High School. Mrs. Perry was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Emmett Perry. Mrs. Perry is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Wayne Perry and wife Dorothy; two sisters, Betty Lou Harrington and Sue Evelyn Jenkins; one brother and sister-in-law, Joseph Clyde "J.C." Harrington and wife Melvine; granddaughters, Amber Simcox and husband George and Marjorie Wilson and husband Jeremy; three great-grandchildren, Colton Simcox, Kobe Simcox and Dagan Wilson; and several nieces and nephews. Graveside service will be held Friday, July 18, 2003, at 11 a.m. in the Weaver Cemetery, with the Rev. Lester MacKinnon officiating. The family will receive friends 6 until 8 p.m. Thursday evening in the Weaver Funeral Home. Online condolences may be sent at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Gregory Taylor NORTON -- Gregory Dale Taylor, 42, died Sunday, July 13, 2003, in Lonesome Pine Hospital. He was a former construction worker. He was preceded in death by his infant brother, Phillip Lyle Taylor; older sister, Mona Gay Collins; and his parents, Ralph Bernard and Nila Rose Taylor. Survivors include his son, Justine Taylor, Chesapeake, Va.; daughter, Amanda Taylor , Coeburn; brother, Ralph Taylor, Norton; sisters, Rose Marie Lambert, Big Stone Gap, Va., Jennifer Ann Shaffer, Hopewell, Va., Melanie Gwen Taylor, Norton; dedicated friends, Kevin Bates, Christina Ann McErlean and Joanna McErlean and several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins. Graveside funeral services will be conducted 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Powell Valley Memorial Gardens, with Pastor Roy Dean officiating. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.hagyfawbush.com. Rhoda P. Tolbert CHILHOWIE -- Rhoda Jane Peake Tolbert, 73, died Monday, July 14, 2003, in Smyth County Community Hospital, Marion. She was the daughter of the late Edward and Phobie Howell Peake and was a retired employee of Maple Grove Retirement Home (professional assisted living). Survivors include her husband, Dewey M. Tolbert; one son, Everette Clifton Worley Jr., York, S.C.; one stepson, Dewey Eugene Tolbert, Chilhowie; one stepdaughter, Cynthia Tolbert, Glade Spring; two sisters, Betty Short, Saltville and Opal Rhudy, Chilhowie; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday in Williams Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Wesley G. Eller officiating. Burial will be in the Middle Fork Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Williams Funeral Home. William E. Wagner SURGOINSVILLE, Va. -- William E. "Bill" Wagner, age 76, died Tuesday, July 15, 2003, at Indian Path Medical Center following a brief illness. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Broome Funeral Home, Rogersville. Mary Lee Wallace CLEVELAND, Va. --The funeral service for Mary Lee Smith Wallace will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 16, 2003, in the Combs Funeral Service Chapel, with the Rev. Russell Baldwin and the Rev. Rick Smith officiating. Burial will follow in the Puckett-Amos Cemetery in Reeds Valley near Cleveland. Friends and family will serve as pallbearers. Mrs. Wallace, 63, died Saturday, July 12, 2003, at home. Combs Funeral Service in Lebanon is serving the Wallace family.