Bristol, Virginia, Obituaries: Bristol Herald Courier, September 4, 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 Thursday, September 4, 2003 Today's Deaths Jeffrey Lee Byrd, 39, Kingsport James A. Gray, 89, Lebanon Elmer Carson Hagy, 79, Vansant, Va. Casey Lee Hayes, infant Angela K. Lawson, 39, Bristol Tennessee Amanda Booher Leonard, 81, Bristol Tennessee Dorothy Cole McGhee, 88, Sword's Creek, Va. Warren Neff Mock, 82, Meadowview Ernest Eugene Moore, 72, Williamsburg, Ohio Frank Levi Moore, 65, Marion Marion Steven Strong, 78, Scott County, Va. Mildred Wassum Tripp, 72, Marion Hattie Louise Vanover, 76, Abingdon -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jeffrey Lee Byrd KINGSPORT -- Jeffrey Lee Byrd, age 39, 701 Rock Springs Rd., went to be with the Lord, Sunday, Aug. 31, 2003, in a plane crash in Blountville. Jeffrey was a flight instructor and died doing what he had loved all his life. He attained a pilot's license at fifteen and a half years of age, even before obtaining his driver's license. Jeffrey was a native of Galax, Va., and a son of Billy Lee Byrd, Erwin, Tenn., and Carol Haynes Campbell, Johnson City. He was a pilot, flight instructor, a former Sullivan County Deputy and a member of the National Pilot Association. Jeffrey was a member of Celebration Church, Kingsport. He attended John Battle High School, where he lettered in football and basketball, and was a graduate of Bristol College. He had also obtained numerous certifications in pilot instruction. Jeffrey enjoyed coaching, having coached T-ball and Little League Baseball. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Sanders and Haley Haynes, and his paternal grandparents, Clifford and Gladys Byrd, all of Fries, Va. In addition to his parents, Jeffrey is survived by his wife, Donna Galloway Byrd of the home; two sons, Jared Byrd and Seth Byrd, Bluff City; one step-son, Zachary Stamper of the home; one sister, Roxanne Yount, Elizabethton; three step-brothers, Toby Sells, Atlanta, Billy Sells, Murfreesboro, Tenn., and Craig Campbell, Johnson City; one step-sister, Beth Cole, Knoxville; his step-father, Sid Campbell, Johnson City; his step-mother, Belle Byrd, Erwin; sister-in-law, Mitzi Sturgill, Kingsport; mother-in-law, Molly Galloway, Kingsport; special niece, Ashley Wilson; special nephews, Shane Cloud and Jessip Ward, and several other nieces and nephews. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later. The family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be given to the Jeffrey Byrd Memorial Fund, c/o Appalachian Community Credit Union, Attn: 56025, PO Box 3220, Kingsport, TN, 37664. The family will receive friends anytime at Jeffrey's home, 701 Rock Springs Rd, and also at his mother's, Carol Campbell, 203 Gilmer Park, Johnson City. Condolences may be made online at www.appalachianfuneralhome.com. Appalachian Funeral Home, 800 E Watauga Ave., is serving the Byrd family. Renaldo E. Cahill SALTVILLE -- Mr. Renaldo "Ronnie" E. Cahill, age 72, went to be with the Lord Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2003. He was a member of the Saltville Volunteer Fire Department, the Marion VFW and a U.S. Air Force Veteran of the Korean conflict. He was an employee of the Smyth County School System. Mr. Cahill was preceded in death by his parents, William Jennings Cahill and Bert "Granny" Keesee. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend. Survivors: his wife, Betty "Toppie" Cahill of Saltville; one son, Ronnie "Little Man" Cahill Jr. of Saltville; two daughters, Tammy Brown and special friend Robert Rose of Chilhowie and Lori Cahill Dyess and husband Eddie of Saltville; mother-in-law, Mrs. Pauline Kestner of Saltville; one brother, Edward "Buddy" Cahill and wife Margie of Saltville; four sisters-in-law, Sylvia Brinkley of Saltville, Reba Gates of Saltville, Mae Cardwell of Saltville and Patsy "Rennie" Poston of Marion; two grandchildren, Nicholas Brown and wife Tessa and Kayla Jo Brown; one great-grandson, Grayson Brown, and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services for Mr. Cahill will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6, 2003, at Henderson Funeral Home, with Rev. John Roe, Mr. Jack Barbrow and Dr. Matthew Haas officiating. Interment will follow at Elizabeth Cemetery, with military rites by Marion VFW Post 4667. Pallbearers will be Kelly Ferguson, Daryl Ferguson, Randy Davenport, Mike Talbert, Mark Frye, Jim Sawyer, Billy Wyatt and Carl Cardwell. Honorary pallbearers are Northwood High School faculty, staff, and students, Saltville Volunteer Fire Department and Jr. Fire Department and employees of Virginia Gas, Saltville facility. The family will receive friends Friday evening at the funeral home from 6-9 p.m. D.R. Henderson Funeral Home is serving the Cahill Family. Bobby W. Cheathem BRISTOL, Tenn. -- Committal services for Bobby Wayne Cheathem will be held on Thursday at 11 a.m. at Mountain View Cemetery. Pallbearers include Freddy Brewer, Roger Jones, Cliff Hand, Daniel Chapman, Kenneth Hand and Tony Woods. Online condolences may be registered at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Mr. Cheathem, age 57, of 1643 Virginia Ave., passed away on Monday, Sept. 1, 2003, at Bristol Regional Medical Center. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Margaret R. Denton Interment and committal services for Margaret R. Denton will be conducted at 10 a.m. Thursday at Forest Hills Memory Gardens. Those attending the interment and committal service are asked to meet at the funeral home where a funeral procession will leave at 9:40 a.m. Thursday to go to the cemetery. Casket bearers will be Claude Worrell, Joe Tolliver, Clint Asbury, Earl Huff, Paul Foran, Warren Charles, Carson Denton and Dewey Denton. Honorary casket bearer will be Dr. Andrew Rhinehart. Those wishing to send memories or messages of sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com. Mrs. Denton, age 81, went to Heaven in angels' arms after a courageous battle with cancer Sunday, Aug. 31, 2003, at her residence. Farris Funeral Service, 427 E. Main St., Abingdon, is serving the family of Mrs. Margaret Rachel Denton. Nina F. Easterling WISE -- Nina F. (Robinson) Easterling, 62, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2003, at the Grace Health Care Center of Abingdon after an extended illness. She was a homemaker. Nina was preceded in death by her parents, Harding and Elsie (Carty) Robinson, and a son, Billy Easterling. Surviving are spouse, Raymond H. Easterling, Wise; daughters, Jeanette Easterling, Richmond, and Elizabeth Collins, Wise; brother, Dewey Robinson, Colorado Springs, Colo.; a host of friends and loved ones and grandchildren, Nicolby Collins, Colton Collins and Audreyanna Easterling. Calling hours are 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 4, 2003, in Baker Funeral Home, Pound. Graveside services will be 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 5, 2003, in Robinson Family Cemetery, Wise, with Reverend Kendell Lane officiating. Interment will be in Robinson Family Cemetery, Wise. Pallbearers will be family and friends. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to your favorite charity. Baker Funeral Home, Pound, is entrusted with the care of Nina F. (Robinson) Easterling. James A. Gray LEBANON -- James A. Gray, 89, died Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2003, in the Maple Grove Health Care Center. Born April 17, 1914, in Russell County, he was a son of the late Charles Gray and America Virginia Duty Gray, and the husband of the late Evangeline "Bannie" Garrett Gray. Mr. Gray was employed in the grocery business for more than 45 years, first with Pocahontas Fuel Company Stores/Consolidated Coal in Amonate, Va., and then with Piggly Wiggly/Food City in Lebanon, from which he retired in 1979. He was a member of the Lebanon Memorial United Methodist Church and had served on several boards and committees of the church. In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Robert Gray, Carson Gray and G. W. Gray. Survivors include his son, James A. Gray Jr. and his wife Alice Gray, Mechanicsville, Va.; a brother, Richard Gray and his wife Peggy Gray, Blairsville, Ga.; three sisters-in-law, Blanche Campbell, Lebanon, Melba Gray, North Tazewell, and Dixie Gray, Lebanon; a brother-in-law, Russell Garrett, Bluefield, Va., and 10 nieces and nephews. The funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 5, 2003, in the Combs Funeral Service Chapel, with the Rev. Mike Carter officiating. Entombment will follow in the Memorial Chapel Mausoleum in Ketron Memorial Gardens. Serving the family as pallbearers will be A. G. Griffith Jr., George P. Thomas, Trigg Fields, Conley Parsley, Rev. Eugene Miller, Ben Garrett, Bill Lawson, Charles Dickenson and Billy Honaker. Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Michael Ulrich, Kermit Stallard, Emmett Buckles and the staff of the Maple Grove Health Care Center. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Lebanon Memorial United Methodist Church, 120 Tate St., Lebanon, VA 24266. The family will receive friends 7 until 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 4, 2003, at the funeral home. Combs Funeral Service is serving the family of Mr. Gray. Elmer Carson Hagy VANSANT, Va. -- Elmer Carson Hagy, 79 years of age, of the Dry Fork area, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2003, at his home from an apparent heart attack. Born in Buchanan County, he was a son of the late John Henry and Rachel Price Hagy. He was a life-long resident of Buchanan County and attended Little Martha Old Regular Baptist Church. He served in the U.S. Army and Navy during World War II and was a retired employee of Jewell Coal Corporation. Mr. Hagy was preceded in death by his wife, Ruby Clevinger Hagy, April 6, 1999. He is survived by one daughter, Betty and husband Wayne Ogle, Sevierville, Tenn.; four sons, Jerry and wife Evette Hagy, Davenport, Va., Earnest and wife Cathy Hagy, Hurley, Va., Denver and wife Wanda Hagy, Vansant, and David and wife Lisa Hagy, Vansant; three sisters, Lottie Delong, Prestonsburg, Ky., Faye Childress, Richlands, and Agnes Seiver, Pontiac, Mich.; one brother, John and wife Mary Hagy, Huntington, W.Va.; also 21 grandchildren and 18 great- grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one daughter, Bernice Vandyke, one son, Roger Hagy, two sisters, Pearl Davis and Edna Poulas, and one brother, Denton Hagy. Funeral services for Elmer Carson Hagy will be conducted Saturday, Sept. 6, 2003, at 11 a.m. at Little Martha Old Regular Baptist Church, with Elders Roger Coleman, Toy Looney, Jerry Newsome, David Oquinn and Howard Daniels officiating, with burial to follow in the Hagy Cemetery on Turn Pike Branch on Deskins, near Vansant. Friends may call at Little Martha Old Regular Baptist Church Thursday afternoon at 5 p.m., with services Thursday and Friday evenings at 7 p.m. Active pallbearers will be Steve Hagy, Keith Hagy, Robert Meadows, Kenny Meadows, Quinton Elswick and Trevor Elswick. Honorary pallbearers will be family and friends. Full military rites will be conducted at the cemetery by members of John Ratliff Post 164 of the American Legion. Grundy Funeral Home of Grundy is in charge of all arrangements. Maude Hamilton WISE -- Maude Hamilton, age 92, passed away early Monday morning, Sept. 1, 2003, at Heritage Hall, in Big Stone Gap. She was a lifelong resident of Wise County, Va. She was a mother and a homemaker and had worked as a cook at area restaurants. Mrs. Hamilton was of the Baptist faith. She was a daughter of the late Creed and Theo Hensley Wells and was the widow of Ewing Hamilton, who passed away in 1969. Survivors include two sons, Arlie Hamilton, Pleasant Plain, Ohio, and Cecil Hamilton of Richmond; four grandchildren, Lisa Hill, Waycross, Ga., Jason Hamilton, Gainesville, Fla., Bryant Hamilton, Orlando, Fla., and Leslie Hammann, Morrow, Ohio; four great-grandchildren; two sisters, Ruth Cox, Wise, and Laura Rollyson of Rittman, Ohio; a brother, Willard Wells, Norton; several other relatives and a host of friends. Calling hours are from 12-2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 4, 2003, at Carty Funeral Home, Norton-Wise, where funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m., with Rev. Greg Sergent officiating. Interment will follow at Powell Valley Memorial Gardens, Big Stone Gap. Friends and family members will serve as pallbearers. Casey Lee Hayes Casey Lee Hayes, infant of Tina and Damon Coy Hayes II, passed away Saturday, Aug. 30, at Wellmont Holston Valley. Survivors, other than the parents, are two sisters, Kayla and Kimberly Hayes,; two brothers, Damon Coy III and Timothy Hayes, all of Blountville; maternal grandmother, Kathy Hill, Bristol Virginia; paternal grandparents, Damon and Neva Hayes of Blountville, and several aunts, uncles and cousins. Jesus has a crib in Heaven with a blanket just for you, he will hold you and take care of you just like we would do. An angel with a beautiful voice will sing you a lullaby, we will smile and think of you when we look up in the sky. God's reason for taking you we will never understand, but we know you will be fine in Heaven's Baby Land. We love you. Love, Mommy and Daddy. Graveside services will be Friday, Sept. 5, at 1 p.m. in East Lawn Memorial Park, with the Rev. Leighton Robert officiating. East Lawn is serving the Hayes family. Kaye Ball Jackson ABINGDON -- Burial for Sara Kathryn Ball Jackson will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 4, 2003, in Russell Memorial Cemetery in Lebanon. Cousins will serve as honorary pallbearers. Memorial contributions may be made to Greendale Chapel, P.O. Box 1314, Abingdon, VA 24212. The family will be at the home of Mrs. Helen V. Ball, 15500 Chantilly Way, Abingdon. Friends may express their sympathy to the family at www.campbell-funeralhome.com. Mrs. Jackson, age 60, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2003, at her home. Campbell Funeral Home of Abingdon is in charge of arrangements. Angela K. Lawson BRISTOL, Tenn. -- Angela K. Lawson, age 39, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2003. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time. Akard Funeral Home is serving the family of Mrs. Lawson. Amanda B. Leonard BRISTOL, Tenn. -- Amanda "Louise" Booher Leonard, age 81, of 400 Shelby St., Apartment 401, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2003, in the Johnson City Medical Center. Mrs. Leonard was born on March 6, 1922, in Bristol Tennessee, a daughter of the late Walter E. and Lorena E. Booher. Mrs. Leonard had lived all her life in the Sullivan County area and was a homemaker. Mrs. Leonard was preceded in death by her husband, Spurgeon Amos Leonard, two sons, Damon Spurgeon Leonard and Guy Marvin Leonard, five sisters and two brothers. Mrs. Leonard is survived by one sister, Rachel Smith of Bluff City; two brothers, Marvin Booher of Bristol Tennessee and Frank Booher of California; two daughters-in-law; six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Funeral service will be held Thursday, Sept. 4, 2003, at 8 p.m. in the Weaver Funeral Home Chapel. Graveside service will be held Friday at 11 a.m. from the Johnson Cemetery. The family will receive friends Thursday evening from 6 until 7:45 p.m. in the Weaver Funeral Home. Online condolences may be sent at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Dorothy C. McGhee SWORDS CREEK, Va. -- Mrs. Dorothy Cole McGhee, age 88, went home to be with Jesus on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2003, in a Kingsport hospital. Born March 12, 1915, in Swords Creek, she was a daughter of the late Rev. Charlie Melvin Perkins and Cordelia Hubbard Perkins. A lifelong resident of the area, she was of the Baptist faith. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Cecil Ralph Cole Sr., her second husband, Clarence Edward McGhee Sr., one stepson, Clarence McGhee Jr., five brothers and four sisters. In her generation, she was the last surviving member of her immediate family. Survivors include one daughter and son-in-law, Brenda J. and Doug Fletcher of Swords Creek; four sons and daughters-in-law, Cecil R. Cole Jr. and Polly Cole of Atkins, Va., Lowell E. and Lois Cole of Troutville, Va., Joseph E. and Helen Cole of Bristol Virginia and Harold and Donna Cole of Roanoke; five stepdaughters, Audrey Helbert of Richlands, Betty Osborne and her husband James of Cleveland, Jean Perkins of Honaker, Doris Miller and her husband Edward of Honaker and Carol Byrd of Cedar Bluff; one stepson, Gary McGhee and his wife Rita of Swords Creek; 13 grandchildren; 31 step-grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren also survive. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel, Honaker, with Rev. Tommy Dye and Rev. Ancil Childress officiating. Interment will follow in the Perkins Cemetery at Swords Creek. Relatives and friends will serve as pallbearers. Friends may call at the Honaker Funeral Home from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday. Warren Neff Mock MEADOWVIEW -- Mr. Warren Neff Mock, 82, died Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2003, at Johnston Memorial Hospital. Mr. Mock was born March 19, 1921, in Washington County to the late Matthew F. Mock and Mary Neff Mock. He was a member of Greenfield Baptist Church and a retired farmer. Mr. Mock served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II in the China-Burma-India Theatre. He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters, Edna M. Brown, Nellie G. Breedlove and Edith Irene Mock, brothers, Walter Allen Mock, Carl F. Mock, James Y. Mock and Matthew F. Mock Jr., a nephew, Wayne B. Mock, and a niece, Joyce A. Wohlford. Survivors include his sister, Katherine G. Mock; nephews, Thomas M. Brown, Walter A. Mock Jr., Glen E. Mock and James A. Bolash; nieces, Dorothy Hearn, Shirley Frye, June Hoback, Linda Snodgrass and Phyllis M. Thomas, and several great-nieces and great-nephews. Funeral services will be held Friday, Sept. 5, 2003, at 2 p.m. at Greenfield Baptist Church. Rev. Tom Capron and Rev. David Sizemore will officiate. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends Thursday evening from 6-9 p.m. at Farris Funeral Service in Abingdon. Pallbearers will be Thomas M. Brown, James A. Bolash, Albert Frye, Henry S. Snodgrass III, Glen Mock, Harry Parris, Walter Allen Mock and Johnny Carnell. The family would like to express special thanks to their caregiver, Virginia Williams and Margaret Casey. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Greenfield Baptist Church Building and Grounds Fund. Those wishing to express their condolences online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com. Farris Funeral Service of Abingdon is serving the Mock family. Ernest E. Moore WILLIAMSBURG, Ohio -- Ernest Eugene (Gene) Moore, 72, died Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2003, in Williamsburg, Ohio. He was formerly from Bristol, but had lived in Ohio for several years. He is survived by his wife, Peggy (Jessee) Moore, one daughter, Laverne (Moore) Cox, one son, Jeffrey Moore, and four grandsons, Chad and Kevin Cox and Kyle and Justin Moore, all of Ohio. He is also survived by one remaining sibling, Edward (Eddie) Moore, and several nieces and nephews, all of Bristol. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jessee and Maude Moore, one sister, Mary (Moore) Campbell, and two brothers, Clarence and Jennings Moore, all of Bristol, and one grandson, Jeffrey Scott Moore of Ohio. Condolences may be sent to Mrs. Peggy Moore, 268 S. Sixth St., Williamsburg, OH 45176. Frank Levi Moore MARION -- Frank Levi Moore, age 65, died Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2003, in Smyth County Community Hospital. He is survived by two sisters, Della Mae Grubb and Zorada Catherine Moore, both of Atkins, Va., and several nieces and nephews also survive. Funeral services will be held Friday, Sept. 5, 2003, at 11 a.m. at Seaver-Brown Chapel, with Rev. Neville Mozingo officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Lawn Cemetery, Marion. The family will receive friends Thursday evening from 6 until 8 p.m. at Seaver-Brown Chapel. Seaver-Brown Funeral Service is serving the Moore Family. Mary N. Stewart BLUFF CITY -- Mary N. Stewart, 75, went to be with our Lord on Sept. 2, 2003. Mrs. Stewart retired after serving 25 years as a librarian at the Bluff City Branch of the Sullivan County Library. She was a member of the Bluff City United Methodist Church, where she sang in the chancel choir and served as secretary of the United Methodist Women. Born on Aug. 10, 1928, Mary graduated from Bluff City High School. Later, she was employed by Massengill's in Bristol Tennessee. Mrs. Stewart was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 46 years, Cecil J. Stewart, and an infant son, Martin Stewart. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by a sister, Azelle Malone. She was the beloved mother of three daughters, Sherry Kistner and husband John, Diane Stewart and Kim Lundin and husband Tony; two grandsons, Jeff Kistner and Johnny Kistner; one step-granddaughter, Denette Riley; one step-great-grandson; three sisters, Dorothy Honaker, Catherine Blevins and Angie Cummins; two brothers, Floyd Hamilton and Bill Hamilton, and several nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends from 6 until 7:45 Friday evening at Oakley-Cook Funeral Home, with the funeral service to follow at 8 o'clock. Rev. Karen Albers and Rev. Carol Wilson will officiate. The committal service will be conducted at 11 o'clock Saturday morning in the Heritage Chapel of Memories Mausoleum in Glenwood Cemetery with entombment to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Bluff City United Methodist Church, 468 Cedar St., Bluff City, TN 37618, or to a charity of choice. Condolences and memories may be sent to the family by visiting www.oakley-cook.com. Oakley-Cook Funeral Home, 2223 Volunteer Parkway, Bristol, Tenn., is serving the family of Mrs. Stewart. Marion Steven Strong SCOTT COUNTY, Va. -- Marion Steven Strong, born in Scott County on Feb. 3, 1925, to George and Myrtle Quillen Strong and also was the son of Steve and Hannah Strong, went to be with the Lord Sept. 3, 2003. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Elizabeth Juanita Strong; a daughter, Rhonda Malena Strong of Kingsport; a son, Gregory Steven Strong and wife Kim of Abingdon; a grandson, Gaston Christian Strong, and a granddaughter, Kaitlin Elizabeth Strong of Abingdon. His grandchildren were the joy of his life and he loved them dearly. Also surviving, sisters, Ostia Barber of Kingsport, Mannie Lewis of Gate City and Lena Ferguson of Gate City; two brothers, Elmer Strong of Bristol and Frank Strong of Gate City; several nieces and nephews and special friends, Albee David and Mable Calhoun, Patsy and Charles Davidson, Joyce Paar, Ron Fields Hillman and Geraldine Bolinsky. Marion was a veteran of World War II, serving in the Air Force. He was stationed in Deopham Green, England. Sgt. Strong was the top turret gunner and engineer on the Eighth Air Force B-17 Flying Fortess "Little Mary." In 1945, he was awarded the Air Medal with Four Oak Leaf Clusters for meritorious achievement in aerial combat and was a member of the 452nd Bomb Group, a unit of the Third Air Division, the division cited by the president for its historic England-Africa shuttle bombing of a Messerschmitt aircraft at Regensburg, Germany. Marion retired from the Organic Chemicals Division at Tennessee Eastman Company after 34 years of service. The family would like to express a special thanks to Wellmont Hospice, friends, neighbors, family and their church, Apostolic Lighthouse. Calling hours are from 5-8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5, at Oak Hill Funeral Home. Services will be conducted at 8 p.m. in the funeral home chapel, with the Rev. G.D. Peters officiating. Entombment services will be held Saturday, Sept. 6, at 1 p.m. in the Oak Hill Mausoleum by American Legion Hammond Post 3. Honorary pallbearers will be Albee David Calhoun, Ron Fields, Harley Riesgaard, Hillman Bolinsky and surviving members of Marion's Eight Air Force B-17 Flying Fortress and the 452nd Bomb Group. An online guest book may be signed at www.legacy.com. The staff of Oak Hill is serving the Strong family. Edwin A. Trierweiler COEBURN -- Edwin Arnold Trierweiler, age 85, of Route 2, passed away Friday, Aug. 29, 2003, at Heritage Hall Health Care in Clintwood. Born in Michigan, he was a heavy equipment operator and a Jehovah's Witness. Survivors include his wife, Eugenia Trierweiler; three sons, Mark and wife Doris Trierweiler of Coeburn, Curt Trierweiler of Saskatchewan, Canada, and Grant and wife Lisa Trierweiler of Lincoln, Neb.; six grandchildren, Barak, Travis, Wade, Erin, Beth and Caleb, and two brothers, Fred Trierweiler and Jerry Trierweiler, both of Lansing, Mich. A memorial talk will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5, 2003, at Kingdom Hall in Clinchco, Va., with Toby Counts. Haysi Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Mildred Wassum Tripp MARION -- Mildred Wassum Tripp, age 72, died Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2003, in Smyth County Community Hospital. Survivors and funeral arrangements will be announced later by Seaver-Brown Funeral Service. Hattie Louise Vanover ABINGDON -- Mrs. Hattie Louise Vanover, age 76, of 21187 Spoon Gap Road, died Sunday, Aug. 31, 2003, at the home of her daughter in Wise following a lengthy illness. She was preceded in death by her parents, Calvin and Lucy Vanover, her husband, Ira Vanover, three sisters, three brothers, three children, a grandson and a great-granddaughter. She was a lifelong resident of Washington County. Survivors include a son, Charles Vanover, Colorado; three daughters, Dorothy Hess and husband, Warren, Glade Spring, Va., Geneva Mickles and husband, Roy, Wise, and Margaret Vanover, Norton; a special nephew, Bobby Vanover and wife, Wanda, Glade Spring; a sister, Belle Greer, Abingdon; 23 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. The funeral service will be conducted Thursday, Sept. 4, 2003, at noon in the Farris Funeral Chapel, with Rev. Joe Ballard and Rev. Paul Price officiating. Interment will follow in the Greenwood Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Charles Doss, Doug Doss, Carroll Doss, James Mickles, Earl Reed, David Vanover, Roy Allen Mickles and Andy Mickles. Honorary pallbearers will be June Sell, Eric Widener, Warren Hess, Roy Sell and Wallace Sturgill. Those wishing to express sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com. The family will receive friends Thursday from 11 a.m. until service time in the funeral home. Farris Funeral Service, 427 East Main St., Abingdon, is serving the Vanover family.