Bristol, Virginia, Obituaries: Bristol Herald Courier, May 5, 2004 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, May 5, 2004 Neita Ervin Anderson KINGSPORT – Neita Ervin Anderson, age 84, passed away Tuesday, May 4, 2004, at the residence of her daughter. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Colonial Funeral Home in Weber City. Claude C. Arnold BRISTOL, Tenn. – Claude C. "Puge" Arnold, age 72, of 1892 Denton Valley Road, went to be with the Lord, Monday, May 3, 2004, at Bristol Regional Medical Center. A lifelong resident of the Bristol area, he was born April 10, 1932, a son of the late Charlie and Maggie Tilley Arnold. He was a farmer and was of the Baptist faith. Survivors include: wife of 55 years, Martha Jane Jones Arnold; two sons, Claude Arnold and wife Juanita and Johnny Lee Arnold and friend, Sue; daughter, Doris Phillips and husband, J. W.; grandchildren, Jennifer Miller, April Lingerfelt, Billy Lee Arnold, Jeff Arnold, Greg Arnold, Teresa Arnold, Christina Arnold and Kimberly Arnold; three great-grandchildren, Kaleb, Sierra and Cheyanna; sister, Francis Rutherford; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 6, 2004, in the Rooty Branch Freewill Baptist Church, with Rev. Howard Campbell officiating. Burial will follow in the Rooty Branch Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Wayne Leonard, Oscar Stewart, Dowd Rutherford, Wayne Rutherford, Jim Widner and Rick Hilliard. Special thanks to Dr. David Thompson, Faye and staff for their services. Online condolences may be registered at www.weaverfuneralhome.net The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Weaver Funeral Home. Louise S. Campbell Louise Smith Campbell, 57, passed away unexpectedly Tuesday, May 4, 2004. She was a native of Dickenson County, Va. She worked for many years as a legal secretary in Bristol and Abingdon, and her hobbies included quilting, cooking and fishing. She was preceded in death by her parents, Frenchman and Effie O’Quinn, and six brothers. Survivors include her husband, William Campbell, of Bristol Tennessee; three sons, Kevin Smith and his wife, Tammy, of Bristol Virginia, Stephen Smith and his wife, Darlene, of Dayton, Ohio, and Brian Smith and his wife, Christy, of Bristol Tennessee; stepdaughter, Lisa Merritt, of Elizabethton; six grandchildren, Ethan, Kyndall, Cameron, Gavin, Matthew and Parker; one brother, Jim O’Quinn of Haysi; and three sisters, Blanche Sutherland and Carolyn Raines of Haysi and Wanda O’Quinn of Clintwood. The funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family by visiting www.oakley-cook.com Mrs. Campbell and her family are in the care of Oakley-Cook Funeral Home, 2223 Volunteer Parkway, Bristol, Tenn. Jane C. Castle DANTE – Jane C. Castle, 82, died Monday, May 3, 2004, at Russell County Medical Center, Lebanon. She was born in Scott County, Va., daughter of the late Robert and Roseanna Fields Clark. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ed Castle; and one daughter, Sue Couch. She was of the Baptist faith and attended Straight Hollow Freewill Baptist Church. She is survived by one daughter, Brenda Herndon and husband, Bud of Castlewood; one son, Glen Castle and wife, Shirley of Dante; one brother, Melton Clark of Gate City; Va.; eight grandchildren, Nina White, Rhonda Anderson, Shane Castle, Bo Couch, Zip Couch, April Herndon, Lynn Domby and Kevin Domby; 10 great- grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services for Jane C. Castle will be held at 8 p.m. Thursday, May 6, 2004, in Castlewood Funeral Home Chapel, Castlewood, with Rev. Olen Cassell officiating. Committal services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, May 7, 2004, in Chapel of Love Mausoleum, Temple Hill Memorial Park, Castlewood. The family will meet at the funeral home and go in procession to the cemetery at 10:30 a.m. Friday. Pallbearers will be Ralph Maples, Kenneth Gullett, Bo Couch, Zip Couch, Lynn Domby, Shane Castle and Kevin Domby. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 6, 2004, in Castlewood Funeral Home, Castlewood. The family wishes to extend special thanks to Mountain View Retirement Home. Online condolences may be sent to the Castle family through our Web site at www.castlewoodfuneralhome.com. Castlewood Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. James H. Cross BRISTOL, Va. – Graveside services for James H. Cross will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 5, 2004, in Susong Cemetery, with Rev. James Gentry and Rev. Lewis Smith officiating, with military honors provided by Troop F Second/278ACR. Honorary pallbearers will be Jimmy Dowell, Justin Cross, Gregory Heath, Joey Cross, Carnell Cross, Terry Cotter and Brandon Cross. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.weaverfuneralhome.net James H. Cross, age 84, of 783 Island Rd., passed away Sunday, May 2, 2004, at his home. Mildred B. Greeson BRISTOL, Tenn. – Mildred Blakey Greeson, 62, went to be with the Lord on May 3, 2004, after a long battle with cancer. She was an active member of First United Methodist Church in Bristol Tennessee, where she sang in the choir, played the flute, was in her third tenure as president of the First United Methodist Martha Circle, belonged to the Fellowship Sunday School Class and served her Lord, family and friends in various capacities. She played an invaluable role in the development and implementation of the "Prayer Bear" ministry of the First United Methodist Martha Circle. In October 2003, she received the First United Methodist Women’s Special Mission Recognition Pin, honoring her service to others. She was an active member of the Highlands Emmaus Community and the Community Bible Study. Mrs. Greeson was preceded in death by her parents, Maurice W. and Margaret Hart Blakey. She was reared in Greensboro, N.C., where she graduated with honors from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro, with a degree in home economics. She served as the director of financial aid at King College for over 20 years until her retirement in 2002. She was a member of the Tennessee Association of Financial Aid Administrators, the Southern Association of Financial Aid Administrators and the National Association of Financial Aid Administrators. She was honored in 1998, when presented with the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, acknowledging her distinguished service to the King College community. Mildred loved to play her flute, a lifelong source of pleasure for herself and others. She enjoyed collecting bunnies, cooking, sewing, archiving family history, gardening and, most of all, sharing her love and exuberance for life with her family and friends. She has been a source of inspiration for many and will be dearly missed by all who knew her. Mrs. Greeson is survived by her husband, Robert Doyle Greeson Jr.; her daughters, Suzanne G. Hudson and husband, B. Lee Hudson, of Tallahassee, Fla., and Mary Margaret Greeson, and life partner, Jimmie Montgomery, of Murfreesboro, Tenn.; and her sons, Robert Scott Greeson, and wife, Jamie Beavers Greeson, of Bristol Tennessee, and Karl Edgar Greeson, and wife, Heather Rotondi Greeson, of Tampa, Fla. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, Sarah Hudson James, of Bristol Tennessee, Michelle and Rebekah Hudson of Tallahassee, Laura Greeson of Bristol Tennessee; Corey Greeson of Murfreesboro and Emily and Hayley Greeson of Tampa; as well as, two great-grandchildren, Lillie Kate James and John James V of Bristol Tennessee. The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Michael Baron, Dr. Sue Prill, Mrs. Suzanne Rollins and the staff of Wellmont Hospital, members of the First United Methodist Church, members of the First United Methodist Church Fellowship Sunday School Class and Martha Circle, the King College Community, the staff and volunteers of Wellmont Hospice and all of our wonderful friends who were of great fellowship and support during Mildred’s life. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 o’clock Wednesday evening, May 5, 2004, at Oakley-Cook Funeral Home. The funeral service will be conducted at 12:30 Thursday afternoon, May 6, 2004, at First United Methodist Church, with Rev. Kathie Wilson-Parker, Dr. Greg Jordan and Dr. Errol Rohr officiating. The committal service and interment will follow at the National Cemetery in Mountain Home, Tennessee. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the King College SGA Emergency Fund at: Office of Student Development Office, Attn: Rocky Rausch, 1350 King College Road, Bristol, TN 37620. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family by visiting www.oakley-cook.com Mrs. Greeson and her family are in the care of Oakley-Cook Funeral Home and Crematory, 2223 Volunteer Parkway, Bristol, Tenn. Mildred H. Grimes COEBURN – Mildred H. Grimes, 79, died Monday, May 3, 2004, at Bon Secour St. Mary’s Hospital in Norton. She was preceded in death by her parents, Howard C. and Goldie Powers Hall; and brothers, Howard Hall Jr. and Teddy Hall. Survivors include her husband of 54 years, Charles Edward Grimes; one sister, Ardetta Helegen, Melbourne, Fla.; special nephews and nieces, Greg and Alexandria Hall, Newport News and Ann and Charles Odle, Coeburn; several other nieces and nephews; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Ellis and Vivian Hall, both of Coeburn, Aura Smith, Jacksonville, Fla., and Hazel Holbrook, Lynchburg, Va.; and brother-in-law, David C. Grimes, Lynchburg. Visitation for Mildred Grimes will be held Thursday, May 6, 2004, after 6 p.m. at Estes Funeral Home Chapel and funeral services at 7:30 p.m., with Rev. Glen Hammacker officiating. Burial will be Friday in the Temple Hill Memorial Park in Castlewood. The family will meet at the funeral home at 11 a.m. on Friday prior to burial. Louella M. Jessee CASTLEWOOD – The funeral services for Louella M. Jessee will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 5, 2004, in Combs Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. Darryl Baker and the Rev. Charles Killen officiating. Burial will follow in the Jessee Family Cemetery. Pallbearers will be family and friends. Louella M. Jessee, 94, died Monday, May 3, 2004, in Russell County Medical Center. Combs Funeral Services in Lebanon is serving the family of Mrs. Jessee. Elizabeth Inez Kiser LEBANON – Elizabeth Inez Kiser, 95, died Tuesday, May 4, 2004, at the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Doug and Kathy Lambert, following a brief illness. Born July 15, 1908, a daughter of the late Rev. Jack Campbell and the late Mary Fogleman Campbell, she was the wife of the late Norman C. Kiser. In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by two sons, Robert Daniel Kiser and Clarence Rudolph Kiser; two brothers, McKinley Campbell and Ted Campbell; and two sisters, Maude Trent and Rose Anderson. She was the last surviving member of her immediate family. Survivors include six daughters and sons-in-law, Lois and David A. Worrell, Radford, Betty and Herman Thomas, Naples, Fla., Christine and Paul Phelps, Lebanon, Nora and Roy Parrott, Cleveland, Shirley and Roger Kiser, Lebanon and Kathy and Doug Lambert, Lebanon; 14 grandchildren, 23 great- grandchildren; and two special step-granddaughters, also three nephews; three nieces; two loving caregivers, Marie McReynolds and Susie Redman; a loving and caring special cousin, Carrie Kiser. A special thanks is extended to the doctors and nurses at the Russell County Medical Center and the Wellmont Bristol Regional Medical Center, the Wellmont Hospice House and especially to Lee Rasnake. The funeral service will be conducted at 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 5, 2004, in the Combs Funeral Service Chapel, with the Revs. Darrell Fletcher, Jim Fuller, Austin Fields and Bobby Turner officiating. The committal service and entombment will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, May 6, 2004, in the Forest Hills Memory Gardens Mausoleum, in Abingdon. Those attending should meet at the funeral home by 10:15 a.m. to go in procession to the cemetery. Pallbearers will be: D. A. Worrell II, Charles Kiser, Shannon Parrott, Jeff Adams, Ellis Hunter, Greg Lynch, Duff Meade and Roger Meade. Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Michael Mauck, David Mauck, Devon Mauck, D. A. Worrell III, Matthew Adams, Justin Adams, Gary Kiser, Bobby Kiser, Michael Parrott and Thomas McReynolds. The family will receive friends 6- 7:45 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home. Those wishing to honor Inez’s life may do so by making contributions to a hospice house or favorite charity. Combs Funeral Service is serving the family of Mrs. Kiser. Billy Ralph Rasnake PALATKA, Fla. – Funeral services for Billy R. Rasnake will be conducted 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 5, 2004, at Haysi Funeral Home, with Elders Bobby Arrington and Garnell Gilbert officiating. Burial will follow in the O’quinn Cemetery, Bee. VFW Post 8979 of Clintwood will conduct miltary graveside rites. Friends and family will serve as pallbearers. Billy R. Rasnake, age 72, of Hollister, Fla., formerly of Bee, Va., passed away Saturday, May 1, 2004. Haysi Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Robert L. Rolen A life well-lived doesn’t end any more than music ends…it echoes through time with whispers of beauty and grace… Robert (Bob) L. Rolen departed this life for a reunion in Heaven with his family gone on before him. Bob passed away Monday, May 3, 2004, at the Asbury Nursing Home. Bob grew up in Cosby, Tenn., where he starred in basketball and baseball. After graduation, he served in the Armed Forces. Discharged from service, he moved to Kingsport and was employed by Kayo Oil Company, where he was a dedicated worker, moving from attendant to station manager, supervisor and area manager. He was with Kayo for 27 years before retiring due to health problems. Bob was an avid sports fan and was instrumental in forming the first Pee Wee baseball team in Morrison City. He also coached in the Babe Ruth League in Kingsport. He was affiliated with R & S Tours and escorted numerous tours to Atlanta Braves games and other sports arenas for several years until health problems prevailed. Bob was a dedicated and loving husband, a wonderful father and grandfather. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Creed and Myrtle (Proffitt) Rolen; and two brothers, Creed Rolen Jr. and Wade Rolen. Survivors include his wife and best friend for 53 years, Nancy; two sons and daughters-in-law, Rickey and Karen Rolen of Church Hill and Garry and Janet Rolen of Knoxville; two granddaughters (his "special" girls), Lindsay and Jordan Rolen of Knoxville; nieces and nephews, Ron and Susan Bedford, Michael and Terri Richards, Bethany Bishop and David and Michael Shoun. brother-in-law and special friend, Dallas Shoun and wife Bobbie; brothers-in-law, Alfred (Jr.) Bishop and Charlie and Garland Burton and sisters-in-law, Beulah Allen and Virgie McGrady; great-niece and great-nephew, Melanie Richards and Steven Bedford; four "special" friends, "Doc" and Wanda Jones and Ivan and Nora Jones; sister-in-law and nephew, Joyce Rolen and Larry Rolen of Chattanooga; sister-in-law and nieces, Les Rolen and Patsy and Sandy, all of Cosby, Tenn., and several cousins. Calling hours will be 6-8 p.m. Thursday at the Sunnyside Baptist Church and funeral service will follow at 8 p.m. at the church, with Dr. Jack Parrott officiating. Music will be under the direction of the church. Bob will be taken to the church one hour before visitation. Family and friends will meet for a graveside service at 11 a.m. Friday at the East Lawn Memorial Park. Honorary pallbearers will be family and friends. The family would like to give special thanks to the Asbury Nursing Home of Kingsport, to nurses and attendants for their special care and empathy shown to Bob and his family. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to Make a Wish Foundation of East Tennessee, P. O. Box 23 Bristol, TN 37621. Please visit us online at www.mem.com to place a tribute to the family. East Lawn Funeral Home is serving the Rolen family. Lester Taylor BRISTOL, Va. – Lester Taylor, age 78, of 1609 Overhill Rd., passed away Sunday, May 2, 2004, in the Bristol Regional Medical Center. He was born Feb. 18, 1926, in Esserville, Va., a son of the late William Fred and Ollie Carter Taylor, and has made his home in Bristol most of his life. Mr. Taylor was a retired accountant for Pet Dairy, had just completed his 35th year with H&R Block and was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II. Mr. Taylor was a member of the VFW, American Legion, Elks and the DESA. Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Ruth Bowers Taylor; daughters, Donna Logsdon and Susan Taylor and husband David Tollie; grandchildren, Laura Logsdon, Leslie Logsdon and William Taylor Tollie; brothers, Bernard Taylor and Bruce Taylor; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 5, 2004, in the Weaver Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Fred Dearing officiating. Burial will follow in the Mountain View Cemetery. Military honors will be conducted by the VFW Patton-Crosswhite Post 6975 and Troop F Second/278ACR. Pallbearers will be Larry Cunningham, Floyd Jones, Hal Ward, Jerry Whitaker, Bill Forrest, Ronald Avery and Jack Smith. Honorary pallbearers are Clarence Braswell and family, employees of Pet Dairy and employees of H & R Block. E-mail condolences may be sent to the family at www.weaverfuneralhome.net The family received friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Weaver Funeral Home. Gary Wilson Weddle BRISTOL, Tenn. – Gary Wilson Weddle, 44, died Monday, May 3, 2004, at his residence. He was born in Abingdon and was engaged in landscaping in California for 15 years prior to returning to Bristol. Survivors include his parents, Vernon E. and Freda Ayers Weddle; two brothers, Vernon Lee Weddle and Kevin P. Weddle; a niece, Jeana Marie Weddle, and a nephew, Eric Weddle. The family will receive friends from 1 until 2 o’clock Thursday, May 6, 2004, at Oakley-Cook Funeral Home, with the funeral service to follow at 2 o’clock. Rev. Tony Trunnel and Mr. Wayne Sheridan will officiate. Burial will follow in Rose Lawn Cemetery in Marion. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family by visiting www.oakley-cook.com Mr. Weddle and his family are in the care of Oakley-Cook Funeral Home, 2223 Volunteer Parkway, Bristol, Tenn.