Bristol, Virginia, Obituaries: Bristol Herald Courier, June 15, 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 Tuesday, June 15, 2004 Norman Miller Atkins, 82, Kingsport Georgia Ernestine Canter, 75, Bristol Virginia Lillian Wolfe Dye, 85, Meadowview Thelma R. Houck, 86, Marion Charles A. Lorenz, 76, Bartow, Fla. Charles Burkett Mottesheard, 46, Draper, Va. Edna Parks, 66, Marion Hester Jane White, 78, Palatka, Fla. Tylar Allan Wix, infant, Kingsport Norman Atkins KINGSPORT – Norman Miller Atkins, 82, of 2157 Heatherly Road, died Saturday evening, June 12, 2004, at Wellmont HVMC. Born Feb. 5, 1922, in Gainesville, GA., to Laurence and Nona Atkins, he received a masters degree in chemistry from the University of Georgia in 1949. He served with the U.S. Navy during World War II as a LT-jg. Mr. Atkins was employed by Tennessee Eastman Company and Eastman Chemical Products for 37 years, retiring in 1986. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church. He was a former Kiwanian, active in Big Brothers, the Stephen Ministry and was a CASA volunteer. Preceding him death were his daughter, Claire Atkins, and a brother, Laurence Atkins Jr. Surviving are his wife, Jean Goodwin Atkins, Kingsport; daughter, Ann Atkins Webber and husband, David, Simpsonville, S.C.; son, Peter Revey Atkins and wife, Patricia, Weston, Conn; stepdaughter, Linda Oxford, Tallahassee, Fla.; stepson, Dr. Brant Oxford and wife, Sue, Flagstaff, Ariz.; three grandchildren, Matt and Katie Webber and Kristeva Revey-Atkins; four step-grandchildren, Staci Duggar, Kelly Walton, Brant Oxford III and Randy Oxford; two brothers, Hugh Atkins, Pittsburgh and Tom Atkins, Helen, Ga. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the First Presbyterian Church, with Dr. Victor Priebe and Rev. Craig Foster officiating. Entombment will be in Happy Valley Memorial Park, Elizabethton. Pallbearers will be Jerry Mettetal, Dr. Brant Oxford, John Edmisten, David Keister, Flint Gray and Dr. P. L. Basinger. Honorary pallbearers will be E. William King, William Rumgay, Bert Peterson and Ridley Ruth. The family will receive friends at the home after 6 p.m. Tuesday. Memorial contributions may be made to Big Brothers of the Greater Tri-Cities, P.O. Box 7041, Kingsport, TN 37662 or to CASA, 317 Shelby St., Suite 205-B, Kingsport, TN 37660 or Grandfather Home For Children, P.O. Box 98, Banner Elk, NC 28604-0098. Hamlett-Dobson, downtown Kingsport, is serving the Atkins Family. Danny Bortz BRISTOL, Va. – Robin Daniel Bortz, 3, died Saturday afternoon, June 12, 2004, following an incident involving his family’s swimming pool. Danny was born on March 9, 2001, in Bristol. He loved cars, motorcycles and Spider Man. Preceding him in death were his grandfather; Rob Kress; great-grandparents, Laura Bortz, Lilly Ketron and Joe Bright; and great-great-grandfather, John David Hanner. Surviving are his parents, David and April Bortz of the home; two brothers, Taylor Bortz and J. D. Bortz, both of the home; maternal grandparents, David Newton and Trina Bright; paternal grandparents, Robert and Donna Bortz; maternal great-grandparents, Eleanor Veil and Ron Kress; paternal great-grandparents, Gordon and Jean Blessing and Guy Bortz Sr.; cousin, Laura Bortz; aunt, Brooke Williams; uncles, Robert Erran Bortz, Chadwick Darrin Blessing and Chris Bright; and many other aunts and uncles. Calling hours are from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Homes, downtown Kingsport, or any time at the grandparents’ home, 3440 Forest View Road, Kingsport. Services will be conducted at 3 p.m. Wednesday in the funeral home chapel, with Rev. Aaron Pierce officiating. Burial will follow at Tri-Cities Memory Gardens, Blountville. Pallbearers will be George Page, Joshua Jenkins, Scott Jenkins, Matthew Blessing, Daniel Blessing and Thomas Bond. Honorary pallbearers will be Chris Bright, John Blessing, Donald Jenkins, Bruce Blessing, Tom Blessing, Gary Bortz, Glenn Bortz and Guy Bortz Jr. Charles E. Cameron BRISTOL, Va. – Burial for Charles Edward "Bubba" Cameron has been postponed and will be announced at a later date. Online condolences may be sent at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Charles Edward "Bubba" Cameron, age 70, beloved husband and father, passed away Wednesday, June 9, 2004, at his home. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Georgia E. Canter BRISTOL, Va. – Georgia Ernestine "Teen" Canter, age 75, of 17070 Pine Hill Road, went to be with the Lord Monday, June 14, 2004, at her residence. Weaver Funeral Home is serving the family of Mrs. Canter. Arrangements are incomplete. Meleta Surber Cecil SALTVILLE – Mrs. Meleta Surber Cecil, age 87, passed away June 13, 2004, in the Valley Health Care in Chilhowie. She was preceded in death by her husband, Aurbey Cecil, and son, Michael Cecil. She was a member of the Beaver Creek United Methodist Church. Survivors: three sisters-in-law, Stella Surber, Virgie Surber and Pauline Surber, all of Saltville; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services for Mrs. Cecil will be conducted at 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 15, 2004, at the D.R. Henderson Funeral Home, with the Rev. Kyle French officiating. The family will receive friends from 6 till 8 p.m., just prior to the service. Graveside committal services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday morning in the Mount Rose Cemetery, with Jason Surber, R.T Surber, Eugene Surber, Ricky Surber and Richard Surber acting as pallbearers. D.R. Henderson Funeral Home of Saltville is serving the Cecil family. H.M. Denton Sr. BRISTOL, Tenn. – Mr. H.M. Denton Sr., age 85, died on Saturday, June 12, 2004, at the James H. Quillen Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Mountain Home, Tenn. He was born in Montgomery City, Mo., but lived most of his life in Bristol Tennessee. He was the son of the late Earl and Maude Denton. Mr. Denton retired from Capitol Insulation and was a World War II Army veteran. He was an active member and past deacon of the Central Holston Christian Church. He devoted 50 years as trustee of the Shipley Cemetery Association. He was a supporter of the Hickory Tree Fire Department, a past member of the South Holston Ruritan Club and one of the founders of the South Holston Little League. Mr. Denton was an avid woodworker after his retirement. Many of his woodworking pieces have brought much happiness and fond memories with people near and far. He was preceded in death by one son-in-law, Kenneth E. Gentry, and one granddaughter, Angela Gentry Goins. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Hazel Shipley Denton; two sons and daughters-in-law, James Edward (Eddie) and Levon Denton and Henry and Pam Denton, Bristol Tennessee; two daughters, Sandra Gentry, Bristol Tennessee, and Donita Denton, Johnson City; seven grandchildren, Jackie Wilson, Brett Denton, Teresa White, Marty Denton, Kevin Denton, Brandi Smith and Sandi Denton; five great-granddaughters, Laken Gentry, Katelyn Morrell, Grayson White and Taylor and Skylar Wilson, and one great-grandson, Austin Smith. He is also survived by one sister, Earlyne Griffin, Columbia, S.C.; one brother, Earl E. Denton Jr., Woodbridge, Va., and several nieces and nephews. Also, he is survived by a very special family friend, Judy Cole. Funeral services will be held at the Weaver Funeral Home Chapel at 6 p.m. June 15, 2004, with Ken Kehrer, Niles Kitzmiller and Wayne Emery officiating. Committal service will be conducted at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, June 16, 2004, in the Shipley Cemetery, with Eugene Brockley officiating. Military honors will be conducted by the Highlands Fellowship Veterans Honor Color Guard. Pallbearers will be grandsons and grandsons-in-law: Brett Denton, Marty Denton, Kevin Denton, Jeff Wilson, Phillip White, Alan Goins and Aaron Smith, and loving family friend, Jeff Mahaffey. Honorary pallbearers will be Sam Long, Gary Shipley, Jimmy Shipley, Lee Jefferson, J.D. Morrell, J.C. Perry, Earnest Morrell, W.D. O’Dell, Monroe Campbell, Clifford Arnold, Wayne Lockner, Paul Carlyle, Charles Booher, Earl Booher, Eugene Booher, Steve Meredith, Steven Gillenwater, Phil Booher and Colman Hockett. Online condolences may be registered at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. The family will receive friends following the funeral service and any time at the home of H. and Hazel, 1699 Hickory Tree Road, Bristol, Tenn. In lieu of flowers, the family requested donations to Central Holston Christian Church Building Fund or Shipley Cemetery Association. Melinda Liz Dotson CLINTWOOD – Melinda Liz Dotson, age 42, died at Dickenson Community Hospital on Sunday, June 13, 2004. A lifelong resident of Dickenson County, she was a 1979 graduate of Clintwood High School and a graduate of Mountain Empire Community College. She was an employee of the Dickenson County Health Department, where she worked as a registered nurse, and member of the Clintwood Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by grandparents, Bill and Ava Stanley and Lacy E. Davis. Surviving are her husband, Ricky Dotson, Clintwood; her daughter and son-in-law, Annabelle and Johnny Pennell of Clintwood; her mother, Frances Kay Chase and husband Charles, Wytheville; her father, Bobby Stanley and wife Louella of Clintwood; three brothers, Bobby Kerns Stanley and wife Evon, William Lacy Stanley and wife Carolyn and Doug Stanley and wife Jan, all of Clintwood; one sister, Kim Stanley and Jerry, Wytheville, and several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. Her grandmother, Alma S. Davis also survives. Graveside services will be Tuesday morning, June 15, at 11 a.m. in the Phipps Memorial Cemetery. Active pallbearers are Doug Stanley, Bill Lacy Stanley, K.H. Dotson, Roger Dotson, Bobby Kerns Stanley and Danny Dotson. Sammy Dotson and nephews will serve as honorary pallbearers. Family and friends will meet at the church at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday to form the procession to the cemetery. Clintwood Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Lillian Wolfe Dye MEADOWVIEW – Mrs. Lillian Wolfe Dye, age 85, died at her home Sunday, June 13, 2004. She lived in the Blackwell Chapel community and was a member of Fletcher’s Chapel Church. She is survived by her husband, Clarence H. Dye; three sons, Charles H. Dye, Bristol Virginia, and Alvin H. Dye and Bobbie H. Dye, both of Meadowview; two daughters, Dorothy Denzau of Abingdon and Reatha Horton of Meadowview; three brothers, Lenvel H. Wolfe and Roy Wolfe, both of Abingdon, and Eskel Wolfe of Speedwell, Va.; two half-brothers, Dempsey Sykes, Richmond and Gifford Sykes, Bassett, Va.; one half-sister, Lola Prater, Meadowview; nine grandchildren; and five great- grandchildren. Funeral services for Mrs. Lillian Wolfe Dye will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 16, 2004, at Farris Funeral Chapel, with Ministers Havis Crawford and Ronald Matney officiating. Burial will follow in Blackwell Chapel Cemetery. Grandsons and grandsons-in-law will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Farris Funeral Service, Main Street Chapel, in Abingdon. The family wants to thank Dr. Forrest Swan, Dr. Anthony DeSalvo, Dr. Martin Monohan and Lisa Cregger for the care and compassion extended to Mrs. Dye. Those who wish to send a message of sympathy online may do so at farrisfuneralservice.com. Farris Funeral Service is serving the family of Mrs. Lillian Dye. Tommy Louis Graves BRISTOL, Va. – The family of Tommy L. Graves will receive friends from 11 o’clock until 12:45, Wednesday, June 16 , 2004, at Oakley-Cook Funeral Home. The funeral service will be conducted at 1 o’clock, with Rev. C. Danny Johnson officiating. Honorary pallbearers will be Ricky Payne, "Fat Boy," John Morrison and Burrell Brigham. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to American Diabetes Association, 4205 Hillsboro Road, Suite 200, Nashville, TN 37215-9805. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family by visiting www.oakley-cook.com. Tommy Louis Graves, 52, died Saturday, June 12, 2004, at Bristol Regional Medical Center. Mr. Graves and his family are in the care of Oakley-Cook Funeral Home and Crematory, 2223 Volunteer Parkway, Bristol, Tenn. Ester B. Hall BRISTOL, Tenn. – Funeral services for Ester B. Hall will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 15, 2004, in the Weaver Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Dennis Burnette officiating. Burial will follow in the Valley View Cemetery. Pallbearers will be family. Online condolences may be registered at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Ester B. Hall, age 90, went to be with the Lord, Friday, June 11, 2004, in the Wellmont Hospice House. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Thelma R. Houck MARION – Thelma R. Houck, age 86, died Monday, June 14, 2004, in Johnston Memorial Hospital, Abingdon. Survivors and funeral arrangements will be announced later by Seaver-Brown Funeral Service and Crematory. Sophia Leonard BRISTOL, Tenn. – Sophia McQueen Boling Leonard, age 81, of 108 Neal Drive, passed away Saturday, June 12, 2004, in the Bristol Regional Medical Center. She was born June 1, 1923, and was a lifelong resident of the Bristol area. She was a homemaker, of the Baptist faith and was the widow of Dana Leonard. Survivors include: two sons, Bill Leonard and Tom Leonard; three grandchildren, Shannon Cresong and husband Luke, Brian Leonard and Angie Farmer and husband Dub; sister, Evelyn Longacre; four great- grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be conducted at 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 16, 2004, in the Weaver Funeral Home Chapel. The committal will be private at the Tri-Cities Memory Gardens. Online condolences may be registered at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. The family will receive friends from 6 to 7:45 p.m. Wednesday at the Weaver Funeral Home. Charles A. Lorenz BARTOW, Fla. – Charles A. Lorenz, 76, formerly of Rockville, Ind., died Friday, June 11, 2004, in the VA Medical Center, Indianapolis. Born and raised in Hershey, Pa., he was a son of the late Charles R. and Matilda (Weisner) Lorenz. Charles was a graduate of Hershey High School Class of 1945, a World War II Navy veteran and retired as maintenance superintendent for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry’s Rehabilitation Center in Johnstown, Pa. He was a member of the St. Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic Church in Bartow, the American Legion Post 0003 in Bartow, the VFW Post 1752 in Rockville and past president of the BPOE Lodge 2471 in Rockville. Surviving are four children, Denise M. Lorenz Wolfe, Abingdon, Dr. Kurt T. Lorenz of Lafayette, Ind., Dr. Karl T. Lorenz of Livermore, Calif., and Jon R. Lorenz of Conchocken, Pa.; a brother, Robert W. Lorenz of Hershey; six grandchildren; and a companion, Wanda L. Moschenrose, Paris, Ill. He was preceded in death by his wife, Joan (Cunjak) Lorenz. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, June 19, 2004, at 10:30 a.m. in the St. Joan of Arc Roman Catholic Church, Hershey. Friends may call Saturday at the Hoover Funeral Home & Crematory, Route 422 & Lucy Avenue, Hershey, from 9 till 10 a.m. Interment will be in St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Cemetery, Hummelstown, Pa. Charles Mottesheard DRAPER, Va. – Charles Burkett "Burke" Mottesheard, age 46, also of Roanoke, passed away Saturday, June 12, 2004, at the UVA Medical Center, Charlottesville. Born Sept. 13, 1957, in Radford, Va., he was the son of Christine Burkett Mottesheard and the late Charles W. (C.W.) Mottesheard Jr. He was employed as a state probation and parole officer in Roanoke for over 13 years and as a substitute teacher in Radford from 1989-1991. He was a graduate of Radford High School Class of 1975, NRCC, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, with a BS in biology and masters degree in instructional media. He was preceded in death by his father, Charles W. Mottesheard Jr., who died on April 12, 2003; his paternal grandparents, Charles W. Mottesheard Sr. and Virginia Allison Mottesheard, Radford; and his maternal grandparents, Christopher Burkett and Lillian Taylor Burkett, Saltville. Surviving: mother, Christine Burkett Mottesheard, Draper; uncles, Jacob W. Burkett, Blue Ridge, Va., and Robert M. Burkett, Saltville; aunts, Nancy Burkett McGlocklin, Saltville and Isabelle Mottesheard Bell, Harrisonburg, Va.; and cousins, Jay Burkett, Blue Ridge, Sara Burkett Chapman, Charlottesville, Rebecca Burkett, Raleigh, N.C., Emily McGlocklin, Saltville, Frank Bell, Midlothian, Va., Elizabeth Bell Stevens, Harrisonburg and Martha Bell Graham, Keezletown, Va. Also surviving are close, loving friends, Raymond and Nancy Collins, Randy and Leslie Matney and Randy Phillips; and numerous other cousins and friends. A graveside funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Mount Rose Cemetery, Glade Spring. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday evening at the Bower Funeral Chapel, 1631 Bobwhite Blvd., Pulaski. A memorial scholarship fund will be set up in his memory. Bower Funeral Chapel, Pulaski, is handling the arrangements. Roy Lee Norman CEDAR BLUFF – Funeral services for Mr. Roy Lee Norman will be conducted Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Richlands, with Rev. Larry Ramey officiating. Interment will follow in the Clinch Valley Memorial Cemetery in Richlands. Pallbearers will be Raymond Patrick, Harvey George Luttrell, Jerry Wyatt, David Hankins, Robbie Robinson, Glen Hagy, Creed Bryant and Paul Cook. Friends may call at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands after 6 p.m. Tuesday. Those wishing to express sympathy online may do so at www.hurstscottfuneralhomes.com. Mr. Roy Lee Norman, age 72, of the Baptist Valley section, passed away Saturday, June 12, 2004, in a Richlands hospital, following a lengthy illness. Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands is in charge of arrangements. Edna Parks MARION – Mrs. Edna Parks, age 66, passed away Sunday, June 13, 2004, at the Valley Health Care Center in Chilhowie. She was born in Washington County, Va., to the late J. Lacy and Margaret Miles, and will be greatly missed by all who knew her. Survivors include: husband, William Roger Parks, Abingdon; two daughters and sons-in-law, Rebecca Clay and Todd Christensen, Richmond and Rita and Wayne Griffen, Staunton, Va.; seven grandchildren; and many friends also survive. At the request of the family, funeral services and burial will be private. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.bradleysfh.com. Bradley’s Funeral Home, Marion, is serving the family of Mrs. Parks. Ruby Weaver The funeral service for Ruby E. Blackburn Weaver will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 15, at the graveside in East Lawn Memorial Park Mausoleum Chapel, with Rev. Dwight Shaffer and Mr. Leland Houser, minister, officiating. Entombment will follow. There will be no formal visitation, however, friends may call or visit the home of Mary Lou and Marlin Weaver at any time. Friends may also visit at Akard Funeral Home for visitor registration until an hour before the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Wellmont Hospice House, 280 Steele’s Rd., Bristol, TN 37620, or Blountville Christian Church, P.O. Box 528, Blountville, TN 37617. E-mail condolences may be sent to the family at akardfh@peercom.net. Ruby E. Blackburn Weaver, age 89, entered into eternal peace on Saturday, June 12, 2004, at Wellmont Hospice House. Akard Funeral Home, 1912 West State St., Bristol, TN 37620, 423-989-4800, is serving the family of Mrs. Weaver. Hester Jane White PALATKA, Fla. – Mrs. Hester Jane White, age 78, formerly of Whitewood, Va., passed away Monday, June 14, 2004, in a Welaka, Florida rest home following a lengthy illness. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands and those wishing to express sympathy online may do so at www.hurstscottfuneralhomes.com. Tyler Allan Wix KINGSPORT – Tyler Allan Wix, infant son of Joyce E. Foran and Chris Wix, went to be with the Lord Saturday, June 12, 2004, at Wellmont Holston Valley. Other survivors include maternal grandmother, Barbara Weatherford of Blountville; maternal grandfather, Joe Foran of Bristol; paternal grand-parents, Diana and Calvin Harrison of Blountville; maternal great-grand-mother, Hazel Foran of Bristol; paternal great-grandparents, Carol and Herbert Cole of Bristol; and several aunts, uncles and cousins. Graveside services will be conducted 2 p.m. Wednesday at East Lawn Memorial Park. Please visit us at www.mem.com to place a condolence to the Wix family.