Bristol, Virginia, Obituaries: Bristol Herald Courier, July 6, 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, July 6, 2004 Today's Deaths Gladys Dana Bennett, 87, Wise Mary Belle Hutton Blaylock, 94, Bristol Virginia David Cecil Blevins Jr., 47, Glade Spring Irene N. Dorton, 81, Wise Leatha Michelle Fields Kilgore, 39, Norton Edna Frye Quesenberry, 77, Blacksburg, Va. Harvel Conley Robinette, 88, Swords Creek, Va. Eula Mae Stevenson, 73, Bandy, Va. Lela Charming Staubus Venable, 97, Bristol Virginia Gladys Dana Bennett WISE – Gladys Dana Bennett, 87, passed away Monday, July 5, 2004, in the Wellmont Lonesome Pine Hospital, Big Stone Gap. She was of the Freewill Baptist faith and was preceded in death by her husband, Canara Bennett, her parents, George and Lakie Sulfridge, and two sisters, Alice Dingus and Mary Lee Olinger. Surviving are a son, Cecil Bennett and his wife Norma of Wise; two daughters, Marsha Miller and her husband Kent of Wise and Pam Henritze and her husband Tom of Kingsport; four grandchildren, Greg Powers, Todd Bennett, Whitney Miller Sargent and Kendra Miller; two sisters, Hazel Haynes and her husband Joe and Betty Jessee, all of Kingsport; a brother, Glen Sulfridge and his wife Loretta of Kingsport, and several great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be conducted 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 7, 2004, in the Sturgill Funeral Home Chapel, Wise, with Pastor Wayne Hager officiating. Burial will follow in the Bennett Family Cemetery, Wise. The family will receive friends Tuesday evening 6 to 8 p.m. at the Sturgill Funeral Home, Wise. Sturgill Funeral Homes, Wise, is in charge of arrangements. Mary Blaylock BRISTOL, Va. – Mary Belle Hutton Blaylock, age 94, died Monday, July 5, 2004, in Bristol Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Blaylock was a lifelong member of Euclid Avenue Baptist Church and was the widow of Deacon Orville R. Blaylock. Survivors include three sons, Dr. W. Kenneth Blaylock of Richmond, Rev. George R. Blaylock and Rev. Donald L. Blaylock of Bristol Virginia; one sister, Sadie Mays of Odenton. Md.; six grandchildren, Dr. William K. Blaylock of Norfolk, Va., Elizabeth (Beth) Lewis of Charlotte, N.C., Charlotte McGhee of Richmond, Lisa Karsner of Louisville, Ky., Susan Riley of Dallas and Donice Lykins of Louisville, and one step-grandchild, Kimberly Strouth of Bristol Tennessee. Also surviving are nine great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews, all of whom she loved. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 8, 2004, in Akard Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Bob Jones and Rev. Kenneth Littleford officiating. Burial will follow in Mountain View Cemetery. Pallbearers will be William (Ken) Blaylock, David Lewis, Chris McGee, Lee Karsner, Jason Karsner and Erich Karsner. Honorary pallbearers will be past and present deacons of Euclid Avenue Baptist Church. The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at Akard Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Mrs. Blaylock to Euclid Avenue Baptist Church or East End Christian Church. The family would like to express special thanks to her daughter-in-law, Phyllis Blaylock, and her niece, Marie Slaughter, for their loving care of Mom. E-mail condolences may be sent to the family of Mrs. Blaylock at akardfh@peercom.net. Akard Funeral Home is serving the family of Mrs. Blaylock. David C. Blevins Jr. GLADE SPRING – David Cecil "Weasel" Blevins Jr., age 47, passed away Saturday, July 3, 2004, at Bristol Regional Medical Center, Bristol Tennessee. He was a native of Mountain City, Tenn., but had lived in Washington County, Va., all of his life and was a son of Cecil and Jettie Stanley Blevins. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Malachi and Luvinia Blevins and Etta and Jake Stanley. Mr. Blevins was a truck driver for Worleys Trucking Company and was a member of the Wrights Chapel United Methodist Church. In addition to his parents, he is survived by his wife, Patricia Conley Blevins; one son, Dustin Michael Blevins of the home; one daughter, Jessica Danile of the home; one sister, Fiona Monk of Glade Spring; one nephew, Cody Monk, Glade Spring; one niece, Stephanie Conley, Washington state, and several uncles and aunts. The funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 7, 2004, at the Wrights Chapel United Methodist Church, with Rev. August Lageman and Rev. Paul Stanley officiating. Burial will follow in the Sunset Memorial Park, Damascus. Pallbearers will be Joe McClallahan, Lacy McClallahan, Danny Parks, Jeff Evans, Cody Monk, Gwinn Stanley and Gilbert Campbell. Honorary pallbearers Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Worley and associates of Worley Trucking Company. The family will receive friends from 7 until 9 p.m. Tuesday July 6, 2004, at Garrett Funeral Home, Damascus. Condolences may be sent to the family through our Web site at www.garrettfuneralhome.com. Garrett Funeral Home in Damascus is serving the family of Mr. Blevins. Irene N. Dorton WISE – Irene N. Dorton, 81, passed away Saturday, July 3, 2004, at the Crossroads Community Hospital, Mt. Vernon, Ill. She was preceded by her husband, Harry E. Dorton, her parents, Leonard and Carrie Kilgore Miller, a close and dear friend, Norma Pilkington, and brothers and sisters. Surviving are a son, David Dorton and his wife, MarnaJean of Whittington, Ill.; three grandchildren, Azsure Dorton and husband Andrew Hedges, Annon Dorton and Talia Dorton; two sisters, Ella Ruth Ostraski of Wise and Jerry Lewis of Winchester, Va.; two brothers, Bill Miller of Wise and Charles Miller of Winchester, and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be conducted 11 a.m. Thursday, July 8, 2004, in the Sturgill Funeral Home Chapel, Wise, with the Rev. Eddie Sturgill officiating. Burial will follow in the Powell Valley Memorial Gardens Big Stone Gap. The family will receive friends Wednesday, July 7, 2004, 6 to 8 p.m. at the Sturgill Funeral Home, Wise. Sturgill Funeral Homes, Wise, is in charge of arrangements. Janet C. Duncan CHILHOWIE – Janet Catron Duncan, 77, died Sunday, July 4, 2004, at her home. She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Gibson "P.D." Duncan, three brothers, Conrad Catron, Edward Catron and Dr. Stuart Harrison Catron Jr. and one sister, Lutie Francis. Numerous years she worked as assistant to David L. Francis, DDS and since retirement worked at Chilhowie Florist. Survivors include several nieces and nephews, two sisters-in-law, Louise Catron, Marion and Jan Catron, Bristol Virginia, and one brother-in-law, Bill Duncan, Chilhowie. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Riverside Baptist Church, with Rev. Armand Jalbert officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions should be made to her special project, the Riverside Baptist Cemetery, c/o Viola Echols, 127 Restone Road, Chilhowie, VA 24319. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Williams Funeral Home. Williams Funeral Home, Chilhowie, is serving the family of Janet Catron Duncan. Paul Grose RAVEN, Va. – Funeral services for Mr. Paul Edward Grose will be conducted Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Richlands, with Rev. Carl Robinson and Rev. Joe Gross officiating. Interment will follow in Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill, Va. Pallbearers will be Kenny Dye, Mark Grose, Randall Reynolds, Darrell Reynolds, Dick Ferrell, Carl Steele, Bill Steele and Sam Johnson. Honorary pallbearers: Vic Dowdy, Rocky Horton, A.W. Horton Jr., Fred Meade, Doug Vance, Scott Roberts, Greg Johnson and Danny Harris. Mr. Paul Edward Grose, age 58, died Saturday, July 3, 2004, at a Kingsport hospital following a brief illness. Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands is in charge of arrangements and those wishing to express sympathy online may do so at www.hurstscottfuneralhomes.com. Elva M. Haga BRISTOL, Tenn. – Graveside service for Elva Maureen Haga will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. in the Knollkreg Memorial Park. Online condolences may be sent at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to Frist United Methodist Church Samaritan Funds, 322 Vance Drive, Bristol, TN 37620. Elva Maureen Haga, age 78, of 317 Vance Drive, went to be with the Lord Wednesday, June 30, 2004. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Leatha Kilgore NORTON – The Lord chose that Leatha Michelle Fields Kilgore, 39, be present with him in Heaven at 4 a.m. July 4, 2004, after a battle with cancer. She was in the Bon Secour St. Mary’s Hospital in Norton at the time of death. Michelle was preceded in death by her father and mother, Delmar Fields and Carrie Bell Fields, was a former employee of Office Advantage in Norton, a 1982 graduate of J.J. Kelly High School and of the Baptist faith. Surviving are her fiancé, Rick Mellon, and children, Kristy Mellon, Brett Mellon and Sarabeth Mellon all of Big Stone Gap; a sister and brother-in-law, Anita and Norman Jennings of Norton; brothers, Wayne Fields and Greg Fields, both of Chicago; a niece, Heather Jennings of Norton; a nephew, Nick Jennings of Norton, and several aunts, uncles and cousins. Funeral services will be conducted 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 6, 2004, in the Sturgill Funeral Home Chapel, Wise, with Pastor Paul Davis Jr. officiating. The family will receive friends Tuesday evening, July 6, 2004, 5:30 to 7 p.m. Graveside services will be conducted 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 7, 2004, at the Laurel Grove Cemetery, Norton. Sturgill Funeral Homes, Wise, is in charge of arrangements. Edna F. Quesenberry BLACKSBURG, Va. – Edna Frye Quesenberry, age 77, passed away Saturday, July 3, 2004, at Roanoke Memorial Hospital with her family by her side. She was born on July 29, 1926, to the late Preston "Rob" and Stella Atwell Frye in Saltville, where she was raised. She attended Radford University, Milligan College and was a graduate of East Tennessee State University. She taught in the Saltville Area and Pulaski County Schools, where she met Richard. The majority of her 37-year teaching career was teaching English at Blacksburg High and Middle School. She is survived by her husband of 44 years, Richard C. Quesenberry of Blacksburg; a daughter and son-in-law, Patricia Ann and Dennis Wayne Burchill of Harrisonburg, Va.; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Richard C. Quesenberry Jr. of Roxboro, N.C., Preston L. and Gina S. Quesenberry of Bridgewater, Va.; three grandchildren, Samuel Preston Quesenberry, Krista Nicole Burchill and Justin Peter Burchill, and a sister-in-law, Alvertia F. Quesenberry of Blacksburg. Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday, July 7, 2004, at 10:30 a.m. in St. Michael’s Lutheran Church, with the Rev. John Wertz officiating. Graveside services will be conducted at 3 p.m. Wednesday in the Mount Rose Cemetery, Glade Spring. Friends may call any time after noon Tuesday and the family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday evening at McCoy Funeral Home, 150 Country Club Drive, Blacksburg. Harvel C. Robinette SWORDS CREEK, Va. – Mr. Harvel Conley Robinette, age 88, passed away Monday, July 5, 2004, in a Claypool Hill, Va., retirement home following a lengthy illness. He was born in Swords Creek and was the son of the late Harrison Robinette and Winnie Yates Robinette Whitt, both Sword Creek natives. He had made his home in the Swords Creek area most of his life and was a retired coal miner. He was a member of UMWA Local 1760 Seaboard, Va., and attended the Raven Assembly of God in Raven, Va. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Lethea Ellen Robinette, one sister, one brother, one half- sister and one half-brother. Survivors are two daughters, Phyllis Phillips and husband Thurman of Swords Creek and Peggy Hess of Bucyrus, Ohio; two sons, Harry Robinette and wife Charlotte of Denver, N.C., and David Robinette and wife Gayle of Harmony, N.C.; one brother, John Robinette of Mt. View, Calif.; four half-sisters, Lucy Webb of Raven, Juanita Holmes of Newport News, Va., Audrey Noel of Walls, Miss., and Jean Miller of Richlands; one half-brother, Ershel Whitt of Newport News; 12 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren also survive. Funeral services for Mr. Harvel Conley Robinette will be conducted Wednesday, July 7, 2004, at 11 a.m. at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Richlands, with the Rev. Max Linkous, Rev. Barry Absher and Rev. Ervin Justice officiating. Interment will follow at the Clinch Valley Memorial Cemetery in Richlands. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers. Friends may call after 6 p.m. Tuesday evening at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands. Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands is in charge of arrangements and those wishing to express sympathy online may do so at www.hurstscottfuneralhomes.com. Henry Lee Spivey NORTH TAZEWELL, Va. – Henry Lee (Slim) Spivey, age 85, died Saturday, July 3, 2004, at Tazewell Community Hospital following a long illness. Born Jan. 7, 1919, at Freeman, W.Va., he was a son of the late Samuel Lee Spivey and Fannie Woods McHone. He was a heavy equipment operator, having worked at Harman Coal Company and later retiring from Jewell Smokeless Coal Company. He was a member of the U.M.W.A. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Lillian Jessee Spivey, two sisters, Margaret Gilbert and Dolly Mae Rose, and one grandson, Bradley Spivey. Survivors include three sons, Scotty Wayne Spivey of Swords Creek, Va., Roger Lee Spivey of North Tazewell and Billy Joe Spivey of Marion; three daughters, Lolita Joyce Bowman of Swords Creek, Judith Lynn Mabe of Tazewell and Claudia Spivey of Bluefield, Va.; 16 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 6, 2004, at Peery & St.Clair Funeral Home Chapel in Tazewell, with Pastor Jason West of Varney, W.Va., officiating. Burial will follow at Grandview Memory Gardens in Bluefield, Va. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers. Eula Mae Stevenson BANDY, Va. – Mrs. Eula Mae Stevenson, age 73, departed this life to be with the Lord Monday, July 5, 2004, at her home following a long illness. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Singleton Funeral Service in Cedar Bluff. Online condolences may be sent by going to www.singletonfuneralservice.com. Singleton Funeral Service in Cedar Bluff is serving the Stevenson family. Lela Venable BRISTOL, Va. – Lela Charming Staubus Venable, 97, of 619 Butler St., passed away on July 5, 2004, at the Johnston Memorial Hospital in Abingdon. Mrs. Venable was born May 24, 1907, in Bristol Tennessee, to the late Lemuel and Elizabeth Staubus. She lived in the Bristol area all her life, where she was employed by Troy Laundry Company for 40 years. Mrs. Venable was also a member of Johnson Chapel Church in Bristol Tennessee. She is survived by one niece, one nephew and several great-nieces and great- nephews. Funeral services for Mrs. Lela Venable will be held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, July 6, 2004, at Bailey Cemetery, with Rev. Scott Ketron officiating. E-mail condolences may be sent at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Lillian Bernice Wiles BRISTOL, Tenn. – The funeral service for Lillian Bernice "Tot" Wiles will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 7, in the Akard Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Scott Price officiating. Burial will follow in Glenwood Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Kevin Wheeler, Matthew Wheeler, Tom Harris and Gary Watson. Honorary pallbearers will be Billy Worley and Sanford "Tuck" Tucker. E-mail condolences may be sent to the family at akardfh@peercom.net. Lillian Bernice "Tot" Wiles, age 75, passed away Friday, July 2, 2004, in Wellmont Bristol Regional Medical Center. Akard Funeral Home, 1912 West State St., Bristol, TN 37620, (423) 989-4800, is serving the family of Mrs. Wiles.