Bristol, Virginia, Obituaries: Bristol Herald Courier, September 18, 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 Saturday, Sept. 18, 2004 Today's Deaths Thomas E. Ball, 72, Bristol, Va. James D. McIver, 70, Abingdon Anna J. Miller, 86, formerly of Blountville Stewart A. Miller, 74 Donald Lee Mountcastle, 60, Bristol, Va. Christopher Puckett, 28, formerly of Tazewell Vergil Lee Rose, 66, formerly of Dickenson County, Va. Anthony Mitchell Royston, 24, Chilhowie Arthur R. Rupard, 77, Bluff City Daniel Benjamin Wexler Jr., 75, Savannah, Ga. Thomas E. Ball BRISTOL, Va. – Thomas E. "Tom" Ball, age 72, of 1107 Rhode Island Ave., went to be with the Lord on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2004, at the James H. Quillen Veterans Affairs Medical Center. He was surrounded by family and friends throughout his short battle with pancreatic cancer. Tom was born in Huddy, Ky., and was the son of the late Henry Arthur Ball and Malinda Blackburn Ball. He was preceded in death by brothers, Jethie Ball, Tremble Ball and Victor Ball; sisters, Dorothy Arnold, Gil Ball, Lahoma Ball and Marie Herron; and a very special nephew, Randall Hackney. He was a former employee of Farmbest, Graham Oil and Bristol Metals before becoming disabled. He was drafted into the Army on Dec. 2, 1952, and served in the Korean War. He was honorably discharged as a corporal on Nov. 4, 1954. His service medals were finally awarded to him on Nov. 26, 2001, for his service in the Korean War. He was a faithful and loyal member of the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 40 of Bristol Virginia for 29 years, where he held the following offices: commander, senior vice commander and treasurer. He was also a member of the chapter’s honor guard. Tom loved trains and bluegrass music, especially Tim White. Survivors include his wife of 30 years, Mary June Ball; a very special sister- in-law, Sara Jane Hackney; children, Randy Stout, Debbie Watson and husband Judge Bill Watson, Gail Leonard, Tommy Ball, Regina Fields, Beverly Salyer and husband Arthur, Danny Atwood and wife Rhonda, Rebecca White and husband Rick; grandchildren, T.J. Ball, Mandy King, Tiffany Ball, Aaron Watson, Cory Fields, Nathan Ball, Missy Shuttle, Randall Stout, Sara Stout, Jessica Salyer, Craig Atwood, Valerie Eller, Ann White, Brandy Cross, Michael Cross, Ricky White and Erica White; great-grandchildren, Sydni Leonard, Zachary Eller, Alisen King, Alexis Atwood and Destiny Stamey; brothers-in-law, Lacy Hackney, Clarence Carty, Paul Dutton and John Rouse; sisters-in-law, Evelyn Rouse, Esther Rouse, Helen Carty, Jean Rouse and Anna Laura Ball; nephews and nieces, Billy and Judy Woodruff, Walt and Jeannie McFall, Dorcus Blaylock, Robert Lynn Arnold, Tony Hackney, Kenneth Hackney, Mary J. Dutton, Judy and Jeff Poore, Tammy Brash and children, Joey, Abigail, Katie, and Jeff Poore Jr. and wife Shanda and children Justin, Jonathon and Allysass; and special friends, Wallace and Carol Amos, Donald and Wave Fleenor and Elizabeth Carrier. Funeral services will be held on Sunday, Sept. 19, 2004, at 2 p.m. in the Weaver Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Wallace Amos and Rev. Roger Ball officiating. Interment will follow at Mountain View Cemetery. Military honors will be presented by the DAV Chapter 40 of Bristol Virginia. Pallbearers include Josh Hackney, Tony Hackney, Kenneth Hackney, Rick White, Ricky White Jr., Arthur Salyer and Craig Atwood. Honorary pallbearers include the DAV Chapter 40 and the doctors and nurses at the VA Hospital. The family will receive friends on Saturday from 6-8 p.m. at Weaver Funeral Home. The family would like to say a special thanks to the nurses and doctors at the VA Hospital. He loved each and every one at the hospital. Online condolences may be registered at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Townsville C. Hall BRISTOL, Va. – Graveside service for Townsville Carter Hall will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. in the Glenwood Mausoleum Chapel. Pallbearers will be Bobby Hall, Benjamin Snodgrass, David Rose, Jay McKenny, Bruce Rush and R.J. Winters Jr. In lieu of flowers, memorials may made in Mr. Hall’s name to Bradley Street Baptist Church, 2218 Bradley St., Bristol, VA 24201. Online condolences may be sent at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Townsville Carter Hall, age 88, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2004, in the Bristol Regional Medical Center. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. James D. McIver ABINGDON – Mr. James D. McIver, age 70, died Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2004, at the Grace Healthcare Center. There are no known survivors, but he left behind many dear friends behind at Grace Healthcare Center. A graveside service will be conducted Sunday, Sept. 19, 2004, at 1 p.m. in the Forest Hills Memory Gardens. Everyone is asked to meet at the cemetery. Farris Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements. Samuel Luther McVey BRISTOL, Va. – The graveside service for Samuel Luther McVey will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday at Mountain View Cemetery, with military honors conducted by the Highlands Fellowship Church Honor Guard. Pallbearers will be grandsons: Tim Booher, Clayton Thompson Jr., Trent McVey, Jeff McVey, David McVey, Phil McVey and Sam Cassell. Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Fred Greer and John Tickle. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Bristol Cancer Association, 126 Johnson St., Bristol, VA 24201; Wellmont Hospice of 280 Steele’s Road, Bristol, TN 37620; and First Freewill Baptist Church of Euclid Avenue, Bristol Virginia. E-mail condolences may be sent at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Samuel Luther McVey, age 88, of 90 McArthur Circle, went to be with the Lord on Sept. 15, 2004, at his residence. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. A. Mildred Miller CARROLLTON, Ga. – Anna J. (Mildred) Miller, 86, formerly of Blountville, went to be with the Lord and her husband of 55 years on Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2004. She was born Oct. 11, 1917, in Glen Ridge, N.J. She was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, serving during World War II. After her children were grown, she received her four-year bachelor’s degree from State University College in Oneonta, N.Y., in 1982 at 60 years plus. Mrs. Miller was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Abingdon and was very involved in Bible studies. Her husband, Robert B. Miller, and parents, Harry and Astrid Johannessen, preceded her in death. Surviving are three sons, Robert B. Miller II and wife Nancy, Kingsport, John Edward Miller and wife Lorraine, New High Park, N.Y., and Kenneth Paul Miller and wife Celia, Carollton; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren and a brother, Harry Johannessen, Roanoke. A memorial service will be conducted at 1 p.m. Monday at St. John Lutheran Church, Abingdon, with Pastor Kent Peterson officiating. Graveside services will be 10 a.m. Monday at National Cemetery in Mountain Home, Tenn., with military graveside rites conducted by American Legion Post 3/265. The family will receive friends immediately following the memorial service at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Southeast Synod, 100 Edgewood Ave., NE, Suite 1600, Atlanta, GA 30303; or National Wildlife Federation, 3120 Wildlife Center Drive, Reston, VA 20190. E-mail condolences may be sent at hamlettdobson@charter.net. Stewart A. Miller Stewart A. Miller left this life on Friday, Aug. 20, 2004, at the home of his son, Bradley Miller of Tacoma, Wash. He was 74 years old. He was buried at Tahoma National Cemetery in Washington State on Aug. 24, 2004. Stew grew up in Seattle, served as a combat surgical tech in the Korean War and graduated from the University of Washington. He did graduate work at the University of Puget Sound. He and Joyce, his wife of 51 years, enjoyed the blessing of eight children, six surviving: Bradley Stewart, Tacoma, Richard Avery, Orlando, Fla., Andrea Jeane, Potlatch, Idaho, Beren Joye, Rural Retreat, Va., Rebecca Catherine, Grand Rapids, Mich., and Jennifer Elisabeth, Marion. Joyce also survives. Preceding him in death were his parents, brother, Robert, son, Paul Cameron, and daughter, Therese Louise. Stew’s professional life was spent in the defense industry, having worked at Boeing Aircraft Company and Heath Tecna in Seattle and Brunswick Corp. in Marion. He and his family lived in Rural Retreat for 25 years. He was a committed Christian and joyfully served as an elder in the Bible Presbyterian Church and the Presbyterian Church of America. He taught adult Sunday School for many years. He served on the Rural Retreat town council also. Stewart loved Virginia and many family and friends here, considering it his home. A memorial service will be held at Seven Springs Presbyterian Church in Glade Spring on Saturday, Sept. 25, at 3 p.m., with Rev. Tom Sullivan officiating. (Glade Spring, Damascus, Exit 29, turn toward Glade on SR 91 (Maple Ave.) to Old Mill Road, follow Old Mill Road about one mile, church is on the right.) Visit online guest book at www.mem.com. Donald Mountcastle BRISTOL, Va. – Donald Lee Mountcastle, age 60, went to be with his Lord, Thursday, Sept. 16, 2004, in the Quillen Dishner VA Medical Center. He was born Feb. 29, 1944, in Danville, Va., and was a son of the late Harry and Clara Belle Mountcastle. He was a lifelong resident of Bristol and was a truck driver for 37 years. He was a U.S. Army veteran and was a member of the American Legion of Bristol Tennessee. He was an avid fisherman and attended Fellowship Chapel. Survivors include wife, Barbara Mountcastle; son, Andrew "Andy" Mountcastle, Bluff City; daughters, Tracy Waddell, Blountville and Tammy Mountcastle Sykes and husband Greg, Beaufort, S.C.; brother, Herman "Dooney" Mountcastle, Danville; stepbrother, Hobert Statzer; stepsister, Hilda Osteber; three grandchildren; several nieces and a nephew. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 20, 2004, in the Weaver Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Scott Price and Rev. Bryan Hall officiating. Burial will follow in the National Cemetery, with military honors conducted by the Highlands Fellowship Church Honor Color Guard. Online condolences may be registered at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the Weaver Funeral Home. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Junior Mullins WISE – Funeral services for Junior Mullins will be conducted 2 p.m. Saturday in Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in the Hensley-Addington Cemetery. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.hagyfawbush.com. Junior Mullins, 64, died Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2004, at Norton Community Hospital. Marlena Jan Pruitt ABINGDON – Funeral services for Marlena Jan (Marnie) Pruitt will be held Saturday, Sept. 18, 2004, at 2 p.m. at Farris Funeral Service, 427 East Main St., Abingdon. Pallbearers will be Roger Goodson, Kevin Carter, Kevin Caudill, Chuck Sexton, Roy Minnick and Josh Dickenson. Interment will follow in Forest Hills Memory Gardens. Those wishing to express online sympathy may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com. Marlena Jan (Marnie) Pruitt passed away Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2004, from injuries she received in an automobile accident. Christopher Puckett LORTON, Va. – Mr. Christopher (Chris) Puckett, age 28, formerly of Tazewell, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2004, in an Alexandria, Va., hospital, following a lengthy illness. Born in Tazewell County, he was the son of Charles M. and Brenda Boyd Puckett of Tazewell. He was a 1994 graduate of Tazewell High School. He was a U.S. Army veteran. Chris was a self-employed computer programmer. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Charles L. and Ada G. Puckett and Isaac and Gertie Boyd. In addition to his parents, he is survived by one sister, Melissa Lee Cline and husband Ricky of Tazewell; one brother, Michael Todd Puckett and wife Diana of Richlands; three special nieces, Morgan Nichole Clifton and Courtney Leah Cline, both of Tazewell, and Cheyenne Brooke Lambert of Richlands; special aunt, Gladys Dalton and husband Claude of Tazewell; and several aunts, uncles and cousins also survive. Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 19, 2004, at Singleton Funeral Service Chapel in Cedar Bluff, with Rev. Ralph Horton officiating. Burial will follow in the Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill, Va. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers. Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday at Singleton Funeral Service in Cedar Bluff. Online condolences may be sent to the family by going to www.singletonfuneralservice.com. Singleton Funeral Service is serving the Puckett family. Millard Ellis Rhea SALTVILLE – Mr. Millard Ellis Rhea, age 76, died Thursday, Sept. 16, 2004, in Smyth County Community Hospital. Mr. Rhea was preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn, and son, Dennis Rhea. Survivors: one daughter and son-in- law, Brenda and Mike Aker, Saltville; two brothers, Ronald Rhea, Saltville, and Donald Rhea, Saltville; one grandson, Brandon Aker; two granddaughters, Tonya Rhea and Darla Stone; and two great- grandchildren. Graveside services for Mr. Millard E. Rhea will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 19, 2004, in the Elizabeth Cemetery, with the Rev. Shirley Carter officiating. The family will receive friends from 6 till 8 p.m. Saturday at the D.R. Henderson Funeral Home. D.R. Henderson Funeral Home of Saltville is serving the Rhea family. Vergil Lee Rose DICKENSON COUNTY, Va. – Vergil Lee Rose, age 66, formerly of Caney Ridge section, died at Hillside Health Care on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2004, after a lengthy illness. Born in Clinchco, Va., he was the son of William Swin and Callie Ratliff Rose. Other than his parents, his grandparents, Willie Ray and Sindusta Ratliff and Hiram and Mary Rose, preceded him in death. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving in Germany. Surviving are his brother, Ray Hiram Rose and wife Shirley, Kingsport; his nieces and nephews, Anita Rose, Knoxville, Ronda Lane and husband Mike, Kingsport, Matthew Rose, Kingsport, and Barry Bishop of Johnson City; and two great-nieces, Taylor Mackenzie and Emilee Rose Lane. He is also survived by one uncle, several aunts, cousins and friends. The family will receive friends after 6 p.m. on Saturday at the Clintwood Funeral Home, with services to follow at 7 p.m., with Elders Sid Mullins and David O’quinn officiating. VFW Post 8979, DAV Chapter 35 and American Legion Post 227 of Clintwood will conduct additional graveside services on Sunday, Sept. 19, 2004, at 1 p.m. from the Ratliff Cemetery on Caney Ridge. Family and friends will meet at the graveside. Clintwood Funeral Home of Clintwood is in charge of the arrangements. Anthony M. Royston CHILHOWIE – Anthony Mitchell Royston, age 24, passed away Sunday, Sept. 12, 2004, in a kayaking accident on the New River. He was born in Washington County and was preceded in death by his grandparents, Bill and Doris Royston of Bristol Tennessee and Flossie Blevins of Chilhowie. He had served in the U.S. Army 101 Airborne Division and the 187 Infantry. He served in Afghanistan and Iraq. He was the recipient of several medals of valor, including a Bronze Star. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, a member of the Rosedale Baptist Church in Abingdon and a student at Virginia Highlands Community College. Survivors include parents, William Royston III and Linda Blevins Royston, Chilhowie; brother, Chris Royston, Chilhowie; grandfather, Charles H. Blevins, Chilhowie; fiancée and soulmate, Amber Chatham, Chilhowie; and several other family members and special friends also survive. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 19, 2004, from the Bradley’s Funeral Chapel in Chilhowie, with Anthony’s uncle, Dr. Don Paxton, officiating. Interment will follow in the McClure Cemetery with full military honors being rendered. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.bradleysfh.com. The family will receive friends Saturday Sept. 18, 2004, from 6-9 p.m. at the funeral home. Bradley’s Funeral Chapel, Chilhowie, is serving the Royston family. Arthur Rupard BLUFF CITY – Arthur R. Rupard, age 77, passed away on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2004, at Bristol Nursing Home. Arrangements are incomplete. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Billy J. Sullivan CASTLEWOOD – Committal services for Billy J. Sullivan will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 18, 2004, in Chapel of Love, 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. Saturday. Pallbearers will be Carl Castle, Wayne Dingus, Raymond Harmon, Bill Salyers, R.F. Castle and Todd Long. Honorary pallbearers will be Luther Marshall, Bobby Joe Wright, Wallace Sexton, Joe Steele and Kenny Wright. Online condolences may be sent to the Sullivan family through our Web site at www.castlewoodfuneralhome.com. Billy J. Sullivan, 63, died Thursday, Sept. 16, 2004, at Johnson City Medical Center, Johnson City. Castlewood Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Esther Thornbury LEBANON – The funeral services for Esther Thornbury will be conducted 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 19, 2004, in the Combs Funeral Service Chapel, with Adam Horn and Ronald Epling, ministers, officiating. Entombment will follow in the Green Hills Memory Gardens Mausoleum. Pallbearers will be Ron Epling, Doug Parnell, Carson Rasnake, Leonard Farmer, Jim Vermillion, Robert Stone, Johnny Farmer and Skip Ramsey. The family will receive friends 4-6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18, 2004, with a service at 6 p.m. at the funeral home. Esther Thornbury, age 84, died Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2004, in the Kings Daughters Medical Center in Ashland, Ky. Combs Funeral Service is serving the family of Mrs. Thornbury. Daniel B. Wexler Jr. SAVANNAH, Ga. – Daniel Benjamin "Papa Dan" Wexler Jr., 75, founder and CEO of Heritage Realty Corp., passed away at his home on Sept. 15, 2004, while under the care of Hospice Savannah. He was surrounded by his wife of 49 years, Louise Blackard Wexler, and his two daughters, Eloise P. Wexler II, Boca Raton, Fla., and Lisa Wexler Birch, Savannah. He was the son of Daniel Benjamin Wexler Sr., founder of Free Service Tire Company, Inc. and Eloise Pope Wexler. Mr. Wexler was born in Johnson City, and attended Stratton Elementary School, University School, Culver Military Academy, Hampden Sydney College in Virginia and graduated from the University of Virginia in 1951, with a B.S. in commerce. At the University of Virginia, he was a member of Sigma Chi, national social fraternity, Pi Delta Epsilon, national journalism fraternity, and art editor of the Virginia Spectator. In 1964, he attended Harvard Business School’s Program for Management and Development. After graduation from UVa, he went to work at Free Service Tire Company. While at Free Service, he rose through the ranks from employee, to general manager to vice president. He started in the corporate offices in Johnson City, was transferred to general manager of the Kingsport location, and then was transferred back to Johnson City as vice president. In 1974, he founded Heritage Realty Corp. as a retail real estate brokerage firm and property management company. He was a commissioned officer during the Korean War and served in the Quartermaster Corps. Mr. Wexler attended Army General School, Fort Riley, Kan., from June to November 1952, where he successfully completed the Army Officer Candidate Course; he completed the Associate Quartermaster Company Officer Course at Fort Lee, Va., in April 1953, and the Military Government Course Class 13 of the Provost Marshal General’s School. Further, he was appointed as a Reserve commissioned officer in the Officers’ Reserve Corps in the Army of the United States, with the grade of second lieutenant in 1952, and as a first lieutenant in November 1955. An active businessman, Mr. Wexler was a member of the Johnson City Board of Realtors, where he served on the Ethics Committee; the Johnson City Chamber of Commerce, on the Board of Directors of the Johnson City Housing Authority for many years, and participated in the Johnson City Little Theatre. In 1969, he was the president of the Johnson City Chamber of Commerce during Johnson City’s Centennial Celebration year. While president of the Chamber of Commerce, he received a "Resolution Citing Daniel Benjamin Wexler Jr. for Distinguished Service To His Community." Prior to retiring to Savannah, he was an active member of Munsey Memorial United Methodist Church, where he and his wife co-founded The Philosopher’s Sunday School Class. Since 1998, Mr. Wexler was an active member of the Skidaway Island United Methodist Church and the Thorne Sunday School Class. Mr. Wexler is survived by his wife, Louise Blackard Wexler; two daughters Lisa Wexler Birch (Chip Birch) of Savannah and Eloise P. Wexler (Jeff Corn) of Boca Raton; grandsons, James "Trey" M. Birch III and his namesake, Daniel Benjamin Wexler Birch, both of Savannah; granddaughters, Eloise P. Wexler III and Emily Corinne Lucille Wexler Puissesseau, both of Boca Raton; brother, Lewis P. Wexler (Lynda Wexler); and sister, Joanne Wexler Rawls (Eugene L. Rawls). He has joined his granddaughter, Sarah Katherine Louise Birch in Eternity. She passed away on Sept. 9, 1995, at the age of 16 months. There will be a visitation for family and friends from 5 to 8 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 19, 2004, at Appalachian Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held in the sanctuary of Munsey Memorial United Methodist Church on Monday, Sept. 20, 2004, at 2:30 p.m. Rev. Jim W. Giddens, Skidaway Island United Methodist Church, and Rev. Brian Taylor, Munsey Memorial United Methodist Church, will officiate. Interment will follow at the mausoleum at Monte Vista Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be Lewis Wexler Jr., Harrison Wexler, Daniel Wexler Rawls, Trey Birch, Steven B. Meadows, Joshua Wooten, Robert Williams, Lee Wallace, Alec Summers and Kenton Coe. A "Celebration of Dan’s Life" will take place immediately following interment at Heritage Realty Corp., 500 East Unaka Ave., Johnson City. For more information, call (423) 926-2123. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Skidaway Island United Methodist Church in Savannah or Hospice Savannah. Ruth Nall Whittaker Ruth Nall Whittaker died Thursday, Sept. 9, 2004. Her life will be celebrated at 3 o’clock Sunday afternoon, Sept. 19, 2004, at State Street United Methodist Church, with Rev. Spurgeon McCartt officiating. The family will receive friends immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to State Street United Methodist Church, 300 West Valley Drive, Bristol, VA 24201; and to Wellmont Hospice House, 280 Steele’s Road, Bristol, TN 37620. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family by visiting www.oakley-cook.com. Mrs. Whittaker and her family are in the care of Oakley- Cook Funeral Home, 2223 Volunteer Parkway, Bristol, Tenn.