Bristol, Virginia, Obituaries: Bristol Herald Courier, October 16, 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, Oct. 16, 2004 Today's Deaths Brice Monroe Arington Jr., Glade Spring Letha Marie Baker Castle, 91, Bristol Tennessee Anna Ruth Vermillion Cunningham, 101, formerly of Bristol Tennessee Linda Surber Hicklin, 56, Abingdon John Harvey Keen, 87, formerly of Honaker Donna Matthews Vermillion Brice M. Arington Jr. GLADE SPRING – Brice Monroe "Pat" Arington Jr. went to be with our Heavenly Father on Thursday, Oct. 14, 2004. He was born July 28, 1931. Pat was the son of the late B.M. "Pat" Arington and Laura DeBusk Arington of Glade Spring. Pat is survived by his daughter, Melissa and her husband, Kerry Cummings, Vancouver, Wash.; former wife, Ruth Ann Arington, Glade Spring; and their sons, Keith Arington and wife Tammy of Abingdon and Dr. Brad Arington of San Jose, Calif. His surviving three sisters and their children and grandchildren are sister, Doris D. "Mickey" St. Clair and husband James W., Huntington, W.Va., Patricia DeFord and John (Henry and Sam), Owing Mill, Md., Laura Johnson and James (Emily), Marietta, Ga., J. William "Bill" St. Clair and Danielle (Virginia and Olivia), Huntington and Samuel Arington St. Clair and Joan (Zoie and Daisy), Huntington; sister, Rachel Clement and husband Edward A., Lake Monticello, Va., Franklin D. Brown Jr., and Kathleen (Whitney and Clayton), Abingdon, Jeffrey Lee Brown, Roanoke, Amy B. and Dr. Winston M. Browne III (Winston IV), Boykins, Va.; and sister, Virginia L. Coffindaffer, McLean, Va., Susan and Brooks Banks (Lauren Virginia), Marietta, Ga., and Nancy and Edward J. White (Amanda Rose) Manassas, Va. Pat was a member of the Old Glade Presbyterian Church and, at one time, had a top Grade A dairy farm in Southwest Virginia. He was also a supervisor of the Washington County Service Authority. He had worked for several years as an insurance representative for Farmers Mutual Insurance Company. The family wishes to thank Hospice and Palliative Care of Virginia and a personal caregiver, Kathy Wyatt of Meadowview, for their superior care and kindness given to Pat. There will be a graveside service at the Old Glade Presbyterian Cemetery on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2004, at 3 p.m., with Rev. Timothy O. Bird officiating. Special songs and music will be provided by Pat’s good friends, Ed and Sue Thomas of Glade Spring. There will be a visitation at Pat’s home immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Old Glade Presbyterian Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 336, Glade Spring, VA 24340 or to Hospice and Palliative Care of Virginia, P.O. 349, Norton, VA 24273. Those wishing to express sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com. The Main Street Chapel of Farris Funeral Service, 427 East Main St., Abingdon, is serving the Arington family. Monica D. Bowling LUSBY – Monica Dawn Bowling, 35, died Oct. 10, 2004, at her home. She was a medical receptionist at Calvert Internal Medicine in Dunkirk, Md. She enjoyed arts and crafts and loved animals, especially West Highland terriers. She volunteered with the Girl Scouts when her daughters were active. Born May 29, 1969, in Arlington, Va., she was the daughter of William Clay Chambers and Sandra G. Chambers. In addition to her parents, she is survived by her husband, Frederick D. Bowling; daughters, Nikki Chambers and Kala Bowling; father-in-law, Robert Bowling; mother-in-law, Patricia Bowling; grandfather, J.W. Compton; and grandmother, Dollie Compton. Visitation will be held Saturday, Oct. 16, from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m., with a service at 7 p.m. at the Arehart-Echols Funeral Home, 211 St. Mary’s Ave., La Plata, MD 20646. The Rev. William Miller will officiate. A service will be held Monday, Oct. 18, at Suburban Christian Church, Bristol Virginia, at 1 p.m. Graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Monday in Frank Smith Cemetery, Honaker. Memorial contributions may be made to Monica Bowling Trust Fund. Arrangements are being handled by Arehart-Echols Funeral Home, La Plata. Letha Marie Castle BRISTOL, Tenn. – Letha Marie Baker Castle, age 91, of 417 Piney Hill Road, went to be with the Lord, Friday, Oct. 15, 2004, at the Cambridge House. She was born Feb. 8, 1913, in Cigma, Va., a daughter to the late Henry and Polly Parker Baker, and moved to Bristol in 1936 from Harlen, Ky. She was retired from Big Jack Manufacturing Company. She was of the Baptist faith, was the widow of Charlie Willis Castle and preceded in death by a son, Merle Edward Mathis. Survivors include daughter, Polly Ethel Mathis; five grandchildren, Rick, Anna, Eddie Ray, Tammy and Lisa; nine great-grandchildren; and three great-great- grandchildren. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 17, 2004, in the Weaver Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Gary Barnett officiating. Burial will follow in Mountain View Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Matt Pickel, Ronnie Hawk, Jimmy Greene and Ray Parker. E-mail condolences may be registered at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Weaver Funeral Home. Robert S. Crabtree KINGSPORT – Calling hours for Robert Steven Crabtree will be 5-7 p.m. Saturday at the East Lawn Funeral Home, and any time at his home. Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Sunday at the East Lawn Funeral Home Chapel, with the Reverend Steve Hooper and eulogies given by Dan Beverly and Jimmy Yeatts. Graveside service and burial will follow in the East Lawn Memorial Gardens in the Garden of Memories. Pallbearers will be Dan Beverly, Jimmy Yeatts, David Nothnagel, Michael Whipple, Greg Hickman, James Worley, Lyle Bisanz, Michael Fuller and Jeff Fair. In lieu of flowers, a trust fund has been established for Bryson and Carson Crabtree with the Bank of Tennessee (any branch). Please visit the family online at www.mem.com to place a tribute to the family. Robert Steven Crabtree, age 34, went to be with his Lord Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2004, of injuries sustained from a work-related accident. East Lawn Funeral Home is serving the Crabtree family. Kenneth M. Cross BRISTOL, Tenn. – Graveside services for Kenneth Marvin Cross will be held on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2004, at 11 a.m. at Glenwood Cemetery, with Dr. Errol Rohr officiating. Honorary pallbearers include Martin Cross, Greg Cross, Michael Jennings, Logan Jennings, Richard Ellis, Ernie Ford and Terry McCroskey. Military honors will be presented by the VFW Patton-Crosswhite Post 6975. There will be no formal visitation at the funeral home. Online condolences may be registered at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Kenneth Marvin Cross passed away on Oct. 13, 2004, at the James H. Quillen Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Anna Cunningham Anna Ruth Vermillion Cunningham, age 101, formerly of Bristol Tennessee, died Thursday, Oct. 14, 2004, in Bradley Memorial Hospital, Cleveland, Tenn. She was born in Hansonville, Va., and attended the (then) Radford State Teachers College. Before her marriage, she taught at Valley Institute in Bristol. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Bristol Virginia. Mrs. Cunningham was preceded in death by her husband, Winton Roscoe Cunningham; her parents, Nancy Bell Fleenor Vermillion and William Bernerd Vermillion of Mendota, Va.; two sisters, Wave Vermillion Barker and Virginia Vermillion Shankel of Mendota; and a brother, William Geter Vermillion of Norfolk, Va. Survivors include two daughters, Mary Sue Cunningham Alley and husband, Robert, of Atlanta and Nancy Cunningham Binkley of Cleveland, Tenn.; a son, William Allen Cunningham and wife, Ann, of Gallant, Ala.; four grandchildren, Susan Alley Hicks of Conyers, Ga., Elizabeth Alley Fitzgerald of Atlanta, Melissa Binkley Reynolds of Cleveland, Tenn., and David Winton Binkley of St. Augustine, Fla.; nine great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren and one brother, Champ C. Vermillion of Bristol Virginia. The funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 17, 2004, at the graveside in Shelby Hills Cemetery, with Dr. David Stancil officiating. Burial will follow. The family will receive friends from 5 until 7 p.m. Saturday at Akard Funeral Home. E-mail condolences for the family may be sent to akardfh@peercom.net. Akard Funeral Home, 1912 West State St., Bristol, TN 37620, (423) 989-4800, is serving the family of Mrs. Cunningham. Priscilla Dennison WISE – Funeral services for Priscilla "Cilla" Anderson Dennison will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home Chapel, with Brother E.R. Hall officiating. Burial will follow in the Laurel Grove Cemetery in Norton. Priscilla "Cilla" Anderson Dennison, 59, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2004, at Heritage Hall in Big Stone Gap. The Dennison family is served by Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home of Norton. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.hagyfawbush.com. Linda Surber Hicklin ABINGDON – Linda Surber Hicklin, age 56, died unexpectedly at her home. She was a native of Abingdon and had lived in Yakima, Wash., before returning to Abingdon seven years ago. She was a graduate of the University of Washington, having received her bachelor’s degree in human psychology and had worked at the Yakima drug and alcohol counseling until returning to Abingdon seven years ago. She was an accomplished artist painting with oils and was of the Baptist faith. She was preceded in death by her parents, Clayton Surber and Mary Gay Widener Surber Mee. She is survived by two sons, Samuel Nathan Hicklin of Seattle and Noah Adam Yates of Modesto, Calif.; one brother, Charles C. (Sam) Surber of Abingdon; and two sisters, Gloria Surber Delp and Barbara Authenreath, both of Abingdon. A memorial service will be conducted Saturday, Oct. 16, 2004, at 2 p.m. in the Main Street Chapel of Farris Funeral Service, with Rev. John Markel officiating. Those wishing to express a memory or sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com. Farris Funeral Service, 427 East Main St., Abingdon, is serving the family of Mrs. Hicklin. John Harvey Keen MARKHAM, Va. – Mr. John Harvey Keen, age 87, formerly of Honaker, passed away Thursday, Oct. 14, 2004, at his home. Born Oct. 5, 1917, in Buchanan County, Va., he was a son of the late Major and Tilda White Keen. He had lived two years in the Markham area, moving there from Honaker. He was a retired coal miner and a member of the UMWA. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one son, Frank Keen, three brothers, Roby Keen, Howard Keen and Garlie Keen, and two sisters, Margie Street Ratliff and Katherine Street. Survivors include his wife, Melissa Street Keen of the home; two daughters and sons-in-law, Edith and Melvin Green of Avon, N.C., and Irene and Victor Presley of Markham; one sister, Susie Street of Lebanon; six grandchildren, Randy Green, Karen Fries, Darlene Coulter, Linda Spence, Michael Presley and Patricia Keen; nine great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter also survive. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel, Honaker, with Rev. Ancil Childress and Rev. Arvil Arwood officiating. Interment will follow in the McGlothlin Cemetery at Rowe, Va. Pallbearers will be relatives and friends. Friends may call at the Honaker Funeral Home after 6 p.m. Saturday. Donna M. Vermillion Donna Matthews Vermillion went to be with Jesus Saturday morning, Oct. 9, 2004, at Wellmont Hospice House. She was born in Kingsport on March 16, 1951, and was the daughter of Wayne "Buster" and Mary Jane Matthews. Donna was a registered nurse and a member of Higher Ground Baptist Church. She made a special request, "I want to be remembered with laughter and want everyone to know that I am happy and I have been so throughout my sickness." Her parents, Wayne "Buster" Matthews and Mary Jane Matthews, preceded her in death. Surviving are her husband, Calvin Guy Vermillion, Mendota, Va.; a daughter, Candith Nicole Vermillion, Mendota; stepdaughter, Crystal Vermillion McClain (which mother called a daughter of her own), Kingsport; stepson, Shane Michael Vermillion, Kingsport; special cousin, Marcella Murry, Kingsport; special sister-in-law, Elizabeth "Bett" Fields, Mendota; a brother, Michael Wayne Matthews and wife, Barbara, Mount Carmel; and a nephew, Jarrod Michael Matthews, Mount Carmel. Funeral services were conducted at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2004, at Higher Ground Baptist Church, with Dr. Phil Hoskins and Dr. Shannon Salyer officiating. Graveside services were conducted Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2004, at Holston View Cemetery. Pallbearers were Curtis Pickwell, Dave Willis, Don Baker, James Shaffer, Maynard Vermillion and Eddie Lane. Honorary pallbearers were Don Myers, Tom Collins, Jarrod Matthews, Jason Horton, Brandon McClain and Bernard Sisk. Memorial contributions may be made to Higher Ground Family Life Center, 1625 Lynn Garden Drive, Kingsport, TN 37660. The family requests that, in lieu of food, non-perishable can food be taken to Jerusalem House at Higher Ground Baptist Church. Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Homes, Kingsport, was in charge of arrangements. J.D. Wright BRISTOL – The funeral service for J.D. Wright will be conducted at 2 o’clock Saturday afternoon, Oct. 16, 2004, at the graveside in Shipley Cemetery, with Rev. Howard Campbell officiating. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may send memorial contributions to Bristol Cancer Association, 1255 State St., Suite A, Bristol, VA 24201. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family by visiting www.oakley-cook.com. J.D. Wright, 70, passed away Thursday, Oct. 14, 2004, at Wellmont Hospice. Mr. Wright and his family are in the care of Oakley-Cook Funeral Home and Crematory, 2223 Volunteer Parkway, Bristol, Tenn.