Wise County, Virginia, Obituaries: Frank B. Clay Sr. 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, March 19, 2003 Frank B. Clay Sr. COEBURN -- Frank B. Clay Sr., 85, died Tuesday, March 18, 2003, at Wellmont Hospice House in Bristol Tennessee. Mr. Clay was a retired coal miner of Clinchfield Coal Co., a member of the United Mine Workers of America, Coeburn Masonic Lodge 97 and also a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Coeburn. He served as a paratrooper in the Army during World War II and served with the 101st Airborne Division. He parachuted into Normandy, France on D-Day and also jumped in Holland where his company was surrounded by Germans and fought in the Battle of The Bulge. He received three Presidential Citations, four Arrows for four major battles, also Croix de Guerre from France and the Bronze Star for bravery. He spent five years in the Army and two and one half years in the European War Zone. Mr. Clay was very active in the Democratic Party, served on the Wise County Board of Supervisors from 1984-1987, served on the advisory board of Division of Mined Land Reclamation and also the Wise County Public Service Authority. He was preceded in death by his parents, Gordon Edmondson and Rebecca Miller Clay; and sisters, Frances Clay Pritchard and Marion Clay Shortt. Survivors include his wife, Martha C. Clay; son, Frank B. Clay Jr., Coeburn; son and daughter-in-law, James D. and Mary Alice Clay, Coeburn; sister, Elizabeth Honeycutt, Ala.; and several nephews and nieces. Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated Thursday, March 20, 2003, at 11 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church with Father Tom Collins officiating. Burial will follow in the Greenwood Memorial Gardens in Coeburn. Visitation will be held at Estes Funeral Home on Wednesday after 6 p.m. where a Masonic evening service will be held at 7 p.m. Pound VFW Post 9600 will perform military graveside rites. Estes Funeral Home, Inc. (276) 395-2441.