Register Herald Obituaries for December 11, 1999 Gerald W. Cox SALISBURY, N.C. 9 Gerald Wayne Cox, 27, formerly of Coal City, died Monday, Dec. 6, 1999, at Wake Forest University Baptist Hospital, following injuries sustained in an accident. Born July 31, 1972, at Coal City, he was the son of Phyllis and Howard Cox of Coal City. Mr. Cox was a graduate of Independence High School, and received training in electrical and radio repair and vocational electronics and was a self-employed contractor. He was a member of the Oak Grove Freewill Baptist Church. Other survivors include his wife, Patience Joaquim Cox; a daughter, Christen Alexandria Cox; two brothers, Gregory Cox of Salisbury, N.C., and his twin brother, Gary Brian Cox of Coal City. Services were Thursday, Dec. 9, in the Oak Grove Freewill Baptist Church in China Grove, N.C., and burial was in the National Cemetery. This information was submitted by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, Beckley. ---------- Thelma J. Keiffer CLINTONVILLE 9 Thelma Jane Keiffer, 68, died Friday, Dec. 10, 1999, at her home following a long illness. Born July 30, 1931, at Friars Hill, she was the daughter of the late Dane and Thressie Sparks Rudd. Mrs. Keiffer was a homemaker and was of the Baptist faith. Survivors include her husband, Darrell B. Keiffer of Clintonville; a son, Bryan E. and Connie Keiffer of Clintonville; a sister, Pansy Provo of Southgate, Mich.; two brothers, Benjamin "Frank" Rudd of Covington, Va., and Selvin Rudd of Glen Burnie, Md.; and a grandchild, Joshua Bryan Keiffer of Clintonville. Services will be 2 p.m. Sunday at Wallace and Wallace Funeral Home, Lewisburg, with the Rev. Leroy Crane officiating. Burial will follow in Wallace Memorial Cemetery. Friends may call 6 to 8 p.m. today at Wallace and Wallace Funeral Home, Lewisburg. Donations of sympathy may be made to Greenbrier Valley Hospice. Arrangements by Wallace and Wallace Funeral Home, Lewisburg. ---------- Vernon L. Lambert MULLENS 9 Vernon Lloyd Lambert, 78, of Four Ridgeview Drive, was welcomed into heaven at 4:45 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 9, 1999, following a short illness, at Raleigh General Hospital. Born June 1, 1921, at Pierpoint, he was the son of the late George and Cora Meador Lambert. Mr. Lambert was a 1939 graduate of Mullens High School; he later joined the U.S. Army serving from 1942 to 1945, serving in the 339 Engineer Division in the Pacific during World War II. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather, who spent 35 years in the coal industry before retiring in 1980. He was a member of the VFW, Royal Order of Moose and the Elks. He was preceded in death by a sister, Amy Lambert Ward; and a great-grandson, Joshua Kyer. Survivors include his wife, Freda Jenks Lambert, whom he married Jan. 2, 1942; other survivors include three sons, Vernon L. "Cokey" Lambert II and his wife, Susan, of Southside, Ala., George Lambert and his wife, Donna, of Mullens, and Alan Lambert and his wife, Judy, of Mullens; two daughters, Belinda Barker and husband, Mark, of Ozark, Ala., and Sandra Kyer Cosner and husband, Leon, of Winchester, Va.; 16 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; four sisters, Edna Severt of Beckley, Rubye Anderson of Seminole, Fla., Freda McGlothlin and husband, Kermit, of Crab Orchard, and Shirley Roupe and husband, Darrell, of Wyndott, Mich.; and a host of nieces, nephews and friends. Grandsons and Boyd and Dale Cook will serve as pallbearers. Services will be 1 p.m. Sunday at Otsego Bible Chapel, with Mike Endreson and Mike Cook officiating. Burial will follow Sunset Memorial Park, Beckley. Military graveside services will be conducted by the Wyoming County Honor Guard. Friends may call 6 to 8 p.m. today at Tankersley Funeral Home, Mullens, and one hour before the services at the church. Arrangements by Tankersley Funeral Home, Mullens. ---------- Cleo M. Phillips Cleo Margie Phillips, 75, of 301 1/2 Allen Ave., Beckley, died Thursday, Dec. 9, 1999, in a Beckley hospital following a short illness. Born July 2, 1924, at Jumping Branch, she was the daughter of the late Lacy Todd and Matilda Vest Todd. Mrs. Phillips was a homemaker. She was preceded in death by her husband, Earl Phillips; and her stepmother, Dorothy Todd. Survivors include a brother, Clifford Todd of Coal City; and many cousins. Graveside rites and burial will be 11 a.m. today at the Vest Cemetery, Jumping Branch, with the Rev. Orville Setliff officiating. There will be no visitation. Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, Beckley. ---------- Corrinne O. Smith HINTON 9 Corrinne O. Smith, 72, of 977 New River Road, died Wednesday, Dec. 8, 1999, in a Hinton hospital following a long illness. Born Aug. 2, 1927, at Glade, she was the daughter of the late James and Lena Shaffer Bryson. Mrs. Smith was a former employee of Sears Roebuck Co., Hinton, and had lived all her life in Summers County. Survivors include her husband of 56 years, John J. Smith; a son, Danny Smith of Fort Pierce, Fla.; a daughter, Patricia Gore of Hinton; three brothers, James Bryson Jr. of Hilldale, Bobby Lee Bryson of Elkton, Md., and Harry Lee Bryson of Douglasville, Ga.; two sisters, Betty Westfall of Hurricane and Carol Anderson of Delaware; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Services will be 2 p.m. Sunday at Pivont Funeral Home Chapel, Hinton, with Harry Pilkington officiating. Burial will follow in Restwood Memorial Gardens, Hinton. Friends may call 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be Willard New, Jim Williams, David Burgess, and Steve Trail. Arrangements by Pivont Funeral Home, Hinton. ---------- Mark W. Smith Mark Weston Smith, 39, of "Crestwood," Beckley, died Tuesday, Dec. 7, 1999, at a local hospital. Born Sept. 20, 1960, at Beckley, he was the son of former Gov. Hulett C. Smith and the late Mary Alice Tieche Smith. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Hulett C. Smith Jr. and an infant brother. Mark, a lifelong resident of Beckley, was a member of the Beckley Presbyterian Church. A graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School, West Virginia University and the Outward Bound program, he was a local business owner and a licensed securities, real estate and insurance agent. His family includes his father, Hulett C. Smith and Mrs. Nancy Pat Lewis-Smith; a brother, Paul Luther Smith and his wife, Patti, of Beckley; sisters, Carolyn Sheets and her husband, George, of Columbus, Ohio, Suzaine Wilcott and her husband, Randolph, of Phoe-nix, Ariz., Christie Merritt and her husband, C.W., of Madison, Ga., Langhorne Lewis Abrams and her husband, David, of Beckley, Mary Charles Lewis-Sutphin, and her husband, Ken, of Raleigh, N.C., Nancy Lewis Haley of Flat Top Lake; eight nephews, Paul III, Charles, John, Tobias, Seth, Charles III, Chance and Nicholas; 10 nieces, Tieche, Carlson, Larkin, Taylor, Sarah, Rachel, Mary Kemple, Rebecca, Ann and Kate; and one great-niece, Ansley. Private services will be 1 p.m. today at the family home at Crestwood, with the Rev. Robin Debnam of the Beckley Presbyterian Church officiating. Entombment will follow in the family mausoleum at Sunset Memorial Park. There will be no visitation. Pallbearers will be Scott McCulloch, Albert M. Tieche Jr., Gary Fairchild, Calvert Trent, Charles Turner, Kevin Morris, David Tieche, Albert U. Tieche and Mark Holliday. In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to the Mark Weston Smith Scholarship Fund, c/o Beckley Area Foundation. Arrangements by Melton Mortuary, Beckley. ---------- Rodney E. Thompson FALMOUTH, Va. 9 Rodney Edward Thompson, 54, died Thursday, Dec. 9, 1999, in the Mary Washington Hospital following a long illness. Born July 21, 1945, Mr. Thompson was an honor graduate of Concord College in Athens, and he received his masteršs degree in education at George Mason University. He was a beloved teacher and coach in the Stafford County School System with 33 years of service. Students, faculty and support personnel enjoyed his wit, humor and dedication to teaching. He began his career at Stafford Junior High School followed by A.G. Wright Middle School and later at H.H. Poole Middle School. He will fondly be remembered by former students and sadly missed by all. Mr. Thompson was a member of the Rainelle United Methodist Church. He was an avid golfer and sports enthusiast. He shared his love throughout the years with many close friends. Survivors include his parents, James Edward "Jim" and Virginia Thompson of Rainelle; a sister, Francine Burgess and husband, Steve, and sons, Scott and James, of Burke, Va.; a brother, Kendall Thompson and wife, Jane, and daughters, Alanna and Kesley, of Roanoke, Va. Services will be 1 p.m. Monday at Rainelle United Meth-odist Church with the Rev. Bob Anderson officiating. Burial will follow in Wallace Memorial Cemetery, Clintonville. Friends may call 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at Smathers Funeral Chapel, Rainelle. Pallbearers will be Tom Bernardo, Don Cimino, Randy Drewniak, Joe Ocheltree, David Ripley, G.G. Snellings, and Steve Trant. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Rodney Edward Thompson Scholarship Fund, c/o Patriot Bank, P.O. Box 610, Stafford, VA 22555. Arrangements by Smathers Funeral Home, Rainelle. Submitted by Karen Monk **************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Files may be printed or copied for personal use only. ****************************************************************