Register Herald Obituaries for December 17, 1999 Louis J. Burton HINTON - Louis J. Burton, 94, of 501 Riverside Drive, died Thursday, Dec. 16, 1999, in a Hinton hospital following a long illness. Born April 25, 1905, in Fayette County, he was the son of the late Adrian S. and Pearl Minson Burton. Mr. Burton had lived most of his life in Hinton, was a retired employee of Railway Express Agency and was a member of the First Baptist Church of Hinton. He was preceded in death by his wife, Clara Burton, in 1997. Survivors include two sons, Billy Joe Burton and wife, Blossom, of Covington, Va., and Edgar Webb and wife, Delores, of Newport News, Va.; a daughter, Barbara McSweeney and husband, Daniel, of Waynesboro, Va.; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Services will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Ronald Meadows Funeral Parlors Chapel, with Pastor D.D. Elwell officiating. Burial will follow in Restwood Memorial Gardens. Friends may call 11 a.m. until time of the services Saturday at the funeral parlors, and the family will receive friends from noon until time of the services. Pallbearers will be men of the First Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, donations of sympathy may be made to the Sunshine Fund, c/o Summers County Appalachian Regional Hospital, Hinton. Arrangements by Ronald Meadows Funeral Parlors, Hinton. ---------- James W. 'Pedro' Cox James W. "Pedro" Cox, 74, of Beckley, died Wednesday, Dec. 15, 1999, in a Beckley care center following a long illness. Born Aug. 17, 1925, at Ellison, he was the son of the late Wilbert Nelson and Lura Susie Petrey Cox. Mr. Cox was a lifelong resident of Raleigh and Summers counties. Survivors include a brother, Luther Tom Cox of Ghent; two sisters, Lennie Wills of Jumping Branch and Lola Basham of Massillon, Ohio; and nieces and nephews. Services will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Bluestone Primitive Baptist Church at Ellison, with Elder Bobby Hawks officiating. Burial will follow in the Josiah Lilly Cemetery, Ellison. Friends may call noon until time of the services Saturday at the church. Arrangements by Ronald Meadows Funeral Parlors, Hinton. ---------- Loren L. Craigo HILLTOP - Loren Leigh Craigo, 74, died Wednesday, Dec. 15, 1999, in an Oak Hill medical center following injuries received in an automobile accident. Born April 1, 1925, in Kanawha County, he was the daughter of the late Elbin and Gladys Brown Craigo. Mr. Craigo was employed by Eastern Associated Coal Co., having retired as a miner. He was a member of the UMWA of Morris Creek. He was a World War II U.S. Navy veteran. He was preceded in death by his wife, Violet Irene Johnson Craigo, on May 26, 1999. Survivors include a son, Gary Douglas Craigo and wife, Patty, of Mount Hope; four daughters, Sandra L. Calvert of Durham, N.D., Beverly Patel of Greensboro, N.C., Kathy Blaylock of Durham, N.C., and Tina Nelson and husband, Donald, of Oak Hill; five foster children, Zelma Reid of Mount Hope, Richard Craigo of Oak Hill, Ted Allen Craigo of Oak Hill, Sheila Donnally of Fayetteville, and Pat Deal of Beckley; 21 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Dora Young of Charles-ton. Services will be 2 p.m. Sunday at Tyree Funeral Home Chapel, Oak Hill, with the Rev. Jesse Parker officiating. Burial will follow in High Lawn Memorial Park, Oak Hill. Friends may call 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Arrangements by Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill. ---------- Aaron Joseph Freeland NIMITZ - Aaron Joseph Freeland, 68, died Wednesday, Dec. 15, 1999, in the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Richmond, Va., after a long illness. Born July 6, 1931, at Jumping Branch, he was the son of the late Aaron W. and Dora Hogan Freeland. He was a 1948 graduate of Hinton High School and a graduate of Beckley College. He enlisted in the Air Force during the Korean War, served as a gunner on a B-29 and was awarded the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Korean Service Medal with two Battle Stars. He was a member of the Nimitz Baptist Church, life member of the Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion Post 32, and Hinton Moose Lodge. He was preceded in death by one sister, Catherine Cox. Survivors include one brother, Herbert Freeland and wife, Retha, of Covington, Va.; two sisters, Etta Lilly and husband Zane of Teays Valley and Bohmer Hatcher of Hinton; eight nephews, Kevin Sarver and Bob Sarver, whom he reared, Brian Freeland, Dr. Don Lilly, David Lilly, Roger, Randy and Robert Cox; three nieces, Dr. Susan Wright, Lineki Humphries, and Rhonda Cox; six grandnephews and twelve grandnieces. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Pivont Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Arnold Cooper and the Rev. Don Hannah officiating. Burial will follow in the Lilly-Crews Cemetery at Nimitz. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be Bob and Donald Lane, Bobby Johnson, Terry Payne, Duane Rudisill, Phillip Harvey, Eugene Stanley and Frank Worell. Arrangements by Pivont Funeral Home in Hinton. ---------- Dorothy V. Gilbreath Dorothy V. Gilbreath, 75, of Harper Heights, died Saturday, Dec. 11, 1999, in a local hospital following a short illness. Born Nov. 2, 1924, at Laing, she was the daughter of the late Dan-iel Webster Thompson and Vinetter Bell Thompson. Mrs. Gilbreath had been a 50-year resident of Harper Heights and was a member of Shady Grove Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, John H. Gilbreath; and brothers and sisters: Freda Robinson, Sadie Johnson, Loretta Brown, Dimpsey Thompson, Lord Thompson and Daniel Thompson. Survivors include three sons, John H. Gilbreath Jr. at home, the Rev. Webster L. Gilbreath and his wife, Kay, of Huntington, and Delvan A. Gilbreath and his wife, Stellina, of Fay-etteville, N.C.; two daughters, the Rev. Margaret Lee and her husband, Ben, of Boston, Mass., and Cornella Gilbreath of Boston, Mass.; 14 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; a sister, Mattie Dorcus of Charleston; and two sisters-in-law, Fannie Johnson of Harper Heights and Shirley Fox of Boston, Mass. Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at the Church of God, MPG&T, Harper Heights, with the Rev. Andrew J. Durgan Sr., Elder Elizabeth Fitzgerald and Pastor Ruby Berry officiating. Burial will follow in Greenwood Memorial Park, Beckley. Friends may call 7 to 8 p.m. today at Durgan Funeral Home, Beckley, and one hour before the services Saturday at the church. Arrangements by Durgan Funeral Home, Beckley. ---------- Mary S. Greene Mary S. Greene, 63, of Parker Street, Coal City, died 8:10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 16, 1999, at her home following a long illness. Born May 7, 1936, at Leslie, she was the daughter of the late James Alexander Black and Helen Davidson Black. Mrs. Greene was a homemaker, attended the Lillybrook Freewill Baptist Church, and had been a resident of Coal City most of her life. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles "Chuck" Greene, on Sept. 16, 1998; and a brother, Lawrence Black. Survivors include a son, Charles William Greene and his wife, Debra, of Coal City; a daughter, Marilyn Greene of Charleston; three brothers, Gregory Black of Coal City, James Black of Hawaii, and Mark Black of Louisville, Ky.; two sisters, Shirley Meadows of Coal City and Mildred Schrewsbury of Oak Hill; four grandchildren, Amanda and Megan Greene and Carmen and Nicholas Meadows; and a great-grandchild, Taylor Gibbs. Committal services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Blue Ridge Mausoleum Chapel of Faith, Building No. 3, Beckley, with the Rev. Frankie Lyons officiating. There will be no visitation. The family requests that flowers be omitted. Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, Beckley. ---------- Versie Lee Mills Versie Lee Mills, 92, of Matoaka, died Thursday, Dec. 16, 1999, in a Princeton hospital. Born April 19, 1907, at Spanishburg, she was the daughter of the late Will F. Lusk and Janetta Mills Lusk. Mrs. Mills was a homemaker and a member of the Rich Creek Baptist Church at Spanishburg. Mrs. Mills was preceded in death by her husband, Nathan C. Mills; a daughter, Lana Reed; a son, Basil Mills; a sister, Ella Hatcher; a brother, Toy Lusk; a grandson, Frankie Dale Combs Sr.; and a great-grandson, Frankie Dale Combs Jr. Survivors include two daughters, Oma Akers and her husband, Clinton, of Matoaka, and Loma Combs and her husband, Francis "Penny" Combs of Cool Ridge; a son, Dasil Mills and his wife, Myrtle, of Glen Lyn, Va.; two brothers, Dewey Lusk of Blacksburg, Va., and Avory Lusk of Nubbins Ridge; three sisters, Macie Clark of Canton, Ohio, Billie Rae McPherson of Spanishburg, and Zona Blizzard of Washington, D.C.; 41 grandchildren, 61 great-grandchildren and 48 great-great-grandchildren. Services will be 1 p.m. Saturday at Rowland H. Bailey Funeral Chapel of the Bailey-Kirk Funeral Home in Princeton with the Rev. Ralph Calfee officiating. Burial will follow in Keaton Mills Cemetery at Egeria. Grandchildren will serve as pallbearers. Friends may call 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral chapel. Arrangements by Bailey-Kirk Funeral Home, Princeton. ---------- Avis Lafoy Partain OAK HILL - Avis Lafoy Partain, 70, of Oak Hill, died Wednesday, Dec. 15, 1999, in a Beckley hospital following a short illness. Born June 12, 1929, in Cullman, Ala., he was the son of Marvin C. Partain of Oak Hill and the late Lellon Day Partain. Mr. Partain was a retired educator. At Collins High School he served as coach of all freshman sports in 1955 then as assistant football coach under John P. Duda, head basketball coach and assistant track coach in 1956. He was head football coach in 1960 to 1962. From 1962 to 1968, he was chairman of the Department of Physical Education, athletic director and head coach for basketball, baseball, track, cross country, golf and tennis at Davis and Elkins College, Elkins. After returning to Oak Hill, he was assistant principal at Collins High from 1968 to 1976 and principal at Oak Hill High School from 1976 to 1978. At the time of his retirement he had completed 10 years as assistant principal at Fayetteville High School. He was a member of the Oak Hill United Methodist Church, was a graduate of Oak Hill High School, Glenville State College and West Virginia University and attended Furman University. Mr. Partain enjoyed woodworking and gardening. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean Conflict. He was preceded in death by a brother, James Thomas Partain. Other survivors include his wife of 47 years, Betty Ferguson Partain; two daughters, Leslie P. White of Lochgelly and Laura G. Partain of Canton, Mich.; two brothers, Marvin E. Partain of Oak Hill and Derse Partain of Rainelle; a sister, Betty Jean Carmichael of Elyria, Ohio; and three grandchildren, Bradley M. White of Oak Hill, Ashley L. White of Summersville, and Casey Morgan McClung of Lochgelly. Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at the Oak Hill United Methodist Church, with the Revs. James Shepherd and William Slates officiating. Burial will follow in High Lawn Memorial Park, Oak Hill. Friends may call 6 to 8 p.m. today at the church. Pallbearers will be Wayne Wriston, Harold Carmichael, E.V. Goode, Marvin Partain, Bradley M. White and Frank McClung. Donations of sympathy may be made to OHHS/CHS Alumni Association Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 462, Oak Hill, WV 25901. Arrangements by Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill. ---------- Donald F. Pope Sr. JUMPING BRANCH - Donald F. Pope Sr., 74, died 1:50 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 16, 1999, at his home following a three-month illness. Born Nov. 13, 1925, at Frewsburg, N.Y., he was the son of the late Floyd and Rose Pope. Mr. Pope had lived most of his life in Sherman, N.Y. He was a World War II and Korean Conflict veteran, having served 12 years in the Armed Forces in three different branches of service. He also worked more than 20 years at Reed's Farm at Sherman, N.Y., and had been a resident of Jumping Branch for the past 15 years. He attended the Jumping Branch Gospel Tabernacle. He was preceded in death by a son, Dan Pope; and a granddaughter, Heather Pope. Survivors include his wife, Mildred Dascomb Pope at home; a sister-in-law, Mary Dascomb of Jumping Branch; a stepdaughter, Linda Chambers and husband, Jeff, of Jumping Branch; three sons; three daughters; three sisters; 26 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren. Services will be 11 a.m. Monday at the Spitzer Funeral Home, Sherman, N.Y., with Pastor William Nicholson officiating. Burial will follow in the Sunset Hill Cemetery in Lakewood, N.Y. Friends may call 6 to 9 p.m. today at Ronald Meadows Funeral Parlors, Hinton, and Sunday night at the Spitzer Funeral Home. Arrangements by Ronald Meadows Funeral Parlors, Hinton. 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. ****************************************************************