Register Herald Obituaries for January 14, 2000 James M. Brown HOPEWELL, Va. - James M. Brown, 75, formerly of Rainelle, died Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2000, at his home following a short illness. Born April 5, 1924, in Dardanelle, Ark., he was the son of the late Alfred M. and Celpha Slayden Brown. Mr. Brown had been a resident of Hopewell since 1968. He was a World War II, Korean and Vietnam Conflict veteran, having retired from the U.S. Navy after 30 years of service. He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Rose Ramsey Brown, on May 17, 1999. Survivors include a sister, Alma Murphy of Yelleville, Ark.; and several nieces and nephews. Graveside services and burial will be 11 a.m. today at the End of the Trail Cemetery, Clintonville, with the Rev. Keith Shumaker officiating. Arrangements by Wallace and Wallace Funeral Home, Rainelle. ---------- Gary D. Clay Gary Daniel Clay, 43, of Naoma, died Monday, Jan. 10, 2000, at his home. Born April 7, 1956, at Charleston, he was the son of the late James Alfred and Emma Marie Lee Clay. Mr. Clay was a graduate of Marsh Fork High School. Survivors include three sisters, Emma Harris and husband, Carl, Etta Cook and husband, Forest Jr., and Cynthia Clay, all of Naoma; two brothers, William Clay of Naoma and Dale Clay of Beckley; and several nieces and nephews. Services will be noon Saturday at Armstrong Funeral Home Chapel, Whitesville, with the Rev. J.D. Pettry officiating. Singers will be the Turner Family. Burial will follow in the U.S. Cook Cemetery, Pine Knob, Naoma. Friends may call one hour before the services Saturday at the funeral home. Arrangements by Armstrong Funeral Home, Whitesville. ---------- Willis O. Dolinger Willis O'Dell Dolinger, 67, of Sophia, died Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2000, in a Beckley hospital following a short illness. Born Feb. 6, 1932, at Princewick, he was the son of the late Roby Marvin Dolinger and Pearly Mae Taylor Dolinger. Mr. Dolinger was a retired coal miner and of the Baptist faith. He was a member of UMWA District No. 29. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving in the Korean Conflict. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Ed Dolinger and Charles Dolinger; and a sister, Thelma Nessler. Survivors include his wife, Emma J. Cook Dolinger of Sophia; a son, Willis O'Dell Dolinger II and his wife, Tina, of Fairdale; two daughters, Pearl Dolinger-Green of Crab Orchard and Brenda Rice-Saunders of Maryland; a brother, Donald Dolinger of California; two sisters, Ogean Mitchem of Crab Orchard and Fredia Dolinger of Delaware; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Services will be 1 p.m. Saturday at Williams-Blue Ridge Funeral Home Chapel, Sophia, with the Rev. David Mayes officiating. Entombment will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Mausoleum of Faith, Beckley. Friends may call 6 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be Brian Green, Douglas S. Green, Roger Plumley, Rodney Plumley, Larry Smith, and Sarge Maynard. Arrangements by Williams-Blue Ridge Funeral Home, Sophia. ---------- Vernon C. Graham Vernon C. Graham, 36, of Rhodell, formerly of Matoaka, died Thursday, Jan. 13, 2000, in Plateau Medical Center, Oak Hill. Born March 19, 1963, in Columbus, Ohio, he was the son of Sarah Foley Graham of Giatto and Dasil Graham of Rhodell. Mr. Graham was employed as a steel worker for Commercial Erectors of Manassas, Va. He loved hunting, fishing and working on cars. He was preceded in death by a brother, Joel Graham, on Dec. 16, 1999; and his maternal grandparents, Alderson Foley and Della Graham Foley Lyle. Other survivors include his wife, Patricia Foley Graham of Rhodell; two stepchildren, Brenda Lee Adkins of Stephenson and Jessie Walter Adkins of Rhodell; three brothers, Johnny Graham of Winchester, Va., Jeff Graham and his wife, Deborah, of Winchester, and Robert Graham and his wife, Betty, of Winchester; a sister, Cathy Hubbard and her husband, Vermon, of Beeson; and two stepgrandchildren, Brandy Mae Lusk and Cody Lee Lusk. Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Rowland H. Bailey Funeral Home Chapel of Bailey-Kirk Funeral Home, Princeton, with the Rev. Gaylord Shrewsbury officiating. Burial will follow in Shrewsbury Cemetery at Beeson Chapel. Friends may call 6 to 9 p.m. today at Bailey-Kirk Funeral Home, Princeton. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers. Arrangements by Bailey-Kirk Funeral Home, Princeton. ---------- Vera G. Hayhurst Vera G. Hayhurst, 73, of Helen, died Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2000, in a Beckley hospital following a long illness. Born March 3, 1926, in Doddridge County, she was the daughter of the late Clarence E. and Dessie Shrader Hyde. Mrs. Hayhurst was a beloved wife and mother. She was a homemaker and of the Pentecostal faith. She was preceded in death by her husband, Willard Hayhurst, on May 30, 1975; a daughter, Connie S. Hayhurst Lestor; four sisters and one brother. Survivors include a son, Larry Hayhurst of Helen; a sister, Pansy Green of Salem; five grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Dorsey Funeral Home, Shinnston, with the Rev. Gary Dennison officiating. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Park, Mount Clare. Friends may call after 3 p.m. today at the funeral home. Arrangements by Dorsey Funeral Home, Shinnston. Martha C. O'Neill Martha Campbell O'Neill, 75, of Manor Drive, Beckley, died Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2000, in a Beckley hospital following a short illness. Born Feb. 27, 1924, at Beckley, she was the daughter of the late Harry F. and Mary Emma Hepburn Campbell. Mrs. O'Neill spent her childhood in Davis and was a graduate of Marshall College (now Marshall University) with a bachelor of arts degree in education. She began her teaching career in Spartanburg, S.C., and taught for more than 20 years in Raleigh County Schools, retiring in 1985. She was a resident of Beckley for more than 47 years. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Donna Hafer. Survivors include two sons, Jack Edward O'Neill of Sunrise, Fla., and Phillip Campbell O'Neill of Douglasville, Ga.; seven grandchildren, Shannon O'Neill, Brian O'Neill, Portland Sylanski, Phillip Obidzinski, Phillip Patrick O'Neill, Courtney O'Neill and Brandon Jack O'Neill. There will be no services. The family requests that donations of sympathy be made in Mrs. O'Neill's memory to the Raleigh County Public Library, 221 N. Kanawha St., Beckley, WV 25801. Arrangements by Melton Mortuary, Beckley. ---------- Mabel R. Ocheltree RAINELLE - Mabel Richmond Ocheltree, 88, died Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2000, in a Rainelle care center following a long illness. Born April 8, 1911, in Raleigh County, she was the daughter of the late Lake and Lula Meadows Richmond. Mrs. Ocheltree was a member of the First Baptist Church of Rainelle and was a homemaker. She was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence E. Ocheltree, in 1988; and four sisters, Mamie Caincross, Norma Richmond, Eula Dunbar, and Lura Morris. Survivors include a daughter, Patsy Martin and husband, Murl, of Smoot; a son, Darrell Ray Ocheltree and his wife, Janet, of Smoot; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Services will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Wallace and Wallace Funeral Home Chapel, Rainelle, with the Rev. James Luchsinger officiating. Burial will follow in Wallace Memorial Cemetery, Clintonville. Friends may call 7 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Arrangements by Wallace and Wallace Funeral Home, Rainelle. Elizabeth Smith MOUNT HOPE - Elizabeth "Dee Dee" C. Smith, 92, of 103 Main St., died 10:25 p.m. Monday, Jan. 10, 2000, at the Hill Top Center, following a long illness. Born March 19, 1907, at Lewisburg, she was the daughter of the late Henry and Blanche Carter. Mrs. Carter was a homemaker and was of the Methodist faith. She was preceded in death by her husband, E.C. Smith, in 1972; a brother and a sister. Survivors include a sister, Edna Brown of Lewisburg; a host of nephews, nieces, relatives and friends. Services will be 1 p.m. Saturday at Ritchie and Johnson Funeral Parlor Chapel, Beckley, with the Rev. Carl Renick officiating. Entombment will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens Mausoleum, Beckley. Friends may call one hour before the services Saturday at the funeral parlor. Arrangements by Ritchie and Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley. ---------- Violet L. Tennent SOUTH DAYTONA, Fla. - Violet L. Croner Tennent, 75, formerly of Beckley, died Saturday, Jan. 8, 2000, in Hospice Care Center, Port Orange, Fla., following a long illness. Born Dec. 24, 1924, at Flemington, N.C., she moved to South Daytona, Fla., from Beckley in 1987. She was a member of Grace Covenant Church, Port Orange, Fla. She enjoyed animals and gardening. Survivors include a son, Henry Lester Jr. of Middleburg, Fla.; two daughters, Patsy O'Dell of Port Orange, Fla., and Barbara Miller of Edgewater, Fla.; a brother, Victor Rose of Lambertville, N.J.; a sister, Jean, of New Jersey; eight grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Services will be 3 p.m. Saturday at Blue Ridge Funeral Home Chapel, Beckley. Burial will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley. Friends may call one and a half hours before the services Saturday at the funeral home. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers. Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Volusia/Flagler, 3800 Woodbriar Trail, Port Orange, FL 32119. Volusia Memorial, Port Orange, Fla., is in charge. Arrangements by Blue Ridge Funeral Home, Beckley. ---------- Jim R. Turner ELIZABETH TOWNSHIP, Pa. - Jim R. Turner, 68, died Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2000, at his home. Born Aug. 18, 1931, in Lynch, Ky., he was the son of the late Eugene Turner and Blanche Fortner Turner. Mr. Turner was a buyer with 34 years of service for G.C. Murphy Co., and also procurement specialist for Goodwill Industries in Pittsburgh. He was a member of Greenock United Methodist Church, where he was a former Sunday school teacher and superintendent, served on the council on ministries, and was stewardship chairman. Mr. Turner was involved in Greenock Little League and Elizabeth Forward Booster Club. He was a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School and served as president of the High School Reunion Committee. He attended and played football for West Virginia Institute of Technology. He was a Korean Conflict veteran, serving with the U.S. Army Medical Corps, with the rank of corporal. Survivors include his wife, Mildred McClure Turner; two sons, Jim R. Turner II of Mercer, Pa., and David E. Turner of Beckley; a daughter, Mary Kay Potochny of Greenock, Pa.; five grandchildren; and three brothers, Bill Turner, Bob Turner, and Jack Turner, all of Beckley. Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Hunter Funeral Home, 1600 Coursin St., McKeesport, Pa., with the Revs. David Lake and David Morse officiating. Burial will follow in Mount Vernon Cemetery in Pennsylvania. Friends may call 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Arrangements by Hunter Funeral Home, McKeesport, Pa. ---------- Rowland O. Wenzel PORT CLINTON, Ohio - Rowland O. Wenzel, 81, of East Bliss Drive, died Monday, Jan. 10, 2000, in St. Vincent's Hospital, Toledo, Ohio, following a long illness. Born Jan. 19, 1919, in Middletown, Ohio, he was the son of the late Adolf and Sevilla A. Dressler Wenzel. Mr. Wenzel was a graduate of Capital University and received his master's degree from Denver University in Education. He was a teacher with the Baltimore, Ohio, school system; he taught at Port Clinton High School from 1951-1964, and he also taught at Perkins High School for 15 years from 1964-1975, serving as the athletic director for 11 years. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. He was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, Port Clinton, and a member of the Port Clinton VFW. Mr. Wenzel was inducted into the Football Hall of Fame for Capital University. He was active in the Little League Program, and he coached football and basketball for Port Clinton High School. He was preceded in death by a brother, Paul Wenzel. Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Mabel Kristoff Wenz 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. ****************************************************************