Register Herald Obituaries for November 17, 1999 Luke Benedetto PROSPECT, Conn. – Luke Benedetto, 93, of 4 Spruce Drive, formerly of Chase Avenue, Waterbury, Conn., died Monday, Nov. 15, 1999, at St. Mary's Hospital following a brief illness. He was the widower of Mary (Fontana) Benedetto. Mr. Benedetto was born in Bari, Italy, on Feb. 3, 1906, the son of the late Michael and Anna Ludovico Benedetto. Mr. Benedetto was retied from New River Coal Co. in Northfork and Beckley, where he worked as a coal miner for 37 years. He was a communicant of St. Anthony's Church in Prospect, a life member of the Moose Lodge in Beckley and a member of the United Mine Workers union. Survivors include two sons, Joseph Benedetto of Voluntown and David Benedetto of Bristol; two daughters, Anne Marie Tiesler of Prospect and Nancy Guagliano of Yonkers, N.Y.; two sisters, Jacqueline D'Aversa and Josephine Savacchio, both of Winter Garden, Fla.; 12 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Funeral mass will be 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Anthony's Church, 4 Union City Road, Prospect. Burial will follow in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Watertown. Friends may call 6 to 9 p.m. today at Buckmiller Brothers Funeral Home, 26 Waterbury Road, Route 69, Prospect. Donations of sympathy may be made to the St. Vincent DePaul Society, 34 Willow St., Waterbury, Conn. or to the Catholic Relief Fund, 467 Bloomfield Ave., Bloomfield, Conn., 06002. Arrangements by Buckmiller Brothers Funeral Home, Prospect, Conn. ---------- Ashley S. Bennett JUDSON – Ashley Samuel Bennett, 59, died Monday, Nov. 15, 1999, at his home following a sudden illness. Born Jan. 24, 1940, in Summers County, he was the son of the late Roy and Lonnie Grimmett Bennett. Mr. Bennett was a retired member of the carpenter force at CSX Railway Co. and a member of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way. He was a member of Freedom Baptist Church, Powley's Creek, where he served as a trustee and assistant Sunday school superintendent. He was also a trustee at Missionary Baptist Church, Chestnut Mountain. He lived most of his life in Summers County. Survivors include his wife, Edith Bennett; four sons, Lindon Bennett of Kodiak, Tenn., Leon Bennett of Wayside, Kurt Bennett of Lakeview, Ohio, and David Lee Morrison of Judson; two daughters, Bonnie Bennett of Pence Springs and Rita Taylor of Talcott; two brothers, Roy Bennett of Middletown, Ohio, and Bill Fox of Germantown, Ohio; seven sisters, Lorraine Collins of Florida, Josie Farley of Peebles, Ohio, Helen Hall of Trenton, Ohio, Irene Tincher of Greensboro, N.C., and Madeline Meadows, Glenna Parker and Lucille Chewning, all of Hinton; and eight grandchildren. Services will be 2 p.m. Thursday at Freedom Baptist Church, Powley's Creek, with the Rev. George Cook officiating. Burial will follow in Bennett Family Cemetery, Tug Creek. Friends may call 6 to 9 p.m. today at Pivont Funeral Home, Hinton, and one hour before services Thursday at the church. Pallbearers will be Elvis Canterbury, Keith Garten, Jack and Darrell Cales, Benny Cozort and Sammy Ballengee. Arrangements by Pivont Funeral Home, Hinton. ---------- Stanley C. Burdette MEADOW BRIDGE – Stanley Clarence Burdette, 52, died Monday, Nov. 15, 1999, at his home following a long illness. Born April 21, 1947, in Rainelle, he was the son of Lucille and Clarence H. Burdette. Mr. Burdette was an 11-year resident of Meadow Bridge and of the Methodist faith. He was a disabled railroad engineer. Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth A. Finlen Burdette; two sons, Mickey S. Burdette and Mark Burdette, both of Meadow Bridge; two sisters, Sandy Fox and her husband, Doug, of Meadow Bridge, and Shelba Cook and her husband, Earl, of Lewisburg; and two grandchildren, Halehy and Taylor Burdette. Services will be 2 p.m. Friday at Wallace and Wallace Funeral Home Chapel, Rainelle, with the Revs. Clay O'Dell and Sam O. Cale IV officiating. Burial will follow in Wickline Cemetery, Meadow Bridge. Friends may call 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be Mickey and Mark Burdette, Keith, Chad, and Steven Fox and Kelley Cook. Arrangements by Wallace and Wallace Funeral Home, Rainelle. ---------- Junior 'Jay' Chapman ABINGDON, Va. – Junior E. "Jay" Chapman, 75, of 24060 Green Spring Road, formerly of Mullens, died Sunday, Nov. 14, 1999, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. Born May 24, 1924, in Tazewell County, Va., he was the son of the late Luther and Narcie Chapman. Mr. Chapman was raised in Russell County and served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He was a retired employee of Appalachian Power Co. with 44 years of service. He was a member of Abingdon United Methodist Church and the Wesleyan Bible Class. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth Chapman; three brothers, Kelly Chapman, John Henry Chapman and McKinley Chapman; and a sister, Gladys Garrett. Survivors include two sons, David Chapman of Mullens and John Chapman of Atlanta; two brothers, Danny and Buddy Chapman, both of Harrisonburg, Va.; two sisters, Nancy Payne of Tazewell, Va., and Nadine Compton of Illinois; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; a daughter-inn-law, Judy Chapman; and a special friend, Malissa Plott. Services were 7 p.m. Tuesday at Farris Funeral Chapel, Abingdon, with the Rev. Bill Rowland officiating. Graveside services will be 11 a.m. today at Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Princeton. Military rites will be performed by Sandy River District American Legion Post 175, Mercer County Veterans Council. Friends called immediately after the service Tuesday at Farris Funeral Chapel. Pallbearers will be Dwight Alley, Bobby Bolling, Bill Campbell, Conley Greer, Pete Montague, Joe Phipps, Elmer Rosenbaum, Steve Buston, Vic Taylor and Paul Tuell. Honorary pallbearers will be Jack Hackney, Charles Callahan, Charles Collins, Lonzo Flannagan and the coaches of Wyoming East High School. Arrangements by Farris Funeral Service, Abingdon. ---------- Ida Deal Combs MELBOURNE, Fla. – Ida Deal Combs, 85, formerly of Crab Orchard, died Monday, Nov. 15, 1999, at her home. Born Jan. 22, 1914, in Blacksburg, Va., she was the daughter of the late Alonza and May Gillespie Bland. Mrs. Combs was a member of Bowe Gardens Baptist Church, Melbourne. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Sherman Deal. Survivors include her husband, the Rev. Grover C. Combs; a son, Sherman Deal Jr. of Montgomery, Ala.; a daughter, Phyllis Deal Lilly of Jacksonville, Fla.; a brother, Frank Douglas Bland of Baltimore; eight grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren. Memorial services will be noon Friday at Florida Memorial Gardens, Rockledge, Fla. Friends may call two hours before services Friday at the gardens. Donations of sympathy be made to Health First Hospice of Florida, 1900 Dairy Road, Melbourne, Fla. 32904. Arrangements by Florida Memorial Gardens, Rockledge. ---------- John N. Davidson John Nelson Davidson, 30, at Beckley, died Saturday, Nov. 13, 1999, at the home of his mother, Jacqueline Griffith Davidson Barnett of Cleveland, formerly of Beckley. Born Jan. 30, 1969, in Beckley, he was the son of the late Charles M. Davidson. Mr. Davidson spent his childhood in Greenfield, Ind., was a resident of Sullivan Road for a number of years and had been a resident of Cleveland for the past three months. He was a dry wall finisher, having last worked for Syntex, and was of the Christian faith. He was preceded in death by a brother, Buddy Ray Davidson; his paternal grandparents, John and Bessie Davidson; and his maternal grandparents, Paris Bailey and Wavie Griffith. Other survivors include three children, John, Josh and Zachary Davidson, all of Greenfield; a sister, April Davidson and her husband, Greg Pierce, of Sullivan Road, Beckley; and several aunts and uncles. Services will be 1 p.m. today at Melton Mortuary Chapel, Beckley, with the Rev. Frank Brooks officiating. Burial will follow in Davis Cemetery, Mount Tabor Road, Beckley. Friends called 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be Danny Surratt, Randy Surratt, Dewayne Griffith, Frederick Griffith, Greg Pierce and Roger Stowers Jr. Arrangements by Melton Mortuary, Beckley. Home, Peterstown. ---------- Estelle M. Garrett GATEWOOD – Estelle M. Phipps Garrett, 88, died Monday, Nov. 15, 1999, in a Beckley hospital following a short illness. Born Jan. 6, 1911, in Cranberry, she was the daughter of the late Walter Phipps and Lottie Smith. Mrs. Garrett was a housewife and attended Gatewood Church of God. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jesse Frank Garrett; a son, Frank Eugene Garrett; a grandson, Dale Hitchcock; three brothers, Quincy, Clinton and Carl; and two sisters, Beulah and Beatrice. Survivors include five sons, Jimmy J. Garrett and his wife, Mavis, of Prosperity, Bernard R. Garrett and his wife, Amanda, of Oak Hill, Billy B. Garrett and Linda of Star, S.C., Mike W. Garrett and his wife, Cheryl, of Watertown, Tenn., and Kenneth L. Garrett and his wife, Patricia, of Edmond; eight daughters, Nellie J. Hitchcock and her husband, Buel, of Jefferson, Md., Christine E. Vass and her husband, Denzil, of Jackson, Mich., Frieda M. Dickson and her husband, Bill, of Beckley, Flora M. Humphrey and her husband, Lawrence, of Oak Hill, Madeline R. Beatty and her husband, John, of Buchanan, Mich., Nancy J. Compton and her husband, Dennis, of Gatewood, Linda L. Fernandez of Fredericksburg, Va., and Bonnie D. Angelona and her husband, Mike, of Fayetteville; a sister, Audrey Wahl of Fairdale; three half brothers; two half sisters; 34 grandchildren; 39 great-grandchildren; and 11 great-great-grandchildren. Services will be 11 a.m. Friday at Dodd-Payne-Hess Funeral Home, Fayetteville, with the Rev. John Syner officiating. Burial will follow in Prosperity Community Cemetery-Wright Family Section, Prosperity. Friends may call 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Arrangements by Dodd-Payne-Hess Funeral Home, Fayetteville. ---------- Andrew H. Gibson OCEANA – Andrew Herman Gibson, 86, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, Nov. 14, 1999, at a Beckley hospital following a short illness. Born July 11, 1913, in Logan County, he was the son of the late Levi and Neely Osborne Gibson. Mr. Gibson was employed in the coal industry for 44 years with Lorado Coal Co. and Eastern Associated Coal Corp. He had been a member of the UMWA for 68 years. He had been a Christian for 38 years, served as deacon and was a member of Full Gospel Tabernacle. He was a charter member and trustee of Bible Baptist Church. Mr. Gibson was the last surviving member of his immediate family. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 59 years, Kathleen Toler Gibson; a son, Roger Lee (Chico) Gibson; a daughter, Janet Carol Gibson; three grandchildren; a brother, Walker (Posse) Gibson; and three sisters, Anna Gibson Crouse, Mamie Gibson Toler and Minnie Gibson Huffman. Survivors include five sons, Dewey Gibson and his wife, Cindi, of Centerville, Va., William Gibson and his wife, Wanda, of Oceana, Herman Gibson and his wife, Jill, of Oceana, Eric Gibson and his wife, Connie, of Oceana and Randy Gibson of Myrtle Beach, S.C.; six daughters, Bertha Hill and her husband, Harold, of Glen Fork, Vita Reed and her husband, Walt, of Elgin, Ill., Aloma Bowden and her husband, Tracy, of Oceana, Sue Cline and her husband, Butch, of Oceana, Debbie Kennedy and her husband, Terry, of Beckley, and Trona Harrison and her husband, Randy, of Collinsville, Va.; 11 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; five great-grandsons; and two great-granddaughters. Services will be noon Thursday at Bible Baptist Church, Kopperston, with Pastor Earl Brewer and the Rev. David Cook officiating. Burial will follow in Palm Memorial Gardens, Matheny. Friends may call after 6 p.m. today at the church. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers. Arrangements by Evans and Evans Funeral Directors, Oceana. ---------- Boyd J. Irvin Boyd J. Irvin, 71, of Beaver, died Monday, Nov. 15, 1999, at a Beckley hospital following a long illness. Born May 7, 1928, in Lanark, he was the son of the late Vollie Irvin and Lillie Maddy. Mr. Irvin was a coal miner for 35 years and retired at Westmoreland Coal Co. at East Gulf. He was preceded in death by four sisters, Elizabeth Irvin, Rosie Thomas, Mary Moody and Virgie Irvin; and a brother, Vollie Irvin Jr. Survivors include his wife, Pauline A. Williams Irvin; four sons, Danny Irvin and his wife, Vera, of Hampton, Va., Dennis Irvin of Stephens City, Va., Boyd J. Irvin Jr. and his wife, Jennifer, of Crab Orchard and David Irvin and his wife, Annette, of Shady Spring; two daughters, Debbie Perkins and her husband, Ray, of Beckley and Becky Duncan and her companion, Roy, of Sophia; five sisters, Isabell Gorsky of Lester, Catherine Stowers of Masselion, Ohio, Geraldine Fleshman of Richmond, Va., Ila Mae Smith of Rainelle and Louise Bennett of Beckley; four brothers, Eldridge Irvin of Layland, Lloyd Irvin of Beaver, James Irvin of Ripley, Miss., and Franklin Irvin of Dickson, Tenn.; eight grandchildren, Brian Irvin and Paula Irvin of Hampton, Va., Jeremy Irvin and Cody Irvin of Crab Orchard, Renee Duncan, stationed with U.S. Army at Fort Stewart, Ga., Christopher Perkins and his wife, Melanie, of Salisbury, N.C., Jesse Perkins and his wife, Tina, stationed with U.S. Air Force at Fayetteville, N.C., and Zachary David Irvin of Shady Spring; and a stepgreat-grandson, Ryan Matter of Fayetteville, N.C. Mr. Irvin requested no service or visitation. Entombment will be in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens Mausoleum, Beckley. Arrangements by Blue Ridge Funeral Home, Beckley. ---------- Homer 'Oppie' Oiler Homer Lewis "Oppie" Oiler, 42, of Florida, formerly of Edmond, died Wednesday, Nov. 10, 1999, in Florida. Born July 11, 1957, in Montomgery, he was the son of the late Geneva and George Oiler Sr. Survivors include two brothers, George Oiler Jr. and his wife, Pam, of Edmond and Raymond Oiler of Charlotte, N.C.; two sisters, Diana Hanner and her husband, Roger, of Fayetteville and Ruby Jones of Ansted; several nephews; and one niece. Memorial services will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Nuttall Cemetery, Edmond, with the Rev. Paul Gene Syner officiating. ---------- Lea Zorio Pilato FAYETTEVILLE – Lea Zorio Pilato, 83, died Tuesday, Nov. 16, 1999, in a Beckley hospital following a long illness. Born Jan. 4, 1916, in Lundale, she was the daughter of the late E.P. and Edvige Zorior. Mrs. Pilato was a head cashier for Ben Franklin Store in Fayetteville and was a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church, Fayette Heights. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Pilato; and four brogthers, Peter, Valdo, Nelson and Jelso Zorior. Survivors incliude three sons, Joseph E. Pilato and his wife, Teresa, Michael A. Pilato and his wife, Myrna, and George "Steve" Pilato and his wife, Ann, all of Fayetteville; three sisters, Dora Ramella and Valda Janutolo, both of Fayetteville, and Thelma Timberlake of Des Moines, Iowa; and six grandchlidren, Eric, Michael, James, Bryan, Courtney and Toni Pilato. Services will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Dodd-Payne-Hess Funeral Home Chapel, Fayetteville, with the Rev. Hayward Lough officiating. Burial will follow in Huse Memorial Park, Fayetteville. Friends may call 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Arrangements by Dodd-Payne-Hess Funeral Home, Fayetteville. ---------- Beth A. Robinson CULLODEN – Beth Ann Bentley Robinson, 34, died Monday, Nov. 15, 1999, in Putnam General Hospital. Born July 30, 1965, in Charleston, she was the daughter of Bethel Ann Long Bentley and the late Howard A. Bentley. Mrs. Robinson was a homemaker and a member of Hurricane First Church of the Nazarene. She was a graduate of Hurricane High School. Survivors include her husband, Timothy Robinson; a son, Eric Christopher Robinson of Culloden; a grandmother, O'Dessie R. Long of Oak Hill; and a brother, David Bentley of Hurricane. Services will be 2 p.m. Friday at Bartlett Burdette Cox Funeral Home, 513 Tennessee Ave., Charleston, with the Rev. James Baker officiating. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Park, South Charleston. Friends may call 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Arrangements by Bartlett Burdette Cox Funeral Home, Charleston. ---------- Mildred A. Traynor WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS – Mildred Allen Traynor, 71, died Saturday, Nov. 13, 1999, at her home following a short illness. Born May 24, 1928, in White Sulphur Springs, she was the daughter of the late Will and Ida Church Allen. Mrs. Traynor was a member of Pentecostal Holiness Church, White Sulphur Springs. She was preceded in death by her husband, John L. (Duke) Traynor, on May 31, 1999; and a sister, Marguerite McCartney. Survivors include four daughters, Mary Ann Locklear of Chester, Va., Shelia Murphy of Clifton Forge, Va., Virginia Kelly of Charleston and Sue Jeffries-Spicer of White Sulphur Springs; two brothers, Robert Allen and Bill Allen, both of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; two sisters, Lucille Griffith of White Sulphur Springs and Rosalee Hoke of Fayetteville, N.C.; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Services will be 11 a.m. Friday at Pentecostal Holiness Church, White Sulphur Springs, with the Revs. Mike Eads and Gene Sizemore officiating. Burial will follow in Mapledale Cemetery, White Sulphur Springs. Friends may call 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Shanklin Funeral Home, White Sulphur Springs. Arrangements by Shanklin Funeral Home, White Sulphur Springs. 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. ****************************************************************