Obituaries

Dec 27, 2006

Robert C. Wills, Sr., 78, of St. Albans, passed away Dec. 27, 2006 at CAMC-Memorial Division. He was a retired welder with McJunkin Corporation with over 30 years of service and loved to hunt and fish. Mr. Wills was a US Navy veteran of WW II and attended the Church of Christ in Charleston. He was preceded in death by...

Dec 26, 2006

A Tribute to an American President Gerald R. Ford

Courtesy Gerald R. Ford Library Gerald R. Ford was the thirty-eighth president of the United States.

When he took the oath of office on August 9, 1974, he declared, "I assume the presidency under extraordinary circumstances…this is an hour of our history that troubles our minds and hurts...

Dec 26, 2006

Denny Vernon Noel, 52, of Belle, passed away Dec. 26, 2006. He was born in South Charleston and was a former employee of Bob Evans. Surviving are his father, Forest Noel of Hurricane; brother, Clarence Noel of Hurricane; sisters, Ruth Ann Noel and Patty Jo Noel of Hurricane. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Keller...

Dec 23, 2006

James Ernest "J.E." Johnson, 52, of Dunbar, died at home surrounded by his family on Saturday, December 23, 2006, after a long illness. J.E. was born on April 8, 1954, the son of the late Arthur and Anna Myrtle Johnson. J.E. attended Dunbar High School and was previously employed by K-Mart, Loomis Fargo and the State of W. Va. The...

Dec 22, 2006

James H. Swain, 85, of Dunbar, went to be with the Lord on Dec. 22, 2006. He was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Helen Swain and also by his son, Barry. James was born in Nyack, NY and after high school joined the Merchant Marines where he served as an officer. A veteran of WW II,...

Dec 22, 2006

Patricia Mae Phipps White, 60, of Charleston, departed this life on Dec. 22, 2006. Patricia was a 16 year resident of Charleston, WV. Patricia was a loving mother, grandmother, sister and friend. She leaves to cherish her memory, her daughters, Shelvy Campbell of Charleston and Renae Watson of Madison, Ala; son, Fred White, Jr. of Charleston; son-in-law, Derron Watson of...

Dec 19, 2006

William E. "Billy, Jr." Smith, 59, of Dunbar, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 19, at Riverside Nursing Home after an extended illness. He was a former chemical operator for FMC and served his country in the US Army during the Vietnam Conflict. Surviving are his daughter, Shawn Leigh Poard of California, his aunt, Carmen Nichols of Jodie, WV and three grandchildren....

Dec 17, 2006

Tyrus Campbell, 87, of South Charleston, passed away Sunday, December 17, 2006, in Thomas Memorial Hospital, South Charleston, after a brief illness. He was born May 9, 1919 near Hazard, KY. He was retired from FMC Chemical Plant in South Charleston. He was a World War II Army veteran. Preceding him in death were three sisters, and five brothers. Tye...

Dec 17, 2006

James Norman "Shorty" Covert, 67, of Cross Lanes, passed away Sunday, Dec. 17, 2006 at Thomas Memorial Hospital after a sudden illness. Mr. Covert, also known as "Frisky" to his friends, was retired from Dunbar Building Products. He loved carpentry and spent most of his life working as a carpenter. He was a member and deacon at the Dunbar Church...

Dec 16, 2006

Mrs. Lillian Juanita Fisher, 81, formerly of Dunbar, passed away following an extended illness on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2006, in Georgia where she had been living during the past two years. She had been a resident of Dunbar for 60 years. She was born on Feb. 20, 1925, daughter of the late James Bowling and Rose Harrison Bowling. She was...

Dec 15, 2006

Rev. Rupert C. Kelly, 88, of South Charleston, passed away Friday, Dec. 15, 2006, at Thomas Memorial Hospital. He had been employed by Bell Lines and retired from Smith Transfer Co. Rev. Kelly also served as pastor to many churches, including the Marlaing Gospel Tabernacle, Holly Memorial Church and the Jordan Creek Tabernacle Church. He was a member of the...

Dec 14, 2006

Ella I. Miller, 85, of Dunbar, passed away Thursday, Dec. 14, 2006, at her home after an extended illness. She was a homemaker and a long time member of the Dunbar First Baptist Church. Mrs. Miller is survived by her husband, Clarence Lee Miller; sons, Clarence and his wife, Carol of Wardensville, Milton of Hardy County and David of Charleston;...

Dec 14, 2006

Mark Christopher Wright, 45, of Cross Lanes passed away Thursday, December 14, 2006, at his home after a long illness. Mark was born on April 18, 1961. He lived most of his life in South Charleston, and for awhile in North Carolina where he was a master electrician and the president of the Pit Bull Association of North Carolina. Mark...

Dec 11, 2006

William E. Copen, 87, of Nitro, passed away Monday, December 11, 2006, in Thomas Memorial Hospital, South Charleston. He was retired from MacLean Corp. He was preceded in death by his wife, Kathleen Kyle Copen. William is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Lottie and Eddie Skiles of Charleston; sister, Claudine Pennington of Charleston; nieces and nephews. Graveside services will...

Dec 11, 2006

Josephine Virginia Howell Coen, 83, of Charleston, passed away Monday, December 11, 2006, in CAMC-Memorial Hospital. Josephine was born on January 7, 1923 in Gallia County, OH, the daughter of the late Ross and Rosa Howell. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Donald and Denver Howell. She worked as a Licensed Practical Nurse,...

Dec 9, 2006

John Dorchinez, 71, of Cross Lanes, passed away Dec. 9, 2006, at CAMC-General Division. He had been employed by Ford Motor Company and was also superintendent of production for the American Motors Stamping Plant in South Charleston. He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles. Mr. Dorchinez is survived by his son, Mark Dorchinez and daughter, Kelly Dorchinez,...

Dec 9, 2006

David Edward Bragg passed away on December 9, 2006 after battling a prolonged illness. He was preceded in death by his father, Carnis and sister, Elaine. He is survived by his mother, Elizabeth Griffin; brothers, Joe and Mike; sisters, Fran, Dottie, Donna and Carol; children, Tammy, David, Charles; stepchildren, Dollie Stump, Joey White and Tammy White; six grandchildren, two great-grand...

Dec 7, 2006

George Howary "Harry" Hall died Dec. 7, 2006 after a short illness. He was born on October 11, 1911. George retired from the Dupont plant in Belle and was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Chelyan. He was of the Baptist faith. He acquired his ham operator license at a "young" age of 79 years of age and was...

Dec 6, 2006

Viola B. "Vi" Nichols, 65, of Nitro, passed away Dec. 6, 2006 at Hubbard Hospice House after a 4 year battle with cancer. She was an administrative secretary for Union Carbide and retired with 29 years of service and was a member of First Church United Methodist in Dunbar. Mrs. Nichols is survived by her very loving and devoted husband...

Dec 5, 2006

Gerald Lee "Fufee" Carte, 53, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2006, at his home in South Charleston. He retired from KRT with 10 years of service. He was preceded in death by his father, Robert Lee Carte. Surviving family members include his wife, Michelle of South Charleston; mother Dorma Carte and sister, Mary Blake, both of St. Albans; sister, Susan...