Obituaries

Oct 5, 2019

Norma Higgins, 75, of Dunbar passed away on October 5, 2019 after a long illness.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Grover and Nellie O'Dell; and son; Denver Higgins.

Norma is survived by her husband, Willis Higgins; daughter, Paula Day (Jonathan) of Red House; grandchildren, Corey and Chelsea Higgins and Whitney Day; and...

Oct 3, 2019

Margaret Ann Owens, 91, of Nitro, passed away on October 3, 2019.

She was born in Mahan on October 28, 1927 to the late Ira and Eliza Toney.

Margaret was a longtime member of Cross Lanes Baptist Church.

Margaret is survived by her daughters, Susanne Taylor (Lana) and Leeann Payne (Mike); brother, Roger...

Oct 2, 2019

John Meredith Kessler received his call from the Father on October 2, 2019, one day after his 91 st birthday. His work on Earth was complete and his purpose fulfilled.

He was a devoted husband to Carmelina Iannello Kessler (m. September 29, 1951) for 68 years and loving father of four children, John Kessler, Daniel Kessler, Lisa...

Sep 29, 2019

Doris Rae Fogle Nicholas, 89, of Dunbar, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, September 29, 2019.

She was born on December 22, 1929 in Grantsville, to the late Linn and Nelle Fogle.

Doris has been a member of the Dunbar First Baptist Church since 1965, where she served as a deaconess. Her...

Sep 29, 2019

Carl Edwin Pitchford, 80, of Sissonville, passed away on Sunday, September 29, 2019 after a long battle against cancer.

He was born on May 11, 1939 in Liberty, to the late Ivan John and Belva Pitchford.

Carl was a U.S. Army veteran and an avid farmer. He was a 1959 graduate of Poca High School...

Sep 28, 2019

Roy Lee Jarrell, 79, of Cross Lanes, passed away on September 28, 2019.

He was born on September 6, 1940 to the late Ralph Jarrell and Esperance Sutphin Jarrell.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by three brothers and two sisters.Roy is survived by his wife of 59 years, Alma Carter...

Sep 28, 2019

Gary Lee Cavender, 66, of Dunbar, passed away on Saturday, September 28, 2019.

He was born on April 20, 1953 in Charleston, to the late Lester and Grace Cavender.

Gary was a baseball fan and a super fan of the New York Yankees and the West Virginia Mountaineers. He was heavily involved in the Dunbar...

Sep 23, 2019

Forrest G. Stephens, 36, of Charleston passed away suddenly on September 23, 2019.

He enjoyed church and visiting his family.

Forrest was preceded in death by his parents, Forrest and Anna Mae Stephens; and brother, Robert Kinsley.

He is survived by his brother, Matthew Kinsley and his wife, Sonya; sister, Pam Higginbotham and...

Sep 21, 2019

Jerry Lee Vickers, 75, of Charleston entered into rest on September 21, 2019.

He was a self-employed and very gifted painter, and was also a former general contractor and painter for Paul White.

Jerry was a very unique character! He will be greatly missed by his family and all his friends at his building, Charleston...

Sep 19, 2019

Joshua Allen Pauley, 37, passed away on September 19, 2019.

He was a former manager at McDonalds. Joshua enjoyed working on bikes, and computers. He was a caring person who would try to help anyone who needed it. Most of all, Joshua loved his family.

He was preceded in death by his father, Billie R....

Sep 15, 2019

Sheryl Lynn Vanoy, 56, of Dunbar met Jesus face to face on Sunday, September 15, 2019, after finally winning her battle with cancer.

Sheryl cherished her grandchildren; loved her Dodge Challengers and Rams and a good long car ride.

She was preceded in death by her father, Curtis Guthrie; grandparents, Herman and Pearl Guthrie and...

Sep 13, 2019

Diana Louise Rogers, widow of Harry Rogers, passed away on Friday, September 13, 2019.

She was born on February 12, 1944. She was the youngest of four daughters born to Nellie Lucille Baker and Chester Lewis Clay.

Diana and her husband Harry were active members of their church and their community until his health prevented...

Sep 12, 2019

Joan Laura Chandler Parsons, 82, of Charleston, was taken by angels to her infant son, James Harold "Jamie" Parsons, on September 12, 2019.

Joan cherished the time spent with her many friends. She was a member of The Red Hat Society and was an avid bowler.

In addition to her son, she was preceded in...

Sep 11, 2019

Ruby Smith, 85, died Wednesday, September 11, 2019 at St. Mary's Medical Center.

She was born in Lamar, West Virginia.

Ruby was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Smith; father of her children, Elwood Jones; and her sons, Charles Elwood Jones, Ernest Gilbert Jones, and Golden Jones.

She is survived by her...

Sep 10, 2019

Lewis "Rasie" Granville Woodson Jr, beloved son, brother, husband and father departed this life on September 10, 2019 at Roanoke Memorial Hospital in Roanoke, VA.

Lewis was born and raised in Charleston. He was the son of the late Lewis Granville Woodson Sr. and Gwendolyn Ramsey.

He was educated in Kanawha County School System and...

Sep 1, 2019

Doris Parkins Thumm, 94, of The Villages, Florida, formerly of Dunbar, passed away on September 1, 2019 in Morgantown.

She was a graduate and Valedictorian of Dunbar High School, class of 1943. Doris was retired from Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation with 29 years of service. She worked previously at American Viscose Corporation and Abbott Laboratories.

...

Aug 28, 2019

Carolyn Sue Tolley Bird, 72, of Scott Depot, passed away August 28 th , 2019 at home surrounded by family after a long illness.

Carolyn was born December 31, 1946 to Ova H. Tolley and Melva J. Stephens Tolley.

She was a member of the Dunbar High School Class of 1964.   She attended Capitol City...

Aug 28, 2019

Clarence Eugene Watt, 90, of Charleston, originally of Meadville, PA, passed away on August 28, 2019, at his residence after a short illness.

He was born on February 6, 1929 in Franklin, PA, to Oliver and Peg Watt.

Clarence was a graduate of Meadville High School. While working at Viscose, he decided to attend Edinboro...

Aug 26, 2019

Shirley E. Underwood, 83, of St. Albans passed away on Monday, August 26, 2019.

She attended Charleston High School, and retired from West Virginia Uniforms.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, William and Inez Worden; brothers, Howard, Jack and Billy Worden; sisters, Peggy Raines and Kitty Compton; and step-daughter, Nellie Underwood Clark.

Aug 23, 2019

Sherry Lynn (Hascue) Parsons, 66, of Dunbar, passed away at her home on August 23, 2019.

She was born on July 14, 1953 at McMillion Hospital in Charleston to Gene and Naida Hascue.

Sherry was a graduate of Clay County High School and Charleston Beauty Academy. She enjoyed spending most of her time tending to...