Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 3, 1994 TAG: 9503230012
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: D2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
BAYNE, Roger Wayne, 30, of Lexington, died Saturday, April 2, 1994. Arrangements by Harrison Funeral Home, Lexington.
BLACKWELL, Eunice Godsey, 91, of the Abernathy Retirement Center, Newton, N. C., formerly of Roanoke, died Friday, April 1, 1994 in Newton. She was the daughter of the late Nellie England Godsey and Edward Glover Godsey, of Roanoke, Va. She was the widow of Shelton H. Blackwell Sr. Mrs. Blackwell was a member of Melrose Baptist Church in Roanoke and the Alathean Sunday School Class. She was an auxiliary member of the WWI veteran's Auxiliary. Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Phyllis B. Whisnant, Morganton, N. C. and Mrs. Shirley B. Bentley, Northridge, Calif.; two sons, Shelton H. Blackwell Jr., Martinsville and Thomas E. Blackwell, Fairfax; one sister, Mrs. Edith G. Lucas, Charleston, S. C.; twelve grandchildren; one stepgrandchild; 21 great-grandchildren; one stepgreat-grandchild; and one stepgreat-great- grandchild. Graveside services will be 11 a.m. Monday in Evergreen Burial Park. The Rev. Paul Turner will officiate. The family will receive friends at Oakey's South Chapel 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday, April 3, 1994.
BUTTON, Sara Evans, 88, of Roanoke, and a resident of Friendship Manor, died Saturday, April 2, 1994 in the Manor Health Care Center. She was born in Roanoke on January 11, 1906. In the early years of WDBJ Radio, she directed a children's show and was known as Sally Southern. Mrs. Button was also part of a group known as the Harmony Girls. A longtime member of Calvary Baptist Church and it's choir, she was a soprano soloist. Mrs. Button and her husband, Charles H. Button Jr., who predeceased her, lived in Cleveland, Ohio for a number of years, returning to Roanoke upon their retirement. Surviving is a daughter, Kathryn L. Ray and her husband, Donald of Plymouth, Mich.; five grandchildren. Scott Ray, Kristin Ray, Katie Ray, all of Plymouth, Mich., Charles Wolf and Richard Wolf, both of Massillon, Ohio. A memorial service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 9, 1994 from Calvary Baptist Church with the Rev. M. Dennis Herman and Dr. Harry Y. Gamble officiating. Interment will be private. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Organ Fund of Calvary Baptist Church, 608 Campbell Ave. S.W., Roanoke, Va. 24016. Arrangements by Oakey's North Chapel.
COX, Cathleen Ruth, 68, of Salem, went to be with the Lord on Friday, April 1, 1994. She passed away at her home after a struggle with cancer. She was born in Radford on April 23, 1925 to the late Norwood and Mary Cox. She was employed at VA Medical Center and retired because of health reasons in January '92 after 25 years of loyal service. She was preceded in death by her husband, Claud Allen Fulcher. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, George and Maxine Arnold Sr.; four grandchildren, Harry Fulcher, Tonya Fulcher, Gina Arnold, George Arnold Jr.; one sister, Mary Lou McGhee of Ohio; also a very dear and special friend, Joseph Spencer. She left behind many friends, family and co-workers who loved her very much. She was a very loving, caring person, strong willed and determined, kind of stubborn at times! She was a real fighter! She had suffered with cancer and God decided today to take her home to suffer no more. She was a member of Masons Cove Chapel. She will be sadly missed by everyone who knew her. She was, is and always will be our Hero. The family will receive friends at the John M. Oakey and Son Funeral Home from 6 to 8 p.m. on Sunday. Funeral arrangements are pending an arrival of a grandson from overseas.
FUNK, Trula Lee, 88, of Ypsilanti, Mich., formerly of Fries, Va., passed away Wednesday, March 30, 1994. Funeral 2 p.m. Sunday, Vaughan-Guynn Funeral Home Chapel.
GRANTHAM, Ione Altizer, 79, of Roanoke, died Friday, April 1, 1994. She was the widow of Arthur C. Grantham and was also preceded in death by a brother, A. G. Altizer. Mrs. Grantham was retired from Miller & Rhoads and Sharmel Fashions. She was a member of Rosalind Hills Baptist Church. Surviving is a daughter, Mrs. Mack (Barbara Quesenberry) Morris, Pulaski; six grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; a sister, Mrs. Lincoln (Helene) Baugh, Pulaski; a brother and sister-in-law, Arko and Mildred Altizer, Greensboro, N. C.; a special cousin, Ann Via. Funeral services will be at Oakey's South Chapel, 1 p.m. Tuesday, with the Rev. Tom Stocks officiating. Interment will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday in Thorn Springs Cemetery, Pulaski County. Memorials may be made to Rosalind Hills Baptist Church. The family will receive friends at Oakey's South Chapel from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday.
GUNTER, Ruth Cox, 77, of Radford, died Friday, April 1, 1994 at Highland Manor Nursing Home in Dublin. She was proceded in death by her husband, Waford Gunter of Radford. She is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Woody ``Betty"" Spraker of Pulaski; one son, H. W. ``Frank"" Gunter of Blacksburg; one sister, Cassie Mitchell of Atlanta, Ga.; two brothers, William Cox of Claudeville, and Tom Cox of Stuart; also, one grandchild. Funeral services will be conducted Monday at 2 p.m. from the Red Bank Primitive Baptist Church on Route 103 in Stuart, with Pastor Billy Akers officiating. The body will lie in state at the church beginning at 1 p.m. until the time of services. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends Sunday evening from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Moody Funeral Home, Stuart. DeVilbiss Funeral Home in Radford is in charge of arrangements
HODGES, James Monroe T., (``Lightnin""), 74, of Salem, died Saturday, April 2, 1994. Arrangements by John M. Oakey & Son.
KEY, Archie, 77, of Belspring, died Saturday, April 2, 1994 at the Veterans Hospital in Salem. He is survived by his wife, Josie M. Key of Belspring; one son, Archie R. Key Jr. of Roanoke; one daughter, Mary Jane K. Scarberry of Belspring; one stepson, Allen Purdy of Salem; one sister, Sylvia Martin of Knoxville, Md.; five grandchildren, one great-grandchild. Funeral services will be Tuesday at 11 a.m. from the Parrott Church of God with the Rev. W.O. Myers officiating. Interment will follow in the Highland Memory Gardens in Dublin. The family will receive friends Monday evening from 7 to 9 p.m. at the DeVilbiss Funeral Home in Radford.
LAYER, Robert W., (Ret. Lt. Col. USMC), 60, of Williamsburg, died Friday, April 1, 1994 in Lexington. Lt. Col. Layer was transferred from Williams Funeral Service, Lexington, to the Bucktrout Funeral Home, Williamsburg.
MARSHALL, Eners Harvey, 82, of Floyd, passed away Friday, April 1, 1994 at Community Hospital of the Roanoke Valley. Survivors include four sons, Chester Marshall, Clyde Marshall, Clinton Marshall, all of Floyd, Charles Marshall of Willis; three daughters, Muriel Ratcliff, Lillian Gillespie, both of Floyd, Loucille Jones of Shawsville; 18 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Monday at the Maberry Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Hebron Quesenberry and the Rev. Jerry Shepherd officiating. Burial will be in Beaver Creek Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
McLARNON, Audrey Sasher, 86, of Pulaski, passed away Friday, April 1, 1994. Funeral 2 p.m. Monday, Bower Funeral Chapel, Pulaski.
McREYNOLDS, June Ratcliffe, 79, of Roanoke, passed away Saturday, March 26, 1994, at her home,1537 Brandon Ave. She was the author of ""Our Ratcliffe Heritage"", a book she wrote on genealogy in 1975. She was preceded in death by her husband, O.R. McReynolds and her parents, Ben and Lucy Ratcliffe. She is survived by two daughters, Barbara Graham and Margaret McReynolds; one son, Charles B. McReynolds; sisters, Bennie St. Claire, Jeanette Moticha and Ernestine Edwards; nine grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and many loving nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 9, 1994 at the Church of Latter Day Saints, 2808 Brandon Ave.
MINOR, Nancy Blair, 69, of Williamsburg, Virginia, died peacefully at her home on April 2, 1994 surrounded by the love of her family and sustained by her faith in everlasting life. She was born in Richmond, Virginia and has been a resident of Williamsburg for over twenty years. Mrs. Minor worked with her husband as the estate manager for Port Anne Associates as part of the team known affectionately by residents as ``Mom and Pop."" She was an active and beloved member of the Williamsburg Community Chapel. Mrs. Minor is survived by her husband of 47 years, J. Carey Minor; a son, John Carey Minor III of Richmond; a daughter, Robin Minor Sterling of Mathews County, Virginia; four grandchildren, Carey Lee S terling, Dennis Powell Sterling, Blair Bradbury Mdinor, and Rebecca Jane Minor; and a sister, Jane Blair Greer of Gloucester, Virginia. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 5, at the Williamsbu;rg Community Chapel. Burial will follow at the Cedar Grove Cemetery. Visitation if 7 to 8:30 p.m. Monday in Williamsburg Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Williamsburg Community Chapel, 3899 John Tyler Highway, Williamsburg, VA 23185 or Hospice Support Care of Williasmburg, P.O. Box 568, Williamsburg, Va. 23187.
NEECE, Ruby Irvin, 87, of Crockett, died Saturday, April 2, 1994. Arrangements by Grubb Funeral Home, Wytheville.
PAGE, Barbara Dooley, 56, of Roanoke, passed away Thursday, March 31, 1994 in a local hospital. Ms. Page was a graduate of Roanoke College and received her Masters Degree from Virginia Tech. She went to work for Roanoke County Schools in 1968 in the Business Department of the Roanoke County Educational Center as a Data Processing instructor. In 1979 she became the Coordinator of Career Counseling for the School Division. Ms. Page served on numerous state and local committees on Career Guidance and Career Counseling and was highly respected statewide for her expertise in this area. Surviving are her son, Frank N. Page; a special friend, Henry B. McFadden; mother, Gay K. Dooley, all of Roanoke; sisters, Sandra D. Fulton, Salem, Rose D. Hancock, Roanoke, Linda D. Lemon, Douglas, Ariz.; brother, Ronald W. Dooley, Virginia Beach; a number of nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers the family request that memorials be made to the Roanoke Valley Career Education Consortium, c/o Dr. Dale Furbish, Virginia Western Community College, P.O. Box 14065, Roanoke, Va. 24038. A memorial service will be conducted 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 5, 1994 at Oakey's South Chapel. The family will receive friends following the service. Arrangements by Oakey's South Chapel.
PARSONS, Kenneth Leo Sr., 66, of Buchanan, died Friday, April 1, 1994 in the Johnston Memoria Hospital in Abingdon, Va. Mr. Parsons was born September 19, 1927 in Rockbridge County, a son of the late George Moore Parsons and Bessie Lotts Parsons. He was a member of the High Bridge Presbyterian Church and was retired from Burlington Industries after 25 years service. He was preceded in death by a sister, Eva Parsons Potter. Surviving are his wife, Elizabeth St.John Parsons; a son, Kenneth L. Parsons Jr., Roanoke; two children, Charles and Carla Parsons, Akron, Ohio. Funeral services will be conducted 2 p.m. Monday, April 4, 1994 from the graveside in the High Bridge Presbyterian Church Cemetery, with the Rev. Glenn M. Coleman officiating. There will be no visitation at the funeral home, but friends and relatives may call at the residence of Elizabeth Parsons anytime. Arrangements by Harrison Funeral Home, Lexington.
RENTCH, August William, 59, of Blacksburg, died Friday, April 1, 1994. Funeral 2 p.m. Tuesday at McCoy Funeral Home Chapel.
SCRIBNER, Beatrice Jones, 74, of Seattle, Washington, formerly of Callaway, Va., died on Tuesday, March 22, 1994, at her home in Seattle, Wash. Mrs. Scribner is survived by her husband, George F. Scribner; two sons, George Fulton Scribner and Michael Stephen Scribner; two sisters and one brother-in-law, Clara and John Houseman of Roanoke, Va., and Casey Bernard of Callaway, Va.; a brother and sister-in-law, James Nelson and Emma O. Jones of Chester, Va.; and a number of nieces and nephews. Mrs. Scribner was preceded in death by her parents, Fulton and Ellen Jones of Callaway; a sister, Sally Ingram; and brothers, Elmer, Lemon and Virgil of Roanoke, Henry D. (Bob) and Frank of Rocky Mount, and Herbert Jones of Redwood, Va. A memorial service will be held at St. Elizabeth Episcopal Church, Burien, Washington, on April 7, 1994 at 1:00 p.m. Mrs. Scribner's remains will be interred on San Juan Island in Puget Sound in Washington.
SLUSS, Helen Wagner, (``Fay""), of Richmond, formerly of Roanoke, beloved wife of Leonard Roy ``Jiggs"" Sluss and adored mother of Anita S. Kessler, joined her Savior in his death and resurection on Good Friday, April 1, 1994. Her coronation day came after a courageous bout with cancer. Helen was an inspiration to her family and friends in her living and in her dying. Mrs. Sluss was a past member of the Villa Heights Baptist Church and Rokeva Women's Club. She is survived by several sisters and brothers; one sister, Evelyn Graham and her husband Basil currently live in Roanoke. She has one granddaughter, Angela K. Lee (husband Sam) of Blacksburg; and two nieces in Roanoke, Anne Sumpter and Velvet Hammond. Her funeral will be held in Richmond, Va. at her current church, Tomahawk Baptist Church on Monday, April 4, 1994 at 2 p.m. A graveside service will be held at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens in Roanoke at 1 p.m. Tuesday. The Rev. Mark Graham of St. John Lutheran Chur ch will be officiating.
STATON, Master Caleb Marshall, 2, infant son of Dennis Marshall Staton and Sheila Pryor Staton of Natural Bridge Station, died Friday, April 1, 1994 in the Stonewall Jackson Hospital. Caleb was born on November 25, 1992 in Lexington. Surviving, with his parents, is one sissy, April Michelle Staton of Buena Vista; maternal grandparents, Robert and June Pryor of Natural Bridge Station; maternal great-grandparents, Eddie and Mae Bates of Buena Vista; paternal grandmother, Carol Staton of Buena Vista; paternal great-grandmothers, Gladys McNally of Buena Vista and Nannie Staton of Vesuvius. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, M. P. Staton. Funeral services will be conducted Monday, April 4, 1994 at the Lomax Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Ed Rigg and the Rev. Greg Martin officiating. Burial will be in Rockbridge Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends at the Lomax Funeral Home on Sunday from 7 to 8 p.m.
STEPP, Nancy Pearl Woody, 92, of Ridgeway, died Friday, April 1, 1994. Funeral 11 a.m. Monday at Hillcrest Baptist Church. Arrangements by Stone Funeral Home.
SYNAN, John William, 67, of Roanoke County, died Friday, April 1, 1994, at his residence. He was a retired employee of the Roanoke Times and World News and a Navy veteran of World War II. Surviving is his wife, Margaret Synan; two children, Thomas E. Synan of McKinney, Texas, June S. Barnett of Roanoke; five grandchildren, Danielle, Heather and Brandon Synan, all of Texas, Leigh and Chance Barnett, both of Roanoke; three sisters, Annie Brooks of Fredericksburg, Lola Haney of Spottsylvania, Margaret Harding of Fluvana. Services will be at Oakey's South Chapel 1 p.m. Monday. The Rev William Logan and the Rev. Phil Day will officiate. Interment will follow in Old Dominion Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Good Samaritan Hospice. Friends may call at Oakey's South Chapel after 12 noon Sunday where the family will be from 7 to 9 p.m.
TIJERINA, Nellie Tuck, 73, of Hopewell, died Friday, April 1, 1994. She has been a resident of Hopewell for the past 34 years. She is retired from Allied Chemicals and was a member of the Faith Baptist church in Hopewell. She is survived by one son, Coy Wilbur Tuck, Hopewell; two daughters, Nancy Lee Bland, Hopewell, Brenda Joyce Wood, Prince George; one sister, Lucille Sheene, Hampton; one half brother, Thomas Rawlings; two half sisters, June Crouch and Linda Overstreet, all of Thaxton; 10 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends Monday 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Gould Funeral Home, Hopewell and where a funeral service will be held Tuesday 11 a.m. Interment will be in Burmuda Memorial Garden.
VAUGHN, Homer H., 86, of Lexington, died Saturday, April 2, 1994. Arrangements by Williams Funeral Service, Lexington.
WALTER, Sara S., of Salem, formerly of Gambrills, Md., passed away Saturday, April 2, 1994, at her residence in the T. Stuart Payne Center in Salem. She is survived by one son, Robert R. Walter, Boones Mill; one sister, Grace O. Sheridan, Edgewater, Md.; two grandchildren, Kari P. and Robert Lowell Walter, both of Boones Mill. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the John M. Oakey and Son Funeral Home, Salem. Interment will be at Baldwin Memorial United Methodist Church, Millersville, Md. at a later date. In lieu of flowers, send contributions to the Baldwin Memorial United Methodist Church, Millersville, Md.
WILLIAMS, Edward Ralph Sr. 78, of Montvale, passed away Friday, April 1, 1994. He was a veteran of the United States Army. Survivors include his wife, Ruby L, Williams, Montvale; sons, Roger Williams and Edward R. Williams Jr., both of Roanoke; sisters, Hattie Redd, Cyathia Hopson and Gracie Williams, all of Montvale; nine grandchildren; one great-grandchild; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be held Tuesday 2 p.m.at the Hemlar-Curtis Chapel. Rev. Elmer Buford will officiate with interment in the Montvale Community Cemetery. The family will receive friends Monday from 7 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home
WRIGHT, Kenneth C., 63, of Arlington, died Friday, March 25, 1994. He is survived by his daughter, Kimberly W. LaBrecque, Roanoke; grandchildren and his many friends. Arrangements are pending. Notice will appear later.
by CNB