Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, July 3, 1994                   TAG: 9503300016
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Long

OBIT

CONTI, Lydia Roberts, 88, of Coaldale, W.Va., died Friday, July 1, 1994, at a Bluefield hospital. Born February 3, 1906, at Panther, W.Va., she was the daughter the late Mose and Clearcy Blankenship Roberts. She was the former owner and operator of the Drift Inn Restaurant at Coaldale. She was affiliated with the Baptist faith and a resident of Coaldale for the past 23 years. Other than her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, Frank Conti; two brothers; one sister. Survivors are two daughters, Mrs. Jessie (Geraldine) ""Jerry"" Williams of Roanoke, Mrs. Johnny (Mildred) Blankenship of Coaldale, W.Va.; one sister, Mary Thompson of Man, W.Va.; two grandchildren; four great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be conducted 11 a.m. Monday, at the Bennett-Widener Funeral Home Chapel in Northfork, W.Va. with the Rev. Hobert Williams officiating. Burial will follow at the Woodlawn Memorial P ark at Bluewell, W.Va. Friends may call Sunday night from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Bennett-Widener Funeral Home in Northfork, W.Va.

COX, Charles Daniel III, 47, of Roanoke, died Saturday, July 2, 1994. Arrangements by Oakey's South Chapel.

DALTON, Dorothy P., 60, of Route 1, Henry, passed away Friday, July 1, 1994, at her home. She was the owner and former operator of the 77 Restaurant in Ferrum. Mrs. Dalton was preceded in death by her husband, Wallace R. Dalton and her father, Richard W. Prater. Surviving are her daughter and son-in-law, Phyllis and J. B. Carter; son and daughter-in-law, Larry and Linda Dalton all of Henry; son and a special friend, Darrell W. Dalton, Collinsville and Mary Ann Hodges; son, Mark Dalton and special friend and caregiver, Martha Amos; grandchildren, Brad Dalton, Brian and Dustin Carter, Brandon and Kevin Dalton and Steven Dalton; also surviving is her mother, Ollie Prater; brother, Paul Prater and special friend, Louise Young all of Henry; special friend, J. P. Foster, Stuart. Funeral services will be conducted at Flora Funeral Chapel 3 p.m. Sunday with Rev. Ray mond Moorefield officiating. Interment will follow in Maple Grove Cemetery. Arrangements are being handled by Flora Funeral Service, 342 S. Main St., Rocky Mount.

DAMEWOOD, Virgie Harris, of Roanoke, died Saturday, July 2, 1994. She was the widow of Harry Damewood and the daughter of late Charles P. Harris and Sudie Trout Harris. She was a member of the Tabernacle Baptist Church and a retiree of Graham White. She is survived by one brother and sister-in-law, Woodrow and Jessie Harris, Salem; four sisters, Minnie Shelton, Roanoke, Georgie Huffman and brother-in-law, James Huffman, Evelyn Flora and brother-in-law, Roy Flora, Gladys Andleton and brother-in-law, Wayne Andleton all of Salem; also nieces and nephews and many friends. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, July 5, 1994, 10 a.m. at the Lotz Salem Chapel with the Rev. Billy White officiating. Interment will be in Sherwood Memorial Park. Friends may call at Lotz Salem Chapel.

GODFREY, James Homer, 76, of Rich Creek, died Thursday evening, June 30, 1994, in the Princeton Community Hospital in Princeton, W. Va. He was born at Burnsville, W. Va. on July 23, 1917 and was the son of the late Commodore and Clara Wine Godfrey, and was preceded in death by a son, Glenn David Godfrey. He was a retired employee, with forty years of service, of the Hoechst/Celanese Fibers Company Plant at Narrows, and was a member of John Dove Lodge #78 of Peterstown, W. Va., where he received a pin for 50 years of membership in the lo dge. He is survived by his wife, Sheffie Chambers Godfrey of Rich Creek; sons, James Homer Godfrey Jr., Princeton, W. Va., Gordon A. Godfrey, Clayton, N. C., and Arthur A. Godfrey, Yorktown, Va.; a daughter, Edith G. Stoaks, Portland Ore.; a brother, Glenn S. Godfrey, Burnsville, W. Va.; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. in the Chapel of Riffe's Funeral Service in Narrows, with the Rev. Donald Stansell and the Rev. Kimball Jones officiating. Burial will follow in the Sunrise Memorial Gardens in Rich Creek, Va., with graveside rites conducted by John Dove Lodge #78 of Peterstown, W. Va. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Christians Mens Fellowship of the First Christian Church in Narrows. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Monday evening from 7 to 9 p.m.

HAYES, Lillie Dolinger, 89, of Washington, D.C. formerly of Whitetop, Va. passed away Saturday, July 2, 1994. Funeral service 11 a.m. Tuesday, in Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home Chapel, Independence, Va.

HODGE, Ruby Jones, 79, of Independence, passed away Saturday, July 2, 1994. Funeral service 2 p.m. in Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. Arrangements by Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home.

HOLCOMB, John Melvin, 61, of Route 3, Bassett, died Saturday, July 2, 1994, in a Roanoke Hospital. He was a veteran of the U. S. Army, serving from 1953 to 1955. Mr. Holcomb trained at Remington Rand in Washington, D.C. and was self-employed in office equipment repairs for 32 years, having owned and operated Holcombs Typewriters Service, H & H. Market. He was a member of the Fork Mountain Vol. Fire Department, the Fork Mountain Vol. Rescue Squad and the Martinsville-Henry Co. Music Association. Mr. Holcomb was preceded in death by his father, Reverend M. K. Holcomb and is survived by his wife, Nancy K. Holcomb; one daughter, Katherine Holcomb of Fork Mountain; his mother, Lucy A. Holcomb, Bassett; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Freeda and Randolph Brown, Carmel and Jim Powell all of Rocky Mount; three brothers and sisters-in-law, Glennis and Shirley Holcomb, Bassett, Wayne and Sherry Holcomb, Bassett, D. L. and Bobbie Holcomb, Rocky Mount; several nieces and nephews also survive. Funeral services will be conducted at Flora Funeral Chapel 2 p.m Monday. Interment will follow in Henry Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, the family suggest that donations be made to the Fork Mountain Vol. Fire Department, Route 2, Rocky Mount, Va. 24151 or Fork Mountain Vol. Rescue Squad, Route 3, Box 433, Bassett, Va. 24055. Friends may call after 4 p.m. Sunday with the family receiving friends from 7 to 9 p.m. at Flora Funeral Service, 342 S. Main St., Rocky Mount.

HOLT, Elizabeth M., of Route 3, Bassett, died Friday, July 1, 1994. Funeral services 11 a.m. Monday, Tomlinson Bassett Funeral Home Chapel, Bassett.

JONAS, Betty Ann Bane, 39, of Vinton, died Friday, July 1, 1994, at her home after a long illness. She was preceded in death by a brother, Raymond D. Bane. Surviving are her husband, Charles Jonas, Jr.; mother, Mary Hannah, Bedford County; brother, Mike S. Bane, Bedford County; two sisters, Nancy L. Cooper, Bedford County, June M. Hannah, Salem; also a number of nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be at Oakey's Vinton Chapel 1 p.m. Tuesday with the Rev. William McDaniel officiating. Interment will be in Old Dominion Memorial Gardens. Friends may call after 11 a.m. Sunday at Oakey's Vinton Chapel where the family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday and Monday.

MINNIS, Andrew Marshal Jr., 31, of Rt. 4, Bedford, died Saturday, July 2, 1994 in Roanoke Memorial Hospital. He was born in Bedford on April 2, 1963, a son of Andrew Marshall Minnis Sr. and Rachel Lee Murphy Minnis. In addition to his parents, he is survived by a daughter, Mashanda, Bedford; three brothers, Wendell Keith Minnis, Bedford, Gary L. Minnis, Charlottesville, Mark G. Minnis, Redonda Beach, Calif.; maternal grandparents, Wilbur and Alice Murphy, Bedford; paternal grandparents, Melvin and Emma Minnis, Big Island; and a host of relatives. A memorial service will be held 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 6, 1994 at Bold Branch Baptist Church, with the Rev. James Carrington officiating. Arrangements by Carder-Tharp Funeral Home and Crematory, Bedford.

MULLINS, Roger Lee, 56, of Bassett, died Friday, July 1, 1994. Funeral 11 a.m. Monday, Stanley Town Baptist Church. Arrangements by Collins Funeral Services

PADGETT, Beverle W., 54, of Bedford, died Saturday, July 2, 1994. Graveside service 11 a.m. Tuesday in Greenwood Cemetery. Arrangements by Carder-Tharp Funeral Home and Crematory.

PAIGE, Jean Alice, from Dunn, N.C., formerly of Roanoke, passed away Thursday, June 30, 1994, in Dunn, N.C. Survivors include two daughters and sons-in-law, Tina and David Brown of Roanoke, Tawahana and James Lester III of Fort Bragg, N.C.; mother, Mrs. Lucille Hutchinson of Charlotte, N.C., formerly of Salem; one brother and sister-in-law, Alton C. and Patricia Hutchinson of Salem; two sisters, Barbara S. Hutchinson of Roanoke, and Lois H. Hutchinson of Salem; one uncle, Melvin Barbour of Bashkill, Pa.; longtime devoted friend, Shirley Barnes of Roanoke; three granddaughters; one grandson; three nieces; four nephews; five cousins; and many close friends. Arrangements by Hamlar-Curtis Funeral Home.

PALMER, Myrtis Hodges, 84, of Asheboro, N.C. formerly of Roanoke, died Saturday, July 2, 1994. Arrangements by Oakey's Roanoke Chapel.

PARKER, Roselin Kermeen, 55, of Roanoke, died Friday, July 1, 1994. A memorial service will be held at Oakey's Roanoke Chapel, Tuesday, July 5, 1994, 7 p.m. Arrangements by Oakey's Roanoke Chapel.

PERDUE, Lester Paul, 74, of Rocky Mount, died Friday, July 1, 1994 at his home. Mr. Perdue was born May 31, 1920, the son of the late John Alph and Mary Sue Blankenship Perdue. He retired from the Martinsville DuPont Plant in 1980. He is survived by his wife, Lavona H. Perdue, of the home; daughters and son-in-law, Gloria P. Ross, Bassett, Betty H. and Dick Brown, Columbia, S. C.; sons, Lester Paul Perdue Jr., Bassett, Danny and Jean Hudson, Rocky Mount; sister, Annie Perdue, Roanoke; brothers, William (Buck) and Mabel Perdue, Newport News, John Henry Perdue, Wirtz; nine grandchildren, Regina C. and Kent Moore, R ichmond, Vicky C. Boyd, Christopher D. Ross, Stacey L. and Leslie Perdue, all of Bassett, Karen S. Cannaday, Gaithersburg, Md., Carrie and Courtney Brown, Lynchburg, Shelia Jean Hodges, Rocky Mount; three great-grandchildren; and one sister-in-law, Dora S. Perdue, Dare, Va. Funeral services will be held Monday, July 4, 1994 at 11 a.m. in Lynch Funeral Chapel, with the Rev. Chester L. Fisher officiating. Burial will follow in Roselawn Burial Park, Martinsville. Friends may call after 3 p.m. Sunday at Lynch Chapel, where the family will be from 7 to 9 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society. Lynch Funeral Home, Rocky Mount, is in charge of arrangements.

PRUETT, Frank R., 94, of Vinton, died Friday, July 1, 1994. He was a member of Beaverdam Baptist Church, and the Chamblissburg Lodge no. 179 A. F. & A. M. His wife, Nell C. Pruett, preceded him in death in October of 1993. Mr. Pruett is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Hazel P. and George O. Wright of Vinton, Betty P. and John W. Corley of Richmond; one son and daughter-in-law, Lyde S. and Thelma W. Pruett of King George, Va.; one sister, Lula Mae Foust of Clinton, Tenn.; five grandchildren, Debbie C. Snyder, Karen C. Baker, George O. Wright Jr., Carole W. Cole, and Richard M. Pruett; 14 great-grandchildren; and six great-grea t-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, July 5, 1994, at 11 a.m. at Beaverdam Baptist Church, Chamblissburg, with the Rev. Dennis E. Moore officiating. Interment will be in Cedarlawn Memorial Park. Friends may call after 1 p.m. Monday, July 4, 1994 , at Lotz Vinton Chapel. Serving as Pallbearers will be John Robins, Jeff Robbins, Jamie Robins, Craig Frye, George Wright Jr., and Richard Pruett. A Masonic prayer service will be held Monday evening at 7:30 p.m. by the members of Chamblissburg Lodge No. 179. A.F. & A.M. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Beaverdam Baptist Church or Good Samaritan Hospice.

ROYALL, J. Powell Jr., 83, of Salem, formerly of Richlands, died Friday morning, July 1, 1994, in the Richfield Nursing Home, Salem. He was born in Tazewell, Va. and was a son of the late John Powell and Jennie Bowen Royall. He was a 1929 graduate of Greenbrier Military School and attended Emory and Henry College and the University of Cincinnati. He moved from Tazewell to the Richlands area in 1932 where he started working for A&P Company. In 1934, he worked for Dixie Grocery in Richlands and retired in 1970. He was a World War II U.S. Army Veteran and was a member of the Richlands First United Methodist Church. Mr. Royall moved to Salem in 1993 after making his home in the Richlands area most of his life as a prominent businessman serving in many civic activities and positions. He was a member and past President of Clinch Valley Broadcasting Corp. WRIC,past Chairman of Board of Directors of First National Exchange Bank, member and past President of Richalnds Rotary Club, member and past President of Richlands Area Development Corp., member and past President of Richlands Area Chamber of Commerce, member of Richlands Town Council for 29 years, member of Tazewell County Board of Supervisors, member of Tazewell County Welfare Board, board member of Virginia Sate Board of Welfare and Insitutions, board member and past chairman of Virginia State Board of Welfare, and was a 50 year honorary member of the Richlands Masonic Lodge No. 318 AF & AM. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Mrs. Mary Bell Hyatt Royall; one sister, Jane Royall Phlegar; and one brother, Samuel Henry Royall. Surviving are two daughters and sons-in-law, Mary Jane and Joseph M. Brown, Jr. of Roanoke, Betty Ann and William T. Shaner of Salem; three sisters, Mrs. Mary Christian Elmore of Richmond; Miss Rachel Louise Royall of Richmond, Mrs. Ellen Royall Story of Suffolk; three brothers, Mr. Rees Bowen Royall of Tazewell, Judge William Archer Royall of Alexandria, Mr. Edwin Gratton Royall of Bluefield, W.Va.; five grandchildren, Anne Brown Neff, Joseph M. Brown III, Mary Elizabeth Shaner, John Powell Royall Shaner, and William Thomas Shaner Jr.; also one great-grandson, Joshua Marion Brown. A graveside funeral service for Mr. J. Powell Royall Jr. will be conducted Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill, Va. with the Rev. Thomas Mustard officiating. Pallbeareres will be Carlyle Mahaffey, Earl Bowman, James R. Lindsey, Dr. James Peery, Dr. David Stanton, G.W. McCall Jr., George Reynolds, W.G. Jackson, E. H. Hurst Sr., James S. White, Jim Sam Gillespie, and C.M. Hunter. Honorary pallbearers will be York Lindsey, David Stanton Jr., Dr. James H. McVey, and David Cole. The family will receive friends at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands after 7 p.m. Tuesday. Memorial contributions may be made to the John Powell Royall Jr. Scholarship Fund-Southwest Virginia Comminity College, P.O. Box SVCC, Richlands, Va. 24641 or to the Salem Rescue Squad, Box 291, Salem, Va. 24153. Hurst-Scott Funeral Home, Richlands is in charge of the arrangements.

SIZER, Mary Jacqueline, (``Jackie""), 73, of Lynchburg, died Saturday, July 2, 1994 in Lynchburg General Hospital. She was born in White Sulphur Springs, W. Va., the daughter of the late Alston Gordon and Oda Katherine Bennett Sites. Mrs. Sizer was an active member of Quaker Memorial Presbyterian Church and a member of Beta Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority since 1948. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Lee Sizer. She is the beloved mother of two daughters and their husbands, Beverly and William R. ``Bo"" Cook Jr., Blacksburg, and Deborah and James F. ``Jim"" Britton, Charleston, S. C.; also surviving is a brother, Guy E. Sites, Lynchburg; five grandsons, Charles H. ``Chuck"" Richards and his wife, Alecia, Winchester, Brian H. Richards, Radford, Neal A. Richards, Blacksburg, Sean C. Britton and Scott F. Britton, Charleston, S. C.; two great-grandchildren, Charles H. Richards IV and Afton Nicole Richards, Winchester; sisters-in-law, Ruth Snead and Doris Sizer, Covington; brother-in-law and wife, Frank J. Sizer and Mariah Sizer, Port Lucie, Fla.; several nieces and nephews and many friends. A funeral service will be conducted 11 a.m. Monday in Quaker Memorial Presbyterian in Lynchburg, by the Rev. Bernard K. Bangley. Interment will be in Alleghany Memorial Park, Monday at 2:30 p.m. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday at Whitten Timberlake Chapel.

SMALLWOOD, Lenna Pendleton Wood, 87, of Stuart, died Saturday, July 2, 1994. Funeral services 2 p.m. Tuesday, Moody Funeral Home.

STALEY, Robert J., (``Slim""), 73, of Goodview, died Saturday, July 2, 1994. Mr. Staley was a veteran of WWII, having served in the U. S. Air Force and was affiliated with the Roanoke Times & World News for 28 years, having worked in the Pressroom. He is survived by his wife, Betty J. Staley, Goodview; one daughter and son-in-law, Debby and Bob Paitsell, Evans, Ga.; one son and daughter-in-law, Mike and Ann Staley, Roanoke; one granddaughter, Shannon Paitsell; four grandsons, Kevin and Greg Staley, Chris and Doug Paitsell; one brother, Harold Staley, Jamestown, Ohio. Funeral services will be conducted 11:30 am. Tuesday, July 5, 1994 at Oakey's Vinton Chapel. Burial will follow in Sherwood. The family will receive friends Monday from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m. at Oakey's Vinton Chapel.

WELCH, Mary Jane Thomas, of Virginia Synod Lutheran Home of Roanoke, died Friday, July 1, 1994. She was born in Wytheville, Virginia, the daughter of Frances Letitia Smith Thomas and Richard Saunders Thomas. She was preceded in death by her husband, John Thomas Welch of Pulaski, Virginia, and two brothers and four sisters. She was a devoted member of Greene Memorial Methodist Church for many years. She formerly resided at the Patrick Henry Hotel, and was a member of the Altrusa Club. She is survived by three sisters, Mrs. R. S. (Blanche) Brockway of Roanoke, Mrs. G. W. (Willie) Meredith of Roanoke and Mrs. J. K. (Cleadiece) Funkhouser of Harrisonburg, Virginia, and numerous nieces, nephews and their families. Funeral services will be conducted by Dr. Walter M. Lockett at Evergreen Cemetery at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, July 5, 1994. Friends may call at Oakey's Roanoke Chapel after 10 a.m. Monday where the family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m.

WILLIAMSON, Walter Simmerman, 79, of Norfolk, formerly of Roanoke, died Saturday, July 2, 1994. Arrangements by Oakey's Roanoke Chapel.

WOODSON, Stella Brown, 65, of Roanoke, passed away Thursday, June 30, 1994. She was preceded in death by her husband, Julian Woodson Sr. She is survived by one son, Julian Woodson Jr.; two daughters, Shirley Quarles and Kathy Woodson all of Roanoke; four sisters, Rose Bradley, Hampton, Va., Hattie Patterson, Minnie Woods, Ginger Rogers all of Washington, D.C.; one brother, William Brown, Landover, Md.; ten grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 6 at Hamlar-Curtis Chapel with burial in Williams Memorial Park. Arrangements by Hamlar-Curtis Funeral Home.