Obituaries

Ruth Gum Roberts of 800 Stratton Street went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Thursday, November 12, 2015. Mrs. Roberts was born in Cass, WV, a daughter of the late Alfred Garfield Gum and Mary Lyle Gum. She was a member of Mallow Presbyterian Church where she had served as Bible Moderator and as a member of the Ladies Circle. She was an animal lover devoted to her cats. Ruth loved cooking and baking and sending cards to her family and friends. She was a longtime fan of country music. Surviving are her Husband of 68 years, Vaughn Roberts of Covington; three Daughters, Angela Jones and her Husband, Dennis, and Cindy Woods and her Husband, Dale, all of Covington and Carol Yvonne Roberts of Phoenix, AZ; her granddaughter, Stacey Bradley Kaiser and her Husband, Lance, of Wilmington, NC; her grandson, Travis Bradley, of Covington; two step grandsons, Brandon Jones and his Wife, Rachel, of Covington and Scott Jones and his Wife, Jennifer, of Broadway; her great grandson, Nathan Kaiser...

Cynthia Rose "Cindy" Humphries, 59, of 203 Gilpin Ave., died, Saturday October 31, 2015 at the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville. Mrs. Humphries was born June 3, 1956 in Alleghany County, the daughter of the late Wilbur Joseph "Jack" Rose and Billie Sarver Rose. She was an employee of the Alleghany County School Board as a Speech Therapist for over thirty years and for the past two years was a 2nd grade teacher at Sharon Elementary School. She was a member of the Mountain Valley United Methodist Church where she served as pianist. She was a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society and Beta Sigma Phi Sorority. Surviving are her husband, Teddy "T.J." Humphries Jr. of Covington; two sons Jack L. Wheeler and Tad Humphries and wife Candon both of Covington; three daughters Nikki Burton and husband Ray of Buena Vista, Melissa Nicely and husband Brandon of Eagle Rock, and Kristin Nicely and husband Anthony of Clifton Forge; six grandchildren: Kennedi Burton, Garrett Bur...

David Allen Tingler, 60, of Covington, died Saturday October 31, 2015 at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Mr. Tingler was born June 28, 1955 in Alleghany County, the son of the late George Tingler and Edna Campbell Tingler. He is survived by a number of nieces, nephews, and cousins. As well as his friends at Merryfield Residence. A memorial service will be held Saturday November 7 at 3:00 PM in the chapel of Arritt Funeral Home with the Rev. Bill Gilliland officiating. Service Saturday, November 7, 2015 03:00 PM Arritt Funeral Home Chapel 1102 S. Highland Ave. Covington,Virginia - 24426...

Gene Austin Perkins, 84, of 122 North Magazine Ave. died Tuesday, October 27, 2015, at his home. Mr. Perkins was born December 20, 1930, in Greenbrier County, WV, a son of the late John and Icyphine Shifflet Perkins. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by five Brothers, Edgar Perkins, Odell Perkins, Gordon Perkins, Oliver Perkins and Joe Perkins and three Sisters, Ernestine Phillips, Liz Crowder and Emma Palmer. He had retired from MeadWestvaco in 1995 after twenty years with the company. Surviving are his Wife of 60 years, Muriel Callahan Perkins of Covington; three Daughters, Virginia Perkins and Jim Webb of Covington, Joyce Borders and her Husband, Gary, of New Port Richey, FL. And Maxine Hancock and her Husband, Phillip, of Blue Ridge; two grandsons, Adam Tucker and Josh Tucker, both of Covington who affectionately called him "Pickwpaw"; seven great grandchildren; two Brothers, Tommy Perkins and Robert Perkins, both of Covington; one Sister, Blanche Perkins of Cov...

Dennis Wayne Miller, 71, a veteran of the United States Army, and longtime resident of Mt. Pleasant, Covington, peacefully passed away on October 18, 2015 at his daughter's home in Buchanan, Virginia. Dennis, known by many as Denny, was born February 17, 1944 in Covington, the son of Christine Reynolds Miller Riddlebarger and the late Preston Miller. As a child and young adult, he resided with his grandparents McKinley and Vida Reynolds on their family farm in Covington. Following high school, he attended Lynchburg Business College and later accepted a position with Westvaco. Dennis married Mildred Howe Sarver, raising three children. They were married 27 years until her death in 1996. He retired from the powerhouse in 2006 with 42 years of service. Dennis was a member of the Falling Spring Fire and Rescue Department and proudly served the Farm Bureau Federation for 28 years, holding many positions including President. He is survived by his mother, Christine Riddlebarger of Brookneal,...

Dennis Wayne Miller, 71, a veteran of the United States Army, and longtime resident of Mt. Pleasant, Covington, peacefully passed away on October 18, 2015 at his daughter's home in Buchanan, Virginia. Dennis, known by many as Denny, was born February 17, 1944 in Covington, the son of Christine Reynolds Miller Riddlebarger and the late Preston Miller. As a child and young adult, he resided with his grandparents McKinley and Vida Reynolds on their family farm in Covington. Following high school, he attended Lynchburg Business College and later accepted a position with Westvaco. Dennis married Mildred Howe Sarver, raising three children. They were married 27 years until her death in 1996. He retired from the powerhouse in 2006 with 42 years of service. Dennis was a member of the Falling Spring Fire and Rescue Department and proudly served the Farm Bureau Federation for 28 years, holding many positions including President. He is survived by his mother, Christine Riddlebarger of Brookneal,...

Robert Wayne Russum, 64, of 116 Greenbrier Village Lane, White Sulphur Springs, WV, died, Thursday October 16, 2015 at Lewis Gale Medical Center in Salem. He was born April 30, 1952 in Texas, a son of Clayborne Russum of Beaumont, TX and the late Evelyn Hebert Russum. Mr. Russum had worked for a number of years as a pipe fitter in construction industry. Surviving are his wife, Ann Aldridge Russum of White Sulphur Springs, WV; four children; five grandchildren; two brothers, Floyd Russum of Louisiana and Terry Russum of Sour Lake, Texas.; two step children; one step grandson, and one step great grandson. In keeping with his wishes, his body has be cremated. A memorial service will be held at a later date....

Ronald Gene Walker, 68, of 1507 N. Alleghany Ave., died Tuesday October 6, 2015 at his residence. He was born February 9, 1947 in Alexandria a son of the late Albert K. Walker, Sr. and Ethel Drumheller Walker. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother Albert K. Walker, Jr. Ronald had worked for several companies in Northern Virginia as pipe insulator. After his retirement he became an ASCE Certified Mechanic. He was an avid "car guy" and loved going to car shows. Ronald was a member of Mount Carmel United Methodist Church. Surviving are his wife of 40 years, Kathleen Jerman Walker of Covington; two sons, Ronald Walker and his wife, Juliana of Griffin, GA and Jeffrey Holmes of Fairfax; one daughter, Renee Black of Surprise, Arizona; seven grandchildren; Meureen Cooper of Toms Brook; his friend, Sammy Feury of Covington ;a host of other family and friends and his dog Rosie. A celebration of life will be held at 3:00 PM Sunday, October 11, 2015, in the Arritt Fune...

Ronald Gene Walker, 68, of 1507 N. Alleghany Ave., died Tuesday October 6, 2015 at his residence. He was born February 9, 1947 in Alexandria a son of the late Albert K. Walker, Sr. and Ethel Drumheller Walker. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother Albert K. Walker, Jr. Ronald had worked for several companies in Northern Virginia as pipe insulator. After his retirement he became an ASCE Certified Mechanic. He was an avid "car guy" and loved going to car shows. Ronald was a member of Mount Carmel United Methodist Church. Surviving are his wife of 40 years, Kathleen Jerman Walker of Covington; two sons, Ronald Walker and his wife, Juliana of Griffin, GA and Jeffrey Holmes of Fairfax; one daughter, Renee Black of Surprise, Arizona; seven grandchildren; Meureen Cooper of Toms Brook; his friend, Sammy Feury of Covington ;a host of other family and friends and his dog Rosie. A celebration of life will be held at 3:00 PM Sunday, October 11, 2015, in the Arritt Fune...

Denice Long Bowen, 62, of Catawba died Saturday, October 3, 2015, at Lewis-Gale Hospital in Salem. Mrs. Bowen was born August 8, 1953, in Goshen, IN, a Daughter of the late Kyle Long and Shirley Wootten Long Williams. She was a member of the North Valley Seventh Day Adventist Church and loved her Lord, her family and her friends. She enjoyed gardening, flowers, baking and spending every spare minute with her grandchildren. Surviving are her Husband of 44 years, Garry Bowen of Catawba; two Daughters, Laura Bowen and her fianc', Scott Pickard, of Roanoke, and Jamie Pruitt, of Catawba; her son-in-law, Danny Pruitt of Marion; her Son and Daughter-in-law, Gary and Kelly Bowen, of Roanoke; seven grandchildren, Angel Pruitt, Jacilyn Pruitt, John Pruitt, and Caleb Pruitt all of Catawba, Hadley Bowen of Roanoke and Patricia Pickard and William Pickard, both of Oriental, NC; two Sisters, Lynda Montgomery of Hollywood, MD, and Ann Sulkowski of Severn, MD; three Brothers, Dale Long, Dave Long and...

Donna Campbell Pegram of Roanoke died Friday, October 2, 2015, at her home. Mrs. Pegram was born February 22, 1943, in Alleghany County a daughter of the late Charles and Virginia Christine Turner Leighton. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two Sons, Curtis Broughman and Eddie Campbell and one Brother, William Leighton. Surviving are two Daughters, Rebekah Alexandre and her husband, Roges, of Roanoke and Kristal Mayberry and her husband, Chris, of Covington; one Son, Jeffery Broughfman, of Covington; 11 grandchildren; 4 great grandchildren; two Sisters, Robbie Thomas of Covington and Christy Blankenship of Hopewell and several nieces and nephews. The funeral service will be held Tuesday morning at 11:00 AM at the graveside in Bethel Cemetery in Botetourt County with Norman Thomas officiating. The family will receive their friends Tuesday morning for one hour before service time at Arritt Funeral Home in Covington....

Wilma Thompson Taylor, 86, of 318 W. Gilliam Street, died, Sunday, September 27, 2015 at Lewis Gale Medical Center in Salem. She was born April 11, 1929 in Union, West Virginia, a daughter of the late William E. and Margaret Ann Wickline Thompson. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, Clayton A. Taylor in 2014; a daughter, Bonnie Proffitt in 2008 and also by one sister and four brothers. Mrs. Taylor retired in 1991 after a number of years serving in the Cafeteria of Alleghany High School. She was a member of the Edgemont Presbyterian Church. Surviving are her daughter and son - -law, Lisa and Mark Ingram of Powhatan; her two sons and daughters- in - law, Larry and Susie Taylor of Chesterfield and Eddie and Sandy Taylor of Covington; seven grandchildren including Shelly Johnson and her husband David of Covington; sixteen great grandchildren; one great great grandchild ; one son-in-law, Frank Proffitt of Covington and several nieces and nephews. The funera...