Obituaries

Melvin Berkley Crawford, 78, of New Castle, died, Sunday may 11, 2014 at the Salem Health Care and Rehab Center in Salem. He was born January 11, 1936 in Covington, a son of the late John Henry and Estelle Craft Crawford. Mr. Crawford retired from the former Covington Coke Cola Bottling Plant after 32 years of service. He was a member of the Crossroads United Methodist Church in New Castle. In addition to his parents, Mr. Crawford was preceded in death by four brothers, Phillip H. Crawford, Robert L. Crawford, Gordon Crawford, and James Crawford; four sisters, Betty Wood, Mary Ann Martin, Sarah Jane Swartz and Myrtle Ellis and cousins, Pauline and Eugene Gray. Surviving are cousin, Bill Gray of Stuartville ; Jim Gray and Eugene Gray, both of New Castle and several nieces and nephews. The funeral service will be held 2;00 PM Saturday, May 17, 2014 in the Arritt Funeral Home Chapel. The family will receive their friends one hour prior to service time at the Arritt Funeral Home on Saturd...

Helen Christine Bowen, 76, of 916 Allison Way in High Acres, died, Sunday, May 11, 2014 at her residence. She was born April 12, 1938 in Alleghany County, a daughter of the late William M. and Leona Switzer Bowen. Christine was a former cook in the Williamsburg Nursing Home in DeSoto, TX. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a son, Henry Chappell; a daughter, Judy Lynn Chappell; one sister, Lucile Hicks and two brothers, George Bowen and Jack Bowen. Surviving are a daughter, Laura Richardson and her husband Richie of Covington; three sons, Frank "T.J" Jones and John Chappell both of Clifton Forge and Jerry Chapman of Pineville, LA; seven grandchildren; three great grandchildren; one brother, Luther Bowen and his wife, Mary Ann of Covington and several nieces and nephews. The funeral service will be held 2:00 PM Thursday, May 15, 2014 in the Arritt Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. William Davis officiating. The interment will be made in Lone Star Cemetery. The fami...

Patricia Smith Martin, 64, of 1311 Cherokee Trail, died, Sunday May 11, 2014 at Lewis Gale Medical Center in Salem. She was born October 10, 1949 in Danville, a daughter of the late James A. and Catherine Evans Smith. Mrs. Smith retired as a Unit Secretary with Lewis Gail Alleghany Hospital. Patricia was a member of the Mallow Presbyterian Church and was a Literacy Volunteer. Surviving are her husband, Larry D. Martin, Jr. of Covington and her mother-in-law, Ruby Martin of Danville. In keeping with her wishes, her body has been cremated. The funeral service will be held 6:00 PM Wednesday May 14, 2014 in the Arritt Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Gary Marshall officiating. Following the service the family will be the family will receive their friends at the funeral home. Service Wednesday, May 14, 2014 06:00 PM Arritt Funeral Home Chapel 1102 S. Highland Ave. Covington,Virginia - 24426 Visition Wednesday, May 14, 2014 06:30 PM Arritt Funeral Home Chapel 1102 S. Highland...

Wanda McLain Curry, 77, OF 800 Ridgeway Street, Clifton Forge, died, Wednesday, May 7, 2014 at Lewis Gale Alleghany in Low Moor. She was born January 24, 1937 in Alleghany County, a daughter of the late Ollie L. and Sadie Lilly McLain. Mrs. Curry retired from the former Halmode, Inc, after a number of years of service. She was a member of the Iron Gate Community Church. . In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Donald W. Curry, Sr. in 2006, a son, Donald W. Curry, Jr in 2004, a granddaughter, Tonya Schultz Blackman and also by two brothers and one sister. Surviving are one daughter, Faye Curry and Debra Sessons of Roanoke; three sons, Gary Curry and his wife Mary of Covington; Victor Curry and Billy Snyder of Las Vegas and Tommy Curry and his wife Melanie of Martinsburg, WV; a daughter-in-law, Deborah Curry-Lee; seven grandchildren; several great grandchildren; special friends, Rusty and Kathleen Belton and several nieces and nephews. The funeral service ...

Michael Peter Rybitski III passed away on May 2, 2014 at the Hospice of the Piedmont in Charlottesville, VA. He was born September 16, 1963 in Moscow, PA . He was the son of Michael Rybitski, Jr. and the late Mary "Bunny" Rybitski of Culpepper, VA. Mike graduated Virginia Tech with honors in 1986 with a BS in Industrial Engineering. After retiring from Thomasville Furniture, he volunteered with the American Red Cross. Mike as a huge Virginia Tech fan. In addition to his father, Mike is survived by a son, Christopher Rybitski of Santa Maria, CA ; a son, Andrew Rybitski of Radford , VA; a daughter, Sarah Beth Rybitski of Covington, and their mother, Debbie Rybitski also Covington; a brother, Mark Rybitski of Reva, VA; a sister Marci Rybitski of Mineral, VA and a grandmother, Mitzi Rybitski of Scranton, PA. The graveside service will be held Sunday May 4, 2014 at 3:00 PM at the Hoke's Chapel Cemetery with the Rev. Bill Gilliland officiating, assisted by the Rev. Tom Collins. The family w...

John B. Sparrow, Jr. 80, of Washington, DC, died, Thursday, May 1, 2014 . He was born in Covington, January 15, 1934. A graveside service will be held Saturday, May 10, 2014 at 3;30 PM in Cedar Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends Saturday from 2;00 PM until 3:PM at the Arritt Funeral Home prior to the service. Cemetery Information Cedar Hill Cemetery 1521 S. Carpenter Dr. Covington,VA - 24426 Visition Saturday, May 10, 2014 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM Arritt Funeral Home 1102 S. Highland Ave. Covington,Virginia - 24426...

Helen Counts Stinespring ,, 87, of Scott Hill in Clifton Forge, died, Tuesday April 29, 2014 at Lewis Gale Alleghany Hospital in Low Moor. She was born May 7, 1926 in Alleghany County, a daughter of the late Schley Cecil and Marie Devers Counts. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, William Preston Stinespring in 2003. Surviving are special friends, Tommy and Terry Alfred of Covington. A private service will be held at a later date. Memorial donations in Mrs. Stinespring's name may be made to Mountain Regional Hospice, P.O. Box 637, Clifton Forge, VA 24422....

Larry Earl Zimmerman, 65, of Covington, died Wednesday April 23, 2014 at Lewis Gale Alleghany Hospital in Low Moor. He was born April 24, 1948 in Williamsburg in Greenbrier County, WV, a son of Earl and Nelva Nicely Zimmerman. Larry was a veteran of the Vietnam War with the United States Army. He had retired in 2013 from Hammond Mitchell Contractors as a Heavy Equipment Operator. He was a member of Covington Lodge #610, Loyal Order of Moose and of the Hokes Chapel United Methodist Church. He enjoyed Camping, Hunting, Fishing, Classic Cars and playing Santa Claus. Surviving are his life partner, Malinda "Lindy" Morris of Covington; one son, Laramey Zimmerman and his wife, Robin, of Lewisburg, WV; one daughter, Haley Zimmerman of White Sulphur Springs, WV; three step sons, Jeff Morris; Ricky Morris and Eric Morris, all of Covington; one step daughter, Susie Crawford of Covington; four grandchildren, Isaiah Zimmerman; Sophia Spencer, Alyssa Morris and Jayme Thomas; one great grandson, Br...

Winfred Burman "Jake" Crawford, 94, of 731 North Augusta Avenue died Monday, April 14, 2014, in Lewis Gale-Alleghany Hospital at Low Moor. Mr. Crawford was born January 31, 1920, in Craig County a son of the late Charles H. and Emma Adams Crawford. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by four brothers, Roy Crawford, Maynard Crawford, Theron Crawford and Harold Crawford and two sisters, Marie Hill and Phyllis Porter. Jake had retired from MeadWestvaco as a maintenance mechanic in 1982 after 43 years with the company. He was a veteran of World War II with the United States Navy in the Pacific Theater and was a longtime member of Curtis A. Smith Post #1033, Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was a member of McAllister Memorial Presbyterian Church where he had served as a Deacon and Elder. He was a former member of Covington City Council. He was a retired member of the Westvaco Rescue Squad and Fire Department and had served as Vice President of Union Local 675. Jake loved to hu...

Frederick Ernest Huggard, 73, of Covington, died, Sunday, April 13, 2014 at the Friendship Health and Rehab Center in Roanoke. He was born September 12, 1940 in Selma, a son of the late William E. and Annie Fairburn Huggard . In addition to his parents Fred was preceded in death by two sisters, Connie H. Woodall and Virginia H. Worley; three brothers, William E. Huggard , Jr. , Charles R. Huggard and Kenneth A. Huggard and a sister-in-law, Rebecca Helper. Mr. Huggard retired from the United States Navy in 1961. He was formerly employed and retired from the former Alleghany Work Center in Covington. Surviving are a his wife Carol Plott Huggard of Covington; two sisters, Betty Sheppard of Grottoes and Olivia Bernheardt and her husband James of Earlysville; two brothers-in-law, James M. Plott of Covington and William "Bobby" Plott of South Carolina and a number of nieces and nephews. The funeral service will be held Wednesday, April 16, 2014 at 11:00 AM in the Arritt Funeral Home Chapel....

William Eugene "Gene" Reynolds, 79, of 6412 Ogles Creek Road, died, Sunday, April 13, 2014 at the Woodlands Health and Rehab Center in Clifton Forge. He was born April 30, 1934 in Alleghany County, a son of the late Boyd Dunlap Reynolds and Lula Tucker Reynolds. Mr. Reynolds served with the United States Army. He was co-owner of Reynolds/Redman Contractors. He was an employed by Alleghany School System as a bus driver for 25 years. Mr. Reynolds was a member of the United Baptist Church. He had a passion for playing music and was a member of the NRA. In addition to his parents, Mr. Reynolds was preceded in death by a grandson, Travis West in 2004 and also by a sister, Dot Spivey in 2009. Surviving are his wife of 54 years, Dorothy Benson "Dottie' Reynolds of Covington; two daughters, Debbie Reynolds of Covington and Connie Bouchard and her husband of Roland of Clifton Forge; two sons, William "Billy" Reynolds and his wife Martha and R.J. Reynolds and his wife Heather , all of Covington...

Ronald Edward "Red" Goodwin, Sr., 71, of 4408 Dunlap Creek Road died Thursday, April 10, 2014, at his home. Mr. Goodwin was born September 11, 1942, in Buchanan, a son of the late Fred and Clara Harlow Goodwin. Mr. Goodwin retired from MeadWestvaco in 2005 as a Tour Supervisor in the Carbon Department after 40 years of service. He was a member of Covington Lodge 610, Loyal Order of Moose. He loved spending time with his grandchildren and was avid outdoorsman and golfer. Surviving are his wife of 50 years, Shirley Brown Goodwin of Covington; one daughter and son - in-law, Lisa and Joe Hileman of Greenville, SC; two sons and two daughters-in-law, Ronald Goodwin, Jr. and Jennifer of Williamsburg and Thomas Wayne Goodwin and Wendy of Clayton, NC; five grandchildren, Zachary Hileman and Joshua Hileman, both of Greenville, SC; Graham Goodwin and Blake Goodwin, both Williamsburg and Ava Claire Goodwin of Clayton, NC; one sister, Norma Evans of Clifton Forge; an aunt, Ethel Lindsay of Clifton...