Obituaries

Alice Sutphin Williams, 81 of 712 Wrightstown Ave., died, March 31, 2014 at Lewis Gale Alleghany Regional Hospital. Mrs. Williams was born October 20, 1932, in Covington the daughter of the late Joseph and Bertha Knighton Sutphin. She was also preceded in death by her husband Ernest W. Williams Sr. in 2011 and two sisters Jean Caul and Bertha Edwards. Mrs. Williams was a retired nurse in 1995 from Dr. William J. Ellis office after 31 years of service. Surviving are her daughter Julie Meadows and husband G.L. of Covington, one son Ernest W. Williams Jr. and wife Loree of Covington, five grandchildren Kristi Persinger and husband Jeremy, Brandon Williams, Allison Williams, Regan Meadows, and Peyton Meadows all of Covington, 1 great grandchild Jace Persinger of Covington, one brother Robert Stuphin and wife Vivian of Covington, one sister, Margaret Howard and husband Curtis of Statesville, NC, one special cousin Sue Byers of Covington, special friends and caregivers Linda and Jim Tinsley...

Donnie Ray Richmond, 58, of 502 East Kline Street died Saturday, March 29, 2014, in Lewis Gale - Salem Hospital. Mr. Richmond was born May 27, 1955, in Covington a son of the late Jesse James and Rosie Jones Richmond. Surviving are his Wife, Shirley Crawford Richmond of Covington; his Step-Son, Jerry Ashby of Roanoke; his Step-Daughter, Vickie Redmond of Clifton Forge; five Step-Grandchildren, Dallas Ervin, Destiny Redmond, Madison Redmond, Jeremey Ashby and Brooklyn Ashby; his Sister, Kathleen Davis; his faithful caregiver, Marsha Griffith, and special friends Jeff Lamb, Larry and Berdina Peters, Wendell Hosey, Gladys Stanaker, Gary Gordon, Justin Batten, Jonathan Batten, Margaret Hematite, Isabella Tingler, Leroy Downey and Dale Anderson. In keeping with his wishes, his body has been cremated. The funeral service will be held Friday, April 4, 2014, in the Chapel of Arritt Funeral Home with the Rev. Doug Hollenbeck officiating. Following the service, the family will receive their fri...

Beverly Rose Sampson, 75, of Roanoke, passed away on Friday, March 28, 2014 after a courageous battle with lung disease. She was born May 24, 1938 in Covington, a daughter of Hallie Rose of Low Moor and the late Stanley Rose. In addition to her father she was preceded in death by her husband, Robert E. Sampson in 2014 and also by two infant children, Rhonda F. Sampson and Richard E. Sampson. Surviving are two children, Vickie White and her husband Richard of Waynesboro and Mike Sampson and his wife Beth of Roanoke; four grandchildren, Jason White and his wife Nikki of Kentucky; Jennifer Cantore and her husband Ryan of Fishersville; Shannon Sampson and Cole Sampson, both of Roanoke; two great grandchildren, Brody White and Chase Cantore; one brother, Ronnie Rose and his wife Tiney of Covington ; a sister-in-law, Phyllis Vance of Covington and aunts, nieces, nephews and many friends including Shirley Surbaugh and Nancy Gates. In keeping with her wishes, her body has been cremated. The m...

Bert C. Walton, 58, of 106 Baileys Rd. died, Friday, march 28, 2014 at his residence. He was born June 15, 1955 in Alleghany County, a son of the late Alfred H. Walton Sr. and Margaret Reynolds Walton. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Margaret Ann Idleman and Jean Grady and one brother, Robert A. Walton. Bert was formerly employed as a field supervisor with Moody Home, Inc. He was co/owner of B & B Sewing Shop. Surviving are his wife Betty Cooper Walton of Covington; two daughters, Marcie Moles and her husband John and Stacey Griffith and her husband Jamie ,all of Covington; one son, Shannon Cooper of Covington; six grandchildren Coty Griffith; Tyler Griffith; Ryan Moles; Chloe Moles, Kevin Cooper and Chase Cooper; two sisters, Mary Gibson and her husband John(Louie) and Elizabeth Angle ,all of Richmond; one brother, Alfred Walton Jr. of Ronceverte , WV and several nieces and nephews, including Irene Whitt of Covington and Bobby Hoke Jr. of Covingto...

Clarence Robert "Dick" Bush, 86, formerly of Covington, died, Thursday March 27, 2014 in New Kent, VA. He was born May 3, 1927 in Webster Springs, WV, a son of the late Robert E. and Grace Miller Bush. Surviving are a daughter, Dr. Leah Bush of New Kent; a granddaughter, Austin Elizabeth Butler of Virginia Beach and two sisters, Virginia Mabel Jenkins of Richmond, KY and Ethel Maude Simpson of Clifton Forge. In keeping with his wishes, his body had been cremated. A memorial service will be held in Covington at a later date....

Garry A. Gilbert, 72, of 5411 Blue Spring Run Rd., died Wednesday March 26, 2014 at Lewis Gale Medical Center in Salem. He was born September 28, 1941 in Alleghany County, a son of the late Lillian Erskine Gilbert. Garry was raised in the home of his grandparents, McDonald and Mary Ellen Gilbert. Mr. Gilbert retired in 1984 from the Robertson Fowler Construction Company after 20 years of service. He was a member of the Clift Church of God of Prophecy. Surviving are his wife of 52 years Eldis Bailey Gilbert of Covington; two daughters, Janet Bryan and her husband Jay of Hot Springs and Linda Wolfe and her husband John of Covington; four grandchildren, Stephanie Bryan; Jamie Bryan; Katherine Wolfe and Jonathon Wolfe and several nieces and nephews, including two nephews who spent a lot of time in the home, Robert Bailey and Lacy Bailey both of Covington. The funeral service will be held Saturday, March 29, 2014, at 2:00 PM in the Arritt Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Everett Mills off...

Richard Albert "Pork" Wolfe ,65, of 5401 Potts Creek Rd., died, Sunday, March 23, 2014 at his residence. He was born October 14, 1948 in Alleghany County, a son of the late Howard Lee and Beatrice Redman Wolfe. Mr. Wolfe retired as a molder for the former Lear, Inc. in Covington. Surviving are his wife of 41 years, Marlene Bogar Wolfe of Covington; three daughters, Shannon Paxton and her husband Todd; Jennifer Wolfe and her husband Richard Eary; all of Covington and Nichole Wolfe and Tommy Benedict of Clifton Forge; three grandchildren, Noel, Dalton and Baylee, all of Clifton Forge; two brothers, Melvin Wolfe and his wife Mary and Sherman " Hank "Wolfe and his wife Barbara all of Roanoke; four sisters, Doris Eller of Trenton, MI; Brenda Cade of Covington; Katherine Wolfe of Zanesville, OH and Carol Persinger and her husband Gary of Cedar park . TX; a foster sister, Sandy Sherlock of Zanesville, OH ; Linda Bogar and Goldie Tucker, both of Covington ; a number of several nieces and neph...

William James "Bill" Thurston, 85, of 2820 S. Gum Ave in Covington, died, Saturday March 22, 2014 at Lewis Gale Alleghany Hospital in Low Moor. Mr. Thurston was born October 29, 1928 in Selma, a son of the late Marion and Carrie Logan Thurston. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Larry Gene Thurston in 2009 ; two brothers, Richard "Dick" Thurston; Thomas "Tommy" Thurston and one sister, Virginia Smith. Bill enlisted with the United States Navy when he was only 17. He was very proud to have served his country and remained a proud patriotic veteran and American citizen. He retired from the Research Department of MeadWestvaco in 1994 after 46 years of service. Mr. Thurston was an active member of Trinity Baptist Church for most of his life, later attending Calvary Baptist Church. Among a few of the passions in his life were being a people person and a huge supporter of the Alleghany Highlands Community, he was a Civitan Club member and Chairman of the 1976 Bice...

Theresa Harmon Humphries, 41, of 6707 Johnson Creek Rd., died, Wednesday, March 19, 2014 She was born April 10, 1972 in Trenton, New Jersey, a daughter of Otis W. and Sheila Robison Harmon of Covington. Theresa was a retired health care employee. She was preceded in death by her husband Allen Humphries in 2012. In addition to her parents, she is survived by her three sons, Shane Byer; Justin D. Paxton and Kyle H. Paxton, all of Covington; one granddaughter, Aubrey N. Byer of Covington; Three sisters; Linda Tingler; Sharon O'Conner and her husband Shawn and Laura Harmon, all of Covington; one brother, Otis L. Harmon of Covington; a special friend, Leroy Meadows of Covington and several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. The funeral service will be held Sunday, March 23, 2014 at 2:00 PM in the Arritt Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Steven Tremblay officiating. The interment will follow in Lone Star Cemetery. The family will receive their friends Saturday evening from 7:00 unt...

Ransom E. Tucker, 82, of 6402 Bens Run Road went to be with the Lord on Monday, March 17, 2014. He died peacefully at home. Ransom was born June 20, 1931, in Alleghany County a son of the late Calvin and Mamie Tucker Tucker. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his two sisters, Frances Caldwell and Pearl Salyers. He was a veteran of the Korean War with the United States Army. He had retired from VDOT after 20 years of service. Ransom was an avid hunter and gardener. He dearly loved his nieces and nephews and they reciprocated that love as evidenced by statements like, "He was always there for me", "He taught me how to hunt", and "He was more like a brother than an uncle". Surviving are his Wife of 25 years, Joyce Brown Tucker of Potts Creek; his Step-Daughter, Debra Langford, and her Husband, Robert, of Elgin, OK; his Step-Son, Wayne Sweeney and his Wife, Carol, of Suffolk; step-grandchildren, Justin Shaw, Stephanie Smith and Candice Barilla and her husband, Dominic...

William Robert Thompson, 74 years young, of 6301 Dunlap Creek Rd., passed away Thursday, March 13, 2014 at Lewis Gale Alleghany Hospital in Low Moor. He was better known to his friends as "Bobby" or "Mr. T" He was born November 14, 1939, at Forest Hills in Summers County, West Virginia, a son of the late William Lee and Nellie Virginia Lowry Thompson . In addition to his parents, Bobby was preceded in death by a son, Robert Jackson "Jackie" Thompson and by a sister, Minnie McKinney. He married his high school sweet heart Hattie Cook on December 23, 1961. Bobby retired from the Carbon Department of MeadWestvaco in 1997 after 31 years of service. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and outdoor work. Following he and Hattie's moving to Covington in 1966, he became the neighborhood repairman, working on lawnmowers, weed eaters, chainsaws or anything someone brought him to fix. He loved to watch wrestling, Hee Haw, game shows and listening to Bluegrass music, but especially spending time with his ...

Ivan Rodriguez, 43, of 2021 S. LaSalle Ave., finished his fight with cancer on Friday, March 14, 2014 at his residence. Now Ivan is at peace. He was born June 29, 1970 in New York, NY, a son of the late Maria Bustamente. Ivan was former waiter at the Fudge Street Caf and Banquet Center in Covington. Surviving are two daughters, Isis Marie Oakes of Culpepper and Maria Diane Rodriguez; his fianc Abi Sibold of Covington; his adopted family, Reginald Craft, Sr. and his wife, Connie of Covington; Lorie and David Bess of Covington; sister and best friend, Stephanie and C.B. Nelson of Covington and Reginald Craft, Jr. and his wife Amy of Covington; Special nephew, C.W. Nelson of Covington and special friend, Morgan Shrewsberry of Covington and numerous friends and family. In keeping with Ivan's wishes, his body has been cremated. The memorial service will be held 3:00 PM Sunday, March 16, 2014 in the Good News Fellowship Church with the Rev. Steve Noel officiating. Following the service, the...