Obituaries

Mary Sue Toombs Arrington, 87, of 806 W. Ridgeway Street died Monday, November 25, 2019, at Lewis Gale-Alleghany Hospital in LowMoor. Mrs. Arrington was born March 6, 1932, a daughter of the late Charles Kenneth Toombs and Beatrice Fridley Toombs. In addition to her parents, she was preceded death by her Husband, John E. Arrington, Jr., and two sisters and one brother. Surviving are four Sons and Daughters-in-law, Jim and Debbie Woodson and Greg and Kathy Woodson, all of Clifton Forge, Steve and Daisy Woodson of Stuarts Draft and Tom and Diane Woodson of Waynesboro; 13 grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren; one Sister, Edith Bunch of Covington and several nieces and nephews. In keeping with her wishes, her body has been cremated. The family will have a gathering Tuesday, December 3, 2019, from 6:00 until 8:00 PM at Arritt Funeral Home to receive their friends. Visition Tuesday, December 3, 2019 06:00 PM - 08:00 PM Arritt Funeral Home 1102 S. Highland Ave. Covington,Virginia - 2...

Leonard Melvin "Fox" Wright, 78, of 448 Winding Way Drive passed peacefully Sunday morning, November 24, 2019, at his home. Mr. Wright was born August 23, 1941, in Alleghany County a son of the late Samuel J. and Zetta Wright Wright. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers and two sisters. He had been a member of the International Bricklayers Union for over 50 years and worked for various contractors as a bricklayer and tilesetter. He was a member of Mallow Presbyterian Church. Fox was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed NASCAR racing, especially Richard Petty and also anyone who drove a Ford. He was a big fan of Duke basketball, the New York Yankees and the Covington Lumberjacks baseball teams. He was a hard worker and enjoyed helping people. Surviving are his Wife of 57 years, Shirley Powell Wright, of Covington; his Daughter and Son-in-law, Kathy and Johnny Murray, of Covington; his special granddaughter, Sarah Quinlin, and her husband, Johnny, of R...

Robert Eugene Brooks, Jr.. 60, of Covington, died Sunday, November 24, 2019, at the Brian Center Nursing and Rehab Center in Low Moor. Mr. Brooks was born September 10, 1959, at Ronceverte, WV, a son of the late Robert E. Brooks, Sr. and Opal Marie Smith Brooks. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by one brother and two sisters. He was a member of the Alvon United Methodist Church. Surviving are two Sons and Daughters-in-law, Brian and Ashley Brooks and James and Janice Brooks, all of Covington; one Daughter, Amanda Brooks, of Covington; three grandchildren, Andrew Brooks, Alexis Brooks and Autumn Brooks, all of Covington; one Brother, Troy Brooks, and his Wife, Kathy, of White Sulphur Springs, WV, and several nieces and nephews. In keeping with his wishes, his body has been cremated. A Memorial Service will be held at a later date....

Robert Eugene Brooks, Jr.. 60, died Sunday, November 24, 2019, at the Brian Center Nursing and Rehab Center in LowMoor. Mr. Brooks was born September 10, 1959, at Ronceverte, WV, a son of the late Robert E. Brooks, Sr. and Opal Marie Smith Brooks. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by one brother and two sisters. He was a member of the Alvon United Methodist Church. Surviving are two Sons and Daughters-in-law, Brian and Ashley Brooks and James and Janice Brooks, all of Covington; one Daughter, Amanda Brooks, of Covington; three grandchildren, Andrew Brooks, Alexis Brooks and Autumn Brooks, all of Covington; one Brother, Troy Brooks, and his Wife, Kathy, of White Sulphur Springs, WV, and several nieces and nephews. In keeping with his wishes, his body has been cremated. A Memorial Service will be held at a later date....

Robert Eugene Brooks, Jr.. 60, died Sunday, November 24, 2019, at the Brian Center Nursing and Rehab Center in LowMoor. Mr. Brooks was born September 10, 1959, at Ronceverte, WV, a son of the late Robert E. Brooks, Sr. and Opal Marie Smith Brooks. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by one brother and two sisters. He was a member of the Alvon United Methodist Church. Surviving are two Sons and Daughters-in-law, Brian and Ashley Brooks and James and Janice Brooks, all of Covington; one Daughter, Amanda Brooks, of Covington; three grandchildren, Andrew Brooks, Alexis Brooks and Autumn Brooks, all of Covington; one Brother, Troy Brooks, and his Wife, Kathy, of White Sulphur Springs, WV, and several nieces and nephews. In keeping with his wishes, his body has been cremated. A Memorial Service will be held at a later date....

Leonard Melvin "Fox" Wright, 78, of 448 Winding Way Drive passed peacefully Sunday morning, November 24, 2019, at his home. Mr. Wright was born August 23, 1941, in Alleghany County a son of the late Samuel J. and Zetta Wright Wright. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers and two sisters. He had been a member of the International Bricklayers Union for over 50 years and worked for various contractors as a bricklayer and tilesetter. He was a member of Mallow Presbyterian Church. Fox was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed NASCAR racing, especially Richard Petty and also anyone who drove a Ford. He was a big fan of Duke basketball, the New York Yankees and the Covington Lumberjacks baseball teams. He was a hard worker and enjoyed helping people. Surviving are his Wife of 57 years, Shirley Powell Wright, of Covington; his Daughter and Son-in-law, Kathy and Johnny Murray, of Covington; his special granddaughter, Sarah Quinlin, and her husband, Johnny, of Roanoke...

Curtis Allen Craft, 65, of 409 N. Alleghany Ave., died, Thursday November 21, 2019 in Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. He was born July 28, 1954 in Covington, the son of the late Theo and Ruby Via Craft. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his father in law Buck Thurston. Mr. Craft had worked for Garten Trucking as a driver, He was a member of McAllister Memorial Presbyterian Church, and had retired from the Covington Fire Department. Curtis was a graduate of CHS Class of 1972. He also was avid UVA and Washington Redskins Fan and loved his two grandsons. Surviving are his wife of 13 years Denise Thurston Craft of Covington, two step sons Dustin Lee Belcher and Angel Walton, Darren Gregory Belcher and his wife Suzanne, two grandsons Davis Lee Belcher and Dekker Ray Belcher all of Meadows of Dan, three sisters Carol Liptrap and her husband Don of Troutville, Peggy Tingler and her husband Henry, Jr. of Roanoke, and Donna Craft Walker of Covington, one brother Steven...

Nancy Drepperd Persinger, 75, of 441 Winding Way died Wednesday, November 20, 2019, at The Woodlands Health and Rehab Center in Clifton Forge. Mrs. Persinger was born October 7, 1944, in Covington a daughter of the late Lake and Olive Gaylor Drepperd. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her Daughter, Wendy Leigh Persinger, her Brother, Robert Drepperd, and a Sister, Annabelle Drepperd. She had retired as an operator at the Park Hannafin Rubber Plant. Surviving are her Husband of 56 years, Norman Persinger, of Covington; her Son, Todd Persinger, of Clifton Forge; her Sister and Brother-in-law, Betty and Tony Munsey, of Covington; her Sister, Thelma Falls, of Covington ; her Sister-in-law, Rosa Lee Bartley, of Covington and several nieces and nephews. In keeping with her wishes, her body has been cremated. A funeral service will be held Saturday, November 23, 2019, at 12:00 PM in the Chapel of Arritt Funeral Home with the Rev. Virgil Woodie officiating. The family w...

Rose Emma Chapman, 93, of Covington, died, Sunday, November 17, 2019, at the Brian Center Rehabilitation and Nursing Care in Low Moor. She was born March 23, 1926, in Alleghany County, the daughter of the late Horace D. and Nancy Chapman Diggs. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her longtime companion, Joseph White and two sisters Mary Kelley and Dorothy Jeter, one niece Brenda Jeter Brown, one nephew Curtis Jeter. Rose was a member of Wrightsville Baptist Church. Surviving are her nieces and caregiver, Kim Jefferson and husband, Curtis, of Covington, Jeannie Jeter of Fort Worth, TX, Claudette Jeter Stewart of Brenham, TX, Delores Jeter Jordan of Maryland, Donna Jeter of Covington, and Nephews Charles Jeter of Fort Worth, TX, William Jeter of Waco, TX, David Jeter of Pulaski, Armstead Jeter of Pittsburgh, PA, Roy Carter, Jean Carter, Roderick Jeter, Lester Jeter, Robert Jeter, Stacy Jeter, Gregory Jeter, Stephen Jeter, and Marshall Jeter all of Covington. In keepi...

Peggy Boguess Gann Raether, 85 of 403 Grande Rd., died, November 14, 2019 at Lewis Gale Medical Center in Salem. Mrs. Raether was born December 12, 1933 in Alleghany County the daughter of the late John A. and Bertie Lively Boguess. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her first husband William Gann Sr., her second husband Donald J. Raether, two great great grandchildren Olivia Goodbar and Jenna-Rae Goodbar, her step mother Mary Boguess, two brothers, and one sister. She retired from maintenance at the former Halmode, INC. and was a member of the First Church of the Nazarene. Surviving are her two daughters Emogene Goodbar and husband Timothy of Kerrs Creek, Dena Simmons and husband Chucky, four sons William "Bo" Gann Jr. and wife Renee, Lester Gann, Andy Gann and wife Sherrie, and Jody Gann and wife Marsha all of Covington, six grandchildren, five great grandchildren, and a number of nieces and nephews. The funeral service will be held Monday, November 18, 2019 at ...

Terry Wayne Simpson, 66, of 201 Wet Ground Road died Wednesday evening, November 13, 2019, at his home. Mr. Simpson was born September 7, 1953, in Alleghany County a son of the late Lee Edward "Jack" Simpson and Ruth Kemper Simpson. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his twin daughters, Candy and Sandy Simpson; two sisters, Brenda Nelson and Lisa Campbell; one brother, Michael Simpson; a granddaughter, Madison Hicks; and three brothers-in-law, Ray Keen, Sr., Ernie Johnson and Tom Kelley. He had retired in 2015 from Westrock. He was a former member of the Covington Fire Department and Rescue Squad. He was an avid hunter and was President of the Loan Oak Hunt Club and a member of the Bear Wallow Hunt Club. He was a member and Deacon of Highland Chapel Christian Church. Surviving are his Wife of 45 years, Libby Fridley Simpson of Covington; three Daughters, Tanya Crossland and her husband, Brian, Melissa Jefferies and her husband, Jeff, and Nicole Armentrout and Jare...

Alfred Wayne Paxton, 79, of 6721 Ogle Creek Rd., went to be with his Lord and Savior, Sunday, November 10, 2019. Mr. Paxton was born May 2, 1940, in Alleghany County a son of the late Aubrey Alfred and Carrie Virginia Kay Paxton. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his Sister, Alberta Johnson; two Brothers, Daniel Lewis Paxton and Roger Allen Paxton; his father-in-law and mother in law, Robert Lee and Genevieve Marie Reed Miller. He retired from MeadWestvaco in 2004 as an insulator. He was a veteran of the Korean War with the U.S. Army and was Life Member and Past Commander of the Curtis A. Smith Post #1033, Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was an active member and Elder of the Johnson Creek Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. He was a member of Covington Lodge #171, AF & AM, where he served as Tiler. He was a member and Chaplin of Local 675 Paperworkers Union and had been a part-time employee of Arritt Funeral Home for many years. Alfred was an avid fan of the Clev...