Obituaries

Melvin Rian Persinger, 52, of 2026 S. LaSalle Avenue died Tuesday, March 26, 2019, at Lewis Gale Alleghany Hospital. He was born June 13, 1966, in Roanoke a son of Melvin D. Persinger of Covington and the late Gloria Morse "Kitten" Persinger. He was a former employee of Lear Corporation and had worked for the past 13 years at Westrock with Ingevity Carbon. He was member of the Triple Springs Hunt Club. He was an assistant coach for the Covington High School JV Girls Basketball team and had coached Little League basketball fo over 20 years. He was an avid Nascar, Pittsburgh Steelers and Virginia Cavaliers fan. He loved to cook and was known for his Wednesday night dinners at his church. "To know Melvin was to love him" Surviving in addition to his Father are his Son, Dylan Persinger, of Covington; his Daughter, Cristi Persinger, of Covington; the Mother of his children, Tracy Persinger, of Covington; two Brothers and Sisters-in-law, Mark and Traci Persinger, of Daleville and M...

Harold Gale Gilbert Sr., age 94, passed peacefully from this life to his heavenly home on Tuesday, March 26, 2019, at the Brian Center in Low Moor, Virginia. He will be sadly missed and fondly remembered by his family and friends. Gale, as he was called by his family, was born and raised in the Dryden community of Lee County, Virginia, the youngest child of the late Earvin Riley Gilbert and Emmer Hughs Gilbert. He was predeceased by brothers Tom, Willard (Bill) and Charles. He served in the United States Army in Europe during World War II and was in the ” Battle of the Bulge”. Harold, as he was called by colleagues, had a long career with Western Auto Supply Company as manager of stores in Louisville, KY and Chattanooga, TN before transferring to Roanoke, VA for a wholesale representative position with the company, where he covered a large territory in several counties. Harold Gale was a Christian, having accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior many years ago. While living in Ro...

Leroy Alexander Brown, 64, of 218 N. Alleghany Avenue passed away Friday, March 15, 2019, at his home following a two year battle with cancer. Mr. Brown was born April 16, 1954, in Alleghany County a son of the late Sylvester and Lucille Umbles Brown. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his Son, Timothy Johnson, in 2018. He had retired in 2017 as a truck driver for the City of Covington after 34 years of service. He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends and fishing with his late son and his longtime friend, Lonnie Givens. Surviving are his Fianc, Melisa Johnson, of Covington; his Daughter, Nicelle Brown, of Clifton Forge; two grandsons, one granddaughter, his daughter-in-law, Candice Johnson, his sister, Geraldine Jones, of Covington and a host of other family and friends including Lonnie and Susan Givens and Caprice Reynolds. In keeping with his wishes, his body has been cremated and a private service will be held at a later date....

Wilma Arlene McDaniel Graham, 64, of 183 Park Avenue in Iron Gate died Thursday morning, March 7, 2019, in Lewis Gale Hospital in Salem. Mrs. Graham was born January 7, 1955, in Clifton Forge a daughter of Betty Ann Dudley McDaniel of Iron Gate and the late William Albert. In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by her Husband, Burton B. Graham in 2005 and also by her Brother, William A. McDaniel, Jr. She was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church. She was a fan of Virginia Tech sports and Conway Twitty and enjoyed flowers, hunting and fishing and going to flea markets. Surviving are her Daughter and Son-in-law, Libby Ann and D.J. Legg, of Clifton Forge; her Son and Daughter-in-law, Stuart Lee and Angie Graham, of Covington; grandchildren Shaniece Marie Crouch of Dubuque, Iowa; William Burton Jackson Legg of Clifton Forge; Brent Lee and Kimberley Graham and Burton Kyle Graham all of Covington and a great grandchild, Aceton Lee Graham; two special friends, Alice St. Clair of ...

Wilma Arlene McDaniel Graham, 64, of 183 Park Avenue in Iron Gate died Thursday morning, March 7, 2019, in Lewis Gale Hospital in Salem. Mrs. Graham was born January 7, 1955, in Clifton Forge a daughter of Betty Ann Dudley McDaniel of Iron Gate and the late William Albert. In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by her Husband, Burton B. Graham in 2005 and also by her Brother, William A. McDaniel, Jr. She was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church. She was a fan of Virginia Tech sports and Conway Twitty and enjoyed flowers, hunting and fishing and going to flea markets. Surviving are her Daughter and Son-in-law, Libby Ann and D.J. Legg, of Clifton Forge; her Son and Daughter-in-law, Stuart Lee and Angie Graham, of Covington; grandchildren Shaniece Marie Crouch of Dubuque, Iowa; William Burton Jackson Legg of Clifton Forge; Brent Lee and Kimberley Graham and Burton Kyle Graham all of Covington and a great grandchild, Aceton Lee Graham; two special friends, Alice St. Cla...

Hilary Foster Kelley, 87, of 310 S. Lexington Ave., died, Sunday, March 3, 2019 at his residence. Mr. Kelley was born February 15, 1932 in Gretna, VA the son of the late Lula Kelley Mann. In addition to his mother he was preceded in death by his Wife, Mary Kelley, in 2005, a son, Joe Lewis Carter, a daughter, Victoria C. Holloway and a brother, Morris Kelley. Hilary worked as a bank custodian for the former First National Bank of Covington, as well as an orderly for the former Alleghany Memorial Hospital. He was a member of the deacon board for the Concerned Christian Baptist Church. He was part of the Senior Citizen Organization of the LOA. He enjoyed paint by numbers and model cars as well as driving seniors around who needed to be taken places. Surviving are his daughter, Carmaleta Bowers and husband, Frederick, of Richmond, two sons Roy Carter and wife, Linda, of Covington and Reginald Carter and wife, Bernadine, of Clifton Forge, twelve grandchildren; Kim Jefferson and husband, C...

Brenda Armentrout Paxton, passed away on Sunday, March 3, 2019, at her residence. She was born in Covington, VA on October 17, 1947, to the late Lewis Franklin Armentrout & Frances O'connor Armentrout. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her son, Kevin W. Paxton in 2014. Brenda was a loving and dedicated wife, Mother, grandmother and sister. Brenda lived for her family and would do anything to make her grandchildren happy. Brenda enjoyed crafting, crocheting and reading. Her smile could light up a room and she had a gentle kindness about her that always made you feel at ease. Brenda's heart was filled with love for God, her family, friends, and church family. She was a member of Pinnell Chapel United Methodist Church. Surviving are her Husband of 54 years, Wendell "Popeye" Paxton; a Son and Daughter-in-law, Wendell Todd & Shannon Paxton; three Grandchildren Justin Paxton & Andrew McLaughlin both of Los Angeles, CA, Courtney Paxton & Jeremy Sexton, Amber Paxton and...

Doris Umbles Goode, 78, of Covington, passed away Saturday, March 2, 2019 at Lewis Gale Alleghany Regional Hospital. She was born August 15, 1940 in Bath Co. a daughter to the late John and Maryland Graves Umbles. In addition to her parents she preceded in death by her husband James Leroy Goode, Sr. and a sister Shirley Cobbs and a daughter in law Yvette Goode. Mrs. Goode retired from Best Western in 2003 after having over 35 years of service. She was a member of Pine Street Baptist Church where she had served in Willing Workers Choir, Hospitality Committee and Missionary. Surviving are a sister Evangline Holloway of Covington; six children James L. Goode Jr. and John Goode both of Covington, Abraham Almeen Goode and wife Sara of Fort Washington, Jennifer Cobb and Melissa Goode both of Covington, Rhonda Cosby and husband Darius of White Sulphur Springs. nine grandchildren Maurice Goode and Jaron Goode of Covington, Candace Walker and Husband Darrell Smith of Roanoke, LaTronda Cobb of ...

Noel Cecil Paxton, 83, of Clifton Forge, died, Monday, February 25, 2019 at the Scott Hill Retirement Community. Mr. Paxton was born October 21, 1935 in Clifton Forge the son of the late Noel Carter and Minnie Terry Paxton. Noel worked as a manager of a RV Park in Florida. Surviving are his companion Carla Abate, a number of close friends and caregivers at Scott Hill Retirement Community. In keeping with his wishes he body has been cremated. A memorial service has been scheduled for Friday, March 1, 2019 at 6:00 PM at the Scott Hill Retirement Community....

Walter Arden Knick, 84, of 2126 Dressler Dr., died, Sunday February 24, 2019, at the Brian Center in Low Moor. Mr. Knick was born October 2, 1934, in Alleghany County a son of the late Warnel Knick, Sr., and Carle Wilhelm Knick. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his second wife, Phyllis Knick, and his former companion, Carol Singer, a sister in law, Debbie Walton Knick, and a brother in law, George Cottrell. Walter graduated from Covington High School, then went to William & Mary on a basketball scholarship. He later attended Virginia Tech. He worked for a private government contracting company while residing in a number of locations with his job. He was of the Baptist faith, a sports fanatic, golfer, and had retired in Key West, FL, before returning to Covington. Surviving are his brother Warnel Knick Jr. of Charlotte, NC; a sister Patricia Cottrell of Covington, nieces and nephews; Jonathan Knick, Jeffrey Knick, and Ashley Knick all of Charlotte, NC, and Travis...

Meredith Littleton Jennings, 93...

Charles Elmer Wright, 84, of 303 Jonestown Road died Saturday, February 23, 2019, at his home. Mr. Wright was born February 18, 1935, in Alleghany County a son of the late Frank Charles Wright and Roxie Arritt Wright. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by four brothers, Lawrence Wright, Connie Wright, Everett Wright and Saford Wright and five sisters, Lillian Bogar, Shirley Wright, Daisy Hepler, Della VanNeville and Mattie Thomas. Charlie had retired in 1986 as an industrial truck driver for the John Deere Company in Waterloo, Iowa. He was a retired member of the Evansdale Iowa Fire Department, the John Deere Fire Brigade and the Boiling Springs Fire Department and Rescue Squad. He was a member of Lone Star Baptist Church. Surviving are his Wife of 60 years, Mary Kolar Wright, of Covington; five Sons and Daughters-in-law, Justin and Martha Wright and Kevin and Sue Wright and Michael and Kristine Wright, all of Waterloo, Iowa, Steven and Michelle Wright of Hudson, Iow...