Obituaries

May 7, 2009

Margaret Cochran, 82, of Beckley, formerly of Oceana passed away Thursday, May 7, 2009 in Morgantown, WV after a brief illness. Born January 30, 1927 at Gary, WV, she was the daughter of the late Louis and Theresa Chickos Toth. Margaret was a homemaker. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd Cochran, two brothers; Louis and Gabor Toth,...

May 1, 2009

Joyce Fondale,78, of Crab Orchard, died Friday, May 1, 2009 following an extended illness. Born November 2, 1930 in Crab Orchard, she was the daughter of the late Thomas and Lula Pearl Deck Bowman. Joyce was a retired registered nurse having worked at Raleigh General Hospital. She was a member of St. Francis deSales Catholic Church and a lifetime resident...

May 1, 2009

Katherine “Kitty” Kennedy Klaus, 83, of Beckley, went to be with the Lord, Friday, May 1, 2009 after a long illness. Born in Vanwood, WV on September 14, 1925, she was the daughter of the late Michael and Anna Kennedy. She was a long time member of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, Catholic daughters, American Legion Auxillary and the...

Apr 25, 2009

Barbara Ann Bower Parker Smelser, 67, of Beckley, passed from her earthly body on Saturday, April 25, 2009 in a local health care center following an extended illness. Born January 6, 1942, she was the daughter of Kathleen Bower of Daniels and the late Joseph Bower. She was an interior decorator and attended Beckley College and WV State College. Barbara...

Apr 24, 2009

Hugh E. (Ed) Hall, 78, of Beckley, formerly of Oceana passed away at Bowers Hospice House Friday, April 24, 2009 after a long illness. Born June 21, 1930 at Twin Branch, WV, he was the son of the late Milton A. and Jessie Slavey Hall. He was also preceded in death by a sister, Novella Temper of Columbus, OH. Ed...

Apr 19, 2009

Dr. James Thomas Farris, 89, of Beckley, died Sunday, April 19, 2009 in an Oak Hill care center. Born May 10, 1919 in Beckley, he was the son of the late Gus and Jamelia Salem Farris. Dr. Farris was a retired dentist having practiced in Beckley for many years. He was a member of St. Francis deSales Catholic Church, Knights...

Apr 15, 2009

Apr 13, 2009

Charles Bowling, 40, of Flat Top, died Monday, April 13, 2009 at his residence. Charlie was born on May 9, 1968 in Beckley. He was the son of Bob and Tresa Littlejohn Bowling. He was employed in regional sales by Champion Homes of Clayburgh, PA. He was a member of St. Frances de Sales Catholic Church. He was preceded in...

Apr 12, 2009

Clarence Hancock, 94, life long resident of Raleigh County, died of natural causes on April 12, 2009. Clarence was well known in this area having served as assistant vice president and loan officer for the Beckley National Bank for many years prior to his retirement in 1980. It is fitting, and perhaps an honor, that Clarence died on Easter Sunday...

Apr 11, 2009

Benny A. Greco, 78, of Beckley, died Saturday, April 11, 2009 in a Beckley hospital following a long illness. He was born in Chicago, IL September 7, 1930, the son of the late Mary Greco. Benny was a retired truck driver, a member of Faith Baptist Church and the Chicago Truck Drivers, Helpers and Warehouse Workers Union. He was a...

Apr 10, 2009

Anna Katherine Burk Thompson, 85, of Beckley passed away on Friday, April 10, 2009 at Raleigh General Hospital following a long illness with kidney disease. She was born January 23, 1924 at Hinton, WV, the daughter of the late William Lindsay and Annie O’Brian Burk. Anna was a retired former employee of Greenbrier Dairy in Stanaford and Borden Corporation. Besides...

Apr 9, 2009

Arnold Ray “Sonny” Mitchell, 82, of Beckley, died Thursday, April 9, 2009 at his residence under the care of Hospice of Southern WV. Born March 25, 1927 at Sprague, he was the son of the late William Jackson and Sue Stump Mitchell. He was a store manager for a number of G.C. Murphy stores in West Virginia and Kentucky for...

Apr 9, 2009

Rachel Barbara Evans, 72, departed this life from a Beckley hospital on April 10, 2009 after a long illness. She was preceded in death by her parents K. Glen Evans and Mary Ann Henson Evans. She is the last surviving member of her immediate family. She is survived by her uncle, Samuel S. Evans of Beckley and her aunt, Charline...

Apr 9, 2009

Rita Jean Allenbaugh, 80, of Beckley died Thursday, April 9, 2009 in a local hospital. Born October 20, 1928 in Beckley, she was the daughter of the late Benjamin Franklin and Icie Wood Burleigh. Rita was a member of the First United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women and the Sarah Circle. She was also a member of Beta Sigma Phi...

Apr 3, 2009

John Logan Persinger, II, 78, of Mabscott died at his residence on Friday, April 3, 2009 following a long illness. Born October 22, 1930 at Clifftop, WV, he was the son of the late John Logan and Stella Jane Black Persinger. He was a retired coal miner and contractor. John was a U.S. Marine veteran and had been a resident...

Mar 26, 2009

Eva Mae Amick of Marianna, Fl, formerly of Beckley WV passed away on March 26, 2009 in Marianna.. She was born August 24, 1908 at Quinamont, WV. She was the last surviving child of her parents, John and Mattie McGraw Kauff. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband Perry Austin Amick, one sister and...

Mar 26, 2009

Robert Lee Scott went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, March 26, 2009, following complications in association with his battle against Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Bob, as he was known to family and friends, was born in Beckley; he was the son of the Late John and Gladys Scott. He is preceded in death by his beloved wife of...

Mar 24, 2009

Charles T. Cochran, Sr., 72, passed away Tuesday, March 24, 2009 at home following a long illness. Born February 27, 1937 at Glen White, WV, he was the son of the late Rev. Roy and Mildred Mutter Cochran. He attended school at Glen White and joined the U.S. Navy in 1953. Mr. Cochran was a retired long distance truck driver...

Mar 21, 2009

Karen Elizabeth O’Neal, 51, of Galloway, Ohio, formerly of Crab Orchard died Saturday March 21, 2009 at her residence. Born March 16, 1958 at Beckley, WV, she was the daughter of Russell R. O’Neal of Crab Orchard and the late Hazel Ann O’Neal. For many years Karen attended the Crab Orchard Church of the Brethren. She graduated from Woodrow Wilson...

Mar 15, 2009

William Henry File, Jr., 94, of Beckley, died on March 15, 2009 at the Cleveland Clinic following a short illness. Born October 13, 1914 at his parents’ home on North Kanawha Street in Beckley, he was the son of the late Judge W. H. File, Sr. and Addie Lanier File. Mr. File was a 1930 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High...