Lydia Lee Compton
(Vansant)

  Lydia Lee Compton, 93, of Vansant, died Wednesday, September 6, 2006 at Buchanan General Hospital, Grundy, following an extended illness.
  Born in Buchanan County, she was the daughter of the late Edward and Clarinda Stacy Compton. She lived in the Leemaster community for more than 50 years and was an active member of Looney's Chapel United Methodist Church at Leemaster. She was a seamstress, known for her handmade quilts and gifts.
  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Benjamin Wallace Compton; one infant daughter, Della; one infant son, Edward; one sister, Mae Barnett; one brother, Lawson Stiltner; and one grandson, Sonny Looney.
  She is survived by three daughters, Patty and husband, David Sayers, and Adelaide and husband, Jerry Looney, all of Vansant and Irene and husband, Fred Metz of Gaston, SC; two sons, Troy and wife, Meldena Compton and Thomas and wife, Helen Compton, all of Grundy; two sisters, Lucy Owens of Grundy and Nora Ward of Front Royal; one brother, Hufford Stiltner of Grundy; 12 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.
  Services were held Saturday, September 9 at Looney's Chapel United Methodist Church with the Rev. Sylvia Jones officiating. Burial followed in Mountain Valley Memorial Park, Big Rock.
  Active pallbearers were grandsons and great-grandsons.
  Honorary pallbearers were Ferrell Boyd, Randy Stiltner, and caregivers - Rosella Ratliff, Crystal Milbauer, Geneva Keen and Jean Sykes.
  Grundy Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Michael Paul Stiltner
(Maxie)

  Michael Paul Stiltner, 26, of Maxie, died Tuesday, September 5, 2006 at Buchanan General Hospital, Grundy, following an extended illness.
  Born in Tazewell County, he was the son of Donald B. Stiltner of Maxie and the late Beulah Ruth Endicott Stiltner. He was of the Freewill Baptist faith.
  In addition to his mother, he was preceded in death by one nephew, Charlie Stump, Jr.
  In addition to his father, he is survived by two sisters, Barbara, and husband, Charlie Stump, of Maxie and Donna, and husband, Gene Goff of Grundy; two brothers, Gary Lee Stiltner and Ricky, and wife, Stella Stiltner, all of Grundy; two nieces, Brittany Horn and Kimberly Stump; and two nephews, Rickey Lee Stiltner and Christopher Gene Goff.
  Services were held Friday, September 8 at Harman Freewill Baptist Church with Ministers Ronnie Sliger, Eddie Wilson and Bobby Ratliff officiating. Burial followed in Mountain Valley Memorial Park, Big Rock.
  Active pallbearers were Dave Baldwin, Eddie Daugherty, Tim Baldwin, Gene Goff, Christopher Goff, David Hardin, Charlie Stump, Carl Stump, Ronald Stump, Robert Stump, Billy Mays and James Stump.
  Honorary pallbearers were Fred Stacy, Fred Overstreet, Michael Bowman, Bill Prater, Raymond Endicott, Bill Mullins and John Matney.
  Grundy Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

John Wallace Kennedy
(Compton Mountain)

  John Wallace Kennedy, 78, of the Compton Mountain section of Buchanan County, died Wednesday, September 6, 2006 at his home following an extended illness.
  Born in Bradshaw, WV, he  was the oldest son of the late Richard and Ida Wimmer Kennedy. He was a member of the Maple Grove Church of Christ where he served as an elder. He served as minister of Rock Ridge Church of Christ, Pine Grove Church of Christ and Flatwoods Church of Christ. He was a retired coal miner from Jewell Ridge Coal Corporation #11 and a member of UMWA Local Union #7327 where he served as a field representative and as president of the UMWA District #28. He was also a member of the Grundy Lodge #17, IOOF, the Masonic Lodge #318 AF & AM, Richlands, and a member of the Shriners.
  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three sisters, Sarah Jane Stacy, Mary Melvina McCoy and Virginia Irene Cantrell; one brother, James (Jr.) Richard Kennedy; and one grandson, Aaron Nathaniel Kennedy.
  He is survived by his wife, Draxie Deel Kennedy; three daughters, Greta Charlene Lester and husband, Joe, and Ruth Ann Rife and husband, Donnie, all of Whitewood and Ida Christine Mullins and husband, Ricky of Wise; three sons, Eulis Richard (Ricky) Kennedy and wife, Olva, and John David (Johnny) Kennedy, all of Whitewood, and Michael Keith Kennedy and wife, Rita, of Grundy; one sister, Alice Ruth Rife, of Pilgrim Knob; three brothers, Ernest Kennedy and wife, Hilda, and Hobert Kennedy and wife, Kathy, all of Grundy, and Harold Kennedy and wife, Vivian, of Paintlick; 10 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
  Services were held Sunday, September 10 at Buchanan Funeral Service Chapel, Keen Mountain, with Evgs. Mike Trent, Burb Riffe, Bob Smith and Dennis Wimmer officiating. Burial followed in the Goodman Cemetery on Stateline Ridge Road, Jolo, WV.
  Active pallbearers were Jackie Stump, Harvey Hess, Darrell Cantrell, James Cantrell, James Wimmer, Jimmy Stiltner, Robert Rife, Kevin Kennedy, David Kennedy and Tommy Lester.
  Honorary pallbearers were Dr. J.P. Sutherland, Jr., Hobart Honaker, Dr. Thakkar, Carl Keene, Carl Wimmer, Gene Lee, Willard Wagner, Ricky Rife and Arthur Mullins.
  Buchanan Funeral Service was in charge of arrangements.

 Earl E. Childress
(Vansant)

  Earl E. Childress, 86, of Vansant, died Monday, September 11, 2006 at Bristol Regional Medical Center following a brief illness.
  Born in Buchanan County, he was the son of the late Elijah and Burgie Harris Childress. He was the owner/operator of Childress Furniture for the past 47 years. He was a lifelong resident of Buchanan County and was of the Protestant faith. He was a member of the United States Army during World War II, having served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre. He received the American Theater Service Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Service Medal with one bronze service star, the Philippine Liberation Service Medal with one bronze service star, the Good Conduct Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. He served overseas for 18 months with the 124th Infantry Regiment, 31st Division, 6th Army and participated in two major battles against the enemy. He was a lifetime member of John Ratliff Post No. 164 of the American Legion. He was the last surviving member of his immediate family.
  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Myrtle Ratliff Childress, January 17, 1999; three sisters, Orie Yates, Frances Smith and Alice Elswick; four brothers, Ralph, Ruey, George and Curtis Childress and one infant brother.
  He is survived by one daughter, Debbie and husband, Jonathan Woods of Vansant; one son, Tony and wife, Elizabeth Childress of Abingdon; five grandchildren, Brandon Woods of Vansant, Anthony and wife, Pat Childress and Tarina Cox, all of Abingdon, Stephen and wife, Christy Childress, of Lebanon and Ryan and wife, Wendy Woods of Rosedale; and seven great-grandchildren.
  Services will be held today (Thursday), September 14 at 1 p.m. at Grundy Funeral Home Chapel with Evg. Michael Trent officiating. Burial will follow in the Paris H. Ratliff Cemetery at the mouth of Young Branch on Garden Creek near Mt. Heron. Full military rites will be conducted at the cemetery by members of John Ratliff Post No. 164 of the American Legion.
  Active pallbearers will be Anthony Childress, Stephen Childress, Ryan Woods, Brandon Woods, Darrell Parrigan, Tim Lewis, Chris Stiltner and Zach Cochran.
  Honorary pallbearers will be Joe Addison, Noah Horn, Bob Hale, Carl Puckett, Jim Cook, Teddy Ferrell, Clint Ratliff, Rob Ratliff, Dr. Ralph Stanley, Dr. Clint Sutherland and Dr. M.J. Thakkar.
  Grundy Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Susie Decarlo Deel
(Vansant)

  Susie Decarlo Deel, 45, of Vansant, died Monday, September 11, 2006 at her home.
  Born in Buchanan County, she was a daughter of Clovis and Kathleen Charles Deel and was of the Baptist faith.
  She was preceded in death by three sisters, Patsy Bowman and Sherry (Russ) Boyd, both of Birchleaf and Betty Boyd of Vansant; four brothers, Lynn (Sherry Kay) Deel of Birchleaf, Larry Deel of Nora, Louie (Kathy) Deel of Clinchco and Steve Deel of Danville; several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
  Services will be held Friday, September 15 at Haysi Funeral Home with Junior Deel and James Sweeney officiating. Burial will follow in the Deel Family Cemetery at Birchleaf.
  Pallbearers will be family and friends.
  Haysi Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Florence Payne
(Paynesville, WV)

  Florence Payne, 84, of Paynesville, WV, died Thursday, September 7, 2006 at Bristol Regional Medical Center in Bristol, TN following a brief illness.
  Born in Buchanan County, she was the daughter of the late Randolph and Lottie Addair Viars and step-mothers, Sarah Rife Viars and Myrtle Morgan Viars.
  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Hobert, in November 2004; maternal grandparents, Noah and Spicey Stacy Addair; paternal grandparents, James Wess and Sarah Estep Viars; two brothers, J.W. "Wess" Viars and Amos Viars; one sister, Alice Viars Lester; and infant brothers, Elmer and Lundy Viars.
  She is survived by three sons, Billy Homer Payne of Wakefield, Gene Payne of Labelle, FL and Troy Payne of Sumter, SC; one daughter, Mrs. Glenn Aster (Sharon_) Ward of Grundy; one brother, Ernest Viars of Talbott, TN; one sister, Stella Lester of Grundy; one half-sister, Francis Jane Sieple of Abingdon; three grandsons, three granddaughters, five great-grandsons, one great-granddaughter and one great-great-granddaughter.
  Graveside services were held Saturday, September 9 at the Addair Viars Cemetery in Paynesville, with Evg. Hobert Kennedy officiating.
  Pallbearers were family and friends.
  Virginia Funeral Home of Grundy was in charge of arrangements.

  Rufus Musick, 83, of Haysi, died Monday, September 11, 2006 at Wellmont Holston Valley Medical Center in Kingsport, TN.
  He was a son of the late Lonnie and Emma Owens Musick. He was a lifelong resident of Dickenson County and a member of Splashdam Freewill Baptist Church. He was a World War II veteran, a member of the UMWA and was retired from Clinchfield Coal Mine.
  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Arbutus Gibson Musick; his second wife, Eunice Epling Musick; and a younger brother, Roy Musick.
  He is survived by two daughters, Paige Mullins and husband, Johnny, of Kingsport, TN and Vickie Baker and husband, Johnny, of Clintwood; one sister, Ruby Creekmore of Hermitage, TN; one brother, Roger Musick of Haysi; three grandchildren, Michelle Brown, Darren Mullins and wife, Stephanie, and Amanda Baker; and one great-grandchild, Valerie Brown.
  Services will be held today (Thursday), September 14 at Haysi Funeral Home with the Rev. Danny Sluss officiating. Burial will follow in the Gibson Family Cemetery at Davis Ridge.
  Pallbearers will be Johnny Baker, Johnny Mullins, Darren Mullins, Danny Edwards, Michael Edwards, Michael Roy Musick, Oland Artrip and Junior Gibson.
  Haysi Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

  Benjamin Andrew Johnson, 77, of the Johnson Hollow section of Maple Gap, died Friday, September 8, 2006 in a Richlands hospital.
  Born in Russell County, he was a son of the late Benjamin Chapman and Martha Jane Stevenson Johnson. A lifelong resident of the area, he was a member of Trinity Freewill Baptist Church and was a retired coal miner.
  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Emma Gay Shelton Johnson; seven brothers, Raymond Johnson, Floyd Johnson, Albert Johnson, Robert Johnson, Stewart Johnson, Easley Johnson and Gordon Johnson; and three sisters, Virginia Tuggle, Ellenor Shelton  and Ruby Keene.
  She is survived by two sons, Benjamin F. Johnson and wife, Leanna, of Johnson Hollow and Wilburn Scott Johnson and wife, Lisa, of Lebanon; one daughter, Reba Seth and husband, Ramesh (Roger); seven grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, six step-great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews.
  Services were held Monday in Honaker with the Rev. Roy Lee Wilson officiating. Interment followed in Ketron Memorial Gardens, Lebanon.
  Pallbearers were Richard Seth, William Grim, Gordon Johnson, Dickie Johnson, Clifford Church, Johnny Johnson, T.C. Johnson, Garrett Johnson and Galen Johnson.

Dorothy Ramey Hale
(Hansford, WV)

  Dorothy "Dot" Ramey Hale, 80, of Hansford, WV, died Sunday, September 10, 2006 at her home.
  Born in Breaks, she was the daughter of the late Kirb and Acquilla Stiltner Ramey.
  In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her sister, Betti L. Ramey, and one brother, Virgil C. Ramey.
  She is survived by her husband, Jack B. Hale, Sr.; one son, Jack B. "Sarge" Hale, Jr. and Dianna Young of Hansford; daughters, Virginia H. "Ginny" Harmer and husband, William, of Hamilton, NJ and Annette Morton of Hendersonville, NC; seven grandchildren, two great-grandchildren; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Robert and Ethel Hale; sisters-in-law, Laura Lee Roebuck and Hilma W. Hale; extended family, Lula Spaulding Scalise, Cora Spaulding Tucker and Clarice Spaulding Morco.
  A memorial service was held Saturday at O'Dell Funeral Home in Montgomery, WV with Lucretia "Lula" Scalise as eulogist.Burial followed in Maple Hill Cemetery in Bluefield, VA.
  O'Dell Funeral was in charge of arrangements.

Opal Greene

(London, KY)

  Opal Greene,  84, of London, KY, formerly of Pike County, KY,  died Saturday, September 9, 2006, at her home.
  Born in Phyllis, KY, she was the daughter of the late Andrew Reynolds, Sr. and Grace (Bevins) Reynolds. She was a payroll clerk,  a business owner and a member of the Grapevine Church of Christ in Phyllis.
  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Clayton R. Greene; three brothers, Bennet Reynolds , Carl Reynolds, and Andrew Reynolds, Jr.
  She is survived by one daughter, Margaret Gray and husband Gary; five sisters, Ruth Phillips of Ashland, KY, Mary Hunt, Christine Phillips and husband Paul "Buster, all of Phyllis, Jewell Reinholz and husband Edward of Willowick, Ohio and Barbara Williams and husband Hal of Nicholasville, KY; one brother, William (Bill) Reynolds of Johns Creek, KY; two grandchildren.
  Visitation was held Tuesday, September 12 at London Funeral Home Chapel with funeral services at 8 p.m. with the Revs. David Hawkins and Kenneth Felty officiating. Visitation was also held Wednesday, September 13 from 2 p.m. until the funeral hour of 7 p.m. at the J.W. Call Funeral Home in Pikeville, KY with Frank Crum and Jarron Hunt officiating. Graveside servives will be held today (Thursday), September 14 at 11 a.m. at Mountain Valley Memorial Park, Big Rock.
  Expressions of sympathy may be made to The Gideons International, P.O. Box 131, London, KY 40743 or to the The American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73123-1718.
  Information courtesy of Shortridge-Ramey Funeral Home, Grundy.