Obituaries – 10/1/14

Published 9:51 am Wednesday, October 1, 2014

John Willis

April 3, 1934 — Sept. 29, 2014

John E. Willis Sr., 80, of South Point, went to be with the Lord Monday, Sept. 29, 2014, at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Huntington. He was born April 3, 1934, the son of the late Clifford and Evelyn Willis. John is survived by his wife of 37 years, Patricia (Waggoner) Willis. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Phyllis (Ream) Willis.

Mr. Willis was a graduate of Dawson-Bryant High School and owner of Buckeye Auto Parts. John was a member of South Point Church of the Nazarene where he served on the board and as secretary and a Sunday school teacher who loved to teach the book of Revelations. He led many people to the Lord with mission trips to Jamaica.

Survivors, in addition to his wife, include Carole Shifflett, John (Vicki) Willis, Mary (Mike) Bland, of South Point; Michael Willis and Lisa, of South Point; Robert (Marlo) Stamper, of Charlotte, North Carolina; and Anthony Stamper and Sherri, of Charlotte, North Carolina; one sister, Ann (John) Martin, of Kitts Hill; 15 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren

Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Thursday at Phillips Funeral Home with the Rev. Charles Lane and pastor Robert Carter officiating. Burial will follow in Williams Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be 11 a.m. until time of the services Thursday. To offer the family condolences, please visit www.phillipsfuneralhome.net.

Marilyn Vance

July 7, 1942 — Sept. 29, 2014

Marilyn Aline Vance, 72, of Ironton, passed away Monday, Sept. 29, 2014, at King’s Daughters Medical Center in Ashland. The Ironton native was born July 7, 1942, a daughter of the late Alfred Thomas Kelley and Ruth Ethel Matney Kelley. She was the widow of the late Robert Richard Vance.

Marilyn was a graduate of Rock Hill High School and Marshall University. She was a former nurse at Lawrence County General Hospital for 10 years and was a homemaker. She was of the Pentecostal faith and a member of the Ashland Assembly of God in Ashland.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her brother, Alfred T. Kelley Jr.

Marilyn is survived by daughter, Brenda Joyce and Kenneth Bailey, of Ironton; son, Robert Richard Vance Jr., of Ironton; two granddaughters, Angel Joyce Vance and Emily Shay Vance, both of Ironton; and two great-grandchildren, Shawn Alan Jackson Jr. and Charity Angelina Jackson, both of Ironton.

Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Thursday at Tracy Brammer-Monroe Funeral Home with pastor Charles Shields officiating. Burial will follow in Mamre Cemetery in Kitts Hill. Visitation will be 11 a.m. until the time of the service on Thursday at the funeral home. To offer condolences to the family please visit www.phillipsfuneralhome.net.

Sandra Carroll

Sandra Lee Carroll, 63, of Proctorville, died Sunday, Sept. 28, 2014, at The Emogene Dolin Jones Hospice House in Huntington. She is survived by her husband, Mike Carroll. Visitation is 5-6:30 p.m. Thursday at River Cities Community Church in Huntington, with a service to follow at 6:30 p.m. and dinner to follow. Arrangements are by Hall Funeral Home and Crematory in Proctorville. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.timeformemory.com/hall.

Ruby Bell

Ruby Louise Bell, 90, of Proctorville, died Sunday, Sept. 28, 2014, at the Emogene Dolin Jones Hospice House of Huntington. Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Thursday at Hall Funeral Home and Crematory in Proctorville by pastor Dwayne Shugert. Burial will follow in Rome Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.timeformemory.com/hall.

Paul Opp

Paul Franklin Opp Jr., 77, of Huntington, formerly of Springfield, Illinois, died Tuesday Sept. 23, 2014, at home. He is survived by his wife, Pauly Opp. A graveside service and burial will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Camp Butler National Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois. Hall Funeral Home and Crematory in Proctorville is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.timeformemory.com/hall.

Janet A. Darby

Nov. 18, 1936 — Sept. 30, 2014

Janet A. Darby, 77, of Franklin Furnace, died Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014, at her residence. She was born Nov. 18, 1936, in Salyersville, Kentucky, to the late Oran Barnett and Doll Gullett Barnett.

Jan was a loving mother, grandmother and aunt and her brothers and sisters meant the world to her. She loved her family, her church and most of all she loved God. She was a member of Powellsville Freewill Baptist Church until it closed and then attended Pine Creek Freewill Baptist Church. She was employed at Green Township Schools for 30 years.

She is survived by two sons, Dwayne A. (Robin) Darby and Phillip Ray (June) Darby; one daughter, Pamela Sue Knapp; two brothers, Frank Barnett and Rick Barnett; four sisters, Lyda Scarberry, Delores Howard, Barbara Phipps and Faye Jenkins; and two grandchildren, Christina Wessels and Cody Darby.

Besides her parents, she was also preceded in death by a son, Christopher Earl Darby, and a brother, Jay Barnett.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday at the Harrison-Pyles Funeral Home in Wheelersburg with pastor Ed Davis officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Burial Park. Friends may call from 5-8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home and one hour before the service on Friday.

Vernon Thomas

Sept. 24, 1941 — Sept. 29, 2014

Vernon Robert “Chubby” Thomas, 73, of Lexington, Kentucky, went to be with the Lord after a lengthy battle with cancer on Monday, Sept. 29, 2014, at his residence. The Sybene native was born Sept. 24, 1941, a son to the late Vernon E. Thomas and Bessie Smith Thomas Ruggles. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Judy Ann Floyd Thomas, whom he married May 24, 1961.

Mr. Thomas was a 1959 graduate of South Point High School and a United States Navy veteran. He was a former employee of Semet Solvay and mail carrier in the South Point area before moving to Lexington and working for Lexmark. Mr. Thomas was an avid golfer and bowler, who loved the outdoors and enjoyed hunting and fishing.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by daughter, Teresa Lynn (Johnny Andrew) Thomas Childers, of Lexington, Kentucky; two sons, David Robert (Linda Lee) Thomas, of Richmond, Kentucky, and Deron Ray (Leigh Ann) Thomas, of Rockwood, Tenn.; five grandchildren, Joshua Andrew Childers, LCpL. Aaron David Thomas, Brandon Lee Thomas, Christen Bess Thomas and Ryan Lee Willis; brother, David “Buddy” (Dee) Thomas, of South Point; sister, Betty Keeney Wright, of South Point; nieces and nephews, David Scott Thomas, Christi Crow, Judy Gail Lake, Vernon “Butch” Keeney, Kathy Lowe and Terry Keeney.

Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Friday at Phillips Funeral Home with pastor David Heavner officiating. Burial will follow in Highland Memorial Gardens with graveside military rites by VFW Post 8850. Friends may call from 6-8 p.m. Thursday and after noon Friday at the funeral home. Pallbearers for the service will be Vernon “Butch” Keeney, Terry Keeney, David Scott Thomas, Joshua Andrew Childers, LCpL Aaron David Thomas, Brandon Lee Thomas and Eric Lake. To offer the family condolences, please visit www.phillipsfuneralhome.net.

William Dowling

William “Bill” Raymond Dowling Jr., 83, Hamilton, Missouri, died Sunday Sept. 28, 2014, at the Cameron Regional Medical Center. Memorial service will be 6 p.m. Friday at Bram Funeral Home Hamilton. Online condolences can be made at www.bramfuneralservices.com.

Helen Fraley

Helen D. Fraley, 90, of Kenova, W.Va., died Monday, Sept. 29, 2014, at Cabell Huntington Hospital in Huntington. Arrangements are pending at Hall Funeral Home and Crematory in Proctorville.

Clarence Zirkle

Clarence Cecil Zirkle, 59, of Huntington, died Sunday, Sept. 28, 2014, at Huntington Health and Rehabilitation Center in Huntington. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Zirkle. There will be no services. Arrangements are by Hall Funeral Home and Crematory in Proctorville. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.timeformemory.com/hall.