Norma George

Dec. 21, 1935 — Feb. 9, 2018

Norma K. George (J.K.), 82, passed from this life on Friday, Feb. 9, 2018, in San Antonio, Texas, after a brief illness and on her own terms. She forever joined her beloved husband, Lieutenant Colonel William D. George, on what would have been his 83rd birthday.
Norma was born in Splash Dam, Virginia on Dec. 21, 1935, the second daughter of Dorothy and Bascom Owens. Her family moved to Lawrence County, and she spent her youth there, graduating from Waterloo High School in 1953.
In April of 1957, Norma married a “city boy,” Mr. William D. George, of nearby Gallipolis. Her daughter, Theresa, was born in August of 1958, and her son, David, followed in January of 1960. In late 1960, Mr. George entered the United States Air Force, and so, Norma began her career as a military spouse who faithfully took care of her family while her husband fought overseas in the Vietnam War. The birth of her second son, Phillip, in August of 1961 completed her family.
Her husband’s military career offered her and her family numerous chances to travel, and she lived her life across the world at stops including California, Indiana, Alaska, Texas and Germany, not to mention trips to Japan, Hawaii and Thailand. While stationed in Europe, she was able to travel to many other countries, most notably, to the old Soviet Union, Ireland and Italy.
After her husband’s death in 1987, she returned to, and was thereafter, a longtime resident of San Antonio, Texas, where she worked as a driver for Enterprise Rent-A-Car, retiring in 2007. After retirement, Norma fulfilled a lifelong dream and traveled to China. She spent her spare time as a volunteer in the local theater community, and she was a dedicated cinema fan. She was an accomplished painter, seamstress, cook, an avid reader and decorator. She loved to sing and watch gymnastics and figure skating on television. She was looking forward to the Winter Olympics and watching figure skating the day before her death.
Norma was a staunch supporter of women’s and LGBTQ rights, and a proud member of the Democratic Party. She was kind, caring, funny, thoughtful, generous to a fault, and above all, was a tireless advocate and supporter of her children and grandchildren.
She is survived by her son, David W. George, and his wife, Laura, of San Antonio, Texas; her son, Phillip A. George, and his husband, Justin Schenkels, of Fairfield, Connecticut; as well as her sisters, Evelyn Valentine, of Gallipolis, and Carol Henderickson, of McKinney, Texas. Mrs. George had seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews. She was especially fond of her nieces, Rita DePalatis and Anne Ramey; as well as nephews, Tom Valentine, and William and Matthew Henderickson, and of course, their spouses and children, whose birthdays she never forgot.
Norma lived a full and wonderful life with no regrets, fewer apologies and, as she was irreplaceable, will be sorely missed.
Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Saturday at Willis Funeral Home, Gallipolis. Burial will follow at Mound Hill Cemetery. Friends may call from noon-1 p.m. Saturday prior to the funeral.
“Let us cross over the river and rest on the other side.”- T.J. Jackson.
Please visit www.willisfuneralhome.com to send email condolences.

Jesse Ratliff

Oct. 8, 1955 — Feb. 11, 2018

Jesse James Ratliff, 62, of Ironton, passed away Sunday, Feb. 11, 2018, at King’s Daughters Medical Center in Ashland, Kentucky.
The Ironton native was born Oct. 8, 1955, a son of Joyce Fay Sanders Jenkins and the late Ray Leonard Ratliff.
Jesse was a 1973 graduate of Rock Hill High School and a former truck driver for BFI. He attended the City Mission Church in Ironton.
In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by a sister, Lisa Dawn Ratliff.
In addition to his mother, he is survived by two sons, Jeremiah (Paula) Ratliff and Jordan Ratliff, all of Ironton; three sisters, Kay Townsend and Tammy (Mark) Birchfield, all of Ironton, and Carmon (Bob) Bowles, of Coal Grove; a brother, Jay Ratliff, of Ironton; and six grandchildren.
Funeral services will be 1 p.m. today at Phillips Funeral Home, Ironton, with the Rev. Jeff Cremeans officiating. Burial will follow in Hanging Rock Cemetery and visitation will be from 11 a.m. until the time of the service today at the funeral home. To offer condolences to the family, please visit www.phillipsfuneralhome.net.

Eva Short

Eva Mae Short, 76, of Huntington, West Virginia, died Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2018, at home.
Funeral service will be noon Saturday at Hall Funeral Home and Crematory, Proctorville. Burial will follow in Adkins Cemetery, Oak Hill. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Friday at Hall Funeral Home and Crematory, Proctorville. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.ehallfuneralhome.com.

 

James Rowe

Jan. 26, 1950- Feb. 12, 2018

James Charles “Jim” Rowe, 68, of Ironton, died Monday Feb. 12, 2018 at Kings Daughters Medical Center in Ashland, Kentucky.
He was born Jan. 26, 1950 in Lawrence County. He was the son of the late Charles Rowe and the late Vilma Selby Rowe. He was a U.S. Army Viet Nam veteran, a past commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8850 and member of the Ironton Moose Lodge. Jim was known to many for his karaoke business. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend to many.
In addition to his parents he is preceded in death by a son, James “Jimmy” Rowe Jr.
He is survived his wife Rosalee Rowe at home; two daughters; Colleen Rowe and Holly Rowe. Jim also leaves a brother, Bill Rowe of Springfield; four sisters, Cathy Rowe of Ironton; Jan Cumpton and her husband, James, of South Point; Charlene Waugh and her husband, Bill, of Ashland, Kentucky, and Beverly Evans and her husband, Jim, of Akron, three grandchildren; Marvin Wilburn Jr., Cortney Lynn Wilburn, Brandon Lee Wilburn and a host of family and friends.
Funeral Services will be conducted at noon on Saturday in the chapel of the Brown Funeral Chapel with Rev. Leon Dalton Officiating. Jim will be laid to rest after the service with his son in the La Grange Cemetery with military honors provided by the U.S. Army Burial Detail and Jim’s fellow brothers of VFW Post 8850 of Ironton.
Friends may call after 6-9 p.m. on Friday at the funeral chapel and one hour prior to services. Friends and family may post their condolences, send flowers, light a candle or share a memory at brownfuneralchapel.org The family has entrusted his care to Brown Funeral Chapel.

Kenneth Gillenwater

May 6, 1924 — Feb. 12, 2018

Kenneth Ray Gillenwater, 93, of Ironton, passed away Monday, Feb. 12, 2018, at the Community Hospice Care Center in Ashland, Kentucky. The McComas, West Virginia native was born May 6, 1924, a son of the late Thomas Edward Gillenwater and Sylvia Lusk Gillenwater.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Ruth Evelyn Harmon Gillenwater, whom he married Feb. 3, 1955.
Mr. Gillenwater was a graduate of McComas High School and attended Morris Harvey College in Charleston, West Virginia. He was a WWII U.S. Army veteran and was a member of the McComas United Methodist Church. He was a former laborer for the Dayton Malleable Iron Company in Ironton, retiring in 1982 after more than 19 years.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Norma Cook and Dorothy Surface.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Kenna Kelley, of Ironton, and Beth Ann (Jeff) Taylor, of Wilmington, North Carolina; three sons, David Wayne (Paula) Gillenwater, Thomas Edward (Delores) Gillenwater and Scott Allan (Christy) Gillenwater, all of Ironton; a sister, Macil Quillian, of Montcalm, West Virginia; a brother, WD Gillenwater, of Bluefield, West Virginia; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Saturday at Phillips Funeral Home, Ironton, with Bro. Mark Roach officiating. Burial will follow in Highland Memorial Gardens with military graveside rites by VFW Post 8850, and visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be David Gillenwater, Tom Gillenwater, Scott Gillenwater, Rocky Truesdale, Mike Cartmell, Jeff Taylor, Ben Taylor and Ben Blake. To offer condolences to the family, please visit www.phillipsfuneralhome.net.

William Carter Jr.

William Carter Jr., 93, of Huntington, West Virginia, died Thursday, Feb. 8, 2018. He is survived by his wife, Gladys Carter.
Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church, Huntington, West Virginia, with pastor Donte Jackson officiating. Burial will follow in Spring Hill Cemetery, Huntington, West Virginia. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service Saturday at the church. Hall Funeral Home and Crematory, Proctorville, is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.ehallfuneralhome.com.

 

Doretha Johnson

Doretha Dee Dee Turner Johnson, 68, of Huntington, West Virginia, died Sunday, Feb. 11, 2018, at home.
Funeral service will be 1 p.m. Friday at Encouragers Fellowship Church, Huntington, West Virginia. Burial will follow in Spring Hill Cemetery, Huntington, West Virginia. Visitation will be 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday at the church. Hall Funeral Home and Crematory, Proctorville, is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.ehallfuneralhome.com.