Obituaries – 4/8/12

Published 12:00 am Sunday, April 8, 2012

Arthur Montroso

Arthur Montroso, 85, of Ironton, owner and operator of Montroso Fruit Farm for over 50 years, passed away Thursday, April 5, 2012.

He was born April 26, 1926, and was of Catholic faith.  He was the son of the late Joe and Nancy Montroso of Proctorville.

He was also preceded in death by his wife, Betty Lou Jeffers Montroso; two sisters, Rosie Delapa and Mary Scarvelli; and six brothers, Frank, Hugh, Rock, Dominick, Steve, and Ernest Montroso.

He is survived by one daughter, Betty Ann Montroso of West Palm Beach, Fla.; and one son and daughter-in-law, Phillip and Joy Montroso of Ironton; very special grandchildren, Sherry Montroso Stidham and husband Donnie, Dean Arthur Monstroso and Heather Montroso, and John Edward Ferrell and Rhonda Ferrell; special great-grandchildren, Savannah Montroso, Kelsea Stidham, Joey Stidham, Johnny, Tony, Alli, and Hollie Ferrell; special nephew, Danny Montroso of Proctorville; one special sister-in-law, Opal Montroso; and special niece Nancy Vanhoose; also many nieces, nephews, and many many, friends. The family expresses its thanks to Heartland of Riverview and Hospice for the wonderful care of our loved one.  There will be no visitation. A private family graveside service will be at Spring Hill Cemetery in Huntington, W.Va.  Hall Funeral Home in Proctorville is in charge of arrangements.  Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.timeformemory.com/hall.

Bobby Johnson

Bobby H. Johnson, 75, of Ironton, went to be with the Lord on April 5, 2012, from Community Hospice Care Center surrounded by his loving family, after a three-week battle with cancer.

He was born Feb. 9, 1937, in Ironton and was the son of the late Thurman and Ida Harris Johnson.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three sisters, Lorene Gerhling, Thelma Johnson, and Clotean Quigley, and two brothers, Jerry Johnson and Curtis Johnson

He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Joyce Kelley Johnson, whom he married July 27, 1963; two children, Kim (Jim) Bustetter of Raceland, Ky., and Jay (Kristy) Johnson of Kitts Hill; three grandchildren whom he adored, Courtney (Kyle) Malone of Coal Grove, Zachary Johnson and Kaitlin Johnson, both of Kitts Hill; two step grandchildren, Jessica (Jon) Mula and Eric Bustetter two step great-grandchildren, Kaelyn and Landon Mula all of Myrtle Beach, S.C.; a brother, JC (Winnie) Johnson of Kitts Hill; six sisters, Hazel West of Greenville, Leota Hagenmeyer of Wilmington, Juanita (Jarvis) Wilds of Ironton, Verna (Jay) Brening of Springfield, Evelyn Webb of Ironton, and Judy Higgenbothan of Franklinton, N.C. and several nieces, nephews, and friends.

He enjoyed coaching the “Yankees” Little League Baseball team at Pedro for many years, collecting knives, and loved his beagle dogs. He loved God’s outdoors and all its creatures; rabbits, whom he lovingly called Hopper, deer, squirrels, and birds, which he fed year round just to watch them play. He graduated from Pedro High School in 1955 and served with the U.S. Army Reserve. He retired from Allied Signal/Honeywell Solvey/Tar Plant in 1999, where he was an Ohio Licensed Stationary Steam Engineer. He was of the Baptist faith, loved his Lord and is now rejoicing in heaven.

Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at Phillips Funeral Home with Pastor Eddie Neal and Norman Carrico officiating. Burial  will follow in Woodland Cemetery. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to Community Hospice Care Center, 2330 Pollard Road, Ashland, KY 41101. To offer condolences to the family, please visit www.phillipsfuneralhome.net.

Aaron Stamper

Aaron Matthew Stamper, 26, of Fountain Inn, S.C., formerly of Pedro, Ohio, passed away Thursday April 5, 2012, at his residence.  The Huntington, W. Va., native was born June 21, 1985, a son of Freddie and Amanda Kay Stamper of Pedro and mother Robin Phillips Adkins of Sebring, Florida.

Aaron attended Rock Hill High School and was a U.S. Army veteran.  He also was employed as an assembly line worker at a warehouse and was of Baptist faith.

In addition to his parents, Aaron is survived by a son, Nathan Stamper of Ironton; two sisters, Ashley Stamper of Sebring, Fla., and Samantha Stamper of Pedro; a paternal grandmother, Minnie (Danny) Kelley of Ironton; maternal grandparents, Robert and Maxine Phillips of Coloniel Heights, Va.; a niece, Analisse Briseno of Sebring, Fla., and two step-sisters,  Latisha Roush and Hannah Roush.

Aaron was preceded in death by a paternal grandfather, Chester Stamper.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Monday at Phillips Funeral Home with Pastors Eddie Koster and J.J. Sherrill officiating.  Burial will follow in Woodland Cemetery with graveside military rites conducted by the V.F.W. Post 8850.  Visitation with friends will be 6 -8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Condolences may be made online to the Stamper family by visiting www.phillipsfuneralhome.net.

William Keeney

William G. Keeney, 66, of Kitts Hill, passed away Thursday, April 5, 2012, at King’s Daughters Medical Center in Ashland, Ky.

The Lawrence County native was born April 4, 1946, a son of the late Fred and Spicie Brumfield Keeney. He was the husband of Phyllis Monte Keeney whom he married Sept. 24, 1966.

William was a 1965 graduate of Dawson-Bryant High School. He was a retired operator for the Ashland-Marathon Oil Company and was of the Baptist faith.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by two brothers, Charlie and Fred Keeney; three sisters, Ethel Kingery, Hazel Ashworth and Lona Kingery.

In addition to his wife he is survived by a brother and sister-in-law, Norber and Kathy Keeney of South Point; a brother, John Keeney of Chesapeake; a brother and sister-in-law, Harold and Bonnie Keeney of South Point; a brother and sister-in-law, Jerry and Patty Keeney of South Point; a sister, Mildred Graham of South Point; a

sister, Bonnie Hammock of North Carolina; like a son, Freddie and April Keeney of Bellefontaine; special nieces, Renee Keeney, Lindsey and Abigail Wiley, Keira Black and Lana Ceney

several other nieces and nephews and special friends, John and Carol Seward.

Funeral service will be noon Tuesday at Phillips Funeral Home with Brother Mike Triplett officiating. Burial will follow in Woodland Cemetery. Visitation will be 10 a.m.- noon Tuesday at the funeral home. To offer condolences to the family please visit www.phillipsfuneralhome.net.

Rhonda Kidd

Rhonda Ann Kidd, 45, of Ironton, died Friday, April 6, 2012, at home.

Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Wednesday at Slack and Wallace Funeral Home, South Point, with Pastor Roger Friend officiating. Burial will follow in Hecla Cemetery. Friends may call noon-1 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the funeral home to assist the family with expenses. Condolences may be expressed at www.slackandwallace.com.

Alma Chapman

Alma Mae Amis-Chapman, 85, of Flatwoods, Ky., died Friday, April 6, 2012. Funeral will be 1 p.m. Monday at the Advance Memorial United Methodist Church in Flatwoods at 1 p.m. with Pastor Mark Wilson and Bro. Don Young officiating. Burial will follow at Bellefonte Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be noon-1 p.m. Monday at the church. Carman Funeral Home in Flatwoods in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.carmanfuneral.com.

Garland Kitchen

Garland Kitchen, 90, of Ironton, died Friday, April 6, 2012, at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Huntington, W.Va. Arrangements are pending at Phillips Funeral Home.

Ralph Early

Ralph Edward Early, 86, of South Point, died Friday, April 6, 2012 at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Huntington, W.Va. Funeral will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at Hall Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Rome Cemetery. Funeral will be 6-8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Condolences may be expressed at www.timeformemory.com/hall.

Edward Taulbee

Edward Taulbee, 86, of Ashland, Ky., died Saturday, March 31, 2012, at Woodland Oaks. Graveside service will be 1 p.m. Monday at Bellefonte Memorial Gardens with the Rev. Lee Gussler officiating. Military graveside rites will be conducted by Smith Lodge F&AM of Flatwoods. Visitation will be 11a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Evans Funeral Home.

Tony Black

Tony Dale Black, 55, of Proctorville, died Thursday, April 5, 2012, at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Huntington, W.Va. He was the husband of Dayna Lynn Black, who survives. Arrangements are pending at Hall Funeral Home.

Edmond Barker

Edmond Barker, 70, of Chesapeake, died Saturday April 7, 2012, at his residence. Arrangements are pending at Hall Funeral Home.