Bland County Messenger Obituaries

Bess M. Diem
Bess Marie Diem, 85, of Bland died Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2008.
There will be no funeral service.
She and her husband just recently located to Bland from Port St. Lucia, Fla.
She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Walter Diem; two daughters, Marion Hart of Bland and Dianne Wisk of Hopelawn, N.J.; son, Doug Diem of Oceanside, Calif.; brother, George Burke of Staten Island, N.Y.; two sisters, Harriett Devito of Port St. Lucia, Fla., and Margaret Menafra of Bradenton, Fla.; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Southwest Virginia, 600 W. Ridge Road, Wytheville, VA 24382.
A. Vest & Sons Funeral Home in White Gate was in charge of the arrangements.

Ellen P. Jones
Ellen Pauley Jones, 90, of Bristol, Tenn., died Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2008, at NHC of Bristol.
Funeral service was held Saturday, Aug. 16, at 2 p.m. at Weaver Funeral Home Chapel with VHCF Assistant Pastor Steven Robinson officiating. Interment was in Glenwood Cemetery.
She was preceded in death by her parents, William Gordon and Amanda Freelove Hancock Pauley; husbands, Paul Dryden and George Wallace Jones; two brothers, Perry Pauley and Charlie Pauley; and three sisters, Clara Gambrel, Anna Belle Harold and Edith Kitts.
Survivors include three daughters and sons-in-law, Ellen Louise and Paul Wyatt of Aiken, S.C., Bobbie Lee and Carl Pendergrass Jr. of Hillsville, and Bess Frances Jones of Bristol; son and daughter-in-law, Alfred Gordon and Edna Dryden of Bristol, Tenn.; sister, Ruth Richardson of Bland; three stepdaughters, Nancy Slusher, Hilda Bowers and Judy Ruth Bolling, all of Bristol, Tenn.; eight grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; several stepgrandchildren and stepgreat-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Weaver Funeral Home in Bristol, Tenn., was in charge of the arrangements.

William G. Pauley
William Gordon “Gabe” Pauley, 67, of Bland died Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008, at his residence.
Funeral services were held Saturday, Aug. 23, at 7 p.m. at the Bland Funeral Home with the Rev. Leroy Long and the Rev. Wayne Sanders officiating. A graveside service was held Sunday, Aug. 24, at 2 p.m. at the Bland Cemetery.
He was born April 26, 1941, in Bland County, son of the late Charlie Harrison and Virgie Mae Hounshell Pauley. He attended the Bland Community Church and was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force.
He was employed by Klopman Mills for 27 years.
He was preceded in death by a brother, George McCarty Pauley.
Survivors include four sisters and three brother-in-law, Amanda Josephine and Jerry Phillips of Bland, Evelyn Pauline and Ronnie Albert of Giles County, Maxine Rose and Dennis Cassell of Wytheville, and Margaret Ann Bowles of Wytheville; and several nieces, nephews and special caregivers.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations be made to the Bland County Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 585, Bland, VA 24315.
Highland Bland Funeral Chapel in Bland was in charge of the arrangements.

Della H. Stowers
Della Mae Havens Stowers, 78, of Wytheville died Sunday, Aug. 24, 2008, at Wythe County Community Hospital in Wytheville.
Funeral service was held Tuesday, Aug. 26, at 7 p.m. at the Lindsey Funeral Chapel with Minister Orville Bumgardner officiating. A graveside service will be held Wednesday, Aug. 27, at 4 p.m. at the Mt. Zion Community Church Cemetery in Crawfish Valley.
She was born July 18, 1930, in Wythe County, daughter of the late Joseph Henry and Ruth Grey Rose Havens. She was a member of the Church of God International.
She was preceded in death by four brothers, William Havens, Arthur Havens, Floyd Havens and Muncy Havens; a sister, Beatrice Parks; and four infant siblings.
Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law, Fred Henry and Barbara Stowers, Wiley Melvin and Trish Stowers, all of Max Meadows; daughter and son-in-law, Opal Karlene “Karcie” and Tony Lambert of Wytheville; five grandchildren, Adam Stowers, Jeremy Stowers, Shelley Stowers, Brandi Stowers and Brittany Lambert; and several nieces and nephews.
Lindsey Funeral Home in Rural Retreat is in charge of the arrangements.