Obituaries for week of April 30 from the Richlands News Press and Clinch Valley News

Esther Pauline
Harrison Abel
Esther Pauline Harrison Abel, 86, of the Thompson Valley community in Tazewell, was suddenly called to her heavenly home April 22 at Tazewell Community Hospital.
A lifelong resident of Tazewell County, she was born Jan. 22, 1922 in Thompson Valley to the late Elder Columbus Harvey Harrison and Jennie Nannie Kinder Harrison.
She was a member of the Universal Primitive Baptist Faith, Salem Church in Bandy, for 55 years having been baptized in 1952. She was a beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, John Millard Abel; one infant son, C.B. Abel; one infant daughter, Dovie Pauline Abel; one infant granddaughter, Brenda Gail Perkins; one sister, Ruth McGuire; and one infant brother.
Survivors: children, Lillian E. Perkins and husband, Burton, Nellie Brinda Smith and husband, Roger, Sandra Gay Putnam and husband, Dillard, and Ruby Mae Vencill and husband, Kenny, all of Tazewell, Roger Millard Abel and wife, Vicky, of Pulaski; sister, Ruby L. Sheets of Tazewell; ten grandchildren; six great grandchildren; and four step grandchildren.
The funeral was conducted at 1 p.m. April 25 at Peery & St.Clair Funeral Home Chapel in Tazewell with Elders Robert Whitt, Farley Beavers, Ronnie Compton, Willard Owens, and Craig Johnson officiating.
Burial followed at Maplewood Cemetery in Tazewell.
An evening service was held April 24 at 7 p.m. at the funeral home.

Bruce Wayne Austin, Sr. “Cooter”
Bruce Wayne Austin, Sr. “Cooter,” 59, of North Tazewell, died April 26 in Salem Veterans Hospital, Salem.
Born May 21, 1948 in Roanoke, he was the son of the late John Austin of Salem and Ethel Austin of Tazewell.
He was in the Vietnam War and a member of the Barns-Beavers VFW Post 7163 of Tazewell. He served as a volunteer for 15 years on the Tazewell Rescue Squad. He coached the Tazewell Little League team for four years. He was a set up volunteer for Tazewell Main Street Moments. He was well known through the Tazewell County Fair Association. He was one of the original founders of the Tazewell Lawnmower Assoc. He was a member of the Thompson Valley Church of God. He was also a member of the Izaak Walton League and his beloved Red Neck Yacht Club of Claytor Lake.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one infant daughter, Candy Anne Austin.
Survivors: his beloved wife, Carolyn, of 41 years; son, Hank Austin of the home and fiancée Kari Beth Patton; brother, Eddie Austin and partner N. A. Boone, Jr. of Bedford; sisters, Rebecca Sparks and spouse, Freddie, of Hardy, Vivian Stout and spouse, Melvin, of Bandy; several nephews and nieces; special caregivers, the nurses at Total Home Care Hospice, Dr. Rinehart and his staff, the Veterans Hospital in Salem; and all his friends and family who attended his 59th birthday party which he dearly enjoyed.
The funeral was conducted April 29 at Thompson Valley Church of God at 11 a.m. with Rev. Kevin Seabolt officiating.
Inurnment followed at Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill. Members of Barns-Beavers VFW Post 7136 conducted military graveside rites.
Memorial contributions can be made to Barns-Beavers VFW Post 7136 of Tazewell.
Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Tazewell was in charge of arrangements.

Tilda Bell Austin
Tilda Bell Austin, 45, of Council, died April 24 in a Grundy hospital.
Born October 7, 1962 in Dingess, W.Va., she was a daughter of Elsie Fay White York of Dingess and the late William Raleigh York.
She had lived in the area for the past 13 years and was of the Pentecostal Holiness faith.
In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by one sister, Oma Harris, and one infant sister.
Additional survivors: husband of five years, Danny W. Austin; daughters, Elsie E. Dillon of Dingess, Martha L. Baisden of the home; son, Danny W. Austin, Jr. of the home; sisters, Barbara Bailey and Hellina Hager, both of Dingess, Ester Matthews of Charleston, W.Va.; brothers, James York, Joe York, Henry York, David York, and Dewey York, all of Dingess; and granddaughter, Keshia Ann Dillon.
The funeral was conducted at 11 a.m. April 27 in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel, Honaker, with Rev. Roy Lee Wilson and Rev. Chester Ball officiating.
Interment followed in the Hess Cemetery at Venia.

Bayard W. Farmer
Bayard W. Farmer, 76, of Honaker, died April 26 in a Lebanon hospital.
Born June 29, 1931 in Buchanan County, he was a son of the late Walter Preston and Rebecca Stevens Farmer.
A lifelong resident of the area, he was of the Pentecostal faith and was a disabled coal miner.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Draper Farmer; one daughter, Sally Kay Jackson; ten brothers; and four sisters.  In his generation, he was the last surviving member of his immediate family.
Survivors: daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Gary Gregory; son, James Gregory; grandson, Gary Gregory, Jr.; granddaughters, Sheena Mabe and husband, Josh, and Jessica Whitt and husband, Adam; great-grandsons, Braden Mabe and Gavin Whitt; great-granddaughter, Maggie Kay Whitt, all of Honaker; and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral was conducted at 7 p.m. April 28 in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel, Honaker, with Pastor Larry Brooks and Rev. Harless Hess officiating.
Graveside services were conducted at 11 a.m. April 29 at Ketron Memorial Gardens in Lebanon.

Phyllis Jean Harris
Phyllis Jean Harris, 70, of Council, died April 25 in a Richlands hospital.
Born Sept. 9, 1937 in Council, she was a daughter of the late George and Maudie Compton McFarlane.
A lifelong resident of the Council area, she was a 1956 graduate of Council High School, having completed school with perfect attendance.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one brother, Carl McFarlane, and one sister, Lois McFarlane.
Survivors: husband of 47 years, William P. Harris; daughters, Regina Harris of the home, Phyllis Ann Perolio and husband, Daniel, of Atlanta, Ga.; grandchildren, Jennifer Perolio and Andrew Perolio; sisters, Rita Kay and Dare Bedwell; and brothers, Henry McFarlane and Golden McFarlane.
The funeral was conducted at 11 a.m. April 28 in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel, Honaker, with Rev. Giles Wilson officiating.
Interment followed in the Harris Cemetery at Venia.

Billie Jo Jeffrey
Billie Jo Jeffrey, 48, of Doran, died April 26 in a Johnson City, Tenn. hospital following a brief illness.
Born in Richlands, she was the daughter of the late Claude and Annie Lorraine Hess Brown, both Tazewell County natives.
She had lived all her life in the Richlands and Raven areas and was a graduate of Richlands High School.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one son, Matthew Cody Jeffrey; and two sisters, Gladys Marie Boyd and Phyllis Kaye Brown.
Survivors: sisters, Doris Ann Sanders and husband, Randy, of Raven, Judy Brown Woodall and husband, Warren, of Niceville, Fla., Evelyn Hunter of Forest City, N.C.; and brothers, Roger Lee Brown and wife, Princess, of Raven, Stevie Claude Brown and wife, Linda, of Lebanon, and Tommy Gene Brown and Donnie Dale Brown and wife, Kitty, all of Richlands.
Graveside services were conducted April 28 at 2 p.m. at the Greenhills Memory Gardens Mausoleum at Claypool Hill with the Rev. Dennis McLemore officiating.
Interment followed. 
Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands was in charge of arrangements.

Reese (Railroad Jones) Russell Jones
Reese (Railroad Jones) Russell Jones, of North Tazewell, died April 22 at his home.
Born at Charleston, W.Va., he was a son of the late William R. and Gladys Repass Jones.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Keith Jones.
Survivors: wife, Betty Hankins Jones; daughters, Daphne Boutin and husband, John, of North Tazewell, Jessika Jones of the home; brother, Charles William Jones of Tazewell; special sister-in-law, Charlotte Jones of Tazewell; grandson, Nathan Reese Boutin; nephews, Keith Jones and Derek Jones; niece, Valerie McDowell; and special friends, Ronnie Turley, Robert Bowling, Kevin Brown and Wayne Cochran.
A memorial service was conducted April 24 at 3 p.m. at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Tazewell.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Theresa’s Catholic Church of Tazewell.
Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Tazewell was in charge of arrangements.

Lucy Blanche Kidd
Lucy Blanche Kidd, 83, of Tazewell, died April 26 at her home.
Born Sept. 12, 1924 in Bland County, she was a daughter of the late Joseph Henry Clemons and Josephine Mae Neel Clemons.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Albert W. Kidd; two daughters, Alberta Sue Williams and Martha Louise Smith; one son, Leonard Whitley Kidd; three brothers, Joseph, Samuel, and Johnny Clemons; two half sisters, Ethel and Myrtle Clemons; and four half brothers, Henry, Harve, and Herman Clemons, and William Howard Neel.
Survivors: daughters, Nancy Buchanan and husband, Jerry, of North Tazewell, Lavonda Sheets and husband, Carl, and Arneatte K. Sheets and husband, Douglas, all of Tazewell, Josie Carline of Webb, Fla.; sons, Isaac Chapman (Chappy) Kidd and wife, Lisa, of Easly, S.C., James Granville Kidd and wife, Charlene, of Greer, S.C., Garland Dennis Kidd of Jonesboro, Ga.; sisters, Mary B. Smith of Maxwell, Della B. Umbarger of Ceres, Ella Louise Clemons of Tazewell; brothers, Dillard Clemons of Manquin, Andrew Clemons of Mt. Lake Park, Md.; 20 grandchildren; and 27 great grandchildren.
The funeral was conducted at 2 p.m. April 29 at Peery & St.Clair Funeral Home Chapel in Tazewell with the Rev. Kelvin Seabolt officiating.
Burial followed at Grandview Memory Gardens in Bluefield, Va.

WITH PHOTO!!! ! !! ! !
Phyllis Ann Lester
Am I Loved, Did I Love Well?”
Phyllis Ann Lester, 62, of Pounding Mill, died April 22 in a Richlands hospital following a lengthy illness.
Born in Whitewood, she was the daughter of Edith Faye Yates Compton of Grundy and the late A.T. Compton, Jr.
She graduated from Whitewood High School with the Class of 1964 and the Roanoke Business College and had attended ETSU. She worked at SVCC and had worked for Island Creek Coal Co., Belk, and First Union Bank. She loved flowers and decorating, and was a member of the Richlands Garden Club. She loved riding bikes and being outdoors and was a loving wife and mother. She had lived most of her life in the area and attended Community Heights Baptist Church.
She had fought a 13-year battle with cancer and at the time of her death she was the longest living survivor with her type of cancer.
Additional survivors: husband, Paris Lester, Jr.; daughter, Laura Spalding of Knoxville, Tenn.; son, Dr. Matthew A. Lester and wife, Leslie, of Knoxville; brother, Ronald Compton and wife, Pat, of Compton Mountain; half-brother, Archie Compton of Shortts Gap; grandchildren, Sierra Faith Spalding, Ryan A. Lester, Ashton R. Lester, and Courtney A. Lester; and a large extended family as well as a host of nieces and nephews.
The funeral was conducted at 1 p.m. April 25 at Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands with the Rev. Bill Keele officiating.
Entombment followed at Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Community Heights Short Term Mission Fund, PO Box 1126, Cedar Bluff, VA 24609 or to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, 383 Main Avenue, 5th Floor, Norwalk, CT 06851.

Mildred Elaine
Honaker Miller
Mildred Elaine Honaker Miller, 72, of Honaker, died April 22 at Holston Valley Medical Center in Kingsport, Tenn.
Born Nov. 9, 1935 in Russell County, she was a daughter of the late Ivan C. and Mary Ellen Lockhart Honaker.
A lifelong resident of the Honaker area, she was a member of the Swords Creek Block Church.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Jessie Miller, and three brothers, Ivan C. Honaker, Jr., Glen Honaker and Clyde Honaker.
Survivors: sons, Jerl K. Miller and Barry D. Miller and wife, Ginger, all of Honaker; daughters, Pam Stinson and husband, Glen, of Honaker, Sandy Whitt and husband, Doug, of Swords Creek, Diann Munsey and husband, Tim, of Cedar Bluff; sisters, Linda Hamm of Honaker, Betty White of Lebanon, Iona Wheelock of Abingdon, Peggy Lester of Raleigh, N.C.; eight grandsons, one granddaughter; two great-grandsons; and one great-granddaughter.
The funeral was conducted at 1 p.m. April 24 in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel, Honaker, with Rev. Carl Robinson and Rev. Roy Smith officiating.
Interment followed in Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.

Narcie Lee Noel
Narcie Lee Noel, 78, of Virginia, died April 25 at Rosewood Manor Nursing Center in Galion, Ohio.
Born May 3, 1929 in Drill, she was the daughter of the late Arthur Wilson and Rena (Dye) Wilson.
She is a member of New Ellenton Church of God in Aiken, S.C. She graduated from Honaker High School in Honaker and loved quilting. After her husband passed away, she took classes on being a caregiver and took care of seniors.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Carl A. Noel, on February 7, 2002; one grandson, Carl Richard Noel; two brothers, Ted Wilson and Odell Wilson; and three sisters, Edna Peck, Eyler Wilson and Ellen Compton.
Survivors: sons, David A. Noel of Galion, Joe A. Noel of Delaware; daughters and a son-in-law, Kathy J. and John Scott of Aiken, S.C., Patricia Chisholm of Crestline; eight grandchildren; and six great grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. May 1 at Pole Church in Swords Creek.
Interment will be in Wilson Cemetery on Drill Mountain.
Arrangements are in care of Richardson-Davis Funeral Home, 218 S. Market Street, Galion, OH 44833.

Sara “Suzie” Puckett
Sara H. “Suzie” Puckett, 58, of Mount Olive, N.C., loving wife, daughter, mother, sister, grandma and friend, went to be with the Lord April 22. She was at home, surrounded by her family, at the time of her departure.
She was born Dec. 1, 1949. She was employed with Mt. Olive Pickle Company, Inc. She and her husband were former residents of Tazewell before relocating to North Carolina some 20 years ago. She was a member of the Park East (Adamsville) Church of God.
She was preceded in death by her father, William H. Helmadollar and one sister, Billie Jo “B.J.” Wright.
Survivors: husband, Raymond L. Puckett; mother, Joanne Q. Helmadollar of Princeton, W.Va.; children, Suzann P. Bowman and husband, Greg, of Roanoke, Raymond Lee Puckett, Jr. and wife, D’Emma, of Grantham, Dennis Eugene Puckett and wife, Heather, of Mount Olive, Melissa Puckett of the home; brothers, William “Sonny” Helmadollar and wife, Ethel, of Bluefield, Va., Ronald Helmadollar and wife, Carla, of Tazewell, Jimmy Helmadollar of Princeton, W.Va.; sisters, Norma Lane of Fremont, Maxine MacLean and husband, Mike, of Princeton, Mary “Dottie” Parrish and husband, Danny, of Smithfield. She was also the loving grandmother of Aaron Bowman and Ray Lucas Puckett, and she was known as the grandmother of David, Sadie, Nathan, and Brandon Dowdney of the Rosewood community.
A service to celebrate her life was held April 24 at 7 p.m. at Park East (Adamsville) Church of God in Goldsboro, N.C. with Pastor J. Wesley Jarman officiating.
A private burial took place April 25 at the home.
In lieu of flowers, it was her request that memorial gifts be made to Park East (Adamsville) Church of God, 3913 McLain Street, Goldsboro, NC 27534.
Tyndall Funeral Home of Mount Olive was in charge of arrangements.

Harold R. Ratliff
Harold R. Ratliff, 79, of North Tazewell, died April 27 at the Tazewell Community Hospital, Tazewell, following an extended illness.
Born in Pike County, Ky., he was the son of the late Ray Thomas and Olba Ratliff.
He was a resident of Buchanan County most of his life and was of the Protestant Faith. He retired from the United States Air Force where he served during the Korean Conflict and later worked as a coal company scale operator.
He was preceded in death by one sister, Christine Cornwell; four brothers, Bernard Ratliff, C.E. (Edd) Ratliff, John W. Ratliff and Robert (Buddy) Ratliff; and two nephews, Jimmy Darrell Ratliff and Bernard Dean Ratliff.
Survivors: sisters, Madelyn Hamilton of Franklin, Ohio, Dorothy and husband, Bert Severt, of Big Rock; sister-in-law, Bonnie and husband, Pete Roberts, of Bishop; special nephew, Joey L. and wife. Christy Ratliff, of Johnson City, Tenn.; special grandsons, Harold Kade Ratliff and Robert Owen Ratliff; four nieces; and seven nephews.
Graveside services will be conducted April 30 at 1 p.m. at the Mountain Valley Memorial Park, Big Rock.
Burial will follow.
Full military rites will be conducted at the cemetery by members of John Ratliff Post No. 164 of the American Legion.
Grundy Funeral Home of Grundy is in charge of all arrangements.

WITH PHOTO! ! !!
Delora Sisk Richardson
Delora Sisk Richardson, 89, of Swords Creek, went home to be with her heavenly father April 23 in a Bristol, Tenn. hospital.
Our earthly loss is heaven’s gain. She was co-founder and a faithful member of Pine Creek Holiness Church for 54 years.
Born June 17, 1918, she was the daughter of the late George and Mary Horton Sisk.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Dailey Edward Richardson; their son, Jerry Richardson; five sisters, Helen McNulty, Jennie Sparks, Edgar Wilson, Vernell Horn and infant sister, Winnie Sisk. 
Survivors: sons, Edward Richardson and Rev. Jim (Shirley) Richardson, all of Swords Creek, Fred (Wanda) Richardson of Rosedale, Tom (Pam) Richardson of Honaker; daughters, Lillian (James) Miller, Zeola (Leonard) Hubbard and Ellen (Danny) Dye, all of Swords Creek, Margaret (Cecil) Dye of Rosedale, Linda Richardson of Raven; daughter-in-law, Patty Richardson of Wytheville; grandsons, Hubert Hubbard, Doug Hubbard, Randy Miller, Steve Dye, David Dye, Allen Richardson, Chris Dye, J.P. Richardson, Freddie Richardson, Jim Ed Richardson, Luke Richardson and Josh Richardson; granddaughters, Charlotte Hess, Freda Austin, Renee Fields, Kim Compton, Cindy Bruckner and Samantha Taylor; 36 great grandchildren; two step great-great grandchildren; sisters, Toy Davis, Blanche Richardson, Sylvia Hall, Beulah Horton, Dainer Richardson and Clara Sisk; very special niece and family, Sharon, Ronnie, Kevin Dye and Vanessa Hess; her extended church families both far and near; her many cherished friends, neighbors and her caregivers, Lois Lane and Rita Whited.
The funeral was conducted at 2 p.m. April 26 at Pine Creek Holiness Church in Swords Creek with Rev. Carl Robinson, Rev. G.W. Birdsong and Rev. Don Stanley officiating.
Burial followed in the Richardson Cemetery at Horton Ridge.
Singleton Funeral Service was in charge of arrangements.

Ernest Oscar Roisch, Sr.
Ernest Oscar Roisch, Sr., 89, of Steelesburg, died April 24 in a local Tazewell hospital.
Born in Yukon, W.Va, he was the son of the late Karl and Sarah Hackney Roisch, former West Virginia natives.
He was a graduate of the New York City Institute of Photography and owned and operated Roisch Photo of Doran. He had 55 years of experience taking pictures for many people. He attended the Richlands Presbyterian Church and was a member of the Virginia Professional Photography Association. He was a World War II U.S. Army Air Force Veteran and served in the C.B.I. Theater.
He was the last surviving member of his immediate family. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He was a true asset to the Richlands Business Community for many years. He will be truly missed by all who knew and loved him.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by five sisters, Freda, Gertrude, Jett, Elsie and Ruth, and one brother, Theodore.
Survivors: loving wife, Hattie Rasnick Roisch; daughter, Sarah Slate and husband, Steve, of Steelesburg; son, Ernest Roisch, Jr., and wife, Margaret, of Richmond; and grandchildren, Holton Roisch and Gray Roisch.
A graveside service was held at 2 p.m. April 27 at the Greenhills Memory Gardens Mausoleum at Claypool Hill with the Rev. Dennis Hoffman officiating. There was no visitation.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Tazewell County Humane Society, P.O. Box 281, Tazewell, VA 24651 and The Richlands Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 446, Richlands, VA 24641.
Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands was in charge of arrangements.

Ralph D. (Harry) Stiltner
Ralph D. (Harry) Stiltner, 71, of Maxie, died April 19 at Buchanan General Hospital, Grundy, following an extended illness.
Born in Buchanan County, he was a son of the late James Dewey and Flora Daugherty Stiltner.
He was a life-long resident of Buchanan County and a retired coal miner and was of the Pentecostal Faith.
He was preceded in death by one sister, Plina June Stiltner.
Survivors: sisters, Lydia Margaret and husband, Patton Edwards, Peggy and husband, Pim Griffey, Linda Stiltner, Patsy Stiltner, and Pamela and husband, Ronnie Stiltner, all of Maxie; brothers, James Edward Stiltner, Estil and wife, Sarah Stiltner, Gary Stiltner, and Teddy Stiltner, all Maxie, Guy and wife, Kay Stiltner, of Rt. #1, Grundy, William and wife, Darlene Stiltner, of Harman; and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral was conducted April 23 at 11 a.m. at Grundy Funeral Home Chapel with Ministers: Pim Griffey, Danny Hess and Ronnie Sliger officiating.
Burial followed in Mountain Valley Memorial Park, Big Rock.
Services were held April 21 and 22 at 7 p.m. at the funeral home.