Obituaries from the Richlands News Press and Clinch Valley News for the week of May 7

Willard (Bill) Thomas Bostic
Willard (Bill) Thomas Bostic, 69, of Abbs Valley and Palmer, Alaska, died April 23 from injuries sustained in an automobile accident near Wytheville.
Born August 4, 1938 in Abbs Valley, he was a son of the late Davis A. and Minnie Bostic.
He retired from the US Air Force after 29 years of service as Chief Master Sergeant. During his service, he was in 60 plus countries and most of the United States. He was a 1957 graduate of Pocahontas High School, attended Trinity Presbyterian Church in Tazewell, was a member of VFW Post # 9696 of Bluefield, Va., and an inactive member of the Masons. He loved traveling, cattle farming and was proud of the many trophies he won in weight lifting at the fitness center in Bluefield, W.Va. His life was full of love and devotion for his family and many, many friends.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one sister, Gracie Bostic Pickett; four half sisters and four half brothers.
Survivors: wife, Dorothy Rae Bostic; son, Willard Thomas Bostic, Jr. and wife, Karen, of Virginia Beach; daughter, Sherri B. Carico and husband, Michael, of Winston Salem, N.C.; brother, Herman Bostic and wife, Wanda, of Baptist Valley; sisters, Hazel Shumate of Abbs Valley, Thelma Bostic of Bluefield, W.Va.; granddaughters, Meaghan, Karegan, Brendyl and Addison Bostic; and grandsons, Paul and Luke Carico.
The funeral was conducted April 30 at 2 p.m. at Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home Chapel in Tazewell with the Rev. Henry Johnson officiating.
Burial followed at Grandview Memory Gardens in Bluefield, Va., where military graveside rites were conducted by members of the Barns-Beavers VFW Post # 7136 of Tazewell.

Joseph Urshel (J.U.) Brown
Joseph Urshel (J.U.) Brown, 81, of Richlands, went to be with the Lord April 28 at his home following a brief illness.
Born Feb. 9, 1927 in Tazewell County, he was the son of the late Joseph Howard and Bertha Louise Ball Brown.
He made his home in the Richlands and Doran Bottom areas his entire life. He was a member of Doran Wesleyan Church. He was a United States Army Veteran of World War II and a retired employee of Jewell Smokeless Coal Corporation.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one sister, Pauline Maxwell.
Survivors: wife of 43 years, Duilla (Peggy) Brown; sons, Joseph Michael (Mike) Brown and Richard Anthony (Tony) Brown, both of Doran; grandsons, Cody Brown of West Liberty, Ky., Michael Brown of Chesterfield; granddaughter, Katlyn Brown of Doran; special mother-in-law, Sadie Absher; step brother, Brother Carl Robinson; cousins, Phyllis Blankenship and Freda Hunnell; his extended family, Keshia Keppler and family; his cherished friends and neighbors; daughter-in-law, Carmelita; his sisters-in-law who loved and respected him like a father, Carol Roberts, Shirley Richardson, Judy Helbert and Debbie Grimmett.
He will always be remembered for his kindness and the many acts of love. 
The funeral was conducted at 1 p.m. May 1 at Singleton Funeral Service Chapel in Cedar Bluff with Pastor John Aldrich, Jr., Pastor Bud Fugate and Rev. Jimmy Richardson officiating.
Burial followed in the Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
Military graveside rites were conducted by Casey-Shortt VFW Post 9640. 

Leisha Beth Salyer Charles
Leisha Beth Salyer Charles, 27, born Sept. 15, 1981, died May 2 in Columbus, Ohio.
She is the daughter of William (Bill) and Mary Rife Salyer of Grundy.
She is a graduate of Whitewood High School and attended Bluefield College. She was a gifted artist and talented musician who will be deeply missed by her family and friends. She was a member of the Buchanan First Presbyterian Church.
She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, John Astor and Carolyn Rife, and her paternal grandparents, Jimmie and Avonelle Salyer.
Additional survivors: daughter, Elizabeth Brooke Charles of Grundy; sisters, Billie Joe Lopez of Albuquerque, N.M., Cerella Ratliff of Richlands; brother, Jimmie Allen Salyer of Grundy; and several aunts and uncles.
The funeral was conducted May 6 at 11 a.m. at the Grundy Baptist Church with Rev. Donald Tittle officiating.
Entombment followed in Mountain Rest Mausoleum, Mountain Valley Memorial Park, Big Rock.
Services were held at the church May 5 at 7 p.m.
The family suggests that expressions of sympathy be made in the form of a donation to the Grundy Baptist Church Building Fund, Box 675, Grundy, VA 24614.
Grundy Funeral Home of Grundy was in charge of arrangements.

Clifford Dye
Clifford Dye, 89, of Richlands, died April 28 at Mayfair House in Cedar Bluff.
He was born Aug. 17, 1918 in Swords Creek and was the son of the late Lonie and Elizabeth (Perkins) Dye.
He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was retired from General Motors. He was of the Baptist faith and enjoyed reading, playing cards and games.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Julie Ann Dye; four sisters, Minnie Curey, Exie Hicks, Maxine Summerlin, Weenie Dye; and two brothers, Hassel Dye and Clinton Dye.
Survivors: daughters, Sharon Cushard of Vanceburg, Ky., Debbie Kuhn of Shiloh, Ohio; four grandchildren; sister, Dulcie Smith of Richlands; several nieces and nephews; special friend, Pastor Ervin Justus; and care givers the staff and residents at Golden Age and Mayfair House, Rev. Phillip Horton and his singers.
The funeral was held at 7 p.m. May 2 at the Ontario Home of Wappner Funeral Directors conducted by Iva Shelton.
Military graveside services were conducted by the Richlands County Joint Veteran’s Burial Detail May 3 at 9 a.m. in Ontario Cemetery. Online guest registry at http://www.wappner.com

William Howard Hicks
William Howard Hicks, 75, of Jewell Valley, died May 3 in a Kingsport, Tenn., hospital following a brief illness.
Born in Jolo, W.Va., he was the son of the late Virgil and Bessie Grimm Hicks.
He had lived and worked in Ohio for many years. He was a former employee of Ford Motor Company and had worked on a loading dock for Yellow Transit while in Ohio. He was a retired miner from Jewell Smokeless #12A and was of the Pentecostal Holiness faith.
In addition to his parents, He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Ethel A. Hicks; two granddaughters, Amanda Carol Sutherland and Angela Dawn Hicks; and two brothers, Burl and Virgil Hicks.
Survivors: daughter, Carol Sutherland of Jewell Valley; son, Danny Joe Hicks of Jewell Valley; sisters, Joann Day of Pea Patch, Ethel Cooper and Wanda Faye Sull, both of Berea, Ohio, Brenda Ramsey of North Royalton, Ohio; half sister, Edith Graybeal of Peterstown, W.Va.; brothers, Billy Ray Hicks of Hinkley, Ohio, Sherman Hicks of Avon, Ohio; grandchildren, Amy Mullins, Jeanette Cumbee and Heather Davis; and great grandchildren, Christopher Cumbee, Rayann Burkhart and Raven Burkhart.
The funeral was conducted May 6 at 11 a.m. at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Richlands with the Rev. Jimmie Cole, Rev. Billy Ray Hicks and Brother Billy Ward officiating.
Interment followed at the Gilbert-Day Cemetery on Bearwallow near Jewell Ridge.

Ruth Case Horn
Ruth Case Horn, 71, of the Adria community of North Tazewell, died April 29 at her home.
Born July 28, 1936 in War, W.Va., she was a daughter of Winnie Sawyers Case of North Tazewell and the late Walter Herman Case.
She was a retired Pastor from the Pentecostal House of God in Adria.
In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by her husband, Norman London Horn, and one son, Michael Horn.
Additional survivors: sons, Mark Horn and wife, Molly, and Joshua Horn, all of North Tazewell; daughter, Marcella Horn Dunaway and husband, Mark, of Knoxville, Tenn.; sister, Betty Jo Wyatt and husband, David, of North Tazewell; brother, Jack Case and wife, Shelby, of Chillicothe, Ohio; and grandchildren, Libby, Hannah, Belle, Robbie and Nathan.
The funeral was conducted May 2 at 11 a.m. at the Pentecostal House of God at Adria with the Rev. Kathy Lawson officiating.
Burial followed at Grandview Memory Gardens in Bluefield, Va.
Peery & St.Clair Funeral Home of Tazewell was in charge of arrangements.

Jean Cecil Palmer
Jean Cecil Palmer, of Ft. Belvoir, died peacefully May 2.
She was an accomplished pianist and entertained her friends and neighbors at the Fairfax Retirement Community for many years.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Col. Robert Stanley Palmer; and one son, Col. Robert Cecil Palmer.
Survivors: daughter, Teresa P. Salter of Cary, N.C.; daughter-in-law, Diane B. Palmer of Columbus, Ohio; five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
A graveside service will be held Wed., May 21, at 2 p.m. at the Arlington National Cemetery.
Burial will immediately follow.
Services are under the direction of the Demaine Funeral Home in Alexandria.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in her memory to Capital Hospice, 6565 Arlington Blvd., Suite 501, Attn: Development, Falls Church, VA 22042.

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 were conducted April 30 at 1 p.m. at the Mountain Valley Memorial Park, Big Rock.
Burial followed.
Full military rites were conducted at the cemetery by members of John Ratliff Post No. 164 of the American Legion.
Grundy Funeral Home of Grundy was in charge of all arrangements.

John Howard Rife
John Howard Rife, 58, of Tazewell, died May 3 in Roanoke following a sudden illness.
Born in Tazewell, he was the son of the late 1st Lieutenant Cecil E. Rife and Hazel Yost Rife Hammitt, both former Tazewell natives.
He was a graduate of Tazewell High School Class of 1968, a Southwest Virginia Community College graduate and also a graduate from Virginia Polytechnic Institute. He was the Chief Financial Officer at Downard Hydraulics in Princeton, W.Va. He was of the Presbyterian faith and attended Mary’s Presbyterian Church in Tazewell.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Augustus and Rhoda Rife, formerly of Buchanan County; his maternal grandparents, F.F. and Louanna Yost, formerly of Tazewell; uncles, Crockett, J.W., and Howard Yost; and aunt, Doris Jean Yost.
Survivors: brother, Hassel E. Rife of Gratton; aunt, Hallie Melvin of Tazewell; uncles, Robert L. Yost and wife, Gwendolyn, of Tazewell, Bruce E. Yost and wife, Frances, of Bluefield, Va.; very special cousin, Wesley Hunter Melvin of Bluefield, Va.; special four-legged companion, his dog, Bud; and several cousins.
The funeral was conducted May 5 at 2 p.m. at Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Tazewell with the Minister Danny Whitt officiating.
Interment followed at Grandview Memory Gardens in Bluefield, Va.

Carl William Rose
Carl William Rose, 72, of Swords Creek, died May 1 in a Richlands hospital.
Born Aug. 13, 1935 in Honaker, he was a son of the late Arthur and Gracie Pinion Rose.
A lifelong resident of the area, he was of the Pentecostal faith and was a retired carpenter.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Betty Jean McGlothlin Rose in Jan. of 1977; two sisters, Ollie Gay Vandorm and Mary Alice “Pollie” Plaster; and two brothers, Harlie Rose and Ellis “Papp” Rose.
Survivors: daughter, Glenda Jean Rose of the home; son, Bobby Carl Rose of Swords Creek; granddaughter, Crystal Rose of Richlands; brother, Rev. Clyde Rose and wife, Wanda of Honaker; sisters, Charlotte Vance and husband, Estil, of Honaker, Anna McGlothlin and husband, Arthur, of Swords Creek, Ruby Farmer and husband, Dixie, of Bucyrus, Ohio, Laura Hendrickson of Shilo, Ohio, Elsie Sheets and husband, John, of Galion, Ohio; special friend, Stella Ray of Swords Creek; and a host of nieces, nephews and many friends.
The funeral was conducted May 3 at 1 p.m. in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Jeff Ball and Rev. Tommy Dye officiating.
Interment followed in Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.

E.L. Shortt
E.L. Shortt, 62, of Shortt Gap, died May 2 near his home.
Born Dec. 12, 1945 in Buchanan County, he was the son of the late Reverend Edward and Stella Addison Shortt.
During his life, he worked as a coal miner and a maintenance engineer at a variety of locations. He loved to work in his garden, walk in the mountains around his home and travel. He had struggled with many health issues for quite some time. After surviving cancer in 2001, he recently had to overcome back surgery. He had also been struggling with other health issues in the past few months, which took his life. We will remember and cherish E.L. with every precious memory.
Survivors: loving wife of 16 years, Polly Shortt; step-daughters, Freda Hale and husband, Jamie, and Renee Large and husband, R.L.; step-sons, Lail Deel and wife, Amanda; Tracy Deel and companion, Bonnie Kelley; cherished step-granddaughter, Ashley Hale; brothers, Raleigh Don Shortt and wife, Billie, Wendell Shortt and wife, Patsy, of Shortt Gap, Frank Shortt and wife, Sharon, of San Jose, Calif., Charles Randall Shortt and wife, Teresa, of Christiansburg, Bobby Shortt and wife, Patricia, of Johnson City, Tenn.; sisters, Francis Shortt Butcher and husband, Charlie, of West Tazewell, Lula Evelyn Shortt McNulty and husband, Donald, of Lima, Ohio, Ruth Ann Shortt Carter and husband, Hubert Malcolm, of Shortt Gap, and Carol Shortt Wade and husband, Emmanuel, of Blountville, Tenn.; and many nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the family of E.L. Shortt.
Services were held May 5 at 7 p.m. at Singleton Funeral Service in Cedar Bluff with Rev. Frank Shortt and Rev. Conrad Pritchard officiating.
Burial was held at 4:30 p.m. May 6 at the Edward Shortt Cemetery on Short Hill Rd. at Shortt Gap.

Bessie Irene Keene Vandyke
Bessie Irene Keene Vandyke, 70, of the Contrary section of Raven, died April 30 at her home following an extended illness.
Born in Buchanan County, she was the daughter of the late Squire William and Lillie C. Horn Keene.
She was a lifelong resident of Buchanan County and was a member of Harbor of Life Worship Center. She was a devoted wife, loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and was a wonderful homemaker.
She was preceded in death by three sisters, Mandy Keene, Pinkie Vandyke, Gracie Marie Keene, and three brothers, Calvin Keene, Evans Sanbo Keene and Tommy Keene.
Survivors: husband, Franklin Vandyke; children, Carroll and husband, Snook Smith, of Oakwood, Billy and wife, Joy Vandyke, Bobby and wife, Deana Vandyke, and Rebecca Vandyke, all of Raven, Delmar and wife, Pam Vandyke, of Pine Hall, N.C.; special sister and brother-in-law, Gaynell and Donald Vandyke of Keen Mountain; sisters, Minnie and husband, Roy Brown, and Annie Meadows, all of Raven; brothers, Perry Keene and S.W. Jr. and wife, Jean Keene, all of Raven; special brother-in-law and wife, Jimmy, and Beulah Vandyke of Raven; grandchildren, Roy and Lizabeth Smith, Rachel and Jamie Meadows, Emily and T.J. Prater, Sgt. Robbie Vandyke, Lee Allen Vandyke, Brandon Vandyke, Jeorgia Vandyke; great-grandchildren, Kiera and Olivia Vandyke and Joshua Wade Smith; two step grandsons; and four step-great-grandchildren.
The funeral was conducted May 3 at 1 p.m. at the Antioch Church on Keen Mountain with Rev. Jack Ward and Rev. Troy Street officiating.
Burial followed in the Antioch Cemetery on Keen Mountain.
Services were held May 2 at 7 p.m. at the church.
Grundy Funeral Home of Grundy was in charge of arrangements.

Mary Elizabeth Wallace
Mary Elizabeth Wallace, 94, of Honaker, went home to be with the Lord April 30 in a Richlands hospital.
Born Aug. 19, 1913, she was a daughter of the late Rev. Jonas and Mary Presley Rasnake.
A lifelong resident of the Honaker area, she was a member of the Free Christian Church on Big A Mountain, where she attended regularly as long as her health allowed. She shared her love for God and her family with everyone she met.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Carl Henry Wallace; five sisters, Emily Nelson, Suzie Hayes, Rosa Skeens, Bertha Stevens and Gladys Wilson; and 12 brothers, Taze, Everett, James, Taulbee, Elbert, Guy, Roy, Ted, Howard, Walter, Ellis and Syrus Rasnake.
Survivors: daughter and son-in-law, Nova and Ferrell Whited of Honaker; son and daughter-in-law, C.H. and Carla Wallace; sister, Eula McGuire of Bristol, Va.; very special grandsons, Aaron Whited and Tyler Whited, both of Honaker; and a wonderful caregiver and friend, Sandy Shepard.
The funeral was conducted May 2 at 11 a.m. in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel, Honaker, with Rev. Edward Tiller and honorary minister, Rev. Clyde Lambert officiating.
Interment followed in the Wallace Cemetery at Honaker.