Obituaries from theRichlands News Press for the week of Oct. 1

Deborah Charles
Deborah Lynn Looney Charles, age 47, Richlands, Va., died Fri., Sept. 26, 2008 at a Richlands hospital.
Born April 8, 1961, in Buchanan County, she was the daughter of Cora Blankenship Looney of Burkesville, Va. and the late Walter Looney. She was a homemaker.
In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by one brother-in-law, Michael Harold Stacy.
In addition to her mother, she is survived by husband, Gregory Charles, Richlands; one son, Justin Charles, Richlands; one daughter, Erika Charles & fiancé Chris Catron, Hurley, Va.; six sisters, Kathy Stacy & Husband James, Hurley, Va., Regina Kincer & Husband Ron, Atlanta, Ga., Rita Stacy, Wolford, Va., Leisa Kundham & Husband John, Blackstone, Va., Teresa Looney, Marion, Va., Tammy Moody & Husband Wayne, Victoria, Va.; four brothers, Ricky Looney & Wife Della, Burkeville, Va., Michael Looney & Wife Sue, Hurley, Va., Walter Looney, Jr. & Wife Jeannie, Marion, N.C., Rodney Looney, Burkesville, Va.
Funeral services were held Mon., Sept. 29, 2008, 1 p.m. at the North Springs Old Regular Baptist Church at Wolford, Va. with Elders Danny Justus, James Stacy, Bill McCoy and Gary Justus officiating. Burial followed in the Conley C. Blankenship Cemetery at Hurley.
A service was held both Sat. and Sun. evening at 7 p.m. at the church.
Pallbearers will be family and friends. Honorary pallbearers were ICU nursing staff at Clinch Valley Medical Center.
Virginia Funeral Home of Grundy was in charge of arrangements.

Peery A. Compton
Peery A. Compton, age 85, of Richlands, Va., passed away Sat., Sept. 27, 2008 at his home following a lengthy illness.
He was born in Russell County and was the son of the late Burl and Amanda Newberry Compton, both Russell County natives.
He had made his home in the Tazewell County area all of his life and was a retired miner for Red Jacket and Red Ash Coal Companies. He was a charter member of the Richlands Rescue Squad and was a member of the Tazewell County Sportsmen Club.  He was a member of the Mill Creek Primitive Baptist Church. He was a U.S. Navy World War II Veteran and was a member of the Casey Shortt VFW Post #9640. 
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Artie Meadows and Lola Keene; and four brothers, Paul, Raleigh, Lawrence, and Harrison Compton.  He was the last surviving member of his immediate family.
Survivors are: His wife:  Estelle Dye Compton; two daughters: Patricia Compton of Venice, Fla., Kathy Compton of Wytheville, Va.; two sons: Larry Compton of Richlands, Va., Randall Compton of Wytheville, Va.; special friend:  Joyce Sisk; and several nieces and nephews also survive.
Funeral services for Peery A. Compton will be conducted Wed., Oct. 1, 2008 at 2 p.m. at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Richlands, Va. with the Elders Danny Smith and Ben Combs officiating.  Interment will follow at the Newberry Family Cemetery on Horton Ridge near Raven, Va. Members of Casey Shortt VFW Post #9640 will conduct military graveside rites. Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands, Va. is in charge of arrangements and those wishing to express sympathy online may do so at http://www.hurstscottfuneralhomes.com.

Charles Ronald “Ron” Fleming
Charles Ronald “Ron” Fleming, 66 years old of the Little Prater section of Grundy, Va., passed away Sat., Sept. 27, 2008 at the Heritage Hall Nursing Home following an extended illness. Born in Buchanan County, he was the son of the late Cubert C. and Opal Mae Vanover Fleming. He was a U. S. Army veteran where he served in Turkey, Arizona and Alaska. While serving in the army, he received a Letter of Appreciation for providing communications Electronics Services in support of Exercise Timber Line. After his service in the army, he resided in Defiance, Ohio where he was employed as a machine operator for Johns Manville Corporation and then relocated to the Grundy area in 1989 and was last employed as a Security Guard for Cumberland Security and Investigation.  He was a member of the Grundy Church of Christ.
Mr. Fleming is survived by his wife Pam Grindstaff Fleming of Grundy, Va.; four sisters: Carol Blankenship and her husband Ernest of Vansant, Va., Sharon Ratliff and husband Don of Bristol, Tenn., Pam Fleming of Newport News, Va., Donna Fleming of Richlands, Va.; five brothers: Ricky Fleming and his wife Mary of Pigeon Forge, Tenn., Steve Fleming and his wife Elizabeth of Bristol, Va., Tim Fleming and his wife Sue of Abingdon, Va., Randy Fleming and his wife Phyllis of Pounding Mill, Va., Mark Fleming of Bristol, Va. He is also survived by his father-in-Law – J. C. Grindstaff of Grundy, Va.; brother-in-law – Tommy and his wife Yvonne Grindstaff of Oakwood, Va.; and several nieces and nephews.
Mr. Fleming was preceded in death by his mother-in-law – Nannie Grindstaff and one sister-in-law – Terri Grindstaff Stacy.
Funeral services for Charles Ronald (Ron) Fleming was conducted Tues., Sept. 30, 2008 at 1 p.m. at the Grundy Church of Christ with Evg. Dennis Wimmer and Evg. William L. Neeley officiating with burial following in the Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill, Va.
Friends called at the Grundy Church of Christ after 6 p.m. Mon. with services at 7 p.m.
Active Pallbearers: Doug Yates, Sam Hylton, Danny Belcher, Billy Joe Carter, Troy Viers and Gene Belcher.
Honorary Pallbearers were Dr. Clint Sutherland, Nurses, C.N.A.’s and Staff of Heritage Hall Nursing Home, Tommy Grindstaff, Dr. Madeline Harrison, Hon. Keary R. Williams, Hon. Nicholas E. Persin, Hon. Patrick R. Johnson, Roger Lee and Grundy Church of Christ Men’s Sunday School Class.
Full Military Rites were conducted at the cemetery by members of the John Ratliff Post # 164 of the American Legion.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at http://www.grundyfuneralhome.com.
Grundy Funeral Home of Grundy, Va. was in charge of all arrangements.

Elsie May Harman
Mrs. Elsie May Harman, age 85, of Squire, W. Va., passed away Sun., Sept. 28, 2008 in a Richlands, Va. hospital following a lengthy illness.
She was born at Bearwallow, Va. and was the daughter of the late Gilbert and Nellie Steele Day.
She was a resident of the Squire, W.Va., area for 55 years and enjoyed quilting, crafts, cooking, camping, church and her family and friends. She was a resident of the Mayfair House at Claypool Hill, Va., for over a year. She was a member of the New Hall Bible Church.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Fred Harman; three sisters, Greta Blankenship, Laura Underwood, and Lucy Mitchell; and two brothers, Albert and Billy Day.
Survivors are: One daughter: Brenda Williams and husband, Willis of Cedar Bluff, Va.; one sister, Joyce Tiller of Bee, Va.; two brothers: Robert Day and wife, Joan of Jewell Ridge, Va., Fred Day of Bluefield, W. Va.; one brother-in-law: Hobert Mitchell of Jewell Ridge, Va.; two grandchildren: Donna Williams Lyons of Apopka, Fla. and Fred Williams and wife, Samantha of Danville, Va.; and one great granddaughter, Sara Elizabeth Williams also survive.
Funeral services for Mrs. Elsie May Harman will be conducted Thurs., Oct. 2, 2008 at 1 p.m. at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Richlands, Va. with the Rev. Eddie Nash officiating. Interment will follow at Grandview Memory Gardens in Bluefield, Va.
Friends may call after 6 p.m. Wed. evening at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands, Virginia.  Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands, Va. is in charge of arrangements and those wishing express sympathy online may do at http://www.hurstscottfuneralhomes.com.

Paul Kelly Helbert
Paul Kelly Helbert, age 77, of Cleveland, Ohio, formerly of Richlands, Va., passed away Sat., Sept. 20, 2008. Born May 19, 1931 in Doran, Va., he was the son of the late Fanel Ray and Mertie Catharine Ball Helbert.  He was a United States Army Veteran of the Korean Conflict. 
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by four sisters, Lillian Davis, Lucille Williamson, Marylee Lester, and Peggy Mullins; and one infant daughter.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Sue Helbert; two sons, Sherman Douglas Helbert and wife Brenda of Shannon, Ga., and Paul Kelly Helbert, Jr. of Richlands; three daughters, Sandra Lynn Reedy and husband, Richard of Raven, Patty Shelton of Bland and Debra Gail Helbert of Richlands; three step daughters, Tammy Lamb and Ginger Arnold of Tennessee and Loretta Musick of Richmond; one step son, Anthony Compton of Cleveland, Ohio; several other step children; nine grandchildren; and ten great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were conducted at 2 p.m. Thurs., Sept. 25, 2008 at Singleton Funeral Service Chapel at Cedar Bluff, Va. with Rev. Dannie Short officiating.  Military graveside rites were conducted by Casey-Shortt VFW Post 9640. 
The family received friends after 1 p.m. Thurs. at Singleton Funeral Service at Cedar Bluff, Va.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by going to http://www.SingletonFuneralService.com.
Singleton Funeral Service is serving the Helbert family. 

Leola Florence Lowe
Leola Florence Lowe, 86, of Cedar Bluff, died Sept. 21 in a Tazewell nursing home, following a lengthy illness.
Born in Pounding Mill, she was the daughter of the late William E. and Callie R. Tolliver Lockhart, both Tazewell County natives.
She had made her home all her life in the Richlands and Cedar Bluff area and was of the Holiness faith. 
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Field Scott Lowe; one daughter, Brenda L. Young; one grandson, Andrew Lowe; three sisters, Jenny Hayes, Myrtle Grizzle, and Shirley Lockhart; and one brother, Edward Lockhart.
Survivors: daughters, Reda Wilson and Juanita F. Riley, both of Batesburg, S.C.; sons, George Leonard Lowe and wife, Linda, of Galax, Scottie R. Lowe of Cedar Bluff, Jerry D. Lowe and wife, Joni, of Richlands; sister, Freda French and husband, Claude, of Richlands; adopted grandchildren, Christina Stiltner of Haysi, Christopher Lowe of Cedar Bluff; 14 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren; one great great grandchild; and special sister-in-law, Lucille Segner.
The funeral was conducted Sept. 24 at 2 p.m. at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Richlands with the Rev. Grady McGlothlin and Rev. Eugene Gates officiating.
Interment followed at Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.

Mrs. Ruby Mullins
Mrs. Ruby Isabelle Mullins, age 74, of the Marvin area in Buchanan County, passed away Thurs., Sept. 25, 2008 at her home following a lengthy illness.
She was born in Clintwood, Va. and was the daughter of the late Clyde and Gracie Sluss of Wise, Va. Ruby was a loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was a fulltime homemaker and loved spending time with all her family. She was a lifetime resident of the Buchanan County area. She will be truly missed by all who knew and loved her.
Those who survive her and remain to carry on her spirit are: Her loving husband of 53 years, Vern Mullins of the Marvin area; daughters: Bonnie S. Street and deceased husband Billy of Cedar Bluff, Va., Gladys Keen and husband Lloyd of Ohio, Judy Justus and companion Gary Ester of Garden Creek, Va., Wanda Ratliff and companion Daniel Ray of Pounding Mill, Va.; sons: Jerry W. Mullins and wife Angela of Baptist Valley, Va., Bob Mullins of Dismal, Va., Doug Mullins and wife Judy of Garden Creek, Va., John F. Mullins and companion Lisa Shortridge of Richlands, Va., Lyndon V. Mullins and companion Beth Franklin of Kingsport, Tenn.; sisters: Patsy Mullins of Castlewood, Va., Margaret Counts of Livingston, Mont., Marie Culbertson of Abingdon, Va., Sharon Moore of Nora, Va., Ula Perrigan of Trammell, Va., Peggy Levridge of McClure, Va.; brothers: George Sluss of Coeburn, Va., Emmitt Sluss of Livingston, Mont., Sullivan Sluss of Stratton, Va.; special friends: Phillip and Junie Keen of Little Creek, Va.; 22 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and a host of family and friends also survive her.
Funeral services were conducted at 2 p.m. Mon., Sept. 29, 2008 at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Richlands, Va. with the Rev. Dannie Short officiating.  Interment followed at the Mullins Family Cemetery, located up John Clifton Hollow in the Marvin area of Buchanan County, Va.
Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands, Va. was in charge of arrangements and those wishing to express sympathy online may do so at http://www.hurstscottfuneralhomes.com

Sherman Osborne
Sherman Osborne, age 68 of Cedar Bluff, Va., passed away Wed., Sept. 24, 2008 in a Tazewell, Va. hospital. Born Feb. 16, 1940 in Tazewell County, Va., he was the son of the late Babe and Mildred Lowe Osborne. He was a retired coal miner. 
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, James Osborne, Clyde Osborne and Franklin Osborne; and four sisters, Vicie Osborne, Eva Olson, Margie Juanita Smith and Brenda Osborne.
He is survived by his wife, Shirley Osborne; one brother, Harley Osborne and wife, Janie of Cedar Bluff; two sisters, Virginia Rose of Cedar Bluff and Cassie Mitchell of Tazewell; two special granddaughters, Angel Stephenson and Mary Stephenson both of Bluefield, Va.; special friend, Joe Sparks; several nieces and nephews. 
Funeral services were conducted at 1 p.m. Sat., Sept. 27, 2008 at Singleton Funeral Service Chapel at Cedar Bluff, Va., with Brother Ronnie Holmes and Brother Dean Stilwell officiating.  Burial followed in the Lowe Cemetery at Stinson Ridge, Va. Family and friends served as pallbearers.
The family received friends from 6 to 9 p.m. Fri. at Singleton Funeral Service at Cedar Bluff, Va. 
Online condolences may be sent to the family by going to http://www.SingletonFuneralService.com.
Singleton Funeral Service served the Osborne family.

Karen L. Rose
Karen L. Rose, age 53 of Tazewell, Va., died Mon., Sept. 29, 2008 at Tazewell Community Hospital. Born Feb. 13, 1955 at Baltimore, Md., she was a daughter of Jack Walter Messer of Tazewell, Va. and the late Delores Gladys Rye Messer. She was an Emergency Medical Technician who had worked with several emergency medical services in Tazewell County and most recently served as first lieutenant with the Jeffersonville Rescue Squad.
Survivors in addition to her father include her husband, Donnie R. Rose; two daughters, Amanda Diane Rose Cline and husband, Terry of Lindside, W.Va. and Veronica Lea Rose and fiancé, Robert Davis of Tazewell, Va.; two grandchildren, Olivia Rose and Audrie Davis; one sister, Susan “Sue” Hall and husband, Dennis “Satch” Hall of Tazewell, Va.; one brother, Robert Ramsey of Beverly, W.Va.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thurs., Oct. 2, 2008 at Peery & St.Clair Funeral Home Chapel in Tazewell, Va., with the Rev. Danny Cornwell officiating. Entombment will follow at Clinch Valley Memorial Cemetery Mausoleum at Richlands, Va.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6-9 pm. Wed., October 1, 2008.

Charles Salyers, Sr.
Charles Franklin Salyers, Sr., age 74, of Richlands, Va., passed away Thurs., Sept. 25, 2008 at his home following a brief illness.
He was born in Lee County, Va., and was the son of the late Solomon Vanburen and Maxine Pope Salyers.
He had made his home in the Buchanan County area most of his life and was a retired miner from Island Creek Coal Corporation. He was a member and former president of UMWA Local # 1509 and was a U.S. Army Korean War Veteran having served as a Staff Sergeant. He had attended the Calvary Temple Church, Richlands, Va., and the New Beginnings Church. He was a woodworker and loved to spend time with his grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Jerline Salyers and three sisters, Deanna Sexton, Peggy Cradic, and Emma Ramey.
Survivors are: One daughter: Donna Horn and husband, Ronnie of Rosedale, Va.; two sons: Chuck Salyers and wife, Janie of Paintlick, Va., Tracy Salyers and wife, Trish, of Roanoke, Va.; two sisters: Jackie Martin of Dayton, Ohio, Phyllis Hendrix of Pennington Gap, Va.; two brothers: Bill Salyers of Nobelsville, Ind., Tony “Jim” Salyers of Dryden, Va.; three grandsons: Brandon Salyers, Jeremy Horn, and Rick Burks; two granddaughters: Savannah Horn and Caitlin Horn; the two great grandchildren:  Alyssa Burks and Kaci Burks also survive.
Funeral services were conducted Sat., Sept. 27, 2008 at 7 p.m. at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Richlands, Va. with the Rev. Grady McGlothlin officiating.  Graveside committal services followed on Sun. afternoon at 2 p.m. at Greenhills Memory Gardens Mausoleum at Claypool Hill, Va.
Members of Casey Shortt VFW Post #9640 conducted military graveside rites. Friends called after 6 p.m. Sat. evening at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands. Those wishing to express sympathy online may do so at http://www.hurstscottfuneralhomes.com.

Benny Yates
Benny Yates, 49, of Vansant, died Sept. 18 at Wellmont Hospice House, Bristol Regional Medical Center, Bristol, Tenn., following an extended illness.
Born in Buchanan County, he was a son of the late David and Trula Osborne Yates.
He was a life-long resident of Buchanan County and was a disabled coal miner.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Danny Yates and Clyde Junior Yates.
Survivors: son, David Junior Yates of Vansant; sisters, Molly and husband, Burton Diles, and Phyllis Jean Yates, all Vansant, Rita Estep of Raven; brothers, Jimmy Lee Yates of Vansant; and seven nieces and nephews.
The funeral was conducted Sept. 21 at 2 p.m. with Rev. Larry Ratliff officiating.
Burial followed in the Dry Fork Cemetery on Dry Fork near Vansant.
Services were held Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. at the Grundy Funeral Home Chapel.