Obituaries

Lewis Henry Walden, Sr.

Lewis Henry Walden, Sr.

Aug 5, 2018

Lewis Henry Walden, Sr., age 97, of Abingdon, Va., went to be with the Lord on Sunday, August 5, 2018, at his home.  He was born August 14, 1921, in St. Paul, Va. to the late Onzbie Lee Walden and Elizabeth Austin Walden.  Lewis was a World War II veteran of the Army having served in the European Theater.  He was the recipient...

Melissa Ann Prater

Melissa Ann Prater

Aug 2, 2018

Melissa Ann Prater, age 45, of Bristol, Va., passed away on Thursday, August 2, 2018, at Bristol Regional Medical Center.  She was born May 9, 1973, in Smyth County, Va. to Larry Dallas Prater and Irene Ruth Jenkins Prater.  Melissa was a 1992 graduate of Holston High School.  She was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Elizabeth Prater. In addition to...

Timothy Michael Starkey

Timothy Michael Starkey

Aug 1, 2018

Abingdon, VA - Elder Timothy Michael Starkey, 33, formerly of Beckley, died Wednesday, August 1, 2018.  Born August 9, 1984, in Beckley, W.Va., he was the son of Kenneth Starkey, Sr. of Beckley and the late Elder Wilma Schofield Starkey. A 2002 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School, Beckley, he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Bluefield State...

Barbara Faye Mullins

Barbara Faye Mullins

Jul 31, 2018

Barbara Faye Mullins, age 73, passed away peacefully on July 31st. Barbara was born in Steiman Virginia on April 16, 1945.  Barbara is survived by four children, Desiree Peters and her son-in-law, Stephen Peters from Richmond, VA, Angela Marshall from Harrisburg, PA, Sherry Ketchum from Abingdon, VA and Alston Mullins from Charlotte, NC. Her sister, Lena Mullins, and her two...

Neta Webb Findley

Neta Webb Findley

Jul 30, 2018

Meadowview, Va.  Neta Webb Findley, age 98, went to be with the Lord on Monday, July 30, 2018.  She was born on February 16, 1920 to the late Stanford and Elizabeth Roberts Webb in Meadowview, Va. She grew up and lived in the same area of the county all of her life. Neta was a lifelong member of Yellow Springs...

Ruth Ellen Horne

Ruth Ellen Horne

Jul 28, 2018

Abingdon, Va. Ruth Ellen Horne, 76, passed away Saturday, July 28, 2018. Ruth was born December 16, 1941 in Charleston, W.V. to the late Lemuel Fain and Mary Tibbs Fain. She had spent most of her life in Washington Co., was a member of Greendale Chapel, and attended First Baptist Church in Damascus. Ruth was preceded in death by her husband,...

Janice  Frazier Thrasher

Janice Frazier Thrasher

Jul 26, 2018

Abingdon, Va. Janice Frazier Thrasher, 90, wife, mother, and Daughter of the American Revolution, went home to the Heaven of her Lord on July 26, 2018.  She was born September 22, 1927 in Bluefield, W.Va. and was the youngest child and only daughter of the late Charles Creed Frazier and Bertha Wood Frazier. In addition to her parents, Janice was preceded...

Merilyn Williams Coulthard

Merilyn Williams Coulthard

Jul 26, 2018

Glade Spring, Va.   Merilyn Williams Coulthard, 75, passed on Thursday, July 26, 2018, in Bristol Regional Medical Center.  Merilyn was a 1961 graduate of Oak Ridge High School and lived with her husband in many areas of the country before moving to Virginia in 1975.  She and her husband were co-owners of Southeast Press & Wheel for 22 years...

Willard Looney

Willard Looney

Jul 26, 2018

Meadowview, Va. Willard Looney, 83, passed on Thursday, July 26, 2018, at his home.  Willard was born in Grundy, Va. and was a retired coal miner.  He loved horses and riding on the Creeper Trail, spending time with his grandchildren, and spending time on the “mountain” in Buchanan County.  He is preceded in death by his parents, Merdith and Lydia...

Nancy Dean Domst

Nancy Dean Domst

Jul 25, 2018

Abingdon, Va. Nancy Dean Domst, 75, entered eternal life on Wednesday, July 25, 2018. She was born August 1, 1942 in Springfield, Ill. to the late Russell and Edna Dean. She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother, five sisters, and daughter, Robin Harris. She was an active member of First Christian Church of Abingdon. She enjoyed volunteering...

Ret. Msgt. James N. Kestner

Ret. Msgt. James N. Kestner

Jul 25, 2018

Ret. Msgt. James N. Kestner, age 94, of Abingdon, Va., passed away on Wednesday, July 25, 2018, at NHC HealthCare Bristol.  He was born April 22, 1924, to the late Reverend Luther Kestner and MaryAnn McFadden Kestner.  Jim retired from the United States Air Force having served honorably and proudly during WWII, Korea, and Vietnam.  He traveled the world and...

Sherrie Hughes Stuart

Sherrie Hughes Stuart

Jul 23, 2018

Sherrie Hughes Stuart, age 57, of Meadowview, Va., went to be with the Lord on Monday, July 23, 2018, at Johnston Memorial Hospital. She was born on September 17, 1960 in Richlands, Va. to Edgar Dean Hughes and the late Ruth Ann Hughes.  Sherrie was a member of Highlands Fellowship Church where she enjoyed serving in the HF Kids Ministry.  She worked...

Josephene Smith Johnsey

Josephene Smith Johnsey

Jul 23, 2018

Glade Spring, Va. Josephene Smith Johnsey, Ph.D., 77, passed on Monday, July 23, 2018, in Valley Health Care Center.  Josephene was raised in Jasper, Ala. and lived in several areas of the country before moving to Glade Spring in 1977.  She attended many universities and earned nine doctoral degrees.  Josephene served as a college professor and gave music lessons for...

Robert Glenn Vestal

Robert Glenn Vestal

Jul 20, 2018

Robert Glenn Vestal, age 71, of Abingdon, Va., passed away on Friday, July 20, 2018, at his residence.  Robert was a well-known musician and piano tuner by trade.  He was born to the late Andy Vestal and Georgia Elliott Vestal. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Brenda Lloyd Vestal; brother, James Vestal of Denver, Col.; sister, Carol Barr of Damascus,...

James Howard Gregory

James Howard Gregory

Jul 20, 2018

Holden Beach, NC – James Howard “Jim” Gregory, age 71 and formerly of Abingdon, VA, passed on July 20, 2018 after a brief illness.  Jim was the former owner of Gregory Moving & Storage, head coach of Girls Basketball, Junior Varsity Boys Basketball, and Baseball at Abingdon High School.  His passion for baseball started as an adolescent and extended through...

Robert Marion Craig, Jr.

Robert Marion Craig, Jr.

Jul 17, 2018

Bristol, Va.  Robert Marion Craig, Jr, was born January 29, 1947 and passed on July 17, 2018. Bob was born in Greenville, S.C. He graduated in 1965 from Port St. Joe High School in Port St. Joe, Fla. He played football at Clemson University and graduated from Clemson in 1969.  In 1973, Bob discovered the Appalachian region and fell in...

Donald Willis Coe

Donald Willis Coe

Jul 15, 2018

Bristol, Va. Donald Willis Coe, 76, passed away Sunday, July 15, 2018. He was born April 26, 1942 in Smyth County, Va. He loved spending time with family and friends, and loved to sing as an Elvis tribute artist. Donald was a retired car salesman.  Donald was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Pauline Coe; one granddaughter, Shaina Berry,...

Ruth Bunts Warner

Ruth Bunts Warner

Jul 15, 2018

Ruth Bunts Warner, age 97, of Greenwood, S.C., passed away on Sunday, July 15, 2018.  She was born December 28, 1920, to the late Rev. Dr. Walton Matthew Bunts and Elizabeth Leona Goodpasture Bunts.  Ruth grew up in Galax, Va.  She attended Greensboro College in Greensboro, N.C.  Following her graduation, she married and made her home in Greenville, S.C.  After the death...

Alexis Brittney Harless

Alexis Brittney Harless

Jul 14, 2018

Alexis Brittney “Lexie” Harless, age 24, of Bristol, Va., went to be with the Lord on Saturday, July 14, 2018, at Bristol Regional Medial Center.  She was a 2015 graduate of Abingdon High School and participated in activities with Highlands Community Services.  Lexie was a member of Temple Baptist Church.     She was preceded in death by her paternal grandmother, Charlotte Harless. Lexie is...

Fount O'Dell Taylor

Fount O'Dell Taylor

Jul 10, 2018

Fount O’Dell Taylor, 78, of Abingdon, Va., went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, July 10, 2018. He was born to the late Ira Edgar Taylor and Aldie Kirk Taylor in Russell County, Va.  Fount was a veteran of the United States Army.  He was a cattle and tobacco farmer and later became a private contractor.  Fount was a member at Highlands...