Wanda J. Persinger Minor, age 84, formerly resided in Matoaka for 31 years, was born November 26, 1929 in Akron, Ohio and passed away November 23, 2014 in Bellwood, Illinois, with her devoted son, Reginald Jr. by her side.

On September 2, 2014, she accepted the Lord as her personal Savior while having prayer with her son-in-law, Rev. Thomas I. Roberts, Sr.

Wanda worked as an LPN at the Princeton Hospital in the 60’s-70’s.  She and her husband, Reginald, were well known for the raising, training and showing of their championship beagles and their Minorline Kennels.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 32 years, Reginald L. Minor, Sr., of Matoaka; father and mother-in-law, Rev. Haven and Rema Brown Minor of Matoaka; mother, Ethel Mae Cline of Ohio; father, Charles Umstead of Ohio; daughter, Paula Mae Minor-Combs of Lashmeet, W.Va., and grandson, Darrell Lee Harmon of Asheboro, N.C.; grandson-in-law, Larry Shrewsbury of Princeton; son-in-law, Tony Aurrichio of N.C., one infant great grand child; sisters, Judy and Eleanor of Ohio; brothers, Raymond and Paul of Ohio, and Wayne of Fla.;  sisters-in-law, Pattie Church and Marlene Persinger of Ohio; brothers-in-law, Robert Kelly of Fla., Carl Seevers and Dale Whipkey of Ohio.

Wanda is survived by daughters, Judith Ann (Thomas) Roberts, Sr., of South Charleston, W. Va. and Iris Jean (DelRio) Brewer of Ramseur, N.C.; sons, Reginald L. Minor, Jr., of Bellwood, IL, William (Sharon) Bryant Minor of Orla Vista, Fla., and Dennis Keith Minor of Clifton, Co.; eleven grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren and four great great grandchildren; sisters, Gladys Seevers of Ohio, Arwilda Koller and Mary Kelley of Fla.; and brother, Jimmy Church-Krugel of Fla.

Our mother will be laid to rest after a private ceremony in Minor Cemetery on Cemetery Hill in Matoaka.

Officiating will be her son-in-law whom she loved so much, Rev. Thomas Roberts, Sr.

“A special thanks to our brother, Reggie, whom sacrificed so much for our mother; seeing to all her needs and that her last wish was granted to come back home to be laid to rest.   We will forever be grateful for all he has done for her.

Arrangements by Woodlawn Funeral Home in Illinois and Curry Funeral Home in Alum Creek, WV.

Richard Dwayne Dunlap, 43, of Sod went home to be with the Lord Tuesday, April 28, 2015 at CAMC General Hospital after a short illness.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, James and Phyllis McCallister, Billy R. Dunlap and Homer Torman.

Richard was a 1991 graduate of Duval High School.  He loved attending church and  became a member of Elizabeth Baptist Church at the age of  six.  Richard loved people, gospel music and never met a stranger.  He always had a smile, a hug and a handshake for everyone he met and was a special blessing to all who knew him.

He is survived by his loving parents, Rick and Judy Dunlap; sister, Marketta (Joey) Collins; brother, Shawn (Andrea) Dunlap; grandmother, Thelma Torman; nephews and nieces, Adam, Nick, Audra, Kate, Micah, Chloe and Aiden, whom Richard loved dearly; and  along with a host of other family and friends.

Funeral service will be 1:00 p.m. Friday, May 1, at Curry Funeral Home in Alum Creek, with Pastor Homer Hensley, Mark Ruby and Jody Pauley officiating.  Burial will follow at Samson Cemetery, Garretts Bend.   The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

The family is deeply grateful to the doctors and nurses at CAMC General STICU for their wonderful love and care; and also to our church family and friends for their love and support during this time.

Shirley Iris (Rabel) Holstine, 79, of Alum Creek, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, April 26, 2015.  She was preceded in death by her parents John and Maggie Rabel;  brothers, John B. , Keith  and Tom Rabel; and  sisters, Phyllis Pauley and Charlotte McGraw.

Shirley, affectionately known as “Ma” to her family,  was a faithful member of Hopewell Baptist Church, where she taught Sunday School for several years.  Ma loved to crochet, work puzzles and spend time with her granddaughters.  Ma also loved to go to her “little home in the mountains”, a beloved camp in Pocahontas County, that holds so many great memories.  Ma loved to cook and her most precious time was cooking for her family, serving her last big meal for all the family this past Thursday.  Shirley was a retired cook from Kanawha County schools.

She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Bob “Tuffy” Holstine; son, Timothy (Gayla) Holstine; and two granddaughters, Tori Holstine and Maggie (Brendon) Leaptrot, whom she dearly loved.

Funeral service will be 1:00 p.m. Thursday, April 30, 2015 at Hopewell Baptist Church, Route 119 at Brounland Road, Alum Creek with Pastor Dwight McClure officiating and  assisted by Randy Searls.  Burial will follow at Graceland Memorial Park in South Charleston.  The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 29^th, at Curry Funeral Home, 2097 Childress Road, Alum Creek, WV.

Lucille A. Israel, 85, of Charleston, passed away Sunday April 26, 2015, at the Hubbard Hospice House after a long illness.  She is preceded in death by her husband, Marvin Israel.

She is survived by her two daughters, Meg Diehl and Jody McClanahan; Sister, Ramona Martin, six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

There will be no service.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to your local animal shelter.

Robert W. Adams, Sr., 89, passed away April 26, 2015 at his home in Goose Creek, SC.  Robert was born April 11, 1926 to John C. and Mattie Powell Adams of Tango, WV.

Robert was retired DOD US Navy and enjoyed 31 years retired life.  He also served in the US Army Air Corps, was a life member of Knights of Pythias Griffithsville Lodge 195 and life member of the UA Steamfitters Union Local 420.  Robert was a watchmaker by hobby and an avid CB radio operator.

Robert was predeceased by his parents,  John C. and Mattie Adams, brothers, John C. Adams, Jr. and Marshall Adams;  sister, Manoka Lynn; and his beloved wife of 60 years, Dorothy Bird Adams;  and daughter,  Juanita (Pixie) Ledbetter.

He is survived by a sister Anna Lou Wade of Tango; brother,  Chester Adams of Julian;  sons,  Robert W. Adams, Jr., and wife, Gaye, of Goose Creek, S.C., and Timothy S. Adams and wife, Sally, of Elko, Ga.; daughter,  Joetta J. and husband, Ronald,  Hale of Lisbon, Ohio; grandsons, Scott Ledbetter and wife, Debbie, of LaGrange, Ga., Ronnie Hale of Kensington, Ohio, and Benjamin “Travis” Adams and wife, Jennifer, of Warner Robins, GA.  Granddaughters: Kimberly and her husband Brett Patterson of Branford, FL and Rebecca and her husband Richard Routh of Reardan, Wash.; and seven great-grandchildren, Lauren and Kyle Ledbetter, Brenna, Braylon and Bristol Patterson and Cody and Troy Routh.

Funeral service will be 2 p.m.  Saturday, May 2,at Curry Funeral Home, 2097 Childress Road, Alum Creek with Rev. Chester Bird officiating.  Burial will follow at Orchard Hills Memory Gardens, Yawkey.   The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Elmer H. Clark, 83  of Sod, passed away Saturday, April 18, 2015 at Hubbard Hospice House after a long illness.

He was preceded in death by his wife Lillian “Tom” Clark, brother, Bobby and sisters, Bonnie, Faye and Eldean.

He was a retired cement finisher and was a member of Union Local 926.

He is survived by his sons, Elmer Ray (Evelyn) Clark, Tony Clark, Chris Clark, Mark (Beth) Clark, daughter Susan (Mark) Austin, brothers, Wilmer and Howard Clark, sisters, Bessie Fowler, Melba Saul, Mary Dunlap and Shirley Justice, grandchildren, Shanda, Ashley, Nikkie, Bambam, Christopher, Hailey, Savannah, and Chase, and 8 great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be 7:00pm Thursday, April 23 at Curry Funeral Home 2097 Childress Road, Alum Creek with Pastor Jackie Miller officiating. Family and friends will gather from 5 to 7 pm Thursday at the funeral home.

Kenneth R. Arkola, 81, of Julian went home to be with the Lord Tuesday, April 14, 2015 at Hubbard House in Charleston after a short illness.

He was born in Westboro, Wisconsin, the second born of eight children to his parents, Arvid and Elsie Arkola.  He was also preceded in death by his teenage daughter, Nona Arkola; siblings, Audrey Kennedy, Doris Johnson and Charles, Nancy, Gloria and Marvin Arkola; and three grandchildren, Hope, Faith and Luke.

Kenneth was a veteran of the U. S. Navy and served during the Korean War.   He worked as a contractor with Fed Ex for 20 years; and was a substitute teacher at Scott High School. A very faithful active member of Lory Baptist Church, where he served as an usher, van driver, grounds keeper and principal of the Lory Baptist Christian School.

He is survived by four children, Donna (Curt) Shamblin of Danville, Kevin (Cheryl) Arkola of Blacksville, Shelia (Daniel Jr.) Chandler of Peytona and Tony (Kelly) Arkola of Jeffrey; the Mother of his children, Wanda Malcomb; sister, Karen and Pastor Garry Bowman of Julian; sister in law, Judy Arkola; grandchildren, Deidra, Diana, Derek, Makaila, Paul, Katie, Bridget, Jacklyn, Alex, Austin and Owen; and great grandchildren, Layla and Gunner.

Funeral service will be 1:00 pm Friday, April 17, at Lory Baptist Church in Julian, with Pastor Dr. Garry Bowman officiating.  Burial will follow at Hill Cemetery in Julian with military graveside rites.   The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 pm Thursday at Curry Funeral Home in Alum Creek.

CAROLYN SUE (DUNLAP) SMITH, 70, of St. Albans, WV, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, April 12, 2015, after a long and hard fought battle with her illnesses.  Carolyn was a Christian and a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend to many people.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Russell and Bernice Dunlap, brothers Rusty and David, and niece Jennifer.

Carolyn was born in Barboursville, WV, on November 13, 1944.  She leaves to cherish her memory, her loving husband of 52 years, Charles, daughter Cathy (Donald) Peal of Hurricane, son Charles (Amie) Smith of Scott Depot, daughter Rebecca (Scott) Stevens of Charleston, sister Brenda Dunlap of St. Albans, brother Bill Dunlap of South Charleston, eight grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, and many friends.  Everyone that met her loved her and she never met a stranger.

Carolyn was a devoted homemaker and spent many years as a Girl Scout leader.  She volunteered as a troop leader and was involved in the Girl Scouts from 1974 to 1986.  She earned many Esteem awards and other accolades for her service to young women.  She also volunteered as a sponsor for several midget league cheerleading teams.  She loved life and all of the joy that being a mother and grandmother could bring.  She had a determination and zest to live life and always said she wanted to be able to say “Woo Hoo, what a ride”, when the time came.

The family would like to give a heartfelt thank you to Dr. Glenn Ridenour, Dr. Julie DeTemple and staff, Dr. Anca Zegrean, and Dr. Scott Duffy, along with a host of other medical professionals that took care of her.

Service will be 11:00am Wednesday, April 15, 2015 at Curry Funeral Home, 2097 Childress Road, Alum Creek with Pastor Frank Chapman officiating.  Burial will follow at Lively Cemetery, Sod.  The family will receive friends from 6:00 – 8:00pm Tuesday at the funeral home.

Patty Mae Walls, 82, of Alkol went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Friday, April 10, 2015 at Hillcrest Health Care Center in Danville.

She graduated from Scott High School.   Patty was a former nurses aid at the Glover Clinic in the late 1960s and a member of Sycamore Grove Baptist Church in Alkol.

Patty was a loving wife, mother and momaw.  She was born March 28, 1933 to the late Aubry Bowman and Nell McMickens.  She was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years, Cecil Walls, and her beloved sister, Jean Meadows.

She is survived by her son, Steve (Pam) Walls of Alum Creek; daughters, Lynn Kinney of Freedom, Pa. (Davy) of Clothier,  and Jonell (Travis) Barclay of Huntington; grandchildren,  Danielle (Derek) White, Amber Carter, Seth Walls, Chelsea (Jeremy) Stragand, Jay (Rebekah) Kinney, Casey and Kelsey Barclay; and 7 great grandchildren, Stevi, Ashby, Kendel, Dalton, Brenna, Jaycie and Layla; sisters, Gerri Ann Clay, Martha Smith, and Wanda Rose Malcom; and brother, Rev. Gary Bowman.

Funeral Service will be 3:00 pm Sunday, April 12 at Curry Funeral Home, Alum Creek with Pastor Darrell Searls officiating.  Burial will follow at Orchard Hills Memory Gardens, Yawkey.  The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.

Kenneth R. Hess, Sr. 93, of So. Charleston, went home to be with the Lord, Wednesday April 1, 2015 at home.

He was preceded in death by his parents Charles Edward and Etha Lee Hess, brothers, Freddie, James, Charles, and Eugene.

He was a retired millwright from Union Carbide Tech Center with 30 years of service.  He was part of the Greatest Generation, and a WWII Army veteran with the 95^th Infantry Division, known as the “Iron Men of Metz” where he earned three Bronze Stars.  He also was a member of the Alum Creek VFW Post 4768 and he was awarded the Legion D’Honneur, which was the highest French Decoration for the Liberation of France and Europe during World War II.  He was a woodcrafting artist who enjoyed building swings, children’s rockers, birdhouses and other items for family and friends.

He is survived by his wife of  66 years, Hazel; son, Reed Hess (Vicki) of Alum Creek; daughter, Susan Conner (Jack) of Elk Hills; brothers, George Hess and Joe Hess all of South Charleston; grandchildren, Elizabeth Paige  Hill (Rex), Eric and Stephanie Conner; and great-grandchildren, Serena and Hunter Hill.

Funeral service will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, April 4, at Curry Funeral Home, Alum Creek, with Pastor Eric Mounts officiating. Burial will follow at Tyler Mountain Memory Gardens, Cross Lanes with military graveside rites.

Family and friends will gather from 6 to 8 pm Friday at the funeral home.

The family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Susan Cavender, Debbie Steffick, RN and to HospiceCare for their loving and gentle care for our loved one and the family during this time.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to HospiceCare, 1606 Kanawha Blvd., W., Charleston, WV 25387-2536 or The Bible Center Church, 100 Bible Center Dr., Charleston, WV 25314.