Boyce Albert (Sonny) Griffith

Boyce Albert (Sonny) Griffith, who loved the practice of law, good wine, sports cars and baseball, passed peacefully on Thursday, April 6 at the age of 88.   Boyce resided in Alum Creek from the age of three when his parents, George and Vennie moved the family there from St. Albans.

Boyce’s life started on January 26, 1929.  Boyce was the 6^th child born to George and Vennie.  His brothers and sisters included:  Dayton Griffith, Olivia Peters, Bothman Griffith, Jean Griffith, Margaret (Sissy)Griffith and Franklin Griffith.

When he was a young boy, during warm & sunny WV days, he would strip off his clothes and swim in the creek running alongside the big red barn near his home.  He would proudly tell his mother, Vinnie, that he was taking a “sunset.”  Thus the nickname Sonny emerged.   Boyce always loved the sun.  He said it gave him energy.

Another great pastime was baseball.  Boy did he love baseball.   Boyce was small in stature and as a young boy, he was always placed at the catcher position during after-school games.  He didn’t enjoy this too much as he longed to play what he felt was a more prominent position. He would spend hours in the evening and on the weekends watching baseball during the season.  He traveled to Cincinnati to watch the Reds as often as possible and in later years, he traveled to California where his daughter Joy lived with her family and enjoyed Dodger games and San Francisco Giants games.  There was a family trip to New York to see the Yankees on July 4, 2009 play in their brand new stadium as well as a trip to Chicago to take in a Cubs game.

Boyce’s favorite hobby was researching and drinking great wine (& Champagne!).  He poured over scores of books and magazines detailing every aspect of the grape growing process.  From understanding the soil and temperature to knowing the perfect time to uncork a savored bottle, he always enjoyed the process.  When Boyce made trips with family to the wine country in Northern California, the wine stewards were absolutely awestruck by how much this man from West Virginia knew about the history of wine.  It was surely fun to watch and listen to!

Boyce is survived by his wife, Martha, who he met on a blind date in the summer of 1955.  They had two daughters, Joy Chudacoff and Rene Griffith.  Joy lives in Los Angeles California with her husband Greg and their two children, Jack (16) Jenna (14).  Rene lives in Winston Salem, North Carolina with her life partner, Christi Smith and son Andrew.

‘Sonny’ graduated from Washington District High School May 28, 1947 and had a strong desire to get a college degree.  His oldest brother Dayton, ultimately gave Boyce the $50 he needed to enroll in Morris Harvey College.  It was there he received his undergraduate degree in 1950 with the honor of Magna Cum Laude.   After receiving his under-graduate degree, Boyce achieved a life-long dream of attaining a Law Degree from West Virginia University.    He was a member of the Board of Editors Law Review and received the annual faculty award for the Student of Outstanding Progress in his senior year.  Boyce was also President of his Senior Law Class and graduated in 1953 at the top of his class!

That would be of no surprise to anyone who knew Boyce as a practicing Attorney.  Time and time again, the word around the courthouse was, “if you are going up against Boyce Griffith on a case, you’d better be on time and over-prepared or you are guaranteed a loss!”

Directly after graduating from Law School, Boyce went immediately to serve in the Army.  His mastery of the law was of great benefit to the Army as he provided much support to the legal department during his service.

Boyce began his long & successful sixty-year career as an Assistant Prosecutor in Lincoln County in the spring of 1955.   In 1962, he served as general counsel to Governor William Wallace (Wally) Barron and in 1964, Governor Barron appointed Boyce to become the Chairman of the Public Service Commission.  He served in that capacity until 1969.  In 1969, Boyce went into private practice and from 1972-1975, he served as the Prosecuting Attorney in Lincoln County.    In 1989, Boyce was tapped to be the Chairman of the Public Service Commission a second time by Governor Gaston Caperton and his service lasted until 1997.   In 1997, Boyce went back into private practice in Hamlin and remained in private practice until his retirement.

What most people will remember about Boyce was his constant commitment to helping others.  You would never go to a restaurant, grocery store or otherwise without running into someone who had a tribute or story about Boyce.  He was recognized everywhere he went as someone that was a support to his community.  Growing up in a house with Boyce as a father/husband meant knocks at the front door and phone calls at all hours of the day or night from people who sought his wise advice.

A private Graveside service will be held on Monday, April 10 at 1pm, 2017 at Forks of Coal Cemetery, Alum Creek.   There will be a Celebration of Boyce’s Life on Thursday, April 13, 2017 from 4pm – 7pm at the family home.  To RSVP for the Celebration of Life, please email KtLaSalla@yahoo.com

Please, in lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider making a donation to The National Kidney Foundation http://www.kidney.org

Conrad R. Midkiff, 86, of St. Albans went to be with the Lord Tuesday, April 4, 2017 at home.Conrad was a loving husband to Loretta for 33 years. They were high school sweethearts who married other people and reconnected later in life. They traveled many miles together California to the Red Wood Forest, Manitoba Canada, to enjoy canoeing on the Grassy River and visited Ireland.

The kind of father that Conrad was to Sue and Mike was loving and kind he shared his love for nature and animals with them. Conrad never met a stranger. Mike will carry on this trait. Those who knew Conrad know how much he loved people.

He was a graduate of Washington District High School and attended Morris Harvey College. Conrad worked 34 years at the C & P Telephone company and for over 30 years he owned and operated Highway Maps and Flags in South Charleston. He was also a member of Bible Center Church. Conrad served during the Korean War in the U. S. Army 150th Infantry Tank Division and also served in the U. S. Navy.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Cecile Midkiff, sister, Elaine (Midkiff) Bell, stepsons Mike Goff and Morgan Goff.

He is survived by his wife Lorretta Midkiff: daughter, Susan M. Hess, (Alan), son Michael J Midkiff; stepdaughters Joyce Testerman (Clark) and Kathy Bidenback (Donnie) brother, P. J. Midkiff,(Patsy) sisters, Yvonne DeBord and Mariann Crowe. Granddaughter Amy Evans, (Matt) and Grandsons Alan Hess and Travis Midkiff and also 2 great grandsons Banyan and Baylen Evans; and a host of other family and friends. The family would like to send a special thank you to Jon Bowman.

Service will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday April 11th, 2017 at Curry Funeral Home in Alum Creek with Pastor Frank Chapman and Pastor Chad Cowan officiating. Burial will follow at the Donel C. Kinnard Memorial State Veterans Cemetery, Dunbar, WV. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday April 10th 2017 at the funeral home.

Constance  “Diana” Curry, 69, of Griffithsville went home to be with the Lord Thursday, April 6, 2017 at CAMC Memorial.

She was a homemaker; a  former employee of Fas Chek and Market Express; and a longtime member of Elizabeth Baptist Church.

Diana was preceded in death by her parents, Steve and Cleo Pauley and her beautiful granddaughter, Nikki.

She is survived by her children, Brad (Sandy, known as her daughter-in-love) Curry,  Stephanie Stowers (Mike Smith) and Doug (Kara) Curry; sister, Pattie (Larry) King; brothers, Mike (Drema) Pauley and Steve (Gloria) Pauley; grandchildren, Tyler, Riley, Addison, Kimberly, Haley, Brogan and Skylar; one great grandson, 6 stepgrandchildren and 7 step great grandchildren; and a host of family and friends, especially her church family who will miss her greatly.

Service will be 2:00 p.m. Sunday, April 9, at Curry Funeral Home in Alum Creek with Pastors Homer Hensley, Jody Pauley, Bob Paul, Mark Ruby and Kurt Dragoo officiating.  Burial will follow at the Pauley Family Cemetery, Joe’s Creek.  The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.

The family would like to thank CAMC Memorial 3 South for their excellent nursing staff in the care of their mother.

Kathy “Stinky” Bragg, 57, of Horse Cave, Kentucky, formerly of Yawkey, went home to be with the Lord Monday, April 3, 2017. She attended Duval High School.

Kathy was preceded in death by her parents, Cecil and Stella Tackett Young and brother, Darrell Young.

She is survived by sons, David Young of Huntington and Dustin Cooper of Yawkey; siblings, Clay (Sue) Young and Phelix (Sue) Young all of Elyria, Ohio, Regina (Clyde) Curtis of Damascus, Maryland and Roberta (Eddie) Myers of Yawkey; grandchildren, David Jr. and Felcity Young and Jasmin Ball.

Service will be 1:00 p.m. Saturday, April 8, 2017 at Curry Funeral Home in Alum Creek with Pastor Oshel Bell officiating.  Burial will follow at Barker Cemetery, Ashford.   The family will receive friends 1 hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

David R. Darnold, Sr., 76, of Alum Creek departed this world for his heavenly home Saturday, April 1, 2017.

He was born January 11, 1941 to parents Ray W. Darnold and Laura Darnold.

David was a graduate of South Charleston High School. He worked in his father’s business until 1981, when he started David Darnold Company, Inc., and was a member of the Davis Creek Church of the Nazarene.

He always enjoyed the thrills this life had to offer, including race cars, motorcycles, and horses.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Kay Darnold; sons, Scott (Shawn) Darnold and David (Pam) Darnold, Jr.; grandchildren, MacKensie Faith Darnold, Madison Alexandra Darnold, Anna Marie Darnold, Noah Scott Darnold, Hunter Justice Carr and LawShawna Duyle Rollyson. David is also survived by his mother, Laura Darnold and sister, Audrey Deel.

Service will be 1:00 p.m.Tuesday, April 4, 2017 at the Davis Creek Church of the Nazarene, 102 Nazarene Drive, South Charleston with Pastor Sandy Burdette officiating. Entombment will follow at Graceland Memorial Park in South Charleston. The family will receive friends from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday at the church.

The family would like to express a special thank you to the staff at Hubbard Hospice West for their loving care. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to HospiceCare, 1606 Kanawha Blvd., W., Charleston, WV 25387.

Richard Ivan Webb, 79, of Sod went to be with the Lord Friday, March 31, 2017 at home.

He was a proud U. S. Marine Veteran, a retired coal miner, and a member of the New Covenant Baptist Church in Alum Creek.

Richard was an avid hunter, fisherman, loved to garden and was a very hard worker dedicated to his family who will miss him dearly and love him forever.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter Webb and Mabel Webb Dunaway; daughter, Lisa Fowler; six brothers and one sister.

Richard is survived by his loving and faithful wife of 34 years, Helen; children, Julie A. Morris of Charleston, Jenny (Thomas) Richards of Oak Hill, Richard Webb, Jr. of Charleston, Annette (Gabe) Sewell of Bristol, Fl., and Della (Adam) Hackney of Charleston; sister, Betty (Bobby) Means; brother, Foster (Nancy) Webb; 19 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.

Service will be noon Monday, April 3, 2017 at Curry Funeral Home in Alum Creek with Pastors Jackie Miller and Jimmy Lawrence officiating.  Burial will follow at the Webb-Means Cemetery in Tango, with military graveside rites conducted by the Alum Creek VFW Post 4768.   The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Mary Frances Hutchison, , of South Charleston went to be with the Lord Sunday, March 19, 2017 at the home of her son.

She was a longtime member of the Blessed Sacrament Church in South Charleston. Mary was a former employee of Union Carbide and Hair Tech in Charleston, but her favorite job thru the years  was when she worked for the Charleston Charlies Baseball Team.

Mary was preceded in death by her son, Michael Lee Hutchison; parents, Harry and Mable Dillard; and sisters, Jean and Caroline Bartosiak.

She is survived by her son, Bill (Martha) Hutchison; granddaughters, Amy (Eric) Shouldis, Jessica (Jake) Burns and Emily Hutchison; 7 great grandchildren, Madison, Christian, Jackson, Hunter, Eli, Shayne and Stella.

Funeral service will be 1:00 p.m. Friday, March 24, 2017 at the Blessed Sacrament Church, 305 E. St., South Charleston, with Father John Finnell officiating.  Burial will follow at Tyler Mountain Memorial Gardens in Cross Lanes.   The family will receive friends 2 hours prior to the service at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to HospiceCare, 1606 Kanawha Blvd., W., Charleston, WV  25387.

Otto Harrison Pauley, Jr., age 99, of Alum Creek, passed away peacefully on March 19, 2017. He was born August 27, 1917, the oldest son of Otto Harrison Pauley, Sr. and Essie McClure Pauley in Dawes, West Virginia.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years Betty Kinder Pauley, sisters Dona Phillips and Athlene Tackett, and brothers Odie and William Pauley.

Left to treasure his memory are his daughters Vicki Hess and husband Reed of Alum Creek, Dawn Pauley and husband Joe Foley of Davis Creek, and Kimberly Kelly and husband David of South Charleston. Surviving grandchildren include granddaughter Paige Hill and husband Rex of Charleston and grandsons Brooks and Logan Gillenwater of South Charleston, and Jose Foley of Davis Creek. Also surviving are great grandchildren Serena and Hunter Hill of Charleston. He is survived by one brother, Arthur Pauley of Sumerco, and sisters Helen Moore of Florida, Emma White of Crosby, Texas, and Virginia Iris Lewis of Belle, West Virginia. Additionally, he is survived by numerous nephews and nieces.

With a quick mind and a love for books, Otto attended a one-room schoolhouse in Sumerco and graduated from Duval High School.  He then proudly served his country during World War II in the Pacific Theater with the Company L 20th Infantry of the US Army. He was awarded two Bronze Star Medals and various ribbons acknowledging his honorable and faithful service. After 4 years and 5 months service to his country, he returned home to Lincoln County to the fields and hills he loved vowing to never leave again.

He returned home in poor health and was treated for tuberculosis at Pinecrest Sanitarium in Beckley, West Virginia, where he met his lifelong companion, married her, and began to raise a family. To support his family, he worked first as a newspaper carrier for Daily Mail and later as a carpenter, but the work he really loved was coaxing food from his garden each summer. He was an avid gardener who loved the soil.

He was a person of many passions. He was a rare man equally at home in his garden or the library. Above all, he loved his family and was intensely loyal to friends. He will be missed by many.

The grateful family wishes to thank the staff at Oakridge Rehabilitation Center and the Charleston Memorial Hospital staff in the emergency room, the MICU, and Five South for their compassionate care of our father.

Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00 PM Tuesday evening, at Curry Funeral Home. The service will be conducted on Wednesday at 11:00 am at the funeral home, with Pastor Frank Chapman officiating. Burial will be at Orchard Hills Memorial Gardens with military rites.

Chris Smock, 65, of South Charleston passed away suddenly on Saturday, March 18, 2017.

A lifelong resident of South Charleston, Chris had a passion for building model cars, camping and spending time with his family and friends. He was a fan of dirt track, NHRA and NASCAR racing. Chris also loved classic cars and oldies music.

He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Marilyn; son, Robert and daughter-in-law, Beth; beloved cat Sasquatch and grand-pup Molly. He will be sadly missed by family and numerous friends that were considered family.

Per his wishes, Chris will be cremated. A memorial gathering of friends and family will be held at a later date.

Barbara Ann Patterson, 83, of Charleston went to be with her Lord Friday, March 17, 2017 at home.

She was a faithful member of the Kanawha Baptist Temple and a loving mother and grandmother.

Barbara was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Robert “Curtis” Patterson; 16 year old daughter, Terrie Elaine; parents, Brent and Margaret Hamrick; brother, Roger Hamrick; and sister, Brenda Hartzog.

She is survived by her son, Pastor Curtis “Eddie” Patterson and his wife, Sharon; brothers, Phillip and Harold Hamrick; sisters, Betty Limer, Pam Furr and her husband, K, and Donna Leggett and her husband, Bud; grandsons, Nathanael (Crystal) Patterson, Jonathan and Jason (Jessica) Patterson; great grandchildren, Karis and Grayson; and several nieces and nephews.

Service will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 22, 2017 at the Kanawha Baptist Temple, Charleston, with Pastors Curtis “Eddie” Patterson and Bill Bartlett officiating. Burial will follow at Tyler Mountain Memory Gardens, Cross Lanes. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Kanawha Baptist Temple, 1 Baptist Mountain, Charleston, WV 25311.

II Corinthians 5:8 “….to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.