James “Bump” Vandale, 70, of Charleston, WV, passed away Saturday, May 9, 2020 at CAMC-Memorial Division.  He is predeceased by his father, Jesse L. Vandale.

Jim retired as a manager for Allied Warehousing, and he was a Vietnam Veteran receiving three purple hearts.  He also was a former Foodland store manager at South Charleston and Yawkey. 

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Carol Cash Vandale, daughters, Kelly (Jason) Varney and Tracy (Tyler) Arkell, son, James (Kelly) Vandale, grandsons, Chase and Dylan Arkell, and granddaughter, Halli Vandale.  He is also survived by his mother, Genivieve Vandale, brothers, William “Bill” (Kathy) Vandale, Steve (Shelly) Vandale and David (Leslie) Vandale.

A private burial service will be Wednesday, May 13, 2020, at the Donel C. Kinnard Memorial State Veterans Cemetery, Dunbar, WV.  Full military honors will be scheduled at a later date. 

The family would like to thank the ER staff at CAMC-Memorial for their compassion and care. 

Pauline Hanshaw, 90, of Charleston, WV, gained her angel wings at her home on Wednesday, May 6, 2020. 

She retired after 23 years from Sears Roebuck. 

Pauline (Maw) is survived by her son, Dave (Buzz) Hanshaw and wife Debbie; daughter-in-law Ann Hanshaw; grandsons Rick Hanshaw and wife Opal, Michael Hanshaw and wife Lori, David Hanshaw and Jeff Hanshaw; brother Buck Riffe and Becky; sisters Edith Parsons and Wanda Williams; 12 great grandchildren, 10 great great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Bertha Riffe; son, Jerry Hanshaw; grandsons Rusty Hanshaw and Jimmy Hanshaw; and sister Lola Fields.

Pauline was an independent and strong woman.  She would give her opinion without flinching or apology.  She never dismissed you for your choices and always welcome you home when it didn’t work out.  She will certainly be missed by all.

Service will be 1:00 p.m. Saturday, May 9, at Curry Funeral Home in Alum Creek with Chaplain Pete Thompson officiating.     Burial will follow at Graceland Memorial Park.    The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.

Peggy Joyce Russell Cooley went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Monday, May 4, 2020, after dying of Alzheimer’s disease.  Peggy was born on January 26, 1934 in Morgantown, WV.

After graduating from Morgantown High School in 1952, she was hired as the Secretary to the Dean of Academic and Student Affairs at West Virginia University. While working there, she became friends with Jerry West, Rod Thorn and many other athletes, as they came into her office to collect their scholarship checks.  It was during this time she met her husband, Dr. Frederick Cooley, who was attending WVU School of Medicine.  Upon his graduation, they moved to Charleston, where Fred became the first Director of the Charleston Memorial Hospital Emergency Department.

Peggy was an avid tennis player.  She loved playing competitively with her friends, winning many tournaments as both a 3.5 and 4.0 player.   She loved to read; her library of books encompassed every genre from the classics to biographies, autobiographies to inspirational; the books she left behind would impress the most voracious reader.

She also enjoyed gardening, and spent countless hours outside landscaping her beautiful home.  She treasured her time at the beach with her family, and would read books under an umbrella by the ocean for hours on end.  Those annual vacations have provided her family with wonderful memories that will last a lifetime.

Peggy was also a huge fan of the WVU Men’s Basketball and Football teams; she would never miss watching a game on TV while listening to Tony Caridi on the radio.  She was overjoyed a few years ago when she was able to travel to the WVU Coliseum and visit Coach Bobby Huggins’ office, where she sat decidedly down in his chair, and smiled for a photograph!

Peggy loved her church, Village Chapel Presbyterian and served on several circle committees over the years while ministering to others.

Most of all she loved her family. Her laughter, smiles and affection made our home the most wonderful place to grow up; we could not have asked for a more loving and devoted mother and wife.

We would also like to take this opportunity to say how very thankful we are for Brookdale Charleston Gardens.  Just knowing how much the amazing staff loved and took such wonderful care of her is priceless to all of us.  Words will never be able to truly express our gratitude for their loving care, especially during the past few months when we were unable to visit her because of the Coronavirus.

Most importantly, Peggy knows Jesus as her Savior, for which we are deeply thankful.  Our Grammy, Momma and Wife will be incredibly missed.  However, we can rejoice in knowing that one day we will be reunited with her in Heaven.

Peggy was preceded in death by her father Benjamin Russell, mother Lillian Russell and brother George Russell. She is survived by her loving husband, Fred, her three daughters; Lauren Monk (Mike), Heather Ritchey and Kerri Milgram (Craig), six grandchildren: Katie Cumberledge, R.J. Ritchey, Dr. Micah Monk, Christopher Milgram, Cassidy DeBord and Cade Flanagan as well as five great-grandchildren whom she loved dearly.

A private family service will be held at a later date.

Charles Darren Roberts, 45, of Alum Creek, WV, died on Friday, May 1, 2020 at Thomas Memorial Hospital, South Charleston.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Louise Roberts.

He is survived by his two daughters, Kayla Roberts and Emilee Roberts; two sisters, Tammy (Jerry) Rakes and Kathy (John) Hudson; one brother, Kenny (Lee) Roberts; three nephews, Edwin (Andrea) Neal, Morgan and Garrett Roberts; one niece, Torie Walker; one great-niece, Lila Neal.

Through it all, Darren  truly loved his daughters, family, and friends.  Darren’s contagious smile, good sense of humor, and compassionate heart made him a joy to be around.  He will be missed by many.

His favorite verse from the Bible was Matthew 6:14, “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”

For the safety of friends and loved ones during this COVID-19 pandemic, the family has chosen not to have a service at this time.  Darren would have wanted everyone to be “Safer at Home”, so we ask that you may think of a special time that you shared together, a memory to honor him. 

A celebration of his life will be held on a later date.

Pastor Franklin Ray Chapman, 68, of Alum Creek, WV, went to be with the Lord Saturday, May 2, 2020, at CAMC-General after a sudden illness (brain aneurysm).  He was born October 11, 1951, and was the son of the late Jennings & Vina Bowman Chapman.

He was a member of Independent Missionary Baptist Church of Alum Creek where he was the Pastor for 32 years.  Upon retiring from the pastorate in 2017 he was named pastor emeritus.  He was a 1969 graduate of Duval High School, and was a 1976 Bible Institute graduate.  Prior to entering the ministry he was a member of Boilermakers Local 667.

Frank’s life verses were Romans 12:1-2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Frank is survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Kim Chapman, one brother, William (Glenna) Chapman, three sisters, Ilene Hatch, Wanda Monday and Charlene Chapman all of Alum Creek.  In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by brother-in-law, David Hatch. 

A walk-through visitation will be held Thursday, May 7, 2020, from 2:00pm – 8:00pm at the Independent Missionary Baptist Church of Alum Creek.  These extended hours of visitation are to allow time for social distancing guidelines.  Funeral service for the family will be 3:00pm Friday, May 8, 2020 at the church with Pastor Rick Perrine officiating assisted by Pastor Daniel Dent. Anyone who wishes to attend the brief graveside service after the funeral is welcome to attend at Orchard Hills Memory Gardens, Yawkey. You may either follow the procession from the church or just arrive at the cemetery by 4:00pm.  In lieu of flowers please take time to visit a shut-in.

Also, if you prefer to be “Safer at Home” the funeral service will be live-streamed on IMBCofAlumCreek.com on youtube or Facebook under Independent Missionary Baptist Church of Alum Creek.  As if losing a husband and brother were not traumatic enough, dealing with COVID-19 has made our lives even more difficult.  We hope you understand that we are bound by legal guidelines.  Lord willing, we may attempt to have a Celebration of Life service at some point after the restrictions of COVID-19 are lifted.  We would love to share hugs, handshakes, and fellowship with you when it is deemed safe to do so.  Thank you for understanding.  You are dearly loved and appreciated.

Linda Lou McCune, 80, of South Charleston went to be with the Lord on Thursday, April 30, 2020 just two days shy of her 81^st birthday. 

Mom passed away at home with her family by her side from complications of Alzheimers.  She was a vibrant, colorful person that always had a smile on her face.  She was known for her beautiful silver hair, warm smile and the cute way she dressed.  She loved life and being around her family and friends.  She was always on the go.  Her grandchildren, Cruz and Cagun, were the apple of her eye and she never got over the tragic death of Cagun and still called Cruz her baby even though he’s a grown man. 

Linda loved the shopping trips with the girls at Davis Creek Nazarene Church and the Alum Creek Lions Club .  She and dad also enjoyed the trips to Pigeon Forge with her church family.  Benny and Joyce Wade have been constant companions over the years and I’m sure Joyce Sykes will miss her best buddy.  Pendleton County Camp was a favorite gathering place for her where she spent a lot of time with family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Paul McCune, infant daughter, Debra Sue, grandson, Cagun Cole Vandall, her parents, John “Cricket” & Rosina Petry Johnson and brother, Roscoe Johnson.

She is survived by her daughters, Patti McCune (Kim Sykes) and Diana Vandall, grandson, Cruz Vandall (Krista Neophytou).  Special thanks to her devoted and loving caregiver Delores McClure.  Big thanks to the hospice staff for guiding us through this sad and difficult journey. 

The Pandemic has taken away the opportunity to celebrate her life so we ask you to think of a special time or memory to honor her.  The family will have a private graveside service at Graceland Memorial Park, South Charleston, with Pastor Chuck Britt, who along with his wife Karen, were long time special caring friends of Mom. 

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to HospiceCare, 1606 Kanawha Blvd., W., Charleston, WV 25312-2536.  Condolences may be expressed to the family by visiting www.curryfuneralhome.org.  Curry Funeral Home, 2097 Childress Road, Alum Creek, WV has been family owned since 1950.

Herman Hartwell, age 80 of South Charleston, WV, went to be with the Lord Sunday, April 26, 2020, after a short illness.  He was saved on March 30, 1995, and baptized April 2, 1995.  He was a member of Independent Missionary Baptist Church of Alum Creek, WV, where he was an usher and greeter, which he loved to do. 

He is survived by his wife and best friend of 59 years Carolyn Sue Hartwell; sons, Dwayne Hartwell, Brian and wife Rhonda Hartwell; three grandchildren (his pride and joy) Michael, Nicholas and Vivian Hartwell; two sisters, Nettie Rose (Jim) Turley, Verna Jean (Howard) Boggess; sister-in-law Kay Deel and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Brady and Aylie Hartwell and half-brother Wade Williams. 

He was a lifetime resident of South Charleston, WV.  He was retired from the City of South Charleston, WV, where he worked for the police maintenance.  Over the years he was a mechanic, equipment operator, electrician and farmer.

The family would like to thank everyone that has called, prayed or gave a kind word as well as CAMC General Neuro ICU.

A graveside service will be held 1:00 p.m. Friday May 1, 2020 at Shultz Cemetery in South Charleston with Pastor Frank Chapman officiating. 

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Independent Missionary Baptist Church, P.O. Box 65, Alum Creek, WV 25003, or HospiceCare, 1606 Kanawha Blvd., W., Charleston, WV 25312-2536.

Betty Jean Staggs, 84, of Ballard Road, Alum Creek, went home to be with the Lord, on Saturday April 18, 2020 at Putnam Center, Hurricane, WV, after a long battle with dementia.   

Betty was born and raised in Cabin Creek and was a loving mother, grandmother, wife, sister, and aunt.  She will be remembered walking, singing and checking on her neighbors.  

She was preceded in death by her husbands, William R. Stone and Bronson Holstein, parents, Dewey Staggs and Opal Virginia Browning, her sister, Doris (Mason) Kirk and son, Samuel Sambo Staggs and niece, Marie Holstein.

She is survived by her children, Roger Dale Stone, Dempsey Browning, and Donna Gibson. She is also survived by many grandchildren and great grandchildren; nieces, Alpha Pauley, Debbie Kirk and nephew, Mason “Hot Rod” Kirk.

Private funeral service will be 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 22, 2020, at Curry Funeral Home in Alum Creek with Pastor Mike Gibson officiating.  Burial will follow at Green Cemetery, Winifrede, WV.

The family would like to give a special thanks to the staff of Genesis Putnam Center for their love and compassion.

Shirley Josephine Gillispie Giles, 91, of Emmons Road, Alum Creek, WV, left from her home on a journey to be in the presence of her Jesus…Her Lord and Savior, Wednesday, April 15, 2020. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, Pastor Fred Almon Giles, Sr., and her parents, Oscar Lee & Mollie Florence Barker Gillispie, and an infant sister.

Shirley lived her entire life on earth in Emmons, and within a stones-throw of where she grew-up. In 1952 Fred Almon built a new house just across the railroad tracks from her parents’ house, and on banks of The Big Coal River where she resided until her graduation day from planet earth.

In the 1920’s thru 1952 her dad, Oscar Gillispie, owned and operated a country story that provided groceries for families living in Emmons including the areas of Bull Creek, Dartmont, Ashford, Sproul, Fork Creek, and Olcott.  As a teenage girl at the young age of 15-17, she would often deliver these groceries for her dad to these families using his Chevrolet stake and platform dual-wheel truck.  She did not even have a driver’s license.  She would have to cross or ford the river at Emmons to get to Fork Creek, and up many hollows on muddy roads to deliver these groceries.  Following her dad’s death, she continued to operate this store for a few years so that families would have a local source of groceries.

She was an avid and efficient farmer, often producing food such as potatoes, corn, cucumbers, tomatoes, and sometimes watermelons too, with her specialty being half-runner green beans for family use, and for friends, and even selling produce from her garden especially the green beans.  She also raised pigs for the family. She inherited this interest from her grand-father, Willie Gillispie, who in the late 1890’s thru mid-1950’s, was well-known to be the source of young pigs for families living in the Emmons area who desired to raise them as a source for family food.  

Shirley and two very close friends, Delores Meikles Hill, and Anna-Lee Stewart, started their college education at West Virginia State College to earn a degree in elementary education. Her first semester was January 1961 completing five straight semesters with no breaks including the summer.  She then began her teaching career while attending school in the evenings, and during the summers; she still graduated in only three years in 1964…Remarkable and Impressive! All of this was accomplished with five children at home, while also planting, caring, and harvesting a family garden, and being very active in the church.

She started her elementary teaching career primarily focusing on 2d graders at Olcott, then Broundland, Hernshaw, and retiring after 18 years at Alum Creek. The young kids who lived and attended school in these areas where she taught, benefited greatly from her educational skills, compassion, and persistence in assisting them to learn.  She wanted these kids to grow physically, and mentally, and for them to know who Jesus is. She even paddled her students for misconduct.  During past several years her students have told her family that she was the best teacher for them, and she even paddled me when we were “bad”, and we deserved it. She cared!  She loved her students. 

She was also an honorable and supportive pastor’s wife.  Possibly, the ideal pastor’s wife. Looking back now the family can see very clearly her commitment to dad’s calling as a pastor, and to the churches where he was led to serve.  All of us were in church every Sunday morning, Sunday evening, Wednesday evening, and Saturday night.  She was an outstanding example of how to multi-task, and a commitment to getting things completed, and on time.  She had an abundance of energy, was self-motivated, unselfish of her time with, and for others, and using her talents to benefit all of us, and to dad, and to the church.  At various times she served as a pianist, church treasurer, clerk, secretary, ladies auxiliary leader, and teacher.  Mom was a prayer warrior too.  Likely no one with whom she knew during her life on this earth at these various churches dad served as pastor, and in the community where she lived, ever escaped from being on her prayer list for something going on in their life. She was consistent and persistent.

Shirley is survived by her 5 children: Fred, Jr. (Linda) Giles of Charleston, Sharon (Scooter) Withrow of Tulsa, OK, Trena (Fred) Fannin of Columbus, OH, Mike (Kathy) Giles of Beaver, WV, Greg (Dawn) Giles of Calabash, NC; and, 16 grandchildren: Paula Giles Dickson (Barry), Jason Giles (Ashley), Pat Withrow (Kim), Michelle Pino (Luis), Michael Withrow (Chrissy), Jamie Wilson (Steve), Jennifer Williams (Heath), Becky Light (Josh), Mary Bell (Zachary), Merilee Reagan (Stephen), Mollie (Cam) Spain, Brian (Sarah) Giles, Ben (Tawny) Giles, Mark (Tracy) Giles, Jeremy Beasley (Megan), and Daniel (Jennifer) Beasley.

Shirley is also survived by her 35 great-grand-children: Brody, Braydon, Pailyn, Ariana, Alyssa, Cooper, Madeline, Charlie, Reagan, Ryan, Tyler, Avery, Ava, Evan, Leah, Michalyn, Meleah, Mady, Molly, Nic, Emily, Jack, Hannah, Lauren, Ella, Haylee, Morgan, Carter, Gavin, Whitney, Charlotte, Dylan, Brayden, Beckham, and Ellisyn.

A private family service will be held Sunday, April 19, 2020, at Curry Funeral Home in Alum Creek, with her final resting place being Graceland Memorial Park, South Charleston, WV.  Her family will be officiating her Celebration-of Life with music, and sharing stories of Mom, Maw Maw, GrandMa, and Grammy! 

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the church of your choice In Honor of Shirley Giles.

Kathy White, 65, of Accoville, WV, formerly of Sumerco went home Monday, April 13, 2020.

She loved being outside and tending to her flower gardens. 

Kathy was preceded in death by her parents, William and Rilda Grimmett; and brothers, Timmy and Terry Belcher.

She is survived by her daughters, Phyllis (Bobby) Armstrong and Lynn Johnson; son, Lewis White; sisters, Sharon Harvey, Jennifer Belcher and Lynn Cooper; five grandchildren, Karrie Justice, Cody Adkins, Conner Johnson, Marissa Johnson and Mackenzie White; one great granddaughter, Kaylynn Justice; brother, Jimmy Belcher; and several nieces and nephews.

In honor of her request, she will be cremated.   There are no services scheduled at this time.