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Nellie L. Meyers
RICHWOOD -- Nellie Lucas Meyers, 76, of Richwood, formerly of Second Creek, died Monday, Jan. 19, 1998, in a Richwood care center after a long illness. She was a homemaker.
Surviving: daughter, Betty Pearson of Conneaut, Ohio; son, John Vance of Nettie; sisters, Martha Deskins of Baltimore, Mary Boggs and Vernie Preston of Second Creek, Dorothy Williams of Caldwell, Nancy Erskine of Elkins, Phyllis Elmore of Alderson; brothers, Arthur Lucas of Lewisburg, Charles and Johnny Lucas of Ronceverte, Jack Lucas of White Sulphur Springs; eight grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren. Service will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at Longanacre Funeral Home, Fairlea, with the Rev. Mark Flynn officiating. Burial will be in Highland Park Cemetery, Second Creek. Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Gallard C. Murphy
Gallard Carroll Murphy, 53, of Charleston, formerly of Clay County, died Monday, Jan. 19, 1998, in Heartland of Charleston after a long illness.
Surviving: sisters, Inez Maggio of Charleston, Jane Cantley of Little Hocking, Ohio, Zelma Heater of Gassaway; brothers, Ray of Hurricane, Russell of Clay, Robert of Amma. Service will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at Stockert-Gibson Funeral Home, Flatwoods, with the Rev. Steve Murphy officiating. Burial will be in Hamrick Cemetery, Swandale. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.

John I. Pesimer
HAMLIN -- John Isaac Pesimer, 91, of Hamlin died Sunday, Jan. 18, 1998, in St. Mary's Hospital, Huntington, after a long illness. He was a former miner and an Army veteran of World War II.
Surviving: half sister, Freda Jeffery of West Hamlin; half brother, Chester Courts of Cleveland, Ohio; five stepgrandchildren; eight stepgreat-grandchildren. Service will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at McGhee-Handley Funeral Home, West Hamlin, with the Rev. William Hughes Jr. officiating. Burial will be in Sloan Cemetery, Pleasant View, with military graveside rites. Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Billie Jo Petrey
DANIELS -- Billie Jo Petrey, 18, of Daniels, Raleigh County, died Monday, Jan. 19, 1998, from injuries received in a house fire in Mabscott, Raleigh County, authorities said. She was a student at Shady Spring High School and a member of the Pentecostal Revival Center, Princeton.
Surviving: parents, Christopher and Julie Jones Simpson of Daniels; half-brother, Jimmy Petrey of Hinton; half-sister, Rosie Petrie of Hinton; maternal grandparents, Jerry L. and Verna Novell of Princeton, Eugene "Bubby" and Janie Jones of Fayetteville; maternal great-grandmother, Leoda Harrah of Hinton. Service will be 1 p.m. Wednesday at Rose-Quesenberry Funeral Home, Shady Spring, with Brother Danny Winders officiating. Burial will be in Claypool Cemetery, near Meadow Creek. Friends may call from 4 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Calvin L. Sharp
MARLINTON -- Calvin Lloyd Sharp, 73, of Marlinton died Monday, Jan. 19, 1998, in Pocahontas Continuous Care Nursing Home after a short illness.
Surviving: several nieces and nephews. Service will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at VanReenen Funeral Home, Marlinton, with the Rev. David Rittenhouse officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery, Marlinton. Friends may call from 3 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Martha L. Slater
Martha L. Slater, 91, of South Charleston died Sunday, Jan. 18, 1998, in Valley Health Village after a long illness. She was a homemaker and a member of First Church of the Nazarene, South Charleston.
Surviving: son, Michael of Teays Valley; daughters, Margaret Bailey of South Charleston, Elizabeth Stalnaker of Sinks Grove; eight grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren. Service will be 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at Snodgrass Funeral Home, South Charleston, with the Rev. Merlin Provance officiating. Burial will be in Slater Cemetery, Sissonville. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Gladys T. Smith
RIDGELEY -- Gladys Tomblin Smith, 56, of Ridgeley, Mineral County, formerly of Harts, died Saturday, Jan. 17, 1998, in Cumberland Memorial Hospital, Cumberland, Md. She was a homemaker and of the Freewill Baptist faith.
Surviving: husband, Farnia Carl Smith; son, Joseph Carl Smith of Green Spring; sisters, Ethel Marie Tomblin of Harts, Patty Johnson and Phyllis Heller of Lincolnton, N.C., Cindia Jarrell of Hurricane; brother, Gordon Tomblin of Harts; four grandchildren. Service will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at Evans Funeral Home, Chapmanville, with the Rev. John T. Vance officiating. Burial will be in the family cemetery, Harts. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.

V.L. Smithson Jr.
BELINGTON -- V.L. "Sonny" Smithson Jr., 70, of Belington died Friday, Jan. 9, 1998, in Davis Memorial Hospital, Elkins, after a long illness. He was former chairman of Richwood Heart Fund, former assistant leader of the Boy Scouts of America, Richwood, and a former manager of H.P. Stores in Richwood, Philippi and Parson. He was former owner/manager of The Leader Department Store, Belington, and Parsons Department Store, Parsons. He was a former deacon of Philippi Baptist Church, former member of Belington City Council and a former member of Belington Kiwanis Club. He was a graduate of Richwood High School, attended George Washington University and was an Army veteran of World War II. He was president and chairman of the board of Belington Bank, a member of Masonic Lodge 125 AF&AM, Belington and First Baptist Church, Belington. He was preceded in death by parents, Violet McGuire Smithson and V.L. Smithson Sr.
Surviving: wife, Anna Gale Roberts; son, Robert D. Smithson of Belington; daughters, Shirley Lee Maruca of Salisbury, N.C., Carol Lynn Sinsel of Philippi, Linda Sue White of Buckhannon, Nancy Ann Garcia of Homestead, Fla.; sister, Virginia Zirilli of Richwood; nine grandchildren. Service was Jan. 11 at Talbott Funeral Home, Belington. The family suggests memorial contributions to First Baptist Church, Belington, or Fraternal Cemetery, Belington.

Florence V. Snowden
Florence Virginia Snowden, 82, of Charleston died Sunday, Jan. 18, 1998, at the home of her daughter in Alum Creek after a short illness. She was a retired employee of Libby-Owens-Ford Glass Co. and a member of Putney Memorial Presbyterian Church. She was born in Lumberport and was a 64-year resident of Charleston.
Surviving: daughters, Carolyn Stanley of Virginia Beach, Va., Janet Jones of Alum Creek; six grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren. Service will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at Stevens-Grass Funeral Home, Malden, with Pastor Danny Webb and Pastor Merlin Provance officiating. Burial will be in Tyler Mountain Memory Gardens, Cross Lanes. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Mack H. Varner
MARLINTON -- Mack Hardy Varner, 75, of Marlinton died Monday, Jan. 19, 1998, at home after a short illness. He was a mechanic, an Army veteran of World War II and a member of the VFW. He had been a resident of Marlinton since 1949.
Surviving: wife, Annie I. Rexrode Varner; sisters, Virginia Nelson, Lucille Varner and Ruth Grogan of Durbin; brother, Ray Varner of Bedford, Pa. Service will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at Wallace-Wallace Funeral Home, Arbovale, with the Rev. David Rittenhouse officiating. Burial will be in Arbovale Cemetery. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Robin S. Williams
RUTHER GLEN, Va. -- Robin Slack Williams, 25, of Ruther Glenn died Friday, Jan. 16, 1998, in Mary Washington Hospital, said a Caroline County (Va.) Sheriff's Department spokesman. Her death is under investigation, the spokesman said. She was a native of Charleston, W.Va., a graduate of Stafford (Va.) High School and a service representative for Capital One, Stafford.
Surviving: husband, Eddie Williams; daughter, Katelyn Williams at home; mother, Robin A. Slack of Rand, W.Va.; paternal grandparents, Carl and Beulah Slack of Dunedin, Fla. Service will be 2 p.m. Thursday at Storke Funeral Home, Bowling Green, Va., with the Rev. Edward Bourne officiating. Burial will be in Lakewood Cemetery, Bowling Green. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. The family suggests memorial contributions to any rescue squad in Caroline County, Va.

Gloria J. Young
Gloria J. Young, 38, of St. Albans died Monday, Jan. 19, 1998, at home. She was a lifelong resident of St. Albans.
Surviving: daughter, Jennifer M. Young of St. Albans; sons, David and Matthew of St. Albans; sister, Judy Howell of Chesapeake; brothers, Orville Browning and Raymond "Buddy" Ramella of St. Albans; two grandsons. Service will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at Bartlett-Chapman Funeral Home, St. Albans, with the Rev. Ezra Graley officiating. Burial will be in Cunningham Memorial Park, St. Albans. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.

COTTON, Barbara M. -- Service will be 1 p.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church, Charleston, with Bishop John M. Hairston and Pastor Willie Schofield officiating. Burial will be in Grandview Memorial Park, Dunbar. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. today at the church. Mrs. Cotton, 56, of Institute died Saturday, Jan. 17, 1998, at home after a short illness. Scott Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mamie E. Alford
Mamie E. Alford, 89, of South Charleston died Tuesday, Jan. 20, 1998, in Americare-Dunbar after a long illness. She was a former employee of the Navy Ordnance Plant and G.C. Murphy's. She was a lifelong resident of Kanawha and Lincoln counties and a member and former Sunday school teacher of Hilltop Baptist Church.
Surviving: 16 nieces and nephews. Service will be 10 a.m. Thursday at Casdorph-Curry Funeral Home, St. Albans, with Minister Bruce Keeling officiating. Burial will be in Teays Hill Cemetery, St. Albans. Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Carrie E. Baldwin
NELLIS -- Carrie Elizabeth Baldwin, 62, of Nellis, Boone County, died Monday, Jan. 19, 1998, at home after a long illness. She was a former employee of the Boone County Board of Education and Charleston Area Medical Center. She was a member of Mahone Chapel Church, Ashford.
Surviving: husband, Lorenza "Yankee" Baldwin; sons, Richard and Tony of Ashford, Timmy of Costa; daughter, Vonda Kinder of Ashford; brothers, Julian Curtis Holstein of Traverse City, Mich., Larry Holstein of Charleston, Ronald Holstein of Marlinton, Stanley Jarrel Holstein of Baltimore, Md.; four grandchildren. Service will be 11 a.m. Thursday at Handley Funeral Home, Danville, with Richard Justice officiating. Burial will be in Barker Cemetery, Ashford. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Mamie L. Beckett
Mamie L. Beckett, 65, of South Charleston died Tuesday, Jan. 20, 1998, in Valley Health Village after a short illness. She retired from C&P Telephone Tax Department with 37 years of service, was a member of Darlington United Methodist Church, South Charleston, and the C&P Telephone Pioneers Club.
Surviving: brothers, John W. Beckett Sr. of South Charleston, Kenneth L. Beckett of Orange, Texas. Memorial service will be 3 p.m. Thursday at Snodgrass Funeral Home, South Charleston, with William Kinder officiating. Friends may call one hour prior to service at the funeral home. The family suggests memorial contributions to the American Kidney Fund, 6110 Executive Blvd., Rockville, MD.

Clarence Butcher
WESTON -- Clarence "Jack" Butcher, 77, of Weston died Tuesday, Jan. 20, 1998, in United Hospital Center, Clarksburg, after a long illness. He retired from West Virginia Glass Specialty Co. and was a Methodist.
Surviving: daughters, Mary Jane Titchenell and Florida Yeager of Weston, Hazel Ady of Orrville, Ohio, Maxine Cole of Camden, Phoebie Allison of Wooster, Ohio; sons, Nick, James, Joseph and Harry of Weston; brother, William of Copley; 28 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren. Service will be 1 p.m. Thursday at Boyle Funeral Home, Weston, with the Rev. Clyde Gidley and the Rev. Wease Day officiating. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens. Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Thomas P. Carney
Thomas Peter Carney, 69, of Cabin Creek died Monday, Jan. 19, 1998, in CAMC, Memorial Division, after a short illness. He was a carpenter and a member of American Legion Post 200.
Surviving: wife, Thelma Marie Carney; stepdaughters, Janet Harrison and Barbara Keller of Charleston; stepson, Jack Ward of Charleston; sister, Pat Vance of Dunbar; three stepgrandchildren; one stepgreat-grandchild. Service will be 11 a.m. Thursday at Keller Funeral Home, Dunbar, with the Rev. Bill Canterbury officiating. Burial will be in Montgomery Memorial Park, London. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Phyllis Curry
Phyllis Curry, 65, of Rand died Tuesday, Jan. 20, 1998, at home after a short illness. Scott Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Forest L. Dorsey
MOUNT NEBO -- Forest Lee Dorsey, 75, of Mount Nebo, Nicholas County, died Sunday, Jan. 18, 1998, in the University of Cincinnati Hospital after a short illness. He was an Army veteran of World War II and a retired welder from Schreck Industries, Strongsville, Ohio.
Surviving: son, Fred Ross of Aurora, Ind.; daughters, Debbie Ross of Wadsworth, Ohio; brothers, Perry H. Dorsey of Mount Nebo, Vernon Ray Dorsey of Canada; sister, Dorothy Harlow of Elyria, Ohio; six grandchildren. Service will be 2 p.m. Thursday at White Funeral Home, Summersville, with the Rev. John Conard officiating. Burial will be in Dorsey Cemetery, Runa. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Paul W. Durnell
Paul W. Durnell, 83, of Nitro died Tuesday, Jan. 20, 1998, at home. Cooke Funeral Home, Nitro, is in charge of arrangements.

Elizabeth M. Feury
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS -- Elizabeth McCreery Feury, 85, of White Sulphur Springs died Tuesday, Jan. 20, 1998, in Liberty House Nursing Home, Clifton Forge, Va., after a long illness. She was a retired employee of The Greenbrier and a member of Tuckahoe Road Church of God, White Sulphur Springs.
Surviving: husband, H.R. "Pat" Feury; sons, Harry "Skeet" Feury of Glace, Mike Feury of White Sulphur Springs; daughter, Gayle Rains of Pulaski, Tenn.; sisters, Mary Duffy of White Sulphur Springs, Doris Fauntleroy of Sterling, Va., Edie Portner of Germantown, Md.; 13 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildre; two great-great-grandchildren. Service will be 10 a.m. Thursday at Shanklin Funeral Home, White Sulphur Springs, with the Rev. John Atkins officiating. Burial will be in McCreery Cemetery, White Sulphur Springs. There will be no visitation. The family suggests memorial contributions to the Church of God on Tuckahoe Road.

Daniel A. Fralin
POINT PLEASANT -- Daniel A. Fralin, 79, of Point Pleasant, formerly of Hinton, died Sunday, Jan. 18, 1998, in a Mason County hospital after a long illness.
Surviving: brother, Billy Dan Fralin of Hinton; several nieces and a nephew. Graveside service will be 1 p.m. Thursday at Esquire Cemetery, Hinton, with the Rev. Billy Galloway officiating. There will be no visitation. Pivont Funeral Home, Hinton, is in charge of arrangements.

William J. Gaal
HINTON -- William Joseph Gaal, 89, of Hinton died Monday, Jan. 19, 1998, in Beckley Veterans Administration Medical Center after a short illness. He was a graduate of Chatteroy High School, West Virginia University, attended Marshall University and Duke University. He was a former teacher and principal at Red Jacket Junior High School and Matewan High School, and a former junior high school basketball coach at Williamson. He was an Army veteran of World War II and a recipient of the Cross of Loraine from President Charles de Gaulle. He received his doctor of optometry degree from Illinois College of Optometry and practiced optometry in Hinton until he was 80. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club, Moose Lodge, Elks, Knights of Columbus, American Legion, VFW, DAV, West Virginia Optometric Association, American Optometric Association, Association of the International Boards of Optometry and the World Contact Lens Congress. He was former president of the West Virginia Board of Optometry and former chairman of the Education and Curriculum Committee of the International Board of Examiners in Optometry.
Surviving: wife, Josephine Gwinn Gaal; brother, James C. Gaal of Hotchkiss, Colo. Service will be 11 a.m. Friday at Pivont Funeral Home, Hinton, with retired Navy Chaplain Ted E. Edwards officiating. Burial will be in Wallace Memorial Cemetery, Clintonville, with military graveside rites. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. The family suggests memorial contributions to Voluntary Services for Veterans, 200 Veterans Ave., Beckley, W.Va., or the American Heart Association.

Van V. Halstead Jr.
GRANITE FALLS, N.C. -- Van Vandall Halstead Jr., 72, of Granite Falls died Tuesday, Jan. 13, 1998, in Frye Regional Medical Center. He was a native of Gauley Bridge, W.Va., a retired truck driver, member of Dry Ponds Baptist Church, Granite Falls, and the VFW.
Surviving: wife, Ola W. Halstead; sons, Van Vandall III of Granite Falls, Robert of Redondo Beach, Calif.; daughters, Linda Halstead of Redondo Beach, Judy Pivinia of Congers, N.Y.; stepsons, Darrell and Douglas Hatcher of Granite Falls; brother, Thomas Halstead of Venice, Fla.; 10 grandchildren. Service was Jan. 16 at Dry Ponds Baptist Church with the Rev. Rick Crouse officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery. Mackie-High Funeral Home, Granite Falls, is in charge of arrangements.