Obituaries

James “Jim” W. Bledsoe, 77, of Huntington passed away Wednesday, August 5, 2020 at Cabell-Huntington Hospital. Funeral service will be conducted 1:00 P.M. Tuesday, August 11, 2020 at the Kenova Church of Christ, of which he was a member, with Minister Ronnie Ross officiating. Interment will follow in Spring Valley Memory Gardens. Jim was born October 16, 1942 in Huntington, W.Va. a son of the late James Clyde and Pearl Irby Bledsoe. He was a veteran having served in the U.S. Army National Guard. Jim was a retired Mold Maker from Owens-Illinois and a member of the Buena Vista Masonic Lodge #60 AF & AM. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by one sister Betty Plaster, brother Jack Bledsoe, nephew Bill Plaster and nephew Greg Shy. He is survived by his beloved wife Judy Lewis Bledsoe; the light of his life, daughter and son-in-law Kristie Swann (Mark), very special granddaughter Madison Adkins; great-grand puppies Maggie and Ace; sister Carolyn Nelson and brother Fred Bledsoe and numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service Tuesday, August 11, 2020 at the Kenova Church of Christ In lieu of flowers the family request donations to the Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Effort, Inc. P.O. Box 111180 Nashville, TN. 37222-1180. The family respectfully request the observance of face covering and social distancing. Online condolences may be expressed at www.rollinsfh.com.

Paul Edwin Dempsey, Jr, RPT, 73, of Barboursville passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, July 29, 2020 at St. Mary’s Medical Center.

Paul was born April 20, 1947 to Paul Sr. and Lucille Dempsey. He graduated from Huntington East High School and Marshall University, where he was the piano technician for the music department for over forty years until retiring in 2013. He also tuned and maintained pianos privately throughout his career up until his death. He was a trusted and well-respected registered piano technician and musician, and his skill and expertise will be missed by many. Paul was a mainstay of the barbershop music community and founded the River Magic Chorus chapter of Sweet Adelines International which he also directed for many years.

When Paul wasn’t rebuilding a piano in his work shop, he loved to do woodworking. He bonded with his fellow woodworkers over dove tail joints and wood grain, and his clamp collection is the stuff of legend. He was never without his hat and a nondescript food stain on his shirt. He cussed like a sailor and never missed an opportunity to say “Sorry, we can’t stay for the drawing” when he got the check at a restaurant. Paul was known for his sardonic sense of humor and thought himself to be the funniest person ever born. Most of the time it was hard to disagree with him on that.

A much adored husband, father and grandfather, Paul is survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Barbara; his four children Helen (David) May, Joe (Leigh Ann) Ratcliff, Heather (Philip) James, and Paul (Sara) Dempsey III; and his grandchildren Keifer and Joe May, Skyler and Lexie Ratcliff, Skylar Reizman, Mia Bowen, Owen, Elliott and Oliver James, and Aiden and Phillip Dempsey. He was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Violet Dempsey. He will be deeply missed by his sisters Stephanie (Jerry) Gray and Cindy (Mark) Smith; his brothers-in-law Tom (Doris) Myers and Russell (Patty) Myers; and too many nieces and nephews for him to ever keep up with. He also leaves behind his close friends John and Mary Hare.

Paul requested no service, and in lieu of flowers, please make a donation to an organization of your choice in his memory. “Everything that needed to be said has been said, we just wanted to go on saying it.”

Leslie Gene Bryan, 70, of Kenova passed away Saturday, July 25, 2020 at his residence. Funeral service will be conducted 7:30 P.M. Friday, July 31, 2020 at Rollins Funeral Home in Kenova with Pastor Roy Jones officiating. He was born August 26, 1949 in Kenova, W.Va. a son of the late Buford and Virginia Morrison Bryan. Les was a self-employed contractor and attended the Victory Baptist Church. He was a veteran having served in the U.S. Army for 8 years where he also served in Vietnam. He was a member of the American Legion Post 93 for 46 years. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by one son Leslie Charles Bryan and one brother Eskel Bryan. He is survived by his beloved wife Lois Gail Jones Bryan; two daughters and one son-in-law Angela Damron (Chad) and Cheryl Webb; four sons and one daughter-in-law John and Freland Bryan, Troy Cain ( Mary Ann) and Randall Cain; ten grandchildren Joshua Bryan (Kerri), Jeremiah Bryan, Seth, Evan, Damron, Darius, Daeshaun, Toria-Webb, Troy II and Miguel Cain; two great-grandchildren Rylan and Mylah Bryan; special friends Clark and April Scaggs; two nieces Ellen and LeaAnn and one nephew Edward. Visitation will be 5:30-7:30 P.M. Friday, July 31, 2020 at Rollins Funeral Home in Kenova. Online condolences may be expressed at www.rollinsfh.com.

James Kevin Cole, 55, of Ironton, Ohio formerly of Kenova passed away Thursday, July 23, 2020 at the Community Hospice Care Center in Ashland. Funeral service will be conducted 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, July 28, 2020 at the Catlettsburg Harvest Church of God with Minister Howard Wirzfeld officiating. Interment will follow in Maple Hill Cemetery. He was born January 22, 1965 in Huntington, W.Va. a son of Barbara Caldwell Cole Watts and the late James Eliott Cole. Kevin was a former Diesel Mechanic, former member of the Kenova Volunteer Fire Department and a member of the Catlettsburg Harvest Church of God. In addition to his father he was preceded in death by maternal grandparents Bogar and Eula Caldwell; paternal grandparents Herbert and Leota Cole and step-grandson Justin Walker Hamm. He is survived by his beloved wife Carrie Schob Cole; two daughters and one son-in-law Courtney Cole and Allie Cantley (Chris); step-son and his wife Keith Hamm (Haley); two step-grandchildren Easton Hamm and Melanie Hamm; mother Barbara Caldwell Cole Watts (Don); mother-in-law and father-in-law Connie Coburn (Gary); two sisters and a brother-in-law Susie Willis (Ernie), Rhonda Cole; one brother and sister-in-law Dewayne Cole (Linda); special friend Angie Lewis and numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation will be 6:00-8:00 P.M. Monday, July 27, 2020 at the Catlettsburg Harvest Church of God 105 36th Street Catlettsburg, Ky. 41129. Rollins Funeral Home in Kenova is assisting the family. Online condolences may be expressed at www.rollinsfh.com.

Richard Daniel Hall, Jr., 49, of Prichard, W.Va. passed away Wednesday, July 22, 2020 at his residence. He was born January 26, 1971 in Wooster, Ohio a son of the late Richard Daniel Hall, Sr. and the late Virgie May Adkins Hall. He is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law Joshua Adam Hall (Halie) and Timothy Scott Hall (Brooklyn); one brother and sister-in-law David Allen Hall (Tracey); one sister and brother-in-law Brenda Jean Hong (Brad); five grandchildren Maddison Star Hall, Dakota Grant Hall, Landon Lee Hall, Ashtride May Hall and Paisley LaRain Hall and three nephews James Hong, Jason Hong and Joshua Hong. Services will be scheduled at a later date. Rollins Funeral Home in Kenova is assisting the family. Online condolences may be expressed at www.rollinsfh.com. 

Ricky Lee (Henry) Clay, 66, of Chesapeake, OH. passed away Tuesday, July 14, 2020 at his residence. Funeral service will be conducted 7:00 P.M. Saturday, July 18, 2020 at Rollins Funeral Home in Kenova. Interment will be private. He was born April 26, 1954 in Huntington, W.Va. a son of the late William W. and Lola Juanita Pelfrey Clay. Ricky was a graduate of Buffalo High School and retired from the Steel of West Virginia. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law Nicholas Andrew Clay (Allison); wife, Paula Bailey Clay, his brother and sister-in-law William David Clay (Vollena) and his sister Karen Clay. Friends may call one hour prior to the service at Rollins Funeral Home in Kenova. Online condolences may be expressed at www.rollinsfh.com.

 

GEORGE BLASS MORRONE JR., 87, of Huntington, W.Va., departed this life at his residence on July 10, 2020. He was born in the Bronx, New York City, New York, the second of three children of George Blass Morrone Sr. and Evelyn Jacklish Morrone. He graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School and enlisted in the United States Air Force at the age of seventeen. Several weeks before completing his basic training in San Antonio, Texas, he was deployed to serve in the Korean War. He later served in the Vietnam War as well. During his nearly 22 years of military service, he flew 362 missions and his aircraft was hit only once. On January 29, 1960, he married Barbara Jean Perry of Kenova. Continue reading “Morrone, Jr, George B”

Nora Louise Caldwell Hodge, 93 , of Kenova , W.Va. passed away Sunday, July 12, 2020 at Heartland of Riverview nursing home. Funeral service will be conducted 2:00 P.M Thursday, July 16, 2020 with Pastor Chris Day officiating at Rollins Funeral Home in Kenova. Interment will follow in Maple Hill Cemetery. Nora was born March 10, 1927 in Kenova, W.Va. a daughter of the late John and Martha Maynard Caldwell. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her beloved husband Elmer Hodge; a son-in-law Jerry Stewart and twenty siblings. She is survived by two children and one daughter-in-law Carolyn Stewart and Mickey Hodge (Shan); five grandchildren Jerry A., Shelley, Elissa, Kim and Mickey Shawn; fourteen great-grandchildren; nine great-great-grandchildren; sister Nellie Ferguson and a special friend Mary Lou Sullivan. Friends may call from noon-2:00 P.M. Thursday, July 16, 2020 at Rollins Funeral Home in Kenova. Online condolences may be expressed at www.rollinsfh.com.

John Allen Hume, 60, of Barboursville, W.Va. passed away Saturday, July 4, 2020 at Cabell-Huntington Hospital. Graveside service will be conducted 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, July 15, 2020 at Ridgelawn Memorial Park in Huntington. He was born July 7, 1959 in San Antonio, TX. a son of the late John Chandler Hume, Jr. and the late Sandra Allen Childers. He is survived by his significant other Pauline Cornell and her extended family; children Sandra Lewis and Michael Gabbard; siblings David Hume (Linda), Jim Childers (Donna), Elizabeth Hume, Deborah Hume and Kim Mullins. There will be no visitation Rollins Funeral Home in Kenova is assisting the family. Online condolences may be expressed at www.rollinsfh.com.

Robert “Bob” Slone, 77, of Ceredo, W.Va. passed away Wednesday, July 8, 2020 at his residence. Funeral service will be conducted 2:00 P.M. Saturday, July 11, 2020 at Rollins Funeral in Kenova. Interment will follow in Hillcrest Cemetery. He was born December 24, 1942 in Frankfort, Ky. a son of the late Harlon and Opal McPeak Slone. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his beloved wife Mary G. Pennington Slone. He is survived by his children and their spouses Lynn Slone-Miller (Dan), Steve Slone (Donna), Angela Walker (Gemaun), Donna Walters (Kenny), Wes Slone (Pearl), Frankie Slone (Emily), Lexi Slone (Colin), Robert Slone, Jr. and Trish Heathcote, numerous grand-children, great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren and numerous other family members. He also leaves behind special friends Bill Howard and Don Adkins. Friends may call from noon-2:00 P.M. Saturday, July 11, 2020 at Rollins Funeral Home in Kenova. Online condolences may be expressed at www.rollinsfh.com.

Continue reading “Slone, Robert “Bob””