In Remembrance
Franklin Lynn Matthews,
Franklin Lynn Matthews, 69, of Morgantown passed away unexpectedly at his home on Tuesday, May 10, 2022. Frank was born in Fairbanks, Alaska on June 6, 1952, to Bernice Luzadder Matthews of Morgantown and the late Dan Franklin Matthews. Frank was a graduate of Morgantown High School and Fairmont State College. Following his education locally, he attended the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, where he graduated in 1975. Frank spent his career in the funeral business and took great pride in his professional life, serving numerous families through his work at various funeral homes in West Virginia. In 1984, Frank achieved his longtime occupational goal of becoming the owner and director of The Dering Funeral home in Morgantown, WV. Following the sale of his business, Frank was employed by Chapman Funeral Homes in South Charleston where he remained until his retirement in 2014. Once retired, Frank enjoyed traveling with his wife, landscaping, and gardening. He was a devoted grandfather and enjoyed many activities with his granddaughters, who brought him much joy. In addition to his mother, Bernice Matthews, Frank is survived by his wife of 17 years: Deborah Zaccagnini Matthews; daughters: Elizabeth Nally (Chris) of Keller, Texas and Allison Hennessey (Kevin) of Morgantown; step-son: Matthew Cooke (Rachel) of Nashville, TN; grandchildren: Emma Hennessey, Kate Hennessey, Emily Nally, and Sophia Cooke; sister: Joyce Matthews Hampton (Chuck) of Ranson, WV; his brother: John Mark Matthews (Lilly) of Morgantown, as well as his nieces and nephews. Family and friends are invited to gather at McCulla Funeral Home on Sunday, May 15, 2022 from 4-8 pm and again on Monday, May 16th from 10 am until the 11 am funeral service with Richard Moore officiating. Private burial will be held at a later date at the Halleck Cemetery. Online condolences may be extended to the family at www.mcculla.com Please consider making a donation in Frank’s memory to WVU Heart and Vascular Institute (2W788), WVU Foundation, One Waterfront Place, PO Box 1650, Morgantown, WV 26507.
Charles R. Cantley ,
Charles R. Cantley, 81, of Barboursville, went to his heavenly home Tuesday, March 29,2022 at his residence. Charles was born January 6, 1941, in Beckley, W.Va., a son of the late Joe and Cressie Mae Stover Cantley. He was also preceded in death by his daughter; Charlene Clardy, three sisters; Thelma Cantley, Velma Cantley, and Wanda Sergent. He was a graduate of Traphill High School and the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. He was a member of Lewis Memorial Baptist Church and The Rotary Club of Huntington. He served many years on the local Board of Administration at First Wesleyan Church, District Board of Administration First Wesleyan and served on the District Board of Ministerial Development. Charles moved to Huntington in 1963 and began his long career as a Funeral Director at Klingel-Carpenter Mortuary, retiring after 50 years. He is survived by his wife of 58 years; Peggy Ann Sutton Cantley; a daughter Angelia (Brian) Keyser of Barboursville, Son-In-Law, Richard Clardy of Charlotte, NC; Grandchildren; Cody Keyser (Diamond), Kaitlin Keyser-Barnhouse (Jonathan), McKensi Keyser and Timothy Clardy; great grandchildren, Ryder Keyser, Liam Keyser and Lincoln Keyser; A brother Ernest (Betty) Cantley and several nieces and nephews. Gathering of family and friends was held Saturday, April 2, 2022 at Klingel-Carpenter Mortuary, with a Celebration of life starting at 1:00 p.m. by Pastor Tim Yates. Interment followed in Woodmere Memorial Park.
Emma Lou Blevins ,
Emma Lou Blevins, 77, of Bluefield (Yards), Virginia passed away following a brief Illness on Saturday, June 04, 2022. Emma Lou was born on Monday, April 23, 1945, in Peterstown, West Virginia to the late Perry Snyder and Louise Virginia Bradley. Emma Lou was a small in stature but spunky woman to say the least who had an eye for detail when it came to her home and cleanliness. She was always one to say yes to helping her kids and grandchildren usually without too many sounds about it. Emma loved her flowers every spring she always had a porch full of hanging baskets and beds and pots full of blooming flowers. She was an exceptional wife, mother, grandmother, sister, mother-in-law, sister-in-law and friend she will be deeply missed by all of us and more. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by one brother George Bradley, two sisters Drema Lee Farmer and Ana Sue Booth; mother-in-law Hazel Marie Blevins, brother-in-law Deputy Jessie James Blevins, Jr and father-in-law Jessie James Blevins as well as a host of Aunts, Uncles and extended family members. Left to cherish her memory is her husband of 58 years Johnny Blevins of Yards, Virginia. Three sons Douglas (Doug) W. Blevins and Susan of Falls Mills, Virginia, John Anthony Blevins and Tom of South Boston, Virginia and Stephen R. Blevins and Mandy of Bluefield, West Virginia. She is also survived by her beloved grandchildren to whom she was a fantastic Nana, Brittany Albert and Ryan of Wilmington, North Carolina, Zack Blevins of Falls Mills, Virginia, Brooke Blevins of Falls Mills Virginia, Scott Blevins of Wisconsin, Brandy Jo Blevins of Virginia Beach, Virginia, Rigby, Tenley, Willow and Archer Blevins all of Bluefield, West Virginia. Great Grandchildren Reese and Rowen Albert and Alex, Christopher Blevins. In addition, she leaves behind one brother Mack A. Bradley of Princeton, West Virginia and two sisters Bonnie Ruth McDaniel of Princeton, West Virginia and Patricia Havens of Princeton, West Virginia. She will be missed by many more family members and friends who are too numerous to name here. The Blevins family will receive relatives and friends on Wednesday, June 08, 2022, from 11:00 a.m. until the time of Emma’s service at Cravens-Shires Funeral Home in Bluewell, West Virginia. Funeral services will be conducted on Wednesday, June 08, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. at Cravens-Shires Funeral Home in Bluewell, West Virginia. Burial will follow at Grandview Memory Gardens in Bluefield, Virginia with friends and family serving as pallbearers.
William L. Wallace ,
William L. Wallace, 95, of Ronceverte formerly of Lewisburg passed away on Sunday January 30, 2022 at Greenbrier Valley Medical Center. He was born May 25, 1926 in Murray City, OH and was son of the late Luther R. and Norma Koenig Wallace. Bill attended Greenbrier Military School, attended Ohio Wesleyan College and graduated from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science and was Past President of the West Virginia Funeral Directors Association. He was a World War II Navy Veteran and member of the American Legion Post #26. Bill was owner of Wallace & Wallace Funeral Homes, Trustee of Wallace Memorial Cemetery, member of Ronceverte Presbyterian Church where he was a past Deacon, Elder and Trustee. He was a past member of Ronceverte City Council. Bill was a founding member of the Greenbrier County Emergency Ambulance Service, past member of the Ronceverte Lions Club and Shyrock Masonic Lodge. Other than his parents he was preceded in death by his great grandson Odin Arnold; sister Norma Lemon; brothers Robert L. Wallace and Jack K. Wallace. Surviving are his wife Phyllis Spencer Wallace; daughters Pamela W. Arnold (Rusty) and Judith W. Polan (Josh); grandchildren Judith Ann Dove (Jeromy), Cavanaugh Arnold (Shawna), Spencer J. Arnold (Tasha) and Mary Elizabeth Arnold (Jonathan Parker).; great grandchildren Bre Theroit, Chase Arnold, J. R., Kyleigh , Ivan and Naomi Weikle, Emily and Wyatt Dove, Gunner and Kyler Arnold, Lylah, Zoey and Harlow Arnold-Parker. A Visitation will be held on Wednesday February 2, 2022 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home in Lewisburg. Bill’s funeral service will be Thursday February 3, 2022 at 2:00 PM at the Ronceverte Presbyterian Church with Rev. Stephen Baldwin and Rev. Greg Scott officiating, interment will follow at The End Of The Trail Cemetery in Clintonville.
Robert L. "Bob" Groves ,
UNION, WV --- Robert L. “Bob” Groves, age 69, of Union, WV, passed away on Saturday, March 26, 2022 at his home with his family by his side, following an extended illness. Bob was born October 19, 1952 at Richwood, WV, and was the son of Edith Lee Trout Groves of Ripley, WV, and the late Rev. Hubert Harold Groves. Bob was a 1974 graduate of the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science in Pittsburgh, PA. He was honored to serve many families as a funeral director and embalmer. He had worked at the Broyles-McGuire Funeral Home in Union, the Wm. S. Broyles Funeral Home in Peterstown, the Tyree Funeral Home in Oak Hill, and in 1994, Bob and his wife Carol established the Groves Funeral Home in Union, where he worked until his retirement. Bob was an avid farmer and he also owned and operated the Union Country Store for 20 years. Bob was proud of his community and the many friendships he made along the way. He was a member of the Monroe Lodge #77 A.F. & A.M in Union, Royal Arch Masons #21 in Ronceverte, Greenbrier Commandery #15 in Lewisburg, West Virginia Funeral Directors Association, Life member of the WV 4-H All-Stars, 25 year 4-H Leader, Monroe County Swine Club, Union Chapter #122 OES, a former member of the Peterstown and Oak Hill Volunteer Fire Departments; and a member of the Mt. Zion United Methodist Church in Nettie, WV. In addition to his mother, survivors include, his loving wife, Carol Martin Groves of Union, WV; one daughter, Michelle McFall (Mike) of Union, WV; grandchildren, Kristina Bostic (John) of Peterstown, WV, and Zachariah McFall (Morgan) of Sinks Grove, WV; step-grandchildren, Alex McFall of Georgia, and Lucas McFall (Brittany) of Georgia; great-grandchildren, Aiden, Phoebe, Tristan, Melany, Chandler, Shelby, and Brinley; two sisters, Patricia Slagle (Scott) of Ida May, WV, and Michelle Cox (Jeff) of Kenna, WV; and special companion, Bailey, the family Border Collie. Funeral services will be held 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 29, 2022 at the Groves-Mann Funeral Home Chapel in Union, WV with Pastor Mark Shafer and Pastor Mark Smearman officiating, along with Pastor Jim Rogers serving as an honorary officiant. Burial and Masonic Graveside Rites will follow in New Lebanon Cemetery at Pickaway, WV. Members of the Masonic Lodge will serve as Pallbearers. Masonic members, Bill Guy and Brian McCurdy will serve as Honorary Pallbearers. The family will receive friends Monday, March 28, 2022 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. The family suggests memorial donations in Bob’s memory be made to the local STAT Ambulance Service or to the NWTF Eastern Divide Chapter, Local Scholarship Fund, 7 Willow Lane, Union, WV 24983. Those wishing to send the Groves Family online condolences or would like to sign the online guestbook, please do so by visiting www.groves-mann.com Arrangements by Groves-Mann Funeral Home in Union, WV.
Mary Stella Hastings,
Mary Stella Hastings, 95, of Morgantown, passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 26, 2022, at her residence with family around her. She was born July 23, 1926 in Morgantown, the only daughter of the late Sam Lucas and Della Katherine (Corulli) Nichols. Mary was a longtime member of St. Mary Roman Catholic Church in Star City. She was a graduate of Morgantown High School, West Virginia University, and also attended law school at WVU before her marriage to Dewey Smith Hastings in 1949. In 1952, Mary and her husband, Dewey, founded Hastings Funeral Home/Omega Crematory which they managed to present day. Mary was a member of Alpha Phi Sorority, Beta Iota Sorority, Life Member of Monongalia General Hospital, Morgantown Service League, Catholic Daughters of 954, Rebecca Lodge #51, several Bridge clubs and she and Dewey are the longest living members of Morgantown’s Sons of Italy #914. She was also awarded Miss West Virginia University during her college years. She was a noted soprano vocalist in Morgantown during her lifetime and a former member of the Music Club, Quota Club and served as President of St. Vincent Pallotti Hospital. Mary is survived by her loving husband of 73 years, Dewey Smith Hastings; two sons, Edward Daniel Hastings, Dewey Samuel Hastings; three grandsons, Matthew Daniel Hastings, Grant Smith Hastings, and Ted Andrew Hastings; two granddaughters, Mary Elizabeth Hastings and Jennifer Ann Hastings and her husband, Patrick Kyle; sister-in-law, Marsha Nichols, widow of Alfred Nichols along with several special nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, Mary is preceded in death by brothers Samuel Lucas Nichols and Alfred Nichols The family would like to extend their thanks and appreciation to the staff of Morgantown Hospice and all of the caregivers who gave her great love and care. Friends and family will be received at the funeral home that they founded, Hastings Funeral Home, 153 Spruce Street, on Saturday, May 28th from 2 – 5 p.m. She will be moved on Sunday, May 29th to her church of 55+ years, St. Mary Roman Catholic Church, 3346 University Avenue, Star City, to lie in state from 4 - 7 p.m. A Scriptural Wake Service will be held at 6:30 p.m., with Sister Rachel Blais officiating. Visitation will continue at the church on Monday, May 30th from 10 a.m. until the time of the Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m., with Father John V. DiBacco as Celebrant. Interment will follow at East Oak Grove Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations are encouraged to be made in Mary’s behalf to Morgantown Hospice, 3596 Collins Ferry Road, Suite 250, Morgantown, WV 26505 or to St. Ursula Food Pantry Outreach, P O Box 18, Pursglove, WV 26546.
Emma Lou Blevins ,
Emma Lou Blevins, 77, of Bluefield (Yards), Virginia passed away following a brief Illness on Saturday, June 04, 2022. Emma is the mother of Stephen Blevins of the Dodge Company. Please keep Stephen and his family in your thoughts and prayers.
