EVA MAE COLEMAN
Eva Mae Coleman, 87, of Leon, passed away Thursday December, 8th, 2022 at her home. She was a member of Walker Chapel Bible Church where she faithfully attended. She loved quilting, gardening and spending time outdoors.
Born April 14, 1935 in Putnam County, she was the daughter of the late Guy Casto and Beulah Smith Casto. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, James E. “Bob” Coleman; brother, Roy Casto; sister, Elsie Monday and an infant sister.
Survivors include her daughter, Patty (Eddie) Knapp of Leon; grandson, Joseph (Briana) Knapp of Ripley; granddaughter, Amanda (James) Witt of Leon; sisters, Mildred Monday of Columbus and Phyllis Fisher of Red House.
Graveside service was held Monday December 12, 2022 at Walker Chapel Cemetery, Robertsburg, with Pastor Larry Woody officiating.
ALVA RAY DUNN JR.
Alva Ray Dunn Jr., 58, of Buffalo, passed away Friday, December 9, 2022 at home following a sudden illness. He was a graduate of Buffalo High School and was a longtime employee of Gritts Midway Greenhouse. Alva loved to hunt, fish and spend time outdoors.
He was preceded in death by his parents Alva Ray Dunn Sr. and Helen L. “Dixie” Dunn. In addition to his parents he was preceded death by his brother, James O. “Bimbo” Dunn.
Survivors include his daughters, Heather A. Dunn of Charleston, Michaela L. Dunn of Cross Lanes and Emily L. Dunn of Cross Lanes; brother, Roger Dunn of Buffalo; sisters, Sue Kosa of Eleanor and Nancey Dunn-Morris of Charleston; grandchildren, Haylee, Bryson, Levi, Lyric, Sophie, Julie and Carlyee. Alva is also survived by many friends that he considered his family.
Funeral service was Thursday, December 15, 2022 at Raynes Funeral Home, Buffalo, with Pastor Bill Severn officiating.
DONALD HARMON
Donald M. Harmon, 87, of Red House, passed away, on December 5, 2022.
He was preceded in death by his parents Judson and Dorothy Harmon and his loyal Dobermans Samantha, Jake, and Bonnie.
He is survived by his longtime friend Jeff Bowman of Liberty, his beautiful Doberman Pepper, sisters Anne Rollins (David) of Charleston, Kathryn Harmon of Durham, NC, daughter Lisa Smolder of Poca, grandson Ethan Smolder of Ohio, granddaughter Olivia Starr (Dan) of Texas, and great grandson Hunter Starr of Texas.
He grew up as a Baptist and as a youth, was a member of the Riverside Baptist Church. He was a 1953 graduate of Poca High School, where he played basketball. He attended Morris Harvey College where he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree, and West Virginia University in which he obtained his Master’s Degree. He was an Army veteran (1958 -1962) serving as a medic and was a member of the John Marshall Post 187 of the American Legion. He was a retired Kanawha County Schools teacher/administrator.
Don dedicated his adult life to working with and for young people. He was a basketball coach in the 1950’s and 1960’s at the old downtown Charleston YMCA, never having a losing season. He was extremely proud of his boys, most of whom grew into solid, productive citizens. He was a track official beginning in 1961 until 2015. He worked countless high school meets in West Virginia and the State Meet since 1961, as well as many college meets including NAIA and NCAA national championships, off-year Olympic Festivals. ACC Championships, Southern Conference Championships, WVIAC Championships. He was the football statistician for Dupont High School in 1976-1991, missing only 3 games in 16 years. In 1980, he developed the format for the system of keeping records for the football playoffs, with the approval of the WVSSAC and was the statistician and custodian of the records for 30 years until 2010. From the inception of the Super Six in 1979, he missed only one Super Six in the first 31 years of its existence. In 1997, he developed the format for records for the North-South football game, researched the records for past games and maintained the records. In 2008, he was named the historian of the new West Virginia Coaches Association North-South Football Hall of Fame and compiled a game-by-game summary of all N-S games. In 2016 he was inducted into the West Virginia Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
He was a member of the Charleston Distance Run Committee, the WVCCAC state track coaches committee, and the WV state track meet games committee. After retirement, he was a substitute teacher in the Putnam County School systems. He also became a gentleman farmer, taking great pride in his produce which he freely gave away to senior citizens and hay from his fields.
Graveside Service was Thursday, December 8, 2022 at Haven of Rest Memorial Gardens, Red House.
RANDY E. HARRIS
Randy E. Harris, 58, of Hurricane, passed away on December 9, 2022 at St. Mary’s Medical Center, Huntington.
He was born to Robin J. and the late Ronald Harris on August 24, 1964.
Randy never met a stranger, was a friend to everyone and will be sadly missed by so many. He really enjoyed riding horses and fishing.
Randy is survived by his mother, Robin Thrash Harris; sister: Tammy Holtzapfel (Rich); brother: Terry Harris (Missy); and many nieces and nephews, as well as great nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services for Randy will be 1:00pm Friday December 16, 2022 at Chapman Funeral Home, Hurricane, with Pastor Dustin Clark officiating.
Friends may visit the family an hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
BILLY THORNTON
Billy Lynn Thornton, 67, of Poca, passed away December 13, 2022.
Bill is retired from St. Francis Hospital. He loved fishing and his Jack Russell “Kassie”.
He is preceded in death by his mother Helen Ray and her husband Curtis.
Bill is survived by his wife of 27 years, Mrs. Carol Sue Thornton; two daughters Jennifer and husband Jeremy Thacker and Tina and husband Ray Harless; four sisters Linda and husband Paul Boggess, Chris Ann and husband Josh Lupardus, Susie and husband Carroll Haynes, and Rebecca Ray; granddaughter Hannah Thacker and God daughter Grace Thomas and her mother Stephanie Thomas.
At his request there will be no services.
RODERICK ‘ROD’ YOUNG
Roderick Allen Young, 76, of Culloden, went home to be with the Lord on November 30, 2022, after a long illness. He was born at home in Culloden, West Virginia on April 21, 1946, to the late Stanley Young, Jr. and Nellie Garrett Young.
He retired from Columbia Natural Resources. Went to school in a one room schoolhouse in Nye Valley and was a 1964 Hamlin High School graduate where he excelled in football, basketball, and track. He was also a 1969 graduate of West Virginia Tech.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister Ruth Ann.
Roderick is survived by his wife Barbara, Children Allen Young, Samantha Sullivan, Stephanie Thacker, Stacie Issa, Jason Carter and Jenny Saunders. Brothers Stan and Ike Young and sister Becky Pullen. Rod also had 10 grandchildren and Very special friends over the years Roy York and Deloris Perry.
Funeral Service was Saturday, December 3, 2022, at Allen Funeral Home, Hurricane, with Pastor David Burch officiating. Burial was in Mt. Moriah Cemetery, Turkey Creek.
