FRANCIS ANDERSON
Francis “Elaine” Anderson, 71, of Winfield, passed away on May 5, 2026. She was born on September 4, 1954.
She was preceded in death by her father, Kenneth Shrader; her daughter, Christy Burns; her grandchildren, Steven Hamilton and Harley Thornton; and her sister, Beth Covert (Bill).
Francis is lovingly remembered by her mother, Mona Conkle of Winfield; her daughters, Lisa Bryant (Lewis) of Buffalo and Monica Robinson (Eric) of St. Albans; and her cherished grandchildren and great-grandchildren. From Lisa’s family: Anthony Randolph and his daughter, Alana; and Cody Lovejoy (Ieasha) and his daughters, Dortha and Scarlett. From Monica’s family: Emily Whiting (Isaac Allen) of St. Albans and her children, Averie and Jayce. She is also survived by additional grandchildren, Timothy King and Makayla Bowling.
She is further survived by her sister, Alice Daniels (Arnold) of Ripley; her brother, John Bradley (Sherri) of Poca; and many loving nieces and nephews.
Francis had a deep love for the outdoors and country living. She found joy in horses, animals, fishing, hunting, and cooking, and she cherished the simple pleasures of life.
She will be fondly remembered by her faithful friend, Joe Bryant, and her special friends, Betty Bryant and Audie Bell.
A tribute to the life of Francis was held on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Winfield Church of the Nazarene with Pastor Scott Buell.

DAVID ALLEN BICE
David Allen Bice, 85, of Poca, went home to be with the Lord, Tuesday, May 5, 2026, after a short illness at WVU Thomas Memorial Hospital. Throughout his life, he loved West Virginia, history, and writing, and many West Virginians learned the history of their state from textbooks he wrote and published.
David, affectionately known as Popa to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, valued education, learning, teaching, and spending time with family and friends. He was born in Danbury, Connecticut on August 12, 1940, the youngest of Ray and Gunhild Olander Bice’s nine children. The family spent David’s early years in Alabama and moved to West Virginia when he was a young boy.
Pursuing a passion for learning, David started his lifelong career in education after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in education from West Virginia State College. For the next 17 years he taught history and Spanish in Kanawha County Schools. While working full-time he completed his master’s in history and geography at Marshall University.
When he retired from Kanawha County Schools in 1980, he was recognized by the National Council of Geography for his outstanding contribution to geography education.
In 1977, David started what would become his second career, as a history textbook author, by writing and publishing a children’s book, “The Pringle Tree,” which told the pre-Revolutionary War story of the Pringle brothers and the famous hollow sycamore tree they hid out in for two years in Buckhannon, West Virginia.
David never stopped being a teacher. Wherever he and Alice went, they got involved with a local church and made lasting friendships. David inevitably ended up teaching Sunday school or Bible studies. They hosted church picnics and his famous bologna roasts at their home.
What he enjoyed most was spending time with family and friends. At home with family, David loved playing Mexican Train and watching football until late in the evening. And his family always included a beloved dachshund companion. He would be accompanied by the watchful eye of his ever-devoted canine. And in his later years, the dachshunds doubled in their devotion by becoming service dogs.
In addition to his wife, David is survived by his children Penny, Cheryl, Jeffrey (Roberta) and Ricky (Sandra); and grandchildren Elaine, Josiah, Caleb, Zachary (Alex), Sophie (Ben Teich), Raney; and great-grandchildren Jordan, Julian, Riley and Adrienne; and his last dachshund, Scrappy. He was preceded in death by his son, Danny (Jessica Hodgson).
A tribute to the life of David will be held at 3 pm, Saturday, May 16, 2026, at his church, God’s Lighthouse, at 4278 Washington St W., Charleston, with his pastor Mayfield Witt officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church. Following the service, there will be a meal in the fellowship hall served by the ladies of the church.