New River Obituaries ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- BROYLES, Alma Skeens, 89, of Narrows, died Monday, March 19, 2001 in the Riverview Nursing Home, Rich Creek. A lifelong resident of Giles County, she was born on May 5, 1911 and was the daughter of the late Joseph and Nora Skeens. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, William Rufus Broyles. She was a member of the Glen Lyn Church of Christ, but attended the First Christian Church in Narrows for many years. She is survived by two daughters and their husbands, Opal and Arnold Meadows, Beckley, W.Va., Gay and Don Forrester, Eden, N.C.; three sisters, Hallie Fields, Blacksburg, Mable Montgomery, Sophia, W.Va., Pearl Broyles, Narrows; five grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild. Funeral services will be held Thursday, March 22, 2001 at 2 p.m. at the First Christian Church in Narrows with Rev. Chris Michael officiating. Burial will follow in Fairview Cemetery, Narrows. The family will receive friends Thursday at 12 noon at Riffe's Funeral Service, Narrows. The family suggests that memorials be sent to the First Christian Church, Memorial Boulevard, Narrows, Va. 24124. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- GIBSON, Herbert Baird, (Dickey), 82, of Radford, died Monday, March 19, 2001. Interment was in Westview Cemetery. Arrangements by DeVilbiss Funeral Home. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- HARVEY, Staples Estell, 69, of New River, departed this life on Monday, March 19, 2001 at his residence after a short illness. He was born October 7, 1932 in New River, the son of the late Staples and Sarah Stigger Harvey. He was a faithful member of The First Missionary Baptist Church, New River, where he served as past Chairman of the Deacon Board, a member of the Gospel Choir, and a member of the Usher Board. Estell was a veteran having served with the United States Army Medical Corp. He was also a semi-retired employee of Saint Albans Hospital, Radford for over 30 years. He was also a part-time employee of the New River Valley Medical Center. Estell was an avid golfer, having a profound love for the game. He leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife of 41 years, Louise Harvey of the home; one daughter, Sherri L. Harvey also of the home; six sisters, Annie L. Ingram, Ora L. Crouse, Emily A. Kellum, Valera C. Bush, Clidias H. Lewis, and Valentina Brooks; five brothers, Harrison B. Harvey, Jackson E. Harvey, Frank E. Harvey, Jerry L. Harvey, and Dexter R. Harvey; five sisters-in-law, Earsaline, Elizabeth, Minnie, Janie, and Jacqueline; four brothers-in-law, Walter S. Lewis, James C. Kellum, Clark Bush, William Brooks; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be Friday, March 23, 2001 at 1 p.m. at First Missionary Baptist Church with the Rev. Ronald Brown officiating. Burial will be at the Sunrise Burial Park in Fairlawn. The family will receive friends Thursday, March 22, 2001 from 7 to 9 p.m. at The First Missionary Baptist Church. Penn's Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- KISER, Nola Ball, 80, of Christiansburg, passed away Sunday, March 18, 2001 at Montgomery Regional Hospital, where she died a Baptist and Democrat. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday evening at the Horne Funeral Home. The body will be taken to the Honaker Funeral Home, Honaker, Thursday morning where the funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 22 in the Honaker Funeral Chapel, conducted by Rev. Dr. Mallie Hinnant with interment to follow in the Rose Cemetery. Arrangements are being handled by Horne Funeral Service, Christiansburg. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- LUTTRELL, Jane Allison Oglesby Owen, 82, of the Richfield Retirement Community in Salem and formerly of Pulaski died Sunday evening March 18, 2001 at the Retirement Community. A native of Draper's Valley, Virginia, Jane lived her entire life in Southwestern Virginia. Her Oglesby family lineage is traced to the earliest settlers in Western Virginia. Jane was widely known as a person who practiced an unwavering faith, who raised her children in an atmosphere of unconditional love, and who remained a loyal and devoted friend to all those fortunate enough to have known her. She was a familiar face in the banking business having worked for over 30 years with Pulaski National Bank and Virginia National Bank. Jane's quiet demeanor was a trait that showed respect for those with whom she had contact. She chose her words carefully and as a result, she was listened-to intently. Her broad smile became a symbol of love, approval, and support to her family and friends. Her laughter reflected the charm and warmth of her deep-rooted humor. Her positive outlook toward the challenges of life was not only professed, but lived. Jane showed us all how to overcome adversity with confidence and poise. She also showed us how to accept victory with grace and humility. Her steadfast loyalty was unbowed by the frailties of life's challenges. Throughout her life she remained devoted to her friends and family in times of jubilation and in times of uncertainty. The wisdom of her counsel and quick-witted humor created an instant bond with new friends and acquaintances. These same qualities regularly reinforced the relationships with those who will hold her memory so special. Jane always thought of others, not in terms of good or bad, but in terms of how her service and support might be of benefit. Jane was devoted to her daughter, son, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, and grandchildren and remained a faithful guide and counselor to them throughout their lives. She embraced her extended family in a way that created years of fond memories for three generations of Owen and Luttrell family members. She unselfishly passed her immense gifts to each generation by the example of the way in which she lived. Her life was a blessing to all who knew her and her memory will be cherished always. Born February 16, 1919 in Draper, she was the daughter of the late Elizabeth Wood Crockett Oglesby and Francis Shipp Oglesby, Sr. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Clark Owen, Sr. and Dr. Homer B. Luttrell; brothers, Francis S. Oglesby, Jr. and Richard B. Oglesby; sisters, Alice O. Smith, Mary O. Brown and Elizabeth Wood Oglesby. She is survived by one daughter and son-in-law, Su Su and Howard Sadler of Pulaski; and one son and daughter-in-law, Clark Owen, Jr. and Emilie M. of Roanoke County; two stepsons and their wives, Richard W. and Carol S. Luttrell of Pulaski and Warren B. and Glenna Luttrell of Annandale, Va.; three grandchildren, Allison Oglesby Sadler of Charlotte, N.C. and Elizabeth Perkins Sadler of Pulaski, Richard Clark Owen and his wife, Rebecca of Richmond, and their daughter Lillian Whitney Owen; two sisters-in-law and husband, Margaret and John Rowe of Roanoke, and Mrs. Hurst O. Owen, Jr. of Norfolk. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews and seven stepgrandchildren; Richard Luttrell of Manassas, Karen Sharpless of Alabama, Suzanne Bledsoe of Hillsville, Sarah Suratt of Pulaski, Virginia Foster of Radford, Helen Alderman of Botetourt, Dr. Carol Anne Luttrell of New Orleans. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Thomas M. Seagle & Sons Funeral Home with the Rev. Preston Sartelle officiating. Interment will follow in the Oglesby Cemetery. Visiting will be anytime after 2 p.m. Tuesday at Thomas M. Seagle & Sons Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 6 until 8 p.m. An invitation is extended to all to join the family at the home of Su Su and Howard Sadler at 2120 Peppers Ferry Road in Pulaski following the service. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- ST.CLAIR, Ralph David, 69, of Christiansburg, died Monday, March 19, 2001. A graveside service will be held Thursday, March 22, 2001 at 1 p.m. in the Den Hill Cemetery, Christiansburg. Friends may come by the funeral home from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Thursday. Arrangements by McCoy Funeral Home Blacksburg. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- STERN, E. George, Earle B. Norris Professor Emeritus, 88, of Blacksburg, passed away at his home on Monday March 19, 2001. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Marianne S. Stern; daughter, Jean Fromberg and husband, Zachary of Chevy Chase, Md.; son, John P. Stern and wife, Sharon of Louisville, Ky.; son, Robert J. Stern and wife, Marianne of Avon Lake, Ohio; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Funeral services are private. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Va. Tech Foundation, Inc. for the E. George Stern Memorial Scholarship, Department of Gift Entry, Office of University Development, 201 Pack Building, Va. Tech, Blacksburg, Va. This scholarship will be for the Department of Wood Science and Forest Products in the School of Natural Resources. Arrangements by McCoy Funeral Home, Blacksburg. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- WRIGHT, Kathleen Maphis, (Kaye), passed away Friday evening, March 16, 2001, at the Heritage Hall Nursing Home in Blacksburg. She was the widow of Ralph Ross Wright, a professor of electrical engineering at Virginia Tech from 1943 to his death in April of 1968. She was preceded in death by her parents, Omer and Elsie Maphis of Sebring, Fla., and her sister, Dorothy Jane (DJ) Gilliam of Anchorage, Alaska. She is survived by a brother, John E. Maphis of Richmond, Va. and four sons, three daughters-in-law, and three grandchildren: David R. and Sylvia N. Wright of Blacksburg and Toni Christine Wright of Radford, James N. and Wanda H. Wright and James Michael and Matthew Ross Wright of Blacksburg, Robert E. Wright of Springfield, Ill., and Gary L. and Vicki R. Wright of Little Rock, Ark. Kaye grew up in Oak Park, Ill, married Ralph, and moved to Blacksburg in 1945. She earned a degree from Virginia Tech in 1947, raised a family, and remained in Blacksburg until her death. She was the first woman on Blacksburg's Town Council (1969), part of the original three person staff of Blacksburg's first newspaper, The Sun, a president and charter member of the local League of Women Voters, and a chairman for the Board of Zoning Appeals. She was a longtime member of the Blacksburg Presbyterian Church, where she also worked as a secretary, sang in the choir, and served as a Deacon. She was a member of the Phi Kappa Phi honorary fraternity, the Junior Women's Club, the Virginia Tech Glee Club, and the Westminster Club. She worked at the National Bank of Blacksburg and the Cooper House, the Campus Presbyterian Ministry. She helped found and was a charter (and lifetime) member of the Shawnee Swim Club, also helped start Blacksburg's original swim team. She was an avid fan of swimming, politics, Virginia Tech sports, and mostly, of her family. She left them far too soon, they will always miss her. The family will informally receive guests at 1608 Westover Drive, Blacksburg, from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 24. Visitation will be held at McCoy Funeral Home Saturday from 5 to 7 p.m. Funeral services will be held Sunday, 2 p.m., at Blacksburg Presbyterian Church, with graveside service following at Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Christiansburg. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Alzheimers Association, 919 N. Michigan Avenue Suite 1100, Chicago, Ill. 60611-1676. Local content copyright © 2000 The Roanoke Times