June 2011 Nitro High School WV obituaries and news and.....

Betty Jean Huffman, 79, of Cross Lanes passed away June 29 at Heartland of Charleston.
She was born in Charleston, a daughter of the late George and Hester Ferrell. Betty retired from both the Value City Department Store and Hecks Department Store.
She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Arnold C. Huffman; children, Bill Huffman and Jan Huffman of Hobe Sound, Fla., Debbie Huffman and Gene Drake of Cross Lanes, Eugene Huffman and Gloria Hughes of Nitro and Teresa Huffman and John Carter of Thomasville, N.C.; brother, George Ferrell of Charleston; eight grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and many other family members and friends.

Mrs. Ruth Ella Spears Lanham, 80, of Cross Lanes passed away June 27, 2011, in CAMC Memorial Hospital.
Mrs. Lanham was retired with 21 years of service from the West Virginia Rehabilitation Center and was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James E. "Frog" Lanham; son, Tim Lanham; and daughter, Pam Lanham Tawney.
Ruth is survived by her children, Jan Lanham Walker of Scott Depot and Jerry Lanham and wife, Amy Lanham, of Roanoke, Va.; sister, Barbara Spears of Rock Branch; best friend, Barbara Lefevre; 11 grandchildren and a host of great-grandchildren.

John E. Workman, 86, of Big Tyler Mountain passed away Friday, June 24, 2011, at Thomas Memorial Hospital, South Charleston, after a short illness.
John was a shift superintendent for Union Carbide South Charleston Plant with over 38 years of service. He was a World War II Navy veteran, having served in the South Pacific on the USS Dixie.
He attended the Cross Lanes United Methodist Church. John served as Past Master of The Nitro Masonic Lodge No. 170 AF & AM, and he was a 50-year member of the Nitro Lodge. John was an avid hunter. He was preceded in death by parents, Jack and Lyda Workman; sister, Grace Curry; and brother, Richard Workman. Surviving is wife of 65 years, Geneva Gene Cross Workman, at home; sons, John E. Workman II (Mona F.) of Hickory, N.C., Craig Workman (Donna) of Teays Valley; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; sisters, Lucy Workman Poffenbarger of Nitro and Eveleigh Workman Foster of Dunbar.

Gerard Bell 48 died peacefully on June 21, 2011, in the hospital. He was formerly of England and of Cross Lanes. He was the beloved son of Arthur and Pauline Bell; and a loving brother and uncle. He was a graduate of Nitro High School, and a former employee of Pizza Hut, and Krogers.

James E. Thumm, 88, of Nitro passed away Friday, June 24, 2011, at Hubbard Hospice House, Charleston. James was a lifelong resident of West Virginia and was a member of the St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Nitro. He was a U.S. Army Sgt., serving in the 757th Tank Battalion during World War II. James was preceded in death by his son, James E. Jimbo Thumm Jr.. Surviving wife Marguerite Mog Thumm, at home; daughters, Kathryn Kathy Thumm Lilly and her husband Donald of Charleston, and Sherry Thumm Elkins of Charleston; sister, Lorraine Eberbaugh of Charleston; grandchildren, Dylan Hoffmann, Emily Lilly and her husband Christopher Garnes and Lindsey Lilly; and great-granddaughter, Daizy Jayne Hoffmann.

Sandra Kay Mallett Mariani, 59, of Poca passed away Tuesday, June 21, 2011, at Thomas Memorial Hospital.
She was a homemaker and attended Dunbar Mountain Mission.
Sandra is survived by her loving family: husband, Garth Anthony Mariani; sons, Christopher Mallett and Tony Mallett of Nitro; mother, Patricia Mallett of Cross Lanes; brothers, Mike Mallett of Charleston, Dana Mallett of Midway, David Mallett of Cross Lanes, Mark Mallett of South Charleston, and Steven Mallett and Scott Mallett of Cross Lanes; sister, Virginia Mallett of Cross Lanes; and grandchildren, Timothy Allen, Kamyron, Brooke Nicole and Alexander.

Mary Ann Taylor, 79, of Poca went home to be with her Lord on June 9, 2011, at home after a courageous battle with cancer.
Born October 27, 1931, she was the daughter of the late Arthur and Lucy Tribble Barnett. Also preceding her in death were her stepmother, Nellie Erwin Barnett; brother, Dorsell Barnett; and sister-in-law, Eva Cavender Barnett.
She was a homemaker and loving mother and grandmother. She volunteered at Thomas Memorial Hospital for 16 years. She was a member of Community Chapel Church in Cross Lanes. She will be sadly missed by her family and friends.
She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Earl B. Taylor; two sons, David Taylor of Cross Lanes and Gary Taylor and wife, Marlene, of Summersville; two daughters, Kathy Taylor and husband, Vance McWhorter, and Kim Taylor and husband, Jason Rogers, all of St. Albans; five grandchildren, Jason Rader of Miami, Fla., Amber Taylor of Summersville and Brittany Farley and Matthew and Carson Rogers of St. Albans; brothers, Okey Barnett of Nashville, Tenn., and Dempsey Lee and wife, Phyllis Barnett, of Poca; and sister, Judy and husband, Marshall Casto, of Rockcastle.

George Edward Walker Jr., 16, of Cross Lanes went home to be with the Lord on May 31, 2011.

George was a student at Andrew Jackson Middle School. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, video games, boxing, and he loved the outdoors.

He was preceded in death by his grandfathers, Jerry F. Walker and Earl O. Shuffler Jr.; grandmother, Phyllis Walker; and uncle, Jerry F. Walker.

George is survived by his father, George Walker Sr.; mother, Lena Ann and husband, Billy P. Rutherford; brother, David Walker and his wife, Amber Napier Walker; sisters, Brittany Napier Walker and Tarah J. Walker; grandmother, Ruth Shuffler; stepgrandparents, Peery and Karen Rutherford; uncles, Ronald L. Walker, Warren Hunt and Keith Shuffler; aunts, Cynthia and husband, James Sander, and Pearl Shuffler; great-aunts, Homa Cottins and Ann Fallen; cousins, Rebecca Sander and Justin Walker; nephews, Kris Allen and Dakoda Palmer; best friend, Jacob Craven; and many other family and friends.

Richard D. "Richie" Rinehart II, 31, of Nitro passed away Tuesday, May 24, 2011 after battling pancreatic cancer for nine months.

Richie was born June 3, 1979. He was a graduate of Nitro High School and was employed by Waste Management. He was a Christian and trusted God with his life and his future. He attended St. Paul United Methodist Church and Maranatha Fellowship. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and riding his dirt bike. He loved to eat, especially spicy foods covered in pepper. He was trusting, forgiving, loyal and was always willing to help his family and friends, even if it was a sacrifice. He had a contagious smile that lit up his face and every room he entered.

He is survived by his loving wife, Sara; his 4 month old son, Little Richie; the White, Miller, Raynes, Rinehart and Thompson families; and his dog, Dee Dee.

"We love and miss you so much Richie. You will never be forgotten. Your spirit lives on in our son and in everyone who knew and loved you."