Person Page - 401

     Millard William Wilson was buried at Wilson Family Cemetery, Cambria, Montgomery Co., Virginia.³ He was born on May 2, 1917 at Montgomery Co., Virginia.^3,4 He died on September 13, 1936 at Christiansburg, Montgomery Co., Virginia, at age 19.³

     Opal Ruth Wilson was born on October 31, 1925 at Cambria, Montgomery Co., Virginia.^1,2 She died on December 1, 1925 at Christiansburg, Montgomery Co., Virginia.¹

     Her Social Security Number was 234-36-1281.⁶ Ruby Arlene Wilson was buried at Woodlawn Memorial Park, 400 Woodlawn Cemetery Road, Gotha, Orange Co., Florida.⁷ She was born on July 20, 1917 at Virginia.^2,6 As of November 2, 1935,her married name was Swanigan.³ She married Leonard Virgil Swanigan on November 2, 1935 at Mount Hope, Fayette Co., West Virginia.^3,8 Ruby Arlene Wilson died on February 17, 1994 at Orlando, Orange Co., Florida, at age 76.^2,6,8 She Ruby Arlene Swanigan, 76, 5325 Hansel Ave., Orlando, died Thursday, Feb. 17. Mrs. Swanigan was a homemaker. Born in Virginia, she moved to Central Florida in 1957. She was a member of Conway Christian Church. Survivors: husband, Leonard V; daughters, Elizabeth McNew, Carol Hurn, Brenda Potter, Debra Schmidt, all of Orlando, Billie Bates, Fayetteville, W.Va., Connie Howerton, Abbeville, Ala., Susan Singletary, Winfield, W.Va., Pauline Mentzer, Ocala; son, Leonard V. II, Ormond Beach; sister, Eva, Atwater, Ohio; 14 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren. on February 19, 1994.⁸

     His Social Security Number was 232-12-3058.⁶ Galen Edward Swanigan was buried at Limaville Cemetery, Lexington Township, Stark Co., Ohio.³ He was born on June 9, 1911 at Gatewood, Fayette Co., West Virginia.^6,1,2,3,4 He married Elva Iris Wilson, daughter of Emmet Daniel Wilson and Dolly May/Mae Hylton, on October 19, 1935 at Beckley, Raleigh Co., West Virginia.^2,5 Galen Edward Swanigan died on February 10, 1998 at Ravenna, Portage Co., Ohio, at age 86.^1,3

     Russell Edward Swanigan Russell Edward Swanigan, age 85, of Rootstown, Ohio, passed away April 26, 2022 in hospice care due to heart problems. He was born March 2, 1937, in Fayetteville County, West Virginia, the only child of the late Galen and Elva (Wilson) Swanigan. Russell married Avalon Rae Lott on July 4, 1959. They were married for 57 years and he would say that the whole country celebrated their anniversary without realizing it. They had 2 children, Cheryl A. Swanigan and Jeff A. Swanigan. Russell worked for Continental General Tire North America for 35 years before retiring in 1996. He had a passion for older vehicles, restoring some with his "backyard mechanic" abilities. He was also a deeply spiritual person and a member of Liberty Bible Church in Atwater, Ohio. Russell was preceded in by his late wife, Avalon. He is survived by daughter Cheryl A. Swanigan and son Jeff A. Swanigan; grandchildren Krissina Bair, Noah Swanigan and Sarah Schneider; and 4 great-grandchildren. Private inurnment will be held at Limaville-Lexington Cemetery.⁴ He was buried at Limaville Cemetery, Lexington Township, Stark Co., Ohio. He was born on March 2, 1937 at Fayetteville, Fayette Co., West Virginia.^2,3,7,4 He married Avalon Rae Lott on July 4, 1959 at Summit Co., Ohio.^2,6,4,5 Russell Edward Swanigan died on April 26, 2022 at Ohio at age 85.⁴

     Avalon Rae Lott Avalon Rae (Lott) Swanigan, age 84, of Rootstown, passed away May 29, 2017, at the Altercare Post-Acute Rehabilitation Center in Brimfield, Ohio, after a long series of illnesses. She was born October 26, 1932, in Parkersburg, West Virginia, the eldest daughter of the late Albert and Reva (Owens) Lott. Avalon, also known as Rae by family and family friends, worked at Goodyear Aerospace for a short time before she married Russell Edward Swanigan on July 4, 1959. Russell would say that the whole country celebrated their anniversaries each year without realizing it. Avalon and Russell were married for 57 years. She chose to stay at home and raise their 2 children, Cheryl Swanigan and Jeff Swanigan. She was a deeply spiritual person and member of Liberty Bible Church. She was a former member of the Atwater First Baptist Church and was very active in ministries at the church. To the Atwater Christian School children she was known as the "bulletin board lady" as she maintained the church and school's bulletin boards. She even found her artistic side at Atwater by working with flower arrangements, church and wedding reception decorating. However, two of her favorite ministries were being a Sunday School teacher and singing soprano in the church choir for over 20 plus years in the various churches she attended. She was also an avid book reader. Avalon is survived by her husband, Russell E. Swanigan, daughter Cheryl A. Swanigan and son Jeff A. Swanigan; grandchildren Krissina Bair, Noah Swanigan and Sarah Schneider; and great-grandchildren Ian, Embry and Body. She is survived by her sister Donna (Raybuck) Ritenour of Florida and step-mother Louise (Lott) Doig of Virginia. She was preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Reva Lott and her brother, Paul Lott. Burial will take place on a later date at the Limaville-Lexington Cemetery.² She was buried at Limaville Cemetery, Lexington Township, Stark Co., Ohio.² She was born on October 26, 1932 at Parkersburg, Wood Co., West Virginia.^3,2,4 She married Russell Edward Swanigan, son of Galen Edward Swanigan and Elva Iris Wilson, on July 4, 1959 at Summit Co., Ohio.^3,5,1,2 As of July 4, 1959,her married name was Swanigan.³ Avalon Rae Lott died on May 29, 2017 at Brimfield, Portage Co., Ohio, at age 84.^2,4

     Leonard Virgil Swanigan was buried at Woodlawn Memorial Park, 400 Woodlawn Cemetery Road, Gotha, Orange Co., Florida.³ His Social Security Number was 236-10-7206.⁴ He was born on June 20, 1913 at Gatewood, Fayette Co., West Virginia.^4,5,1 He married Ruby Arlene Wilson, daughter of Emmet Daniel Wilson and Dolly May/Mae Hylton, on November 2, 1935 at Mount Hope, Fayette Co., West Virginia.^1,6 Leonard Virgil Swanigan died on January 15, 1996 at Orlando, Orange Co., Florida, at age 82.^4,5,2 He Mr. Leonard V. Swanigan, 82, 5325 Hansel Ave., Orlando, died Monday, Jan. 15. Mr. Swanigan worked in the Martin Marietta shipping department. Born in Gatewood, W.Va., he moved to Central Florida in 1957. He was a member of Knights of Pythias and United Mine Workers. Survivors: daughters, Billie Bates, Fayetteville, W.Va., Carol Hurn, Brenda Potter, Debra Schmidt, all of Orlando, Connie Howerton, Abbeville, Ala., Susan Singletary, Winfield, W.Va., Pauline Mentzer, Ocala; son, Leonard V. II, Ormon d Beach; brothers, Galen, Atwater, Ohio, Roscoe, Roy, both of Oak Hill, W.Va., Ernest, Trinity, Texas; sisters, Sylvia Bryant, Wadsworth, Ohio, Virgie Coleman, Oak Hill; 14 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren. on January 20, 1996.²

     Her Social Security Number was 233-54-7932.² Elizabeth Ann Swanigan was born on November 4, 1936 at Fayetteville, Fayette Co., West Virginia.^6,2 As of November, 1958,her married name was McNew.¹ She married Clyde Edward McNew in November, 1958 at Orange Co., Florida.^1,3 As of June 16, 1987,her married name was Reed.⁷ Elizabeth Ann Swanigan died on December 7, 1995 at Orlando, Orange Co., Florida, at age 59.^6,2,3 She Mrs Elizabeth A. McNew, 59, Gibson Drive, Orlando, died Thursday, Dec. 7. Mrs. McNew was a computer operator for HRS. Born in Fayetteville, W.Va., she moved to Central Florida in 1958. She was a member of Resurrection Lutheran Church. Survivors: husband, Clyde; daughter, Catherine Baron, Orlando; father, Leonard Swanigan Sr., Orlando; brother, Leonard Swanigan, II, Ormond Beach; sisters, Billie Bates, Fayetteville, Connie Howerton, Abbeyville, Ala., Susan Singletary, Winfield, W.Va., Carol Hurn, Brenda Potter, Debbie Schmidt, all of Orlando, Polly Mentzer, Ocala. Beacon's National Cremation Society, Winter Park Chapter. on December 8, 1995.³

     Billie Jean Swanigan Billie Jean Bates, Aug 17, 1938 – Jun 11, 2021. On June 11th, 2021, Billie Jean Swanigan Bates passed away at Bowers Hospice House in Beckley, WV. She was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Bobby J. Bates; her parents, Leonard V. and Arlene Swanigan; two sisters, Elizabeth (Mac) McNew and Connie (Murphey) Howerton. She is survived by her two sons, Robert and Michael (Melissa) Bates of Fayetteville, WV; a daughter Deanna (James) Johnson of Lexington SC; and three grandchildren, Molly (Vernon) Farrell, Micah Bates and Marcy Bates; five sisters, Carol (Ray) Hurn, Susan (Bob) Singletary, Brenda (David) Potter, Polly (Dwight) Mentzer, and Debbie Appleton; a brother, Leonard Swanigan, Jr. Interment will take place at the Fayetteville Huse memorial Park in Fayetteville.³ She was born on August 17, 1938.³ As of August 17, 1957,her married name was Bates.¹ She married Bobby Jackson Bates on August 17, 1957 at Gatewood, Fayette Co., West Virginia.^1,2,3 Billie Jean Swanigan died on June 11, 2011 at Beckley, Raleigh Co., West Virginia, at age 72.³

     Bobby Jackson Bates was buried at Huse Memorial Park, Fayetteville, Fayette Co., West Virginia.² His Social Security Number was 236-52-1116.³ He was born on August 23, 1933 at Rush, Boyd Co., Kentucky.^3,2,4 He married Billie Jean Swanigan, daughter of Leonard Virgil Swanigan and Ruby Arlene Wilson, on August 17, 1957 at Gatewood, Fayette Co., West Virginia.^1,2,5 Bobby Jackson Bates died on July 10, 2012 at Beckley, Raleigh Co., West Virginia, at age 78.^3,2 He Bobby Jackson Bates, 78, of Fayetteville, passed away Tuesday, July 10, 2012 at Bowers Hospice House, Beckley. Born on August 23, 1933 at Rush, Ky., he was the son of the late Chester Allen and Edna Pauline Burton Bates. Mr. Bates was an active member of the Fayetteville Baptist Church, serving as a trustee, usher, and van driver, and also a member of WV American Baptist Men. He served honorably in the US Air Force during the Korean War Conflict and was a member of American Legion Post 149, Fayetteville. He was retired US Postal Carrier with 33 years of service. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Sue Hash. Left to cherish many wonderful memories are his wife, Billie Jean Swanigan Bates; two sons, Robert Allen Bates of Fayetteville and Michael Roy Bates and wife, Melissa of Fayetteville; one daughter, Deanna Bates Johnson and husband, James of Lexington, S.C; three grandchildren, Molly Elizabeth, Micah Elliott, and Marcy Elaine Bates; one brother, Freddie Bates; and a host of other family and friends. Burial will follow at Huse Memorial Park, Fayetteville, with military honors by American Legion Post 149. on July 11, 2012.²

     Connie Lou Swanigan was buried at Ebenezer Cemetery, Henry Co., Alabama.² She was born on November 16, 1940. She married William Murphy Howerton on April 3, 1959 at Orange Co., Florida.^1,6,2 As of April 3, 1959,her married name was Howerton.¹ Connie Lou Swanigan died on November 17, 2015 at Dothan, Alabama, at age 75.² She Connie Swanigan Howerton, a resident of Abbeville, died Tuesday, November 17, 2015, in a Dothan hospital. She was 75. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, November 21, 2015, in the Judson Baptist Church with Reverend Brandon Turner officiating. Burial will follow in the Ebenezer Cemetery. Mrs. Howerton was born and reared in Fayetteville, West Virginia, daughter of the late Leonard Virgil Swanigan and Arlene Wilson Swanigan. She lived most of her adult lifetime in Henry County, near Abbeville. Mrs. Howerton was a member of the Judson Baptist Church. She formerly owned and operated C & S Upholstery. Mrs. Howerton was preceded in death by a sister, Elizabeth McNew. Surviving relatives include her husband, William Murphy Howerton, Abbeville; three daughters, Sherry Lipscomb (Robert), Sharon Moring (Stokes), and Sandy Coates (Charlie), all of Abbeville; three grandchildren, Rachel Armstrong (Charles), Brian Coates (Edna), and Danny Moring; two great-grandchildren, Caroline Armstrong and Reddick Armstrong; six sisters, Billie Bates, Fayetteville, WV; Susan Singletary (Robert), Winfield, WV; Carol Hurn (Raymond), Orlando, FL; Brenda Potter (David), Orlando, FL; Polly Mentzer (Dwight), Ocala, FL; and Debbie Appleton, Orlando, FL; a brother, Lennie Swanigan, Eleanor, WV; and a brother-in-law, Clyde McNew, Orlando, FL. Serving as active pall bearers will be Robert Lipscomb, Stokes Moring, Charlie Coates, Charles Armstrong, Bill Armstrong and Bruce Downs. on November 19, 2015.²