Person Page - 2408

     Floyd Exol "E.O." Tankersley was buried at Coal City Cemetery, Coal City, Raleigh Co., West Virginia.^2,3 His Social Security Number was 233-38-9802.⁶ He was born on December 18, 1926 at Oakvale, Mercer Co., West Virginia.^1,6,2,4,5 He married Marie M. Vest, daughter of Harry Elmer Vest and Mary Ingram, on May 17, 1947 at Sophia, Raleigh Co., West Virginia.^1,3 Floyd Exol "E.O." Tankersley died on May 1, 2007 at West Virginia at age 80.^6,2 He Floyd Exol “E.O.” Tankersley, born in Oakvale on Dec. 18, 1926, beloved son of the late Charles Oscar and Mattie Trithana Tankersley, passed away on Tuesday, May 1, 2007. His first wife, Marie Tankersley, preceded him in death to wait for him in Heaven. He is survived in marriage by his second wife, Beatrice Vass Tankersley; brothers, Harvey and Chester Tankersley, and daughters, Linda Farley, Julia “Judy” Lilly and Jackie Wills, and his sons-in-law, Roy Farley, Mike Lilly and J. Newman Wills; his four grandchildren, Michael and Greg Lilly and Floyd and Jessica Farley; four great-grandchildren, Ashley, Anthony, Olivia and Harrison; four stepchildren, Connie McMullin, Red McMullin, Sandra Hatcher and Sissy Shawver; 12 stepgrandchildren and 25 stepgreat-grandchildren. Mr. Tankersley was a retired coal miner of 38 years, served in World War II and was a member of The Stepping Stone Church in Surveyor. “E.O.” was truly loved and admired by his family and friends. He loved gardening, fishing, golfing and spending time telling stories to his friends and family. He will be in our hearts forever. Service will be 1 p.m. Saturday, May 5, at Melton Mortuary Chapel, Beckley, with the Rev. Floyd Bolen and the Rev. Jeff Perdue officiating. Burial will follow in Coal City Cemetery with military graveside rites conducted by VFW Post 3110 of Oak Hill. Friends may call 6 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be grandchildren and friends. The family request that donations of sympathy be made to Hospice of Southern West Virginia or The Stepping Stone Church in Surveyor. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family at melton@wvdsl.net. Arrangements by Melton Mortuary, Beckley. on May 4, 2007.²

     His Social Security Number was 234-62-6555.² Roy Lee Vest was buried at Sherwood Burial Park, 1045 Lynchburg Turnpike, Salem, Roanoke Co., Virginia.^3,4 He married Catherine Unknown.³ Roy Lee Vest was born on April 20, 1940 at Odd, Raleigh Co., West Virginia.^2,4 He married Phyllis Jean Pepe on August 4, 1960 at Josephine, Raleigh Co., West Virginia.¹ Roy Lee Vest died on May 8, 2007 at Franklin Co., Virginia, at age 67.^2,3,4,5 He Roy L. Vest, 67, of Glade Hill, went to be with the Lord Tuesday, May 8, 2007. He is preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Mary Vest; three sisters and a brother. Mr. Vest retired from Adron, Inc. in Boonton, N.J. He is survived by his wife, Catherine A. Vest; daughter, Debbie Vest; son, Alan Vest and wife Dee; two grandchildren; brothers, Bill Vest and Ralph Vest; sisters, Betty Lou Day and Geneva Dilillo; three stepchildren and stepgrandchildren. Graveside funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Monday in Sherwood Memorial Park with Dr. Ken Scoggins officiating. on May 11, 2007.³

     His Social Security Number was 233-66-2934.³ Carl Dennis "Denny" Vest was buried at Valley View Memorial Gardens, 170 North Valley Road, Xenia, Greene Co., Ohio.^7,8 He was born on September 17, 1942 at Raleigh Co., West Virginia.^1,9,3,7 He married Sandra Ann Bryant on March 23, 1963 at Beckley, Raleigh Co., West Virginia.¹ Carl Dennis "Denny" Vest and Sandra Ann Bryant were divorced on August 16, 1973 at Montgomery Co., Ohio.⁵ Carl Dennis "Denny" Vest married Linda Sue Watson on December 24, 1976 at Montgomery Co., Ohio.^4,10 Carl Dennis "Denny" Vest died on October 3, 2004 at Miamisburg, Montgomery Co., Ohio, at age 62.^9,3,7,11,8 He VEST, Carl D. "Denny" age 62, of West Carrollton, passed away Sun., Oct. 3, 2004 at Sycamore Hospital. He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Linda; 2 daughters Denise Bellomy & husband Greg and Sherri Cary; 2 sons Dusty Caudill and Greg Caudill & wife Cindy; 1 brother Ray Vest & wife Judy; 1 sister Brenda McKinney and 7 grandchildren. Denny had retired from Dayton Press after 19 years of service and was a member of the Miamisburg Moose Lodge. Interment Valley View Memorial Gardens. on October 5, 2004.⁸

     John Scott Day was born on July 22, 1938 at Winding Gulf, Raleigh Co., West Virginia.^1,3,2 He married Betty Lou Vest, daughter of Harry Elmer Vest and Mary Ingram, on December 8, 1959 at Coal City, Raleigh Co., West Virginia.^1,4 John Scott Day died on June 4, 2007 at Ohio at age 68.^3,2,4 He JOHN S. DAY "SCOTTY", 68, passed away June 4, 2007. Beloved husband of Betty L. (nee Vest); father and good friend of Jean Webber (Larry), John "Scott", James and Janet Lawson; loving and devoted grandfather of Fallon and Tracey Such; dear brother of Charles (Joyce) and Clinton (Hazel) Spencer... on June 6, 2007.⁴

     Gene Autry Wills was buried at Gethsemane Memorial Gardens, Oak Hill, Fayette Co., West Virginia.^6,5 He Gene Autry Wills, 64, of Oak Hill, WV died on Wednesday, July 07, 2004 at Raleigh General Hospital in Beckley, WV. Born June 14, 1940 at Jumping Branch, WV he was the son of the late Lonnie and Grace Lilly Wills. He was a disabled mechanic. Survivors include wife, Patricia Forquer Wills; sons: Joseph Wills, Powhatan, VA, Wesley Wills of Florida, Gregory Wills of Florida, and Kevin Wills of Florida; brother: Carl Wills of Shady Spring; sisters: Marie Meadows of Culpepper, VA, Margaret Hughart of Oak Hill, Macil Haydon of Oak Hill, Virginia Lilly of Spady Spring and Reva Wills of Oak Hill and by 3 grandchildren. Burial will be at Gethsemane Memorial Gardens, Oak Hill WV.⁵ His Social Security Number was 236-58-9292.⁷ He was born on June 14, 1940 at Ellison, Summers Co., West Virginia.^1,3,7,4,5 He married Joan Jeanette Vest, daughter of Homer Ray Vest and Edith Robinson Patrick, on July 11, 1959 at Beckley, Raleigh Co., West Virginia.¹ Gene Autry Wills and Joan Jeanette Vest were divorced in May, 1964 at Raleigh Co., West Virginia.⁸ Gene Autry Wills died on July 7, 2004 at Beckley, Raleigh Co., West Virginia, at age 64.^7,5

     Her married name was Pettrey.⁶ Willie Mae Via was buried at Chesapeake Memorial Gardens, 524 Cedar Road, Chesapeake, Virginia.^3,8 She and Henry Mason Pettrey were divorced.^6,9 Willie Mae Via married Henry Mason Pettrey.⁶ Willie Mae Via was born on October 8, 1922 at Princeton, Mercer Co., West Virginia.³ As of July 19, 1950,her married name was Presley.⁶ She married Paul McAllister Presley on July 19, 1950 at Tazewell, Tazewell Co., Virginia.^3,5,6 Willie Mae Via died on July 22, 2008 at Chesapeake, Virginia, at age 85.^3,10 She CHESAPEAKE - Willie M. Presley, 85, formerly of Bluefield, Va., passed away July 22, 2008. She was born in Princeton, W.Va., Oct. 8, 1922, the daughter of the late William J. and Ella LaFon Via. She was a home maker who loved her family dearly. She will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her. She was predeceased by her husband of 48 years, Paul M. Presley; her four sisters and two brothers. She is survived by her daughter, Gayla and her husband Gary Slade; her son, Johnny and Linda Pettrey, both of Chesapeake. Also surviving are her grandchildren, Larry Slade, Ray Pettrey and his wife Sabrina, Ronda and her husband Larry White of Church Hill, Tenn., Jim Via and his wife Angelica of Dublin, Ohio; her great-grandchildren, Kevin R. Pettrey of Arlington, Va., Cailey Slade of Chesapeake, Adam White and his wife Catherine of Hayes, Va., Lindsey White of Church Hill, Laura and Heather Newkirk of Orange, Texas, Jesse and Jeremy Via of Dublin, Ohio; her sister, Louise Thorn of Princeton, W.Va; and several nieces. A graveside service will be held in Chesapeake Memorial Gardens, 521 Cedar Road, Chesapeake. on July 23, 2008.³

     His Social Security Number was 236-22-0899.² Thomas Gooch "Tom" Via was buried at Oakwood Cemetery, Princeton, Mercer Co., West Virginia.^2,4 He was born on July 27, 1924 at Princeton, Mercer Co., West Virginia.^2,3,4,5 He died on September 30, 1951 at Princeton, Mercer Co., West Virginia, at age 27.^2,4

     Elaine LaFon Via was buried at Chesapeake Memorial Gardens, 524 Cedar Road, Chesapeake, Virginia.^2,4 Her Social Security Number was 232-96-7206.¹⁰ She was born on June 15, 1927 at Princeton, Mercer Co., West Virginia.^10,2,8 She died on July 18, 2001 at Chesapeake, Virginia, at age 74.^10,2,3 She Elaine L. Via, 74, of the 100 block of McCosh Drive, died July 18, 2001, in a Chesapeake nursing home. Born in Princeton, W.Va., she was the daughter of the late James William and Mary LaFon Via. Survivors include three sisters, Willie Mae Presley and Elizabeth Ruth Randall, both of Chesapeake, and Margaret Louise Thorn of Princeton, W.Va; a niece, Gayla Slade and her husband, Gary, of Chesapeake; a nephew, Johnny Pettrey and his wife, Linda, also of Chesapeake; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Interment will follow in Chesapeake Memorial Gardens. on July 19, 2001.²

     James Calvin Via Sr. was buried at Oakwood Cemetery, Princeton, Mercer Co., West Virginia.^1,3 He was born on March 7, 1929 at Princeton, Mercer Co., West Virginia.^1,2,3 He married Mary Margaret Saunders on February 4, 1959 at Narrows, Giles Co., Virginia.^2,4,5 James Calvin Via Sr. died on January 25, 1961 at Bethesda, Montgomery Co., Maryland, at age 31.^1,3,5 He James Calvin Via, 32, of Princeton, died Wednesday in the U. S. Naval Hospital at Bethesda, Md. He was a native of Princeton, son of J. W. and the late Mary Ella Via. Survivors also include his wife, Mrs. Margaret Saunders Via; one son, Jimmy Via of the home; one daughter, Rhonda Via of the home; and five sisters, Mrs. Louise Thorn, Betty Via, and Elaine Via, of Princeton, Mrs. Wanda Dutton of Marion, Va., and Mrs. Willie Presley of Bluefield, Va. on January 26, 1961.⁵

     Paul McAllister Presley was buried at Chesapeake Memorial Gardens, 524 Cedar Road, Chesapeake, Virginia.^5,4 His Social Security Number was 226-28-7199.⁸ He was born on June 11, 1926 at Bluefield, Mercer Co., West Virginia.^2,3,8,6,7,4 He married Willie Mae Via, daughter of James William "Bill" Via and Mary Ella LaFon, on July 19, 1950 at Tazewell, Tazewell Co., Virginia.^1,9,2 Paul McAllister Presley died on February 13, 1998 at Chesapeake, Virginia, at age 71.^4,8

     Her Social Security Number was 234-46-7319.⁹ Elizabeth Ruth "Bette" Via and Wayne Herman Dunagan were divorced.³ Elizabeth Ruth "Bette" Via was born on September 5, 1934 at Princeton, Mercer Co., West Virginia.^9,4 As of May 18, 1957,her married name was Dunagan.³ She married Wayne Herman Dunagan on May 18, 1957 at Bland Co., Virginia.³ As of July 2, 1960,her married name was Randall.³ Elizabeth Ruth "Bette" Via married Ronald Eugene Randall on July 2, 1960 at Bland Co., Virginia.³ Elizabeth Ruth "Bette" Via and Ronald Eugene Randall were divorced on July 9, 1965 at Virginia Beach, Virginia.⁴ As of August 24, 1970,her married name was O'Day.³ Elizabeth Ruth "Bette" Via married Patrick Gene O'Day on August 24, 1970 at Norfolk, Virginia.³ Elizabeth Ruth "Bette" Via and Patrick Gene O'Day were divorced on April 15, 1974 at Virginia Beach, Virginia.⁴ Elizabeth Ruth "Bette" Via died on March 16, 2003 at Chesapeake, Virginia, at age 68.^9,10,11 She Elizabeth Ruth Randall, 68, of the 1000 block of Justice St., died March 16, 2003. on March 19, 2003.¹⁰