Published: July 26, 2007 03:48 pm      

Obituaries -- Thursday, July 26, 2007

George Andrew Aide

George Andrew Aide, 88, a life-long retailer, avid golfer and horseman, died July 20, 2007, at home, surrounded by his family, in Ronceverte.

Born Nov. 30, 1918, in Boomer, he was the son of the late Westeen and Andrew Aide. He also was preceded in death by his son, George Andrew Aide Jr.; sisters, Virginia, Margaret and Lorena Aide; and brothers, Ferris and Mitchell Aide.

In 1939, he began a successful career in retailing and land development. Four years later, George built the Bargain Center in Rainelle which eventually expanded into the first Aide’s Discount Store. While in Rainelle, he met and married Helen Adair Kincaid. Throughout their marriage, while maintaining the home and raising their seven children, she played a key role in the development and management of Aide’s Discount Stores.

In 1960, he founded Aide’s Discount Store in Fairlea. Six years later, George moved his family to Red Oaks Farm. In addition to opening stores in Covington, Va. (1965) and Culpeper, Va. (1973), George developed Red Oaks Shopping Center in Fairlea (1972), followed later by comparable shopping centers in Covington, Rainelle and Culpeper. George and Helen’s children became a part of the business and under his guidance continued to operate profitable and community-minded stores until they retired from retail in 1995. The family continues to own and operate the shopping centers as part of their commercial real estate leasing division.

George also had a successful history of showing and racing harness horses for over 50 years. Under his guidance, Red Oaks Farm became the largest Standardbred horse racing operation in West Virginia. In 2006, Dixie Pride, co-owned by Aide, was named Rosecroft Raceway Horse of the Year by the Cloverleaf Standardbred Owners Association. George’s proudest accomplishments in horse racing included winning the Governor’s Trophy at the State Fair of West Virginia in 1992 and again in 1994. George’s good friend, Joe Black “Blackie” Hayes, a veteran horse trainer and driver, was the winning driver on both occasions.

George enjoyed years of golfing and bridge with his devoted friend, Lawson Hamilton, who continued to brighten George’s life with activities and visits during George’s lengthy illness.

Surviving: his wife of 66 years, Helen Adair Kincaid; sisters, Geneva Aide of Mount Hope, Frances Aide of Charleston and Dolly Mathews of Columbus, Ohio; children and spouses, Richard and Pam Aide of Ronceverte, Andrea “Andy” and Randy Pendleton of Rainelle, Michael and Carla Aide of Charlottesville, Va., Nancy and Ron Gore of Williamsburg, Va., Gary and Sandy Aide of Ronceverte, and Cherie and Jeff Austin of Lewisburg; grandchildren and spouses, Beth and Scot Schultz of Naples, Fla., Drew and Crystal Pendleton of Lewisburg, Townley and Trip Hamilton of Lewisburg, Michael and Natalie Aide of Houston, Texas, Karen and Don Kranbuehl of Raleigh, N.C., Ron and Becky Gore of Richmond, Va., Matt Aide of Lewisburg, Becky and Josh Rogers of Morgantown, Andrew Gore of Williamsburg, Va., and Alex Aide, Katie Austin and Elizabeth Austin of Lewisburg; great-grandchildren, Becca and Megan Schultz, Morgan Pendleton, Lawson Hamilton IV, Aiden Gore, Ryan Kranbuehl and Katherine Elizabeth Aide.

The Rev. Father Andrew S. Damick of St. George Orthodox Cathedral, Charleston, conducted a private funeral service.

Memorial donations may be made to Hospice Care Inc., 540 N. Jefferson St., Lewisburg, WV 24901; Greenbrier County Emergency Ambulance Service, Third Street, Fairlea, WV 24902; or St. George Orthodox Cathedral, P.O. Box 2044, Charleston, WV 25327.

Please send online condolences by visiting www.wallaceandwallacefh.com.

Arrangements by Wallace and Wallace Funeral Home, Lewisburg.



Celia Ann Evans Berry

Celia Ann Evans Berry, 76, of Winona, died July 18, 2007, at the Bowers Hospice House in Beckley following a long illness.

Born Aug. 6, 1930, at Eccles, she was the daughter of the late Abram Dexter and Myrtle Irene Billups Evans. She also was preceded in death by her husband, Charles W. “Tom” Berry, on May 16, 1988; and a sister, Alfreda Mae (Evans) O’Dell.

Mrs. Berry was a member of the St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Ansted, a member of the Quota Club, Oak Hill BPW, Democratic Women, Hawks Nest Foundation, Putnam Commission on Aging, Silver-Haired Legislature and many other organizations.

She was retired from the Fayette County Court House as chief tax deputy.

Surviving: a son, Thomas Berry and his wife, Lisa, of Fayetteville; a stepson, Charles Berry and his wife, Debbie, of Fairmont; grandchildren, Lucas and Chase Berry of Fayetteville and stepgrandchildren, Lori Christenbury and Charles Berry of Charlotte, N.C.

Service was July 21 at Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home, Ansted, with the Rev. Phillip Dent officiating. Burial followed in the Restlawn Memory Gardens, Victor.

Arrangements by Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home, Ansted.



John H. Crookshanks Sr.

John H. Crookshanks Sr., 93, of Rainelle, died July 18, 2007, at Raleigh General Hospital in Beckley after a short illness.

Born June 11, 1914, at Clifftop, he was the son of the late James Davis and Bertha Jane Hiser Crookshanks. He also was preceded in death by his wife, Thelma; a son, David; and sisters, Iona Allen and Edna Cohen.

Mr. Crookshanks attended Corliss and Clifftop grade schools, Rainelle and Nuttall District high schools, graduating in 1932. He graduated from West Virginia University in 1936 with a degree in geology and a minor in chemistry. He was employed by Electro-Metalurgical Co. at Alloy during World War II. In 1947, he started Crookshanks Builders Supply, which he owned and operated for 60 years.

Surviving: sons, Ronald K. of Rainelle and John H. Jr. and wife, Ida Kay; grandsons, Christopher Crookshanks of Piedmont, S.C., and Ryan of Duo; granddaughter, Amanda K. of Bradley; a niece, Catherine Wheeling of Charleston; and nephews, Michael and Ronnie Wheeling and David Cohen of Boca Raton, Fla.

Service was July 22 at Wallace & Wallace Chapel, Rainelle, with the Rev. Houston Boothe officiating. Entombment followed in Chapel of Rest Mausoleum in Victor.

Arrangements by Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home, Rainelle.



Chad Patrick Neely

Chad Patrick Neely, 43, of Oak Hill, died July 16, 2007, at Plateau Medical Center.

Born Sept. 17, 1963, at Peru, Ind., he was the son of Harold L. Neely and Anne Butler Neely.

Chad was an accomplished musician.

Surviving: his wife, Valerie Prewitt-Neely; his son, Marshall Neely; his father, Harold Neely and wife, Donnie, of Merritt Island, Fla.; his mother, Anne Butler Neely of Leesburg, Va.; a brother, Canaan Neely of Maui, Hawaii; a sister, Karen Sue Baldwin of Leesburg; his grandmothers, Erma Neely of Oak Hill and Maureen Butler of Leesburg; and many other family and friends.

Service was July 21 at High Lawn Funeral Home Chapel, Oak Hill, with the Rev. Delmas Wolfe officiating. Interment was private.

Arrangements by High Lawn Funeral Chapel, Oak Hill.



Sarah B. ‘Sallye’ Newell

Sarah B. “Sallye” Newell, 79, of Sarasota, Fla., died July 22, 2007, at her home after a short illness, surrounded by family and friends.

Born April 4, 1928, she was the daughter of the late Homer L. Phillips and Roxie Cochran of Belva. She also was preceded in death by her daughter, Deborah Newell of Sarasota, and her sister, Betty Craze of Dixie.

Sallye was one who truly loved and served Jesus Christ and her family. In turn she was greatly loved and will be missed. She and her husband were founders of Trinity Chapel in Sarasota, Fla., where they both were senior pastors.

She was a graduate of Nicholas County High School.

Surviving: her husband of 60 years, Rev. George M. Newell, and their daughter Rebecca Newell, both of Sarasota, Fla.; brothers, Homer R. Phillips Jr. of Greenwood, Ind., Clyde M. Phillips of Ravenswood and Ray H. Phillips of Dixie; sisters, Edith M. “Sparky” Kidd of Buffalo, Patricia L. Adkins of Cross Lanes and Ramona Ruth Adkins of Pratt; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services in West Virginia will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, July 27, at the Dodd-Payne-Hess Funeral Home Chapel, Fayetteville, with Rev. Allen J. Menard officiating. Burial will follow in Huse Memorial Park, Fayetteville.

The family will receive friends two hours before the funeral service at the Dodd-Payne-Hess Funeral Home Chapel, Fayetteville.

Online condolences and other information available at www.doddpaynehessfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements by Dodd-Payne-Hess Funeral Home, Fayetteville.



Dennis E. Sizemore

Dennis E. Sizemore, 63, of Glen Morgan, died July 21, 2007, at Union of an apparent heart attack.

Born July 19, 1944, at Ward, he was the son of the late Roscoe and Edith Cox Sizemore.

Dennis was a coal miner having retired from Eastern Coal.

He was a member of the UMWA Local #1503, District #17; the Mountaineer Hunting Club, the NRA and the DAV and was a U.S. Marine veteran serving as a PFC.

Surviving: his wife, Helen R. Smith Sizemore; son, Dennis R. Sizemore; daughters, Helena Blevins and Deanna (Allen) Sargent, all of Glen Morgan; grandchildren, Kathryn (Wayne) Harold and Christina Sargent; great-grandchild, Caleb Harold; brothers, Ray Sizemore of Dothan and Roy Sizemore of Oak Hill.

Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Friday, July 27 at Tyree Funeral Home Chapel, Oak Hill, with Pastor Roy Boyd Jr. officiating. Burial will follow at Kincaid Cemetery, Kincaid, with military rites conducted by V.F.W. Post #3110, Oak Hill.

Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, July 26 at Tyree Funeral Home in Oak Hill.

Online condolences may be sent at www.tyreefuneralhome.com.

Arrangements by Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill.



Edwin J. Smailes

Edwin J. Smailes, 84, of Loops Road, died July 21, 2007, at his home, surrounded by his family.

Born March 11, 1923, at Loops Road, he was the son of the late Joseph and Pina Kirk Smailes. Mr. Smailes was the last surviving member of his immediate family. He also was preceded in death by his brother, Russell Smailes; and sister, Dora Walton.

Mr. Smailes served in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper in the 11th Airborne 188 Division during the Pacific Theater in World War II. He worked as the caretaker of the Lee Jackson Park, Loops Road. He worked closely with Sen. Robert C. Byrd to collect funding for the LJT Manufacturing Plant, which provided many jobs for the citizens of Rainelle.

He was a farmer by trade and was the proud owner of Sunset View Farms. He was awarded Fayette County Farmer of the Year and Second Place West Virginia Farmer of the Year, Southern Soil District, in 2002. He was also a member of Big Sewell Baptist Church.

Edwin left a great heritage to his surviving family.

Surviving: his wife of 58 years, Ollie Roach; his children, Brenda Clark and husband, Mike, of Beckley, Charlie Smailes and wife, Joan, of Loops Road, and George Smailes and wife, Mary, of Loops Road; grandchildren, Michelle Melin and husband, Dave, of Huntersville, N.C., Jenny Nuckols and husband, Joey, of Oak Hill, Wendy Abell and husband, Ed, of Gainesville, Ga., Robbie Ruffner and wife, Sarah, of Hico, Chad Smailes and wife, Angie, of Rainelle, Joseph Smailes of Loops Road, Andrianna Sweet and husband, Tim, of Quinwood, and C.J. Smailes of Loops Road; great-grandchildren, Julie, Jordan, and Jarrett Nuckols, Cheyenne, Robert II, Aaron, and Emily Ruffner, Zeke and Meredith Smailes, Hannah Sweet, Maverick Smailes, and Reagan Melin.

Service was July 24 in Smathers Funeral Chapel, with Pastor Kermit Hunter officiating. Burial followed in the Sims Cemetery, Loops Road.

Memorial donations may be made to Hospice Care Inc., 540 N. Jefferson St., Lewisburg, WV 24901, or the Sims Cemetery Fund in care of the family, H.C. 61 Box 102, Rainelle, WV 25902.



Rosetta Blanche Tincher

Rosetta Blanche Tincher, 58, of Saxon, died July 15, 2007, at Raleigh General Hospital, Beckley.

Born Jan. 9, 1948, in Wyoming County, she was the daughter of the late Lewis Bailey and Eliza Mae Acord Bailey. She also was preceded in death by her first husband, Max Leo Bledsoe, and her second husband, Billy Wayne Tincher.

Mrs. Tincher was of the Baptist faith and was a homemaker.

Surviving: son, Jerry Bledsoe and his wife, Kathleen, of Beaver; daughter, Peggy Daniels of Surveyor; sister, Stella Martin of Sophia; brothers, Richard Bailey of Crab Orchard, Johnny Bailey of Saxon, Randall Bailey of Crab Orchard, and Charlie Bailey of Fairdale; grandchildren, Brittany and Zane; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were July 18, 2007, at Dodd-Payne-Hess Funeral Home, Fayetteville, with the Rev. Jerry Brooks officiating. Burial was in Pleasant View Cemetery, Route 1, Fayetteville.

Online condolences and other information available at www.doddpaynehessfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements by Dodd-Payne-Hess Funeral Home, Fayetteville.



George M. Walker Sr.

George M. Walker Sr., 78, of Wriston, died July 20, 2007.

Services were July 23 at Tyree Funeral Home Chapel, Oak Hill.

Online condolences may be sent at www.tyreefuneralhome.com.

Arrangements by Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill.



Verma Wilson

Verma Wilson, 94, of Victor, died July 21, 2007, at her residence.

Born Nov. 13, 1912, at Graydon, she was the daughter of the late Burdine and Amie Evans Willis. She also was preceded in death by her husband, Henry A. Wilson, on Nov. 15, 1978; a daughter, Mary Elizabeth Wilson; a son, Alonzo Wilson; three sisters; and five brothers.

Mrs. Wilson was a member of Goodhope Baptist Church of Graydon and was a homemaker.

Surviving: sons, Willis “Gib” Wilson and Carol of Victor, Roy “Gun” Wilson and Phyllis of Ansted and Charlie “Chig” Wilson and Carole of Dalton, Ohio; 11 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and special friends, Elva Workman, Vickie Bragg and Ronnie and Carol Bragg.

Service was July 23 at Wallace and Wallace Funeral Home Chapel, Ansted, with the Rev. Mike Anderson officiating. Burial followed in Willis Cemetery, Victor.

Arrangements by Wallace and Wallace Funeral Home, Ansted.