NORTON, VA – Paul Edward Jones, 86, died Friday, August 19, 2011 at the home of his daughter in Vinton, VA.
He was born on Thackers Branch Road to the late Robert and Lora Jones. He moved to Dorchester at an early age where he grew up. He attended the Dorchester Grade School and Norton High School. At the age of 16 his father was injured in the coal mines and he quit school and began working at Kroger in Norton. At 16 ½ he was transferred to Gate City as the Assistant Manager of that Kroger store.
On October 23, 1943 he was inducted into the Army and took 17 weeks of training at Fort McClelland, AL. After basic training he was shipped overseas and went into combat at Omaha Beach. He was a machine gunner in Company M, 19 Battalion, 11th Inf. Reg., 5th Div. under General Patton. He fought all the way across France into Germany where he received frozen feet and legs up to his knees. He spent eight months in the Army hospitals before he came home.
Shortly after discharge he married his childhood sweetheart, Helen Mullins. They had four wonderful children, Harry, Gary, Kay and Paulette. They had a wonderful marriage of 53 years until Helen passed away in September, 2000.
He got his first job at Wise Coal and Coke Co. after the army working in and around the mines for eight years. He then became a special policeman for seven years and was a Boy Scout Troop Leader.
After Wise Coal and Coke Co. closed he went to work at Wise County Commissioner of Revenue as a Deputy Commissioner for four years. He then went to work for the Virginia Dept. of Taxation as a Tax Examiner. He worked there for six years retiring after he got injured.
He was founder of the Old Dominion Sportsman Association and was its president for 25 years. It grew to be the largest sportsman association in Virginia consisting of over 600 members. The Associating was very proud to have started Kids Day at Norton Reservoir which continues today.
He was a lifelong Democrat who believes in getting involved. He was a delegate to many conventions and a member of the Wise County Democratic Committee for many years. He also was the chairman of the Dorchester Precinct for many years. He was a delegate to the convention tha nominated Rick Boucher for his first run in Congress. He was on the Planning and Zoning Commission in Wise County, and an Assistant Registrar before elections. He was elected to the 2005 Wise County Democratic Hall of Fame.
He moved from Norton to live with his daughter and son-in-law in Vinton, VA in 2001.
In addition to his wife and parents he was preceded in death by his brother, Glen Jones; and a son, Harry Jones.
He is survived by his children, Wayne and Paulette Neely, Vinton, VA, Kay Shuler, Stanford, KY, Gary Wayne (Butch) and Brenda Jones, Gilbert, LA, Mrs. Harry (Jolene) Jones, Bluff City, TN; brothers and sisters, Jerry and Barbara Jones, Wise, VA, Betty Jones, Norton, VA, Charlene Jones, Norton, VA, Charlotte Jones, Norton, VA, Janice and Jasper Maxey, Bristol, VA, Lloyd and Connie Jones, Wise, VA; 10 grandchildren; 24 great grandchildren; 5 great great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews and a special friend and caregiver, Diane Graybeal.
The family will receive friends from 6-9:00 PM Tuesday at Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted 11:00 AM Wednesday in the funeral home chapel with Rev. John McCarroll officiating. Burial will follow in the Powell Valley Memorial Gardens, Big Stone Gap, VA.
KATHLEE RINGLEY
WISE, VA - Kathleen (Kay) Gibson Ringley entered into Heavenly rest and eternal peace on Wednesday, August 17, 2011 at her home in Wise.
Kathleen was born March 3, 1925 in Norton where she was raised and schooled. She graduated from Norton High School in 1944 where she was a majorette in the band and was active in school plays and clubs. After graduation, she began work as a bookkeeper/secretary at Norton Auto Parts.
In 1949 Kathleen married Jessie Franklin (Bill) Ringley of Appalachia. The couple lived in Norton for 58 years before moving to Wise in 2007. Kathleen worked in the business sector as bookkeeper/secretary, her last employment being with Automotive Supply Company of Norton. She was a member of the Norton Garden Club having served as President, Vice President, Secretary, and Chaplain. She was honored by her club members with a life membership in the Virginia Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc. She was an avid lover of animals – especially her dogs and enjoyed regular feeding of nature’s wildlife which visited her yard.
Kathleen was a member of the First Church of God of Norton where she had served as Sunday School Teacher, Bible School Director and Choir Member. Kathleen and Bill had attended Wise Baptist Church regularly for the last six years. She was a strong Christian who lived her faith. Kathleen was proud of the 12 times she had read The Bible through in its entirety. Her ability to quote scriptures and poems was astounding.
Kathleen was a loving, devoted wife and a perfect mother, teaching her daughter by example. She was a trusted friend and helpful co-worker. In her free time Kathleen enjoyed working as a “Pink Lady,” making her unique homemade cookies and collecting antique glassware. Kathleen enjoyed wearing her colorful collection of hats, thus earning her the affectionate nickname, “The Hat Lady.”
Kathleen was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Jessie Franklin (Bill) Ringley, her father and mother, Reverend Leonard Dewey and Emma Collins Gibson, and a sister Ruth Ann Gibson.
Remaining to continue her honor are her daughter and son-in-law, Gigi and Don Pippin of Wise, step grandson and daughter-in-law, Scott and Kathy Pippin and 18 month old step great grandson, Daniel Arman Pippin, all of Sterling, Virginia, special caregivers, Helen Conner of Wise and Donna Roberts of Norton, special housekeeper Nora Slemp of Coeburn, special nephew Ed Ringley and wife, Sarah, of Columbia, South Carolina, special nieces Janice Hines and husband Lee of The Fairfax, Virginia, Karen Dunlop and husband James of Vienna, Virginia and special great niece Julie Dunlop of Albuquerque, New Mexico, special cousins Mattie Gibson of Pennville, Indiana and Catherine Boles of Baytown, Texas, special cousins James Collins and Dottie Chittester of Norton, special lifetime friends Imogene Fields of Wise and Ruth Woods of Norton, special friends Ruby and John Salyers, Artie and Clifford Bailey all of Wise, and Shirley and Gene Absher of Norton.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, August 19, 2011 at the Hagy and Fawbush Funeral Home in Norton. A service of remembrance led by Reverend Dr. Ray Jones, Pastor Emeritus of Wise Baptist Church and Reverend James Collie, retired Virginia Baptist Campus Minister will be held at 7:00 p.m. in the funeral home chapel. Special music will be presented by Richie Kennedy, Rita Isaac, James Collie, and Susan Mullins. Committal services will be held on Saturday, August 20, 2011 at 11:30 a.m. at Glencoe Cemetery in Big Stone Gap with Reverend Dr. Ray Jones and Reverend Darrell Fletcher presiding. (Family and friends will meet at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home to travel in procession to the cemetery).
Gigi and Don extend immeasurable appreciation to Dr. Souhail Shamiyeh for his constant and personal care, concern and love for Kathleen. The family also express special thanks to Dr. Joe Frank Smiddy, Dr. Thomas Bulle and Dr. Howard Cummings, all of Kingsport, Tennessee.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Wise Baptist Church (Handicap Access Garden Fund) P.O. Box 777, Wise, VA 24293).
