NORTON, VA – Geneva Louise Absher Skorupa, 92, passed away peacefully in her sleep Tuesday, January 18, 2011at Bristol Select Hospital. She was preceded in death by her mother, Jane Absher; step-father, Paul Neal; husband, Toney Skorupa; a son, Ronald Skorupa; son-in-law, Horace Warner; a brother, Palmer Absher; sisters, Madge Nichols, Pauline Orender and Helen Tate. She was of the Baptist faith.
Surviving are daughters, Mary Warner, Big Stone Gap, VA, Stella Lane and her husband, Jackie, Appalachia, VA, Linda Sturgill and her husband, Larry, Norton, VA; sons, Toney John Skorupa and his wife, Linda, Wise, VA, Russell Skorupa and his wife, Debbie, Big Stone Gap, VA; sister, Ruble Hamlin, Norton, VA; 10 grandchildren; 18 great grandchildren; 11 great great grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends from 5-7:00 PM Thursday at Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted 7:00 PM Thursday in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Gary Hill officiating. Graveside committal services will be conducted 11:00 AM Friday at Riverview Cemetery in East Stone Gap, VA. Family and friends will meet 10:30 AM Friday at the funeral home to travel in procession to the cemetery. The family will have a gathering for friends and family at Geneva’s home in Norton Regency Towers, 200 6th Street, Apt. 102, immediately following the burial.
BEULAH HAWK
NORTON, VA - Beulah Wetzel Hawk, age 93, lovingly touched the face of Jesus as He carried her to Heaven from Mountain View Regional Medical Center, Norton, VA on Monday, January 17, 2011. She was born to James Ray Wetzel and Mary Odessa Cessna Wetzel on March 18, 1917 in Banks Township, PA. She was the widow of the late Lester W. Hawk and had been a resident of Norton since June 1953. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Norton where she had served as a deacon, choir member, board member, teacher and a member of various committees until her health began to decline.
She is survived by her six loving children: Lorena Hawk Duncan, Bristol, TN, Dennis Hawk and wife Merline, Bountiful, UT, Judy Fletcher Bates and husband Bob, Norton, VA, Gary Hawk and wife Carolyn, Bluff City, TN, Howard Hawk and wife Margie, York, SC, Susan Edwards Roark and husband David, Bristol, TN, 11 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and two great great-grandchildren. Also surviving are one sister, Freida Tyger, Saint Mary's, PA and one brother Harold Wetzel and wife Helen, New Castle, PA.
Visitation for family and friends is scheduled for Thursday, January 20, 2011, from 2-4 pm and from 6-8 pm at Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home. A Celebration of Her Life will be held at 3:00 pm on Friday, January 21, 2011, at the First Baptist Church of Norton, Virginia Ave., with Rev. Gwen Owens and Rev. Ken Taylor officiating. Burial will follow at Powell Valley Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests any memorial gifts be sent to the First Baptist Church, PO Box 499, Norton, VA 24273 or the Church of the Good Shepherd, PO Box 1011, Norton, VA 24273.
A special thank you to the nursing staff of the 4th floor at the Mountain View Regional Medical Center who lovingly cared for her.
JAMES FARRIS
NORTON, VA - James (Jim) Edward Farris, 90, went to Heaven to join his beloved wife on Sunday, January 2, 2011. He was in the hospital in Charlotte, NC. He was born June 4, 1920 in St. Creek, Kentucky. He married the love of his life, Jane Sippel, 69 years ago and later had their daughter, Shirley. He was a very loving, caring person with the kindest heart and warmest smile. Like his wife, he never failed to thank his care givers, nurses and doctors.
He was preceded in death by his parents James Henry Farris and Linda Rose Farris. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Jane Farris and his brother Robert Wheatley. He is survived by his daughter Shirley White and her husband Bruce, step granddaughter Dareth and step great granddaughter Morgan, sister and brother-in-law, Ruth and Glen Lester and, sister-in-law Emily Wheatley, many nieces and nephews.
He was a member of Park Avenue Baptist Church, Norton, Virginia. He served his country in the United States Army – 506th AA, Battery C Anti-aircraft from January 1942 to December 1945. Although he did not like to talk about it, he was in Pearl Harbor during the attack. He was proud to be a member of both the Masons and Shriners.
The family will receive friends from 5-7 PM Tuesday at the Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home in Norton. Funeral services, preceded by a Masonic Service, will be at seven o’clock Tuesday evening in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Lee Kidd officiating. A Military Burial Service will be Wednesday morning at eleven at Powell Valley Memorial Gardens. Memorials can be made to Park Avenue Baptist Church, P. O. Box 1123, Norton, Virginia 24273.
