NORTON, VA – Delmar Ray Gardner, 70, died Thursday, July 28, 2011 in Lonesome Pine Hospital. He was preceded in death by his parents, Willie Gardner and Maggie Cassidy Gardner Cain; 3 brothers, Willie Cassidy, Harold Cassidy and James (Burl) Gardner; 2 infant sisters, Betty Jo Gardner and Patsy Gail Cain.
He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Loretta Gardner, Norton, VA; daughters and sons-in-law, Robin Renee and Chico Wells, Norton, VA, Pamela and Adam Newman, Tucson, AZ; a son, Jonathan Gardner, Norton, VA; 8 grandchildren; brothers and sisters-in-law, Fred and Patsy Gardner, Mt. Carmel, TN, Gary and Carol Gardner, Norton, VA; sisters, Margalo and Kelly Clayton, Wallace, W.VA., Brenda Hansel, Prosperity, S.C.; several nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends from 6-8:00 PM Friday at Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home. Private committal services will be conducted Saturday in the Laurel Grove Cemetery.
GREGORY KYLE THOMPSON
WISE, VA – Gregory Kyle Thompson, 35, died Wednesday, July 27, 2011, at his residence. He was preceded in death by his father, John Leroy Thompson. He was a 1993 graduate of J.J. Kelly High School and was a former U.S. Marine
He is survived by his mother, Lois J. Wright, Wise, VA; brothers and sisters-in-law, Elbert Leroy and Dolly Thompson, Wise, VA, Jacky Kevin Thompson, Big Stone Gap, VA, Jimmy Ray and Tina Thompson, Coeburn, VA, Jerry Hammond, Dante, VA, Tommy Thompson, Coeburn, VA; sisters and brothers-in-law, Teresa and Denver Short, Mineola, TX, Debbie and Larry Herndon, Lebanon, VA, Polly and Raymond Smith, Dante, VA, Barbara Thompson and Josh Wensel, Norton, VA; several nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends from 6-8:00 PM Sunday at Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted 11:00 AM Monday in the funeral home chapel. Burial will follow in the Laurel Grove Cemetery.
HENRIETTA WITT STRENGTH
NORTON, VA – Henrietta Witt Strength, born Nov, 10, 1918, a longtime resident of Norton passed away Tuesday, July, 26, 2011 in Norton Community Hospital. She was preceded in death by her husband, V.J. (Buck) Strength in July 2008; two sons, Richard Strength in July 1996 and William (Bill) Strength in January 2008.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Patricia and Carroll Dale, Wise, VA; son, Dr. Walter James Strength, Norton, VA; 10 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Louise Witt Good and Georgia Lee Strength Litton, both of Norton, VA.
The family will receive friends from 5-7:00 PM Saturday at Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted 7:00 PM Saturday in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Ben Murphy officiating. Graveside committal services will be conducted 2:00 PM Sunday at Powell Valley Memorial Gardens. Family and friends will meet at 1:30 PM Sunday at the funeral home to travel in procession to the cemetery.
GARY MINOR
NORTON, VA – Gary Lynn “Hop” Minor, 57, passed away unexpectedly Monday, July, 25, 2011, at his home on East Park Avenue. He was a lifelong resident of Norton. He was preceded in death by his parents, Doug and Eunice Minor, and a brother, Ronnie Minor.
He is survived by a daughter, Kim Minor Billings, Flowood, Miss., a son, Chris Minor and his fiancé Ashleigh Collins of Norton, VA; a brother, Jerry “Squibb” Minor and his wife Brenda, of Norton, VA, and a sister-in-law, Pam Minor of Coeburn, VA.
The family will receive friends from 12 noon until 2 PM Thursday at Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 PM in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Darrell Bolling officiating. Burial will follow in the Laurel Grove Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the family c/o Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home, 956 Park Avenue, Norton, VA 24273.
NORMA JEAN ARMSTEAD
NORTON, VA – Norma Jean Armistead, 69, died Tuesday, July 19, 2011 at Johnson City Medical Center.
She is survived by her daughters, Phillene Denise (Tootie) Scott and her husband Hershel, Frances Rebecca (Becky) Dorton and her husband Skipper, Melissa Lynn (Missy) Marcum and her husband Chad, all of Norton, VA; grandson, Shannon Fitzpatrick Armistead and his wife Alicia, Norton, VA; great grandchildren, Brandon, Brady, Makayla and Matthew.
The family will receive friends from 10:00-11:00 AM Thursday at Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted 11:00 AM Thursday in the funeral home chapel with Jim Smith officiating. Burial will follow in the Laurel Grove Cemetery.
RONALD GENE HUGHES
ACWORTH, GA – Ron Hughes passed away on July 6, 2011 after a short illness. Born in Tacoma, VA on Oct. 31, 1947, with his family he moved to Norton in 1957. He graduated from John I. Burton High in 1966 and the University of Virginia College at Wise in 1970. Ron loved sports, especially the Lonestar softball and bowling teams.
After operating the Lonestar Service Station for several years, Ron moved to Knoxville and began his career with Rentco (a predecessor to XTRA Leasing) where he worked for 27 years rising to the position of Vice President of National Accounts, after stops in Birmingham, Jacksonville and eventually Atlanta. He gained national recognition for sales in 1999, receiving the President’s Award from XTRA Leasing. CEO and President, Bill Franz, comments “Ron produced results and records that will not likely be duplicated at XTRA Leasing. He understood our values and presented them, in the form of himself, to our customers. These customers rented trailers from Ron, the equipment just happened to have our logo on the side.”
He is survived by his wife, Abby D. Hughes, Acworth, GA; daughter, Brandi Hughes Dubon and her husband Carlos, Greensboro, NC; Sons, William Zachary Hughes, Tampa, FL, George A. Hughes, Acworth, GA; four brothers, Michael H. Hughes and his wife Alice, Wise, VA, Jim D. Hughes and his wife Jane, Wise, VA, Gregory A. Hughes and his wife Elisa, Tampa, FL, Tony R. Hughes and his wife Kristie, Knoxville, TN; sisters, Phyllis Culbertson and her husband Allen, Wise, VA, Sandra Ayala and her husband Larry, Tampa, FL; one granddaughter, Carmen Sophia Dubon.
The family will receive friends from 3-5:00 PM Sunday, July 17, 2011, at Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home. A memorial service will be conducted 5:00 PM Sunday in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Allen Culbertson officiating.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the American Cancer Society, 1825 Barrett Lakes Blvd. NW #280, Kennesaw, GA 30144-4565.
TIMMY RAY "SPIDER" COOKE
NORTON, VA – Timmy Ray “Spider” Cooke, 50, died Tuesday, July 5, 2011, at Ridgecrest Manor in Duffield, VA. He was an avid fisherman and enjoyed camping and Bluegrass music. He was a self employed auto mechanic. He was preceded in death by his father, Curtis Cooke, Sr., a daughter, Felecia Cooke Kern, maternal grandparents, John and Grace Messer and paternal grandparents, Jesse and Angeline Cooke.
He is survived by a daughter, Amanda Cooke Boggs and her husband, Landon, Norton, VA; Son, Jason Matheison, Wise, VA; mother, Billie Messer Cooke, Norton, VA; 5 brothers, Curtis “Eddie” Cooke, Jr. and his wife, Sherry, Norton, VA, Randy Cooke and his wife, Suzy, Norton, VA, Jerry Cooke, Sr. and his wife, Rosa, Big Stone Gap, VA, Terry Cooke, Church Hill, TN, Greg Cooke and his wife, Jill, Norton, VA; 3 sisters, Regina “Jeannie” Cooke Sturgill, Wise, VA, Marina Cooke Edwards and her husband, David, Wise, VA, Tina Cooke, Wise, VA; special niece, Candice “Muffin” Cooke; 6 grandchildren; a host of nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and special friends.
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. Roger Cooke officiating. Graveside committal services will be conducted 11:00 AM Friday at Powell Valley Memorial Gardens. Family and friends will meet at 10:30 AM Friday at the funeral home to travel in procession to the cemetery.
