RONNIE JAMES COWDEN

NORTON, VA - Ronnie James Cowden, 60, known to many as “Big R” and “Moose”, passed away at his residence on Wednesday, March 30, 2016.   Prior to becoming disabled, he was an avid hunter and fisherman, always enjoying being outside whether in his garden or visiting with friends.  His laughter and personality were one of a kind and will always be heard by those who knew and loved him best.

Ronnie attended John I. Burton High School in Norton, Virginia prior to entering the United States Army in the 1970’s.   He was a retired employee of the City of Norton.  He is preceded in death by his parents, Burchel and Anna Ruth Cowden and his mother-in-law, Betty Thacker.

Survivors include his wife of 36 years, Billie Jean Cowden, daughter and son-in-law Kayla and Ben Harvey; two grandsons, Tyler Cowden and Ethan Harvey; his brother and sister-in-law Wayne and Jeannie Cowden, sister Shirley Stidham, sister and brother-in-law Sue and Avery Hill and sister Lynne Pritchard; father-in-law Charlie Thacker, brother-in-law Mike Thacker and wife Vivian, all of Norton, Virginia; nephews Brad Stidham, Milford Stidham, Aaron Cowden, Dusty Cowden, Lee Martin Bowling, Alex Pritchard,  Jaden Pritchard and Derrick Thacker; nieces Michelle Sturgill and Mandi Thacker; special uncle Melvin Absher and a host of other uncles, aunts, cousins and friends.

The family will receive friends from 5-8 pm Friday, April 1, 2016 at Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home in Norton. Funeral services will be conducted 2 pm Saturday, April 2, 2016 in the funeral home chapel with the Reverend Ralph McFarland officiating.  Burial will follow in the Laurel Grove Cemetery in Norton.  Nephews and close family will serve as pallbearers.    

MARGARET LEATHA STARNES

NORTON, VA – Margaret Leatha (Miles) Starnes, 88, died Wednesday, March 23, 2016 at the Rose Garden Assisted Living Center in Grandville, MI.  A native of Norton, Virginia, she was a daughter of James and Maxie (Wells) Miles.  Mrs. Starnes was the widow of the Reverend Charles Starnes and was also preceded in death by a son, Jackie Starnes.  She had made her home in Grandville in recent years to be closer to her family.

Surviving are her son and daughter-in-law, Charles Dwaine and Janice Starnes, Wyoming, MI, a daughter-in-law, Linda Couch, Wise, VA, her grandchildren:  Abbey Hamblin, Dr. Chris Starnes, Joe Starnes, and Laurie Anderson, and several great grandchildren.

The family will receive friends from 5-7 PM Monday at the Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home in Norton.  Funeral services will be at 7 PM in the funeral home chapel with the Reverend Roger Sloce officiating.  Family and friends will gather between 10:00 and 10:30 AM Tuesday at the funeral home, where they will then travel in procession to the Laurel Grove Cemetery in Norton for graveside services and burial.

WILLIAM HOWARD CALLAWAY

NORTON, VA – William Howard Callaway, 88, died Thursday, March 24, 2016 at Heritage Hall Big Stone Gap following a long illness. Born in the Thurmond community of Elkin, NC, Howard was a son of William Marvin and Myrtle (Haymore) Callaway. He and his wife made their home in Norton, Virginia, where they operated the Royal Jewelers for many years.  Howard was a faithful member of the First Baptist Church of Norton and was a member of the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons. His wife, Velma Callaway, passed away on January 19, 2016.  He was also preceded in death by a daughter, Phyllis Ann Shell, and two sisters, Hazel Wright and Pauline Gillespie

He is survived by his daughters:  Rosa Carpenter, Fredericksburg, VA, Carol Brummitte  and Jeanne Callaway, both of Norton; his brothers, Sam (Dorothy) Callaway, Elkin, NC, and Bud Callaway, St. Petersburg, FL, his grandchildren (and their spouses):  David (Amanda) Shell, Amy (Kevin) Stanley, Ashley (Doug) Vinci, Michelle (Floyd) Olinger, Jessica Carpenter Kidd, and Becky Carpenter; and several great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends from 1:00 – 3:00 PM Monday, at the Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home in Norton.  Funeral services will be at 3 PM in the funeral home chapel with the Reverend Jim Collie officiating.  Family and friends will gather at the funeral home between 1:00 and 1:30 PM Tuesday.  They will then travel in procession to the Powell Valley Memorial Gardens for committal services and burial.  Floral tributes are welcome, or memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church of Norton, PO Box 499, Norton, VA  24273.

CHARLES WYATT

NORTON, VA – Charles (Rooster) Wyatt, 77, died Friday, March 18, 2016 at his residence. He was a member of the Coeburn Church of God and was a U.S. Navy veteran. He was a retired coal miner. He was preceded in death by two great grandchildren and several brothers and sisters.

He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Margie Herron Wyatt of Norton, Va.; three sons, David Herron of Norton, Va; Charlie Wyatt and his wife Honey of Norton, Va; Donald Wyatt and his wife Tonia of Big Stone Gap, Va; three daughters, Pamela Boatright and her husband Ronnie of Norton, Va., Sabrina Stallard and her husband Lance of Wise, Va., Felicia Cantrell and her husband David of Pound, Va.; twelve grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; a brother, Johnny Wyatt of Ohio; a sister, Lillie Starnes and her husband Junior of South Carolina; several nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends from 5-7 pm Monday, March 21, 2016, at Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home in Norton. Funeral services will be conducted at 7 pm Monday in the funeral home chapel with Pastor T.G. Branson and Pastor Jeff Reynolds officiating. Military graveside rites will be conducted at 12 noon Tuesday, March 22, 2016, at Laurel Grove Cemetery in Norton. Family and friends will gather at the funeral home by 11:30 am Tuesday to travel in procession to the cemetery.

LOIS J. KINSER FARMER

NORTON, VA – Lois J. Kinser Farmer, 86, died Friday, March 18, 2016 at Mountain View Regional Medical Center Long Term Care. She was a lifelong resident of Norton, Va. She was preceded in death by her parents, William B. and Virginia Walden Kinser; one son, Russell E. Adams; one sister. Gladys Kinser Stewart; three brothers, Jim Kinser, Clarence Kinser and Ray Kinser.

She is survived by her son, David Steven Adams and wife Rebecca of Blackwater Va.; one stepdaughter, Kathy Farmer Kelly; two stepsons, William Farmer, Jr. and Tommy Farmer; several nieces, nephews and many friends and caregivers at Mountain View long term care unit in Norton, Va.

The family will receive friends from 5-7 pm Sunday at Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted at 7 pm Sunday in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Jim Collie officiating. Graveside committal services will be conducted at 11 am Monday at Highland Cemetery in Norton. Family and friends will gather at the funeral home by 10:30 am Monday to travel in procession to the cemetery.

JOHNNY KISER

NORTON, VA – Johnny Willard Kiser, 77, passed away at his home on Gardner Heights Road, Thursday, March 10, 2016, following a long illness.  He was a retired coal miner, and was a son of the late Reverend Willard Taft Kiser and Lena Maude (Kennedy) Kiser.  Johnny was preceded in death by a son, Steven Willard Kiser, and his brother and sisters:  Kenneth Ray Kiser, Barbara Ann Kiser, and Carol Jean Kiser.

Surviving are his wife, Ada Adams Kiser, his daughter, Anita Lynn “Sally” Kiser, his granddaughter, Stacy Nicole Puriefoy and her husband, PJ, his great granddaughter, Taylor Puriefoy, and his brother Hugh Kiser, Norton, VA.

Services for Johnny Kiser will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday, March 19, at Wilson’s Chapel FWB Church in the Needmore Community with Pastor Benny Boles officiating.  The family will receive friends from 1:00 PM until time for the service.  Memorial contributions may be made to Wilson’s Chapel FWB Church, c/o 5961 Powell River Road, Norton, VA  24273. Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home of Norton is serving the Kiser family.

RUBLE GARDNER

NORTON, VA – Ruble Jane Gardner, 80, died Monday, March 7, 2016 at Norton Community Hospital. She was the daughter of the late Percy and Ruby Isom Lunsford. She was also preceded in death by a daughter, Regina Yates; a son, Frank Gardner; brothers and sisters, Kenny Lunsford, Doug Lunsford, Dolores Gliesman and Judy Sturgill.

She is survived by her husband, Frank Patrick “F.P.” Gardner of Norton, Va.; three daughters, Alicia (Kevin) Hubbard of Bristol, Tn., Elizabeth (Ewing) Phillips of Wise, Va., Mavis (Joe) Kennedy of Wise, Va.; a son, Allen Gardner of Norton, Va.; 11 grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; three sisters, Gail (Billy) Dingus of Clifton, Tn., Peggy (Doyle) Cooke of Norton, Va., Cynthia (Carlos) Hamilton of Wise, Va.; several nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends from 5-7 PM Friday at Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home in Norton, VA.  Services for Mrs. Gardner will be at 7:00 PM in the funeral home chapel with the Pastor Roger Roberts officiating.

DANNY LEE HOPKINS

WISE, VA – Danny Lee Hopkins, 70, passed away Wednesday, March 2, 2016 at Johnson City Medical Center. He was born and raised in Pound, Virginia and graduated from Pound High School in 1965. He attained his B.S. degree from Clinch Valley College, now UVA Wise. Danny was a U.S. Marine Corps. veteran having served in Vietnam. He was owner/operator of His Only and His & Her Shop in Pound and Norton. After his retirement he spent his time as a substitute teacher in the Wise County and City of Norton school systems.

He is survived by his wife, Trish Pickering Hopkins of Wise, Va.; a son, Joshua Hopkins of Charlotte, NC; a daughter, Rebecca Hopkins of Nashville, Tn.; his parents, Imogene Sturgill and Guy Sturgill of Wise, Va.; his brother, Robbie Sturgill and his wife, Judy of Big Stone Gap, Va.; his other siblings, Greg Hopkins, Edsel Hopkins, Mark Hopkins and Gloria Hopkins; several nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends from 5:00-7:30 pm Saturday, March 5, 2016 at the Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home in Norton. A memorial service will be conducted at 7:30 pm Saturday in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Kenneth Conner officiating.