The Montgomery Herald, Montgomery, W.Va. - Obituaries

Wed, Aug 20 2008

Published: March 25, 2008 03:53 pm

Obituaries — Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Robert Ray Hudson

Robert Ray Hudson, 65, of Chesapeake, Va., formerly of Powellton, died March 9, 2008, after a long illness.

Mr. Hudson retired from the U.S. Navy with 22 years of service.

Surviving: his sons, Timothy W. Hudson of St. Albans, and Steven R. Hudson and wife, Michelle, of Hurricane; sister, Lennie Reinholtz of Missouri; brother, Jack Hudson of Huntington; grandchildren, Ryan and Jacob Hudson of Illinois and Isaac Hudson of Hurricane; and stepgrandchildren, Austin, Andrew, and Alexis of Hurricane.

Funeral services for Mr. Hudson was private. At his request. he was cremated. Robert loved the Navy and his wishes were for his ashes to be placed at sea by the Navy.

Information submitted by O’Dell Funeral Home, Montgomery.

Carl Richard Lake

Carl Richard Lake, 70, of Handley, died March 22, 2008 at home.

Born Dec. 21, 1937, in Handley, he was the son of the late Carl and Delcie Marie Lake. He also was preceded in death by his sister, Betty June Yates.

Mr. Lake was retired from C&O Railroad as a locomotive engineer with 43 years of service.

He was a member of the BLE for 40 years, a member of the Pratt Lions Club and a lifetime member of Handley Baptist Church.

Surviving: wife, Alice “Skip” Hughes Lake; sons, James C. Lake and his wife, Sandra, of Mitchell, Ga., and Shawn Lake and his wife, Debra, of Dingy; sister, Donna Bass and her husband, Gene, of LaPlata, Md.; grandchildren; Emily Lake, Jennifer Copning, Kriston Lake, Carl Lake II, Justin Mingleclorff and William Mingleclorff; and great-grandchildren, Peyton Gibson, Brynna Copning and Kobe Copning.

Service was March 25 at O’Dell Funeral Home, Montgomery, with Rev. Lewis Villers, Rev. Lee Swor and Rev. Keith Hudson officiating. Burial followed in Montgomery Memorial Park at London.

Memorial contributions can be made to Kanawha Hospice Care Inc., 1143 Dunbar Avenue, Dunbar, WV 25064.

Arrangements by O’Dell Funeral Home, Montgomery.

Vernon B. Lewis

Vernon B. Lewis, 93, of Smithers, formerly of Columbus, Ohio, died March 13, 2008, in Montgomery General Hospital after a long illness.

He was a member of the Temple of Compassion Church, Columbus, Ohio.

Mr. Lewis was a former miner and a member of the UMWA.

Surviving: sisters-in-law, Hope Lewis and Pastor Ola Lewis, both of Columbus, Ohio; nephews, Richard White of Carlisle, Pa., and James White of Charleston; nieces, Rosa Anna Lewis and Paula Raye Lewis, both of Columbus, Ohio, Maurisee Mae Lewis, address unknown, Gladys Mathies of Louisville, Ky., Helen (Edward) Blackstock of Hansford, Karolyn (Rev. Thomas Sr.) Murray of Smithers; great-niece, Tina Palmer, who served as caregiver, of Smithers; great-nephew, Earl Mathies of Smithers; special friend, Paula Briggs; and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.

Funeral was March 21 at First Missionary Baptist Church, Smithers, with the Rev. Freddie Davenport and Bishop Thomas R. Murray Jr. officiating. Burial was in Meadow Haven Memorial Park, Ingram Branch.

Arrangements by Anderson-Hairston Funeral Home Inc., Montgomery.

Charlotte Lee Mitchell

Charlotte Lee Mitchell, 64, of Edgewater, Md., died of natural causes March 15, 2008, at her home.

Born Jan. 26, 1944, in Glen Ferris, she was the daughter of the late Margaret and Leroy Craig. She also was preceded in death by a brother, James Allen Craig.

Mrs. Mitchell graduated from Gauley Bridge High School and then completed two years of college, hoping to become a teacher. Unable to afford the rest of her education, she instead was a clown for 25 years, taking only a short break when her three children were in elementary school.

Mrs. Mitchell worked as an administrative assistant for Volkswagen of America for 30 years, and finished her career at ARINC in Annapolis.

She was an active member of Riva Trace Baptist Church in Edgewater, and was also a member of Beta Sigma Phi and the Annapolis chapter of the Red Hat Society.

Besides being a clown, she enjoyed reading, going to the beach, and volunteering at her church. Her three-week-old granddaughter was “the love of her life.”

She loved to make people laugh. Known to many as “Miss Blossom the Clown,” she attended birthday parties, church events and charity functions, using her balloon art, games and magic tricks to entertain children and adults.

Surviving: her husband of 37 years, Robert Wayne Mitchell Sr.; son, Robert Wayne “Robby” Mitchell Jr. of Edgewater; daughters, Tammy Price of Salisbury and Kristy Mitchell of Edgewater; and her granddaughter.

Funeral services were March 20 at Riva Trace Baptist Church, Davidsonville. Interment was in Lakemont Memorial Park.

Memorial contributions may be made to Riva Trace Baptist Church, Club Dust Missionaries Program, 475 W. Central Ave., Davidsonville, MD 21035.

Arrangements by George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater.

Billie Skaggs

Billie Kaye Gilbert Skaggs, 65, of Oak Hill, died March 19, 2008, at her home following a long illness.

Born Sept. 7, 1942, at Beckley, she was the daughter of the late Dorothy Mae Gilbert Payne and Roy Houston Payne Sr.

She was the retired owner for B&B Ambulance Co.

Mrs. Skaggs was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Oak Hill. She was a member of the last graduating class of Kingston High School, Class of 1960.

Surviving: her true love, Robert Alden Skaggs I, formerly of Rick Creek; sons, Gary Payne of Virginia, David Skaggs of Oak Hill, Alan Skaggs of Oak Hill and Robert Skaggs II of North Carolina; daughters, Michelle Miller of Oak Hill, Angel Skaggs of Fayetteville, Melissa Malay of Page, Amanda Richardson of Ansted and Bobbi Skaggs of Oak Hill; a brother, Roy Payne Jr. of Oak Hill; sisters, Karen Elder of Oak Hill, Elsie Painter of Hilltop and Robyn Colemen of Hilltop; and grandchildren, Catherine Skaggs, Daniel Miller, Zachary Skaggs, Savannah Skaggs, Amanda Lynn Peters, Cameron Skidmore, Noe Skidmore-Skaggs and Davallen Skidmore.

Memorial service was March 24 at Calvary Baptist Church, Oak Hill.

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

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

Arrangements by Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill.