Obituaries - July 16, 2008

From staff reports

Published: July 16, 2008

Carter Randolph Allen
Carter Randolph Allen, 86, of Summit Square, 501 Oak Avenue, Waynesboro, died on July 10.
He was born Aug. 28, 1921 in Elkins, W.Va., the youngest of five sons and one daughter born to James Edward Allen and Susan Hackney Garrott. 
He served as a Lieutenant (JG) USNR during World War II, spending 19 months on the destroyer USS MacDonough, DD 351 as a Gunnery and Material Officer. His ship and crew participated in major engagements and campaigns including the Gilbert Islands (October, 1943), the Marshall Islands, Eniwetok Island, the Marianas Islands, Holandia, New Guinea, Palau Island, Leyte Island, Mindoro Island, Luzon Island and Okinawa Island (April, 1945).
He married Helen Porter Coley at the beginning of a six-week leave, on Feb. 25, 1945, after which he returned to the Western Pacific for the Okinawa invasion.
He graduated from Marshall College, Huntington, W.Va. in 1943 and later served as a member of its Alumni Association. In 1948 he graduated from Washington and Lee University School of Law in Lexington, and served as Class Agent from 1955 through 2000.
He practiced law in Waynesboro from Nov. of 1948 to June of 2002. He began his vocation as a solo practitioner and finished as the senior partner in the law firm currently known as Allen & Carwile, PC. He served as Commonwealth’s Attorney for the City of Waynesboro from 1954 to 1969 and for the County of Augusta from 1959 to 1960. He also served as City Attorney for Waynesboro on three different occasions for a total of 25 years.
He was a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the Virginia Law Foundation, a Life Fellow of the American Bar Association and the Virginia Bar Association and a member and past president of the Waynesboro/Augusta County Bar Association. He also served on several Virginia State Bar committees.
He belonged to the First Presbyterian Church in Waynesboro. He was an active member in the life of the church and served in many different ways throughout the years, including as Elder and Deacon.
He was a Charter Member of the Waynesboro Country Club and served as past President/Director of many community organizations including YMCA, Chamber of Commerce, Community Chest Drive (United Way), Rotary Club (where he was a Paul Harris Fellow), Lion’s Club, Waynesboro Public Library, Waynesboro Community Hospital, Shenandoah Shared Hospital Services, Augusta Memorial Hospital Corporation, Blue Ridge Multiple Sclerosis Society and various banks and lending institutions.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Helen Porter Coley Allen; his second daughter, Elizabeth Carter Allen; his sister, Frances Blunt Allen; and his brothers, James Edward Allen Jr., Joseph Garrott Allen, Robert Alfriend Allen and Charles Garrott Allen.
Survivors include his daughters, Charlotte Wade Allen of Forest and Staunton, Mary Dudley Allen Eggleston and Catherine Garrott Allen, both of Afton; his grandchildren, Jonathan Scott Mason of Staunton, Mary Carter Mason Stallings of Morehead City, N.C., Carter Christian Eggleston of Davidson, N.C. and Daniel Mercer Eggleston of Afton; and one great-granddaughter.
A memorial celebration of his life was held on July 13 at First Presbyterian Church in Waynesboro.  A private family graveside service was held in Riverview Cemetery.

James Michael Baber
James Michael Baber, 50, of Waynesboro, died on July 5.
Born March 5, 1958, in Staunton, he was the son of the late James Edward and Murrial Elizabeth (Fauber) Baber.
In 1976, he joined the U.S. Navy and spent his career in the military as a “Sea-Bee.” He was a member of New Hope United Methodist Church.
Survivors include his two daughters, Melissa Baber, of Roanoke, Jamie Kelly Baber, of Waynesboro; sister, Debbie Arnold and her husband Sam, of Fort Defiance; grandchildren, Trevor and Carson Smondroski; former wife and friend, Beth Kelly Scott, mother of their daughter, and her children, Nikki, Kaitlin, and Josh; and special friends. He also leaves his first wife, Jeanne Harner of Roanoke, mother of their daughter; one nephew; two nieces, as well as a number of aunts, uncles and cousins.
A memorial service was held on July 11 at New Hope United Methodist Church.

Frank Angress Cottrell Sr.
Frank Angress Cottrell Sr., 79 of Tye River Road, Arrington, died on July 7.
Born Oct. 22, 1928 in Wingina (Nelson Co.), he was a son of the late John Cottrell and Hattie Forest Cottrell.
He was a retired foreman with S.L. Williamson, Inc., a Deacon and member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church.
Besides his parents he is preceded in death by a daughter Ernestine C. Tucker and three brothers: James, Theodore and Haywood Cottrell.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Georgianna E. Cottrell; eleven children, Dorothy Carter, Stanley Cottrell and wife Annette, Garnet Nickens and husband Greg, Alvin Cottrell, Bernard Cottrell and wife Lucille, Hilton Cottrell, Jerome Cottrell, Frank A. Cottrell Jr. and wife Glenda, Eugenia Cottrell, Reginald Cottrell and wife Uvonna and Anthony Cottrell and wife Sherrell; a grandson, William Tucker and 16 other grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
A funeral service was held on July 12 at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Shipman. Interment followed in the Cottrell Family cemetery in Shipman.

Kenneth Brook Crews
Kenneth Brook Crews, 80, of Lynchburg died on July 8.
Born in Amherst County on Nov. 26, 1927, he was a son of the late Clayton H. Crews and Muriel Wright Crews and was the widower of Barbara Harman Crews.
He was retired from GLTC in Lynchburg and was a member of Amelon United Methodist Church.
He is survived by a son, Danny Brook Crews and his wife, Susan, of Forest; two grandchildren, Kelly C. Drinkard of Lynchburg and Matthew Crews of Forest; two sisters, Karla C. Marsh and Kay C. Tinsley, both of Lynchburg; a sister-in-law, Adele Crews of Madison Heights; and a brother-in-law, Bruce Harman and his wife, Barbara, of Lynchburg. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews and friends.
A celebration of his life was held on July 11 in Madison Heights. Military Honors were provided by his comrades from American Legion Post 16.

Warren Lee Evans
Warren Lee Evans, 82, of Evington, died on July 7.
He was born on July 28, 1925, in Amherst County, a son of the late Aubrey Bascom Evans and the late Alice Scott Maddox Evans. He was also preceded in death by two grandchildren, Shane Evans and Lisa Evans, three brothers and three sisters.
He was a retired machinist and farmer, and a member of New London Ruritan Club and Pleasant View Baptist Church. He was also a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, having served in World War II in Okinawa.
Surviving is his wife of 61 years, Elna Lucille Witt Evans; six sons, Frank E. Evans and wife, Carolyn, of Lynchburg, Donald R. Evans and wife, Brenda, of Huddleston, Robert L. Evans, Dennis J. Evans and wife, Sandy, all of Evington, Clifton W. Evans and wife, Linda, of Madison Heights, and Charles R. Evans and wife, Linda, of Forest; two daughters, Nancy C. Hill and husband, Barry, of Washington and Cynthia V. Evans of Evington; two brothers, Edward M. Evans of Forest and Marvin Evans of Evington; four sisters, Frances E. Byington of St. Louis, Mo., Louise E. Wilson of Lynchburg, Dorothy E. Spence of Danville and Betty E. Green of Dover, Del.; 13 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
A celebration of his life was held on July 10 at Updike Funeral Chapel in Bedford. Military honors were offered by American Legion Post 16.

Helen Arlene Witt Fields
Helen Arlene Witt Fields, 79 of Hillside Lane, Afton died on July 9.
Born July 10, 1928 in Nelson County, she was a daughter of the late John Abner Witt and Mildred Carroll Gordon Witt. She was a member of Rockfish Valley Baptist Church in Nellysford.
She is survived by her husband, Robert S. Fields; four sons, Robert Wayne Fields of Greenfield, Daniel Lynn Fields of Nebraska, Gary Witt Fields and wife Kimberly of Forest, and Richard Wendell Fields of Greenfield; two daughters, Debra Kay Fields of Greenfield and Barbara F. Hartley of Roanoke; a brother, Edward H. Witt of Nashville, Tenn.; nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
A funeral service was held on July 12 at Rockfish Valley Baptist Church. Interment followed in the church cemetery.

Dorothy Etta Gibson
Dorothy Etta Gibson, 71, of Palmyra, died on July 7.
Born May 19, 1937, she was the daughter of the late Harry and Lottie Woodson Morris and was the wife of the late William Lewis Gibson.
In addition, she was preceded in death by an adopted daughter, Stephanie Wheaton.
She is survived by her daughters, Betty Snow and her husband, Richard, and Mae Eddy; four sons, Mark Gibson and his wife, Anna, William Gibson, James Gibson and David Morris; one sister, Ruth Shaver; one brother, Harry Morris; four great-grandchildren; a niece; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A funeral service was conducted on July 10 at the Teague Chapel. Interment followed in St. John the Baptist Churchyard.

Dave Ronald Hamlet
Dave Ronald Hamlet, 73, of Lynchburg, died on July 11.
He was born on Aug. 13, 1934, a son of the late Robert Lee and Lula Morton Hamlet.
He served in the U.S. Army. He retired from Babcock and Wilcox after 38 years of service. He was a member of Heritage Baptist Church.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, William Hamlet.
He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Peggy Bowler Hamlet; their three daughters, Melinda Pendleton and her husband, Jerry, of Forest, Michelle Sloan and her husband, David, of Kennesaw, Ga., and Tonya Hamlet of Madison Heights; five granddaughters, Madison and Macy Pendleton, and Jessica, Kalei and Lauren Sloan; four brothers, Robert Hamlet and his wife, Betty, Melvin Hamlet, Harold Hamlet and his wife, Dorothy, and James Hamlet and his wife, Lyndia; and a sister, Carol Waller and her husband, Owen; 12 nephews; and two nieces.
A celebration of his life was held on July 14 at Heritage Baptist Church Chapel. Interment followed in Fort Hill Memorial Park with military honors provided by American Legion Post 16.

Calvin Lewis Honaker IV
Calvin “Buddy” Lewis Honaker IV, 52, of Amherst died on July 9.
Born in Lynchburg, Feb. 18, 1956, he was a son of the late Calvin Lewis Honaker III and Evelyn Louise McCormick Honaker. He was a member of Thomas Road Baptist Church and a logger.
He is survived by three daughters, Karen Honaker of Gladys, Tiffany Honaker of Nathalie and Laurie Dudley and husband, Tommy, of Rustburg; a brother, Mark Honaker and wife, Delores, of Gladstone; two sisters, Marcia Bryant and husband, Bernard, of Appomattox and Gwen Moses and husband, John, of Winginia; and five grandchildren, Dylan, Ethan, Tyler, Josh and Lillie.
He was preceded in death by two sisters, Wanda Faye Honaker and Lana Louise Honaker.
Funeral services were held on July 12 at Robinson Funeral Home with burial following in the McCormick Family Cemetery.

Elvis LeRoy McDaniel
Elvis LeRoy McDaniel died on July 5.
He was born on Aug. 29, 1957, to Lucille Blackwell of Amherst County. On Aug. 6, 1978, he was united in Holy Matrimony to Maxine Douglas McDaniel and in this union they had one daughter, Melissa McDaniel of Fairfax.
He accepted Christ at an early age and joined the Timothy Baptist Church. After marrying his wife, he decided to unite with her at Piney Hill Baptist Church, where he served as the chairman of the deacon board, superintendent of the Sunday school, church treasurer, president of the men’s chorus, a member of the usher board and the gospel chorus, and organized the Tuesday night men’s Bible study.
In addition to his mother, wife and daughter, he is survived by a brother, Linwood McDaniel (Michelle) of Big Island; his in-laws, Joe and Florence Douglas; one sister-in-law, Matilda Johnson; one brother-in-law, Donald L. Douglas (Anita); three aunts, Julia Rucker, Frances Rucker and Lillian McCray; two uncles, Taylor Rucker and George McDaniel; three nieces; two nephews; a son-in-law-to-be, Montego L. Mercer of King William; and a host of other aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
A funeral service was conducted on July 9 at Piney Hill Baptist Church. Interment was in the church cemetery.

Kenneth Wayne Proehl Sr.
Kenneth Wayne Proehl Sr., 64, of Lynchburg, died on July 6. He is survived by his wife, Margaret Mason Proehl.
Born Aug. 30, 1943, in Lynchburg, he was a son of the late Carl Otto Proehl and Bernice Henegan Proehl. He was self-employed, and was a member of Marsh Memorial Methodist Church, and Moose Lodge # 715 in Lynchburg.
In addition to his wife, survivors include three children, Kenneth Wayne Proehl Jr. of Amherst, Tracy Lynnette Proehl Shelton and Gary Wade Proehl, both of Lynchburg; a brother, William Proehl and wife, Joanne, of Lynchburg; uncle, Raymond Henegan of Forest; aunt, Thelma Whorley of Bedford; two grandchildren, Elijah Wayne Shelton and Talia Nevaeh Proehl-Hill, both of Lynchburg; other relatives and friends.
A memorial service was conducted on July 9 at Whitten Timberlake Chapel.

Gloria Fulcher Rhodes
Gloria Fulcher Rhodes, 65, of Madison Heights died on July 12.
Born in Amherst County, she was the daughter of the late Willie Thomas Fulcher and the late Clara Gowen Fulcher.
She was a retired employee of Central Virginia Training Center after 20 years of service and a member of Madison Heights Baptist Church.
She is survived by one son, William Rhodes Jr. of Madison Heights; one daughter, Lynette R. Cyrus and her husband, Gene, of Rustburg; one sister, Shirley F. Eubank and her husband, Harry, of Madison Heights; and one granddaughter, Chelesa Jean Rhodes.
A graveside service was conducted on July 15 at Meade Cemetery.

Elizabeth Harvey Withers
Elizabeth Harvey Withers, 87, of Roseland died on July 10.
Born in Nelson County, Nov. 28, 1920, she was a daughter of the late Joseph Franklin and Mabel B. Stevens Harvey.
She was a member of Woodland Baptist Church and the Roseland Rescue Squad Auxiliary for many years. She was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, David Murrell Withers, on March 23, 1998.
She is survived by one son, David I. Withers of Roseland; two daughters, Sandra W. Palm of Roseland and Joyce W. Golloday and her husband, John, of Florida; nine grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by one daughter, Nancy W. Battey; two brothers, William M. and John I. Harvey; three sisters, Mabel H. Harris, Hilda H. Butler and Laura H. Smoot; and a grandson, David Golloday.
A graveside funeral service was conducted on July 14 in Jonesboro Cemetery.