Helen Sybil Prater Hale, 69 years of age, of Abingdon and formerly of Grundy, passed away Thursday, April 3, 2008 at her home.  Born in Buchanan County, she was the daughter of the late Ross and Opal Prater.  She was a graduate of Grundy Senior High School and Pikeville College.  She was formerly employed as a teacher by the Buchanan Country School System. She was an educator, an interior designer, a former retail store owner, an avid reader, and an animal lover.   

Ms. Hale was the last surviving member of her immediate family.  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her only son, David Ross Hale, her brother, John Ross Prater, and her sister, Brenda Sue Saba. 

Ms. Hale is survived by her daughter-in-law: Margaret Skeens Hale of Grundy, VA; two grandchildren: Charles Hale of Bristol, TN and Reece Hale Robertson of Grundy, VA; two great-grandchildren: Elijah and Elizabeth Hale; two nieces: Erica Prater Miller of Abingdon, VA and Jessica Lynn Davis of IN; three nephews:  John Ross Prater of Grundy, VA, Christopher Saba of Abingdon, VA and Matthew Saba of Abingdon, VA; four great nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services for Helen Prater Hale were conducted Friday night at Farris Funeral Chapel.  A committal graveside service will be conducted Saturday, April 5, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. in Mountain Valley Memorial Park in Big Rock, Virginia.   Honorary Pallbearers are Charles Hale, B.D. Robertson, John Ross Prater, Danny Miller, Christopher Saba and Matthew Saba. 

Mrs. Wanda Christine Wilson, age 60, passed away Tuesday, April 8, 2008, at Johnston Memorial Hospital.  She was a lifelong resident of Washington County, Virginia.  She was of the Baptist faith and loved to fish and garden.  She was preceded in death by her parents, James Ted Thomas and Bessie Maxwell Thomas, and by her daughter, Carolyn Ann Wilson.

She is survived by her husband of 43 years, Dale Wilson; sons: Billy Wilson and wife Janice of Lodi; Ronnie Wilson and wife Crystal of Abingdon; and Davey Wilson of the home; daughter, Cindy Whit and husband Keith of Crewe, VA; three brothers: Fred Thomas of Rural Retreat; John Thomas of Saltville; and Ed Thomas of Glade Spring; sister Eunice Bott of Glade Spring; nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

A graveside funeral service for Mrs. Wanda Christine Wilson will be held at 12 noon on Friday, April 11, 2008, at Rush Creek Cemetery.  The family will receive friends from 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. on Friday at the Main Street Chapel of Farris Funeral Service. 

Mr. Oscar Burlen Cox, age 65 passed away Tuesday, April 8, 2008 at his residence.

He was born in Meadowview, VA and had lived most of his life in Washington County, VA. He was a Baptist and was preceded in death by his father, George B. Cox, two brothers, Marion Lee Cox and Henry Thomas Cox, a grandson, Travis Jesse Freese. He was a retired truck driver and began farming on the family farm after the death of a brother.

Survivors include, two sons, Oscar Burlen Cox, Jr., and wife Madeline Cox, Little Rock, Arkansas, Jared Burlen Cox of the home, five daughters, Sherry Lawson, Bristol, VA, Sandy Manning and husband, Jerry Manning, Lottsburg, VA, Patricia Gissendanner and husband Jackie  Gissendanner, Bristol, TN, Brandy Foster and husband, Brad Foster, Bristol, VA, Samantha Cox, Abingdon, VA, his mother, Georgia Kathryn Cox, Meadowview, VA, a step-son, Jonathan Randall Dalton and wife, Audrey Dalton, Bristol, VA, two sisters, Dorothy Clanahan of Mary Esther, Florida and Lois Wilson and her husband, Larry Wilson, Glade Spring, VA, seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

A graveside service will be conducted Saturday, April 12, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. in the Mountain View Baptist Cemetery, Old Saltworks Road, Meadowview with Pastor Sherrell Dunn and Pastor Tommy Wilson officiating. Interment will follow the service.

Pallbearers will be Leon Smith, Doug McCracken, Joe Donald Necessary, Jerry Manning, Ricky Combs and Randall Dalton. Honorary pallbearers will be David Moore and Clarence Tedder.

Those attending are asked to assemble at the funeral home with the procession leaving at 1:30  p. m.

The family will receive friends Friday from 6:00-9:00 p.m. in the funeral home.

Mr. Hubert Ray Neal, 90, passed away peacefully on Saturday April 12, 2008 at Johnston Memorial Hospital.  He was of the Baptist faith.  He was the son of the late Lihue and Susie Dunn Neal.  He was preceded in death by his son Pat Neal.  He was an honorably discharged Seaman, 2^nd Class, V6, SV, USNR with the U. S. Navy.  He owned and operated Abingdon Cleaners and Launderers, Inc. for many years.

He is survived by 2 sons, Roger Neal, M.D. and Jack Neal, both of Abingdon; 2 daughters, Sandra Walters of Abingdon and Mrs. Jim (Debra) Cox of Dublin, Virginia; 9 grandchildren; two great grandchildren; and 2 sisters, Rosie Lewis of Abingdon and Lillian South of Houston, TX.

Mr. Neal’s wishes were to be cremated.  There will be no services at the funeral home.

Mr. Ernest Epperson “Doc” Snead, age 84, passed away Monday, April 14, 2008, at the home of his daughter in Abingdon, VA.  He was born in and a long-time resident of the Saltville area of Washington County, VA.

Ernest was born May 5, 1923, to Vincent B. and Beatrice Perkins Snead, the sixth of eight children.  He proudly served in the U.S. Army Air Corp. in World War II from April 14, 1943 to February 13, 1946.  He was an employee of Olin Chemical Corporation of Saltville, VA, for 24 years.  Following its closing, he worked as a carpenter in the Abingdon area for 26 years before retiring at the age of 75 in 1998.  Ernest loved woodworking, gardening, traveling, outdoor work and most of all visits with relatives, friends and neighbors.  He was a devoted husband, father, and family man.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Ralph and Roy Snead; and three sisters: Louetta Ferguson, Lilie Snead, and Hester Boardwine.

He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 60 years, Lucille Montgomery Snead, and by his daughters, Shirley Snead and Judy Vermillion and husband Sherman of Abingdon.  He is also survived by two sisters, Hazel Duff and husband Charlie of Glade Spring, VA, and Frances Snead of Saltville, VA.  Other survivors include brother-in-law Ralph Montgomery and wife Audrey, and sisters-in-law Lilie Mae Snead, Revonda Hollandsworth and Eula Montgomery, as well as several nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews.

The funeral service for Mr. Snead will be held at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 16, 2008, at the Main Street Chapel of Farris Funeral Service with Rev. Jerry Eggers and Pastor Dennis Banks officiating.  The family will receive friends Wednesday from 6:30 p.m. – 8:15 p.m. at the funeral home prior to the service.  The committal service and burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday at Forest Hills Memory Gardens.  Those attending the committal service are invited to meet at the cemetery by 10:45 a.m. Thursday.

Active pallbearers will be Calvin Matney, Denton Ferguson, Giles (Buddy) Ferguson, Tim Matney, Jim Montgomery and Mike Montgomery.  Honorary pallbearers will be Ronnie Montgomery, Randy Boardwine, Doug Ferguson, Mearl Collins, Gene Sikes, Donnie Eastridge, Bobby Collins, Jack Eastridge, Doug Harris, Ray Henderson, Freddie Henderson, John Rickman, Paul (Bossie) Collins, and Fred Talley.

Mrs. Amanda Campo Weems, age 89 passed away Wednesday, April 16, 2008 in Grace Healthcare of Abingdon.

Mrs. Weems was a native of Barre, Vermont and moved to the Abingdon area from Alexandria, VA.  in 1975.

She was preceded in death by her husband, LTC Woodrow W. Weems, USAF. She was a Veteran of World War II serving as a 1st LT in the U. S. Army as a surgical nurse.  Both were of the Presbyterian faith.

Survivors include her daughter, Patricia Bales, Emory, VA, her brother, Victor Campo, Buenos Aires, Argentina, her grandchildren, Travis Lane Bales, wife Katrina and great granddaughter, Gabriella Brooklyn Bales, Houston, TX, Trent Marion Bales, wife Rachel, Abingdon, VA.

Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.

Our many thanks to Green Spring Retirement Center and Grace Healthcare for their wonderful care given to my mother.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the American Heart Association, P. O. Box 5216, Glen Allen, VA 23058.

Mrs. Gladys Jones Farris, age 92, died Tuesday, April 15, 2008 at her home.

Born on April 7, 1916 in Washington County, Virginia, Gladys was a daughter of the late Charles William Lee and Mary McCray Lee.  Most of her life in Washington County was spent living in the Green Spring and Mendota communities. She was a member of Mountain View United Methodist Church.

She was preceded in death by her husbands, Emory D. Jones and Fred W. Farris and her infant brother, Roy Newton Lee.

The family wishes to give special thanks to her caregivers, Louise Ferguson, Mary Bishop and Gina Robinson   and also to the staff of Home Health of Southwest VA and to the staff and nurses of Hospice of Southwest VA.

Survivors include her daughter, Mary V. Jones of Bristol, TN; her sons, David A. Jones and wife Mary of Blountville, TN; Ralph L. Jones and wife Dinah of  Bristol, VA and Tommy A. Jones and wife Peggy of Bluff City, TN; her cousin, Dorothy Torbett  of Piney Flats, TN; 4 step-grandchildren and 8 step-great grandchildren.

A funeral service will be conducted at 7:30 P. M. Thursday, April 17, 2008 in the Main Street Chapel of Farris Funeral Service, 427 E. Main Street in Abingdon with Rev. John Thrasher and Rev. Donald Thayer officiating. The committal and burial service will be conducted at 2:00 P. M. Friday at the Mountain View United Methodist Church Cemetery.

A funeral procession will leave the funeral home at 1:30 P. M. Friday to go to the cemetery. Pallbearers will be selected from family and friends. The family will receive friends from 6:00  - 7:15 P. M. Thursday before the funeral service.

Dr. Chris Waites, 38, passed away Tuesday, April 15, 2008, at Johnston Memorial Hospital.  He was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia.  He graduated from Troy University in Troy, AL, and from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta.  Dr. Waites had been a practicing physician of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Georgia and in Abingdon. 

He enjoyed many outdoor activities including hunting, fishing, biking and riding motorcycles.  He was also a Nascar fan.  He was a member of Abingdon United Methodist Church.

He was preceded in death in 1996 by his father, Leslie Waites.  His surviving family includes his wife, Angee Waites; his children, Drew Waites and Brenna Waites of the home; his mother, Carol Waites of Fayetteville, GA; his sister, Angie Crockett of Fayetteville, GA; his maternal grandparents, Louis and Martha Vickery of Fayetteville, GA; and several aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

The funeral service for Dr. Chris Waites will be held at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, April 19, 2008, at Abingdon United Methodist Church with the Rev. Walter Weikel and the Rev. Nicole Hill officiating.  Burial will follow at Forest Hills Memory Gardens.  Pallbearers will be Christian Alexander, Bill Gibson, Doc O’Neill, Danny Ruble, Darius Johnson, Mike Collins, Jason Trauger, Danny Trauger, Shawn Trauger, and John Holley. 

The family will visit with friends on Friday, April 18, 2008, from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at the Main Street Chapel of Farris Funeral Service.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Abingdon United Methodist Church, 101 East Main Street, Abingdon, VA  24210, or to the Andrew and Brenna Waites Trust Account: Payable to Angela Kay Waites at Wachovia Bank, 332 Cummings Street, Abingdon, VA 24210.

Mr. Edward Weldon Saltz, Jr., age 40, passed away Wednesday, April 16, 2008 in his home.

Mr. Saltz was born March 9, 1968 in Washington County, Virginia and had lived in the area all of his life. He was of the Baptist faith. He was a loving son and dad. He enjoyed playing his guitar and listening to music.

Mr. Saltz is survived by his beloved son, John Harold Saltz of Abingdon. He is also survived by his mother, Shelby Gean Hoss and husband Dennis of Abingdon, his father, Edward Weldon Saltz, Sr. of Bristol, Tennessee. Two uncles, Wayne Moore of Hampton, Virginia and Ben Moore of Glade Spring, Virginia and two aunts, Pearl Yarber of Glade Spring and Barbara Wyatt and husband, James of Abingdon.. He is also survived by his friends and many loving family members.

The funeral service will be conducted at 2 P.M. on Sunday, April 20, 2008 in the Main Street Chapel of Farris Funeral Service with Pastor Herbert Bailey and Pastor William D. Hamm, Jr. officiating officiating. Burial will follow in Glade Spring Baptist Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Dennis Hoss, James Wyatt, Bobby Woodside, Kenny Neely, Robby Neely, Ben Moore, Benny Moore, and Roy Mitchell. The family will receive friends from 6-8 P.M. in the funeral home on Saturday, April 19, 2008.

Clyde A. Stringer, age 88, passed away at his home on April 25, 2008 after a brief illness.

Born on March 10, 1920  in Washington County, Virginia, Clyde was a son of the late John Stringer and America Virginia Booth Stringer.  He was also preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Maxie Anderson Stringer and his brothers, Raymond, John, Tom and Hugh Lee.

Clyde was a U. S. Army Veteran of WW II where he served as staff sergeant  in the Pacific Campaign. He was member of the Patton-Crosswhite V. F. W. Post #6975 and a member of the Shelby Masonic  Lodge where he was a Royal Arch Mason. He was a former sales manager at Bristol Lincoln-Mercury  and retired as part owner of Loudy Candy Company after thirty five years.  Clyde was a longtime member of Reynolds Memorial United Methodist Church.

Survivors include his twin daughters, Peggy Heath and husband Kelly and Libby Hoskins and husband Claud all of Bristol; his son, Ed Stringer and wife Cindy of Marion, VA; four grandchildren, Charles Stringer, Christie Grumbos, Angela Dannhardt and Seth Stringer; three great grandchildren; his brother, Joe Stringer of Bristol; his sisters, Frances Logan of Meadowview, VA and Peggy Lester of Bristol and several nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be conducted at 8:00 P. M. Sunday, April 27, 2008 in the Main Street Chapel of Farris Funeral Service with Pastor Ritchie Hayes officiating. The committal and burial service will be conducted at 10:00 A. M. Monday, April 28, 2008 in Knollkreg Memorial Park in Abingdon, VA. Those attending the burial service are asked to assemble at the cemetery by 9:50 A. M.  Monday. The family will receive  friends before the funeral service Sunday  from 6:00 - 7:45 P. M. at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be John Thacker, Randy Harper and his nephews, Johnny Stringer, Hugh Stringer, Jackie Lester and Billy Lester. Honorary pallbearers will be Jim Stringer, Tom Lester, Frank Loudy, George Helms, John Birckhead and his many friends and neighbors of Scenic Park.

In place of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to the Wellmont Hospice House, 280 Steele’s Road, Bristol, TN 37620. The family wishes to extend special thanks to Dr. Sue Prill and her staff for the kindness shown to Clyde and his family.

Mr. John Henry Kodak, Jr., age 89, passed away Saturday, April 26, 2008 in Johnston Memorial Hospital.

Mr. Kodak was born July 31, 1918 in Gary, West Virginia, to the late John Henry Kodak, Sr. and the late Anna Kodak. Mr. Kodak was a United States Navy Veteran and a retired mine electrician with Clinchfield Coal Company at Moss #2 and a member of the UMWA Local 2274. Mr. Kodak had lived in Abingdon for the past fifteen years and was a Mason with Clintwood Chapter 66 and a Shriner. He loved to garden and cook, and he was of the Pentecostal Faith.

Mr. Kodak was preceded in death by two sisters, Mary Kodak and Anna Taylor and three brothers, Mike Kodak, Steve Kodak and Charles Kodak.

Mr. Kodak is survived by his wife of 71 years, Flora Kodak; two daughters, Brenda Kodak Adkins and husband, Ray of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania and Kitty Kodak Inscore and husband, Gene of Abingdon, Virginia; five grandchildren including John Adkins and wife, Terri of Alvarado, Virginia; and five great-grandchildren.

Graveside service will be conducted at 2:00 P.M. Wednesday, April 30, 2008 in Forest Hills Memory Gardens with Pastor Darrell Milgrim officiating. Masonic graveside rites will be conducted by Clintwood, Virginia Lodge #66 and Abingdon, Virginia Lodge #48. Those wishing to attend the graveside service are asked to assemble at the cemetery by 1:45 P.M.  Honorary Pallbearers will be Ron Kodak, Charlie Shortridge, Dr. James Denton, Dr. Ellison Conrad, Martin Swann, Ricky Kodak, John Adkins, and David Kodak.

The family will receive friends from 6-8- P.M. on Tuesday April 29, 2008 in the Main Street Chapel of Farris Funeral Service.

Johnnie Wayne Morrison, age 68, died Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at the Grace Healthcare Center in Abingdon.

Johnnie was born on October 2, 1939 in Roanoke County, Virginia son of the late Preston and Mamie Moore Morrison. He was also preceded in death by his brothers Tim and Kenneth Morrison and a grandson.

Johnnie was a U. S. Navy Veteran serving from 1956 – 1962. He was a retired area manager for Orkin Exterminating Company.

Survivors include his daughters, Susan Croteau and husband Donald, Betty Cline and husband David, Bobby Funkhouser and husband Robert; his son, Michael Morrison and wife Angie; his sister-in-law, Jean Morrison; 6 grandchildren; special cousin Delores Farmer and husband Dennis as well as several more cousins, nieces and nephews; his special friends, Joyce Bare and Family, Norma Fields, Donna Fields, Spainion Allen, Jason Sexton and Anita Roop.

A special thank you is extended to the staffs of Grace Healthcare Center, Saltville Medical Center, Johnston Memorial Hospital and his home healthcare nurse, Sandy Heath.

A graveside funeral service will be conducted at 2:00 P. M. Saturday, May 3, 2008 at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, 5737 Airport Road, NW, in Roanoke, VA with Rev. Paul Viers officiating. At Johnnie’s request there will be no formal visitation at the funeral home. Anyone wishing to sign the guest register may stop by the funeral home at anytime to do so.