Obituaries

Local Cravens-Shires Funeral Home Obituaries

Rodney Lee Mitchem, Sr.

Rodney Lee Mitchem, Sr.

Aug 27, 2024

Rodney Lee Mitchem, Sr., 59, of Bluefield, WV, passed Tuesday August 27, 2024, at his home. 

Born June 5, 1965, in Bluefield, WV, he was the son of Loretta Dunford Mitchem and the late Deannie Mitchem. Rodney was a lifelong resident of Bluefield, WV, and he worked at the Mountaineer Bowling Alley in Bluefield. 

Those left to cherish Rodney's memory are, his...

Barbara Ann Polatz

Barbara Ann Polatz

Aug 26, 2024

Barbara Ann Shumate Polatz 76, Of Bluefield, passed away on August 26th, 2024 in Elkins, WV.

Born in Newport, Rhode Island, she is the daughter of the late Estel Shumate and the late Margaret Smith Shumate. She is the second born child, and eldest sister of 6 siblings. She took pride in being a great sister. Barbara graduated from Ribault Senior...

Darrell Ray Steele

Darrell Ray Steele

Aug 25, 2024

Darrell Ray Steele, 78, of Bluefield, WV, passed August 25, 2024, at Bluestone Nursing and Rehab in Bluefield, WV. 

Born August 18, 1946, in Wise, VA, he was a son of the late Clarence and Lillie Hamilton Steele. Darrell was a retired coal miner, retiring in 2001. He also attended the Pentecostal Holliness Faith Church in McDowell County. 

In addition to his...

Glenna June Vance

Glenna June Vance

Aug 21, 2024

June Lockhart Church Vance, 87, of Palatka, FL and Iaeger, WV passed into her heavenly home on August 21, 2024. She was born February 8, 1937, in Panther, WV to the late Robert G. Lockhart and Marlene Paine Lockhart.

June was a 1955 graduate of Iaeger High School and following graduation June began working as a bookkeeper at Southern Furniture Company...

William Robert Webb

William Robert Webb

Aug 16, 2024

William Robert “Bill” Webb

“As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, Or if due to strength, eighty years…” Psalm 90:10 

W.R. “Bill” Webb was 16 months into his second century… a testimony to God’s blessing and his strength! His first 100 years were filled with his faith, family and friends—mostly church and railroad relationships. He was a member...

Robert Joseph Mitchelson

Robert Joseph Mitchelson

Aug 16, 2024

Robert “Joe” Mitchelson, 67, of Bluefield, WV passed away Friday, August 16, 2024 at Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Born January 4, 1957 in Bluefield, WV, he was a son of the late Howard B. and Doris Sluss Mitchelson. Joe was retired from the Mercer County Board of Education and was a member of Deliverance Temple Church. Joe had a loving smile...

Eligah William Proffit

Eligah William Proffit

Aug 16, 2024

“Blessed be the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”    James 12:1

Eligah William Proffit, 74, of Windy Oaks Bluefield, WV received his crown on Friday August 16, 2024. William was born and raised on Bradshaw Mountain in McDowell...

Frances Ann Harris

Frances Ann Harris

Aug 15, 2024

Frances Ann Proffitt Harris, 87, of Matilda Place, Bluefield, WV, passed away on Thursday, August 15, 2024 at Princeton Hospital.

Born on June 15, 1937 in Mudfork, VA, she was a daughter of the late John H. and Frances M. Farmer Stevenson. She was a member of the First Church of God on Airport Road and had been a resident of...

Raymond Charles Osborne

Raymond Charles Osborne

Aug 14, 2024

Raymond Charles Osborne, 58, of Bramwell, WV, passed Wednesday, August 14, 2024, at Bowers Hospice House in Beckley, WV. 

Born January 6, 1966, in Welch, WV, he was the son of Charles and Nellie Mullins Osborne. Raymond was a graduate of Mt. View High School and a resident of Bramwell for over 20 years. He was a retired coal miner. 

A brother,...

Betty Charlene Forrest

Betty Charlene Forrest

Aug 14, 2024

Betty Charlene (Davis) Forrest, 66, of Anawalt, WV, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, August 14, 2024 at JW Ruby Memorial Hospital. She lived in O'Toole, WV, with her beloved husband Kenneth Ray Forrest for 48 years.

Born on September 26, 1957 in Welch, WV, she was a daughter of the late Eddie and Mildred Farmer Davis....

Melissa Gail Taylor Parr

Melissa Gail Taylor Parr

Aug 14, 2024

Melissa Gail Taylor Parr, 51, of Bluefield, WV, passed away on Wednesday, August 14, 2024.

Born on July 22, 1973 in Pulaski, Va, she was a daughter of Freda Asbury and the late Sammy Asbury. She was employed by Taco Bell.

In addition to her father, she was proceeded in death by her brothers Terry, and William Pracker Asbury; and brother-in-law, Jason...

Claude Julian Mitchem

Claude Julian Mitchem

Aug 13, 2024

Claude Julian Mitchem, 84, of Pageton, WV, passed Tuesday, August 13, 2024, at Mercer Nursing and Rehab in Bluefield, WV. 

Born November 30, 1938, in Pageton, WV, he was a son to the late Allen S. and Maudie Cooper Mitchem. Claude was a resident of Pageton for over 20 years and was a retired coal miner. He was of the Baptist...

Howard Garland Hubbard, Sr.

Howard Garland Hubbard, Sr.

Aug 11, 2024

Howard “Nubbin” Garland Hubbard Sr., 86, of Smithers, WV, and formerly of Browning Lambert Mountain, Montcalm, passed Sunday, August 11, 2024, at Montgomery Nursing and Rehab Center in Montgomery, WV.

Born September 7, 1937, in Bluefield, WV, he was a son of the late William Howard and Virginia Helmandollar Hubbard. Howard was a retired welder. He was a lifelong resident of...

Claude Larry Clark

Claude Larry Clark

Aug 11, 2024

Claude Larry Clark, 72, of Princeton, WV, passed on August 11, 2024, at his home surrounded by his wife, family, and friends. 

Claude was a retired truck driver at Frankie Graham Trucking and loved hunting, fishing, golfing, and NASCAR. 

Claude was preceded in death by mother Minnie and father Claude Clark; brothers and sister;daughter, Frances; and grandson Chris Jr.

Claude is survived by...

David Dennis Duncan

David Dennis Duncan

Aug 8, 2024

David Dennis Duncan, 71, of Bluefield, WV passed away Thursday, August 8, 2024 Princeton Community Hospital. Born November 28, 1952 in Bluefield, WV, he was a son of the late Willard R. and Beulah Short Duncan. He was of the Baptist faith and had given his heart to the Lord. He worked at Crossroads Chevron for most of his life...

John Daniel Caudill

John Daniel Caudill

Aug 6, 2024

John Daniel Caudill, Sr., 71, of Bluefield, WV, passed Tuesday August 6, 2024, at WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital. 

Born May 10, 1953, in Bluefield, WV, he was the son of the late Clifton H. and Nettie Baber Caudill. John retired from Andy Clark Ford after 38 years in 2008, and he also volunteered for Bluefield Rescue Squad for 25 years....

Phyllis Ann Hartwell

Phyllis Ann Hartwell

Aug 5, 2024

Phyllis Ann Simons Hartwell, affectionately known as “Mawmaw,” was called home to Heaven on August 5, 2024, at the age of 83. She was born on March 28, 1941, in Bland, Virginia to the late Elizabeth and Wiley Simons. Phyllis grew up in Bramwell, WV. She graduated from Bramwell High School in 1959 and dedicated many years of her life...

Jimmy Lee Fowler

Jimmy Lee Fowler

Aug 4, 2024

Jimmy Lee Fowler, Sr., age 88, of Bluefield, WV, formerly of McDowell County, died on Sunday August 4, 2024 in the home of his son, Bruce, in Hardy, VA.

Born on June 23, 1936 in Thorpe, WV, he was a son of the late Boyd and Hattie Goins Fowler. He had lived in Bluefield for the past 24 years and was...

Patricia Ann Watkins

Patricia Ann Watkins

Jul 30, 2024

With a heavy heart, we announce the passing of Patricia (Pat) Watkins, 73, of Bluefield, West Virginia on July 30, 2024.

Pat spent most of her life in West Virginia and visited Maryland frequently where she could enjoy time with family. She enjoyed being a Granny and Great Granny, spending time with her kids and grandkids and great-grandkids, watching them play...

James John Honosky

James John Honosky

Jul 30, 2024

James John Honosky, Sr. of Glen Allen, VA, peacefully left this world to join his beloved Betty on July 30, 2024. Jim was born to Tony and Lilly Honosky on December 23, 1935, in Elbert, WV. 

Jim, known as Fess to his friends, spent his childhood in the coal mine hollers where he became an accomplished football player for Gary High...