Obituaries

Arlan Lanier Bates, Sr., 78, of 303 E. Main Street died Tuesday, September 21, 2021. He was born September 24, 1942, in Alleghany County, the son of the late Basil L Bates, and Ethel Boone Dickson. He was also proceeded in death by one sister, Carol Fleshman. He worked as an equipment operator for the United States Forest Service for many years. Surviving are his wife, Hilda Byer Bates, of Covington; a son, Arlen Bates Jr., of Covington; three stepsons, Billy Gill of Hopewell, VA, Bobby Gill of Hopewell, VA, Keith Byer of Covington; a step-grandson, Brady Byer of Chester, VA; an aunt, Vernie Sexton of Covington; also several nieces and nephews. A private memorial service will be held at a later date....

Rev. Leotha Paul Burns, 72, of 332 E. Madison Street died Sunday, September 19, 2021, at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital in Roanoke. Rev. Burns was born March 16, 1949, in Covington a son of the late L.W. Burns and Nellie Kennedy Burns. Paul worked at Washington and Lee University as a director of Environment and Health Safety He received his Masters Degree in divinity from Erskine College. Rev. Burns was the minister of Johnson Creek Presbyterian Church for a number of years. He proudly served in United States Army and Army reserves for 42 years and received a Bronze Star and an expert infantry badge. Paul was a retired member of the Covington Rescue Squad and a former member of the Covington Fire Department. He was a member of the Curtis A. Smith Post 1033, Veterans of Foreign Wars, a member and Past Master of Covington Masonic Lodge and Clifton Forge Shrine Club and he loved his Corvettes . Surviving are his Wife, Patsy Peters Burns, of Covington; three Sons, Aaron Burns and Jas...

Mary Sue Fry Deaner, born October 17, 1934 to the late Mary Margarette Andrews Fry and Calvin Hilary Fry, died Sunday, September 19, 2021 at Bath Community Hospital in Hot Springs. Sue was married to Winford Theodore "Wink" Deaner, who died September 28, 1979. They were married 22 years. She was also preceded in death by her brother-in-law, Charles Glenn "Chuck" Stinnett. She worked at the Omni Homestead in Hot Springs for 16 years. She is survived by one son, Michael Deaner and his wife Crystal; three grandchildren, Joey Deaner and Haley Shaffer, Josh Deaner and Kristen McKinnell, and Kaylee Deaner, all of Covington; one sister, Patricia Stinnett of Pembroke Pines, Florida; and cousins, June Preskey, Mickey Bowyer, Bobby Bowyer, Marie Cleek, Bobby Fry, and Basil Fry; and numerous other cousins and special friends. A memorial service will be held October 17, 2021 at 2PM at Arritt Funeral Home with the Rev. William E. Graham officiating. Honorary Pallbearers will be Mike Deaner, Joey D...

John William Groves, II, 63, of 924 N. Beverly Avenue died Saturday, September 18, 2021. He was born July 28, 1958, in Prince George County, MD, the son of the late John W "Jack" Groves, Sr. and Bertie Wolfe Burgess, in addition to his parents, he preceded in by a Son, Billy Groves, a Sister, Sharon Brookman, his stepmother, Evelyn Groves, his stepfather, Jim Burgess a nephew, David Hall and two brother in laws Ken Meadows and Junior May. John was the owner of JWG Carpentry for many years. Surviving are his Wife, Pamela Harvey Groves, of Covington, a Daughter, Becky Groves, of Covington, a daughter in law Amy Groves, and Alex Laviolette of Covington one Brother, J.D. Burgess, of Covington; six Sisters, Susie Meadows of White Sulphur Springs, WV, Shelia Davis and her husband George of Pasanda, Md , Shelby Florey and her husband Tim of Arbutus Md. Sandy Beal and her husband Joe of Covington, Ruby May of Covington and Bonnie Miller of Halethorpe, Md; eight grandchildren, Brady Groves, Wa...

Catherine Spencer Humphreys, 91, formerly of Paint Bank, died, Saturday September 11, 2021, at the Richfield Recovery and Care Center in Salem. Mrs. Humphreys was born May 17, 1930, in Alleghany County a daughter of the late Gordon Spencer and Louise Lockhart Lunsford. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Willis Ferguson Humphreys. She retired as a Dietary Supervisor for the Richfield Nursing Center in Salem. She was a member of the Humphreys Chapel UMC and the Central Methodist Church in Salem as well as a ladies auxiliary member of the Paint Bank Volunteer Fire Department. In keeping with her wishes her body has been cremated. Surviving are many cousins and close friends. A private service will be conducted at a later date. The funeral arrangements are being handled by Arritt Funeral Home....

Leonard Blaine Tucker, Sr., 82, of 800 Summit Drive, died, Friday, September 10, 2021, at his home. Mr. Tucker was born August 12, 1939, in Alleghany County a son of the late Estelle and Ella Bess Tucker. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Leonard B. Tucker, Jr., in 2010 and by a number of brothers and sisters. He was retired from the maintenance department of the Alleghany County School System. Surviving are several nieces and nephews including Darlene and Buzzy Moore of Lexington, Beverly and Mike Carson, Teressa Dawson and husband Dean, Michael "Sike" and Linda Tucker all of Covington and a number of great nieces and great nephews. A graveside funeral service will be held Wednesday, September 15, 2021, at Lone Star Cemetery with the Rev. J.B. Broughman officiating. The family will receive their friends Wednesday from 12:30 PM until 1:30 PM at Arritt Funeral Home. The funeral arrangements are being handled by Arritt Funeral Home. Cemetery Information...

Ronald Edison Stinnett, 67 of, 537 E. Kline St., died, Saturday September 4, 2021, at his residence. Mr. Stinnett was born February 20, 1954, in Alleghany County a son of the late George E. Sr. and Frances Hanshaw Stinnett. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife Deborah Bush Stinnett. He worked at Hercules Inc. until they closed and was an employee at Burke Parsons Bowlby for 20 plus years. he was an avid outdoorsman who also loved the University of Virginia, Atlanta Braves, and the Miami Dolphins. He is survived by a daughter, Deena Rothwell and husband Eric of Troutville; a son, Chris Stinnett and wife Aleya of Roanoke; four grandchildren: Colton Stinnett and Reid Stinnett of Roanoke and Aidan Rothwell and Riley Rothwell of Troutville; two sisters, Patricia Woodson and Sheila Hicks; one brother, George Stinnett Jr. and wife Cindee; and a number of nieces and nephews. A funeral service will be held Saturday September 11, 2021, at 1:00 PM in the Chapel of Arr...

Luis Mariano Martinez, Jr.59, of Paint Bank died Saturday September 4, 2021, at his residence. He was born July 10, 1962, in Havana Cuba, to the late Luis M. Martinez, Sr. and Isabel Ruiz Martinez. Luis was a self-employed contractor for many years. Surviving his daughter Elizabeth Davidson of Howell NJ. son Zachary Loria of Neptune NJ. and one sister Isabelle Martinez of Charleston SC., one brother Mariano Martinez of Bridgewater NJ. In keeping with his wishes his body has been cremated. A service will be held at later date in New Jersey. Arrangements are being handle by Arritt Funeral Home in Covington....

Mary Kathleen Weiss Carter, 81, of Dunlap Creek Rd., died, August 27, 2021, at Charleston General Hospital in Charleston, WV. Ms. Carter was born February 5, 1940, in Princeton, WV, a daughter of the late Haven and Gladys Richmond Weiss. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by four brothers and three sisters. She had worked at Hanover Shoes, as a seamstress for Halmode, Inc, and of most recent as a cook at Alleghany Manor. In her spare time, she enjoyed gardening, canning, fishing, doing word search puzzles, and her family. She enjoyed talking on the phone and she would always say she loved you when you called. In keeping with her wishes her body has been cremated. Surviving are her two daughters and sons-in- law; Kathy and Keith Scruggs and Lois and Reggie Hayslett, a son and daughter-in-law, Andy and Kim Carter; six grandchildren, Jeremy Carey and wife Joan, Erin Carter, Tonya Fowler and husband Quentin, Taylor Carter and wife Taylor, Zac Carter and wife Tay...

Mary Kathleen Weiss Carter, 81, of Dunlap Creek Rd., died, August 27, 2021, at Charleston General Hospital in Charleston, WV. Ms. Carter was born February 5, 1940, in Princeton, WV, a daughter of the late Haven and Gladys Richmond Weiss. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by four brothers and three sisters. She had worked at Hanover Shoes, as a seamstress for Halmode, Inc, and of most recent as a cook at Alleghany Manor. In her spare time, she enjoyed gardening, canning, fishing, doing word search puzzles, and her family. She enjoyed talking on the phone and she would always say she loved you when you called. In keeping with her wishes her body has been cremated. Surviving are her two daughters and sons-in- law; Kathy and Keith Scruggs and Lois and Reggie Hayslett, a son and daughter-in-law, Andy and Kim Carter; six grandchildren, Jeremy Carey and wife Joan, Erin Carter, Tonya Fowler and husband Quentin, Taylor Carter and wife Taylor, Zac Carter and wife Taylor, and...

Louise Burns Allen, 92, formerly of Covington, died, Thursday August 26, 2021, at the Ohio Eastern Star Home in Mt. Vernon, OH. Mrs. Allen was born February 20, 1929, on Big Ridge in Alleghany County, a daughter of the late Willie Denzil Burns and Mildred Smith Burns Webb. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by first husband William Sleasman, her second husband Rene Perrin, and her third husband Bertram Allen, two brothers Bernard Burns and Joe Newman, and a sister Mary Frances Stinespring. She was a graduate of Kentucky Christian College and was active in Christian Churches all of her life. She loved to play bridge at the senior center and activities were an important part of her life at the Ohio Eastern Star Home. She is survived by a daughter Debra Nauman and husband Randy of Mt. Vernon, OH, a son William Sleasman and wife Deborah of Chesapeake, six grandchildren Eric Nauman and wife Lyndsay, Allison Proffitt and husband Adam, Shari Groves, Dawn Boone and husband ...

Virginia Carol Whiting, 80, died Thursday, August 26, 2021, at the Alleghany Health and Rehab Center in Clifton Forge. She was born December 7, 1940, in Alleghany County a daughter of the late James L. Whiting, Sr. and Carrie Caldwell Whiting. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Gene Whiting. She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church and the Boiling Spring Senior Center. Surviving are two Sisters, Frances Bush of Covington and Gwendolyn Carwile of Lynchburg; three Brothers, Garland (Wanda) Whiting of Covington, Frederick (Margaret) Whiting of Clifton Forge and James L. Whiting, Jr., of Lynchburg and several nieces and nephews. The funeral service will be held Sunday, August 29, 2021, at 2:00 PM at the graveside in Lone Star Cemetery with the Rev. Dean Bowser officiating. The family suggests that donation in Carol's name be made to the Alzheimer's Association; PO Box 96011; Washington, DC 20090-6011. Arritt Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. ...