Reverend John Earl Walker, 83, of Rawlings, Md., went home to be with his heavenly father on Sunday, March 5, 2023, at WVU Medicine Potomac Valley Hospital, Keyser, W.Va.

Born Aug. 11, 1939, in Cumberland, Md., he was a son of the late Earl Wesley and Minnie Agnes (Moreland) Walker. He also was preceded in death by his brother, Robert Wesley Walker.

John was a 1957 graduate of Bruce High School. Following graduation, he was employed as a cameraman at the Hi Rock Drive In Movie Theater. He then worked for several years at Bethlehem Steel in Baltimore, Md., as a machinist and then went to work for Westvaco/Meade Paper Mill, retiring after 42 years of service as a mechanic and roll grinder in the maintenance department.

John’s greatest joy was his calling to serve the Lord in 1983. He served as pastor for the Locust Grove Church of the Brethren, Bismarck, loving and faithfully serving his congregation for over 37 years.

His hobbies included hunting, fishing, target shooting, riding his Triumph motorcycle, his family and traveling the country with Ruth.

Surviving is his wife of 62 years, Ruth Eilene (Campbell) Walker; his son, Clinton Earl Walker; his daughters, Lori Lynn Evans (Wayde) and Lisa Louise Harris (Ken); his grandchildren, Sarah, John and Wendy; and his greatgrandchildren, Mason, Aliya, Jacob and Lucas.

Also surviving is his brother-in-law, Vernon Campbell (Norma); a sister- in-law, Darlene “Helen” Walker; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Funeral services were conducted at the Locust Grove Church of the Brethren on Saturday morning with his daughter, Lori Evans, James Reed and Paul Pacella presiding.

A private family interment will be held at a later date.

John taught us to love the Lord, to love one another and to enjoy life with laughter, humor and faith.

Condolences and personal reflections to the family may be left after John’s obituary at smithfuneralhomes.net.

Carol Sue (Boyce) Duncan, 77, of Petersburg, W.Va., passed away Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at her home.

Born Feb. 23, 1946, in Fairmont, W.Va., she was a daughter of the late William Burgess Boyce and Alice Virginia (Shaffer) Boyce.

In addition to her parents, Carol was preceded in death by her first husband, Kenneth Ralph Ebie on July 4, 1970, whom she married on April 9, 1966; her second husband, Thomas Eugene Duncan, on Feb. 26, 2019, whom she married on May 10, 1975; four brothers, Chester Lee Boyce, Harry Brady Boyce, Charles Boyce and John Perry Boyce; one sister, Rita Satterfield; and son-in-law, Charles “Eddie” Champ Jr.

Carol was a graduate of East Fairmont High School and was the only one in her family to graduate. After she married Kenneth Ebie, she moved to Ohio and helped him on the family dairy farm. In 1980 she moved to Petersburg and was excited to be back in West Virginia to be closer to her parents. Her hobbies included sewing and making quilts and playing bingo. She was a member of the Billy Ray Cyrus Fan Club. She enjoyed going to concerts and traveling. She enjoyed babysitting numerous children including her grandchildren. She had a love for animals having taken care of many throughout the years. Later in life she was an avid bird watcher. She was a member of the Church of Christ in Orrville, Ohio and attended the Elkhorn Chapel, Dorcas, W.Va.

She is survived by two daughters, Diane Champ and significant other, Roberto Morales Ruiz of Purgitsville, W.Va. and Kathy Watts of Burlington, W.Va.; son-in-law, Kent Watts of New Creek, W.Va.; five grandchildren, Savanna Watts Nesselrod and husband Gary Jr., Quinten Champ, Sullivan Watts and wife Kaitlyn, Sylas Watts and Ethan Champ; two great-grandchildren, Sadie Nesselrod and Wyatt Nesselrod and expecting a great-grandchild in April; one sister, Freda Helms who is 91 years old and lives in Orrville; several nieces and nephews and will be sadly missed by many.

Funeral services were Saturday afternoon at the Schaeffer Funeral Home chapel, Petersburg, with Pastor Glenn H. Vance Jr. officiating. She was laid to rest by her late husband in South Branch Valley Memorial Gardens, Petersburg.

Condolences to the family may be left at www.schaefferfuneralhome.com.

Beth Ann (Calhoun) Wolfe, 59, of Greenville, S.C. and formerly of Petersburg, W.Va., passed away on Saturday, March 18, 2023, at her home while under the care of hospice after a courageous battle with cancer.

Born Sept. 2, 1963, in Pittsburgh, Pa., she was a daughter of Jimmy (Deborah) Dale Calhoun of Hurricane, W.Va. and the late Betty Jo (Alt) Calhoun.

In addition, Beth was preceded in death by one brother, Scott Adam Calhoun and her grandparents, Victor Clyde and Joy Alt and Hugh and Delphia Calhoun.

In addition to her father and stepmother, she is survived by three children, Amber (Zak) Theus of Simpsonville, S.C., Joseph Wolfe and his fiancé Anna Gibb of Columbus, Ohio and Megan Wolfe of Greenville; one grandson, Easton Theus; two sisters, Becky (Brenton) Calhoun-Harman of Lahmansville, W.Va. and Jana (Andrew) Calhoun-Bennett of Hurricane; one nephew, Evan Harman; and three nieces, Lauren Harman, Allison Harman and Lyla-Scott Bennett.

Beth was a 1981 graduate of Petersburg High School and a 1985 graduate of West Virginia University with an accounting degree, and a graduate of Winthrop University with a Master in Business Administration. She was a Certified Public Accountant and was employed as the controller for STAR EV.

Beth donated her body to the Human Gift Registry of South Carolina. A celebration of life was held Monday, March 20, in Greenville.

If you wish, memorials can be made to the Gray for Glioblastoma Foundation at grayforglioblastoma.com or the charity of your choice.

Crystal Michele (Whetzel) Willis, 58, of Petersburg, W.Va., formerly of Franklin, W.Va., went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, March 18, at Sentara RMH in Harrisonburg, Va.

Born Nov. 22, 1964, in Harrisonburg, she was the daughter of Margaret (Raines) Whetzel of Franklin, and the late Charles Lee Whetzel. She was also preceded in death by her triplet babies, Brittney, Brooke, and Bridgett; and her paternal and maternal grandparents.

She was a 1983 graduate of Franklin High School and a graduate of Eastern West Virginia Technical and Community College. She was a member of Cornerstone Family Fellowship Church in Petersburg. She had worked as a teacher for Head Start at Union Educational Complex and had also worked as a CNA at Pendleton Nursing Home. She was a former donkey handler (1987- 2014) before becoming a homemaker.

Crystal loved attending church, singing, serving the Lord and helping with the women’s ministry. She enjoyed flying and loved to travel, taking trips to Black Water Falls, cooking, and baking.

Crystal’s passion was spending time with her family. Her ray of sunshine was her granddaughter, Aria. Her world revolved around her two sons, Logan and Caleb and she loved to share how proud she was of their dedication to their careers in public safety.

In addition to her mother, Crystal leaves behind to cherish her memory two sons, Logan Willis (Tabitha) of Petersburg; Caleb Willis (Jason) of Winder, Ga.; five grandchildren, Aria, Jenna, Destiny, Megan (Brad) and Matthew (Hannah); five great-grandchildren, Jaxson, Carson, Scarlett, Caiden, Alayna; one brother, Trevor Whetzel (Trina) of Harrisonburg; one sister, Melanie Kretzschmar (Jamey) of Crooks, S.D.; two nieces, Lindsey and Taylor; two nephews, Kyle and Tanner; and several cousins, aunts and uncles.

Crystal’s family will receive friends on Wednesday, March 22, from 5-8 p.m., at the Basagic Funeral Home, Franklin. Funeral services will be on Thursday, March 23, at 3 p.m., in the funeral home chapel, with Pastor P.J. Landis officiating. Interment will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Franklin.

Memorials may be made to “the family”, c/o Basagic Funeral Home, P.O. Box 215, Franklin, WV 26807.

Memories and words of comfort may be left at www.basagic.com or on Facebook at Basagic Funeral Home.

Robert Harman “Bobby” Taylor, 74, of Purgitsville, W.Va., passed away Sunday morning, March 12, 2023, at his residence with his family at his side.

Born Aug. 21, 1948, in Durgon, W.Va., he was a son of the late Herman Harrison Taylor Sr. and Martha Sarah Runions Taylor. He was preceded in death by a sister, Molly Wolfe and two brothers, Herman “Buck” Taylor Jr and David Taylor Sr.

Bobby joined the U.S. Army, served three years during the Vietnam War and was stationed in Korea from September 1969 to October 1970. He had been involved in timber/logging his entire life. He and brother, Herman Jr. “Buck” owned and operated Taylor Brother’s Logging for over 25 years. He then was the owner/operator of R.H. Logging for numerous years then working for Huffman Logging for 13 years until his retirement.

He had a creative talent when it came to wood working and welding; had a green thumb for gardening and loved to share his bounty. He was a member of Rig Assembly of God Church where he enjoyed the annual October apple butter making social time. He brought the love for making apple butter from his home to the church.

He married Deborah Ann Nelson on Oct. 24, 1974, in Winchester Va., and they had three children who also survive: Jeremy S. (Susan) Taylor of Purgitsville, Chad R. (Megan) Taylor of Maysville, W.Va., and Debra C. Taylor of Moorefield W.Va., along with nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Also surviving are four brothers; Byron “Peanut” (Sandra) Taylor of Rig, W.Va., Raymond (Joan) Taylor of Burlington, W.Va., Johnny (Becky) Taylor of Purgitsville, and Pastor Brad (Terri) Taylor of Petersburg, W.Va.; four sisters, Martha (Steve) Wolfe of Moorefield, Judy Swick of Petersburg, Nellie (Greg) Delawder and Pat (Sam) Bean of Moorefield, and numerous nieces an nephews.

Funeral services were Thursday morning at the Rig Assembly of God Church with his brother, Pastor Brad Taylor and Brother Alton Lee officiants.

Interment followed with military graveside rites accorded by the U.S. Army and the Moorefield Veterans Honor Guard in Taylor’s Cemetery, Mountain View Road, Purgitsville.

Memorials may be directed to the Rig Assembly of God Church, 10 Queens Drive, Moorefield, WV 26836 or the donors’ charity of choice.

Arrangements were under the direction of the Fraley Funeral Home, Moorefield.

Condolences, shared memories and photos may be left on Bobby’s tribute wall at www.fraleyfuneralhome. com.

Lemuel Ray Whetzel, 88, of Petersburg, W.Va., passed away Sunday, March 12, 2023, at Nella’s at Autumn Lake Healthcare, Elkins, W.Va.

Born Feb. 20, 1935, in Landes, W.Va., he was a son of the late Isaac Harvey Whetzel and Violet Leona (Nazelrodt) Whetzel.

In addition to his parents, Lemuel was preceded in death by his wife, Arvella (Turner) Whetzel in 2007; one brother, Herman Whetzel; three nieces and four nephews.

He is survived by four brothers, Arthur (Dorothy) Whetzel, Ervin Whetzel, Isaac Whetzel Jr. and Delmas (Shirley) Whetzel, all of Petersburg; one sister, Leota (Whetzel) Riggleman of Petersburg; a special cousin who was like a son, Bryson Junior Shirk and wife Alice of Petersburg; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Lemuel served in the U.S. Army. He worked for the Pepsi Cola Bottling Company in Petersburg for 17 years and later for Allegheny Wood. He was a member of Brake Covenant Brethren Church, Petersburg.

Funeral services were Wednesday morning in the chapel of Schaeffer Funeral Home, Petersburg, with Pastor Craig Howard officiating.

Interment was in Lahmansville Cemetery, Lahmansville, W.Va., with military honors by Grant County Veterans Honor Guard and West Virginia Army Honor Guard.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Whetzel family, c/o Schaeffer Funeral Home, 11 North Main Street, Petersburg, WV 26847.

Condolences to the family may be left at www.schaefferfuneralhome.com