Obituaries

Obituaries in Cowen, West Virginia

Virgil William "Bill" Radcliff

Virgil William "Bill" Radcliff

Sep 12, 2025

Virgil William “Bill” Radcliff, 79, of Erbacon, passed away Friday, September 12, 2025, at Webster County Memorial Hospital, Webster Springs, after a sudden illness. He was born on September 21, 1945, in Webster Springs, a son of the late Virgil and Myrtle Myers Radcliff.

Bill was a truck driver for over 30 years, mostly in the logging business. He was extremely...

Cecil Arden Sholes

Cecil Arden Sholes

Sep 2, 2025

Cecil Arden Sholes, 61, of Craigsville, passed away Tuesday, September 2, 2025, after a short illness. He was born on June 26, 1964, in Gary, Indiana a son of Harold “Butch” Sholes and Frances Hickman Sholes.

He is survived by his wife of 35 years Charlotte Sholes; father, Harold “Butch” Sholes; mother, Frances Sholes; brother, Phillip Sholes...

James Gaylord Fisher

James Gaylord Fisher

Aug 30, 2025

James Gaylord Fisher, 86, of Bolair, passed away Saturday, August 30, 2025, at Webster County Memorial Hospital, Webster Springs after an extended illness. He was born on May 2, 1939, in Fenwick, the son of the late Gedion and Iva Thomas Fisher.

James was a hard-working coal miner who provided for his family. He worked for over...

Norma Jean Hinkle

Norma Jean Hinkle

Aug 27, 2025

Norma Jean Hinkle, 79, of Craigsville passed away on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, at the Bowers Hospice House in Beckley, surrounded by her family.

She was born December 06, 1945, in Richwood WV a daughter to the late Clyde Edward (Eddie) and Agnes Davis Keffer.

Norma was a former employee of Kirkwood Winery, Summersville for...

Tim Wetzel

Tim Wetzel

Aug 24, 2025

Tim Wetzel passed away on August 24, 2025, due to medical issues. He was born in New Brighton, PA on May 19, 1963, the son of the late, Mary Louise Wiseman and Lee Wetzel

Tim was a self-proclaimed jack of all trades, master of none. He loved drag racing, ham radio, spending time with his cats, tinkering...

Kristel Janene Bean

Kristel Janene Bean

Aug 21, 2025

Kristel Janene Bean, 53, of Cowen passed away at her home, August 21st 2025. She was born March 18th 1972 in Richwood. She is the daughter of the late Richard Wayne Bean Sr and Joy Edevea Bean of Cowen.

Kristel was a 1990 graduate of Webster County High School. She was employed at Webster Health Care for...

Jerry Kenneth Mustoe

Jerry Kenneth Mustoe

Aug 17, 2025

Jerry Kenneth Mustoe, 64, of Bolair passed away Sunday, August 17, 2025, at his residence after a short illness. He was born on September 24, 1960, in Richwood, a son of the late William and Alma Springston Mustoe.

Jerry was a hard worker, having been a truck driver and equipment operator for over 50 years. He transported,...

Ralph Edward Miller

Ralph Edward Miller

Aug 13, 2025

Ralph Edward Miller

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” II Timothy 4:7.

Ralph Edward Miller, 94, of Cowen passed away, after a short illness, on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, at his residence, with his family by his side. He was born on January 28, 1931,...

Linda Sue Jarvis Barnett

Linda Sue Jarvis Barnett

Aug 1, 2025

Linda Sue Jarvis Barnett, 72, of Summersville, formerly of Cowen, passed away peacefully, Friday, August 1, 2025, at her home surrounded by her loving family. She was born March 12, 1953, in Richwood, a daughter of the late Ada Jarvis.

Linda was a graduate of Cowen High School and formerly worked at the Y-Mart and Foodland before...

Sherry Ruth Bowman

Sherry Ruth Bowman

Jul 26, 2025

Sherry Ruth Bowman, 63, of Cowen passed away on July 26, 2025, at home. She was born on December 20, 1961, in Summersville, WV, the daughter of the late Dorthy Woods Hall.

Sherry was a homemaker and enjoyed spending time with her family.

In addition to her mother, Sherry was preceded in death by her...

Ernest Edgell

Ernest Edgell

Jul 13, 2025

Ernest Edgell, 40, of Cowen passed away suddenly on July 13, 2025, at Webster County Memorial Hospital. He was born on April 26, 1985, in Wheeling, the son of Deborah Greathouse and the late Eugene Edgell.

Ernest worked in the fast-food business. He was a jack of all trades, loved riding Harleys and purchasing lottery tickets.

...

Kenneth Ray Martin

Kenneth Ray Martin

Jul 12, 2025

Kenneth Ray Martin, 89, of Craigsville, passed away Saturday, July 12, 2025, at J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital, Morgantown after an extended illness. He was born June 23, 1936, in Craigsville, a son of the late Noell Martin and Ethel Metheny Martin.

Kenneth was a retired employee of AT&T having worked over 30 years and helped build the...

Derrick Steven Taylor

Derrick Steven Taylor

Jul 11, 2025

Derrick Steven Taylor, born October 31st, 1965 left this world unexpectedly for his eternal home on July 11, 2025.

He was preceded in death by his parents – Jesse and Esta (Rae) Taylor, uncles George, and Eddie Taylor.

Surviving him are daughter Jessica Taylor-Davis (husband Caleb), son Brandon Taylor (wife Mikaela), grandchildren...

Kevin Dewayne Short

Kevin Dewayne Short

Jul 10, 2025

Kevin Dewayne Short, 52, of Camden on Gauley, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, July 10, 2025, at Mon Health Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital, Weston. He was born October 5, 1972, in Richwood, a son of Calvin and Martha Prater Short.

Kevin was a 1990 graduate of Webster County High School. He then started his career as a...

Rodney Darrell Phares

Rodney Darrell Phares

Jul 1, 2025

Rodney Darrell Phares, 68, of Cowen passed away at his home on July 1, 2025. He was born on May 16, 1957, in Richwood, the son of the late Virgil Phares and the late Sada White Phares.

Rodney was a graduate of Cowen High School, served in the United States Army, worked for Metal Craft in Richwood,...

Robert Lee Mills

Robert Lee Mills

Jun 28, 2025

Robert Lee Mills, 68, of Mills Mountain passed away on June 28, 2025, after an extended illness at WV Caring in Elkins. Robert was born in Clarksburg on August 2, 1956, the son of the late Lloyd Dorrel Mills and the late Edith Adeline Salisbury.

He was a graduate of Cowen High School, was in the United...

Jeannie Marie Donaldson Bailes

Jeannie Marie Donaldson Bailes

May 30, 2025

Jeannie Marie Donaldson Bailes, 50, of Nettie passed away on May 30, 2025, at Summersville Regional Hospital after an extended illness. Jeannie was born on September 25, 1974, in Summersville, WV, the daughter of the late Phillip Donaldson and the late Kathryn Roberts.

She was a 1992 graduate of Webster County High School and was a United...

Gerald D. Handschumacher

Gerald D. Handschumacher

May 28, 2025

Gerald D. Handschumacher, 74, of Upper Glade passed away on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at Webster Memorial Hospital after an extended illness. Gerald was born on December 28, 1950, in Bolair, WV the son of the late Gerald R. Handschumacher and the late Elizabeth “Mae” Wilt Handschumacher.

He retired from Weyerhaeuser; however, had previously worked for Oneida...

Mary Margaret Vanscoy

Mary Margaret Vanscoy

May 16, 2025

Mary Margaret Vanscoy, passed away on May 16, 2025 after an extended illness at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Huntington, WV. She was born on October 11, 1944, in Cowen the daughter of the late John Heck and the late Kate Claypool Heck.

Mary was a 1964 graduate of Cowen High School; she had been a clerk...

Tracy Lynn Bruner

Tracy Lynn Bruner

May 14, 2025

Tracy Lynn Bruner, 52, of Craigsville, WV passed away on May 14, 2025, at Summersville Regional Medical Center. She was born on September 25, 1972, in Webster Springs, WV the daughter of Gary Robinson and the late Linda McCoy.

Tracy previously worked for the IGA, was a manager of the Family Dollar in Webster Springs and Chevron....