Obituaries
Obituaries in Cowen, West Virginia
Genette Uneta “Buggy” (Steele) Dodrill
Dec 6, 2017
Genette was born July 2, 1930. Passed away December 6, 2017. She was born to Bessie and Melvin Steele.
Genette is one of twelve children. She is survived by her sister Genice Woods of Craigsville, WV, her four children, 10 Grandchildren and twelve Great Grandchildren.
Genette was awarded the distinct nationwide degree of H.B.I.C. Her Family is extremely proud of...
Loretta Kay Fazenbaker
Dec 5, 2017
Loretta Kay Fazenbaker, 60, of Erbacon passed away Tuesday, December 5, 2017 at her home, surrounded by her loving family and friends. She fought a long tough battle and fought longer than anyone expected. Her love of life, famly and friends kept her going, even her doctor called her one tough cookie.
She was born May 13, 1957, at Sutton,...
Phyllis Jean Roberts Gerwig
Nov 25, 2017
Phyllis Jean Roberts Gerwig, 90, of Greencastle, Indiana, formerly of Gassaway, WV passed away November 25, 2017 at the Waters of Greencastle, after an extended illness. Phyllis was born February 25, 1927 in Richwood, WV a daughter of the late Fred and Irene Ruckman Roberts.
She was a graduate of Cowen High School, a member of the Davis Memorial Presbyterian...
Donald Wayne Gregory
Nov 24, 2017
Donald Wayne Gregory, 89, of Craigsville, passed away November 24, 2017 at Summersville Regional Medical Center. Don was born July 13, 1928 in Cowen, WV, the son of the late Everard and Lela Wayne Gregory.
Don retired from the State of WV with over 20 years of service in many aspects of law enforcement. He was a Veteran from the...
Amanda Rose Riffle
Nov 14, 2017
Amanda Rose Riffle, 33 of Webster Springs, passed away November 14, 2017 as the result of a car accident. She was born March 30, 1984 in Summersville, WV, a daughter of Richard B. Riffle and the late Margaret Short Riffle.
Amanda was a security guard with Allied. She enjoyed hunting, fishing, singing, reading the Bible and laughing and having a...
Deborah Lynn Bennett
Nov 7, 2017
Deborah Lynn Bennett, 58, of Craigsville, WV passed away suddenly November 7, 2017 at Summersville Regional Medical Center. Deborah was born December 20, 1958 in Summersville, WV, a daughter of Charles L. and Imogene Beckett Schartiger.
Deborah was a graduate of Webster County High School and a member of the First Baptist Church of Craigsville. She enjoyed fishing, shopping, cooking...
Basil James Cole
Nov 7, 2017
Basil James Cole, 88, of Cowen, passed away November 7, 2017 at Webster County Memorial Hospital. Basil was born July 6, 1929 in Ejerie, WV, a son of the late John Lee and Anzo Meadows Cole. He was a retired UMWA coal miner, having worked over 20 years at the Gauley Mountain Mine.
Basil enjoyed woodworking, tending his bees, cutting...
Martha Deloris Armentrout
Nov 4, 2017
Martha Deloris Armentrout, 58, of Cowen went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Saturday, November 4, 2017 with her family by her side.
She was born February 10, 1959, in Richwood, a daughter of the late Denver E. and Martha J. Paugh Mathes. Martha was a cafeteria cook for Webster County Schools with over 15...
Donald Lee Combs
Oct 27, 2017
Donald Lee Combs, 90, of Richwood passed away Friday, October 27, 2017 at Charleston Area Medical Center, General Division after an extended illness.
He was born September 17, 1927 in Marting, West Virginia, a son of the late Joseph and Mattie Chaffins Combs. Don was a licensed funeral director and embalmer with over 60 years of service. Don was a...
Agnes Geraldine Morrison
Oct 26, 2017
Agnes Geraldine Morrison, 87, of Craigsville passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, October 26, 2017 at Summersville Regional Medical Center.
She was born September 7, 1930 in Camden on Gauley, a daughter of the late Jesse and Nanny Champ Vance. She was a homemaker and a Christian by Faith. She enjoyed antiquing, yard sales, making clothing and taking care of her...
Burton O. Ervin
Oct 19, 2017
Burton O. Ervin, 82, of Cowen went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, October 19, 2017 at West Virginia University Ruby Memorial Hospital with his family by his side.
He was born May 7, 1935 in Cowen a son of the late Earl and Zella Ervin. Burton retired with over 46 years of service from various coal companies...
Gary Lee “Bucky” Mathews
Oct 17, 2017
Gary Lee “Bucky” Mathews, 69, of Upper Glade passed away peacefully Tuesday, October 17, 2017 at his residence surrounded by his loving family.
He was born April 25, 1948 in Philippi, a son of the late Kermit R. and Virginia Dare Wyatt Mathews.
Bucky was a retired U.M.W.A. coal miner having worked for over 37 years at Island Creek and...
Janet Kay Johnson
Oct 4, 2017
Janet Kay Johnson, 48, of Charleston formerly of Cowen passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, October 4, 2017 at Charleston Area Medical Center, Memorial Division.
She was born January 16, 1969 in Rockford, Illinois a daughter of the late Edgar “Bud” and Mabel Dillon Johnson. Janet was a graduate of Webster County High School and worked as a CNA at the Richwood...
Shirley Gene Williams
Sep 21, 2017
Shirley Gene Williams, 70, of Camden on Gauley, passed away Thursday, September 21, 2017 at his residence. He was born February 8, 1947, in Coe, WV, a son of the late Glen and Lillie Russell Williams.
Shirley was a retired UMWA Coalminer, having worked for Island Creek Coal Company for over 29 years. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping and working...
Imogene Barger Green
Sep 6, 2017
Imogene Barger Green, 92, of Cowen, passed away Wednesday, September 6, 2017 at Webster Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Cowen. She was born January 13, 1925 in Eskdale, WV, a daughter of the late George A. and Brida Kelly Comuzie.
Imogene retired from the State of New York’s Mental Health System. She was a member of Eastern Star #145, the Pythia...
Dr. Matthew David Dotson
Sep 6, 2017
Dr. Matthew David Dotson, age 46, Superintendent of Hardy County Schools, died unexpectedly Wednesday, September 6, 2017, at his home at 495 Hilltop Drive, Moorefield, West Virginia.
Dr. Dotson, who is married to the former Sherri Schaler, has five children, Olivia Paige, Alexandra, Savannah, Nicholas, and Andrew. Mrs. Dotson is a seventh grade English instructor at Moorefield Middle School.
Dr....
Virginia Diane Cochran Forbes
Sep 6, 2017
Virginia Diane Cochran Forbes, 69 of Cowen, passed away suddenly at her residence on Wednesday, September 6, 2017. She was born on July 3, 1948, in Richwood, WV, a daughter of the late James Edward and Wanda Dunlap Cochran.
Diane retired from the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources and was currently working at the Cowen Public Library....
Mary J. Trimble
Aug 21, 2017
Mary J. Trimble, 94, of Cowen, passed away Monday, August 21, 2017 at Summersville Regional Medical Center following a short illness. She was born April 27, 1923 in Tioga, a daughter of the late Ray and Loucinda Marsh Tremble.
She was a retired waitress and cook at Lowrey’s Restaurant with over 48 years and a Christian by faith. She enjoyed...
Josephine Emma Hamrick Perrine
Aug 18, 2017
Josephine Emma Hamirick Perrine, 89, of Erbacon, passed away on August 18, 2017, at the home of her daughter, surrounded by her loving family. She was a kind and loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great grandmother, sister, and aunt. She was always laughing, always had a kind word, and was loved and respected by everyone who knew her. Josephine was...
Virginia Marie Russell Dorsey
Jul 26, 2017
Virginia Marie Russell Dorsey, 63, of Craigsville passed away Wednesday, July 26, 2017 at her residence, surrounded by her loving family. She was born October 2, 1953 in Richwood, a daughter of the late Holbert and Maxine Case Russell.
Marie was a homemaker and a graduate of Cowen High School, class of 1971. She loved flowers, painting, crafts, fishing, 4-wheeling...

