1. McDowell Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1957); Page 328; WV Archives Website.
Harley Smith; age 22; born in Gilbert, WV; single; living at Williamson, WV; mailing address, Box 134,
Panther, WV; married on 4 Mar 1957 at Litwar, WV; Patricia Jo Roberts; age 18; born and living in
Panther, WV; with consent of Jane Roberts Bowe, mother of Patricia Jo Roberts, father deceased.
1. McDowell Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1957); Page 328; WV Archives Website.
Harley Smith; age 22; born in Gilbert, WV; single; living at Williamson, WV; mailing address, Box 134,
Panther, WV; married on 4 Mar 1957 at Litwar, WV; Patricia Jo Roberts; age 18; born and living in
Panther, WV; with consent of Jane Roberts Bowe, mother of Patricia Jo Roberts, father deceased.
1. Virginia, U.S., Marriage Records, 1936-2014; Ancestry.com Website.
"Name: Evart Muncy
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age: 36
Birth Date: 20 Oct 1946
Marriage Registration Place: Buchanan, Virginia, USA
Marriage Date: 8 Sep 1982
Marriage Place: Grundy, Virginia, USA
Father: Ewing Muncy
Mother: Lillian Workman
Spouse: Faye Marie Deskins Blevins
Certificate Number: 1982044152"
1. Virginia, U.S., Marriage Records, 1936-2014; Ancestry.com Website.
"Name: Faye Deskins
Gender: Female
Race: White
Age: 19
Birth Date: abt 1943
Marriage Registration Place: Russell, Virginia, USA
Marriage Date: 5 Jan 1962
Marriage Place: Russell, Virginia, USA
Father: Homer Deskins
Mother: Francis Garner
Spouse: Robert Blevins
Certificate Number: 1962002007"
2. Virginia, U.S., Marriage Records, 1936-2014; Ancestry.com Website.
"Name: Faye Marie Deskins Blevins
Gender: Female
Race: White
Age: 39
Birth Date: 23 Dec 1942
Marriage Registration Place: Buchanan, Virginia, USA
Marriage Date: 8 Sep 1982
Marriage Place: Grundy, Virginia, USA
Father: Homer Smith Deskins
Mother: Francis Garner
Spouse: Evart Muncy
Certificate Number: 1982044152"
(Widow)
1. "The Welch News"; Welch, WV; 15 Dec 2022; On-Line Edition.
"James Milton “Sonny” Spear was one of those exceptionally kind and selfless people about whom anyone would be hard-pressed to say something unkind.
The retired pharmacist and patent examiner was a brilliant and humble gentleman who always put the needs of others before himself. Sonny, 72, born and raised in the coalfields of southern West Virginia, died at his home in Lewisville, TX, Nov 29.
“Sonny was caring, supportive, loving, selfless and very devoted to his family,” said LeRonne Spear, Sonny’s nephew who was raised as his brother, after LeRonne’s mother and Sonny’s sister, Linda Spear, died at a young age.
Sonny was born Feb. 24, 1950 in Jenkinjones, (McDowell County) WV. He and Linda grew up in nearby Anawalt. After the death of his sister, their parents, Milton and Willa Mae Spear, adopted her five-year-old son,
Sonny graduated Gary (WV) High School with high honors, and went on to Howard University where he earned a Doctor of Pharmacy degree.
He worked as a pharmacist at D.C. General Hospital and several drug stores in the area. That experience led him to later work at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office in Crystal City, VA. There he was primary examiner for Art Unit 1615 (organic chemicals, pharmaceuticals, drug delivery devices, biotechnology and cosmetic compositions). Being a primary examiner, his signature alone authorized the issuance of a patent. He issued more than 500 patents.
In 2013, Sonny moved from Washington DC, to a suburb north of Dallas, TX, to be close to his brother, LeRonne, and his brother’s family: wife Danita, and their children, Kahliel, Jewel, and DaKari.
Sonny was very smart and he was knowledgeable on a broad array of topics. He also had a great sense of humor. He loved music and possessed an extensive collection of music. He enjoyed driving. It was apparent to anyone who was in contact with Sonny that his passion was his niece and nephews and following their academic and athletic accomplishments.
He attended their basketball games in middle and high school and when Kahliel and Jewel went on to college, Sonny maintained a calendar so he knew when they would be playing so that he could watch them online or on TV. He would never miss an opportunity to share this information with friends and family and encourage them to also follow Kahliel and Jewel’s outstanding college basketball accomplishments.
Kahliel is a senior at Robert Morris University, Jewel is a junior at Wake Forest University, and DaKari is a freshman at The Colony High School in The Colony, TX.
“They knew their Uncle Sonny was in their corner and appreciated his unconditional love and support no matter if their team won or lost or if they had a good game or not,” LeRonne said of his children.
In addition to his family in Texas, Sonny is survived by many cousins, including Carol Wood of Philadelphia, Peggy Spear Parker of Washington, DC, Joetta English of Pittsburgh, Charles Watson of Roswell, GA, and Diane Watson and Lillian Watson, both of Newark, Ohio.
Sonny is also survived by former wife, Yvonne Johnson of Maryland.
LeRonne’s wife, Danita, said her brother-in-law was “a genuine person who had genuine love for his family.” During the pandemic, Sonny would often text or call to make sure the family knew where they could get vaccinated.
“He was so proud of our children and always wanted to see them succeed. He loved them and they loved him too,” she said.
A celebration of Sonny’s life will be held in West Virginia in 2023."
1. McDowell Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1957); Page 380; WV Archives Website.
Robert Lee Phillips; age 25; born in Glade Springs, VA; single; living at Abingdon, VA; married on
21 Apr 1957 at Kimball, WV; Gloria Loretta Belcher; age 20; born at Big Four, WV; single; living at
Superior, WV; with consent of Wade H. and Marguerite Belcher, parents of Gloria Loretts Belcher.
1. McDowell Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1957); Page 380; WV Archives Website.
Robert Lee Phillips; age 25; born in Glade Springs, VA; single; living at Abingdon, VA; married on
21 Apr 1957 at Kimball, WV; Gloria Loretta Belcher; age 20; born at Big Four, WV; single; living at
Superior, WV; with consent of Wade H. and Marguerite Belcher, parents of Gloria Loretts Belcher.
1 1940 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Sandy River District; Paynesville; E.D. 24-58; taken on 6 Aug 1940;
Page 1141A; Image 43 of 60; Household #317.
Listed as Taylor Blankenship; age 9; born in WV; 3rd grade education; attending school; lived
in same house on 1 Apr 1935; in household of father, Preston Blankenship.
2. Virginia, U.S., Marriage Records, 1936-2014; ancestry.com Website.
"Name: James Taylor Blankenship
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age: 19
Birth Date: abt 1930
Marriage Registration Place: Buchanan, Virginia, USA
Marriage Date: 26 Jun 1949
Marriage Place: Buchanan, Virginia, USA
Father: Preston Blankenship
Mother: Matilda Jane Estep
Spouse: Mildred Johnson
Certificate Number: 1949014238"
3. FindAGrave.com Website; submitted by Dewey Bruce Glenn; 6 Jun 2018.
" James Taylor Blankenship Sr.
Birth 28 Apr 1930
Death 4 Jun 2018 (aged 88)
Clanton, Chilton County, Alabama, USA
Burial Cremated
Memorial ID 190379457"
1. Virginia, U.S., Marriage Records, 1936-2014; ancestry.com Website.
"Name: Mildred Johnson
Gender: Female
Race: White
Age: 19
Birth Date: abt 1930
Marriage Registration Place: Buchanan, Virginia, USA
Marriage Date: 26 Jun 1949
Marriage Place: Buchanan, Virginia, USA
Father: James Johnson
Mother: Mary Alice Spencer
Spouse: James Taylor Blankenship
Certificate Number: 1949014238"
2. FindAGrave.com Website; submitted by Dewey Bruce Glenn; 28 Sep 2019.
" Mildred Harell Johnson Blankenship
Birth 23 Oct 1929
Buchanan County, Virginia, USA
Death 10 Mar 2015 (aged 85)
Clanton, Chilton County, Alabama, USA
Burial Cremated
Memorial ID 203359810"
1. Buchanan Co, VA; Marriage License #85-040583; Ancestry.com Website.
Jessie Layton Hatfield; age 41; born 7 Jan 1944 in WV; divorced; this is his 2nd marriage; first
married ended 17 Jul 1985; 3rd grade education; living at Box 679, Gilbert, WV; son of Jessie Lee
and Mary (Hatfield) Hatfield; married on 23 Aug 1985 in Buchanan Co, VA; Brenda Sue Blankenship;
maiden name Wolford; age 32; born 24 Jun 1953 in WV; divorced; this is her 2nd marriage; first
marriage ended 5 Mar 1982; 12th grade education; living at Box 679, Gilbert, WV; daughter of
Drewey and Annie (Harmon) (sic, Ellis) Wolford.