1. McDowell Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1959); Page 296; WV Archives Web Site.
Theodore Rakes; age 19; born and living in Hemphill, WV; single; married on 7 Nov 1959 in
Hemphill, WV; Sarah Mae Rocchi; age 18; born in Roderfield, WV; single; living in Welch, WV; with
consent of Sarah Mae Rakes, mother of Theodore Rakes, father deceased; and Dora Mae Rocchi;
mother of Sarah Mae Rocchi, father deceased.
2. Russell Co, VA; Marriage License #76-031300; Ancestry.com Web Site.
Theodore Rakes; age 36; born 23 Apr 1940 in McDowell Co, WV; divorced; this is his 2nd marriage;
2 yrs HS education; living at Box 144, Hemphill, WV; son of Charles Ellis and Sarah (Roberts) Rakes;
married on 17 Jul 1976 in Lebanon, VA; Shelia Elizabeth Potter; maiden name Bennett; age 28; born
6 Aug 1947 in McDowell Co, WV; divorced; this is her 3rd marriage; 1 yr HS education; living at Box
54, Hemphill, WV; daughter of Glynn Allen and Bertha (Sizemore) Bennett.
3. Giles Co, VA; Marriage License #81-059554; Ancestry.com Web Site.
Theodore Rakes; age 41; born 23 Apr 1940 in WV; this is his first (sic, 2nd) marriage; 10th grade
education; living at Box 203, Hemphill, WV; son of Charles Ellis and Sarah Mae (Roberts) Rakes;
married on 12 Dec 1981 in Pembroke, VA; Linda Darlene Blackburn; agr 28; born 10 Jan 1953 in WV;
this is her 1st marriage (sic?); 10th grade education, GED; living at Box 122, Hemphill, WV; daughter
of Thomas Victor and Daisy Lee (Marinelli) Blackburn.
4. Douglas Mortuary, Welch, WV; Posted Obit.
"Theodore “Ted” Rakes, 79, of Welch passed away Friday, February 28, 2020 at his home.
Born April 23, 1940 in Welch he was the son of the late Charles Ellis Rakes and Sarah Mae Roberts Rakes. He was a resident of Welch the greater part of his life. He was a retired coalminer having worked for Cannelton Coal Co, Superior and Maple Meadows Coal Co. He was a former coal truck driver, and heavy equipment operator and line man for various construction companies. He loved watching NASCAR races.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a son David Blackburn; a daughter Renee Blackburn; three sisters Carolyn Kidd, Mary Ann Rose and Priscilla Morgan; and a brother Gary Rakes.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife Linda Darlene Blackburn Rakes of the home; four daughters, Dreama Lynn England Reed and husband Andy of Coal City, Lisa Blackburn of Welch, and Sonya and Sandi Rakes both of Christiansburg, VA; a sister, Patricia Mullins of Hemphill; a very special nephew, Butch Rakes of Bishop, VA whom he thought of as a son; and 11 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.
Funeral service will be held Tuesday, March 3, at 11 a.m. in the Douglas Mortuary Chapel in Welch with the Reverend Danny Blackburn officiating. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Memorial Park in Bluewell.
Friends may call at the funeral home Monday from 6-8 p.m.
Pallbearers will be Tommy Blackburn, Andy Reed, Drew Reed, Butch Rakes, Gary Rakes and Lacy Mullins.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at douglasmortuary.com."
1. McDowell Co, WV; Marriage records; Vol #__(1959); Page 296; WV Archives Web Site.
Theodore Rakes; age 19; born and living in Hemphill, WV; single; married on 7 Nov 1959 in
Hemphill, WV; Sarah Mae Rocchi; age 18; born in Roderfield, WV; single; living in Welch, WV; with
consent of Sarah Mae Rakes, mother of Theodore Rakes, father deceased; and Dora Mae Rocchi;
mother of Sarah Mae Rocchi, father deceased.
1. 1930 Census, Wyoming Co, WV; Slab Fork District; taken on 16 Apr 1930; Page 280A; Image 22
of 39; Family #185/185.
Listed as Opal Blankenship; age 14; born in WV; in household of father, William H. Blankenship.
2. Raleigh Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1948); Page 55; WV Archives, Web Site.
Fred Douglas; age 44; born on 8 Jun 1903 at Weston, WV; living at Glen Rogers, WV; son of Stroud
and Daisy Douglas; married on 4 Jul 1948 at Bolt, WV; Opal Blankenship; age 30; born in Apr 1918;
living at Harper, WV; daughter of Will and Doll Blankenship.
3. FindAGrave.com Web Site; submitted by Kelly Craig; 3 Jan 2011.
"Opal Blankenship Douglas
Birth 4 Apr 1915
Clear Fork, Wyoming County, West Virginia, USA
Death 26 Nov 1994 (aged 79)
Beckley, Raleigh County, West Virginia, USA
Burial
Pine Grove Cemetery
Ravencliff, Wyoming County, West Virginia, USA"
1. Buchanan Co, VA; Marriage License #76-016742; Ancestry.com Web Site.
Larry Mythias Vance; age 18; born 3 Nov 1957 in WV; single; this is his 1st marriage; 4yrs HS
education; living at Box 254, Bradshaw, WV; son of Clarence Ferrell and Lucille Mae (Mullins)
Vance; married on 15 May 1976 in the Freewill Baptist Church, Grundy, VA; Anita Sue Payne; age 18;
born 21 Mar 1958 in WV; single; this is her 1st marriage; 4 yrs HS education; living at Box 47, Jolo,
WV; daughter of Isiah and Mary Ellen (Hatfield) Payne.
2. "The Welch News"; Welch, WV; 5 Jan 2022; On-Line Edition; Obit.
"Larry Mythias Vance, 64 years of age of Bradshaw, WV, passed away Monday, January 3, 2022 at his home with his family by his side after a courageous battle with cancer. Born November 3, 1957 in Welch, WV, he was the son of the late Clarence Ferrell Vance and Lucille Mae Mullins Vance."Larry was a retired coal miner, attended Iaeger Pentecostal Church of God, enjoyed hunting, fishing, going to shooting matches and spending time with his family. He was a member of the UMWA. A loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and brother.
"In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife Anita Sue Payne Vance, sister Angie Vance, and brother Charlie Pruitt.
"Survivors include his loving wife of one year Connie Jeanette Kennedy Vance of Bradshaw, WV; daughters Aperia Hope Vance and Amy Lynn Vance both of Princeton, WV, Anna Faye Vanover and husband Mason of Iaeger, WV; step-daughter Deana Jeanette McGraw and husband Scott of Belmont, WV, Heather Michelle Austin and husband Randall of Abingdon, VA; step-son Dean Pruitt of Jolo, WV; sisters Frances Vance of Princeton, WV, Neva Beavers of Lebanon, VA, Dreama Coburn of Bastin, VA, Kimberly Wishart of Wisconsin, Beth Johnson of Lancaster, OH; brothers Ferrell Vance of Princeton, WV, David Vance of Bradshaw, WV.
"He is also survived by his grandchildren Andrew McClanahan and wife Gabrielle, Cody Coleman, Amber McClanahan and companion Anthony Banks, Kelsey Coleman and fiancé Tommy Dotson, Abigail Sparks and husband Justin, Brooklynn Blankenship, Allie Vanover; great-grandchildren Annabelle Coleman, Jaxson McClanahan, Abel McClanahan, Amelia Coleman, Sawyer Coleman, Addy Ruckman, Karston Banks, step-grandchildren Abigail Pruitt, Bently Pruitt, Chloe Pruitt, Tytan Pruitt, Hannah Austin, John Austin, Scott McGraw, Kayla Haught, Anthony Graham, several nieces, nephews and friends.
"Funeral service for Larry Mythias Vance will be held at the Iaeger Church of God, 5351 Coal Heritage Road, Iaeger, WV, Friday, January 7, 2022, at 12:00 noon with Pastor Jimmy Justus officiating. Burial will follow in the Simon L. Payne Cemetery on Keen Ridge, Paynesville, WV.
"Active pallbearers will be his family and friends.
"The family will receive friends at the Iaeger Church of God, Thursday, January 6th after 6:00 p.m. with evening service to be held at 7:00 p.m.
"Online condolences may be sent to www.shortridgeramey.com.
"The family of Larry Mythias Vance have entrusted the care of their loved one to Shortridge-Ramey Funeral Home of Grundy, VA."
1. "The Heritage of McDowell Co, WV, 1858-1995"; McDowell Co Historical Society; 1995;
"Elmer Kennedy, Miner" article Page 183.
2. U.S., Index to Public Records, 1994-2019; Ancestry.com Website.
"Name: Connie J Pruitt
Birth Date: Oct 1957
Residence Date: 1986-2020
Address: Po Box 204
Residence: Jolo, West Virginia, USA
Postal Code: 24850
Second Residence Date: 2008
Second Address: Buckeye Holw
Second Residence: Jolo, West virginia, USA
Second Postal Code: 24850
Third Residence Date: 1995-2000
Third Address: 106 Bailes Dr
Third Residence: Nitro, West Virginia, USA
Third Postal Code: 25143"
3. U.S., Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 2; Ancestry.com Website.
"Name: Connie Pruitt
Birth Date: 2 Oct 1957
Address: PO Box 188
Residence Place: Jolo, West Virginia, USA
Zip Code: 24850-0188"
1. Virginia, Birth Records, 1912-2014, Delayed Birth Records, 1854-1911; Ancestry.com Web Site.
"Name: Charles Robert Angove
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 17 Apr 1901
Birth Place: Wythe, Virginia, USA
Father: Henry Charles Angove
Mother: Katherine Campbell
Certificate Number: 1901003425"
2. Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007; Ancestry.com Web Site.
"Name: C Robert Angove
[C R Angove]
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 17 Apr 1901
Death Date: 11 Jun 1993
Claim Date: 20 Jan 1966
SSN: 236074876"
1. Virginia, Birth Records, 1912-2014, Delayed Birth Records, 1854-1911; Ancestry.com Web Site.
"Name: Claudia May Miller
Gender: Female
Birth Date: 11 Sep 1902
Birth Place: Pulaski, Virginia, USA
Father: James Laurence Miller
Mother: Octavia Virginia Moore
Certificate Number: 1902029253"