Jonathon Bennett

Jonathon Scott Bennett, 21, died Wednesday, April 24, 2013.

Jonathon was born on Jan. 31, 1992, to Rita Whaley Bennett and John Bennett. A little sister, Kristine, welcomed him home. His grandparents were Troy and Evelyn Whaley of South Point. His Aunt Lisa Whaley Whittle and Uncle Troy Dale Whaley doted on him.

Jonathon grew up in North Carolina and was a star student in math, English, Spanish and history. He played JV basketball and ran track, placing in the 3A Regional and State Championship meets in 2010. He was president of the Fike Chorus and won auditions for the North Carolina Honors Chorus all four years of High School, plus a slot in the NC Governor’s School chorus of 2008.

In the community, Jonathon became an Eagle Scout, was active in his church and participated in the Act For Youth Theater program where he performed roles in “The Wizard of Oz,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Mouse That Roared,” “Hello, Dolly!” and “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.” As Schroeder, he played the tiny piano and memorized Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata” to convince the pianists in his family —Aunt Barbara, Nana (Evelyn Whaley) and Mom Rita — that he was really playing.

Upon graduation Jonathon attended East Carolina University as an honors scholar. He also became an ambassador for the university and was a junior studying geographic information science and technology when he died.

Jonathon was standing on a massive fallen tree, holding onto an overhead branch while talking with friends in the woods behind his apartment. When he started for home, the overhead branch snapped and threw him to the ground onto a fence post.

He was given a funeral service on Sunday, April 28 where more than 500 people attended from everywhere he made an impression. Friends and family from South Point, where Jonathon had visited many summers, also attended.

Memorials are suggested to the Jonathon Bennett Memorial Fund, PO Box 7185, Wilson, NC 27895. Arrangements by Wilson Memorial Service, Wilson, NC, (252) 237-7171, www.wilsonmemorialservice.com.

 

 

Donald Vogelsong

Donald Clark Vogelsong, 91, of Ironton, passed Sunday, May 5, 2013, at a local health care facility. The Ironton native was born April 3, 1922, the son of the late Binkley and Bertha Weinga Vogelsong. He is survived by his wife, Ann Riley Vogelsong, who he married March 7, 1994.

Mr. Vogelsong was a graduate of Ironton High School and attended Immanuel Methodist Church in Ironton for 87 years where he was a member of the Methodist Men. He was a United States Army veteran and served for over two years in Europe (1943-1945) with the 95th Evacuation Hospital. Don was proud to have served his country and received the Good Conduct Medal, European African Middle Eastern Service Medal with five Bronze Stars and one Bronze Arrowhead. Don retired in 1988 from Novamont Chemical Company in Kenova, W.Va., as a chemical machine operator. He was also a former employee of Wayne Pump Company for 19 years and Dow Chemical for six years. He was a Kentucky Colonial, an avid Cincinnati Reds fan and car enthusiast.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Patricia Murphy Vogelsong, and two brothers, Wayne Vogelsong and Harold Vogelsong.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by a daughter, Valerie Rowland of Cincinnati; grandson, Andrew Rowland of Philadelphia, Pa.; granddaughter, Ashley Rowland of Milwaukee, Wis.; step-daughter and step-son-in-law, Valerie and Ed Jewell of Ironton; two step grandsons, Lars Jewell and T.J. Jewell, both of Ironton; step granddaughter and her husband, Samantha and Kevin Foose of Point Pleasant, W.Va.; nephew, David Vogelsong of Ironton; and several nieces, nephews and other family members.

Graveside services will be 1 p.m. Thursday in Woodland Cemetery with the Rev. Jim Nichols officiating. Military Honors will be provided by VFW Post 8850. There will be no public visitation. The family requests donations be made to the Huntington VA Medical Center Voluntary Services C/O Linda Markham,1540 Spring Valley Dr., Huntington, WV 25704. To offer condolences to the family, please visit www.phillipsfuneralhome.net.

 

 

William Mann

William Christopher Mann, 51, of Denver, N.C., formerly of Scottown, died Friday, May 3, 2013. Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at Hall Funeral Home, Proctorville, by Pastor Cleo Watson. Burial will follow in Mann Cemetery, Scottown. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Hall Funeral Home.

Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.timeformemory.com/hall.

 

 

John McKnight

John Robert “Bobby” McKnight, II, 28, of South Point, died Saturday, May 4, 2013, in Huntington, W.Va. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Slack and Wallace Funeral Home, South Point with Brother Ron West officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Memorial Gardens, South Point. Visitation from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Condolences may be expressed at www.slackandwallace.com.

 

Ethel McKee

Ethel McKee, 92 of Ironton, died Monday, May 6, 2013, at a localhealth care facilty Arrangements are pending at Phillips Funeral Home.