FARIS M. ZAIN, 82, lifelong resident of Charleston, WV, passed away peacefully on May 12, 2012 at his residence. He was born on June 12, 1929 to Maurad and Emily Zain of Charleston, who preceded him in death. Following graduation from Charleston Catholic High School and Xavier University, Faris served in the US Army until 1960. Known by many of his friends and co-workers as Zeke, he had a fulfilling career in information systems design and...

Mildred Marie Bockway, 93, of South Charleston, West Virginia, passed away Sunday morning, May 6, 2012, at Thomas Memorial Hospital. She was born May 23, 1918, the daughter of Noah and Fairy Miller of Turtle Creek, Boone County, WV. She was a retired teacher from West Virginia public schools, having taught for 24 years, most of it at Nitro High School. Mildred was educated in Boone County public schools and held a bachelor's degree and a master...

James Ray (Chipper/Chip) Collins, 62, of Hurricane, WV passed away Saturday, May 5, 2012 at the Hubbard Hospice House West, South Charleston, after a short but courageous battle with cancer. Chipper was born July 12, 1949 in Nitro, WV to Harvey and the late Georgia Wandling Collins. In addition to his mother, Chipper was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Ray and Evelyn Wandling and paternal grandparents, James (Nick) and Dollie...

John Culver Chaty, 86, of South Charleston, West Virginia, passed away on April 30, 2012 of natural causes at home. Born September 12, 1925 in San Francisco, California, the first of three children of Earlton and Doris Chaty. John was a Navy veteran ofWWII, a radar operator on an LCM in the Pacific theater, and later on a destroyer in the Naval reserves. He was married to Lucille Chaty in Alabama in 1951, where he played semi-pro...

Bland B. Barnett Jr., 76, of Charleston, passed away on Wednesday, April 25, 2012, peacefully at his home after a long illness. He was born on September 17, 1935 to the late Bland B. Barnett, Sr. and Nellie K. Barnett. He was a 1955 graduate of Stonewall Jackson High School. He was the previous owner of Walker-Barnett, Inc. and was self employed as a general contractor through his company, B.B. Barnett Builder. Bland was a loving husband...

George Washington Bird, Age 92 (DOB 2/11/1920 Charleston, West Virginia) of Luling, Louisiana, passed away on April 25, 2012, at the home his daughter in Matthews North Carolina after a brief illness. George graduated from South Charleston High School in the class of 1938. He was a retiree of Union Carbide Corporation where he worked as a Construction Superintendent for many years. He was a long time active member of Spring Hill Baptist...

Nelson Blair Pratt Nelson Blair Pratt, 90, passed away on Monday, April 23, 2012 at Charleston Area medical Center following an unexpected emergency heart surgery. Blair was born on December 14, 1921 in Clarksburg, WV. He was the son of Samuel and Jeanette Pratt. One of five children, Blair had two brothers, Dale and Charles Pratt and two sisters, Mary Rachel Pratt, and Nina Pratt Hill. A graduate of Victory High School in Clarksburg, he...

Helen Mae Ralston Duncan, 88 of Charleston, WV departed this life on Sunday, April 22, 2012 at CAMC Memorial Hospital after a long illness. Helen was born August 1, 1923 in Cass, WV and graduated from Gary High School in 1941. She married the late Harry Duncan Sr. on Dec. 2, 1945. They were happily married for 57 years. Helen was employed by Kanawha County Board of Education for 15 years as a Kindergarten teacher's assistant at Village...