Charity Bell Koehn Smith

Charity Bell Koehn Smith, 94, of Walnut Hill, Fla., passed away on Sun., Oct. 4, 2015, in Atmore. She was a homemaker, born in Ithaca, Mich., on March 29, 1921, to the late Leland and Hanna Johnson Eicher.

She is preceded in death by her husbands, Menno Koehn and Waymon Smith; one brother, Newell Eicher; and one sister, Mildred Eicher.

Survivors are two sons, Richard (Wilma) Koehn of Walnut Hill, Lynn Koehn of Independence, La.; two daughters, Barbara (John) Loewen of Walnut Hill, Alice (Norman) Keator of Albuquerque, N.M.; four brothers, Ward (Dolly) Eicher of Brooksville, Miss., William (Lois) Eicher, Wallace (Judy) Eicher and Wendell (Mary) Eicher, all of Walnut Hill; three sisters, Eunice (Jake) Smith of Brooksville, Miss., Althea Dick and Imo (Wilbert) Peters, all of Walnut Hill; 16 grandchildren; 42 great-grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren.

Services will be held tomorrow, Thurs., Oct. 8, 2015, at 10 a.m. from the Walnut Hill Mennonite Church, with the Rev. Carlos Koehn, the Rev. Mike Koehn and the Rev. Galen Harms officiating. Interment will follow in Walnut Hill Memorial Gardens.

Active pallbearers will be Varr Koehn, Roan Koehn, Michael Loewen, Martin Lapp, Toxey Koehn, Winston Loewen and Etaun Koehn.

Family will receive friends today, Wed., Oct. 7, at the Walnut Hill Mennonite Church from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Christian Child Care Home, 220 W. Jefferson Street, Gallup, N.M. 87301.

Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home, INC is in charge of all arrangements.

Howard B. Norris

Howard B. Norris Sr., 92, husband of the late of Cupidean (Cook) Norris, of Phoenixville, Pa., passed away on Sat., Oct. 3, 2015, in his residence. Born on Aug. 8, 1923, in Atmore, he was a son of the late Kelon and Buna (Hardee) Norris.

Mr. Norris retired from the United States Army in 1970, achieving the rank of lieutenant colonel. He was a deacon of Faith Baptist Church in Phoenixville.

Mr. Norris is survived by his children, Shirley F., wife of James E. Whittier, of New Albany, Ind., Sonja A. Norris, of Phoenixville, Gloria J., wife of George A. Berkhimer, of Trooper, Marlene B. McGill of West Chester, Pa., Howard B. Jr., husband of Faith Norris, of Tampa, Fla., and Rickey F., husband of Linda Norris, of Phoenixville; 13 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; sisters, Edna and Martha; and brothers, Junior, Bill, Edgar and David.

He was preceded in death by his siblings, Myra, Betty, Carroll, Maurice and AC.

His funeral service will be held today, Thurs., Oct. 8, 2015, at 11 a.m. at the Campbell-Ennis-Klotzbach Funeral Home, Inc., Main Street at Fifth Avenue in Phoenixville. Officiating will be the Rev. Jack Tomkinson. Friends will be received from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. Interment will be in Philadelphia Memorial Park, Frazer, Pa. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made in Howard’s name to the Wounded Warrior Project at www.WoundedWarriorProject.org/donate. Condolences may be offered online at www.PhoenixvilleFuneralHome.com.

Jack Dempsey Harville

Jack Dempsey Harville, 76, a native and resident of Rabun, died on Sat., Sept. 26, 2015, at North Baldwin Infirmary.

He retired from the Alabama Department of Transportation as a Highway Maintenance Technician III (paint machine operator).

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Annie Marie Harville of Rabun; one son, Randy (Katrina) Harville of Stapleton; one daughter, Jackie (Phillip D.) Presley of Bay Minette; one sister, Mary Inez Ferrell of Rabun; five granddaughters, Bethany Presley of Auburn, Ashley Presley of Bay Minette, Natalee Presley of Bay Minette, Hollee Harville of Stapleton and Lindsey Harville of Stapleton; and his four legged friend, Buster.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Van and Arthurine Blackmon Harville; and one brother, Joe Louis Harville.

Funeral services were held on Wed., Sept. 30, 2015, at Dean’s Church with Sister Helen Stewart and Brother Joey Brown serving as officiates. Burial followed at Dean Cemetery.

Pallbearers were Dennis Ferrell, Darrell Ferrell, Logan Ferrell, Kelly Harville, Steve Harville and Glen Wallace. Honorary pallbearers will be Norman Allen and Junior Hall.

Arrangements were by Norris Funeral Home, 402 E. 2nd St., Bay Minette, AL 36507, 251-937-9596.

Condolences can be made at www.norrisfuneralservice.com.

Kenneth Wayne Caraway

Kenneth Wayne Caraway, 59, of Walnut Hill, Fla., passed away on Thurs., Oct. 1, 2015, in Pensacola, Fla.

He was an installer with flooring, born in Pensacola on May 16, 1956, to Kenneth K. and Mary Sessions Caraway.

He is preceded in death by his father, Kenneth K. Caraway; and grandparents, Comer and Ida Bell Franklin Caraway.

Survivors are his wife, Shelby Taylor Caraway; mother, Mary Paul and husband, Aubrey; son, Marcus Wayne Caraway of Walnut Hill; step son, Michael (Angela) Taylor of Perdido; two daughters, Shaudala (Mark) Bean of Portland, Texas and Tabatha Caraway of Atmore; one sister, Pamela Jay of Atmore; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; niece and nephew, Chase Jay and Ashley Jay; great nephew, Carter Overstreet; and step brother, Alvin Paul.

Services were held on Sat., Oct. 3, 2015, from Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Wendell Hadley and Bro Paul Enfinger serving as officiates. Interment was held in Pine Barren Cemetery.

Active pallbearers were Wayne Walker, Chase Jay, Josh Thomas, Michael Jay, Tim Caraway, and Bill Caraway. Honorary pallbearers were Roy Thomas and Billy Franklin.

Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home, INC was in charge of all arrangements.

Sara Nell Darby Cumbie

Mrs. Sara Nell Darby Cumbie, 69, of Uriah, passed away on Fri., Oct. 2, 2015, at Providence Hospital in Mobile.

Mrs. Cumbie was a lifelong resident of Monroe County. She was a member of McCullough Christian Center. Mrs. Cumbie worked with Vanity Fair as a personnel secretary.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Eubie Edward Darby and Roberta Mae Rolin Darby Melton; and two brothers, Infant Leo Darby and James Darby.

Survivors include her husband, Harold Cumbie of Uriah; her sons, Eddie Cumbie and wife, DeAnn of Uriah, and Robbie Cumbie of Uriah; two brothers, Carl Darby and wife, Sharon of Monroeville and Charles Darby of Frisco City; one sister, Ruby McGlothren of Cantonment, Fla.; one sister-in-law, Doris Darby of Monroeville; three grandchildren, Monica Cumbie, Morgan Cumbie and Miranda Cumbie, all of Uriah; and one great-grandson, Kaiser Wall of Uriah.

Funeral services were held on Tues., Oct. 6, 2015, at Monroe Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. Richard Daniels and the Rev. Cornelius Phillips serving as officiates. Burial followed in Poplar Springs Cemetery. The family is accepting flowers or donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Please share your condolences online by signing Mrs. Cumbie’s guest book at www.monroechapel.com.

Walter E. Welch

Commander Walter E. Welch, U.S. Navy retired, will be laid to rest on Mon., Oct. 12, 2015, at the Atmore Oak Hill Cemetery at 11 a.m. He will be laid to rest beside his wife, Helen, who passed away Aug. 1 in Galveston, Texas. The burial of his ashes is open for family and friends to attend and is arranged through the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.

A native of Atmore, he was a graduate of Escambia County High School and lettered four years as a member of the Barnes Boys football team. He entered the Navy in 1948 after graduating from high school and was assigned to sea duty in Sing Tao China.

Prior to receiving his officer’s commission in 1959, CDR, Welch served as an engineering chief petty officer. He retired in 1978 after 30 years of active service, most of which was spent in the U.S. Pacific Fleet. He received 27 naval awards and decorations during his naval career including a bronze star with combat V, a purple heart, five Navy commendation medals with three combat V’s, and a presidential unit citation. After his naval service, Commander Welch was president and CEO of the marine engineering and consulting firm, PSI, in Seattle, Wash. He and Helen later retired in Gulf Breeze, Fla. Together the family lived around the world, according to CDR Welch’s duty stations, including the territory of Hawaii; Sasebo, Japan; San Diego, Calif.; La Marque, Texas; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Newport, Rhode Island; Bellevue, Wash.; Gulf Breeze and since 2011, Galveston, Texas.

He was preceded in death by his parents, W.L. and Mazie Welch of Atmore; and is survived by his children, Jeffrey and wife Mary, Victor and Andrea Witzig (Christoph); four grandsons, Brian and wife, Ashlyn; Keith and wife, Kirsten; Tristan and Liam; six great-granddaughters, Sophie, Penelope, Genevieve, Tabitha, Juliet and Vivien; and twin brother, Wallace and wife, Margaret.

Born on Sept. 16, 1930, he passed away on March 7, 2012. A reception will be held following the ceremony from noon to 2 p.m. at the Heritage Steakhouse in Atmore.