Anthony Rife

Anthony Lawson Rife of Clear Fork Creek, Rocky Gap, VA (formerly of Jolo, WV) went to join his Lord and the love of his life, his wife, the late Laura June Coleman Rife, on November 2, 2011 at Wytheville Community Hospital. He was born April 21, 1925 to the late Granville W. and Louise Cooper Rife. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather. He was a devoted Christian and a member of Rocky Gap Pentecostal Holiness Church. He was a veteran of World War II serving in the United States Navy and was a member of the American Legion Post 175 of Bradshaw,WV. He was a retired coal miner and a member of UMWA Local #6026 having worked 36 years underground. In addition to his parents and wife he was preceded in death by on infant son, four brothers; David, Joe, Walter and John Rife, six sisters; Mearlen Rose, Rose Bailey, Lucy Cantrell, Thelma (Okie) Cline, Marie Hagy and Juanita Coleman. Survivors include two daughters; Gilda Kennedy and husband Garnie and Hilda Sutphin and husband Rev. Larry Sutphin both of Clear Fork Creek RD., Rocky Gap, VA Three sons: Travis R. Rife of Clear Fork Creek Rd., Alvis R. Rife and Merrill T. Rife both of Bastian, VA Grandchildren: Brian Kennedy and wife Christy, Anthony T. Kennedy and wife Rhonda and Vanessa L Kennedy all of Rocky Gap, Amy Caudill and husband Brad, Samantha Burton and husband Jeremy of Tazewell, VA, Dean Horne, Jr. and Anthony B. Horne both of Bradshaw, WV, Step-Grandsons, Chris Sutphin and wife Angie and Jeromy Sutphin of Rocky Gap, VA, Kelli Rife of Bluefield, WV, Robert Rife of Bastian, VA, and Angela Rife of Rocky Gap, VA, Laura Marie Parnell and husband Joey, Ashley Halterman and husband Devin of Bastian, VA, Melissa Rife and fiancé Aaron Mabe of Marion, Va., Daniel Rife and fiancée Nicky Surratt of Austinville, VA. Great grandchildren are Kayla, Kyle, Kristopher and Korey Kennedy, Chad and Chase Havens and Andrew, Joseph and Samuel Kennedy, Parker, Grayson, and Morgan Burton and Fayth Caudill, Catheryne and Natalie Rife, Dylan and Travis Rife, Brooke Parnell, Jaylun Rife and one great-great-grandson Mason Kennedy. His special surviving brother Willard Rife and his wife Dorothy of Jolo, WV Funeral services will be conducted at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, November 5, 2011 at Hurst-Scott Funeral Home Chapel in Tazewell, VA with Rev. Gary Rife and Rev. Larry Sutphin officiating. Interment will follow at Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill, VA. Serving as pallbearers will be grandsons, and great-grandsons. Members of Casey-Shortt VFW Post 9640 of Richlands, VA will conduct military graveside rites. The family will receive friends from 6 -9 p.m. Friday, November 4, 2011 at Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Tazewell, VA. Flowers are welcome or a Memorial Donation Honering Mr. Rife may be made to the Rocky Gap Pentecostal Holiness Church of Rocky Gap, VA or the Bland County Veterans Memorial Fund of Bland, VA. Hurst-Scott Funeral Home of Tazewell, VA is serving the Rife family. Those wishing to express sympathy online may do so at www.hurstscottfuneralhomes.com.

Anthony Rife

April 21, 1925 - November 2, 2011