DEEL, Va. Ralph W. Compton, a resident of Deel and a Buchanan County native, died Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2006, in Buchanan General Hospital following a brief illness.
Born near Whitewood on April 16, 1923, he was a son of the late Hannibal A. and Celia Cox Compton.
He was a veteran employee of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Administration having retired in 1989. He was a graduate of Whitewood High School Class of 1942, studied Electrical Engineering at Virginia Tech and his first employment was with D.J.B. Collieries, Feds Creek, Ky.
He served in the United States Army during World War II from early 1943 through 1945. Assigned to the 36th Field Artillery Division, he served in North Africa, Sicily, Italy and France. He participated in the invasion of Southern France in early 1945.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Goldie Ball Compton on Jan. 13, 2004; one brother, Victor H. Compton; and a niece and nephew.
He is survived by three brothers, W. Ray Compton and wife Betty of Norton; Lodge Compton of Vansant; William B. Compton and wife Shelby of Elkins Branch; a devoted cousin, Ralph H. Cox and wife Alta, of Elkins Branch, six nieces and three nephews.
A visitation service will be held at the Grundy Funeral Home Chapel from 6-9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3.
A funeral service will be held at Grundy Funeral Home at 1 p.m. Saturday with burial to follow at Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
Members of John Ratliff Post 164 of the American Legion will conduct military rites.
Active pallbearers will be Timothy Compton, Steve Jones, Steven Smith, Ronald Compton, James M. Bevins, Jr., Charles Compton, Sam Bartley, Bob Cole, Bobby G. Reece and Jonathan Compton.
Honorary pallbearers will be Calvin Compton, Lonnie Love, Omer Bunn, Carl Cartwright Jr., George Stewart and Elmer Simmons.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.grundyfuneralhome.com
Grundy Funeral Home of Grundy, Va., is in charge of all arrangements.
Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, WV
Thursday, February 2, 2006 (findagrave.com)