Hiram Wesley Hogg

Hiram Wesley Hogg BRISTOL, Va. Hiram Wesley Hogg, 102, passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2010, at NHC in Bristol Virginia. Hiram was born Feb. 23, 1908, in Roxana, Ky. to the late Kelly and Martha Ison Hogg. He was raised in Kentucky not long after the time of the Hatfield and McCoy feud, which took place close to the area of his heritage. He recalled the many stories of that epic drama in American folk lore, which he gleefully recounted and further embellished. He attended Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) and Moorhead College in Kentucky. During his junior year in college, at the time of the Depression, he had to return home and teach in a one-room elementary school in order to help support his family. He later moved to West Virginia, finding employment with a steel mill as an equipment operator of a large overhead crane that moved heavy crucibles filled with molten steel. He lived in the Gauley Bridge area and Fayetteville, W.Va., for over 40 years. He met his wife, Gladys Irene Gray, and was happily married for 67 years until she passed away in 2004. He worked as an insurance agent for Peoples Life Insurance Co. for many years. In addition to his parents and wife, Hiram was preceded in death by his infant sons, Kelley Stevenson Hogg and Bob Wesley Hogg. Hiram attributed his longevity to a happy life and a caring family. He was a member of Scenic Park Baptist Church and attended Victory Baptist Church. His favorite pastimes were gardening, hunting and fishing. He was a great storyteller and enjoyed reminiscing about his travels across country by train during the Great Depression and the diverse people he met during his life. The family would like to thank the NHC third floor nursing staff for the exceptional care they provided to Mr. Hogg. Survivors include his daughters, Debra Garland and husband, Jim, of Bristol Virginia, Betty Reddy of Cocoa Beach, Fla., Shirley Alvandian of Locust Grove, Va., and Joyce Gross and husband, George, of Middletown, Ohio; three sisters, Panny Stallard, Mae Boggs and Millie Wright, all of Kentucky; 11 grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; seven great-great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. A funeral service for Hiram Hogg will be held on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2010, at 1 p.m. at Victory Baptist Church in Bristol Virginia, with Dr. Austin Cook officiating. The burial will follow at Forest Hills Memory Gardens in Abingdon, Va. Joey Sibio, Lynn Sproles, Danny Jessee, Dallas Hayden, Stan Cook and Bill Faber will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends from 12-12:45 p.m. on Saturday at the church. Those wishing to express sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com and signing the guest book. The family of Mr. Hiram Hogg is under the care of Farris Funeral Service, 427 E. Main St, Abingdon, VA (276-623-2700).