Luther Rife

Luther Clarence Rife WHITEWOOD, Va. Luther Clarence Rife, age 82, passed away Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009, at his home. Born Feb. 16, 1927, in Paynesville, W.Va., he was the son of the late William Peter "Pete" and Bessie Jane Viers Rife. He was a U.S. Army and Navy veteran of World War II. He was a member of John Ratliff Post 164 of the American Legion at Grundy, Va. Luther was a Pentecostal minister. He retired from Buchanan County Board of Supervisors as a special police officer. He was a member of the Odd Fellows. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Okey May Collins Rife; one brother, Sherman Rife; two sisters, Angelina Hawks and Myrtle Hayslett; and one grandson, Travis Rife. He is survived by one daughter, Bonnie Mullins and husband Adlai of Pilgrims Knob; two sons, Earl Rife and wife Barbara of Vansant and Freddie Rife and wife Mary of Patterson; six grandsons, Jeffery Rife, Nicholas Rife, Richard Rife, Aaron Mullins, Jeremy Mullins and Brannon Mullins; four great-grandchildren, Payton Mullins, Brady Rife, Taylor Anne Rife and Oliver Rife; one sister, Ethel Young of Oak Hill, W.Va. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009, at Buchanan Funeral Service Chapel at Keen Mountain, Va., with Rev. Joe Horn, Rev. Seth Shortridge, Rev. C.B. Helton and Rev. Jim Cole officiating. Entombment will follow in the Clinch Valley Memorial Mausoleum at Richlands, Va. Pallbearers will be Mack Justus and grandsons, Jeffery Rife, Nicholas Rife, Richard Rife, Aaron Mullins, Jeremy Mullins and Brannon Mullins. Honorary pallbearers will be Shelby Jewell, Phillip Kennedy, Kirby Cole, Buddy Fuller, Billy Moore, and Roger Sanders. Military graveside rites will be conducted by John Ratliff Post 164 of the American Legion. The family will receive friends from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Buchanan Funeral Service at Keen Mountain, Va. Online condolences may be sent to the family by going to www.singletonfuneralservice.com Buchanan Funeral Service is serving the Rife family.