Published: November 23, 2009 05:53 pm      

Luther Clarence Rife

WHITEWOOD, Va. — Luther Clarence Rife, age 82, of Whitewood, Va., passed away Sunday, November 22, 2009 at his home. Born February 16, 1927 in Paynesville, W.Va., he was the son of the late William Peter (Pete) and Bessie Jane Viers Rife. He was a United States 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 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 25, 2009 at Buchanan Funeral Service Chapel at Keen Mountain, Va. with the Rev. Joe Horn, the Rev. Seth Shortridge, the Rev. C.B. Helton and the 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.