Lucinda Wills Vest Upton
Born in a 2-story hand hewed log house on Suck Creek near Ellison, West Virginia on Sunday, March 13, 1921, Lucinda Wills Vest Upton graduated to a glorious mansion in heaven on January 26, 2016. At the age of 94, she still remembered seeing her first airplane flying over the mountains as she and her mother were making apple butter in a copper kettle over an open fire. It scared both of them. She saw many changes in society during her long life and readily adapted to them.
Her parents were William Lacy Wills and Lillie Margaret McKinney Wills. Siblings were Clenda, Norman, Dolly Mae, Louella Farley (all deceased), Nellie Farley of Pipestem, WV; Bertha Edwards of Orlando, FL; Zella Margaret Womack of Newport News, VA; and Orpha Singleton also of Orlando.
She married Joseph Moody Vest in 1939. Their children were Benny (Gayle) of Scott Depot, WV; Julia (John) Allen of Pipestem, Ruth (Larry--deceased) Farley of Logan, OH, Martha (Tom--deceased) Williams of Virginia Beach; Joyce (Denzil) Neely of Plant City, FL; and Linda (John) McKee of Nitro, WV. She is survived by 16 grandchildren and a host of great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.
Later in life she married Jackson Gilbert "Jack" Upton of Marie, WV, and proudly inherited his 12 grown children and their families. She loved her adopted Upton family.
Once in a great while, a person is born who has many gifts and is almost universally well liked by others. She was one of those people. Even though she faced considerable challenges in life, she was able to be an inspiration and role model to others in the community and in her family. She had an overpowering sense of responsibility, resilience, physical strength, a soft heart, concern for others, creativity, and total devotion to her family. She lived a life of gratitude and expressed her thankfulness for even the least kindness shown her. She greeted everyone with a smile and a hug.
She said her hardships were endured by her faith in God. She was a longtime and faithful member of Bluestone Baptist Church in Jumping Branch. She gently directed her children in their faith journeys and prayed for them daily by name.
The last months of her life were spent at Main Street Care where she received excellent care from a dedicated staff. Her last words were to one of the nurses when she said, "What can I do for you?"
Visitation will be at Bluestone Baptist Church in Jumping Branch from 6-8 PM on Friday, January 29, 2016 and one hour before the service on Saturday. Funeral service will be 11AM Saturday, January 30, 2016 at the Bluestone Baptist Church with Pastor Bill Fox officiating. Interment will be at the Luther Vest Cemetery in Jumping Branch. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Mission Fund of the Bluestone Baptist Church.
Arrangements are by the Ronald Meadows Funeral Parlors of Hinton.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.ronaldmeadowsfp.com
Visitation
JAN
29.
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM (EST)
Bluestone Baptist Church
Beagle Club Road
Jumping Branch, WV
Visitation
JAN
30.
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM (EST)
Bluestone Baptist Church
Beagle Club Road
Jumping Branch, WV
Funeral Service
JAN
30.
11:00 AM (EST)
Bluestone Baptist Church
Beagle Club Road
Jumping Branch, WV