BOWEN ESTEL PUCKETT
Bowen Estel Puckett, 93 of Bluefield, VA, passed away Wednesday, September 09, 2015. Born in Tip Top, VA, he was the son of the late Christopher and Maude Gullion Puckett. He was a retired coal miner with 22 years of service, having worked in mines at Bishop and Boissevain. He was a proud member of the NRA, the UMWA, the VFW Post #9696 and the Rail Birds Club of Bowen Field. Mr. Puckett served his country in the United States Army. During his service, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Heroic Achievement in Germany on December 2, 1944, the Good Conduct Medal, the WWII Victory Medal, the America Theater Ribbon and the European African Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon. He was also an expert marksman and had an avid love for hunting. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his siblings, Early, John (Ted) and Charles Puckett, Betty Donaldson, Clara Melvin and half-brother, Joe Melvin, and an infant daughter.
He will be lovingly and affectionately remembered by his children, Jennifer Anderson and husband, Brian of Princeton, WV and Josh Neal and wife, Sheena of Bridgewater, VA; brothers: Bernard Puckett and wife, Dorothy of Tip Top, VA and Bill Puckett of VA; sisters: Gladyes Dalton of Tip Top, VA and Jeanetta "Ailene" Burdine of Richland, VA; grandchildren: David Crookshanks, Jenna Crookshanks and Nathaniel Blake Neal; numerous nieces and nephews; special friends: Anthony Mitchell, Louie Bolyard and George Denton.
A service to celebrate Mr. Puckett's life will be held Friday, September 11, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. at Dudley Memorial Chapel with Pastor Fred Farley officiating. Burial will follow at Grandview Memory Gardens where family and friends will serve as pallbearers. Military graveside rites will be conducted by the VFW Post #9696 and the Pocahontas American Legion Post #14. Friends are invited to visit with the family on Friday at the funeral home from 12:00 noon until the hour of the service.