Gratten Webb Obituary

Gratten Oliver Webb Mr. Gratten Oliver Webb, 85, left this life in Abingdon, VA, on Saturday, September 1, 2012, from complications of diabetes. He was the 13th of 17 children of the late Reece Henderson and Effie Griffith Webb. He is survived by the love of his life, Jacqueline Boyd Webb whom he had been married to for 63 years, his daughters, Betsy Williams and husband Tom of Christiansburg, VA and Dr. Debbie Wallace and husband Tim of Doran, VA, his "favorite grandson," Wesley Wallace and wife Elizabeth Mitchell Wallace of Baton Rouge, LA, his "favorite granddaughter," Jillian McCoy and husband Jesse of Bluefield, VA, and his "favorite step-granddaughter," Leslie Williams of Bluefield, VA. He is also survived by two sisters, Alice Owens and husband Grady of Swords Creek, VA, Peggy Wells of Dublin, VA, and one brother, Tom Webb of Roanoke, Virginia, and many, many family members who loved him dearly, especially his nieces and nephews, his in-laws, his church family and many friends throughout the community. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one son, Gratten Oliver Webb, Jr., three sisters, Mrs. Georgia Christian, Mrs. Beulah Rose and Mrs. Ruby Boyd, and four brothers, Mr. Shannon Webb, Mr. Buford Webb, Mr. Avery "Jack" Webb and Mr. Jim Webb. Grat was inducted into the United States Army at the end of World War II and served from July 31, 1945 until December 27, 1946 as an infantryman in the 1322nd Labor Supervision Company as a truck driver stationed in Hamburg, Germany. He also assisted in the emigration of war brides to the United States. During his working years, he owned and operated Jiffy Rug Service in Raven, and he ran the Doran car wash. Gratten worked in several jobs and retired from Seabord, Pittston Coal Company, in April of 1989. He was also a member of the United Mine Workers of America, Local # 1760. Upon his retirement, he turned all his energies into volunteerism for his community. He was often referred to as the unofficial mayor of Raven/Doran, VA. He served on the building committee of Clearview United Methodist Church at Doran, VA, which opened its doors in January of 1970. It was his nomination of "Clearview" which was chosen as the name of the church. He received a lifetime membership into the Clearview United Methodist Women and wore his pin faithfully. After the devastation of Hurricane Hugo in 1989, Gratten went with a mission team from Richlands United Methodist Church to Stephens, SC, for a week. While there, they worked in unbearable heat to roof homes that had been destroyed. Gratten spearheaded a campaign to renovate the old Davis Chapel Church on Kents Ridge Road in the early 1990's and singlehandedly oversaw this renovation as well as raising approximately $5,000 in funds. On May 30, 1993, there was a Davis Chapel Centennial Celebration to rededicate the church. Many former pastors and parishioners attended. He obtained the site from the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church for the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 61, where they met for many years. Gratten continued to work for the benefit of the scouts for years. Grat worked tirelessly for Raven Elementary School and was the head chef for all the class picnics. He raised money and oversaw the building of the track around the school, the backstops of the baseball fields, the picnic shed and the school sign. In 1993, Grat worked with the Wesleyan Church and a mission team from the Blacksburg/Christiansburg area. They traveled to Hermosa, South Dakota, where they participated in a two week mission building and renovating a school for Native American children. Also, in 1992-1993, Gratten saw the need for personal mail delivery to the elderly residents in the Doran Bottom area. After working with the United States Postal Service and assisting them in a needs survey of the area, a mail route was established and the first mail was delivered in November 1993. In 1995, Grat traveled with friends to Harriman, TN, to participate in a blitz build of a Habitat House. In the late summer of that year, he participated in the Volunteer Labor Project in Pocahontas, VA - a program designed to help United Methodist Churches in Southwest Virginia remodel or build their church facilities with volunteer labor. He also traveled to Pearisburg, VA, to work on a Habitat House in a historic church. When Habitat for Humanity was established in Tazewell County, Grat was a charter member of the board. He worked on at least nine of the houses that have been built in the county. Grat was a charter member and lifetime member of the Casey-Short Veterans of Foreign War Post #9640, a charter and lifetime member of the Richlands Kiwanis Club, where he served as president several times. In 1997, he and Jackie were honored for over 2,500 hours of volunteerism with the Kiwanis Club. He was a charter and lifetime member of Woodman of the World, Lodge 404, where he received the Distinguished Citizen Award in 1996. In 1996, he was awarded the Citizen of the Year from the Richlands Area Chamber of Commerce. Grat oversaw the maintenance of the Hankins Cemetery in Richlands for many years and was the "trashman" for the Tri-County Health Clinic and a charter member and served on the Board of Directors at the Good Samaritan Food Pantry, from its inception until his death. His most current project, for which he showed much enthusiasm, was the restoration of the old Raven Theatre for a Coal Miner's Museum in Raven. A celebration of life for Grat Webb was held at Hurst Scott Funeral Home in Richlands, VA, at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 5, 2012, with the Reverends James Brooks, Tom Witten and Paul Griffith officiating. Entombment followed at the Greenhills Memory Gardens Mausoleum in Claypool Hill, VA. Military honors were performed by the Casey-Short Veterans of Foreign War Post #9640. Nephews and nieces served as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were the Men of Clearview United Methodist Church. Visitation was Tuesday evening from 6 - 9 p.m. at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands, VA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Clearview United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 642, Doran, VA 24612 or the Good Samaritan Food Pantry, 106 Veteran's Drive, Richlands, VA 24641. Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands, VA, was in charge of arrangements and those wishing to express sympathy online may do so at www.hurstscottfuneralhomes.com