Lockhart, Hubert

Passed: 1979-04-27

Age: 24

Source: Ravenswood News

Death Notice: 1979-05-09

Obituary Date:

Information: MISSING COUNTY MAN'S BODY FOUND - The body of a Jackson County man was recovered from the Little Kanawha River near where his car was swept over the Sanoma Dam, near Elizabeth, Apr. 27, Monday. Hubert Lockhart, 24, had been missing since 9 p.m. when his 1974 Ford was swept over the low water bridge by currents of an estimated four feet of water that were running over the structure. Apparently Lockhart had attempted to make a crossing despite the water, and less than halfway across, the vehicle was carried over the dam into the boiling flood waters. A passenger in the vehicle with Lockhart, Robert Thompson, 19, of Windy Ridge in Wirt County, managed to escape the vehicle through a window. He was swept downstream before grabbing brush near the shoreline and pulling himself to safety. He notified police officials. Cpl. T. E. Guthrie and Trooper L. E. Lanham of the Wirt State Police Detachment responded to the scene, as did units of the Elizabeth Volunteer Fire Department, to search for the submerged vehicle and missing man. Dragging operations continued in the Little Kanawha River below the dam for 10 consecutive days, with the vehicle located last week. The Jackson County man's body was discovered at 10:20 a.m. Monday during another round of dragging below the low water dam. Funeral services for Lockhart were held at 2 p.m. today (Wednesday) at the Union Chapel Church in Sandyville. Lockhart was born in Jackson County, a son of Mrs. Ida Benson Lockhart of Sandyville and the late Noel H. Lockhart. He was a member of the Union Chapel Methodist Church, a 1976 graduate of Ravenswood High School and an employee of Seddon's of Parkersburg. He is survived by seven brothers, John and Mark, both of Sandyville, Orrin and David, both of Mineral Wells, Walter of Parkersburg, Russell of Rockport and Dale of Northfolk, Va.; and seven sisters, Mrs. Izetta Patterson of Cottageville, Mrs. Mary Lemon and Mrs. Virginia Prunty, both of Parkersburg, Mrs. Elizabeth Burton of Elizabeth, Mrs. Pauline Cain of Mineral Wells, Sharon Lockhart of Ripley and Margaret Lockhart of Sandyville. The Rev. Garfield Prine officiated the services, and burial was in the Independence Cemetery. Vail Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.