Poling, James Howard

Passed: 2010-12-08

Age: 87

Source: Charleston Daily Mail

Death Notice:

Obituary Date: 2010-12-13

Information:      James Howard Poling, 87, went to eternal rest on Wednesday, December 8, 2010 following a courageous battle with an extended illness.   He was born on April 7, 1923, in Kenna to the late James B. and Ada Skeen Poling.  Howard is to be remembered as a proud World War II veteran, loving and devoted husband, brother, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and a good friend to many.  He was preceded in death by his loving wife and mother of his children, Virginia M. Johns Poling;  his second wife, Doris Skeen Poling; brother, B. Noel Poling; and his only son and youngest  child, Curtis Kevin Poling. Following his Army military service, he graduated from West Virginia University with his degree in electrical engineering.  He retired from Rockwell International, Columbus, Ohio, and was residing with his wife, Mattie Willadeen Parsons Poling in their Mt. Dora, Fla., home where he loved taking his daily walks, spending time outdoors grooming his yard, and bass fishing.  He is survived by three loving daughters, Aleta Ruark of Phoenix, Ariz., Karen Weber (Doug) of Pickerington, Ohio, and Jeanne Gunton (Bob) of Florence, SC; brother Paul (Vivian) Poling of Ripley; and sister Betty Poling Tolley of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.  He is also survived by three stepchildren; Sammy (Terry) Skeen of Ripley, Sandy (Rick) Valdez of Lawrenceville, Ga., and Deanna (Vernon) Bouvaird of Kenna; seven grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; seven step-grandchildren; and two step-great-grandchildren.  He was a strong man of faith, and humbly accepted life's many blessings, challenges, and sorrows, drawing his tremendous strength through the promises of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Family was first and foremost in his life, along with sharing his love for music, playing one of his four charished violins.  He claimed that two of his violins were for his bluegrass music and two were for his classical pieces.  We knew better.   Family will receive friends and relatives from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, December 13, 2010 at Waybright Funeral Home in Ripley.  Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Grasslick Baptist Church, Kenna, with Pastor Jimmy Compton officiating.  Interment will be at Goshen Church Cemetery, Kentuck.  In the Spring of 2011, our dad's service to his country will be memorialized, with the placement of his service flag and photograph at the base of the West Virginia pillar in Washington, DC.  His fellow soldiers who are able to make the trip that day will honor and salute this valiant soldier's service to his country.  This gift to Howard and his family will be made possible through Honor Flight Network.