Frances Gilpin

Frances Slade Gilpin, known by many as Dutch, 91, of Princeton, West Virginia, formerly of Bluefield, West Virginia, passed away with her family at her side at Princeton Community Hospital on Wednesday, April 1. Born at home in Bluefield, Virginia, on January 6, 1924, Frances was the daughter of Gratton Wysor Slade and Annie Carbaugh Slade. Frances was a former member of First Baptist Church of Bluefield and member of First Baptist Church of Princeton, West Virginia. She was a member of the Rebekah Lodge and a member of the Eastern Star in both Bluefield, Virginia and Princeton, West Virginia. Frances was a retired school cook with the Mercer County Board of Education, Wade Elementary School, Bluefield, West Virginia. Dick and Frances spent most of their life on the Farm gardening and raising animals. She enjoyed working her puzzle books, working jigsaw puzzles and was always known as “Mawmaw Honey” to her great grandchildren Frances was married for 44 years to William H. “Dick” Gilpin. who passed away in September, 1997. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by sisters, Mildred Slade Stephenson, Nance Slade Bane, and brothers Henry Bowen Slade, James Roy Slade, Daniel Gratton Slade and Lewis Hamilton Slade. She was the last surviving member of her family. Survivors include her daughter, Margaret Gilpin Bryant and husband, Jim Bryant, with whom she resided; their children, Heather Bryant Eldridge, husband, David Eldridge, daughters, Lauryn Faith, McKenzie Erin, and Addison Grace, all of Princeton, WV. and son, Michael Bryant and wife, Jessica, their children, William Daniel and Jemma Faith, of Princeton, WV; She is also survived by her son, Richard Gilpin and wife, Patsy Gilpin, Princeton, WV; their children, Brandi Nicole Gilpin of Bluefield, Megan Brooke Gilpin Hill and husband, Dustin Hill, their sons, Collin Ray and Easton Thomas, of Lerona, WV; and Katelynn Gilpin of Princeton, West Virginia. The family will receive friends at Cravens-Shires Funeral Home, Bluewell, WV, on Friday, evening, April 3, 2015, from 6-8 PM. Funeral services will be at 11:00 AM on Saturday, April 4, 2015, at the funeral home, with Reverend Don Scott presiding. Burial will follow in Monte Vista Park Cemetery with Steve Slade, Danny Mac Slade, Dustin Hill, Grat Slade, David ELdridge, and Joshua Hylton serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are nephew Mike Bane, great grandsons, Will Bryant, Collin Ray Hill, and Easton Thomas Hill. The family would appreciate any donations made to Mercer County Bible in the Schools, P O Box 5124, Princeton, WV 24740. Online condolences will be accepted at www.cravens-shires.com Cravens-Shires Funeral Home, 3431 Coal Heritage Road (Bluewell), Bluefield, WV 24701 is serving the family.