THE WILES FAMILY CIRCLE Issue No. 4 May 1996

HUGH HENRY WILES by Katherine (Rene) Wiles Buckner
This story is about Hugh Wiles, my father, a long story, it would take a long time so where do I start? He was a very good Daddy to two families of children. His first wife was Ollie Vester Moore Wiles. They married in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. They had three children, Vester Henry Wiles, born February 27, 1922, Mable Katherine "Rene" Wiles Buckner born September 2, 1924 and Melvin Samuel Wiles born April 19, 1926. Ollie died May 24, 1932. Daddy's second wife was Kitty Roxie Gauldine Wiles, they had no children together, but she was the very best step-mother of all time! She died on June 12, 1948. Later, Daddy married Cora Ellen (Corrinne) Helton Wiles. Corrinne had four sons of her own, Sam, Bobby, Raymond, and Jack Helton and she and Daddy had two children, namely, James Henry (Jimmy) Wiles born January 21, 1951 and Sarah Jane Wiles Tate Clem born November 16, 1952.

The very first thing I remember about Daddy was that whatever he was, he was. He never made any excuses. He was a free soul always and always laughing. He, like his sisters and brothers, had a knack for music. He loved his family, his banjo and his drink.

He most always had us children with him after our Mother's death. To Canada and back, to Canada and back, however many times, we hung in with him and were always happier with him, no matter what. When his second family of children came along, they were exactly like the first, always wanting to be with Daddy.

He would play the banjo, laugh and sing, "Put My Little Shoes Away" "Corrinne, Corrinne" "Riding The New River Train." Where ever we went, the banjo went, except whenever the wander lust struck him and he got the urge to hop a freight train and just ride, ride anywhere, sometime for days, no word, no phones, we waited. We knew he would get home safe and ride right back with a big smile, fix us a good meal and pick his banjo and be glad to be home!

Daddy and his brothers would get together at someone's house on a cold winter night, play their instruments, sing and call out the figures for a square dance. Guess that's where we all learned to dance. We really were very happy.

Daddy was not happy to see his sons go to war and the death of Vester at the Battle of the Bulge, brought him his darkest time. He was never the same and each of us, all of us and none of us could ever take his place or bring an end to his grieving.

Farming was really not for him. He worked at Danville Knitting Mills and his sister, Louise, also worked there. He would get a meal ticket and always bring us oatmeal cookies to take to school the next day. Whenever he traded cars he would come to school to pick us up and take us for a ride to the store or visit an uncle or aunt or Grandma. He also worked at carpentry which he liked a lot. He was the farm manager for E. F. Clark and really was satisfied there.

As we grew up and like him, had the wander lust to ramble, go dancing and dating, he knew each of us by our own foot step. Whatever time we came in at night, he called us by name when we walked across the floor.

Daddy had lots of friends and visited his relatives more often than they visited him. Whenever, we three children got into a scrap he would sniggle at us as would Uncle Armistead, who lived with us a lot of the time, but when the fight got heated, he would break it up by saying he was going to make us kiss each other! Needless to say, the fight went out of us, then and there.

Daddy's second family came at the same time as mine and Melvin's so it was his children and our children. They all grew up together, again keeping us close to Daddy.

His life had some sorrows and losses, but was not the settled, stay in one place life, like his siblings, but he loved his siblings and his children.

His parents would have been proud of their oldest son, Hugh, raising, two families by himself, instilling in his children to always be close to each other. As long as he lived, he never stopped missing Vester and as long as we live we will not stop missing him.

Hugh has 5 children, 11 grandchildren, 14 great - grandchildren and 2 great - great - grandchildren.

OBITUARIES THE REGISTER, DANVILLE, VIRGINIA TUESDAY, MAY 26, 1931 FUNERAL SERVICES FOR MRS. WILES
Funeral services for Mrs. Hugh Wiles will be conducted from the home at Mountain Hill, near Ringgold, at 3 o'clock this afternoon. Interment will be in the family cemetery nearby.
Mrs. Wiles was 26 years of age. She died at her home early Sunday morning. She was a native of Pittsylvania County, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Moore, of this county.

THE REGISTER, DANVILLE, VIRGINIA SUNDAY, JUNE 13, 1948 MRS. KITTY WILES DIES IN HOSPITAL
Mrs. Kitty Gauldin Wiles, of Ringgold route one, died in University Hospital, Charlottesville, yesterday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock after being in declining health for two years. Her condition was considered serious for the past month.

Mrs. Wiles was born at Callands, October 23, 1912, a daughter of Mrs. Cora Hyler Gauldin Moore and the late John Gauldin. She spent her entire life in Pittsylvania County. She was of the Baptist faith and married Hugh H. Wiles on March 11. 1937.

In addition to her mother and husband, the deceased is survived by two step-children, Mrs. Katherine Buckner of Sutherlin and Melvin S. Wiles of Ringgold.

A sister and three brothers, Miss Julia Gauldin and Luther Gauldin, both of Ringgold, Elizah L. Gauldin and Saillas B. Gauldin, of Danville, also are left.

In addition, a half-sister and four half-brothers, Mrs. Anna Burnett, of Danville, Walter, Gauldin, of Ringgold, Posey Gauldin, of Danville, and Howard Gauldin and Albert Gauldin, of Danville, RFD, also survive. The body is at Swicegood Funeral Home pending the completion of funeral arrangements.

THE REGISTER AND BEE, DANVILLE, VIRGINIA FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 1979 HUGH HENRY WILES
Hugh Henry Wiles, 78, died unexpectedly Thursday at 9 p.m. at his residence on Clark Street, Ringgold, Rt. 1.
A lifelong resident of the Ringgold community, he was born July 28, 1901, a son of the late Henry and Lettie Ann Moore Wiles.
For about 25 years he was employed by Clark's Dairy, and later worked as a carpenter and farmer. He was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include his wife, Cora Bridgeman Helton Wiles of Martinsville; two daughters, Mrs. Katherine Buckner of Milton, N.C., and Mrs. Sarah Jane Tate of the residence; two sons, Melvin S. Wiles of Ringgold, Rt 1 and James H. Wiles of Dry Fork; and four stepsons, Sam, Raymond and Jack Helton, all of Martinsville, and Bobby Helton of South Boston.

He also leaves a brother, Armisteaad Y. Wiles of Danville; three sisters, Mrs. Hattie Collie of Newport News, Mrs. Sarah Slayton of Raleigh, N.C., and Mrs. Louise Jefferson of Ringgold; 10 grandchildren and 12 great - grandchildren.

The funeral will be conducted Saturday at 2 p.m. at Swicegood Funeral Chapel by the Rev. Robert Carty and the Rev. David Wilson. Burial will be in Mountain View Cemetery. The family is at the Melvin Wiles residence and will recieve friends tonight from 7:30 to 8:30 at the funeral home.

DANVILLE REGISTER AND BEE MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 1992 MICHAEL HENRY TATE AND GARY WAYNE TATE
Michael Henry Tate, 13 and Gary Wayne Tate, 14, both of Shallotte, N.C., died Saturday in Shallotte as a result of a house fire.
Michael born January 9, 1979 in Portland, Oregon and Gary born January 6, 1978 in Danville, Va., both were sons of Sarah Jane Wiles Tate Clem.
Michael and Gary and their family moved to Shallotte in May, and both was a student at Shallotte Middle School. They both attended the Baptist Tabernacle in Danville, and were members of the Awana Club.
In addition to their mother, survivors include their stepfather, Jonah "Jake" Clem also of Shallotte; one sister, Deana Tate Campbell of Danville; one brother, Ricky Dean Tate, Jr., of Danville.
A graveside service will be conducted Wednesday in the Mountain View Cemetery by the Rev. Todd Lamphere. Swicegood Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Local Man Lost to Massacre--Ringgold Native one of 82 killed in WWII attack
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