NEWPORT NEWS—Josephine Marie Argabright died on Dec. 30, 2007.

Born Sept. 2, 1914, in Floyd County, Va., to Wade Hampton and Etta May (Basham) Dickerson. She was one of nine children.

Mrs. Argabright grew up on a farm in western Virginia and graduated from Christiansburg High School in 1934, married in 1935, and moved to Newport News in 1938.

She became an active member of Morrison United Methodist Church in 1949 in what was then Warwick County and served her church in many capacities.

She survived breast cancer in 1965 and became a stylish, private, and determined lady who enjoyed her family and life in spite of her trials and tribulations. She became an early member of the Home Demonstration Club of Newport News where she developed her skills as a homemaker and seamstress.

She loved to tailor clothing for herself and her granddaughters. She also became an accomplished quilter and bowler.

She received special recognition for bowling a ‘620 series’ on a senior league when she was 77 years old. She was an avid gardener well into her eighties. Josephine will be missed by her family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, and husband, James Arden Argabright.

Survivors include her son, Eugene Arden Argabright, and his wife, Mary Rena of York County; two granddaughters, Leigh Arden and husband William C. Barker of Newport News and Misty Lynne and husband John L. Kiser of Mechanicsville; four great-grandchildren, Russell Arden Kiser, Daniel Miles Barker, Rowan Elaine Kiser and Andrew Thomas Barker; extended family, Mary Michelle Bradley of Ivor; James R. Dailey, his wife, Karen, and Zachary and Kayla LeMasters of Hampton; as well as six nephews, James H. Dickerson of Mt. Upton, N.Y., William E. Huff of Beverly Hills, Fla., Wally Dickerson of Matawan, N.J., Richard D. Skiermont of Paxton, MA, Richard H. Carver of Wilbraham, Mass. and James W. Epperly of Christiansburg; five nieces, Doris Whiticar of Mathews, Louise Turner of Roanoke,

Margie Volker of Morganville, N.J., Peggy Glazer of Port Richie, Fla., and Donna Castellanos of Clearwater, Fla.; and a special friend, Jack Polick of Newport News.

A funeral was held Thursday, in the chapel of W.J. Smith & Son Funeral Home with the Revs. Jack Lynch and Delia Parrish officiating.

A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday in Sunset Cemetery, Christiansburg.

The family requests that expressions of sympathy take the form of contributions to Morrison United Methodist Church, 236 Harpersville Road, Newport News, VA 23601, or to the American Cancer Society, 11835 Canon Blvd., Suite A102, Newport News, VA 23606.

Arrangements by W. J. Smith & Son Funeral Home, 210 Harpersville Road, Newport News, VA 23601.