Cruise, Lula Grace Charlton

Lula Grace Charlton Cruise, 86, of Newport, passed away on Monday, March 15, 2011, in the loving care of her family at her home on Lucas Road. Lula was born on May 26, 1924, in Keenan, W.Va., to the late Wilber Franklin Charlton and Sadie Jones Charlton. After graduating from Union High School in 1942, she relocated to Newport to live with her sister and work at the Celanese. It was around this time that she met her future husband of 53 years, John G. Cruise, while attending services at Sherry Memorial Christian Church. Lula was a prime example of a devoted Christian woman. She taught Sunday School as a young adult at Fairview Christian Church in Keenan and after moving to Newport went on to teach the Women’s Sunday School class at Sherry Memorial Christian Church on Mt. Lake Road for 40 years. She retired from Electro Tech Corporation in Blacksburg in 1986 with 18 years of service. In addition to her parents and her husband, John, she was preceded in death by her infant daughter, Sharon Gay Cruise; her brother, Walter W. Charlton; and her sister, Claudia W. Porterfield. Those left to cherish her memory include her children and their spouses, Ret. AF Captain Walter G. Cruise and wife, Lee, of Crestview, Fla., Nelva C. Coleman and husband, Ed, of Newport, Iris E. Cruise, of the home, Dr. James F. Cruise, of Madison, Ala., and Benny J. Cruise, of Newport; six grandchildren, Major John R. Cruise, of Baghram Air Base, Afghanistan, Jenny A. Cruise, of Nashville, Tenn., Vera C. Caldwell and husband, Bruce, of Blacksburg, Curtis Coleman, of Blacksburg, and Dakota and Tanner Cruise, of Newport; two greatgrandchildren, Tyler T. Coleman, of Newport, and Kasey Madison Caldwell, of Blacksburg; former daughter-in-law and dear friend, Susan H. Cruise, of Wilmington, N.C.; special aunt, Mary S. Ross, of Newport; special niece, Viola Turpin, of Hermitage, Pa.; and much loved granddaughter-in-law, Crystal FosterColeman, of Pearisburg; as well as many other nieces, nephews and friends. Funeral Services will be conducted 2 p.m. on Friday, March 18, 2011, in Sherry Memorial Christian Church on Mt. Lake Road at Newport with Pastor Eddie Kendall and Pastor Matthew Cox officiating. Burial will follow in the Lucas Family Cemetery near her home. The family will receive friends at the Kendall Funeral Home, 605 Snidow St., Pembroke on Thursday evening, March 17, 2011, from 6 until 8 p.m. Flowers are welcome or donations may be made to Newport Volunteer Rescue Squad or Sherry Memorial Christian Church. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting kendallfuneralhome.com.