Reverend Orville L. Harvey, 94, of the Havens, died peacefully early Sunday morning, August 5, 2018 at his residence and is now resting in peace, awaiting the glorious appearance of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Born May 14, 1924, at Flat Top, he was the son of the late Joseph Crockett Harvey and Ada Florence McBride Harvey. He was a graduate of Spanishburg High School, and a veteran of World War II, serving with the U.S. Army and a part of General Patton’s 3rd Army. Mr. Harvey began his career with U. S. Steel Coal Company in August of 1942 and remained with them until his retirement in October of 1971. He was called to the ministry in 1947 and was ordained in October of 1949. In his early ministries, he held tent revivals on the Welch-Pineville Road and organized Sunday School throughout the area. In 1954, he and his wife began cottage prayer meetings in homes around Princeton. In June of 1956, they assisted with organizing the Princeton Advent Christian Church on Prince Street, Princeton. There he pastored for some 35 years and then ministered in surrounding areas for many years thereafter. He served as president of the Pocahontas Conference for more than 25 years and was president of the Appalachian Region for six years. Pastor Harvey served on the Executive Council for six years and the Judicial Committee for 11 years. He also served as chairman of the Conference of Ministerial Association for five years and as a deacon for the conference. He was past chairman of the Princeton Ministerial Association and had served as chairman of the Chaplain Committee for Princeton Community Hospital.

Pastor Harvey was loved by all who knew him and respected by his peers and family. He was devoted to his Lord and Savior, his family, and friends and will be remembered for making people laugh and smile with his practical jokes. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by the love of his life, his precious wife of 66 years, Alma Allison Gross Harvey, along with his four brothers. He was the last surviving member of his immediate family. He will be lovingly remembered and sadly missed by his two devoted daughters and their husbands; Anne “Florence Anne” & Jim Smith of Roanoke Va., Karen & David Hall of Princeton, special nephew, Von Peery & wife Jan of North Aurora, Ill; seven grandchildren; Andrea Starosciak, Matthew “Matt” (Anne) Smith, Allison (Chris) Hall, D.J. (Sarah) Hall, Caleb, Mollie & Xander Peery; eight great grandchildren; Lily & Grace Starosciak, Evelyn & Elaine Smith, Natalie & Micah Hall, Annalee & Morgan Hall; along with a host of nieces, nephews and cousins, as well as special caregiver Brenda Barre.

On Thursday August 9, 2018, at 11:00 A.M. we celebrated the life of Pastor Orville L. Harvey from the Advent Christian Church on Prince Street, Princeton with Pastors Rob Buchanan & Joe Pritchett officiating. The burial followed in Roselawn Memorial Gardens in Princeton. Friends visited with the family Wednesday evening from 5 until 7 p.m. at the funeral home and one hour prior to services at the church. Serving as pallbearers were Gene Hudkins, Gordan Graham, Von Peery, Matt Smith, D.J. Hall & Chris Hall. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Advent Christian Church, c/o Building Fund, P.O. Box 48, Princeton WV 24740. The Harvey family is being served by the Memorial Funeral Directory and Cremation Center on the Athens Road in Princeton.