June 5, 2021 - Ellen Marie Beeman Thomas, 73 of Abingdon, VA, formerly of Princeton and Beckley, WV and wife of well-known mining machinery executive Wayne Thomas died Wednesday, June 2, 2021 at Bristol Regional Medical Center in Bristol, TN. Wayne, formerly with Joy Mining Machinery and Komatsu, and Ellen were always very active and involved in the West Virginia Coal Association and all things coal. For many years they were active members in the organization Careers in Coal known as CI-Coal.

Ellen Thomas

Born December 19, 1947 in Ft. Dix, NJ she was the daughter of the late Retired Sergeant 1st Class Oscar M. Beeman and Dora L. Hurley Beeman. Ellen was a 1966 graduate of Princeton High School and a former dental assistant. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two daughters, Melanie Beth Winfrey and Kimberly Winfrey; one sister, Joyce “Cookie” Delp; and mother and father-in-law, Floyd and Erma Thomas.


Survivors include her husband, Wayne Lee Thomas of Abingdon, VA; four children, Shannon Honaker of Bluewell, Darin Winfrey of Princeton, Kristin Winfrey Reed and husband Mike of Bluefield, and Britton Thomas and companion Dillon Kegley of Abingdon, VA;  eight grandchildren, Cole Honaker and fiancé Allison Blevins, Bryce Winfrey, Brooklyn Hayes, Macey Hayes, Brystal Winfrey, Sawyer Crosswhite, Brooks Kegley, and Crew Kegley; one granddaughter (on the way), Memphis Beth Marie Kegley; one great-grandson, Karson Cole Honaker; two brothers, Douglas M. Beeman and wife Charlotte of Kegley and Danny Hurley and wife Chrissy of Princeton; brothers-in-law, Floyd Thomas and wife Dorothy of Cannonsburg, PA and Frank Menhart and wife Ruth of Washington, PA; sister-in-law, Marilyn Thomas of Moundsville, WV; numerous nieces and nephews; and special friend and caregiver, Angel Willis.


A memorial service will be conducted at 3:30PM, Monday, June 7, 2021 at the George W. Seaver Chapel of Seaver Funeral Home in Princeton with Pastor Frank Menhart officiating. There will be no visitation. Private family burial took place at Roselawn Memorial Gardens in Princeton. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Women’s Center of Mercer County, 1739 Athens Road Princeton, WV 24740.