Alpha Imogene Riffe, 96 of Hanover, departed this life on Wednesday, November 19, 2014, from St. Mary’s Medical Center in Huntington.

Born March 10, 1918 at Hanover, she was the daughter of the late Jacob "Jake" A.J. Lester (1880-1968) and India I. Harless-Lester (1879-1962).

In addition to her parents she was also preceded in death by her first husband, Avery Thomas Adams I (1916-1987) whom she married on December 20, 1936 in Hanover, Wyoming County, WV (per WV Marriage License Register, Wyoming County, WV, 1936, Page 3, Application Date: December 19, 1936) which ended in divorce; her second husband, Woodrow W. Christian (1921-1974) whom she married on October 16, 1949 in North Spring, Wyoming County, WV (per WV Marriage License Register, Wyoming County, WV, 1949, Page 371, Application Date: October 12, 1949), which ended in divorce and remarriage on September 10, 1962 in Pineville, Wyoming County, WV (per WV Marriage License Register, Wyoming County, WV, 1962, Page 456, Application Date: September 7, 1962); and her third husband, Ballard Riffe (Deceased).

She was also predeceased by one daughter, Retha Bevacqua (Deceased); eleven brothers and sisters: Kelly F. Lester (1899-1930), Elsie E. Lester-Paynter (1902-1947), Morton Lester (1906-Deceased), Virgil "Dee" Lester (1907-1977), Zetta A. Lester-Bishop (1907-1941), Naomi Byrd "Oma" Lester-Green-Stafford-Vance (1912-1991), Ruby M. Lester-Godfrey (1914-2005), Sylvester Lester (Deceased), Willard Lester (1916-Deceased), Alpha Imogene Lester-Adams-Christian-Riffe (1918-2014), Absalom "Luther" Lester (1921-1949), and James "Roy Lee" Lester (1922-2004); and many other family members and friends.

Alpha was a loving mother, grandmother, great and great-great-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. She took great pride in being one of a five generation family. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Those left to love and cherish the memory of Alpha and to mourn her passing include her two daughters: Jerline McKee & Kenneth McKee of Oceana and Veta Merritt & Ted Merritt of Huntington; her son, Gregory Christian & Sharon Christian of Hanover; her sister, Elizabeth "Mabel" Lester-Adams (1924-2017) of Ohio; her seven grandchildren: Debbie (Mark) Williams, Susie (Craig) Blankenship, Lynn Buskirk, Kenny (Ruby) McKee, Robert (Jennifer) Morgan, Shane (Missy) Christian and Dusty (Kristi) Christian.

She is also survived by her eleven great-grandchildren: Jimmy (Casey) Blankenship and Timmy (Krissy) Blankenship, Matthew Williams and Sarah Williams, Blake Morgan, Shayna Christian, Jordan McKee, Allie McKee, Taylor McKee and Gabe McKee and Crista Justice; her seven great-great-grandchildren: Jake, Eli, Liam and Emily Blankenship and Justin, Aaron and Kylie Christian; and a host of other dear family and friends.

Friends may gather with the family at the Mounts Funeral Home Chapel in Gilbert on Saturday, November 22nd from 6 pm to 9 pm with a special at 7 pm.

Funeral services will be held at 1 pm on Sunday, November 23rd at the Mounts Funeral Home Chapel with Evangelist Carl Fuller officiating.

Burial will follow in the Bailey and Christian Cemetery at Right Hand Fork of Mussell Creek.