CENTRAL CITY – James Winfield Steele, 95, of Central City, went home to Heaven peacefully on the morning of Thursday, July 3, 2025. Born in Nebo, Muhlenberg County, December 14, 1929, to the late Harvey and Irene Evitts Steele of Powderly. After graduating from Greenville High School in 1948 and serving in the U.S. Army as a medic in Korea, he met and later married his sweetheart, Charity Alnetta Stovall on November 25, 1954. They were married over 62 years and lived 61 of those in the house they built. J. W. was a proud, lifelong UMWA member and worked as a surface miner at Wright, Gibraltar, and Black Energy Coal Companies. He was also a Mason and the longest member of the Muhlenberg County Conservation Club. After retirement, he stayed very busy upholstering furniture, vehicle seats and installing headliners. J. W. (also known as Jake or Jimmy) loved to garden, camp, and boat, and he taught dozens of people to water ski. He could fix almost anything and always volunteered to help family with projects. He was a Christian who loved the Lord. He grew up in the LDS church, then as an adult attended Temple Baptist Church, Second Baptist Church, and the services conducted at the Western Kentucky Veterans Center. Even as his memory declined, he would still sing along with hymns. J. W. was preceded in death by his wife, Alnetta, his parents, Harvey and Irene, and siblings Carl T. Steele, Cara Lee Steele Smith, William Earl Steele, T. H. Steele, and Billy Steele. The family would like to thank the amazing staff of the Joseph “Eddie” Ballard Western Kentucky Veterans Center in Hanson for the incredible care and love he received from them since fall of 2020. He loved them and was loved by them like family.
Survivors include daughter Cathy (Mike) Vinson of Greenville and son Tony (Rose) Steele of Owensboro; Grandchildren: Jeremy (Jordan) Vinson, Leanne (Chad) Walker, Brooke (Chad) Guffy, Brittany (Grant) Sharp, Jacob (Charity) Steele, and Catherine Steele; Great-grandchildren: Aubrey and Maddie Vinson (Isaac Rose), Abe Walker, Dawson, Isaiah, and Brock Guffy, Vince and Hattie Sharp, Sophia Westerfield and Jayden Steele; sister Brenda Steele (Tommy) Piper, sister-in-law Rita Stovall of Owensboro and brother-in-law Bob Stovall of Calhoun; along with several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be Wednesday, July 9, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. with Bro. Adam Brown officiating. Burial will follow in Memorial Gardens in Powderly. Visitation will be Tuesday, July 8, 2025 from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. The public is invited to attend the Masonic Rites, Wednesday at 10:45 a.m. Tucker Funeral Home in Central City is in charge of the arrangements. Online condolences can be made at www.tuckerfuneralhomes.com
