Fred Reuben Mumbert, 79, Port Republic, VA, died Friday, Jan. 26, 2001, at the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville, VA, from injuries suffered in a traffic accident in Harrisonburg, VA.

Mr. Mumbert was born Dec. 23, 1921, in Fort Seybert and was the son of the late Noah Dash and Ethel Puffenbarger Mumbert.

After graduating from Franklin High School, he joined the US Army and served in the Philippines (Luzon) and was awarded multiple medals and ribbons from 1942-1946.

In 1947, he became a dedicated employee of 36 years for the Telephone Company in Harrisonburg, VA.

He married his lifelong companion, Violet May on June 26, 1948, and settled in Cross Keys, VA, raising five children and becoming an integral part of the community.

Mr. Mumbert and his wife willingly and unselfishly gave of their time and effort to become involved in the life of others, from visitation and counseling to providing time for a retreat to West Virginia. During this time, Mr. Mumbert also became an active member of the Cross keys Mill Creek Ruritan Club, Independent Telephone Pioneer Association, Mt. Pleasant Church of the Brethren and a life member of the Rion Bowman VFW Post.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Violet Mumbert, January, 2001, and daughter, Carla Frazier, December, 1999.

He is survived by four sons, Neal Mumbert, Orlando, FL, Brent Mumbert, Harrisonburg, VA, Alan Mumbert, Pasadena, MD and Mark Mumbert Keller, TX; one brother, Wayne Mumbert, Bryans Road, MD; one sister, Helen Anderson, Ft. Washington, MD; and seven grandchildren.

Memorial services were conducted 2:00 p.m. Tuesday at the Mt. Pleasant Church of the Brethren by Pastors Richard J. Hall and Olen Landes. Private burial was earlier in the day at Eastlawn Memorial Gardens.

Memorial donations may be made to the University of Virginia Medical Center, Trauma Center, PO Box 800773, Charlottesville, VA 22908.

Kyger and Trobaugh Funeral Home in Harrisonburg, VA, was in charge of the arrangements.

Virginia Beulah Nelson, 89, Pendleton Nursing Home, Franklin, and formerly of Circleville, died Friday, Jan. 26, 2001, at Rockingham Memorial Hospital, Harrisonburg, VA. She had lived at the nursing home since 1992.

Miss Nelson was born Feb. 12, 1911, in Onego and was the daughter of the late Martin Wade Nelson and Nellie C. Adamson nelson.

She was a homemaker and a member of Circleville United Methodist church. She graduated from Circleville High School in 1931, which was the first graduating class. She was the alst surviving student of 12.

She is survived by three nieces, Sandra Grubb, Jacksonville, NC, Julia Dawson, Milpitas, CA, and Linda Niceley, Bay City, TX; and three nephews, Franklin Robinson, Lynchburg, VA, Thomas Hyre, Charlottesville, VA, and Steven Hyre, Charleston.

She was preceded in death by three brothers, Roy, Garnett and Virgil, and two sisters, Betty and Grace.

The Revs. Earl Bible and Stanley Kile conducted the funeral at 2 p.m. Monday at the Basagic Funeral Home in Franklin. Burial was at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Franklin.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Circleville United Methodist Church or Pendleton Nursing Home.

Willard Lee Eckard, 62, Moyers, died Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2001, at Rockingham Memorial Hospital in Harrisonburg, VA.

Mr. Eckard was born May 6, 1938, in Moyers and was a son of the late Ray Eckard and Bessie Hoover Eckard.

He graduated from Franklin High School and was an Army veteran. He lived in the Staunton, VA, community most of his life and worked form Smith's Transfer, Valley Blox and Huger Davis. In recent years, he returned to Moyers. He was a member of St. John Lutheran Church and the Staunton L.O.O.M.

Surviving are his wife, Rebecca Marshall Eckard; a daughter, Penny Eckard Stump, Moyers; a brother, Caroll Reid Eckard, Churchville, VA; and three grandchildren.

Dr. Cecil Bradfield conducted the funeral at 2 p.m. Friday at St. John Lutheran Church in Moyers. Burial was at the St. John Lutheran Church Cemetery.

Arrangements were under the direction of the Kimble Funeral Home in Franklin.

Jesse Guy Simmons, 81, Martinsburg, and formerly of Franklin, died Sunday, Jan. 21, 2001, at the VA Medical Center of Washington DC.

Mr. Simmons was born Oct. 21, 1919, in Franklin and was the son of the late Albert Ross Simmons and Levie Susan Lambert Simmons.

He was a retired carpenter and Navy veteran of World War II. He was a member of the Martinsburg American Legion, the Martinsburg Veterans of Foreign Wars and Otterbine United Methodist Church in Martinsburg.

He was first married to Erma Bodkins of Inwood and was preceded in death by his second wife, Virginia Simmons, in September, 2000.

Surviving are two daughters, Connie Simmons, Martisburg and Patti Britton, Inwood; a step-daughter, June Ellen Gloyd, Great Cacapon; a stepson, Charles Edward Young, Berkeley Springs; three sisters, Erma Waggy and Ruby Propst, both of Franklin and Reba Wiseman, Harrisonburg, VA; three graddaughters; three great-grandchildren; and a number of step-granchildren and step-great-grandchildren.

He was also preceded in death by one sister, Norma E. Warner.

Elders John Hartman and David Hartman conducted the funeral at 1 p.m. Thursday at the Kimble Funeral Home in Franklin. Burial was at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Franklin.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Charles Evert Ritchie, 73, Broadway, VA, died Thursday, Jan. 25, 2001. He had been in failing Health since September.

Mr. Ritchie was born Feb. 17, 1927, in Rockingham County, and was a son of the late Ralph R. and Eula Showalter Ritchie.

He was a heavy equipment operator for Partners Excavating until retiring in 1997. He was an Army veteran of World War II and a member of the Chimney Rock Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9770. He was a member of Mount Zion Church of the Brethren.

On March 13, 1947, he married the former Louise Frank, who survives.

Also surviving are two sons, Charles Ritchie, Jr., and Robert Ritchie, both of Broadway, VA; four daughters, Gloria Crider, Sandra Simmer and Joyce Ritchie, all of Broadway, VA, and Sharon Cullar, Yuma, AR; two brothers, Lynwood Ritchie, Bridgewater, VA, and Maurice Ritchie, Harrisonburg, VA; three sisters, Louise Bennett, Brandywine, Joan Higgs, Leonardtown, MD, and Dorothy Shipp, Washington, DC; 12 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

The Rev. Lloyd Sprinkle conducted the funeral at 2 p.m. Sunday at the McMullen Funeral Home in Harrisonburg, VA. Burial followed at Mount Zion Church Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Rockingham Memorial Hospital Hospice, 235 Cantrell Ave., Harrisonburg, VA 22801.

Silas Wayt "June" Smith, Jr., 78, Weyers Cave, VA, died Saturday, Jan. 27, 2001, at Rockingham Memorial Hospital in Harrisonburg, Va. He had been ill for six months.

Mr. Smith was born Feb. 22, 1922, in Staunton, VA, and was the son of the late Silas Wayt and Rose Isabelle Serviss Smith.

He grew up in Staunton, VA, and lived his entire life in the Valley. He served in the US Army during World War II and was a member of Victory Baptist Church. He was the assistant manger of Valley Pool in Harrisonburg, VA, and had also worked at Water Works, Animal Health, IGA in Franklin and Red Front Supermarket.

On June 7, 1960 he married Carolyn Eleanor House, who survives.

Also surviving are two sons, Roger Wayt Smith, Lexington, VA, and Roger Scott Smith, Rochester, NY; three daughters, Cheryl Calhoun, Grottoes, VA, Patricia Werling, Greenville, SC, and Denna Baraclough, Staunton, VA; a sister, Marie Brown, Richmond, VA; nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Pastors Bruce Murray and William Robertson conducted the funeral at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Victory Baptist Church in Harrisonburg, VA. Burial was at Eastlawn Memorial Gardens near Harrisonburg, VA.

Memorial donations may be made to the Leukemia Society, 2 Gateway Center, 13 North Pittsburgh, PA 15522.

Used with permission of the Pendleton Times.