Jesse W. Crown, 82, of Franklin, died Saturday, Feb 16, 2002 at is home.

Mr. Crown was born March 30, 1919, in Rockville, MD, and was a son of the late Frank M. Crown, Sr., and Mary Agnes Bean Crown.

He was a veteran, having served in the 38th Engineers of the U.S. Army during World War II.. He retired from the Montgomery County, MD, Police Department after 25 years of service. He served as Franklin's Chief of Police from 1971 to 1985 and was an attendant at Kimble Funeral Home in Franklin for 15 years.

Mr. Crown was a member of the Franklin Lions Club, past commander of Spruce Knob Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 2370, a member of the Pendleton American Legion Post No. 30 and was past governor of the Franklin Loyal Order of the Moose No. 769. He was also a member of the Pendleton Masonic Lodge No. 144 A.F.& A.M., the Masons of 32nd Degree Scottish Rite in Wheeling, the Osiris Shrine Temple in Wheeling, the Osiris Shrine Club in Harrisonburg, VA, the Pendleton Order of the Eastern Star No. 138, Order of Fraternal Police and the Montgonery County Police Association.

Surviving are his wife, Ruby Hedrick Crown, whom he married Jan. 4, 1951; two daughters, Jessie Vallieri of Wetumpka, AL, and Ruby Mae Crown of Gaithersburg, MD; a son Carl H. Crown of Irvine, CA; three brothers, Frank Crown, Jr., of Soperton, GA, Robert L. Crown of winchester, VA, and Geroge T. Crown of Glenwood, MD; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Pastors Stanley Kile and Jeffrey Thompson conducted the fuenral at 1 p.m.Wednesday at the Kimble Funeral Home in Franklin. Burial was at the Cedar Hill Cemetery in Franklin with graveside rites by the Pendleton Masonic Lodge No. 144, the combined veterans organizations of Grant county and the JROTC of Petersburg High School.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Jesse W. Crown Scholarship fund, c/o Pendleton County Bank, Attn: Paul Mallow, PO Box 487, Franklin, WV 26807.

Abigail Stearn Ritchie, 99, of Bridgewater Home, Bridgewater, VA, died Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2002.

She was born on Saturday, April 19, 1902, in Shenandoah, VA, a daughter of the late Rev. John William Stearn and Bessie Snyder Stearn.

She graduated from high school at Shenandoah Collegiate Institute in Dayton, VA, and from Madison College, now James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA, with both Bachelor's and master's degrees in education. She taught seventh grade in Elkton, VA, for 33 years and was an elementary school supervisor in Rockingham County for eight years. She was very active in the Methodist Church and was a faithful student of the Bible. When she became blind, she studied Braille so that she could continue to read. She lived in Bridgewater Retirement Community for 19 years before moving to Bridgewater Home in 1992.

She was preceded in death by her sisters, Olivia Sites of Upper Tract and Ruth Harper of Columbus, OH.

Surviving are four nephews, Joseph E. Sites of Petersburg, James W. Sites of Harrisonburg, VA, Micahel S. Sites of Upper Tract and John R. Harper of Citrus Springs, FL; four nieces, Elinor Narcross of Columbus, OH, Patricia Niswander of Monterey, VA, Sheila Garrick of Melbourne, FL, and Diana Alt of Rockville, MD; nine grand-nieces; two great-grand-nieces and one great-grand-nephew.

A funeral service was conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, in the Johnson Funeral Service Chapel, Bridgewater, VA, with the Rev. Douglas Gestwick officiating. Burial followed in the Elk Run Cemetery, Elkton, VA.

The family requests no flowers. Memorial contributions may be made to Bridgewater United Methodist Church, 219 N. Main St., Bridgewater, VA 22812.

Velma Ketterman, 84, of Riverton, died Sunday, Feb. 16, 2002, at Grant Memorial Hospital in Petersburg.

Mrs. Ketterman was born Aug. 23, 1917, in Riverton and was a daughter of the late Veach Lambert and Alice Raines Lambert.

She was a cook at Painter's Restaurant in Seneca and was a member of the Brushy Run Mennonite Church.

On Mrch 16, 2002, 1938, she married William Glenn Ketterman, who preceded her in death on Aug. 4, 1994.

She is survived by a son Ronald David Ketterman of Riverton; and a foster daughter, Karen Lynch of Chambersburg, PA.

She was also preceded in death by three sons and one daughter.

Pastors Larry Showalter, Fred Miller and Nelson Heatwole conducted the funeral at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Kimble Funeral Home in Franklin. Burial was at North Fork Memorial Cemetery in Riverton.

Memorial donations may be made to the Pendleton Nursing Home in Franklin.

Virginia Lena Simmons, 81, of Franklin, Died Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2002, at Rockingham Memorial Hospital in Harrisonburg, VA.

Mrs. Simmons was born July 12, 1920, in Rig and was the daughter of the late James Bryan and Mae Virginia Riggleman Bryan.

She was employed at Ikey's Restaurant and was a cook at New Frontier Restaurant and Marvel Poultry. She was a Brethren by faith.

On Oct. 26, 1942, she married Emory Lloyd Smmons, who preceded her in death on Feb. 17, 1993.

She is survived by six daughters, Opal Ringgold of Grottoes,VA, Juanita Burger of Harrisonburg, VA, Linda simmons, Petersburg, Darlene Simmons, Bridgewater, VA, Bonnie Hubart, New Market, VA, and Sandra Hammer of blue Grass, VA; two sons, Loren Bryan of Bridgewtaer, Va, and Emory "donnie" Simmons of Franklin; a brother, James "Jim" Bryan of Malin, VA; 11 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.

Pastor Jeffrey Ferguson conducted the fuenral at 1 p.m. Sautrday at Kimble Funeral Home in Franklin. Burial was at Thorn Creek Memorial Gardens in Moyers.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Pendleton Nursing Home or the Franklin Rescue Squad.

Mary C. Wilfong (nee Colfer), died February 13, 2002, at Frankford Torresdale Hospital in Philadelphia, PA.

She was born in Phgiladelphia, PA, and worked as a data processor for Sears & Roebuck Company.

She is the beloved wife of Evan C.; devoted mother of Dorothy Straub (Russell), Evan C. (Terri), Leslie Dillon (Robert), Charles (Ann) and Dennis (Elizabeth).

Also surviving are 16 grandchildren; three sisters, Rose Foy, Kathleen McQueen and Joan Sweeney.

She was preceded in death by her brother, Andrew Colfer.

A funeral service was held Tuesday, Feb. 19, at St. Katherine of Siena Church in Philadelphia, PA. Mass followed the funeral hservice. Interment was in Res Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Catholic Charities, 222 N. 17th, Philadelphia, PA 19103.

Sylvia Mae (Lambert) Huffman, 85, of Franklin, died Saturday, Feb. 16, 2002, at her home.

Mrs. Huffman was born June 15, 1916, in Smith Creek and was a daughter of the late Lafayette Lambert and Sarah Elizabeth Bennett lambert. After her mother's death, she was raised by Pheobe and Bert Lambert, her aunt and uncle, and John and Laura Nelson.

She was a homemaker and a member of the Franklin Presbyterian Church.

On Oct. 7, 194?, she married Earlie Albert Huffman, who survives.

Also surviving are four daughters, Rettie Mae Waggy of Franklin, Sarah Fay Harper of Bridgewater, VA, Mildred Florence Jennings of Peterstown, and Rosa Elva Adams of Wellsburg; two sons, Albert Wayne Huffman and Ralph Ora Huffman, both of Franklin; two sisters, Midred Mitchell and Dessie Hedrick, both of Franklin; a brother, Byron Lambert of Bridgewater, VA; 14 grandchildren; 12 great-grandhcildren; three step-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

She was also preceded in death by one son and one grandson on March 3, 1979, Early Lafayette Huffman and Roy Lee Huffman; two breothers, Jeff Lambert and A. Green Lambert; and one half-sisters, Mazie Vandevander.

Pastor James A. Phares, Rev. Johnathan Jennings and Elder Willard Huffman conducted the funeral at 2 p.m. Wedensday at the Basagic Funeral Home in Franklin. Burial was at the Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the George Dice Scholarship fund at Pendleton County High School.

James C. "Jimmie" Brown, 64, a resident of Beverly, the East Dailey Community, departed this life at 10:10 a.m., Monday, Feb. 11, 2002, at the Grant Memorial Hospital at Petersburg, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident on Route #33, east of Seneca Rocks.

Mr. Brown was born May 25, 1937, at Riverton, a son of the late James C. Brown, Sr., and Minnie Warner Brown.

He atteneded the schools of Pendleton County, was a graduate of West Virginia University with a degree in forestry. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, was a Union truck driver, having worked in Jacksonville, FL, and was a member of the National Rifle Association.

On April 10, 1964, at Starke, FL, he married the former Sandra S. Sheets, who survives.

Also surviving ar eone son, Dustin A. Brown, East Dailey; two daughters, Rhonda S. Norman, MacClenny, Florida, Ginger L. Mitchell, Jacksonville, FL; one brothers, Bond Dove, Riverton; and three grandchildren, Daniel C. O"brien and Loni J. Norman, both of MacClenny, FL, and Amanda Mitchell, Jacksonville, FL.

He was also preceded in death by one brother, Jennings Bryant "Tom" Brown.

Private graveside services were conducted at the Dolly Cemetery on Horse Ridge Road near Riverton. The Reverend Walter H. Blough officiated and interment followed.

The Lohr-Barb-Vance Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Blanche Verda Reed Baker, 83, a resident of Elkins, died Sunday, Feb. 17, 2002, at the Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown. Her death was attributed to heart failure.

Mrs. Baker was born May 17, 1918, at Oengo, a duaghter of the late Harrison Reed and Floda Mallow Reed.

She attended the schools of Randolph county, was a homemaker and a member of the Seventh Day Adventist church at Elkins.

On Jan. 1, 1955, she was married to Oscar Baker, who preceded her in death, Sept. 22, 1988.

Surviving are four brothers, Charles Reed, Beverly, Clyde Reed and wife, Betty, Elkins, Donald Reed, Akron, OH, Robert Reed and wife, Rachel, Whitmer; three sisters, Nora Sites and husband, Jearl, Harman Ilda Wolford and husbnad, Aurthur, Whitmer, and Freda Ratliff and husband, Carney, Davis; 19 nieces; and 20 nephews.

She was also preceded in death by one daughter, Louise Marcella; and four sisters, Eva White, Sylvia Teter, Olive Bennett and Mary Dolly.

Final rites were conducted at the Lohr-Barb-Vance Funeral Home Chapel in Elkins Wednesday at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Don Jacko officiating. Interment followed at Mountain State Memorial Gardens at Gilman.

Marlin "Jake" W. Fitzwater, 57, of Charleston, and formerly of Moorefield, died Thursday, Feb. 14, 2002, at his home following a short illness.

Mr. Fitzwater was a son of Noah M. Fitzwater of Moorefield, and the late Beulah Fitzwater, and step-son of the late Ruth Saville Fitzwater.

He was a retired insurance agent with combined Insurance Company with 23 years of service and was a Marine Corps veteran. He attended South East Church of the Nazarene and was a member of the Carhleston B.P.O.E. Elks 202 Lodge. He previously attended Walnut Grove Church of the Brethren.

In addition to his father, he is survived by his wife, Virginia "Ginny" Lantz Fitwater of Charleston and formerly of Reeds Creek; a son, Brian K. Fitzwater, of Clarksburg; two daughters, Stacy L. Marion of Elkins, and Valerie E. Fitzwater of Charleston; a brother-in-law, Victor Lantz of Cedar Grove, whom Mr. Fitzwater raised; a brother, Darwin E. Fitzwater, Moorefield; a step-brother, Randy Saville of Moorefield; and four grandchildren, Michael Marion, Tiffany Fitzwater, Megan Hustead and Brian Fitzwater, Jr.

A service was held at 2 p.m. Sunday at South East Church of the Nazarene, Kanawha City. An Elks service was held at 7:30 p.m. at the J.E. Johnson Funeral Home in Kanawha City. A second service was held at 3 p.m. Tuesday at the Walnut Grove Church of the Brethren in Moorefield. The Rev. Ollie Parsons and Dr. Melvin Smith officiated. Burial was at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Moorefield.

Memorial donations may be made to South East Church of the Nazarene, 5102 MacCorkle Ave., S.E., Charleston, WV 25304 or Walnut Grove Church of the Brethren, PO Box 773, Moorefield, WV 26836.

Obituaries are used with the permission of the Pendleton Times.

© - Copyright Notice
2001, Janet Cooper

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