Leota Virginia Kesner, 92

Leota Virginia Kesner, 92, of Petersburg, died Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2003, at the Grant County Nursing Home, Petersburg, where she had resided since July 7, 1997.

Mrs. Kesner was born Sept. 16, 1910, in Upper Tract and was the daughter of the late John W. Kimble and Gertrude (Mongold) Kimble. 

Her husband, Walter H. Kesner preceded her in death by her husband, Aug. 17, 1988.

She was a member of the Brethren Church and was employed at the W.E. Harman & Son store in Petersburg. 

Surviving are two sons, Ralph "Buddy" Kesner of Petersburg and Harold "Buck" Kesner of Maysville; two sisters, Mary Kimble of Upper Tract and Hicel Rexrode of Summersville; five grandchildren, Brenda Ruddick of Bethesda, MD, Julia Rollins of Virginia Beach, VA, Brian Kesner of Franklin, Scott Kesner of Richmond, VA, and Tim Kesner of Cabins; two great-grandsons, Cameron and Foster; and several nieces and nephews.

She was also preceded ind eath by one daughter, Helen Snyder; two sisters, Mae Dean and Irene Waggy; three brothers, Sheldon Kimble, John Kimble, Jr., and Bernard Kimble.

The Revs. Joseph Gerstell and William M. Haynes, Jr., conducted the funeral 11 a.m. Saturday at the Schaeffer Funeral Home in Petersburg.  burial was at South Branch Memorial Gardens in Petersburg. 

Memorial donations may be made to Grant County Nursing Home, 27 Early Ave., Petersburg,WV  26847, or a charity of choice.

Evelyn Vance Smith, 76

Evelyn Hope Vance Smith, 76, of Baltimore, MD, and formerly of Onego, died SAturday March 1, 2003, at her home. 

Mrs. Smith was born April 15, 1926, in Onego and as a daughter of the late Mason and Bertha F. Vance. 

She taught School in Pendleton county and later was a secretary for commercial Credit in Baltimore, MD.  She was a member of the Methodist Church in Essex, MD. 

She is survived by her husband of 44 years, Berlin J. Smith; a daughter, Terri Schwarz of Monkton, MD; two sisters, Eula Bland of Seneca Rocks, and Grace Harper of Warren, OH, and several nieces and nephews. 

Pastor Charles "Dusty" Twigg and the Rev. Earl Bible will conduct the funeral 11 a.m. Friday at Onego Church of the Brethren, Onego.  Burial will be at north Fork Memorial Cemetery in Riverton. 

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the Schaeffer Funeral Home in Petersburg. 

Iva Marie Sponaugle

Iva Marie Sponaugle, 94, of Harrisonburg, VA, and formerly of Cherry Grove, died Sunday, March 2, 2003, at Avante Nursing Home in Harrisonburg, VA. 

Ms. Sponaugle was born May 28, 1908, in Cherry Grove and was a daughter of the late Adam Harness Sponaugle and Levi Lillian Moyers Sponaugle. 

She was a homemaker and attended Circleville United Methodist Church. 

Surviving are two daughters, Pauline Sponaugle of Harrisonburg, VA, and Wanda Michael of Lynchburg, VA; one son, Jearl Thompson of Knox, IN; two sisters, Betty Vandevander of Elkins, and Annie Bennett Kisamore of Cherry Grove; one brother, Omar Sponaugle of Harrisonburg, VA; four grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

She was also preceded in death by four brothers, Raymond, Oscar, Olin and Jim; and three sisters, Edith Sponaugle, Mary Sponaugle and Sallie Sponaugle. 

The Rev. Mark McAllister will conduct the funeral 11 a.m. today at the Basagic Funeral Home in Franklin.  Burial will be at the Sponaugle family cemetery in Cherry Grove.  

Ralph M. Rexrode, 92

Ralph M. Rexrode, 92, of Franklin, died Friday, Feb. 28, 2003, at his home. 

Mr. Rexrode was born July 26, 1910, in Fort Seybert and was a son of the late Edward and Lucy Blizzard Rexrode. 

He was employed with the school system for 42 years.  He taught in Pendleton county and Augusta County, VA.  He was principal at Upper Tract Elementary School and Paw Paw schools. 

Mr. Rexrode was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Franklin and a past member of the Franklin Ruritan Club. 

On April 27, 1935, he married Virginia K. Smith, who preceded him in death Dec. 21, 1997. 

He is survived by a daughter, Debra Propst of Harrisonburg, VA; three sisters, Sylvia Brunk of Bridgewater, VA, and Willia Fleming  and Shirley Spitzer, both of Harrisonburg, VA; one brother, Stanley Bruce Rexrode of Spencer; seven grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

He was also preceded in death by one two sons and one daughter. 

Pastor Mary Poston conducted the funeral 1 p.m. Monday at Faith Lutheran Church in Franklin.  Burial was at the Cedar Hill Cemetery in Franklin. 

Memorial donation may be made to Faith Lutheran Church, PO Box 893, Franklin. 

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

Shirley Lou Lantz, 41

Shirley Lou Lantz, 41, of Maysville, died Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2003, at the University of Virginia Hospital, Charlottesville, VA. 

Mrs. Lantz was born Dec. 10, 1961, in Keyser and was the daughter of Homer and Mary (Self) Lantz of Maysville.  

She graduated from Petersburg High School in 1981 and from West Virginia University in 1986.  She was a special education teacher at Petersburg High School.  She taught school in Grant County for 16 years.  She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Petersburg.  

Surviving besides her parents, Homer and Mary (Self) Lantz, of Maysville, are three sisters, Nellie Presby of Hedgesville, Ruth Lantz of Maysville and Carolyn Lantz of Inwood; one brother, Allen William "Bill" Lantz of Harpers Ferry; one niece, Victoria Prisby; one nephew, John Reckner, Jr.; and several aunts and uncles.

She was preceded in death by an infant brother, Allen Dale Lantz; and her grandparents, John william and Nellie Self and Rachel Nesselrodt. 

Bishop David Bradley conducted the funeral Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at the Schaeffer Funeral Home in Petersburg.  Interment was in the Kimble family cemetery in the Smoke Hole.

Memorials may be made to Petersburg High School Scholarship Fund, 18 North Main Street, Petersburg, WV 26847.   

 Hubert B. Wilfong, 83

Hubert B. Wilfong, 83, of Circleville and formerly of Boyer, passed away Sunday March 2, 2003, at the home of his adopted family, George and Ruth Adkins of Cherry Grove. 

Mr. Wilfong was born Sept. 5, 1919, at Deer Creek and was a son of the late Oscar B. Wilfong and Zadie Alice Pennington Wilfong Slayton. 

He was of the Christian faith, a World War II and Korean Army veteran, a member of the American Legion, Moose Lodge, VFW and a retired laborer with the Howe's Leather Company. 

He was preceded in death by his wife, Rachel E. Wilfong, in 1985. 

Surviving are five daughters, Mary Catherine Higgins of Covington, VA, Charlotte "Susie" Taylor of Weston, Joyce Ann Palmer of Aurora, CO, Alice Faye Kramer of Arbovale and Violet Louise Ryder of Marlinton; one adopted daughter, Virginia Ruth Adkins and husband, George, of Cherry Grove; four sons, Edward Dale Wilfong and Brian Edward Wilfong, both of Philadelphia, PA, David Lee Wilfong of Weston, and James Blaine Wilfong of Boyer; 27 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

He was also preceded in death by three sons, Allen Gray, Oscar Benson, and Hubert Opie; two sisters, Irene and Catherine; and two brothers, Galvin Wilfong and Jobert Slayton. 

Revs. John Swartz, David Rittenhouse and Bobby Brown conducted the funeral at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Boyer Community Church with the burial in the Boyer Cemetery at Boyer.  

Wallace & Wallace, Inc., Funeral Home of Arbovale was in charge of arrangements. 

Sara Rebecca Mallow 

Sara Rebecca Mallow, 80, of the Pendleton Nursing Home, Franklin and formerly of Kline, near Upper Tract, died Monday, March 3, 2003, at Rockingham Memorial Hospital, Harrisonburg, VA. 

Mrs. Mallow was born Oct. 3, 1922, in Mozer and was a daughter of the late O.G. Harman and Bessie Ann Greenawalt Harman. 

She was a homemaker and a cook at the Upper Tract Elementary School for 15 years.  She was a member of Mt. Hope Lutheran Church.  She was past president of Mt. Hope Lutheran Ladies Group. 

On August 15, 1941, she married Lee O. Mallow.  He preceded her in death on January 9, 1992. 

Surviving are one daughter, Julian Kiser of Upper Tract; two sons and daughters-in-law, Roger and Lenora and "Skip" Mallow of Upper Tract and Richard and Nancy Mallow of Franklin; two sisters, Lenora Deavers of Boonesboro, MD, and Delsey Harriman of Kingwood; one half brother, Glenn Harman of Fairmont; three grandchildren, Kami Jo Mallow, Judy Lynn Minor and husband, Shawn, and Terry Lee Kiser and wife, Kathy; and two great-grandchildren, Whitney Nicole Kiser and Nicholas Kiser.

She was preceded in death by two brothers, Curtis Harman and Earl Harman; one half brother, Raymond Armentrout; one sister, Juanita Sponaugle; and her step-mother, Leola Harman. 

The family will receive friends this evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Basagic Funeral Home in Franklin. 

The Revs. Mary Poston and Calvin Hudson will conduct the funeral Friday at 11 a.m. at the Chapel of the Basagic Funeral Home in Franklin. Burial will be in the Kline Cemetery at Kline. 

Memorials may be made to the Pendleton County Rescue Squads or charity of choice.  

Obituaries are used with the permission of the Pendleton Times.

© - Copyright Notice
2001, Janet Cooper

This Page was last updated -- .