Arvella K. Cobb, 

Arvella "Jackie" Kimble Cobb, 78, of Petersburg, died Wednesday, April 23, 2008, at Ruby Memorial Hospital, Morgantown.

Ms. Cobb was born March 11, 1930, in Smoke Hole and was a daughter of the late John E. and Zadie Kisamore Kimble. 

She retired from Grand Union in Forestville, MD, in 1979, where she was a cashier for over 20 years.  She grew up in the Church of God and was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post No. 78 in Petersburg. 

Survivors include  two sisters, Thelma Mullenax of Petersburg and Joy Lambert of Upper Tract; two brothers, Carl Kimble of Petersburg and Harlan Kimble of Upper Tract; and several nieces and nephews.

She also was preceded in death by four brothers, Virgil, Eston, Alvie and Ison Kimble; and three sisters, Dolly Kile, Evelyn Huffman and Emily May.

Pastor Kenneth Phares conducted the funeral Sunday at the Basagic Funeral Home in Petersburg.  Burial was at the Cherry Hill Cemetery in Upper Tract.

Memorial donations may be made to Ruby Memorial Hospital or charity of choice. 

Susie Mae Rexrode 

Susie Mae Rexrode, 86, of Moyers died Sunday, April 27, 2008, at the home of her daughter, Rosa Tichenor. 

She was born March 16, 1922, at Crabbottom, VA, and was the daughter of the late Clarence WAybright and Mary Wimer Waybright. 

She was a homemaker and a member of St. John's Lutheran Church. 

On Sept. 21, 1940, she married Bruce Rexrode, who preceded her in death on August 15, 1987. 

She is survived by two daughters, Rosa Tichenor and Donna Ruddle, both of Moyers; two sons, Glenn A. Rexrode of Blue Grass, VA, and Donald Rexrode of Moyers; two brothers, Delbert Waybright of Elkins and Martin Waybright of Fayetteville, PA; 11 grandchildren; and ten great-grandchildren. 

She was also preceded in death by one son, Marvin Bruce Rexrode , one brother and two sisters.

Funeral services were held Wednesday at St. John's Lutheran Church at Moyers with Pastors Craig and Wendy Richter officiating.  Burial was at the ST. John's Lutheran Church Cemetery. 

Memorials may be made to Mountain Hospice, PO Box 416, Franklin, WV  26807 or St. John's Lutheran Church, HC 61 Box 23, Sugar Grove, WV  26815. 

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

E. Grace Lawrence Wilson 

Eulah Grace Lawrence Wilson, 86, a resident of Adelphia, MD, passed away March 19, 2008, in the Washington Adventist Hospital.

Born in Riverton, she was a member of the Circleville High  School Alumni Association.  She had taken her nurses training 69 years ago in the same hospital where she died.  She was a lady of many talents.  Part of her nursing career was in the navy hospital where she nursed many generals and their families.  She also was personal nurse of the late First Lady Mamie Eisenhower.  After her nursing career, she sold real estate for many years.  

On Nov. 28, 1941, she was married to Marvin Wilson, who preceded her in death in 1984.  

Surviving are one daughter, Virginia Susan Einfeldt of Adelphia, MD; one sister, Sota Stutler of Lost Creek; a special name sake, Grace K. Gardner, who resides in Florida with her mother, Ruthie, and Charles' and many nieces and nephews. 

She was preceded in death by four sisters, Florence Hedrick, May Anna Lawrence, Ruth Shurie and Rebecca Simmons. 

Memorial donations can be made to the Circleville High School Alumni Association. 

Bertha O. Moats, 79

Bertha O. MOats, 79, of McDowell, VA, died Thursday, April 24, 2008, at Unviersity of Virginia Medical Center, Charlottesville, VA. 

She was born May 31, 1928, in Bartow, a daughter of the late Oren and Gladys May (Vandevander) Ober. 

Mrs. Moats was a homemaker.  She was a member of McDowell United Methodist Church and WSCS. 

On July 30, 1945,k she married Edward Albert Moats, who preceded her in death on June 9, 1998. 

She is survived by three daughters and sons-in-law, Linda Mae and George Hurt of Goshen VA, Stella Louise and James Elmer Howdyshell of Mt. Solon, VA, and Wanda Gail and Donald Blankenship of White Sulphur Springs; three sons and two daughters-in-law, Albert Edward and Hilda Moats of McDowell, VA, Jerry L. and Susan Moats of Staunton, VA, and Gary W. Moats of Verona, VA; 23 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; three sisters, Irene Smith of McDowell, VA, Vide Oburress of Maryland and Etta Smith of Michigan; foru brothers, Elmer, Billy and George Ober, all of West Virginia, and Roy Ober of Balitmore, MD; two former sons-in-law, Albert Macolm and Wayne Simmons; a former daughter-in-law, Mary Burell; and special friends, Anna Lee Samples, Teresa Tester, Donna Burns and Edna Mae Booth. 

She was also predeceased by a daughter, Jessie Simmons; a great-grandson, Joshua Hurt; a brother, Fred Ober; and an infant brother.

A funeral service was conducted Sunday at Obaugh Funeral Home in McDowell, VA, with the Rev. David Boger officiating. Burial was in McKendree Cemetery.  

Benedict "Ben" Bocchicchio

Benedict "Ben" Bocchicchio, 79, passed away April 21, 2008. 

He was the son of the late Benedetto and Theresa Bocchicchio. 

Bocchicchio's father, a member of the first graduating class of architecture at the Carnegie Mellon University, taught Ben architectural drawings at a very young age. After high school, he enrolled in the School of Civil Engineering at Pennsylvania State University. His education was put on hold during his service in the Korean War. Ben returned to school after his service and in 1951, while completing his education, he met his wife of 50 years, the late Mary Patricia Ernst.  They started out their lives together in Brooklyn, NY, where Ben American Bridge employed him. During their stay in NY, they began building their family and before long they had three son. Ben wanted to get out of the hustle and bustle of the city and decided to move to the suburbs in Bernardsville, NJ. Being offered a better job with US Steel in Fairless Hills, PA,  and were pleasantly surprised to add one more son to their family.  After 10 years with USS, he took a job with Research Cottrell in Boundbrook, N.J.

While the boys were growing up, Bocchicchio dedicated his life to raising his sons and giving them opportunities. From Scout Master to neighborhood car mechanic, he loved all and served all. If he wasn't volunteered by his wife for a special project for the church or friends, he was offering to help on his own. He loved life and he loved the people around him. He enjoyed using his hands to build and create things that he shared freely with anyone. Of all Ben's undertakings, he loved gardening the most. This followed closely in line with his love of good food. Ben's garden was everyone's garden. He grew enough vegetables to usually feed the entire neighborhood. He won many county fair ribbons and prepared many delicious meals with the fruits of his labor. Ben and Mary opened their home and their hearts to anyone in need.

He carried his traditions and hobbies with him when he took the final job of his career with Virginia Power. After short stays with the company in Petersburg and Ashland, VA,  he and his wife settled in their home of 18 years in Monterey VA.  HIs wife kept him very busy after retirement with travel, family gatherings and her antique business.  AFter his wife'd death, he continued to occupy himself with gardening and helping his sons.  

Ben and Mary both met and befriended many wonderful people who welcomed them into their community and helped them enjoy the treasured years they were able to spend together. Mary kept Ben very busy after retirement with travel, family gatherings and her antique business. After Mary's passing, Ben continued to occupy himself with and gardening helping his sons.

Unfortunately these few words cannot fully convey the essence of a man who lived fully and loved openly for 79 years. His life of service and caring can only be cherished by those who were lucky enough to have known him. He served his country, his community, his church, his family and everyone he called a friend. He was above all an honest man who lived by his actions and not just by his words, and he will always be an inspiration to those he has touched. He made the world a better place because he shared everything he had and all that he was with the people around him. He will be forever loved and infinitely missed as a father, a mentor and a friend.

His wife, the Mary Patricia Bocchicchio, preceded him in death. 

Surviving are four sons, Kenneth Bocchicchio of Trabuco Canyon, CA, Clifford Bocchicchio of Virginia Beach, VA, Keith Bocchicchio of Elizabethtown, PA, and Benedict Bocchicchio of Cary, NC; three daughters-in-law, Lori, Sue and Linda; six grandchildren, Kathyrn, Megan, Michale, Stephen, Sarah and Allie; and extended family members, Dario and Mayuri Flores DeVichez, Auxi, Ruben and their familis of Velncia, Venezuela.

He was preceded in death one his sister, Lydia McGuigan. 

A memorial will be held at Basagic Funeral Home, Franklin, on Friday from 5:30 p.m.to 7:30 p.m. Funeral services will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, Franklin. A reception will be held in Ben's honor following the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC) Research, University of Washington MCC Research,  Attn: Paul Nghiem, MD, PhD, 815 Mercer Street Seattle, WA 98109, or to Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, PO Box 890, Franklin, WV  26807.  

Vella B. Belcher

Vella Beatrice Morgan Belcher, 83, of Pendleton Nursing Home and Sugar Grove, died Wednesday, April 23, 2008, at Rockingham Memorial Hospital, Harrisonburg, VA.

Mrs. Belcher was born Jan.12 1925, in Iaeger and was the daughter of the late Acie and Wadie Bishop Moran. 

She was a homemaker and loved cooking and gardening. 

Surviving are a daughter, Deloris Lawrence and husband, Roger of Sugar Grove; two sons, Douglas Riffe of Sugar Grove, and Johnny Riffe of Franklin; a sister, Essie Cline of Steeles; two brothers, Hershel Morgan of Ballard and Estel "Pete" Morgan of Iaeger; a half brother, Denny Bishop of Belcher Mountain; two grandchildren, Sherri Browning and husband, Scott of Brandywine and Dean Lawrence andwife, Lori Woolum of Oceana; and six great-grandchildren, Megan Light, Oksana Browning, Cheyenne Browning, Nick Lawrence, Emilee Lawrence and Hannah Lawrence. 

The Rev. Ralph Sides conducted the funeral Saturday at  Brushy Fork Full Gospel church in Sugar Grove.  Burial was in the Sugar Grove Cemetery. 

Basagic Funeral Home in Franklin was in charge of arrangements. 

Obituaries are used with the permission of the Pendleton Times.

© - Copyright Notice
2001, Janet Cooper

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