Obituaries from the Pendleton Times,
14 May 2009
Rebecca Dyer Browdy
Rebecca Dyer Browdy, 92, of Franklin died Wednesday, May 6, 2009, at Pendleton Manor in Franklin.
She was born May 20, 1916 at Baltimore, MD, and was the daughter of the late Dr. Osceola Dyer and Myrtle Curry Dyer.
She was a 1936 graduate of Franklin High School and attended Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, VA, and Strayer Business College in Washington, DC.
During World War II, she was secretary to Congressman Jennings Randolph. She also worked at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, MD, and the Dept. of Public Assistance in Franklin. She was a member of the Franklin Presbyterian Church and the Daughters of the American Revolution.
On Nov. 10, 1947, she married Abraham Browdy, who preceded her in death in 1986.
She is survived by one sister, Mary Dyer Dalen of Franklin; nieces and nephews, Jacqueline Wilkins Upp, Dorothy Wilkins Miller, Jack Curry Wilkins, Andrea Dalen Larrivee and John Eric Dalen; and a number of great-nieces and nephews.
She was also preceded in death by a sister, Dorothy Dyer Wilkins; and a nephew, James Dyer Wilkins.
Funeral services were held at Sunday at the Franklin Presbyterian Church with Rev. Kevin Hand officiating. Burial was at Cedar Hill Cemetery at Franklin.
Memorials may be made to Mountain Hospice, PO Box 416, Franklin, West Virginia 26807.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Kimble Funeral Home in Franklin.
Merle B. Sites
Mrs. Merle B. Sites, 93, of Cabins died Tuesday, May 12, 2009, at the Grant County Nursing Home, Petersburg, where she had resided the past 13 years.
She was born Dec. 25, 1915, in Onego and was the daughter of the late Estel Bennett and Iva (Dolly) Bennett.
Her first husband, Waldo Harper, preceded her in death in 1951, and her second husband, Van C. Sites, died in 1989.
Mrs. Sites was a member of the Cabins Assembly of God Church.
Surviving are one son, Kenneth G. Harper of Cabins; three grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; two sisters, Vallie Kisamore of Cabins and Shirley Flohr of Augusta; two brothers, Chester Bennett of Onego and Clifford Bennett of Maysville; and several nieces and nephews.
She was also preceded in death by four brothers, Don, Carl, Paul and Foster Bennett; three sisters, Eva Patterson, Ruby Burke and Josie Payne; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Funeral services will be held today at 10 a.m. at the Schaeffer Funeral Home, Petersburg, with Rev. Joseph Eversole and Pastor Tommy George officiating. Interment will be in Lahmansville Cemetery, Lahmansville.
Family received friends Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Schaeffer Funeral Home, Petersburg.
Memorials may be made to the Grant County Nursing Home, 27 Early Avenue, Petersburg, WV 26847.
Freda Mae Bolton Joseph
Freda Mae Bolton Joseph, 87, of Brandywine died May 11, 2009, at Rockingham Memorial Hospital, Harrisonburg, VA.
Born Oct. 23, 1921, she was the daughter of the late Benjamin Harrison and Hulda Jane Pennington Johnston.
Mrs. Joseph retired after 20 years from Hanover Shoe. She attended Pendleton County Schools and Cedar Grove Church of the Brethren.
Her first husband, Charles Wilson Bolton, preceded her in death on Feb. 18, 1980, and her second husband, Albert Roy Joseph, preceded her in death on May 2, 1991.
Surviving are four daughters, Rony Lohse and husband Robert of Bellbrook, OH, Elizabeth Bodkin and husband, Roy of Brandywine, Linda Sumner and husband, James of Green Castle, PA, and Marie Simmons and husband, Michael of Sugar Grove; two sons, Charles Wilson Bolton, Jr., and Carrie of Dayton, VA, and Johnny Bolton and wife, Judy of Harrisonburg, VA; 24 grandchildren; 48 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
She was also preceded in death by two brothers, Paul Johnston and Samuel Johnston; and two sisters, Cleo Moyers and Grace Bolton.
Funeral services will be held Friday at 2 p.m. at the Cedar Grove Church of the Brethren with Pastor Pat Godfrey officiating. Burial will be in Pine Hill Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Pendleton County Rescue Squad or Pendleton Manor.
The family will receive friends this evening from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Basagic Funeral Home, Franklin.
Denny L. Bodnar, 73
Denny L. Bodnar, 73, of Westminster, MD, died Saturday, May 9, 2009 at his home.
Born on Jan. 10, 1936, in MacBeth, he was the son of the late Edith Adkins Bodnar and John Bodnar, Jr.
He retired from teaching at Francis Scott Key High School in 1995. He was a member, elder and active member in the choir at the First United Presbyterian Church in Westminster, MD.
His wife of 50 years, Nancy Compton Bodnar, formerly of Upper Tract, survives.
Also surviving are a son and daughter-in-law, Darryl and Carol Bodnar of Westminster, MD; siblings Barbara Reid of Winter Park, FL, John Bodnar of Hurricane, Della Evans of Odessa, FL, and Steve Bodnar of Williamstown; two grandchildren, Adam and Rebecca Bodnar of Westminster, MD; and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 16, at 11 a.m. at the First United Presbyterian Church, Westminster, MD, with his pastor Rev. Walt Peters officiating. Interment will be private.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First United Presbyterian Church Music Program, 65 Washington, Rd., Westminster, MD 21157 or to Carroll County Food Sunday, PO Box 2160, Westminster, MD 21158.
Online condolences may be made at www.prittsfuneralhome.com.
Pritts Funeral Home and Chapel, Westminster, MD, are in charge of funeral arrangements.
Ida Cannon
Ida Catherine Cannon, 94, of Cheverly, MD, passed away at Doctor’s Community Hospital in Lanham, MD, May 6, 2009, from complications of Alzheimer s disease.
She was born May 16, 1914, in Moyers to the late Pleasant Propst and Florence (Kate) McQuain Propst.
The family moved to Sugar Grove around 1922.
She had lived over the course of her life in Winchester, VA, Washington, DC, Houston, TX, Hyattsville, MD, and Cheverly, MD.
Mrs. Cannon had worked at the former National Fruit Company in Winchester, VA, and several restaurants in Washington, DC, during the World War II period in the busy 14th street corridor. Upon moving to Texas for a brief period and then returning to the DC area, she was a homemaker. She had worked with the CCC and WPA during the 1930s as a camp cook for construction on the Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway, one of her fondest memories and accomplishments.
Mrs. Cannon was involved in many community activities including delivery for Meals on Wheels, charity drives and church while able, and had traveled frequently. She commuted frequently to Sugar Grove and surrounding areas to care for her mother, who reached 98 years, and to visit relatives. True to family form, she lived alone in the family home with minimal assistance until the last six months where effects of failing vision and Alzheimer’s disease forced changes. She had most recently been a resident of The Woodside Center in Silver Spring, MD, and Anchored by Care Assistant Living in New Carrollton, MD.
She is the last member of her immediate family.
Her former husbands, Lester Looker of Harrisonburg, VA, and Roger Cannon of Arnold, MD, preceded her in death.
She is survived by one son, Edward Cannon of Ellicott City, MD; a grandson, Matthew Cannon of North Aurora, IL; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins, residing in or near the Shenandoah Valley region.
She was also preceded in death by four brothers, Luther, Robert Richard “Dick,” James and Carol Propst; and one sister, Grace Baker (Propst).
Arrangements are being managed by Gasch’s Funeral Home of Hyattsville, MD, with internment at National Memorial Park in Falls Church, VA. Services and interment are private, but condolences can be received and contacts made via www.gashs.com or http://cheverlyumc.org/index.html.
Donations, in lieu of flowers, are requested to The Alzheimer’s Foundation.
Laura Mae Simmons, 93
Laura Mae Simmons, 93, of Moyers died Tuesday, May 12, 2009, at Rockingham Memorial Hospital, Harrisonburg, VA.
Funeral arrangements, under the direction of the Obaugh Funeral Home, McDowell, VA, were incomplete at press time.
Hope Harper Loar
Hope Harper Loar, 97, formerly of The Village at Heritage Point, Morgantown, died Monday, May 11, 2009.
She was born in Piedmont, a daughter of the late Delmar Curtis and Rosa Huffman Harper.
Both families had lived in Pendleton County since the mid 1700’s. When she was two years old, her family moved back to Seneca Rocks.
She was a graduate of St. John’s Academy in Petersburg, Shenandoah College and Conservatory of Music in Dayton, VA, Shepherd College in Shepherdstown, Potomac State College in Keyser and West Virginia University School of Physical Education and Athletics.
Mrs. Loar was a life-long member of the Seneca United Methodist Church at Onego, but while living in Morgantown, she was actively involved in the activities and mission of the Westover United Methodist Church. She was a member of the United Methodist Women, and both she and her husband were members of the Friendly Service Class. She served as treasurer of the Scott’s Run Settlement House Board for several years and was a 50-year member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Chapter 35 in Morgantown.
In 1939, she married Jarrett Earl Loar of Morgantown, who preceded her in death, and they remained in the area.
Surviving are a son and spouse, Barton and Carol Loar of Morgantown; a daughter, Joann King of Morgantown; two granddaughters, Elizabeth King of Richmond, VA and Holly Loar of Morgantown; a niece, Rosanne Glover and spouse, John of Petersburg; a nephew, Joseph Harper and spouse, Carolyn of Seneca Rocks, a sister-in-law and spouse, Rebecca and Sam Hall, of Morgantown; and three nephews and spouses, Jarrett and Paula Hall, William and Kathy Hall and David and Donna Hall.
She was also preceded in death by a brother, Bardon Harper and spouse, Leone.
Funeral services will be held today at 11 a.m. at the Westover United Methodist Church, Westover, with Pastor Jo McCartney and Pastor Kevin Cain officiating. Burial will follow at East Oak Grove Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Westover United Methodist Church, 28 North Street, Westover, WV 26501. Hospice Care, 3363 University Avenue, Star City, 26505 or any charity of choice.
Friends called at the McCulla Funeral Home, Morgantown, on Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. with the Order of the Eastern Star Services at 7:45 p.m. and on Thursday at the Westover United Methodist Church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.McCulla.com.
William Niswander, 87 
William M. “Bill” Niswander, 87, of Monterey, VA, died Sunday, May 10, 2009, at his home.
He was born March 14, 1922, on a farm near Herndon, VA, a son of the late Paul C. and Helen Viola (Smith) Niswander.
He graduated from Washington Lee High School in Arlington, VA. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II with the 1286th Combat Engineers in Germany. He was a member of V.F.W. Post 4989 and American Legion Post 0155.
Mr. Niswander was an active member of Monterey United Methodist Church for many years. He drove the ambulance for Highland County Rescue Squad for 20 years. He served on the Monterey Town Council from 1982 until 2009. He had driven for Super Concrete Company in Washington, DC, and was a construction inspector in Fairfax County, VA, for 25 years. He had retired from Fairfax County Department of Environmental Management and moved with Leta Cayton to Monterey, VA, in 1981. After retirement, he had worked for Houston Smith from 1981 until 1989.
He loved to drive and traveled extensively in the United States, Canada and Mexico. He was an expert fisherman, fishing in the Chesapeake Bay in summer and with his son in The Florida Keys in winter.
His wife of 20 years, Patricia Sites Marshall Niswander, survives.
Also surviving are his first wife and mother of his children, Irene Young Miller; a daughter, Sherry L. Ahrens and her husband, Dennis of Crystal Lake, IL; a son, Philip M. Niswander and his wife, Maurine, of Crawfordville, FL; three grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; a sister, Jean Lee and her husband, Bill of Great Falls, VA; two nieces; and a nephew.
He was also preceded in death by a sister, Joan Quarles; and his second wife, Leta Cayton.
The body will be cremated. There will be a memorial service today at 1 p.m. at the Monterey United Church with the Rev. Derek Tomek and Rev. Will Vaus officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Monterey United Methodist Church, PO Box 273, Monterey, VA 24465 or Highland County Rescue Squad, PO Box 268, Monterey, VA 24465.
Obituaries are used with the permission of the Pendleton Times.
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