Eldon Elwood (John) Hott, 80, of Franklin, died Wednesday, May 16, 2001, at Pendleton Nursing Home in Franklin.

Mr. Hott was born Sept. 16, 1920, in Kirby and was a son of the late Grover H. Hott and Bertha Shanholtzer.

He was a member of Franklin United Methodist Church, member and past Master of Pendleton Lodge AF AM 144, a US Army veteran of World War II, serving in the European Theatre, a member of the WV Poultry Association and was awarded the Lifetime Membership, and a member of the VFW Spruce Knob Post 2370.

Mr. Hott came to Pendleton county in 1949 and became a leading businessman of the community. He had served on various boards, but his great love was farming.

On Nov. 27, 1949, he married the former Ruth Stein Pea, who survives.

Al;so surviving are five children, Jeffrey Eldon and wife, Jennie Judy Hott, Franklin; John Craig and wife Paula combs Hott, Upper Tract; Kathy Hott Minor and Husband Bruce, Franklin, Bradley Brent and wife, Dawn Crouse Hott, Ft. Seybert; and Kristi Hott Stephenson and husband, Mark Brevard, NC; 15 grandchildren, Abbie Hott Cannon and husband Jim, Shawn Minor; Kimbra Hott Day and husband Scott, Allie Hott Ross and husband, Wayne; Emilie Hott; Aaron Minor; John Marshall Hott; Michael Hott; Adam Hott, Gregory Hott, Karli Stephenson, Valleri Hott, Natalie Stephenson, Will Stephenson; and Aimee Minor; two great-grandchildren, Tyler Day, and Audrey Ross; three brothers, Melvin Hott, Romney, Arno Hott, Augusta, and Dick Hott, Cumberland, MD: three sisters, Alta White, Winchester, VA, Mary Bucklew and Wanda Montgomery, Shanks.

He was also preceded in death by two brothers and three sisters.

The Rev. Walter Mullins conducted the funeral at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Franklin United Methodist Church. Interment followed in the Cedar Hill Cemetery with Masonic graveside rites and military graveside services conducted by various veterans' organizations of Grant County.

Memorial donations may be made to Franklin United Methodist Church, Pendleton Nursing Home, Pendleton County Emergency Services or any charity of choice.

Maggie Belle Bible, 93, Onego, died Sunday, May 20, 2001, at Grant Memorial Hospital in Petersburg.

Mrs. Bible was born April 26, 1908 in Clarksburg and was a daughter of the late Albert A. Casto and Elizabeth Virginia Metheny Casto.

She was a homemaker and a member of the Onego Church of the Brethren.

On Aug. 15, 1928, she married Fred Bible, who died June 8, 1972.

She is survived by a daughter, Evelyn Thompson, Petersburg; a son, the Rev. Earl Bible, Seneca Rocks; two sisters, Madeline Gregg, Wolf Summit, and Mary White, Clarksburg; a brother, Robert Casto, California; one grandchild, Armanda Heavener and two great-grandchildren, Ben and Hannah Heavener.

She was also preceded in death by one son, Fred Bible, Jr., in 1935; five brothers, Bernard, Raymond, Dock, David and Clarence; and three sisters, Beatrice, Jenetta and Lillie.

The Rev. Stanley Kile conducted the funeral at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Basagic Funeral Home in Franklin. Burial was at the Bible family cemetery in Onego.

Mary B. Propst, 91,

Mary B. Propst, 91, of Franklin, died Thursday, May 17, 2001, at the Pendleton Nursing Home in Franklin, where she had resided one week.

She had lived with her daughter and son-in-law, Mary Alice and Bennie Evick of Franklin, for the past six years.

Mrs. Propst was born Jan. 13, 1910, in Mitchell and was the daughter of the late Oscar and Virginia Alice Mitchell Propst.

She was a homemaker. She was a member of the St. Luke Lutheran Church until its closing, and later became a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Franklin.

On Dec. 29, 1932, she married Walter R. Simmons, who preceded her in death, July 26, 1946. On Aug. 11, 1954, she married Lawrence Propst, who preceded her in death on Aug. 25, 1995.

Survivors include two daughters, Arvella Skelton of Spotsylvania, VA, and Mary Alice Evick of Franklin; three step-sons, Vernon Propst, Kenneth Propst and Leland Propst, all of Franklin; two sisters, Martha Trobaugh of McGaheysville, Va and Ethel Revercomb of Dayton, VA; one brother, Otho Propst of Dayton, VA, seven grandchildren; one great-grandchild; nien step-grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews.

She was also preceded in death by three brothers and two sisters.

Pastor Mary Poston condcuted the funeral at 11 a.m. Monday at the Chapel of the Kimble Funeral Home in Franklin. Burial followed in the Sugar Grove Cemetery in Sugar Grove.

Memorial contributions may be made to Faith Lutheran Church or the Pendleton Nursing Home.

Gary Steve Hammer, 59, of Boyds, Md, died Monday afternoon after a year-long battle with cancer.

He is the son of Sylvia R. Hammer and the late Raymond B. Hammer of Franklin.

Fuenral arrangements were pending at press time.

Paul David Ruddle, 90, Franklin, died Sunday, May 20, 2001, at the Pendleton Nursing Home in Franklin.

Mr. Ruddle was born Dec. 9, 1910, in Ruddle and was a son of the late George Lawson Ruddle and Delia Frances Hedrick Ruddle.

He was employed by the Atlantic Oil Company in Petersburg from the late 1940s to 1952, and retired in 1972 as manager of the Franklin Oil Company. He was a US Army veteran and was a member of the Pendleton Lodge No. 144 AF&AM and a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 22370 in spruce Knob. He was a member of the Franklin Presbyterian Church.

His wife, Thelma Crigler Ruddle died Aug.7, 1996.

He is survived by a sister, Mary Ruddle, Franklin; a brother, William Ruddle, Arlington, VA; and a number of nieces and nephews.

He was also preceded in death by a sister, Mildred Ruddle.

The Rev. Mark Fisher conducted the funeral at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Basagic Funeral Home in Franklin. Burial was at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Franklin with a Masonic service by the Pendleton Lodge No. 144 AF&AM and military rites by veterans organizations of Grant County.

A funeral service for Ora J. Grady, 79, a resident of Newark, OH, since 1946, was held on Tuesday, May 22, at the Criss-Schoedinger Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Tom Myers officiating. Entombment followed in Newark Memorial Gardens, where military honors were held.

Mr. Grady, Fomerly of Ruddle, died May 18, 2001, at home with his fmaily following a long illness. He was born April 21, 1922, in Oakland, MD, to the late Ora Francis and Maude (Hedrick) Grady.

He retired from Owens-Corning in 1982, after 30 years of service, and was also a decorated Army veteran of World War II. He was awarded both the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. He loved spending all his time with his family and gardening.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Jessie (Alt) Grady of Newark OH; one son and daughter-in-law, Jack and Rosalie Grady of Newark, OH; one brother, Herbert Grady of Newardk, OH; one sister, Freda Thompson of Ruddle; three grandchildren, Monty Grady, Amanda (Michael) Ryan and Sonya Grady; three great-grandchildren, Nicole Bush, Danielle Bush and Daren Johnson; and one great-great-grandson, Andrew Bowman.

Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to Hospice of Central Ohio, 1984, Coffman Road, Newark, OH 43055. E-mail expressions of sympoathy to the family at [email protected].

Madeline H. Bland, 77

Madeline H. Bland, 77, Riverton, died Wednesday, May 16, 2001, at Grant Memorial Hospital in Petersburg.

Mrs. Bland was born May 11, inCircleville and was a daughter of Ray Sponaugle and Mary Bennett.

She was a homemaker and attended Solomon Chapel Church.

Her husband, Jack Bland, died, Jan 22, 2001.

She is survived by a duagher and son-in-law, Debbie and Chuck Burns, Riverton; two sons, Bobby Jack Bland, and Denny Bland and wife, Evelyn Bland, all of Riverton; a sister, Betty Watts, Franklin; two brothers, Bradford Teter, Muncy, PA, and Lee Roy Warner, Arthur; two granddaughters; and several nieces and nephews.

She was also preceded in death by one brother, Delton Warner.

Pastor Rebecca Bennett conducted the funeral at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Basagic Funeral Home in Franklin. Burial was at the Burns Cemetery in Riverton.

Memorial donations may be made to the Pendleton County Rescue Squad.

Used with Permission of the Pendleton Times.