Norman Alexander Whitesel, 93, of Mount Crawford, VA, died Friday, July 7, 2006, at the home of Catherine and Ruby Rodes.

Mr. Whitesel was born Nov. 2, 1912, in Pleasant Valley, VA, and was the son of the late George Enos and Conjetta Collichio Whitesel.

He was the owner of Whitesel Music in Harrisonburg. He was an active member of Gideons International and past state president of the Gideons of Virginia. He was a member of Grace Covenant Church. In 1988, he started the Norman Whitesel Christian School in Mount Crawford, VA. He was a member of the Harrisonburg Rotary Club.

Mr. Whitesel tuned many pianos, including ones in Pendleton County. 

On Jan. 20, 1952, he married Yvonne McNamara Whitesel; she preceded him in death in 1988.

Surviving are a sister, Frances D. Smith of Lexington, four nieces and six nephews.

The Revs. Dick Blackwell and Gerald Martin conducted the funeral Tuesday at Grace Covenant Church. Burial was in the St. Jacob’s-Spaders Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Gideons International, P.O. Box 734, Harrisonburg, VA 22803.

Arrangements are being handled by the Johnson Funeral Service in Bridgewater, VA. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.johnsonfs.com.

Ruby G. Harper

Ruby Gail Auvil Harper, 83, a former resident of Elkins and more recently a resident of Valentine’s Personal Care Home at Elkins, departed this life Tuesday evening, July 4, 2006, at the home. She had been in declining health.

Mrs. Harper was born Tuesday, Jan. 17, 1922, at Onego,  a daughter of the late John Mark Auvil and Bessie Margaret Kisamore Auvil.

Ruby was a graduate of Circleville High School with the class of 1939, had formerly worked at the Dutch Oven Bakery, the Western Maryland Federal Credit Union and owned and operated the IGA Store at Cowen for eight years. She was a member of the John Hart Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution and was an active member of the Otterbein United Methodist Church, where she was a member of the Women’s Circle and had served as a Junior Church Leader. She was an avid genealogist. 

On June 20, 1941, at Oakland, MD, she was married to Roy Delmer Harper, who preceded her in death, Dec. 27, 1983.

Surviving are one son, Dannie Roy Harper and wife, Bobbie, of Follansbee; one daughter, Lois Kay Albright and husband, Jim, of Parkersburg; one brother, Carl Auvil and wife, Ruby, of Harpers Ferry; two granddaughters, Wendy Lynn Geary and husband, Greg, of Youngsville, LA and Jamie Ann Barber of Clarksburg; one grandson, J.R. Harper and wife, Diane, of Orient, Ohio; four great-grandsons, Brock Geary of Youngsville, La., Dylan Harper of Orient, Ohio and DeAndre and Darohm Barber, both of Clarksburg; two great-granddaughters, Courtney Geary of Youngsville, La., and Drew Harper of Orient, OH; four great-grandsons, Brock GEary of Youngsville, LA, Dylan Harper of Orient, OH, and Deandre and Darohm Barber of Clarksburg; two great granddaughters, Courtney GEary of Youngsville, LA, and Drew Harper of Orient OH; and several nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death besides her parents and husband are one brother, Don Auvil; two sisters, Joy Auvil and Geneva Auvil Woodward; two granddaughters, Sharon Diane and Cynthia Renee Albright; and one great-granddaughter, Deziray Barber.

Final rites were conducted at the chapel of Lohr & Barb Funeral Home of Elkins on July 8 with the Rev. Leon H. Hevener officiating. Interment followed at Mountain State Memorial Gardens at Gilman.  Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.lohrbarbfuneralhome.com.  

Obituaries are used with the permission of the Pendleton Times.

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2001, Janet Cooper

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