Mr. Johnny Arvin Dahmer, a beloved son of Pendleton County and one of it leading citizens for many decades, is gone. 

He has been called a local institution and the embodiment of the virtues of this mountain community. 

Perhaps even more than that, Dahmer was a cherished friend to all who knew him. 

In addition to his many interests and hobbies, he was first a foremost a local historian.  

In 1997, Governor Cecil H. Underwood designated him a "history hero" for his contributions to the preservation of West Virginia history.  

His weekly Dahmer community newsletter in this paper was admired and respected by readers far and wide, much as the man himself was.  His column was a source of local news but also so much more.  

Not only was county history recounted in his column, it was the very spirit of the community itself, including its folklore, that he managed to evoke.  What the fictional Yoknapatawpha county was for the great American writer William Faulkner, the very real life, history and times of Pendleton County were to Johnny Arvin Dahmer. 

Dahmer, 87, of Franklin died Friday, Aug. 17, 2007 on his farm in the Dahmer community. .

He was born Jan. 28, 1920, at Dahmer and was the son of the late John Dahmer and Estella Dickenson Dahmer.

He was blood kin to several pioneer families who came to now Pendleton County before 1800 and to six of the Justices who helped organize Pendleton County on June 2, 1788. 

Mr. Dahmer was a farmer, local historian and a member of the Franklin Presbyterian Church, where he served as both deacon and elder. He was a director of the Pendleton County Historical Society, member Donegal Society in Ireland, member Pendleton County Committee for the Arts and a member of the Pendleton County Farm Bureau. He served several terms as director of South Branch Feeds and on the Pendleton County ASCS Committee. He was the writer of the Dahmer News for the "Pendleton Times" for over 30 years. His hobbies were local history and genealogy, trees, photography, wild flowers and bird feeding.

Surviving are two sisters, Elvira J. Crummett and Jenny A. Vandevander, both of Franklin; seven nieces, Arvella Blair, Charlotte Kuykendall, Pasty Sponaugle, Celia Miller, Nancie Lambert, Sandra Vandevander and Linda Mallow; three nephews, Lannie Mullenax, Johnny Crummett, Lynn Vandevander; 10 great-nephews; 10 great-nieces; four great-great nieces and eight great-great-nephews.

He was preceded in death by four sisters, Lucy Verona Pitsenbarger, Estella Rose Dahmer, Arla E. Sponaugle and Ella V. Mullenax, and by one niece, Betty Lou Judy.

Funeral services were held Tuesday at the Franklin Presbyterian Church at Franklin, with the Rev. Kevin Hand, the Rev. Donald S. Wilkinson and Dr. Richard Young officiating. Burial was at Cedar Hill Cemetery at Franklin.

Memorials may be made to Pendleton Nursing Home, P.O. Box 700, Franklin, WV 26807, or Pendleton County Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 727, Franklin, WV 26807.

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

Donna Rae Turner, 60

Donna Rae Turner, 60, of Seneca Rocks and formerly of Maysville, Charles Town, Harpers Ferry and Ellicott City, MD, died Saturday, Aug 11, 2007, at University of Virginia Medical Center, Charlottesville, VA, after battling chronic liver complications and related ailments. 

Born Dec. 31, 1946, at University Hospital in Baltimore, MD, she was the daughter of the late former Audrey Marian Clark and Staff Sgt. Doyle Wilson Jestes.  

She was the wife of Charles Junior "Chuck" Turner Sr., whom she married Jan. 1, 1976, at Emory United Methodist church in Ellicott City, MD. 

Surviving in addition to her husband, are children, Theresa Marie Causer of Sheperdstown, Ralph Henry "Sonny" Hensley III, and Kimberly Ann Burris, both of Winchester, VA, and Charles Junior "CJ" "Chuck" Turner Jr. of Maysville; step-children Danny Richard Turner, Joyce Gress, Charles Larry Turner, Chalres Allen Turner, Kenneth Dwayne Turner and Sharon Lisa Poland; 21 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and siblings Dean Russell Jestes of Elkridge, MD, and Debra Ann Jestes Rankin Kidd and Frank Elliott Hensley, both of Westminster, MD.

A memorial service will be held at noon Saturday at Faith Assembly of God church, Petersburg.  

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to assist with medical costs, c/o Ranlph Hensley, 1735 Brandon Drive, Winchester, VA  22601.    

Nola B. Mauzy

Nola Blanche Mauzy, 90, of Staunton,  , died Sunday, Aug. 19, 2007, at King’s Daughters’ Community Health and Rehabilitation Center.

She was born June 18, 1917, in Blue Grass, VA, a daughter of the late Otto and Nannie (Fleisher) Harper.

Mrs. Mauzy was a housewife. She was a member of the Verona United Methodist Church, the Golden Deeds Sunday School class, the United Methodist Women and AARP, Staunton Chapter 1650.

On Dec. 5, 1933, she married Roscoe Mauzy, who preceded her in death Feb. 23, 1985.

Survivors include two daughters and sons-in-law, Charlotte and Robert Ritchie of Verona, VA, and Julia Ann and Richard Evick of Harrisonburg, VA; two sons and daughters-in-law, Larry  and Phyllis Mauzy of Verona, VA, and Michael and Vickie Mauzy of Hightown, VA; 13 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; a sister, Josephine Stover of Harrisonburg, VA; and a number of nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by a son, William L. Mauzy; an infant daughter, Betty Jean Mauzy; a sister, Dona Rodgers; and two brothers, Carl and Roscoe Harper.

A funeral service was conducted Wednesday at the Obaugh Funeral Home in McDowell, VA, with Pastors Charles Reynolds and James Harris officiating.  Burial was in the Blue Grass Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Verona Volunteer Fire Company, P.O. Box 348, Verona, VA 24482.

Julie Ann Moldenhauer, 47, of Circleville, and formerly of Illinois, died Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2007, at Grant Memorial Hospital in Petersburg.

Ms. Moldenhauer was born June 15, 1960, in Chicago, IL, and was the daughter of the late Emil August Moldenhauer and Julie Kabasik Moldenhauer.

She is survived by a brother, Emil A. Moldenhauer Jr. of Wonderlake, IL, and companion, Charles "JR" Bennet Jr. of Seneca Rocks.

Her body has been cremated and burial will be in the Bennett Family Cemetery in Riverton at a later date.

Schaeffer Funeral Home in Petersburg, is handling arrangements.

Mary "Sitty" Dunkle

Mary "Sitty" Dunkle, 77, of Franklin died Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2007, at Rockingham Memorial Hospital in Harrisonburg, VA.

Mrs. Dunkle was born Jan. 9, 1930, in Keyser and was a daughter of the late Ottis Kimble and Wilda Judy Kimble.

She was a homemaker and farmer. She was a member of Walnut Street United Methodist Church and was a 1948 graduate of Franklin High School.

Her husband, Robert Leroy Dunkle Sr., preceded her in death Feb. 19, 1988.

Survivors include a daughter, Shalee D. Wilburn and husband, Danny of Franklin; a son, Robert Leroy Dunkle Jr. and wife, Belinda of Franklin; four sisters, Helen Weese of Moorefield, Lucille Torrence and husband, Robert of Upper Tract, Betty Ann Alt of Gambrills, MD, and Carol Sue Eskridge and husband, Robert of Myrtle Beach, SC; two brothers, Daniel "Johnny" Kimble and wife, Marie, and Boyd Kimble and wife, Leta, all of Franklin; two grandchildren, Christopher Wilburn and Jennifer Armentrout and husband, Charles; and very dear friends and helpers, Doris Short and Bobby Keesecker of Franklin.

She was preceded in death by a baby boy.

The Revs. Carl Tribett and Ed Null conducted the funeral Saturday at the chapel of Basagic Funeral Home in Franklin. Burial was at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Franklin.

Memorial donations may be made to the Pendleton County Rescue Squad or Walnut Street United Methodist Church.

Boyd Huffman, 69, of Seneca Rocks died Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2007, at Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown.

Mr. Huffman was born Aug. 8, 1938, in Onego and was the son of Glenn Huffman and Texie Vance Huffman.

He was a timberman.

His wife, Alice Vance Huffman survives.

Also surviving are two sisters, Pauline Thompson of Hinton, VA, and Bonnie Jean Huffman of Circleville, and a brother, Herbert Park Huffman of Onego.

Pastor Harvey Vance conducted the funeral Saturday at the Kimble Funeral Home Chapel in Franklin.

Memorial contributions may be made to Alice Vance Huffman, in care of Kimble Funeral Home, P.O. Box 159, Franklin, WV 26807.

Obituaries are used with the permission of the Pendleton Times.

© - Copyright Notice
2001, Janet Cooper

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