Herman L. Kimble, 94, departed this life at 3:50 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 18, 2009, in Serenity Care Home, where he was a resident.

He was born Sept. 23, 1914, in Grant County, the son of the late Arthur and Zella Kimble.

On Dec. 24, 1938, he married Bessie V. Alt, who survives.

In addition to his wife, Herman is survived by three sons, Jerry L. Kimble and wife, Patty, William M. "Bill" Kimble and wife, Sharon, and Wayne L. Kimble and wife, Diane, all of Buckhannon. Also surviving are six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; one brother, Glenn Kimble of Petersburg; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Herman was preceded in death by one brother, Lenford Kimble; and three sisters, Gerna Feaster, Opal Alt and Annie Kimble.

Herman was employed by the F.C. Cook Lumber Co. and lately by the city of Buckhannon as the street commissioner.

Herman was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Buckhannon where he attended Sunday school and worship and was a member of the United Methodist Men. He was also an active member of the American Association of Retired Persons.

Herman loved the outdoors and enjoyed his vegetable garden each year. He gave much of his produce to neighbors, family and friends. In his later years, his winters were spent looking at seed catalogues and planning next year's crops.

Friends will be received from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Poling-St. Clair Funeral Home and from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Schaeffer Funeral Home in Petersburg. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 22, at Schaeffer Funeral Home with the Rev. Dr. Damon Rhodes officiating. Burial will follow in South Branch Memorial Gardens in Petersburg.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.polingstclair.com. Poling-St. Clair Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.  From 19 Jan 2009.

Oliver Junior Schoonover, 84, a resident of Elkins, passed away Sunday morning, Jan. 18, 2009. in Davis Memorial Hospital.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be under the direction of Tomblyn Funeral Home of Elkins for Oliver Junior Schoonover. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.tomblynfuneralhome.com.  From 19 Jan 2009.

Robert Leon Cooper, 71, a resident of Belington, passed away Saturday, Jan. 17, 2009, in Davis Memorial Hospital.

He was born March 10, 1937, at Harman, a son of the late Leonard Brown and Velma Teter Cooper.

Surviving are his wife, Florence Tenney Cooper of Belington; two daughters, Ginger Dawn Cooper and Bobbi Jo Cooper of Belington; two brothers, Phil Cooper and Jack Cooper; six sisters, Bonnie Nelson, Donna Carter, Diane O'Brien, Stella Wyatt, Shirley Cooper and Wendy Cooper; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Also preceding him in death were one brother, James Cooper; and two sisters, Jane Scarce and Lorena Hall.

Mr. Cooper was a lumberman and retired as a laborer at the Butch Quarry at Bowden.

Mr. Cooper's remains will be cremated and a memorial service will be announced at a later date.

Tomblyn Funeral Home of Elkins is in charge of the arrangements for Robert Leon Cooper. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.tomblynfuneralhome.com.  From 19 Jan 2009.

Thomas "Tommy" Edgar Miller Jr., 21, of Elkins, passed away Jan. 17, 2009, at his home.

He was born Aug. 30, 1987, at Elkins, a son of the late Thomas Edgar Miller Sr. and Mary Grace Chisholm Miller, who survives.

Also surviving are his stepfather, Larry Pennington; two brothers, Dwight (Heidi Marie) Miller of Colora, Md., and their children, Michelle, Donna, Dwight Jr., Joe (Wanda) Bishop, Thomas (Becky) Miller and Steven Miller; and Craig Alan Miller of Harman; one sister, Pamela Kay Taylor of Thomas and her daughters, Elizabeth (Glen) Felton, Jamie (Charles) Trader, Teresa (Moe) Young and Sharlice (Allen) Humphrey; aunts, Susie Chisholm and Jennifer (Howard) Cutright; uncle, John (Priscilla) Chisholm; stepfather's sister, Lucy (Paul) Chew and their son, Jimmy Chew; cousins, Mickala Miller and Adriana and Jenna Cutright; and his best friends, Josh Howell and Becky Walters.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Regina Jewel Varner; and his grandmother, Velma Chisholm.

Tommy was loved very much and will be missed dearly.

Friends will be received from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Dry Fork Assembly of God Church. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21, at the church with the Rev. Ric Lewellen and Phillip Lynn Ryder officiating. Interment will follow in Mt. State Memorial Gardens. Hinkle Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.  From 19 Jan 2009.

Troy Dwight Yoakum, 90, a resident of 4-H Camp Road, Beverly, departed this life early Saturday morning, Jan. 17, 2009, at his home.

He was born Thursday, May 2, 1918, at Beverly, a son of the late John Franklin Yoakum and Nora Belle Talbott Yoakum.

On Aug. 19, 1950, at Belington, he was married to the former Helen Marie Cooper, who survives. They had celebrated 58 years of marriage.

Also surviving are two sons, Daniel Raymond Yoakum and wife, Ellen, and John Dwight Yoakum and wife, Marsha, all of Beverly; one daughter, Wanda Susan Zirkle and husband, Jesse, of Beverly; one brother, Chester Clay Yoakum and wife, Lillie, of Ellicott City, Md.; one sister, Cellie Marie Bierly and husband, Robert, of Chattanooga, Tenn.; and seven grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

Preceding him in death were one daughter, Lenora Ann Yoakum; and one brother, Leo Talbott Yoakum.

He attended the schools of Tygart Valley and was a graduate of Beverly High School with the class of 1937. He was a graduate of West Virginia University with a bachelor's degree in science. He was a veteran of World War II, serving with the U.S. Army and was a soil scientist for the Soil Conservation Corp. for 35 years, retiring in 1979, and was a lifelong farmer.

The family will receive friends from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Lohr & Barb Funeral Home of Elkins. Final rites will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21, at the funeral home chapel. The Rev. Gary Phillips will officiate and interment will follow in Elkins Memorial Gardens on the Airport Road at Elkins, where H.W. Daniel's Post 29 American Legion and the Tygart Valley Post 3647 Veterans of Foreign Wars will conduct full military rites. Lohr & Barb Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements for Troy Dwight Yoakum. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.lohrbarbfuneralhome.com.  From 19 Jan 2009.

William Hazilton Gaunt, 79, of Buckhannon, died Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009, in St. Joseph's Hospital in Buckhannon.

He was born April 4, 1929, in Upshur County, a son of the late Emmett J. and Favor Audria Seargent Gaunt.

On June 12, 1954, he married Betty Lou Warner, who survives.

Also surviving are one son, Barry William Gaunt and wife, Twona, of Bowling Green, Ky.; one daughter, Bonnie Lou Wilson and husband, Michael, of Bend, Ore.; stepgrandchildren, Stephanie, Chad and Corey Morrison of Bowling Green, Ky.; three sisters, Hazel Mullens and Annabelle Tolliver of Buckhannon and Fern Stewart and husband, Vernon, of Canton, Ohio; two sisters-in-law, Barbara Gaunt of Gallopolis Ferry and Lucille Warner of Buckhannon; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one grandson, Christopher Anthony Gaunt; and one brother, Brooks Gaunt.

Mr. Gaunt was a manager for Republic Steel and LTV Steel of Cleveland, Ohio. He was a member of the Tennerton United Methodist Church, the Buckhannon Country Club and American Legion Post 7. He served in the Army during the Korean War fighting with the 101st Airborne Division.

Friends were received Sunday at Poling-St. Clair Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. today at the funeral home with the Rev. Jeff Zickefoose officiating. Burial will follow in Heavner Cemetery. Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3663, Frank B. Bartlett Post 7 American Legion and Disabled American Veterans Chapters 5 and 36 will conduct military honors at the graveside. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.polingstclair.com. Poling-St. Clair Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.  From 19 Jan 2009.

Kelly L. Snyder, 79, died surrounded by his loving family on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009, from a massive stroke at St. Mary Medical Center, Langhorne, Pa.

Born May 2, 1929, in West Virginia, to the late Oley and Rachel Snyder, he was a Bristol Boro, Pa., resident for 45 years, prior to moving back to West Virginia in 1996.

He was very proud to have served his country in the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Army 79th Division in Germany during World War II. Mr. Snyder retired from Castle Metals in Morrisville in 1991 and prior to that was employed by Patterson Parchment Paper Co. for many years. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 812, the Bristol Moose Lodge No. 1169 and the Ruritan in West Virginia. He volunteered his craftmanship at the Veteran Memorial Wall in Parsons. Mr. Snyder was an avid outdoorsman and loved hunting and fishing. He was mechanically inclined and could build and fix anything. He will be remembered as a kind and self-less man, and he was a caretaker to his family and friends and always there when needed.

He is the beloved husband of 53 years to Viola F. (nee LaRosa) Snyder; and loving father of Marianne Young and her husband, James R., of Langhorne, Pa., Kelly C. Snyder and his wife, Christine, of Florida, Lisa Liberty and her husband, Patrick, of Langhorne, Pa., and Kevin M. Snyder, of Langhorne, Pa.; and devoted grandfather of Brian, Kelly and Dylan Snyder, Rachel and Sophia Liberty and Kevin and Kaitlyn Synder; and great-grandfather of Kayla and Emily. He is also survived by one brother, Donald Snyder (Mary); and three sisters, Kathleen Stonesifer, Eileen Walton (Harry) and Viola Kyle, along with many nieces and nephews.

Mr. Snyder was preceded in death by two brothers, Virgil and Delmar Snyder.

His funeral service was conducted Monday at Wade Funeral Home, 1002 Radcliffe St., Bristol Boro, Pa. Interment was private. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the USO, for care packages to be sent to the soldiers serving overseas. For more information, call 1-877-USO-GIVE or visit www.uso.org/carepackage. (www.wadefh.com)  From 20 Jan 2009.

Paula Rue Simmons, 63, a resident of Elkins, passed away Saturday, Jan. 17, 2009, at her home.

She was born Oct. 19, 1945, at Elkins, a daughter of the late Paul and Ruth Hedrick.

Surviving are her husband, William E. Simmons of Elkins; and four sons, William E. "Billy" Simmons Jr. and wife, Teresa, of Elkins, Guy Todd Simmons and wife, Jennifer, of Tucson, Ariz., James Paul Simmons and wife, Jenny, of Valley Bend and John Gerald Simmons and wife, Tonya, of Elkins. Also surviving are 12 grandchildren, Josh, Paul, Natasha, Breanne, Cody, Logan, Danelle, Shalina, Austin, Hunter, Eli and Lindsey; and a great-grandchild, Avery.

Mrs. Simmons was a homemaker and a 4-H Allstar where she served as a leader for several years. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother.

Friends may call from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. Wednesday at Tomblyn Funeral Home in Elkins. A funeral service will be conducted at 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22, from the funeral home chapel. Interment will follow in Mountain State Memorial Gardens near Gilman. Tomblyn Funeral Home of Elkins is in charge of the arrangements for Paula Rue Simmons. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.tomblynfuneralhome.com.  From 20 Jan 2009. 

Robert Leon Cooper, 71, a resident of Belington, passed away Saturday, Jan. 17, 2009, in Davis Memorial Hospital.

Mr. Cooper's remains were cremated. A memorial service will be conducted at noon today at Tomblyn Funeral Home in Elkins. Pastor Mark Houser will officiate. Tomblyn Funeral Home of Elkins is in charge of the arrangements for Robert Leon Cooper. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.tomblynfuneralhome.com.  From 20 Jan 2009. 

Anna Louvella Matlick, 90, a resident of Route 1, Moatsville, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009, at her residence.

She was born April 24, 1918, a daughter of the late Dr. Franklin and Stella Josephine (Pifer) Bolyard and stepmother Nettie (Combs) Bolyard.

She was united in marriage June 22, 1940, to Howard Dale Matlick, who preceded her in death April 30, 1998.

Surviving are one son, Doward L. and wife, Twila Matlick, of Route 1, Moatsville; one sister, Dona Queen of Route 2, Moatsville; three sisters-in-law, Velma and husband, Karl Shaffer, of Philippi, Hazel Zinn of Terra Alta and Lucille Knotts of Marquess; one brother-in-law, Harold and wife, Mary Matlick, of Parsons; four grandchildren, Greg Matlick, Trina Alt, Stephanie Reed and Quentin Marsh; 10 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Anna was preceded in death by four sons, Junior Dale, Jerry Lee, Gary Lynn and Larry Matlick; one grandson, Doward Eugene Matlick; three brothers, Denver, Cloyd and Wendell Bolyard; two sisters, Juanita Josephine Bennett and Gay Bolyard; and one sister-in-law, Elsie Shingleton.

Anna worked at Leader's Department Store as a sales clerk and was a homemaker, a member of the Nestorville United Methodist Church and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary Post 96.

Friends will be received at Wright Funeral Home, 216 N. Walnut St. in Philippi, on Thursday, Jan. 22, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on Friday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., the service hour, with Pastor Bryan Headley officiating. Interment will follow in Mt. Zion Cemetery in Preston County. Wright Funeral Home Services.  From 21 Jan 2009. 

Mr. Jerry Dewayne Booth, 64, a resident of River Road, Belington, departed this life Monday afternoon, Jan. 19, at the home of his son on the Audra Road near Belington. He had been in his usual health and death was unexpected.

He was born May 23, 1944, at Belington, a son of the late Lee D. and Lena Goodwin Booth.

Mr. Booth is survived by his former wife, Justine Loretta Votaw of Oklahoma; two sons, Ronnie D. Booth and Gary P. Booth of Belington; one daughter Holly M. Booth of Oklahoma; seven grandchildren, Chad Booth, Alexandria Booth, Hezekiah Booth, Tessa Booth, Gabriel Booth, Travis and Jacob Woods. He is also survived by one sister, Betty Chenoweth of Belington; and three brothers, Carl Booth of Baird, Gale Booth of Belington and Dana Booth of Belington.

Mr. Booth attended Shockey School and was an honorary member of the Belington Volunteer Fire Department. He was an employee of the city of Belington for the past 23 years and he was a Protestant by faith.

Friends will be received at Talbott Funeral Home, 210 Brandenburg St. in Belington, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22, and again on Friday until 1 p.m. when final rites will be conducted from the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Doyle Neil Ryder officiating. Interment will follow in Concord Cemetery near Belington. Talbott Funeral Home in Belington is in charge of the arrangements for Mr. Jerry Dewayne Booth. Condolences can be made to the family at www.talbottfuneralhome.com.  From 21 Jan 2009. 

John Benjamin Juker, 60, of Cabins, died Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009, in Monongalia General Hospital at Morgantown.

Family will receive friends from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday at Schaeffer Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Friday at the funeral home with the Rev. Brady Goldizen officiating. Burial will be in South Branch Valley Memorial Gardens at Petersburg.  From 21 Jan 2009. 

Levon Cremeens, 82, of Bowden, passed away Jan. 18, 2009, in Davis Memorial Hospital.

She was born Oct. 28, 1926, at Hickory, N.C., a daughter of the late Otis and Bessie Pearl Donkel Reinhardt.

She is survived by one son, James Linza Cremeens Jr. of Sierra Vista, Ariz.; three daughters, Karen Lynn Hughes of Columbia, Mo., Jacquelyn Lynnes of Mobile, Ala., and Daphne Watkins of Bowden; one brother, Fred Reinhardt of California; one sister, Pauline Waddington of California; and 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by three brothers and three sisters.

Prior to retirement, Mrs. Cremeens worked as a communication supervisor at the University of South Alabama Medical Center. She was Lutheran by faith.

Friends will be received at Hinkle Funeral Home in Davis on Thursday, Jan. 22, from noon until 2 p.m., the funeral hour. The Rev. Allen Schwarz will officiate. Interment will follow in Davis Cemetery. Hinkle Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.  From 21 Jan 2009. 

Phyllis Jean Zirbs, 81, of Elkins, died Monday, Dec. 8, 2008, in Talbott Personal Care Home in Belington.

She was born June 19, 1927, at Elkins, a daughter of the late Asa and Nellie Kelley.

Mrs. Zirbs was a member of St. Brendan Catholic Church and was a dedicated employee of the Davis Memorial Hospital from where she retired after a long career.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Harry A. Zirbs; five brothers, Kenneth, Gerald, Don, Gail and Bob Kelley; three sisters, Eileen Kelley, Eleanor Harrison and Winifred Wood; a granddaughter, Elaina Maria Mendez; and a special nephew, John Zirbs.

She is survived by four children, Harry Michael Zirbs and his wife, Linda, and Patrick Kevin Zirbs and his wife, Tonya, all of Elkins, Becky McKenney and her husband, Jimmy, of Waldorf, Md., and Scotty Mendez of LaPlata, Md.; four grandchildren, Doug, Kevin and Emily Zirbs of Elkins and Josh McKenney of Waldorf, Md.; and five great-grandchildren.

A memorial Mass will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday at St. Brendan Catholic Church with Fr. Don Higgs officiating.  From 21 Jan 2009. 

Vivian Ruth McDonough, 77, of Murfreesboro, Tenn., died Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009.

She was a native of Elkins and the daughter of the late Otha Dellas and Mable Ann Isner Pfau.

She was also preceded in death by two sons, Tim and Richard McDonough.

She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Paul McDonough; son, Edwin McDonough of Murfreesboro, Tenn.; daughter and son-in-law, Peg and John Louis Poremba of Murrysville, Pa.; sister, Mary Ann Kerns of Elkins; brothers, Bill Pfau of Elkins and Otha Dellas Pfau Jr. of Bluefield; and grandchildren, John Timothy and Adam William Poremba.

Mrs. McDonough was a loving wife, mother and grandmother.

Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at Woodfin Memorial Chapel in Murfreesboro, Tenn. (615-893-5151 or www.woodfinchapel.com) Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Woodfin Memorial Chapel. Brother F. Murray Mathis will officiate. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers.  From 21 Jan 2009. 

The Elkins Intermountain, 22 January 2009

Anna L. Matlick

Arling N. Wamsley

Mr. Arling N. Wamsley, 75, a resident of Huttonsville, passed away Tuesday evening, Jan. 20, 2009.

He was born July 1, 1933, at Huttonsville, a son of the late Warren J. Wamsley and Goldie Victoria Simmons Wamsley.

On Oct. 8, 1955, at Huttonsville, he was married to the former Dorothy Rosencrance, who survives at Huttonsville.

Also surviving are one sister, Kathryn Stemen of Northwood, Ohio; two God children, Russell Teter Linger IV and Alice Elizabeth Linger, both of Huttonsville; and two sisters-in-law, Mary Francis Folks of Georgetown Road and Rozella Faye Channell of Huttonsville. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews, Debra Iffland and husband, Glen, Martin Hickman, Penny Reneau and husband, Chester, and Judy Moccabee and husband, Sam, all of Ohio, William Hickman and wife, Karen, of North Carolina, Betty Jean Linger and husband, Russell Linger Jr., of Huttonsville, Fred Channell and wife, Jeannie, of Beverly and Karen Balducci and husband, Randy, of Georgetown Road. One great-nephew, Rusty Linger of Huttonsville; and three great-nieces, Jessica Butcher and husband, Matt, of Martinsburg, Kenna Balducci of Georgetown Road and Alisa Iffland of Oregon, Ohio, also survive.

Preceding him in death was one infant brother, one nephew, one sister-in-law and four brothers-in-law.

Arling was a graduate of Tygarts Valley High School with the class of 1951. He served with the U.S. Army for two years. He retired in 1993 from General Motors after 37 years of service. He was a member of the United Auto Workers Local 1045 of Cleveland, Ohio, the Tygart Valley Lions Club since 1995, Collinwood Lodge 582 A.F. and A.M. of Euclid, Ohio, and Scottish Rite of Cleveland, Ohio. He was also a member of the Blue Ridge Regional Vintage Chevrolet Club of America and the Vintage Chevrolet Club of America. Arling was a member of the Valley Chapel United Methodist Church at Becky's Creek Road, Huttonsville.

Friends may call from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Friday at Tomblyn Funeral Home of Elkins. On Saturday, Jan. 24, he will be moved to the Valley Chapel United Methodist Church on Becky's Creek Road, where friends may call from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m., the funeral hour. The Rev. Verl Simmons and the Rev. Bonnie Starkey will officiate and interment will follow in the Brick Church Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Valley Chapel United Methodist Church, Route 1, Box 42, Huttonsville, W.Va. 26273. Tomblyn Funeral Home of Elkins is in charge of the arrangements for Arling N. Wamsley. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.tomblynfuneralhome.com.  From 22 Jan 2009. 

Joseph Ross

Leonard L. Koon

Lourene Woody

Willard D. White

Mr. Arling N. Wamsley, 75, a resident of Huttonsville, passed away Tuesday evening, Jan. 20, 2009.

Friends may call from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. today at Tomblyn Funeral Home in Elkins. On Saturday, Jan.24, he will be moved to Valley Chapel United Methodist Church on Becky's Creek Road, where friends may call from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m., the funeral hour. The Rev. Verl Simmons and the Rev. Bonnie Starkey will officiate and interment will follow in the Brick Church Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Valley Chapel United Methodist Church, Route 1, Box 42, Huttonsville, W.Va. 26273 Tomblyn Funeral Home of Elkins is in charge of the arrangements for Arling N. Wamsley. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.tomblynfuneralhome.com.  From 23 Jan 2009.

John Robert "Jack" Gribble, 79, of French Creek, Alexander Road, died Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009, at his home.

He was born July 6, 1929, at Dover, Ohio, a son of the late Eugene and Wilma Miller Gribble.

On Oct. 6, 1984, he married Betty Jean Dixon, who survives.

Also surviving are two stepsons, James Moore and wife, Elissa, of Bushwood, Md., and Ronald Moore of Washington, D.C.; one stepdaughter, Wendy Sue Cramer and husband, Joe, of Lothian, Md.: five stepgrandsons, Ryan and David Moore of Maryland, and Jake, Eddie and Billy Cramer of Maryland; stepgreat-grandchildren, Haley and Cody Moore of Maryland, and Jacob, Jackson, Jacey and Jett Cramer of Maryland; two sisters-in-law, Carol and Ethel Gribble of Maryland; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Joseph and James Gribble; one sister, Donna Tidrick; niece, Susan Gribble; and nephew, Mark Gribble.

Mr. Gribble was a 34-year-member of Stallings-Williams Post 206 American Legion in Chesapeake Beach, Md., and a gradall operator for 30 years. He served in the U.S. Navy as a gunners mate. He was on the USS Manchester from 1946-1948 and from October 1948 to 1949, on the USS Columbus from September 1951 to 1952 and on the USS Demoies during the Korean War. He received the Victory Medal and the Navy Occupation Service Medal.

Friends will be received at Poling-St. Clair Funeral Home on Saturday, Jan. 24, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the funeral hour with Pastor Charlotte Henline officiating. Buckhannon Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3663, Frank B. Bartlett Post 7 American Legion and Disabled American Veterans Chapters 5 and 36 will conduct military honors. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.polingstclair.com. Poling-St. Clair Funeral Home is in  From 23 Jan 2009.

Mr. Arling N. Wamsley, 75, a resident of Huttonsville, passed away Tuesday evening, Jan. 20, 2009.

Today, he will be moved to the Valley Chapel United Methodist Church on Becky's Creek Road where friends may call from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m., the funeral hour. The Rev. Verl Simmons and the Rev. Bonnie Starkey will officiate and interment will follow in the Brick Church Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Valley Chapel United Methodist Church, Route 1, Box 42, Huttonsville, W.Va. 26273. Tomblyn Funeral Home of Elkins is in charge of the arrangements for Arling N. Wamsley. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.tomblynfuneralhome.com.  From 24 Jan 2009.

Mr. Burlin C. Brown Jr., 70, of Hernando, Fla., died Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009, in Hernando, Fla.

He was born Sunday, Jan. 15, 1939, at Elkins, the son of the late Mary E. (Crawford) and Burlen C. Brown Sr.

He was a Navy veteran. He was the owner and operator of a grocery store. He moved to Hernando, Fla., from Rock Cave in 1995. Mr. Brown Jr. was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3663 in Buckhannon.

Surviving are his wife of more than 48 years, Shirley J. Brown of Hernando, Fla.; son, Michael Todd Brown and wife, Kenna Marie; daughter, Sandra Lee Campbell and husband, William Clyde Jr., all of French Creek; three grandchildren, Michelle Brown, Michael Brown Jr. and Jennifer Campbell Small; and four great-grandchildren, Desiree Smith, Dakota Smith, Dominick Smith and Emmalee Small.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.HooperFuneralHome.com. Arrangements are by the Inverness Chapel of Hooper Funeral Homes.  From 24 Jan 2009.

Delmeth Ruth Stalnaker, 87, of Buckhannon, died Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009, in Serenity Care Home.

She was born Feb. 15, 1921, at Tallmansville.

Mrs. Stalnaker worked for Firestone Aircraft in Akron, Ohio, during World War II and later U.S. Steel in Youngstown, Ohio, where she met her husband, Walter E. Stalnaker, whom she married on Aug. 3, 1952, and whom preceded her in death on Aug. 23, 2007.

She was a daughter of the late Delmar and Ardelia Pulliam Goodwin. Her father was killed in a mining accident before her birth, and she was raised by her stepfather, Elmer Waugaman.

She was a homemaker and enjoyed gardening and fabric painting. She was the last surviving member of her immediate family.

She is survived by several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

In addition to her parents, stepfather and husband, she was preceded in death by five brothers, Matthew, Mark and Luke Goodwin and Lawrence and Billy Ray Waugaman; and two sisters, infant Lucille Goodwin and Gladys West.

As she requested, Mrs. Stalnaker will be cremated and a memorial service will be conducted for her family and friends at a later date. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.polingstclair.com. Poling-St. Clair Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.  From 24 Jan 2009.

Freda Gray Parsons, 98, a resident of St. George, and more recently a resident of Cortland Acres Nursing Home at Thomas, departed this life Friday afternoon, Jan. 23, at the home.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete and are under the direction of the Lohr & Barb Funeral Home. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.lohrbarbfuneralhome.com.  From 24 Jan 2009.

James A. Teter

Josephine "Sophie" Gruden, 94, of Thomas, died Jan. 22, 2009, in Cortland Acres Nursing Home where she had resided for the last year.

She was born in lumber camp No. 70, Davis, on March 3, 1914, a daughter of the late Louis and Mary Kranjc Gruden.

Josephine was a housekeeper at the Worden Hotel in Davis from 1930 to 1941. There, in 1939, she was introduced to a family visiting from New York City. At their invitation, she spent six months in New York City as a live-in housekeeper and nanny. She then returned home to Davis. In 1941, she moved to Garfield Heights, Ohio, to live with her sister, Anna Danhoffer, and brother-in-law, Bernard. Josephine began working for Jack & Heintz Inc., manufacturers of aircraft parts, in 1947 and retired in 1966. Josephine was a housekeeper for the Davis family of Garfield Heights, Ohio, from 1959 to 1982. In 1983, she moved to an apartment in Fairmont to be closer to her sisters, Jenny Gruden and Mary Merrifield. Longing to return home, she moved to Pineview Apartments in Thomas in 1986. There she volunteered at Cortland Acres Nursing Home and was honored as Volunteer of the Year in 1990.

Josephine was preceded in death by brothers, Frank and Tony Gruden; sisters, Louise, Frances and Jenny Gruden, Mary Merrifield and Anna Danhoffer.

She is survived by sister-in-law Josie Gruden of Hudson, Ohio; and many nieces and nephews.

Friends will be received from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday at Hinkle Funeral Home in Davis. A Rosary service will be conducted at 7 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 26, at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church with Fr. Timothy Grassi as Celebrant. Interment will follow in the Davis Cemetery. Hinkle Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.  From 24 Jan 2009. 

Retha Nitz Mockus, 92, a resident of Lakewood, Colo., passed away Jan. 17, 2009, at her residence of Parkinson's and an extended illness.

She was born Jan. 26, 1916, in Barbour County, a daughter of the late William Albert and Rose Etta (Markley) Nitz.

Retha was united in marriage on Oct. 25, 1945, at Los Angeles, Calif., to Joseph Michael Mockus, who preceded her in death Sept. 25, 2006.

Surviving are one daughter and son-in-law, Marilyn and husband, Daniel Andrews, of Littleton, Colo.

Retha was the last surviving member of her immediate family having been preceded in death by four sisters and five brothers.

She was a homemaker.

Friends will be received at Wright Funeral Home, 216 N. Walnut St., Philippi, on Sunday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and on Monday, Jan. 26, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., the service hour, with the Rev. Destry Daniels officiating. Interment will follow in Bethel Cemetery on the Audra Park Road. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Parkinson's Association of the Rockies, 1325 S. Colorado Blvd., Suite 204-B, Denver, Colo. 80222.  From 24 Jan 2009.