February 23, 2015

Issue 187





Editor: Roleta Smith Meredith

Publisher: Jalon Smith Burton


The March 2015 edition of the WI Newsletter is dedicated to Judy Daugherty Kimler. Judy’s birthday is in March and Judy is Irish.  Thus March is her favorite month.  All this green's for you, Judy!

We hope Judy enjoys this and that you do too.





OUR NEW PUBLISHER


I am proud to introduce the new publisher of the WI Newsletter, Jalon Smith Burton, who just happens to be my sister.

Although Jalon was born in Clarksburg WV, our parents moved to Ohio when she was just 4 years old. However, she loves West Virginia (I think it is in our blood?) and loves to read the WI Newsletter to learn more about the state, the town and the history.

I think this partnership is going to be a wonderful joint venture for both of us and the WI Newsletter!



From Jalon Smith Burton

Hello WI Newsletter Readers:

I am so excited to be a part of the WI Newsletter Team. I look forward to all the wonderful endeavors that we have ahead of us. I thought I would start off by telling you a little bit about myself.

As Roleta mentions, I was born in Clarksburg but soon after, my family moved to a small town in northeast Ohio, Ravenna, have you heard of it? It’s a beautiful historic farm town located approximately 5 miles east of Kent State University…. now I’m sure you have heard of that!

For the next 19 years, I lived in Ravenna. Then in 1979, my whole world turned upside down when my high school sweetheart and then husband Dave Burton and I left to pursue his career in the United States Air Force. Dave received a pilot slot in ROTC and was assigned to training at the base in Del Rio Texas. For the next 8 years, we traveled the world with his military duty.

During this time, my daughter Jennifer was born in Memphis Tennessee (1982) and my son Ross was born at Clark Air Base in the Philippines (1986).

After our separation from the military, Dave was lucky enough to be hired by Delta Airlines and we moved to Peachtree City Georgia, a small town just 20 minutes south of Atlanta Hartsfield Airport. To this day, he still flies with Delta and my daughter is now a new-hire Flight Attendant with the company. So, if your paths ever cross during your air travels… be sure to say “Hi”. My son Ross has graduated from college and is pursuing his military career with the Memphis Air National Guard in Tennessee.

As my children were growing up, I went back to college and I received a degree in International Marketing. With my treasured college degree in hand and a long background in Interior Design, I decided to set up my own design company.

Dave and I divorced in 2003, but God smiled upon me once again when I was introduced to a wonderful, loving, Christian man, Tim Weinmeister. We met on a blind date and I believe if you were to ask Tim, he would jump to say it was ‘Love at First Sight’. Oh and I should mention that he just happens to own several construction companies…  so our personal, as well as professional, lives just seemed to meld perfectly.

As our companies grew together, Tim and I developed a 2-hour Live Radio Talk Show, The House Doctors that ran for over three years. In conjuncture with the show, I created a series of instructional design and construction YouTube Videos and an on-line design blog, All in the Detail that focuses on recognizing design in all aspects of our lives. On the blog, I enjoy passing along helpful hints and 'trade shortcuts’ that I have learned along my way in my design career. I would love for you to click these links to check these out.

Now, since I just happen to have a few years of background in creating, designing and writing my own blog… it seemed that it was meant to be when my sister mentioned that she was losing her publisher of 16 years and was going to need help to figure out a way to keep the WI Newsletter active on the internet... “Gee, Roleta, I think I know the perfect solution!”

And there you have it; together, the Smith Sisters are now your new creative minds behind the WI Newsletter.

'Look Out World, We've Gone Viral!'
  





FROM JUDY DAUGHERTY KIMLER

Judy wanted me to tell each of you who sent her a card  how much she appreciates it  She received several cards and notes.  She is sorry that she is unable to personally thank each one.

Please don't send your messages to me to give to Judy. I live in Florida, she lives in WV,  I am sure she would much rather you mail her a note or a card to:

Mrs. Judy Daugherty Kimler
1130 Huntingtonm Ave
Barboursville, WV 25504




I would like to invite you to take a moment and look around our new site. Check out all the new features that are offered here on the blog. There is so much more than meets the eye.

For instance:
  • Anytime you see a word (or words) highlighted in blue, click on it. That is a link that has been added for your convenience and offers you more information regarding the content of the article. Once you are finished reading the information in the link, just close that and you will be brought right back to the newsletter to continue reading. 
  • Anytime you see an email address highlighted in blue – as shown at the top of this article - click on it. This is a link that has been added for your convenience and a ‘blank’ email message that has been created by your own email service will appear and the recipient’s email address will appear in the appropriate field. You can instantly jot down any thoughts you want to share regarding what you are reading. NOTE: We welcome you to write an email at any time while you are thinking about what you are reading. Once you are finished writing, click SEND and your email is off to its recipient. Then you will be brought right back to the newsletter to continue reading. Roleta1@aol.com Give it a try now!

Take a look at the top of the Newsletter. 
Did you know that we have more than one page? 
  • HOME page - Each current month’s Newsletter will always appear there.
  • ABOUT US page - Click on it and read all about the editor and how the newsletter began.
  • HIGH SCHOOL REUNIONS page - Click on it and find up to date information regarding Class Reunions along with emails contacts, hotel reservation information and scheduled events.
  • OUR OLD WEBSITE page - Click on it and find links to a plethora of WI history and information, including the previous newsletter website, archives of the newsletter prior to February 2015, information regarding WI reunions and copies of past WI yearbooks.

Take a look at the right side of the Newsletter. 
There you will find a full menu of added bonuses.
  • Click on the “Change of Address” pencil image and you will be taken to our old website address. This website will be available for a couple more years.    
  • Want to receive the WI Newsletter directly to your email inbox?  This is FREE and is as easy as typing in your email address and hitting SEND.
  • Looking for something specific in our new location? Fill in the SEARCH field for help! 
  • Need to contact the editor? Click on the EMAIL image and an email message will appear and be ready to be filled in! Remember, when submitting any information to the Editor, please include:
(1.) Your Complete Name
(2.) Your School's Name
(3.) If and/or when you graduated
  • Our new location beautifully stores all our archives from this site in an easy to read drop-down menu.
Have any suggestions or think you might be missing something here?
Email roleta1@aol.com to find out more.
Click on the highlighted blue words now to give it a try!




MAIL AND THIS & THAT


From Beth Twigg Devericks (WI 1959)

Hi , Roleta I enjoyed the newsletter - looks like it will be great. It is always a good thing to have a change. You and Judy have done a great job for 16+ years never missing any month along the way. I can’t believe you were able to do it for so long. I always look forward to each month to see what was new. Thank you both for all the time and work you all did. Sorry to hear about Judy’s health, her husband as well. My thoughts and prayers will be with them. Good luck as you move ahead thank you again.
From John Cooper (WI 1951)

Just some stuff... Sending you an e-mail to tell you how great the new newsletter was!
The Nick Saban, coaches, etc.. click on stories were great with superb photos of Monongah,etc.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Even though John’s guess on the February Mystery Picture was wrong, I just had to share what he had to say about W.T. Grant:

Mystery photo I think is W.T.Grant 5 and 10 store on Main Street. W.T.Grant had the "living dead man” in the front window when you entered the right entrance , The guy stood to the left and did not move for hours All of we kids and the adults would try to peck on the glass and make faces to try to get the guy to move. He was great..hahaha. I talked to the manager of Woolworth’s right after graduation and wanted a job there, he sent me to Morgantown where I was hired as a stock boy. 

The candy and cookie area was surrounded by a wire fence to keep out mice. But, they still got in there. I quit after a month it was just to hard to go back and forth from Clarksburg to Morgantown 6 days a week. I did not want to Morgantown at that time.

I remember going to a state basketball tourney game at the old WVU basketball building in Morgantown. I was a little young guy determined to see that game. I was not in high school. A couple older guys said I could ride with them. When, we got there, they said, "Goodbye" hope you make it back home.” I had no idea how I was getting back. I must be getting old; I can not remember how I got home! I sat in the top seats, whatever one I wanted. There weren’t many people up there and WI lost. I can't remember who they played. That was many-many years ago!!! Or so it seems.

I tried to get a job at WHAR radio- Jim Harper was doing all the local games then. He asked me the most absurd question, “Why do you want to be in radio?" -- I sat there and finally said,” To be like you.” He did not hire me or any other station. It was almost 70 years later that I was part of the first staff when WBOY-TV, and later WJPB-now WDTV went on the air. I was doing station breaks, news, weather, and a live kid show "Johnny and a live kid show "Johnny Mountain" and then "Cooper and Friends". A few years later I did a local 14 years of radio play by play sports. That's after working for the American Cancer Society for 20 years. I say all of this last stuff, because I was 61 years old when I started in radio on a local new station whose owner thought I was so wonderful on TV. He was a great fan of mine... hahaha. I also think I was better than Jim Harpoer ever was! Hahaha
From Judy Daugherty Kimler (WI 1959)

I just looked at the newsletter and thought it was wonderful. You and Jalon did a great job. I called Larry and he said he thought it was excellent. Keep up the good work.

I'm sorry I couldn't help.
From Pete Dakan (Bridgeport 1960)

I constantly marvel at your tenacity, dedication and talent in producing such a wonderful newsletter every month. Those of us that get to read it are truly privileged.

Thank you.
From David Grimes (WI 1953)

I haven’t been back to Clarksburg in many years, but, every chance I get (to my wife’s dismay) I sing Myer Segal’s song. I am unsure how to spell his name, but, as I understand it, he was a pawn broker in Clarksburg and was the person who wrote this song.

Clarksburg, jewel of the mountain state, Clarksburg, birthplace of heroes great, when the band plays Dixie, how my heart thrills, to me it all means Clarksburg, jewel of the hills. That’s where folks are glad to meet you, they seem so tickled to greet you. For the rest of my days I’ll be singing the praise of Clarksburg, my home town”.

When I was selling our “stuff” at the NY Gift show in the early 70s, If someone came up to me and said he/she was from WV, I would sing them the “Clarksburg song”. And do a little “soft shoe” act along with it. My wife cringed.

Keep up the good work.

PS. As I get older, the obits become more important to me.  So far, I have dodged the bullet. Jimmy Atkinson was a neighbor on South 7th Street and his family owned the home on Hedge Street that my family rented during the WW 2 years. He was a feisty guy but fun to know. Sorry he is now gone as is another of our mutual friends, Alden Hummeston (aka Bill).
Thank You Clarksburg, RW & WI E-mail Newsletter Publication
From Jeffrey Ellis (just a friend to the newsletter)

Good Morning, Greetings & Salutations, Mrs. Meredith, Also Affectionately Known as Mrs. Meredith.

As an avid reader of your fascinating electronic mail newsletter publication encompassing historical artifacts, landmarks, memories and milestones pertaining to the City of Clarksburg, Harrison County, Roosevelt-Wilson High School and Washington Irving High School, one must convey one's earnestly sincere sentiments of appreciation, gratitude and thankfulness to you for your sense of commitment, creativity, dedication, dependability, determination, devotion, hard work, ingenuity and talent with respect to keeping us well-apprised, well-connected and well-informed regarding the activities, affairs, events and functions of the northern central region of Wild, Wonderful West Virginia.

My mother, Diana Lynn Oliverio Ellis, is an alumna of the Roosevelt-Wilson High School Class of 1964, where she served as a cheerleader and performed well scholastically prior to enrolling at a regional school of nursing.

My two maternal uncles, Uncle Samuel K. "Anthony" Oliverio and Uncle David Ronald Oliverio, are graduates of Roosevelt-Wilson High School as well, alongside one of their good friends, Brother Bill Bryan, who is married to Penny Bryan, former residents of Clarksburg who have lived in the Asheville, North Carolina area and the Port Charlotte, Florida area as well.

My maternal grandparents were Mr. John Victor Oliverio and Mrs. Kathryn Spadafore Oliverio, who resided at 104 Southern Avenue in the Township of Stonewood, West Virginia, adjacent to the Stonewood Fire Department.

One's familial background recitation notwithstanding, each of us would enjoy joining your e-mail newsletter publication subscription group whenever an opportunity to register us is convenient for you.

Of course, my e-mail address is ellisjbe7@gmail.com, my mother's e-mail address is ellisd073@gmail.com, my Uncle David's e-mail address is david.oliverio@att.net and Bill Bryan's e-mail address is pbrnrx64@aol.com. While my Uncle Anthony and Aunt Mary Kay would enjoy subscribing to your e-mail newsletter publication as well, they are affectionately known as "Uncle Analog" and "Aunt Analog" based upon their preference for communicating via old-fashioned, dyed-in-the-wool Baptist-style telephone-based communications and papyrus-based handwritten correspondence. However, we shall share the spirit of your messages and sentiments with them as you disseminate feedback and informational insights to us in the virtual marketplace of ideas. 

Above all, thank you again for your uncompromising, unmatched, unparalleled, unrivaled, unsurpassed and unwavering degree of care, compassion, consideration, dignity, elegance, grace, hope, kindness, love, mercy, patience, peace, serenity, support, thoroughness, thoughtfulness, tranquility, understanding and warmth that you have always leveraged with respect to keeping everyone well-apprised, well-connected and well-informed regarding the activities, affairs, events, functions and vivid memories of the City of Clarksburg, Harrison County and Wild, Wonderful West Virginia.




Gloria Hunter Kennedy (who moved to CA) new email address is huntknn@comcast.net

Greg Merrill (WI 1966) Merrill.greg@comcast.net

Fred Dunham (WI 1957) freddunham39@gmail.com

Evan Stumpie Bice (WI 1962) ebice@ma.rr.com

Sue Dodds Michaels (WI 1953) saisusan108@gmail.com

Elise ("Leesie") Pettrey Guthridge (WI 1955) Leesie.guthridge@gmail.com

Pasco Altovilla, (WI 1961) pasco1942@yahoo.com

Darla Merrill Clark (WI 1963) darladclark@comcast.net

Debbie Burkholder (daughter of Mary Eneix Nophsker)
Debbie_burkholder@gwinnett.d.12.ga.us 
Mary died last fall and could not complete her quilt square. Her quilting club completed it and sent it to be included in the 2014 WIN SCHOLARSHIP QUILT. That quilt is named in her honor,  “MARY’S FRIENDSHIP GARDEN.





From Roleta Smith Meredith (Roleta1@aol.com)

I have many long time friends on the internet and many new friends who I have met on the internet. There is one lady who I met on the internet via the WI Newsletter and she has been a friend of mine for several years. She is a friend of the newsletter and an ardent supporter. If I don’t hear from her in a while, I write and check on her and she does the same to me. My friend is Dr. Arreta Radcliffe Jaranko (WI 1940). I am enjoying our long distance friendship via my computer.

Picture above was taken at a rehearsal dinner. 
Left to right are: Jodi, (Arreta’s Doctor granddaughter); Ashley, (Arreta’s granddaughter who is in graduate school training to be a Physical Therapist); Arreta, and Cheryl, (Arreta’s granddaughter who works for AT&T) 
A lovely group of ladies.

EDITOR'S NOTE: I think it is wonderful how this newsletter has helped people connect with others.

Have you made a friend via the Newsletter? Tell us about it.
Write to: Roleta1@aol.com
Thank you




  1. Be sure to refill those ice trays
  2. Quit slamming the screen door when you go out!
  3. Be sure and pull the windows down when you leave, it looks like a shower is coming up.
  4. Don't forget to wind the clock before you go to bed.
  5. Wash your feet before you go to bed, you've been playing outside all day barefoot.
  6. You have torn the knees out of that pair of pants so many times there is nothing left to put a patch on.
  7. Don't you go outside with your school clothes on!
  8. Take that empty bottle to the store with you so you won't have to pay a deposit on another one.
  9. Put a dish towel over the cake so the flies won't get on it.
  10. Quit jumping on the floor, I have a cake in the oven and you are going to make it fall if you don't quit!
  11. There's a dollar in my purse, get 5 gallons of gas when you go to town.
  12. Open the back door and see if we can get a breeze through here, it is getting hot.
  13. You can walk to the store; it won't hurt you to get some exercise.
  14. If you pull that stunt again, I am going to wear you out!
  15. Don't lose that button; I won't be able to sew it back on.
  16. I'll knock you into next week if you mouth off to me again!
  17. Don't sit so close to the TV-you're going to go blind!
  18. Be sure to leave that bathwater for your brother to use and don't use up all of the soap!
  19. No! I don't have 10 cents for you to go to the show. Do you think money grows on trees?
  20. Eat those turnips; they'll make you big and strong like your daddy.
  21. That dog is NOT coming in this house! I don't care how cold it is out there, dogs don't stay in the house.
  22. Hush your mouth! I don't want to hear words like Dad-Gummit! I'll wash your mouth out with soap!
  23. It is time for your system to be cleaned out. I am going to give you a dose of castor oil tonight.
  24. If you get a spanking in school and I find out about it, you'll get another one when you get home.
  25. Quit crossing your eyes! They will get stuck that way!
  26. It's: 'Yes Ma'am!' and 'No Ma'am!' to me, young man, and don't you forget it!
  27. Hurry up and finish drying the dishes so we can go "ketch sum lightnin’ bugs and pit 'em in a jar".
  28. Y'all come back now, ya hear.
I truly regret some of you are so young that you missed out on most of these great memories!

Do you have some sayings that are not listed above?  We would love for you to write and share them with us.
Write Roleta1@aol.com






To Bill:

Just a note to let you know this for the WI Newsletter. In the Fall issue of the Goldenseal Magazine of WV, there is a letter to the editor, which mentions two baseball pitchers and a baseball team from Salem, WV. The men mentioned by name are Hank Mazza and Floyd Giebell. The team is the Salem Merchants. Both men were outstanding pitchers, according to R.B. Moses, Sr., a 92 yr. old man, living in East Stroudsburg, PA. He says both pitchers graduated from Salem College and both were called up to the majors, Mazza to St. Louis Browns and Giebell to the Detroit Tigers. Giebell went on to be chosen to pitch during the 1940 World Series, the Detroit Tigers against the Cleveland Indians. Giebell was selected to pitch the tie breaking game and Detroit won 2 to 0 over Clevelend.

You can see the letter for yourself (This is just an outline) in the Fall Goldenseal 2014, “Letters”. If you wish to read more, you can subscribe to the Goldenseal by CLICKING HERE.

From Sherry Hutchison Keith, WI 1964


Reply To Sherry:

I apologize for taking so long to include your letter in the sports. We received this in November, 2014. I just haven't taken the time to research the information until now.

First, thank you for sending this interesting bit to us. Even though I know the Goldenseal Magazine is a fine publication, I do not get to read it regularly, so I didn't see the letter from Mr. Moses.

I am not familiar with the Salem Merchants baseball team, but do, of course, know quite a bit about Salem College. During the 40's and early 50's, I was able to watch a couple of semi-pro teams in Marion County, named the Worthington Merchants from Worthington, WV and the Fairmont Pirates. But back then there were many of these types of really good baseball teams in north central West Virginia

I was able to find both Gabriel "Hank" Mazza and Floyd Giebell in old baseball records. I don't think Mazza ever made it to the major leagues. He played from 1937 to 1939 in the St. Louis Browns minor league system as a pitcher. The only stats I was able to find were for 1937, when he was with the Terre Haute Tots and the Johnstown Johnnies. His record was 9--15. He finished with the Harrisonburg Turks in 1939.

Floyd Giebell was born in Pennsboro, WV. He attended Salem College and pitched 15-1/3 innings for the Detroit Tigers in 1939, before being sent to the Toledo Mud Hens. In September, 1940, he was brought up from Buffalo to the Tigers and had two outstanding starts during the pennant drive. He pitched two complete games, giving up only two runs in 18 innings.

On September 27, 1940, the Tigers needed one win to clinch the pennant. On that day, Giebell beat the Cleveland Indians and legend Bob Feller 2--0, to clinch the flag for the Tigers. This was Giebell’s third and last wins as a major leaguer. He was ineligible to pitch in the World Series.

After serving in the military, he retired from baseball in 1948, later working for Weirton Steel. He passed away in 2004, at the age of 94.

The win over the Indians was one for the ages. There are many side stories about the game. Google "Floyd Giebell" to read the stories. It is worth the time.

Again, thanks Sherry. Without your letter, I would have missed a wonderful story about a West Virginia boy, who was famous, if only for one game.

Bill:

I finally downloaded and read the Saban-Monongah article you shared in Feb. newsletter. I imagine it touched your heart deeply as it is your legacy as well. I could share a lot about Carolina, Worthington--I swam below the dam there as a little kid. My family had strong ties to Monongah--Daddy was born there, Papaw Snyder survived the Monongah explosion--he ran a mining machine and his dad was a blacksmith in the Monongah mines, a master forger.

Stealey was in a different world. I visited your world and the world of my cousins just about every Sunday and rode the streetcar to Worthington many times--always an exciting journey and I loved the Carolina company store--Papaw Hay, a mean and tough Spanish-American War veteran was a blacksmith there. But I don't ever remember going over the hill to Monongah, even though both parents had roots there. My grandfather Snyder left the mines and raised my dad in Clarksburg.  So the mines were removed from me.

I confess I did not like coal country, the slag piles and the coal dust on the roads, the acid mine water and the adverse affects on the countryside to the north of Clarksburg. It was my family legacy, but not mine. However, I wrote about it extensively in my memoirs as it was a significant part of my youth and all my cousins lived up there. Papaw Snyder said he loved coal mining but a back injury sent him to Clarksburg for other work.

Most of my Hay and Snider/Snyder relatives are buried in the Shinnston Masonic Cemetery. You might have known my cousin Trudy Hay of Shinnston who married an outstanding athlete there named Whitey McDougal. Her dad was my uncle Paul Hay who dropped out of school at Monongah, started as an apprentice in the Carolina blacksmith shop and rose to become superintendent of the Consolidated Coal mine which was the largest in West Virginia.

Just this week, I was burning WV coal in my blacksmith shop. I find myself in a love-hate state over coal and its effects on this state and people. I am so strongly against current government policies and realize a lot of jobs, all of our electricity and much of our tax revenue is from coal, so I find myself defending the attacks on coal and its significance to this state and nation.

My mother from the coal camp was as tough as they come and went through nursing school during the Depression and roomed with Julia Urban. She had a pussy willow switch for me and Dad had a belt and they both knew what do with them and did it. The descendants of West Virginia coal mining stock carry that toughness with them wherever they end up and they will make their mark.

That's the Monongah-Saban-Meredith-Snyder legacy we are part of.

Montani Semper Liberi,

From Mike Snyder, W I 1957


Reply To Mike:

It is really great to hear from you again. The article you refer to about Nick Saban was well written, but what I appreciated most about it was the fact that the author actually spent time in West Virginia gathering information. So many negative opinions have been written over the years by people who have never spent time in our state.  This author contacted a good friend of mine from the area and got pointers as to who he should see and where he should go in order to make the article accurate and interesting. He hit a home run on both counts.

I must admit that your family had an extensive connection to the Marion County coalfields. All of the locations and some of the names are familiar to me. Small towns like Monongah, Worthington,Carolina, Idamay, Farmington, etc. are now much different from the boom times of the first 60 years of the last century. They lost their souls when the mines and high schools both closed within a span of a few years.  The same can be said of towns in Harrison County such as Lumberport, Lost Creek and even Shinnston, although they kept their high school nearby.

There always was a love/hate relationship between the coal companies and the people who worked the mines. Strip mining has evolved into mountaintop removal, which, regardless of the reclamation efforts, still scars the land. All of the protests and battles between various parties have failed to solve the big problem. That is, how to provide decent paying jobs for the working people of our state. This will still be a problem long after we are gone. Let's hope there will be a solution that is best, not for any special interest groups, but for the citizens of West Virginia.

I'm sure some of our readers wonder what all of this has to do with sports. Very little, except for the Saban story, but since it started as a sports letter last month, I thought it best to continue it under this heading. We love getting letters and comments, regardless of the subject and these were very interesting. Thanks again, Mike.

Bill billmere@aol.com

The following pictures were furnished to us by Ryan Sigmon, R C Byrd 1997.


Pictured above is the cover of the program for the "First Annual M-V Bowl Game", between and East and a West Team. The game was played on July 29, 1955, at Hite Stadium in Clarksburg.


I vaguely remember this game, but have no idea who won or who sponsored it. I assume that the M-V stood for Monongahela Valley. For some reason, I don't think the game was ever played again, but I don't know for sure if I am correct. Does anyone else remember this game? Do you remember any details about it and was it ever played in later years?


The pictures of the players who participated in the game are also shown. Since I was in high school at the time, many of the names are familiar to me. I was a teammate of the three players from Monongah, Ron and Bernie Vingle and Dave Manzo. Bernie's son, Mitch, is now the sports editor of the Charleston Gazette newspaper. Other names I recognize are Rich Newbrough from Bridgeport, Paul Clayton from W I, John Carbone from East Fairmont, Andy Antolock, Steve Dudash and Matt Menas, Jr. from Farmington, Rick Rodesky from Rivesville, John Spadafore from Shinnston, and Bill Morosco from Fairmont West.


Are any of these players familiar to you? Did you go to school with any of them? They must have been very good to be picked for an all-star game. Do you have memories of any of the teams they represented? Most of the high schools listed have been replaced with consolidated schools. Was that good or bad for students who wanted to play sports?


Send your comments and memories to me at billmere@aol.com, so we can share them with our readers.

THAT'S MORE LIKE IT

After the short-handed loss at Baylor, the WVU men's basketball team stands at 22-7, with two more regular season games remaining. If someone had asked Bob Huggins before the season began, if he would be satisfied with 22 wins, he would have probably said, "No". However, deep down, he certainly would have taken it.

After losing two of their top scorers due to transfers, the team was left with only two senior guards and a bunch of first and second year players, with little experience and few scorers. What they have accomplished is pretty amazing. It hasn't been pretty, but a win is a win.

How they will do in the Big 12 and NCAA Tournaments is anybody's guess. Without the injured Staten and Browne, it might be one and done in both cases. But, regardless of the outcome, my thought is that this is more like the WVU basketball teams I have followed over the years and I am proud of them.

Next year, I'm looking forward to all of these new faces being better, with more experience. I especially am excited to see how Macon and Watkins progress. Add to that, the new recruits and here's hoping WVU basketball will be a 20-win program for many years to come.

Do you have any comments on the Mountaineer's season?
If so, please send them to me at billmere@aol.com. 






From Joy Stalnaker DeFazio (WI 1959)

I wonder if anyone remembers Blue-crutch days for the March of Dimes/Infantile Paralysis Foundation in the latter have of the 1950s. Not sure what year I helped but I do remember that it was cold.

Also, The Bridge to Nowhere – It was probably during our junior high years that the state was doing a survey of cars traveling through Clarksburg in preparation of building the 4-lane through town. I don’t remember who the adult in charge was or even the exact year. I do remember that I was stationed on East Pike Street between Oak St. and Park Avenue. The adult, whoever he/she was, would stop cars for us and we would question the driver about his/her destination, i.e., from where are you traveling? Are you going on through Clarksburg? If so, to where? Also number of people in the vehicle. It was not too much later that construction was begun on the long bridge that reached from the hill top by Jackson Avenue and ended up near the back side of Central Junior High. It seemed to me that it was a long time between the time the bridge was finished and new 50 was completed through Clarksburg. Write to Roleta1@aol.com to share your memories.




From the Editor

Next month is April, believe it or not, winter will be over and spring will be here.
(If we are lucky)
What does spring mean to you now and what did it mean to you when you were growing up?
Back in the day...in your memories.....what made spring special or different than winter at your home, at your school, in sports, in town, or in your social life?
Was there a new hustle and bustle or freshness in the air?

Write and share your ideas or memories with us.







WIN SCHOLARSHIP

WI Newsletter Scholarship


We have awarded $56,000.00 in scholarships to students in our home town of Clarksburg. This is our way of giving back to our hometown as a thank you for giving us so much as we were growing up. These funds were generously given by those who care to share. You can join us by sending your check made out to:

Roleta Meredith  c/o WIN Scholarship

and mail it to:
Roleta Meredith
3201 Charles MacDonald Drive
Sarasota, Fl 34240


A Big Thank You 
to those who gave this month to the 
Scholarship Drive
through the purchase of tickets for the drawing of the 
2015 WIN SCHOLARSHIP QUILT

Below is the list of those generous people:
Cinci, George and Carol (WI 1960)
Cowgill, Glenn (WI 1959)
Devericks, Beth Twigg (WI 1959)
DiMaria, Sharon Grdon
Fragale, James (WI 1958)
Griffith, Robert
Hall, Robert (WI 1956)
Harrison, John (WI 1956)
Jaranko, Arreta Radcliff (WI 19400
Lindke, Sandy Zickefoose (WI 1956)
Malfregeot, Augie (WI 1956)
Marchio, Tony
Payne, Judy Aspy (WI 1959)
Price, Sally Ann
Ramsey, Carolyn (Weston HS 1952)
Rice, Martha Jefferies (WI 1955)
Royse, Joyce
Williams, Gladys Walsh (WI 1971
Winerman, Jerry (WI 1957)
Yoke, Ann Romaine (WI 1946)






From Harriett Stout Noel – (WI-1959)

As you know I am an infrequent writer but that does not mean I do not read and truly enjoy the newsletter. And to Judy.......you are amazing to have been at this with Roleta for so many years. We will all keep you in our thoughts and prayers....AND, THANK YOU!!!!! Roleta, that word amazing also applies to you. I hope our “peeps” will keep you in this job forever.

When I was a junior at WI in 1958 I went to work in the summer at Palace Furniture Co. on the second floor working with Mr. Peter Massenberg (sp.) and another lady whose name escapes me after all these years. The company switchboard was also on the second floor and when the regular lady wasn’t working I was trained to fill in for her. I really loved the switchboard and there were all kinds of calls from all over that I “connected” with people in the store. I recall a lot from the southern states and thinking back, so much of the furniture came from N. Carolina around High Point, I believe. That job taught me how to greet customers, help them select the right item for their home and even do beautiful gift wrapping (a lost art in the stores of today) at the end of the sale. This job was a perfect fit for me since I ended up in the design/art field as a career.

I believe I worked there for three summers earning about $300.00 each summer which was the money I used for art supplies for the whole year in art school. Do you remember there was an elevator in that store and a sweet lady by the name of Julia (I can’t believe I remembered her name!) that ran it.  This was a treat for me to think about my time there.  I shall save a funny story about that elevator for another time.

You gals are truly our sweethearts!


From Billie (Kittle) Fox, (WI 1961)

Some of us are late bloomers.  I did not start to college until I was 34. And I did not find my perfect job until I was 50. At 50, I went to work for American Express here in Phoenix.  I was a project manager for financial projects on a team called "Global Re-Engineering".  Not only was the work interesting and appealed to me because I only worked on a project for a few months then moved on to another project working with new people, I got to travel.  While working for American Express, I worked in almost every major city in the US and in 4 or 5 foreign countries.  I worked for AMEX until I retired in 2005.  The only drawback to the job was that since I worked out of town so much, I did not make a lot of friends here in Phoenix.  Now that I have retired, I miss not having friends close by.  As a second career, I have taught Accounting at the community college, which is also rewarding in an entirely different way.

From Jim Alvaro (WI 1956)

My favorite job was working in the technical education field. I worked 15 years at Atlanta Technical College and 15 years at Gwinnett Technical College in Lawrenceville, GA.. In those 30 years, 15 of those years at ATC, I worked as Welding Instructor, Building trades Coordinator, and Job Placement Coordinator.  The 15 years at GTC I worked as Welding Instructor for 5 years and the last 10 years as an Admissions Specialist. I processed applications for the Trades and Technical programs. Duties were reviewing applications, setting up tests, and acceptance of student into program. The programs I was responsible for from application to acceptance were, Automotive, Air Conditioning, Welding, Horticulture, Machine Tool, Automated Manufacturing, Electronics, Construction Management, and Electro-Mechanical. The average age was in mid 20's. I love working with students who wanted to be there to further their education, changing careers, or adding to what they already know. If I had to do it over again, I would certainly choose working with the technical schools. I think I would have a hard time with the high school students of today.




PEPPERONI ROLLS


From Billie Fox (WI 1961)

I saw where someone had mentioned that Tomaro’s pepperoni rolls were highlighted in the Southern Living magazine. The Phoenix Magazine also had an article in the January 2015 issue called "Eat In All 50 States Without Leaving The Valley". (EDITOR NOTE: this article is not available to read on line unless you are a subscriber) They picked the foods available in Phoenix that best represented each state. And they picked Sub Bro at O2 Lounge (close to the University of Phoenix stadium), a place that makes pepperoni rolls as the representative of West Virginia food. They went on to explain that it was originally developed as a convenient lunch for miners. I have not checked out the place, but I will. I thought anyone who might travel to Phoenix from West Virginia might be interested in checking it out as well. 

EDITOR'S NOTE: Did you know that...




WI GRADUATES FROM 1976 and 1993





I called and talked to Tim Cork this month re: the WI History. He is nearly finished copying all the yearbooks that have been loaned to him. He has returned most all of them. He has a few more to be uploaded into the WI History section of the Newsletter which is located in our archives.

HOWEVER, there are only 2 yearbooks still missing from his files. He has copied ever yearbook ever produced for Washington Irving except he has never received an email from anyone willing to loan him copies of the yearbook from 1976 or 1993. When he receives these last 2, the entire history of WI via the yearbooks will be COMPLETED. 

If you can help us by loaning Tim your yearbook from 1976 or 1993, please contact him at tpcork@bellsouth.com

Check out the WI History by clicking on the picture of the pencil eraser on the right hand side of the newsletter in the margin which is called the “side bar”.




In reply to the letter from Dr. Arreeta Radcliff Jaranko (WI 1940) published in the February issue.

From Carolyn Harbert Eneix (WI 1959)

My husband Pat had twin brothers Ted and Paul Eneix. Before moving to Clarksburg the family lived in Littleton, WV. The Clarksburg home place was located on Wilson St. up from WI. Paul graduated from St. Marys and Ted might have graduated from WI. Paul was a great swimmer and won a state championship but could not receive the award because he went to St. Marys He also taught swim classes at the old YMCA. They died years ago.  This information came from Paul’s daughter.  Hope this helps.






MEMORIES OF ALTA VISTA AND WI


From Sally Pulice (WI 1969) SallyPulice@yahoo.com

First, I am so sorry to hear of Judy's health concerns. Thank you, Judy, for your dedication all these years. Take good care. Roleta, a huge thank you to you as well. I look forward to the WI Newsletter each month. It is a joy to read the newsletter, because others' memories help me relive those years.

I want to share my memory of Alta Vista Elementary School. Just the Latin name always made me feel special. I wore a dress every day, but if the weather was cold, we wore pants under our dresses for the walk to/from school. And, my Brother, my Worley Avenue Friends, and I walked to/from Alta Vista two times a day, because we came home for lunch almost every day. If the weather was too cold, we would eat "hot lunch" in the basement of the building. We sat on long benches, and every year, we would say the same prayer before we began to eat. The building was a large brick, nearly square building with steps on the left and right side, and the auditorium which was at the opposite end of the front door had really uncomfortable wooden seats. The floors were well worn hardwood that had certain squeaks as you walked on them. I think even the steps (one set on each side of the building) were wooden. Correct me, if I am wrong. Each classroom had a cloak room where we stored our coats, boots, hats, etc. My teachers were just the best. First Grade - Mrs. Mary Fields, Second Grade - Mrs. Critchfield (This was a split first/second grade class), Third Grade - Miss Haley, Fourth Grade - Mrs. Loretta Mazzie (She had the beautiful jewelry.) Fifth Grade - Miss Elizabeth Morrow, Sixth Grade - Mrs. Williams in the Morning, Mr. Flanagan, the Principal, in the Afternoon. Mr. Flanagan had a small transistor radio on his desk in October 1962 as he listened to the news about the Bay of Pigs crisis. I didn't really understand the importance of the event, but I knew it was serious if our Principal was listening to a radio in school. We had Christmas plays, dance recitals, and talent shows every year. Mr. Louie Buttafuco taught weekly tap lessons. My memory is that we each paid a quarter for the lesson. Could that be right? The school patrol was for boys only. Darn. I really wanted to be a safety patrol person so I could ride the train to/from Washington DC (the year end's reward). Born a bit too early for that!

And, to answer a question that was asked a few months ago... On the day that President Kennedy was shot, I was in my homeroom class at Central Jr. High School in the middle of Math class with Mr. David Swecker, (another favorite teacher of mine) when he told all of us what had happened. It was our last class of the day, I think. I remember that we were in shock, and when school was over we just walked home as quickly as possible.


FOREIGN LANGUAGES MEMORIES

A LIGHT BULB CAME ON IN LATIN CLASS


From Jim Ashley (WI 1962) Jashley4@cox.net

I took Latin from Mrs. Bauld and I think we both brought each other to tears along the way. Our first assignment was to conjugate the verb “to be” (in English). My attempt was “I be; you be; he/she/it be; we be; you be; they be”. Surprisingly enough, I did go on to be an English major in college.

I promptly got C- grades the first two report cards of the year for Latin and then had a moment I’ve never forgotten while studying for an exam – the light bulb literally went on in my head as I suddenly realized there was a logic and order to all those declensions and conjugations and that learning how everything fit together was really pretty simple. I promptly got an A on our next exam and Mrs. Bauld just as promptly moved my seat location to a desk right in front of her since she thought I was cheating on the test. I got A’s the rest of the way out until the final six week period of my second year when I decided that I had more than enough points to average out for the semester and that I really didn’t want to write a book report on Quo Vadis (my own kids were never told of any of my academic misadventures when they were in school).

My college work was in English literature with an emphasis on medieval studies, so I took two more years of Latin in college, plus classical Greek, Anglo-Saxon, and Middle English. At every stop along the way, I thanked Mrs. Bauld for building such a good base for me in her teaching methods and for her kind support (once she figured out I wasn’t cheating). I remember taking a course in medieval drama where the left hand pages were in Middle English while the facing page was the same text in Latin. I got through the course reading more of the Latin text than I did the ME. I now spend a lot of time traveling in Italy and take great pleasure in boring my wife and kids to death while reading inscriptions from buildings to them, so it seems that the time spent with Mrs. Bauld was well worth it.


MEMORIES OF A FAVORITE 5 AND 10 CENT STORE IN CLARKSBURG


From Billie (Kittle) Fox, (WI 1961)

Even though I have not written often, I have enjoyed the newsletters throughout the years. And I want to thank Judy for all her services during that time, she will be missed by all the readers of the newsletter.

I am writing to help you keep things going. I hope others will do the same.

My favorite 5 and 10 cent store in Clarksburg was W. T. Grants. My mother worked at the lunch counter at Grants for many years and always kept me updated on who had been in the store and what they ordered at the lunch counter:) I also worked there while I was in high school after school and on week-ends for a year or so. My favorite part about the store was the candy counter. After I was married and pregnant with my second child, I worked at Vane's Jewelry Store around the corner from the 5 & 10 cent stores. My craving while I was pregnant was the gum fruit slice candies with the hard sugar "rind" on them. I would go around the corner every day and buy a quarter pound of the candy. I still love the stuff when I can find it. Since I lived on S 5th Street behind the high school going down town to the 5 & 10 cent stores was an every Saturday event. We would walk through the "Arcade" building and check out the record shop then on to the 5 & 10 cent store to see what was new in the toy department or the "holiday" decorations and later in the make up and jewelry department. I still have a box of Christmas ornaments that have a price sticker of 25 cents on it that came from W. T. Grants.



From Jim Alvaro (WI 1956)

My favorite 5 & 10 cent store was either Murphys or McCroys. I cannot remember which one but several times a week we would ride our bikes up town and go to the rear entrance on Traders Alley to one of the stores and get someone’s attention to come to the rear door. We would tell them we were there to get the broke cookies they were going to throw away. They would hand us a brown bag with the broken cookies and then we would ride off and go back and gather in "Lower Broad Oaks" and eat our cookies. You would be surprised on how many cookies they gave us that were broken. I didn't have a bike at that time so one of my buddies, "Toke" or "Dradie" put me on their handlebars and off we went. I'll tell you one thing, they sure earned their cookies pumping that bike up Main St to Traders Alley.


MEMORIES OF THE DYNATONES

The Dynatones appeared in Clarksburg in 1963 and 1964
Left to right in the picture above are:
Dave Sutter - Bob Kurowski (with the saxophone) - Mike Zweebel (deceased), and Dave Hott

From Bob Kurowski 

I was just wondering if you or any of your friends or readers ever heard a band called "The Dynatones" at Willow Beach?

I went to Salem College. I am not from Clarksburg.
Our band played many times at the Willow Beach circa 1963-64.
Just wondering if you had heard us play? We also backed up Freddy Cannon at the Clarksburg Armory.Any of your friends or readers go to that event?

Also do you know of anyone that attended a concert at the Armory in Clarksburg at which Freddie Cannon performed?

EDITOR'S NOTE: We would love to hear from you regarding this article. Write your memories and replies to: Roleta1@aol.com. These will be published in the newsletter.  




JUST FOR THE FUN OF IT

From the Editor

WI TRIVIA

I will publish the correct answer and a picture next month. I will also publish the number of people who guessed and the number of people who guessed correctly. 

So come on, play this game with us. 
Won't it be interesting to see how many people will play along? 
You didn't have to attend WI to guess... JUST GUESS

Come on, make this worth my while

Question
What year did Washington Irving have its first marching band?

Write to: Roleta1@aol.com with your answer.






THE MYSTERY PICTURE 

FROM THE FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER


From Don Sager (WI 1956)

The store is McCrory's. Not much that I can remember since the Five and Dimes were similar and it’s been almost 60 years since
I lived in C-burg. The really big days were the Parade Days. Seemed like we always were making trips thru the stores and buying bags of candy and/or popcorn.
I remember my Aunt Hazel would seem to be many times sitting on one of the little brown chairs by the front stairs next to the lunch counter. I guess the chairs were just for tired shoppers.

????????????????????????????????????

From Linda Jenkins Purnell –(WI 1967)
I think this is McCrory’s five and dime on Main Street. At least it’s one of the five and dime stores. ( I think- ha) If not McCrory’s- maybe Woolworths. I loved these five and dime stores. As a young person with little money you could afford to purchase so many things. I believe most of them had a lunch counter. What comes to mind is BLT’s and hot roast beef sandwiches with gravy.
These stores had just about anything you needed. I actually worked in a Woolworths in Virginia when I first got married. Wasn’t as easy as it looked? I actually stapled my finger to a customer’s bag, but that’s another story.

????????????????????????????????????

From Beth Twig Devericks (WI 1959
I can't even remember how to spell McCrory's !!! That was the only place my mother would buy longhorne cheeses. When we went shopping we would sometimes go down to Parson Sauders and eat downstairs in their restaurant you probably remember it. I have not been back to Clarksburg very much since 1969. My parents moved to Bridgeport and I seldom went into Clarksburg when we visited them.  I am taking care of my husband now and cannot leave him alone. He goe s.to adult day care three days a week that gives me sometime to run errands. These are the golden years. I am thankful for all the traveling we did over the years. Take one day at time now.

????????????????????????????????????

From Alex Lancaster (WI 1964)

The building is the old McCrory Five and Dime on Main almost across from the Court House. The top half still looks the same as now. To the left is now the Federal Building and the Rite Aid to the right. Interesting to note the number of people walking in front of back in the forties and now a half century later. Also note no parking meters on that side compared to today. I liked it better then.

????????????????????????????????????

From Bill Losh (RW 1954)
I believe the mystery picture is the old “McCrory 5 and 10 cent store” on Main St.
It was a great place to shop for clothing, school and office items and many things for your everyday life. McCrory’s was located next to G.C.Murphy.

????????????????????????????????????

From Dr. Arreta Radcliff Juranko (WI 1940)
The mystery picture is McCrory's Five and Ten-cent Store!! When I was 16 one of my friends told me if I wanted to work there on Saturdays, I should apply. I didn't know a high- school kid could work in a ten-cent store so I put in my application. The manager told me to get my social security card and I was hired. Turned out I worked every Saturday and during the Christmas holidays. That was great as it put spending money in my pocket.






THE MARCH MYSTERY PICTURE

Can you identify what is pictured here? Name it and share a memory about this with us. All guesses must be signed with your name, school and year you did or would have graduated. Only correct answers will be put in the newsletter.

Write to: Roleta1@aol.com
NOTE: With this new newsletter blog format, you can click on my email address anytime you see it highlighted in blue and an email letter form will appear on your screen. Just write to me and when you click SEND, the blog will still be on your screen. 
It's So Easy! Try It Now.




AWAY FROM WEST VIRGINIA


From The Editor

For the April Issue, write and tell me what you miss most about West Virginia?

Remember, when writing to me always sign your full name, name of school from which you did or would have graduated and the class year of graduation.
Thank you.

Write to Roleta1@aol.com





 We will post any class reunion information.
Please send it to Roleta1@aol.com.

Make sure you look at the top of this newsletter for the PAGE TABS denoting our different pages of the newsletter. Your reunion news will appear in the most current newsletter and will remain on our High School Reunions page until after the reunion is over.

After the reunion, please send us pictures and a letter about the reunion so we can post it in the newsletter. Remember there are people who, for one reason or the other, can not make it to class reunions even though they really want to attend. So if you share in the newsletter, others will be able to enjoy your reunion also.

Remember, when submitting information in writing to the editor always include:

(1.) Your Complete Name
(2.) Your School's Name
(3.) If and/or when you graduated




WASHINGTON IRVING HIGH SCHOOL 

CLASS OF 1965 “50TH" REUNION


submitted by: Marsha Golden Caplinger
WI1965@aol.com


August 21 & 22 2015 at the Bridgeport Country Club

We are attempting to notify everyone via the WI Newsletter, Facebook, Emails, and lastly by U.S. mail. If you have not already done so, please send/confirm your email information to me WI1965@aol.com. Even if you do not plan on coming to the reunion, please let us know your information. Thanks to all.

We have had several meetings getting things going. We are happy to have Tom Garrett and Bobby Kramer heading things up as co-chairmen of the Committee. Our last get together was on February 20, gathering at the Bridgeport Country Club, to confirm final arrangements. Others class members attending meetings were Richard George, Patty Gonzalez (Williams), Frank “Tyke” Martino, Richard McClain, Bobby Wagner, Bev (Rumble) Kramer, Hilda Kerns (Logston), Janice (Hall) McPherson; and me, Marsha Caplinger (Golden).

Our“50" Reunion will be held the weekend of August 21 & 22, 2015, at the Bridgeport Country Club. We had attempted to have the reunion the weekend before the Italian Heritage Festival, which is Labor Day weekend, but, we apologize we were unable to do that as Sept. 1 falls on Tuesday, Labor Day is on Sept. 7 this year making the Festival the next weekend.

Friday night will be a casual gathering, cookout outside grilling, with taped music, and Saturday night will be their classic buffet dinner and dancing with a DJ. Both nights will be a cash bar. Golfing will be available both Friday and Saturday. The fee for attending the reunion will be $60.00 per person - $120.00 for a couple. If you only plan on attending one night - Friday will be $25.00 per person and Saturday will be $35.00 per person.

If anyone would like to donate a door prize for the reunion, please let us know. All donations are truly appreciated.

If you have not already done so and if you have a Facebook account, please send a friend requests to “Washington Irving HS”. Look for the blue & gold WI image. Also, we would request that each of you take the time to send us an email at WI1965@aol.com and include your current email address, your full name (ladies - add your maiden name), current mailing address, even if you are unable to come to the reunion. This will save a lot of work. Many of our previous emails were returned. Email addresses and mailing addresses can also be forwarded to:

Marsha Caplinger
108 Pick Street
Clarksburg, WV 26301

Checks should be made payable to “Washington Irving High School Class 65 Reunion” and mailed to:

Patty Gonzalez
1114 N. 21st
Clarksburg, WV 26301.

We are going to work hard to make this an unforgettable Reunion and a special “50."

Please everyone make plans now to attend. We all are so looking forward to getting together and spending time with our special friends/classmates. Any questions, you can contact Tom Garrett at tandlgarrett@frontier.com or Bob Kramer at slimedawgg@aol.com or, of course, Patty Gonzalez (Williams) at Pattygwv@gmail.com or me Marsha Caplinger (Golden) at WI1965@aol.com.

Below we have listed some of the various hotels in the area for your convenience in making reservations. If you plan to attend MAKE RESERVATIONS SOON as hotels in this area are filling up fast.

HAMPTON INN BRIDGEPORT-CLARKSBURG
1515 Johnson Avenue
Bridgeport, WV 26300
PH: (304) 842-9300

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS
20 Sweetbriar Lane
(Off Jerry Dove Drive)
Bridgeport, WV 26300
PH: (304) 979-9022

WINGATE INN
350 Conference Center Way
(Off Jerry Dove Drive)
Bridgeport, WV 26300
PH: (304) 808-1000

DAYS INN
112 Tolley Drive
Bridgeport, WV 26330
PH: (304) 842-7371

MICROTEL BRIDGEPORT
201 Conference Center Way
Bridgeport, WV 26300
PH: (304) 808-2000

BEST WESTERN
100 Lodgeville Rd.
(Top of Bridgeport Hill)
Bridgeport, WV 26300
PH: (304) 842-5411

HILTON GARDEN INN
606 Emily Drive
(Next to Walmart)
Clarksburg, WV 26301
PH: (304) 326-9200

TOWN PLACE SUITES
101 Platinum Drive
Bridgeport, WV 26330
PH: (304) 842-3600

Anyone who would like to attend our meetings is welcome. The date, time and place will be posted on our Facebook and an email will be sent out.

If you have an email or mailing address for any of the classmates listed below, please let us know.

There will be additional address requests as mail is returned. As if now we need addresses for:
Michael Barnes
Sharon Bates
Fred Bumgardner
Mike Burdiss
Carole Castello Cass
Cathy Chapman
Charles Cheatwood
Roger Coffman
Robin (Darrall) Hinderyckx
Rodney Gay
Carol Hauman
Deanna Kennedy
Dennis Losh
Beverly Mason
Barbara McFayden
Janie McIntyre
Rhonda Miller Wharton
Tom Nuzum
Paul Patton
John Phillips
Kenny Phillips
David Scott
Tom Stealey
Linda Yeager

Thanks everyone for your help. Please try to come to the reunion. We are looking forward to seeing everyone and having a wonderful time.

Marsha & Patty





NEWSLETTER POLICIES

When submitting material to the Newsletter, we would greatly appreciate if you would keep in mind the following:
·        We reserve the right to edit any submission.
·        We will only print obituaries submitted to the editor.
·        We will not use religious, political, ethnic or obscene material.
·        When submitting information in writing to the editor always include:
        Your Complete Name
        The School's Name Which You Did/Would Have Graduated
        The Year You Graduated

Please submit all material via email to the editor Roleta1@aol.com



We only print obituaries if they are sent to Roleta1@aol.com


GERALDINE (GERRY) DANLEY BENNET

From Harriett (Danley) Van Voorhis (W I 1958)
Dear Roleta:
My heart is breaking as I am writing to tell you and any of your readers, who might have known her that my sister, Geraldine (Gerry) Danley Bennett, passed away suddenly on Jan. 16, 2015. Gerry was a member of the W.I. Class of 1952. She leaves behind her husband, Jim Bennett, also from the class of 1952, two children, and three grandchildren. Gerry and Jim lived in Vienna, Virginia, and were fortunate enough to have their children and grandchildren also living there. Gerry was truly "a gentle soul", and my very best friend.




CHARLES RAY ELDER

Charles Ray Elder, 72, of Lakeview Terrace, Bridgeport, passed away Tuesday morning, January 27, 2015, in the United Hospital Center following a brief illness.
He was born in Flemington on June 17, 1942, a son of the late Vaughn Paul Elder and Leona Virginia (Dilly) Elder.
PFS He is survived by his nephews, John A. Elder and his wife Elizabeth, Peletier, NC, Kevin Elder and his wife Jessica, Parkersburg, Jeffrey Grimes and Michael Grimes, both of Bridgeport; a niece, Pam Elder, Boaz, WV; his sister, Sandra K. Grimes, Bridgeport; 14 great-nieces and nephews; 12 great-great-nieces and nephews; and a his special friend, Sylvia Sauceva, TX.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Paul Allen Elder.
Charles was a graduate of Bridgeport High School and served in the U.S. Navy. He retired from the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center, Department of Veterans Affairs, after 50 years of service. He was a member of the Bridgeport American Legion and had attended Bridgeport Baptist Church.




H. LABAN WHITE

H. Laban White, age 98 of Clarksburg, WV, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, January 31st, 2015 at his home. Mr. White was born May 1, 1916 in Spencer, West Virginia, the son of the late H. Laban White, Sr. and Nan Leigh (Cox) White.
He was preceded in death by the love of his life, Gwendolyn (Beall) White; his daughter, Patricia Linda (White) Stumpo; his granddaughter, Tina Nicole Stumpo; son-in-law, Mervin W. Gutshall, Jr.; a brother, George B. White; sister, Eleanor Caroline White.
He married Gwendolyn Beall on December 23, 1943 and they are the parents of two daughters, Diane (White) Slaughter & son-in-law, Gary Slaughter; and Carol White; 5 grandchildren, Melissa & David McCullough, Joshua Laban & Jaime Gutshall, Liza Gabrielle & Nicholas Vick, Traci Michelle & Joe Terango, Jennifer Careen & Scott Duarte; 13 great-grandchildren, Lauren Walatka, Dillon McCullough, Emma McCullough, Hannah Gutshall, Joshua Gutshall, Kobe Vick, Noah Vick, Anthony Terango, Dante Terango, Brock Duarte, Brennan Duarte, Sophia Duarte, and Amelia Duarte.
H. Laban White passed away on Saturday, January 31st 2015 at the age of 98 at his home. Mr. White was a very prominent and active member of the community for the past 70 years. He practiced law in the state of West Virginia from 1942 to 2004. Mr. White served as President of the Harrison County Bar Association, as City Attorney of Clarksburg and attorney for the Sanitary Board. Laban White has a distinguished career in the West Virginia House of Delegates. He served in the House for 12 years as chairman of the Judiciary Committee from 1960-1964 and as Speaker of the House from 1964-1968.
 Mr. White entered the United States Army in 1942 as a Private and retired from the US Army Reserve as Lieutenant Colonel after 35 years in active and reserve service. He was State Commander and National Director of AMVETS and served as American Legion Boys State Counselor for 49 consecutive years.
Mr. White served on both the State and National Commissions to hire the handicapped and was the First Chairman of the Clarksburg Human Rights Commission.
Laban was a member of the Clarksburg Lions, Elks and Moose and is a Past President of Clarksburg Lions. He is also a member of the Harrison County, West Virginia, and American Bar Association, Allohak Council, Boy Scouts of America, Past President of the Clarksburg-Harrison Cultural Foundation, Board of Trustees-Alderson-Broaddus College, American Legion, Reserve Officers Association and the National Conference of State Legislative Leaders (former National Vice President).
Among the many honors H. Laban White has received are-Alumnus of the Year and Distinguished Service Award-Glenville State College, Distinguished Service Award-WV Vocational Rehabilitation Division, Distinguished Silver Beaver-Boy Scouts of America, received the Distinguished Legislative Commendation for introducing and procuring the passage of many Legislative Bills to improve the safety, welfare and human rights of the people of West Virginia and holds the highest Award of the Lions International-a Fellow of the Melvin Jones Foundation.
Mr. White was honored by the Harrison County Commission for significant contributions made to prove that a life well lived can make a great difference – H. Laban White Day – July 8, 2004. Laban White was honored on June 1, 1996 by the Clarksburg Lions Club “Roast” to commend him for his leadership and participation in the formation of the Scholarship Foundation. Mr. White also provided counsel and guidance to the Energy Corporation of America since 1973, first as legal advisor and subsequently as a member of the Board of Directors and finally as a Director Emeritus.
Mr. White was a member of the Clarksburg Baptist Church where he served in many capacities-as a teacher for 46 years, as a member of the Choir and of the board and as their attorney for many years.
Laban was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He was well respected and admired for his kindness, generosity, loyalty and honesty. He loved reminiscing of his younger years and was well known for his incredible story telling. He was truly a gentleman and inspiration to all that knew him.
H. Laban White is one of West Virginia’s outstanding natural resources dedicating his life to serving the people of the nation, state, county and city.




SAMUEL VINCENT VELTRI

Samuel Vincent Veltri, age 84, of Clarksburg passed away on February 7, 2015. He was born in Clarksburg on November 24, 1930, the son of the late Antonio and Mary (Daisy) Tiano Veltri. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Mary Jo (Grzybala) Veltri, whom he married on November 17, 1956. He was a devoted husband, father, Papaw, brother, uncle and friend. 
In addition to his wife he is survived by his three children: Dr. Jerry Veltri and wife Susie (Caputo), Julia Israel and husband Jim of Bridgeport and Jennifer Stewart and husband Jeff of Bluefield; four grandchildren: Rose Faulhaber and husband Jeff of Texas, Ashley James and husband Todd of Pennsylvania, Dr. S. Vincent Veltri and his wife Dr. Lauren (Westfall) Veltri of Morgantown and Tyler Benedum, Bluefield; four great-grandchildren Tanner, Gianni and Ella James, and Julia Grace Faulhaber; step grandchildren Layken and Lauren Stewart, Josh and Ross Israel, as well as several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers Tom, Felix and Joe Veltri, and sisters Mary Virginia Veltri and Christine (Veltri) Stumpo.
Sam was a 1948 graduate of Victory High School where he was an All State baseball player. For three years he served his country honorably in the United States Navy as a Naval Airman in Fighter Squadron V.F. 916 during the Korean conflict. He worked for 17 years at the Adamston Flat Glass Plant. He retired from the United States Postal Service after 30 years of service working in various areas such as letter carrier and maintenance.
Upon retirement he worked various jobs for the Harrison County Commission. Sam served as Civil Service Fire Commissioner for Clarksburg, and was a lifetime devoted member of the Knights of Columbus Council 817, serving as Grand Knight and Faithful Navigator and Fourth Degree in Our Lady of Peace Assembly. His love of sports led him to coach Little League baseball. Sam was also a high school and college basketball referee for 25 years, serving the Northern Board, Mason Dixon and WVIAC Women’s Basketball Association. He frequently attended WVU football and basketball games where he was an avid Mountaineer fan.
Sam and his wife Mary Jo loved to take bus trips with friends to Atlantic City, New York, Grand Ole Opry, Toronto and Niagara Falls. Sam was the life of the party, never failing to fill the bus with laughter.
Time spent with his family was very important to him, and he especially loved the holiday traditions shared with those he loved the most. Sam never missed an event that included one of his children, grandchildren or great grandchildren. He loved to sing and never missed an opportunity to dance, especially the jitterbug, with his wife. Sam never knew a stranger and always made you feel like a good friend. He never hesitated to help anyone or volunteer his services no matter what they were.
Sam was a lifetime member of Saint James Church and for 45 years served as an usher. He was also a member of the Parish and Finance Councils and also served as an alter server.



DANIEL MASOM PETTREY

Daniel Mason Pettrey, 72, of Parkersburg,WV, went to be with the Lord on Saturday February 7th after battling cancer. He was born in Parkersburg on April 12, 1942 at Camden Clark Hospital. He moved to Clarksburg with his family in 1949 where he graduated from Washington Irving High School. After an outstanding athletic career, he continued his love of sports by promoting young men’s' Athletics in the North Central WV area, particularly the Clarksburg Track Invitational and sports banquets. He attended the Celebration Center of Belpre, Ohio, he was a member of the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity at WVU, a charter member of the Bridgeport Jaycee's and the Clarksburg Rotary Club, and on the board of directors at the Lowndes Bank. After attending West Virginia University, he joined the family businesses Pettrey Shoe Company and Stanard Supply Company. As president of Pettrey's Shoe Stores he expanded the business from 3 stores to 18 in the tri-state area. He was also president of Stanard Supply Company, a company store in WV coal communities. Throughout his life he also worked at Goldsmith-Black and Results Radio. He is survived by six children, Torey Geiger (Mike) of Missouri; Daniel Mason Pettrey Jr. (Lisa) of Clarksburg; Suzanne Bishop (Bill) of Clarksburg; Brian Pettrey (Susan) of New York; Sheri Adams (stepdaughter) of Parkersburg; and Erica Pettrey (Tony Green) of Parkersburg. He was also survived by ten grandchildren, Justin Geiger, Noah Pettrey, Christopher Pettrey, Kaitlin Bishop, Haley Bishop, Luke Pettrey, Claire Pettrey, Levi Pettrey, Nicole Landis, and Mackenzie Pettrey; and three great-grandchildren; one sister Leesie Guthridge (Bill) of North Carolina; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents GL and Anne M Pettrey
Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Brian Pettrey.




JUDY PHAIR

Judy Phair, 77, of St. Marys, WV, passed away, January 14, 2015, at her residence. She was born, January 12, 1938, in Bridgeport, WV, a daughter of the late Abram Leonard and Lillian Pearl Moore Hudkins. She was a 1956 graduate of Washington Irving High School in Clarksburg, WV. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from West Virginia State College in 1983, where she was Summa Cum Laude, and received her Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from Marshall University. She was a member of the St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Charleston,WV, and had served on the church’s Altar Guild. Over the years she worked in Clay County as a Mental Health Psychologist, and also worked at the former Colin Anderson Center, the Western District Guidance as County Director and retired from Westbrook Health Services. She was a charter member of the Pete Dye Golf Club in Bridgeport, WV, a supporter of the Pleasants County Humane Society, and the ASPCA. Her hobbies include tropical fish. She was an accomplished gardener raising orchids.
She is survived by her husband of 50 years, Lynn W. Phair, children, Laura Phair (Allen) Davis of Powhaten, VA, Dabney (Belinda) Jackson of Charleston, WV, Mark (Kathleen) Phair of Seal Beach, CA, Patrick (Michele) Phair of Ayden, NC, and Eric (Julie) Phair of St. Marys, WV, and several grandchildren.




DANIEL B. NEMAR

Daniel B. McNemar, 61, of Clarksburg, WV, departed this life on January 24, 2015, at the United Hospital Center, following an extended illness.
Daniel was born in Clarksburg, WV on March 16, 1953, a son of the late William Franklin and Ida Mae Swiger Lough.
On August 12, 1996, he married Pamela Jean Carroll McNemar, who resides at their home in Clarksburg.
He is survived by his daughter, Kelli Jo McNemar of Morgantown; and his stepson, Jimmie L. Groves, Jr. and his wife Courtney of Lost Creek. He is also survived by one brother, Kenny McNemar and his wife Karen of Reynoldsville; two sisters, Tammy Grace Kennedy and her husband Larry of Reynoldsville and Pamela J. “PJ” Rhoades and her husband Thomas of Fairmont; as well as several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters-in-law, Teresa Lucente and Catherine Louise Seftick.
Daniel was a graduate of Washington Irving High School, Class of 1971, and was retired from Pole King Heating and Air Conditioning as a Service Manager. He was Methodist by faith.




DELORIS “SISSY” STUTLER

Deloris “Sissy” Stutler, 70, Bridgeport, passed away February 7, 2015, at her residence surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Clarksburg on December 26, 1944, a daughter of the late Paul William Kelley and Edith Cleo Echard Kelley.
She is survived by her husband of 46 years, Jarrett “Buck” Stutler.
Also surviving are three daughters, Lora Ann Boram and her husband Tom, Bridgeport; Karen Sue Sendling and her husband Rusty, Clarksburg; and Vicky Michele Sandy and her husband Chip, Galloway; a son, Mark Duane Stutler and his wife Jeanne, Salem; eight grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren, a niece whom she raised like a daughter, Carol Yeste; three step-sons, James, Jarrett, and Jeff Stutler; and a step-daughter, Janet. Three brothers, Robert Kelley and his wife Wanda, Bridgeport; George Kelley and his wife Marie, Bridgeport; and James Kelley and his wife Beverly, Bridgeport; two sisters, Wilma Jean Jones, Anmoore; and Sharon George and her husband Jimmy, Bridgeport; and several nieces and nephews complete her family.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a grandson, Calvin Boram; her twin brother, Donald Kelley; and her brother-in-law, Danny Jones.
Sissy graduated from Bridgeport High School and attended Evangel Baptist Church. She had been a Dietary Aide at Meadowview Manor and a Quality Living Assistant at ResCare.




BONNIE JEAN ALTMAN PRITCHARD

Bonnie Jean Altman Pritchard, 85, a lifelong resident of Bridgeport, passed away on Monday, February 9, 2015, in Alexandria, Virginia, where she had been a resident the past 18 months. Bonnie was born in Bridgeport on January 23, 1930, as the youngest of 11 children of the late Ella Alcinda Chappalear Altman and William Francis Altman.
Bonnie was preceded in death by her husband, John David Pritchard, on June 27, 2010. They were married on June 5, 1948.
She is survived by John and Barbara Pritchard of Durham, NC, Ella Pritchard Curry and Jen Ihlo of Alexandria, VA, Alan Pritchard and Betty Neely of Fairmont, WV, and Casey Louise Pritchard Chen and Patrick Chen of Herndon, VA. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews, whom she loved dearly. In addition to her parents and husband, Bonnie was preceded in death by 10 siblings: Gladys Brand, May Skidmore, Dias Altman, Dallas Altman, William Altman, George Altman, Dess Altman, John Altman, Lillian Altman and Richard Altman.
Bonnie was a graduate of Bridgeport High School, Class of 1947. Following two years as a telephone operator, she had a long career as a school secretary in Harrison County, serving at Bridgeport High School, Bridgeport Junior High School, Summit Park Junior High School and Washington Irving High School, from which she retired in the early 1990s. Following retirement, she served for many years as a volunteer at the United Hospital Center. Bonnie was an active member of Simpson Creek Baptist Church in Bridgeport for 60 years, serving as Sunday school and Bible school teacher and enjoying the fellowship and service of women’s circles. Children and young people were an ongoing source of joy and inspiration for Bonnie throughout her many years of commitment to family, church and community.




JOHN Y. SUTTON

Mr. John Y. Sutton of Bridgeport died February 9, 2015, after an extended illness.
He was born in September 1943. He was preceded in death by his parents, Maxwell Y. Sutton and Catherine V. Tetrick Sutton.
He is survived by his wife, Carolyn A. Sutton and his brother, James Maxwell (Debi) Sutton. He is also survived by his children, M. Anne Sutton (Christopher) Wickland, Michael Y. (Tara) Sutton and Forrest E. (Amanda Lynn) Sutton; and five grandchildren.
He graduated from Bridgeport High School and attended Fairmont State College and West Virginia State. While in Fairmont, he worked at Security Bank. After moving to Bridgeport, he worked for RESA VII and owned Magic Computer. John served on Bridgeport City Council and was the recorder. Skiing, telling jokes and dancing were several of his favorite activities. After serving in the Air National Guard he became chaplain for the American Legion. However, Rotary was where he preferred to spend his time.



JAMES MARK WILLIAMS

James Mark Williams, age 59, of Clarksburg, WV, passed away on Thursday, February 19, 2015, at his home.
He was born on October 26, 1955, in Clarksburg, a son of the late Edgar Thomas and Madrille Marta (McClung) Williams.
Mr. Williams is survived by one son, Jason Robert Williams and wife Diane of Glendale, AZ; one daughter, Cari Nicole Levake and husband Brian of Clarksburg; fiancée, Darlene Lapeer of Clarksburg; one brother, Eugene Williams and wife Debbie of Portland, OR; two sisters, Judy Welker and husband Walt of Surprise, AZ, and Dianna Williams of Surprise, AZ; a special uncle, Richard Williams and wife Judy of Morgantown; six grandchildren, Jakob, Adam and Justin Williams, Jackson, Anderson and Bryson Levake.
In addition to his parents, James was preceded in death by one grandson, Ethan Williams.
James graduated from Victory High, Class of 1974, and went on to serve his country honorably in the United States Air Force. He served for over 30 years, with tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, and retired as a Master Sergeant. His civilian occupation was with Waste Management, where he retired as a truck operator. James loved gardening and flowers.



GEORGE ALLAN EARNEST

George Allan Earnest, age 84, of Clarksburg, WV (Glen Falls), passed away on Saturday, February 21, 2015, at the United Hospital Center in Bridgeport.
He was born on July 20, 1930, in Webster Springs, WV, a son of the late John and Marcy Pearl (Shawhan) Earnest.
George is survived by his wife of 63 years, Mary Jane (Barnes) Earnest, whom he married June 12, 1951; his children: Danny A. Earnest of Clarksburg, Cheryl A. Earnest of Weston, Vanessa J. Earnest of Williamsville, NY, and Timothy D. Earnest, also of Clarksburg; six grandchildren: Alicia Smith and husband David, Timothy Earnest Jr.; Tyler Earnest, Travis Earnest, Danielle Earnest, and Sigrid Earnest; one great-grandchild, Bradley Jude Earnest; three brothers: Johnny, Richard, and Thomas Earnest; as well as several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Harold Earnest; three sisters: Molly Harper, June Floyd, and Phyllis McCarty.
Mr. Earnest was a graduate of Victory High School, Class of 1950, and served as a Sgt. E5 with the National Guard for 27 years. He was a glass worker at PPG, and retired from the Harrison County Board of Education. He also served the 150th Tank Battalion, West Virginia, and was a member of the Glen Falls Lions Club. George loved wood working and was very talented with it. He also enjoyed hunting




ANN R. YOKE

Ann R. Yoke, 86, of Clarksburg, passed away on Thursday February 19, 2015, in a local nursing home following an extended illness.
She was born in Clarksburg on April 17, 1928, a daughter of the late J. Ransel and Virginia Snider Romine.
She is survived by her husband, William E. Yoke, Sr., to whom she was married for 70 years; two sons, William E. Yoke, Jr., and his wife Dolores, Clarksburg, and Donald S. Yoke, Clarksburg; one daughter, Margaret Y. Booth and her husband Fred, Shinnston; eight grandchildren, Neil Yoke and his wife Beth, Blair Yoke, Rachel Yoke, Ben Yoke, Daniel Yoke, Owen Yoke, Drew Booth, and Sarah Seidl and her husband Jamie; one great-grandchild, Gwen Seidl.
She was also preceded in death by one brother, John Ransel Romine, Jr.; and one sister, Elizabeth R. Francis. Ann was a 1946 graduate of Washington Irving High School, and had a successful career as a sister, wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend.
She was a member of the First United Methodist Church and the Clarksburg League for Service, where she was a past president and lifetime member. She was also a life member of the Harrison County Historical Society, a life member of the Auxiliary of the United Hospital Center and a member of the Goff Plaza Garden Club, Clarksburg Junior Women’s Club and the Oral Lake Fishing Club, where she was one of the original “Shady Ladies.”