Issue 211

Editor: Roleta Smith Meredith

Publisher: Jalon Smith Burton

MARCH MYSTERY PICTURE

What is the name of this site? Why was it famous? Where is it located? Do you have any memory that you will share with us?

Mystery Picture was sent in by Eugene Jamont (Victory HS 1954)

When emailing me, Roleta1@aol.com, please include your name, school and year you did or would have graduated.

Thank you.

Write to Roleta1@aol.com

From: James Strider (WI 1955)

To Marion Spelsburg Stevens, Linda Spelsburg Wolfe and Tom Spelsburg; I want to extend my sympathy to you over the loss of your sister Carolyn and especially to you, Linda, with the recent loss of your husband Charles. You have taken quite a hit. As you may recall, Carolyn an I were pretty good friends in high school

From: David Corsini (WI 1950)

I am sure most of you know that the City of Clarksburg purchased the Robinson Grand Theatre some time ago. Now they are in the process of gutting it and remodeling it at a hefty price of $14,500,000.00.

It will be a boost to the city which we need and will be good that we can bring back the arts.

When the work begins, I will try to keep the progress updated in the newsletter.

From: Anita Bartlett White (WI 1948)

Great newsletter. You do an awesome job; just wish some of my class would participate.

Remembering:

To Sally Anne Pulice, remember Elk Creek, ran under the swinging bridge at the end of Tyler Avenue. Remember one night some of the older guys, Joe Bennett, Roy Winters, Bob Cottrill, and probably Jones brothers were all jumping up and down on the bridge and it broke. Bridge suffered more damage than they did. Also, remember Bob Cottrill kicking a football from almost Harrison St. in front of my home all the way to the swinging bridge.

How did I come to Clarksburg? Born and reared on Tyler Avenue, attended Alta Vista, Central, and graduated for WI in '48.

We danced to Bill Brookover Band, they were great. I attended many school dances with Carl White, who later became my husband. Carl also played in bands at Central and WI.

Miss Nutter and Miss Swiger were my favorite teachers. I think Miss Robinson's name was Virginia. She was great also.

I remember being kicked out of Ms. Pearsall's Math class for disagreeing with an answer. She insisted answer in back of book was correct, and it was not, so she kicked me out for arguing. Matt Ash had been kicked out of Home Ec. Class the same day.

Someone brought a skunk to class to cook which did not go well with teacher.

I also remember when some guys, I think in class of 1945 got a cow up on third floor and could not get it down. Actually used ropes and scaffolding and took it out the window.

From: Al Starkey (WI 1959)

Hey Roleta, sorry for taking so long to get back to you.

We have been really busy getting ready to move to Austin, TX. To answer your question, we lived in Chestnut Hills, so I went to Chestnut Hills Grade School (Then Called Monticello Grade). We did not ride a school bus; we rode a City Bus or walked. Maybe you remember (Butch) William (Bill) Berger, he lived a few houses up the street from me. We were good friends, and his dad and mine worked for the same General Contractor, (Clyde Shrum).

Did go to Central Jr. High and of course WI. I definitely do remember you in high school. I also remember talking to you at one of the Clarksburg picnics, 2010 our 50th reunion I believe.

It was great hearing from you. 
And don't forget ALL of us out here really love and look forward to the NEWSLETTER.

From: Cathy (Kay) Strogen (WI 1965)

Cathy (Kay) Strogen of Williamsburg, Pa left and Cecilia (Hammond) Salvadori of Hendersonville, NC as well as Cathy's husband Martin Strogen (RW 1964), spent a week together at the beautiful Sun Scape resort in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.

While there the three amigos went horseback riding up into the mountains and were able to see the beautiful vistas on the Northern Atlantic Ocean side of Dominican.

The average daytime highs were in the 80's with blue skies and plenty of sunshine.

Cathy and Cecilia grew up at the Country Club addition and have always remained best of friends. Martin grew up in Stonewood and fit right in from the beginning when introduced to Ceil and her husband.

It's wonderful to have lasting friendships and know we will always have each other's backs.

The above picture was taken by Martin outside of the Brazilian Restaurant, Gaucho.

From: Carol Ann Shinn Schweiker (WI 1956)

Re: HARRISON COUNTY HISTORY

I have always loved art and history. I had hoped to get degrees in art history, but the times were against me. I’m referring to my struggle to get ahead as a female in the 60s and 70s. I was lucky to finally teach art at Salem College. I then transferred to the history field as director of Fort New Salem, part of Salem College. The living history museum is a 19 log house early West Virginia village. We offered degrees in arts and education. I’m retired now, but still dabbling in history and write articles for the Harrison County Historical Society. By the way, you can read some of the newsletters that I have put together along with others on our web site:

harrisoncountywvhistoricalsociety.org. 

This group has managed to digitize over 1500 photographs and documents dating from the 18th century relating to the county’s history. We hope to have them accessible to researchers in the near future. Hint-hint, if you have any photographs or objects of interest about the county or cities we’d love to copy or preserve them. Clarksburg and Harrison County have long suffered the loss of some of our most important and oldest buildings. There are at least three National Register Historic Districts in Clarksburg alone. My article that I have written is about the demolition of two, circa 1850s, Clarksburg buildings that you may remember.

THE DEATH OF HAROLD DENTON

From: Charles Ferrel (WI 1946)

Re: Three Mile Island accident

DATELINE: February 22 2017

Today in the Washington Post was an announcement of the death of my former boss, Harold Denton. He was the NRC spokesman who accompanied Pres Carter in the Three Mile Island Accident site review. On the night after the accident I got a phone call to go to the NRC Emergency Response Center in MD to do the radiological dose calculations based on the current weather reports, the reactor operating history and the design of the reactor containment systems. When I got to the center another group was requested to do this on a large computer. I got the info I needed and went back to my office and using my slide rule, graphs on core history and information on the safety systems I cranked out the radiological doses at the site boundary and the Low population zone distances. I had been the site analysis on this reactor and had earlier prepared the doses the Final Safety Analyst Report.This reactor had a thick concrete shielded building with a steel liner with a low leak rate. I turned my results to DR Hanuar and went home to rest. I worked the night shift for a week doing other assigned instructions. I later was involved in analysis of the Chernobyl Reactor Accident. This reactor did not have a containment building. I have a certificate from the NRC for my contributions on this.

Charles Ferrel, Retired Health Physicist/Nuclear Engineer

NRC/AEC, DOD & US Army Chemical Corps

From: Roleta1@aol.com

I recently wrote to my classmates to see if their names were correct as I had them in my email address book. Just doing a bit of spring cleaning. I heard back from the following, all others will be erased if I don’t hear back from them.

Thank you.

People who are staying on my list:

Fred Alvaro

Glen Cowgill

Jim Hornor

Elizabeth Wilkinson Askin

Helen House Fleming

Mike Moore

Anthony Julian

Mary Merandino Kane

Charlie Burkhammer

Beth Twigg Deverecks

Ruth Ann Martin Hill

Becky Hollandsworth Day

Sallie Holden Day

Harriet Stout Noel

Gene Davos

Loretta Binkerman

Phil Hooper

Patty Stealey

Vince Fragomene

Wirt Wolfe

Hank Ross

John Stealey

Jay Sharp

Larry Martino

Sharon Orme Wilfong

Joy Gregory DeFazio

Gene Davis

Jean Wells Himmel

Marge Jones Kober

Corrine Levy

Habie Snyder

Jerry Belt

Bonnie McGowna

Mike Fresa

Phil Hooper

John Campbell

Phil Gloss

Judy Davis Pinti

John Christie

Jane Stout Galvin

Ralph Hardman

Sharyn Cottrill McGahan

Ron Werner

Karen Combs Miller

All others will be erased the end of March. If you know a classmate who did not respond, you best let them know that I will be cleaning the old addresses out of my list. Sad that I don’t hear from most of you often enough to know if you are dead or alive. I hope you will stay in contact more from now on.

To those listed above, I appreciate your notes saying you read the newsletter and you still want to receive it, but I really want to hear from you about your life in Clarksburg and after you left. I love to hear from you but I also like to receive something I can put in the newsletter.

Thank you 

Roleta1@aol.com

DID YOU EVER DO THIS?

This is for those people who say they can’t think of anything to write about. I can not accept that response to my question ever again. Anyone who grew up in the 1940’s, 1950’s and even the 1960’s should remember this!

“Why don’t you write to the newsletter?”

This is your chance!

Write and tell me what this child is doing. Did you ever do this? Can you remember why you did this? Where were you? Who were you with? Did it make you cry? Or did you like doing it? 

Tell me all about it… don’t just answer my above questions (those are just hints to help you remember)  - tell us a story.

Write to Roleta1@aol.com
And remember, when emailing me, please include your name, school and year you did or would have graduated.

TO THE FOLLOWING GENEROUS PEOPLE

WHO GAVE MONEY TO

THE WIN SCHOLARSHIP

DURING THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY

Jill Garvin Modlin (WI 1951) and Robert Modlin (WI 1950)

David and Nancy Stalnaker (WI 1961)

Fred (WI 1953) and Eleanor Queen Heflin (WI 1954)

Anthony Bellotte

Karen and Auggie Malfregeot

Barbara McNemar Weaver (WI 1964)

LaJune and Bernie Cohen

Judy Kelly

Ray Allen

David Saucer (WI 1951)

Al and Sandy Zickefoose Lindke

Fran Barret

Mary Harrel

Kaye Wamsley Jacobs (WI 1961)

Terry Snider Fazio (WI 1967) gave in memory of her mother

Betty Starkey (Mannington High School 1947). Betty was very supportive of Terry and her brother John Snider (WI 1969) Terry passed away on January 9, 2017.

Elise Petry Guthridge

John Campbell (WI 1959) Thank you John for (to quote you “another TID-BIT”) Tid Bits are always welcome.

Arreta Jaranko (WI 1940)

Ken and Claryce Yost (WI 1945)

Mary U. Wilke (WI 1955)

Gifts to the WIN Scholarship for February 2017 amounted to $1150.00. 

Thanks so much to each person listed above.

How about it?

Are you willing to help support the first college year for a graduate from Clarksburg’s only HIGH SCHOOL?

Make your check out to:

Roleta Meredith c/o WIN Scholarship

Mail your check to:

Roleta Meredith

3201 Charles MacDonald Dr.

Sarasota, FL 34240

THANK YOU in advance

I have been selling tickets for months. The cut off date for me to work up any tickets will be the 7^th of April. Any checks received after that date will go directly to the WIN Scholarship but no tickets will be given for the check. So you better get onto it right now.

I am not going to go through what the tickets are for; I am not going to write up why we are doing this. If you don’t know by now, perhaps you better write to me and I will explain it to you.

Write to Roleta1@aol.com

ALL money goes to the WIN Scholarship for the students!

Tickets are 6 for $5.00

12 for $10.00

...and so on, you do the math

No check is too large - if you send me $500.00,
we will make the tickets out for you!

We do not discriminate against the size of the check!

All checks are welcome!

 

CAN YOU SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS?

1.   Mr. Stone planted 32 acres of his farm in corn. If the corn field was 16% of his farm, what was the size of his farm?

2.     If 33-1/3% of the days in June were rainy how many days were not rainy?

3.   If my father drove 100 miles in his car and used 5 gallons of gasoline, how many miles did he drive per gallon?

4.   Season football tickets are $1.00 each. If 4 girls and 7 boys from one room buy tickets, how much money did the room invest in tickets?

NOTE:

Were you able to solve the problems?

Where do you think I found these problems?

Have you ever seen, read or heard any problems like these?

Tell me what you know about these things?

Write to Roleta1@aol.com
And remember, when emailing me, please include your name, school and year you did or would have graduated.

This should be interesting and it shouldn’t take you very long to respond back to me. If it takes you 1/4^th of an hour, how many minutes did it take to solve the problems and write to me?

This is not just a newsletter… it is sort of therapy for our “old brains”. Won’t you be of assistance? Help others remember and dust off those cobwebs in the corner of their brains.

Thank you so much.

FEBRUARY MYSTERY PICTURE

The picture was sent to us by Mike Snyder (WI 1957)

Mingo Indian statue, Mingo Flats, Cheat Mountain, Randolph County. The statue sits atop a very tall cut sandstone base. It's not too far from Snowshoe but on a side road and few people ever see it.

From: Terry Shorr (WI/Elkins 1958)

The February Mystery Picture appears to be the statue at Mingo Run in southern Randolph County erected in 1920 in memory of the Mingo tribe of the Iroquois nation.

From: Wayne White (WI 1960)

This is the statue located in Mingo Run in Randolph County. The monument is the respect for the Mingo Indians. They had camps, villages and trails near Mingo in Tygart River Valley of WV. They were a tribe of Native Americans made up of people who migrated west to Ohio County.

Sports Editor: Bill Meredith

billmere@aol.com

"Hitesman Trophy"

Below are a couple more letters pointing out some excellent athletes from Harrison County schools. I'm sure everyone has an opinion on this subject, so let's hear from you!

To Bill:

I have to add my "two cents". I totally agree with my friend Greg Jeranko and John Teter regarding Bobby Secret. "Seeks" was the best high school athlete I have ever seen. On the football field, he was unmatched in all phases of the game (at that time, many teammates played "both ways"). "Seeks" excelled in B-ball, baseball, and track, although my old running mate, Danny Pettrey, moved his piston legs fast enough to beat "Seeks" regularly in the 100 yard dash, running 9.9 seconds, which was really fast at that time. The beauty of our 1960 group was the abundance of good multi-sport jocks. In football & basketball, the Hilltoppers fell pray only to the hated Parkesburg "Big Reds", while in track, the ironclad lads ran their way to Big 10 champs.

Other WI greats that I have not seen mentioned were:

1) Jimmy Warren, an all state basketball player, who went on to star for WVU. He was a terrific "jump shooter", and his performances are of legend. 2) Big Bob Clausen, 6'10" WI center who played on the great Jerry West WVU team of 1959. They fell just short of a national championship, losing to California 71 - 70 in the finals.

One Victory guy I want to mention was Bob Schneider (spelling)? Bob played basketball for Victory in the late 1950's, and was a dynamic shooter/rebounder-best scorer I've seen in high school. One unforgettable game against a superior Hilltopper team, he scored 40 plus and almost single handedly upset WI in overtime...wow, what a game!

Here's to 'ya "Seeks" and all my memorable teammates from the WI class of 1960...UNFORGETTABLE!

Jim Van Voorhis (WI 1960)

To Bill:

I meant to write before. Given the rich sports history of our area, I am sure there are several people that can be considered “the best of the best”. Of course, Bobby Secret’s name leads any list. But Bobby was fortunate to have Gene Donaldson in the backfield with him. These two proved impossible for any team they played to handle. My knowledge of high school sports in the area is limited to the late late fifties and the early to mid- sixties. I do remember several other guys from the era. Jimmy Salentro at Victory was one hell of a running back. I think he played in 64. Gene Randolph was a great basketball player at Victory also. Dickie Lejuene (Spelling) was a scoring machine at WI in 1961. And I do remember Gary Simons at what is now South Harrison High School broke all sorts of state scoring records. I also remember the Brinkley brothers at RW. Both were pretty good quarterbacks. I’m sure I missed some great players and I don’t mean to slight any others but these were the guys that stood out to me when I lived in the area.

Jim Hovey (WI 1962)

To Bill:

Hitesman is kind of a limiting moniker don't you think? Clay B. Hite is a legend, but coaches Folio, Moore, and Castellana etc. also produced some great athletes.

WI's greatest?  He was coached by Tony Folio and his name was Bob Clousson, WI '55, and WVU first-team basketball center on the 1959-60 Mountaineer team, ranked No. 1 in the country which lost the NCAA championship by one point. To my knowledge no other WI athlete has topped Bob's achievement. By the way, Jim Warren, WI '56 was on that team also and a classmate of Jerry West.

Mike Snyder (WI 1957)

HOW ABOUT NO. 19???

Congratulations to the WVU Rifle Team, which qualified for the NCAA championships, to be held in Columbus, Ohio on March 10 and 11. The Mountaineers finished the season as the top qualifier for the championships. They finished the regular season with a record of 11-0 and won their fourth straight Great American Rifle Conference title.

The qualification is the 10th straight for WVU. They have won four national championships in a row and 18 overall. Let's hope they continue the streak and win No. 19 on March 11.

HEY SPORTS FANS!

A Note from Roleta1@aol.com

You may remember that for several years I tried to get a SPORTS section going in the newsletter for all of you sports fans.

I really don’t know enough about SPORTS to carry on a good conversation about the subject, I am a fan and that is about it! I have never met a “SPORTS Walking Encyclopedia” like the man I married. (He, of course, will deny this but he doesn’t know I am writing this, so... he will read it in the newsletter). So once, when I was complaining about NO SPORTS section in the Newsletter, my sweet other half volunteered to do it for me even though he reminded me that he didn’t go to a Harrison County School.

He really does enjoy doing it but wonders why only 2 or 3 people write each month when there is an average of over 2,000 views on the blog each month???

Any comments on Sports?

Write to billmere@aol.com

Thank you.

  

Leslie McKinley Wallace (WI 1960)  momvol3@gmail.com

Eleanor Jane Phillips Heitz (WI 1970)  janeheitz1952@gmail.com

WHAT IS THIS STRUCTURE?

Picture submitted by Arreta Juranko (WI 1940)

What do you know about this?

Have you ever been here? 

What do you know about the town where it's located? 

Write your memories to Roleta1@aol.com
And remember, when emailing me, please include your name, school and year you did or would have graduated.

Did you ever attend any sporting events in Clarksburg?

What event was it and why did you go?

Who did you go with? 

What was the weather like?

Did you go in the morning, afternoon or evening?

How many hours did you spend there?

Did you ever go back? Why?

What was your favorite memory of being there?

Write to me and tell us all about it.  

Write to Roleta1@aol.com

And remember, include your name, school and year you did or would have graduated.

PENDLETON COUNTY NOTES

My Randolph County home is three miles from the Pendleton County line which is at the top of Allegheny Mountain, the Eastern Continental Divide. The population of Pendleton (Seneca Rocks) is less than 7,500 compared to the Elkins population of 8,000. The little-known Sugar Grove National Security Agency spy station naval base was auctioned off for just over $4 million by the government General Services Administration. The all-brick and meticulously maintained facility of over 400,000 sq ft. is on a beautiful 123-acre tract of land in the remote valley of the South Fork of the South Branch of the Potomac River. It lies at the eastern base of Shenandoah Mountain, the top of which borders Rockingham County, Virginia. The new owners are the Mellivora Capital Partners of Birmingham, AL. Wellness and health needs, both psychological and physical, of veterans and active duty military--that is the stated business of Mellivora. No mention of funding has been given. The government quietly operated the spy station for nearly 40 years.

The Feb 9 edition of The Pendleton Times covered the above story in detail. Other items from the paper for those outside Pendleton might find of interest are: All you can eat Buckwheat Dinner on Feb.11 at the Upper Tract Firehouse; local bird watchers this winter observed 62 species including 19 bald eagles, two golden eagles, 103 black vultures, 171 turkey vultures and the usual crows, ravens, hawks, woodpeckers and tons of other feathered friends plus one horned grebe. Also noted:  Presidents Washington and Lincoln are both descended from English King Edward I; the typical US 18-year old has spent 11,000 hours in school and 18,000 hours watching TV; and 25 percent of the 206 bones in the body are in the feet. And there was Sherwin Kimble's advertisement noting his 28 years experience painting barn roofs (he painted ours).

Now for those of you contemplating a field trip to Sugar Grove or Olde Pendleton, if you come from the east you can motor over Reddish Knob from Harrisonburg, VA, a hairy, narrow, unpaved road with lots of steep Bonzai curves plunging right down into the village of Sugar Grove. And it really is a beautiful spot. You can head west to Franklin on a back road that goes over the hills through scenic sheep and cattle pastures replete with old chestnut rail fences still standing--a very rare sight these days. February/early March is also the time of year when the sugar maple trees are being tapped in this part of the state. Nowadays the sugar camps have myriad plastic lines running from the sugar maples on the hillsides down to the cooking pans inside where propane fires boil down the syrup. It takes about 50 gallons of sap to make a gallon of maple syrup which will run about $60 per gallon or $15 a quart. Several years we made our own cooking it over a wood fire in turkey roasters all day into the night.

But for those of you looking for the easy way out-one of the great events of springtime is the annual Maple Festival in Monterey in neighboring Highland County, Virginia-which boasts more sheep than people. It is held the second and third weekends in March. The picturesque and old-timey little town is a great visit with a lot of arts and crafts stuff, string bands, and everything maple, including donuts by the Ruritan’s which people stand in line for over an hour to savor. The nearby Bluegrass valley is the maple syrup/sugar capital of Virginia. There are numerous sugar camps located here and some are really big time.

*Note: the original name of the village of Bluegrass was Crab Bottom--changed by the request of local soldiers when they had to state their hometown when they went off to the world war. Over the mountain is McDowell which also has a much smaller version of the festival. Here Clarksburg's mighty Stonewall Jackson whipped a Yankee army early in the Civil War and sent them fleeing back to Franklin where they pretty much sacked the pro-southern town leaving only one dun-colored cow hidden in the bushes. Franklin is one of the most handsome towns in West Virginia and the county seat of Pendleton. They make great maple glazed donuts in the store at the stoplight when the Monterey festival is on.

Yr. faithful correspondent,

Mike Snyder (WI '57)

 DANCING GIRLS

This mystery picture was sent to us by Liz Teter Akin (WI 1956)

Can you place the event? Do you know where the picture was taken? Who is pictured?

Send your guesses to Roleta1@aol.com

Remember, please include your name, school and year you did or would have graduated.

Victory H S closed long ago and joined with Bristol H S and Salem H S to become Liberty High School which is located on Davidson Run Road (now referred to as a state route).

Washington Irving H S and Roosevelt Wilson H S joined together to become Robert C. Byrd H S located on the road between Nutter Fort and the Veteran’s Hospital in Clarksburg. This is now the only public high school in Clarksburg.

Notre Dame is still in the same location.

The reason I started the (Washington Irving Newsletter) WIN Scholarship is a long story but to make it brief, I thought there were so many people reading this newsletter that we should come together in some way to benefit others in Clarksburg. I decided the one way to do that was through the education of the young people in Clarksburg. In the beginning I never suspected the readership of the newsletter would grow to such large numbers and I never thought the scholarship fund would grow as much or last as long as it has. The readers are certainly a generous group.

I know that if Sue Selby Moats had not suggested a quilt raffle to raise money each year that we could never achieved what we have! She and the “WIN Quilters” who have consistently given of their time to make the squares for the quilt have certainly been a blessing to the scholarship. I don’t know how long they will be able to do this but they certainly are the heart of the scholarship, for without them, I figure the scholarship might well have run out of money long ago.

DATELINE:  New York City.  James A. Fragale (WI 1958)

Second printing, second Novel, F.U.!  (Follow Up)! The Answer to Life Revisited garnered multiple 5-star reviews on Amazon.com and now is an audio book on hot Kindle Fire as well as available at Barnes & Noble.  First novel, The Answer to Life, is still being read and prominent in the window at Choice Gifts and Books on Manhattan’s Upper East Side right next to his West Virginia inspired pop music CD “Oil and Coal.” (Jim invariably writes about West Virginia, every time out). What’s more, Fragale has a first draft of a third novel about which he admits he is unsure. (He’s trying to make it different than the first two novels and that is not easy). Jim likes to add, “Back in the 1970s, in New York and in Los Angeles, the Human Potential Movement used to repeat, ‘Uncertainty is a high space! Uncertainty is a high space!’” Then, he wasn’t quite sure what that meant – and, now he does. Gracia tutti, and Warm Wishes to All. I love reading about you and Roleta Meredith. Jim Fragale, W.I. ’58, email: jamesafragale@yahoo.com

“ETERNAL REST GRANT UNTO THEM, OH LORD,

AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM”

THE CLASS OF 1950

Lois Jean Atkinson Turner

Marjorie Russell

Martha Leah Randolph

Donald Leslie Hinkle

Lloyd Hart

Dabney Jackson

Mary Ellen Harris

Lee Hefner

Douglas Duane Miller

Charles Means

Rhea Erdine Lowther

Thomas H Progler

John Pinon

Shirely Ann Lyon

Noel Ritchie

Betty Lou McKown

Charlotte Ann Nuzum

Mary Catherine Oliverio

Frances Ann Rolland

Kathleen Rollins

Ronald Turner

Louie Tiano

Glendine Saunders

Dale Clarence Winters

Ruth Warnock Flint

Constance Wilkinson

Barbara Jean Zigmont

Thomas Yost

This record has been maintained and was furnished to the WI Newsletter by Fran Barrett (WI 1950) flmom1cat4@roadrunner.com

If you have any additions or corrections to this list, either contact Fran or Roleta1@aol.com 

Thank you.

EDITOR’S NOTE: 

We are sorry to report this list of the deceased from the class of 1950. Do you or one of your classmates have a list of the deceased classmates from your class? I would like to honor them by listing them here so others can take a moment to remember them.

Send the list to Roleta1@aol.com

NANCY CAROLYN STARETT

Nancy Starett, 81 of Ceredo, WV passed away on February 13, 2017 at Emogene Dolin Jomes Hospice Hose. She was born on July 11, 1935 in Clarksburg, a daughter of James Earl Downey and Mamie Beatrice Vincent Downey. She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands Roy Lee Taylor, Jr. and Harland Morris Starrett; her son, James Roy Taylor, sister Dorothea Ellen Downey Nutter, Sacs, McDermott.

She graduated from WI in 1953. Survived by her daughter Pamela Akers, grandchildren and nieces and nephews.

RALPH W. CRANE

Ralph W. Crane, 62, of Morgantown, WV, passed away on Friday, February 3, 2017, at Ruby Memorial Hospital, following a sudden illness.

He was born in Clarksburg, WV, on May 13, 1954, a son of Henry Jason Crane of Nutter Fort and the late Pauline Cunningham Crane.

In addition to his father, Ralph is survived by one brother, Tom Crane, and wife Amy of Lost Creek.

He was a graduate of Roosevelt-Wilson High School Class of 1972. He attended West Virginia University and was a graduate of Fairmont State College. He was a Computer Programmer with the Department of Energy and was formerly employed at Wal-Mart in Morgantown

COLONEL ROBERT BARRETT HENRY

Robert Barrett Henry passed away on August 28, 2016. He is survived by wife Annette, his sister, son, Miles, daughter-in-law, Christine and two grandchildren.

He was born in Clarksburg, WV in 1932 to Ralph and Virginia Henry.

Bob received an appointment from his congressman to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point where he graduated in 1955.

After serving his country abroad he returned to West Point to teach Chemistry to the cadets. He married in 1964. He was then stationed at Ft. McClellan AL, and in MD, before serving in Vietnam on General Westmorland’s staff in 1967 during the height of the war. He received the Bronze Star for outstanding service to his country. In 1969 he was back stateside to work at the Pentagon. After many positions he was sent back to the Pentagon and later retired from the Army in 1982 and was awarded the Legion of Merit.

JAMES VINCENT BUNCH

“Jim”

James Vincent “Jim” Bunch, 79, of Clarksburg, passed away on Monday, Feb. 13, 2017, at his residence following a long battle with cancer.

He was born in Clarksburg, on June 9, 1937, a son of the late John Edward and Rena Mae Riffle Bunch.

Twice married, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Wanda Shirley Bunch in August of 1990, and is survived by his second wife, Pamela L. Demastus Bunch, whom he married on October 15, 1991.

Mr. Bunch is also survived by one son, Timothy (Amy) Bunch; three daughters, Tammy Sue (Danny)Blake, Donna Jo Bunch Swiger, and Michael Frances (Jason) Oldaker, four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Also surviving are four brothers, Bill (Ruth) Bunch, John David Bunch, Myron (Beulah) Flint, and Fred (Joann) Flint, Jr.; four sisters, Dianna Jo Conaway, Betty June (John) Wilcox, Bonna Mae (Phillip) Losh, and Debrah Vore; as well as several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents and first wife, he was preceded in death by two grandsons, Jarrod and James.

Jim was a graduate of Victory High School and served in the U.S. Army National Guard for seven years and was discharged as an SP5.

He formerly worked for The Exponent Telegram as the circulation manager with 37 years of service and was an insurance agent with AIG Network for six years. More recently, he worked for the Harrison County Board of Education as a bus driver and retired after 14 years of service.

Jim started playing music in Adamston Grade School, and sang in the choir at Victory High School. He started playing music professionally when he was 20 years of age and became a member of the Musicians’ Union when he was 21 years old.

He was a member of the Full Gospel Worship Center and a former member of the American Federation of Musicians Local 580. Jim had three bands, Country Justice, The Auditions and Chain Reaction. His bands played at county fairs throughout the state, and played at the Salem Depot with Depot Boys and Girls. He traveled throughout the East Coast playing in the National Boy Scouts Orchestra.

Jim also played at political rallies for A. James Manchin, Tim Miley and Dan Thompson and opened for Hank Williams, Jr., Freddie Hart, Tommy Cash, Bill Anderson, Confederate Railroad, Dottie West, Faron Young, Hank Williams, III, Jett Williams, Jeannie Shepherd and T.G. Shepherd.
He played with the Minstrels at the Robinson Grand Theater, and for many years he had the Country Christmas Special for charities at the Robinson Grand, as well as played on the courthouse square for West Virginia Days.

His recordings, “Fighting Fire with Fire” and “If You Wanna Kiss Me Goodnight,” were on the Top 13 Billboard in the 70’s when he was an up-and-coming artist in Nashville, TN. Most recently, he recorded two gospel CDs and one country CD.

He started Newspaper in Education in Harrison County, The Scripps Spelling Bee and was a graduate of the University of Hard Knocks.

Jim’s love of music took him throughout the state of West Virginia and beyond, but above all, he loved his family.

RICHARD WAYNE LEJEUNE

“Dick”

WI 1961

Richard Wayne (Dick) Lejeune, 73, of Henderson Avenue, Clarksburg, passed away on Saturday, February 18, 2017, in River Oaks Nursing Home.

He was born in Clarksburg, on June 24, 1943, a son of the late Camile Lejeune and Mary Catherine Norman Brown.

Mr. Lejeune is survived by his daughter, Sophia Lejeune; two sisters, Suzie Lejeune (George) Faris and their children, Chris, Kimberly and Chelsea, and Johnna Chapman Swiger and her children, Andrea, Chris and Erin; as well as several nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. He is also survived by his cousin, Denise Norman Palmer.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Camile and Germaine Lejeune, who raised Dick and his brother Ron, and his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Thurmond E. Norman.

Dick was a graduate of Washington Irving High School and attended Marshall University, where he had a well-known career of basketball, and was a veteran in the United States Army.

His infectious laugh and kind heart touched everyone who knew him.

Per his request, Dick will be cremated.

Inurnment will be at the West Virginia National Cemetery, where full military rites will be accorded.

JOSEPH CARVELLI

Joseph Carvelli, 90, of Clarksburg, WV, passed away on Friday, February 10, 2017, at the United Hospital Center.

He was born in Clarksburg, on January 14, 1927, a son of the late Domenick and Costanza Oliverio Carvelli.

He married Mary Agnes Maylee Carvelli on January 27, 1951, and enjoyed 65 years of marriage before her death on March 31, 2016.

Mr. Carvelli is survived by two daughters, Rose Ann (Joe) Shuttleworth and Deborah Jo Carvelli; and five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and one step-great-granddaughter. In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by one son, Joseph Carvelli,

Joseph was a graduate of Washington Irving High School, Class of 1944, and a veteran in the U.S. Air Force during World War II.

He was a hairstylist and the owner of Gentlemen’s Choice for many years, having retired in 1993.

He traveled a great deal, judging hair shows, and was an avid collector of Cadillac’s. He drove the Italian Man of the Year, Joe DiMaggio, in the Italian Heritage Festival Parade, in his rare collector’s edition, the Cadillac Eldorado Convertible.

WILLIAM ROBERT LOSH

“Bill”

RW 1954

William “Bill” Robert Losh, 81, of Maiden, passed away on Sunday, February 12, 2017, at Frye Regional Medical Center.

He was born December 9, 1935, in Harrison County, WV, to the late William and Ruth Southall Losh.

Bill was a member of Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church in Sherrills Ford. He enjoyed taking beach trips, spending time with family and Friday nights at Burner’s with his “brotherhood” of friends enjoying a cigar. His hobbies included riding his Harley, boating, watching Gene Autry westerns and playing the guitar. Bill was a proud WVU Mountaineer and enjoyed watching Duke Basketball.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by first wife, Ada Sally Losh; sister, Carol Cleghorn; and sister-in-law, Patty Losh. Those left to cherish his memory are: Wife of 40-1/2 years, Barbara Moore Losh of the home; son, Mark Bradley Losh and wife Kelcie; daughter, Shelley Ann Perch; brother, Lyndal Eugene Losh; sister-in-law, Beverly (Larry) Kelbaugh; granddaughter, Sarah Nicole Perch; and several nieces and nephews.

DOMINICK MICHAEL OLIVERIO

“Donnie”

Dominick Michael “Donnie” Oliverio, 71, of Clarksburg, passed away on Thursday, February 2, 2017, at his residence.

He was born in Clarksburg on December 18, 1945, a son of the late James J. “Jimmie” and Louise Oliverio, and stepson of Jo Ann Stumpo Olivero, who survives in Clarksburg.

Also surviving are two daughters, Jamie Oliverio and her fiancé, Wayne Cottrill, and Johnna Oliverio and her companion, Jason Huber; two grandchildren, Cassidy and Kayla Means; one brother, Vincent “Vinnie” Oliverio; one sister, Linda Kolosky; one sister-in-law, Debby Oliverio.

He was also preceded in death by one brother-in-law, Alex Kolosky.

Donnie was a 1963 graduate of Notre Dame High School and a 1967 graduate of WVU. While in high school, Donnie attended Mountaineer Boys’ State. He was co-owner and founder of Grandma’s House Furniture since 1974, which began in Glen Elk in their grandmother’s house, and moved in 1982 to the Big Red Barn in Nutter Fort. Donnie was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Central WV Corvette Club, National Corvette Restorer’s Society, National Council of Corvettes Club, Pittsburgh Tri-State Chapter of NCRS, was a NCRS Master Judge and received the NCRS Judge Award after 20 years of judging Corvettes. He was also a member of the National Rifle Association and Salem Gun Club. Donnie was an avid supporter and season ticket holder of WVU football and basketball and a member of the Mountaineer Athletic Club. He also followed RCB track and cross country, supporting his granddaughters

NORMA JEAN ASHCRAFT GALLO

Norma Jean Ashcraft Gallo, 72, passed away on Feb. 3, 2017, surrounded by her family following a brief illness.

She was born in Summit Park, on Feb. 6, 1944, a daughter of the late George T. and Dorothy Johnson Ashcraft.

Norma is survived by her companion of 45 years, Emil “Pete” Price; two sisters, Linda Elsbury, and Gloria Diane Wiseman; two brothers, Maurice Ashcraft and James.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by five brothers, Stanley, Jesse, Michael, Nelson and Rodney Ashcraft; one sister, Barbara Persinger; one infant sister, Cathy Louise Ashcraft; and one brother-in-law, John Wiseman.

Norma attended Victory High School and was retired from Presley Ridge School.

MAX STIREWALT

“Rusty”

Max Stirewalt, 79 passed away January 29, 2017 following a brief illness. He was born on April 5, 1937 in Greenup, IL, as son of the late Euris and Lillie Brown Stirewalt.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Sarah Ruckman Stirewalt on December 13, 2014.

He is survived by 2 daughters, Cindy (Art) Holbert and Mary Carpenter; his son Jody and wife Angela Stirewalt and seven grandchildren; a great grandson and a great-granddaughter.

In addition to his wife, and parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Randy, his granddaughter Moriah Holbert and two brothers Kirby and Dana Stirewalt.

Rusty was a graduate of RW with the class of 1955.

PATRICIA ANN (SNEED) SPROUSE

Patricia Ann (Sneed) Sprouse, 80, of Summit Park, passed away on Tuesday, February 14, 2017, at Meadowview Manor Health Care Center surrounded by her caring and loving family.

She was born October 30, 1936, in Clarksburg, the daughter of the late Clarence “Boots” Sneed and Josephine (Lehosit) Sneed.

Patricia is survived by her two daughters, Mary Patricia (Scott) Liller, and Paula Ann (Tom) McIntyre five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; special friend and caregiver, Carolyn Patrick; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, Patricia was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Duane “Bunk” Sprouse, who died on February 5, 2014; an infant daughter, Mary Pat Sprouse; and three sisters, Mildred, Blanche and Margaret.

Patricia was a 1954 graduate of Victory High School. She was a member of Summit Park Baptist Church.