Issue 215

Editor: Roleta Smith Meredith

Publisher: Jalon Smith Burton

JUNE 22-23 1944

SHINNSTON TORNADO

From: Mary Virginia Duncan (Johnson) Wilke (WI 55)

The Shinnston Tornado was a horrible storm. We never saw anything like that and I never again want to. I took my children to the basement when there were tornado warnings in Ohio. The picture is of the Hope Natural Gas Pump Station across the road from our friend Hill's farm. I was told that a man was in his bath tub and ended up on another's property.

I don't remember how old I was but the adults were amazed that it had not crossed the road. It was a terrible storm!

The storm I do remember is the one in 1950. I thought the snow would never stop and we actually got a Snow Day. We lived on Washington Ave. and the kids made a tunnel and bobsled trail down the hill and we all had fun!! The men in our neighborhood built a bonfire in a huge metal barrel so we could warm ourselves.

From: Carolyn Layfield Cady (WI 53)

I remember the Shinnston tornado very well because it occurred on my birthday - June 23rd 1944. We lived in Stealey on Temple Terrace. Our house looked West and South out over the valley across to the hills beyond. The sky was very dark and I remember comments about how strange the sky looked, with a greenish cast. While we were eating dinner the air had become very calm. Then the electricity went off. That was exciting for a birthday celebration with cake and candles, so we had a few extras. We washed and dried the dishes by candlelight. I think we heard on the radio that there had been a tornado in Shinnston because we knew it that night. My Father worked in that area sometimes, so had a particular knowledge of the area. We all felt heartsick about it. This was a sad ending to a special day that will always live vividly in my memory.

From: Lyle Corder (RW 57)

We were at my grandmother's house in Nutter Fort, WV the day the tornado hit Shinnston. We were going to get on a trolley and go to Shinnston that very day; we would have been right in the middle of it. I got the whooping cough and we didn't go. Dad was working in a steel mill in Detroit and heard about it on the radio. He was scared for us, of course.

From: Terry Shorr (WI/Elkins 58)

I believe the photo is of Compton Lanes, the bowling alley on Route 50 East.

Oddly, I can't recall ever being inside the building.

I took up bowling late, finding I lost fewer balls than with tennis...

From: Mary Sue Clark Spahr (WI 56)

It was a warm summer evening and a bunch of us neighborhood kids were sitting on a neighbor's front porch taking turns on their porch swing. We could hear thunder in the distance and we expected a summer storm momentarily. We began to notice that the very air surrounding us had turned a funny shade of greenish yellow and stayed that way for quite some time. The thunderstorm we expected never arrived in our part of Clarksburg. In our young minds, it was just a typical summer evening except the air was green. Next morning the paper screamed out that many people had been killed in the Shinnston tornado. Until then we didn't even know what a tornado was. It turned out after search and rescue that over 100 were killed in that storm which had apparently wiped out Shinnston and the surrounding area. The storm moved eastward and there was wind damage very close to route 50 east of Maple Lake. My dad drove our family to Shinnston about two weeks after the storm and the damage was horrendous. There were bed sheets and blankets in trees, houses demolished, washing machines in very odd places, etc. I was nearly six years old at the time, but to this day I can still remember the event with some clarity.

  

From: Mary Virginia Duncan (Johnson) Wilke (WI 55)

In response to your June Newsletter, I thought I had better write to you about some of my memories. I do not recognize the Mystery Picture and haven't a guess.

I was born in Bridgeport and lived there until nine years old, then moved to Clarksburg, then to Niles, Oh for 11 years & then to Phoenix, AZ where I have resided since 1967. I don't remember the Cannon.

The different spellings of ancestors’ names: Only spelling was my Mom's people were Stuart's, then my great Uncle Marion decided the name should be Stewart and his family was always that. I think the school teacher changed his name, but I don't really know. My Aunt Gennie challenged this but to no avail.

Clothes you wore to school were dresses, blouses, sweaters & skirts. Never pants! I remember when Petal Pushers came in, but I wore shorts outside of school especially in summer.

I always walked to school & home again for lunch. After my Mom went to work as a Nurse, she fixed dinners for lunch, chicken & dumplings, meatloaf, steak & etc. She worked 3:00 to 11:00. I often took some of my friends’ home for lunch. We never thought much about walking to school and it really did great for me. I loved when the snow was on the ground and crackled under my feet.

The Silent Generation was wonderfully written. Thank you

I was pleased to see the 2017 Quilt which I take part in its making. I can't wait to see what Sue Moats has planned for this year.

As always, great Newsletter. I will look forward to receiving one each month.

From: Jim Fragale (WI 50)

Dear Roleta, Wanted to take a moment to thank you for maintaining the W. I. Newsletter, no easy feat, I suspect and gracias for the mention of my work in the past. I got a recent pat on the back from a New York POST columnist: James A. Fragale (WI 1958) in the New York POST June 1, 2017, bold-faced in Richard Johnson’s column on Page 14: Jim Fragale who wrote the novel “The Answer to Life” (amazon.com) will have more answers in “Seventy-Six Trombones,” which he started writing the day after he turned 76, the same age his father James, Sr. died. Fragale’s new, and third novel, was inspired by Bette Davis, who once said, “Old age is not for sissies.” Jim’s second novel, titled: “F.U.! (Follow Up)! The Answer to Life Revisited,” got ten (10) 5-star reviews on amazon.com. Both of Fragale’s previous efforts were well received on amazon.com. Cross your eyes for the third novel which as you might have guessed are more fictionalized memories of West Virginia.

From: John Teter (WI 61)

I am not sure that the following story happened during the "Big Flood in Clarksburg" that you are referring to in the June WI Newsletter, but I do remember the following happened about 1984-1985

My mother was living alone in her house at 410 Broaddus Avenue "back in the day", the second house away from Elk Creek. She called me one morning at 5:00 a.m. and asked me what I was doing on that particular day. I asked her why she was asking and she told me about the flood at that time and was wondering if I could come home ASAP, as the water was already in the basement of the house and it was still raining. I told her that I would be on the road from Reston, Virginia as soon as it turned daylight, as I wanted to make sure that I did not encounter any high waters on roads that I could not see.

By the time that I got to my mother's house, the water was about one step away from coming up from the basement into the living areas of the house. I talked to our neighbor (Mr. Koon) and asked for his advice and he told me I should call a rental place out near Anmoore and rent a pump, IF they had any left. They did have one pump left, so I asked them to hold it for me and off we went to pick it up. When we got back to the house, Mr. Koon helped us get it set up and running, trying to get the water out of the basement. I looked in the basement window from time to time and saw the washing machine and dryer floating around for quite a while before the water finally receded. One of the smartest things that Mr. Koon did was that he had disconnected the hot water tank that was in the basement before I had gotten there.

Well, the water finally receded completely out of the basement later that afternoon, so the next morning we started trying to clean up the basement as best we could. Mr. Koon used the pump we had rented until his basement was cleared of water. There was a LOT of stuff that got thrown out as it was just too badly damaged to try to salvage. Mr. Koon and his family had a worse situation as he was one house closer to the creek, plus he and his wife used the basement for a lot of things other than just storage. His son-in-law took LOADS of stuff to the dump, truck load after truck load from both houses.

I left later the second day, as there was not much I could do to help the situation as Clarksburg was without water pressure and residents had been told not to use water except in emergency situations.

My sister (Lib TETER Akin) and her husband (Bill) went to Clarksburg the following weekend to complete the cleanup process, and my brother-in-law did something that I would never have thought to do in a hundred years, he raked the entire backyard, to get rid of whatever the creek left behind. SMART MOVE on Bill's part.

I went back to my mother's a few weeks later, and we were able to put the basement back in some sort of order, but there were a lot of memories thrown out of that house due to that flood.

From: Anita Bartlett White (WI 48)

Really enjoyed The Silent Generation, although I never felt very silent. Many wonderful times to remember. Thank you for the memories. Through the newsletter I have had the opportunity to reconnect with Marianna Waroblak, a neighbor when she and Ted were "little people". When they lived on Harrison St., they were our neighbors and my Mother babysat for them. I was born and raised on Tyler Avenue  in Broad Oaks.  We walked to Central and WI unless weather was bad, than rode city bus. I remember going to bus terminal to buy a book of student tickets for 2 1/2 cents apiece. When we walked we went across the swinging bridge, up Carr Avenue to main Street and on into town through Arcade and on to school.

We wore mostly skirts and blouses or pullover sweaters with cute little collars, sweater sleeves pushed up until they came out with 3/4 length sleeve sweaters, penny loafers and socks for school. Best part of clothing was the beautiful evening gowns we had for formal dances and how corsages always matched dresses (thanks to Moms).

Shinnston tornado was really awful. I remember my Dad coming home from work on the bus and trying to get from Harrison St. to our home. He walked into a big maple tree in our yard. Next day we drove to Shinnston to view the damage. I also remember, shortly thereafter, we had a tornado in Quiet Dell. We were always told we could not have tornadoes because of mountains, wrong.

When we were in high school Broad Oaks Dairy Bar was our go-to place at night. Great friends and Great times.

Please remember:

When writing to Roleta1@aol.com

When emailing me, please include your name, school and year you did or would have graduated. I can’t remember all of you, sorry.

Thank you.

FIRST DATE TO MARK ON YOUR CALENDAR

WI ANNUAL PICNIC

From: Penny Shanaman Donnelly (WI 64)

Chairman, Picnic Committee

donnelly.jennie@yahoo.com

I want everybody to mark their calendars for August 26, 2017 for the yearly picnic at the VA Park Follow the signs to the Osborne Pavilion (same as years past—across from the amphitheater). We have great plans for food and items for the giveaways.

Since we had some hefty donations last year, we decided to share the wealth. We will provide chicken wings, Cole slaw, baked beans and pasta salad. In addition to water, we will have lemonade and iced tea. Those attending can bring their favorite dish to share with us as well, especially those scrumptious desserts. Those coming from afar can bring chips, dips etc that can be picked up at the local grocery store and I sure hope someone brings pepperoni rolls.

If you have any suggestions for other food items we can provide, please let me know. As always, plates, utensils, cups, ice and napkins will be provided.

I have already started collecting several items for our giveaways. We will have items for men and women so be sure to get your tickets when you sign in.

Hope to see lots of classes represented.

SECOND DATE TO MARK ON YOUR CALENDAR

WI CLASS OF 1961

ANNUAL DINNER

Friday August 25, 2017

6:00 pm

Twin Oaks Restaurant

COST:

You will be responsible for your own dinner, drinks and tip.

QUESTIONS or RSVP:

Patty Hickman Cravey               or                John Teter

patanncravey@gmail.com                               jateter@aol.com

CLOTHES YOU WORE TO HIGH SCHOOL

From: Toni Sprouse Erchak (VHS 57)

RE: Clothes we wore in 1957. This photo is me with my full skirted crinoline and my friend, Pattie Weekley, wearing a straight skirt and sweater.

It was also very cool to wear a pink sweater or pink cardigan buttoned in front or backwards with a white dickie and a charcoal skirt. Boys also wore pink v-neck sweaters and charcoal, pegged pants. Then there was the trend for “squeeze me” elastic belts…back when we actually had a waist. Also brief fad was to wear a belt with a plastic photo holder attached, where you put a photo of your current boyfriend. Of course, the bobby sox and loafers and your boyfriend’s letter sweater. (below) Dave Villers was not my boyfriend, we were just having a coke.

From: Jackie Skinner King (WI 71)

The newsletter is awesome, thank you so much.

Re: Growing up in the 1950’s, as one of your other readers was discussing. Although she grew up in the 40’s, we were the same way in the 50’s .We would go out to play and the only requirement was to be home when the street lights come on. I lived on South 7^th Street. Lowndes hill was my back yard. We would go out and ride bikes, or hike up on Lowndes Hill. We even played games “in the street” like Red Rover or Dodge Ball or Hide and Seek. We kept busy all day and would go home maybe for lunch if not eating at a friend’s house then go home for dinner when the street lights came on. If someone was needed before that “MOM” would go out on the front porch and holler for you to come home and if your mom didn’t have a loud enough voice, another mom would help out. We would also walk to the neighborhood store “Ryder’s Grocery” on 5^th Street to meet friends or go pick up something needed at home. We would walk to Towers Grade School, Central Jr. High, and WI. While at WI we did not have a cafeteria so we would walk downtown at lunch and get Pepperoni Rolls and donuts from the bakery. Great times and a great place to grow up. We were truly blessed

2017 WIN SCHOLARSHIP

QUILT WINNER WRITES

From: Dr. and Mrs. Dale E. Palmer Dale (both WI 59)

My husband and I are from Clarksburg, WV. He's a retired Optometrist and I retired from a WV State Board of Examiners as Administrative Secretary.

I was so surprised to have won. My husband put my name on the tickets without my knowledge.

Thank you!  The quilt is lovely.  I couldn't be happier. I like bright colors and each square is special. I remember some of the patterns from the past.

I appreciate every stitch it took to complete it. We will cherish it forever.

Thanks, Barbara and Dale

EDITOR’S NOTE: Pictured below are the happy winners, Dale and Barbara with the 2017 WIN Scholarship Quilt.

Sorry this photo is so blurry

1962 CLASS MEMORIAN

Can be made for your class, too

From: Tim Cork (WI 62)

tpcork@bellsouth.net

Here is something I put together for the WI Class of 1962. For best viewing, right click on the picture above, choose 'save image as' to add it to your computer files,   and then you can open the picture from your computer to view it larger. 
I would like to do one for other classes, but I don't have complete information. If someone would send me a complete list of deaths for any given class, I would be happy to do this for their class. Just send the year of your class and the names of the deceased in your class. I will work it up for you and we will publish it in the newsletter too.

tpcork@bellsouth.net

JUNE MYSTERY PICTURE

From: Gladys Williams (WI 71)

It is Compton Bowling Lanes on old Rt. 50 East of Clarksburg. When I taught Physical Education at Bridgeport High School, we would take our Physical Education classes there to bowl. I've also been there for family birthday parties for children. It is the only bowling alley in the Clarksburg area now.

From: Arreta Radcliffe Jaranko, (WI 40)

The Mystery picture is the Compton Bowling Alley at the bottom of Bridgeport hill. I never bowled but my brother Darrell's wife, Joan Morris Radcliffe, was quite a bowler. She was on a team and bowled every week. That was a busy place. Thanks for staying with the Newsletter.

From: Justin Jerry Hustead (WI 63)

Looks like Compton Bowling alleys. I remember working across Rt. 50 at WHAR on a Sunday evening when we were required to play elevator music. All of the disc Jockeys would rotate working a Sunday evening. Compton’s was the closest place to grab a bite to eat. You put on the longest 78 album you could find and run across the highway to Compton’s for a burger and back before the album ended. Unless you run back with your burger in a bag and can't find your key to get back in the station! This happened once; I looked in the control room window to see the album was on its last song. I also saw my key laying on the control desk. Fortunately I remembered leaving the control room back door open. Ran around back and made it just in time.

From: Toni Sprouse Erchak (VHS 57)

Again, I wish to congratulate you and your sister for such a great job on the newsletter.

The mystery photo is Compton Bowling Lanes. I lived in Summit Park for 19 years on Lewis St, which is the street above the lanes. The Lanes were built after I left home.

From: Jackie Skinner King (WI 71)

I have some fond memories of going to Compton Lanes with my dad, he was on a bowling league with Hope Gas Company and I would go with him there when I was little, As I got older, I would go there with many of our friends to bowl or just hang out together. I live in NC now and it is still the perfect safe hang out for kids. I drop my 15 yr old grandson off at the bowling lanes here in Winston-Salem about every Friday night to meet up with his friends. It is nice to know that some things really do go on thru the generations, 50-55 years later and the bowling alley is still a popular meeting place!!!

From: Lyle Corder (RW 57)

That was Compton Bowling Alley. The owners have lived next door to us for over 42 years. Sadly, Mrs. Compton passed away recently. They have really been great neighbors. They sold the Bowling Alley several years ago.

From: Bob Twigg (WI 55)

Looks like Compton Bowling Alley. I think everybody in the area went there at one time or the other. Don't think there is another one left in the area.

From: Bryan McIntyre (WI 65)

The mystery photo is Compton Lanes which was located at the foot of Bridgeport Hill near the Clarksburg city limits, across from WHAR Radio. I bowled in a teen league there on Saturday mornings in 1961-62. In 1964-65 when I was a weekend d.j. on WHAR, I would sometimes pick up a hamburger and coke from the snack bar coming to or going from work.

From: Bob Alton (VHS 55)

The June mystery picture is the Compton Bowling Alley (Lanes) at the foot of Bridgeport Hill.

Still enjoy and recognize the hard work you do to help us “silver-hairs” remember some fond memories and old friends.

From: Jim Alvaro (WI 56)

I believe the June Mystery Picture is that of Compton Bowling Alley at the foot of Old Bridgeport Hill. I think it may still be there. My brother Fred and I, along with my daughter and a couple of my granddaughters, went bowling there several years ago. What a fiasco that was. It sure was not like getting back up on a bicycle. I can remember the last time I bowled before that day was about 40 years prior. I bowled a 219. That is when I was bowling every week. We used to bowl at Jewel City (I believe that was the name) out past Stealey, late in the evenings when the cost was, was about 10 cents a line. There were several of us that took advantage of the late night special.

Getting back to the fiasco… My daughter and granddaughter out bowled Fred and I. With many gutter balls, I bowled in the 70's. I am not going to mention which of us had to use an apparatus, where you placed the ball on a metal frame, aimed at the center of the alley, let the ball roll down and guaranteed no gutter balls. We laughed until we were sick. I do not plan on taking up bowling anytime soon. However, I would go with my cousin Eddie DeMundo who has been bowling all his life. Maybe he could show me how to get out of the gutter and into the groove again.

From: David Ellis (WI 60)

Your June Mystery Picture immediately brought to mind a bowling alley, but I puzzled for a while over which one. My first impression was that it might be Jewel City Lanes that was located on Route 19 South, just across the river from the Veteran’s Hospital. But, the parking area does not look exactly like I remembered Jewel City. I think, therefore, that this must be the Compton Bowling Lanes that was located on Route 50 East, about halfway up the Clarksburg side of Bridgeport Hill.

From: Jim Rogers (WI 64)

The mystery picture is that of Compton Bowling Lanes located at the bottom of old Bridgeport Hill. Jewel City was the other Lanes across from former United Hospital Center.

Compton was started in 1961 and is still in existence. Several classmates of mine from 1964 (Gary Poling, Joe Caruso, Richard Harrison, and many others would go Bowling on Saturday Morning. I don't think either of us like Bowling, but it was something to do in the winter.

From: Chuck Wilson (WI 67)

The June mystery picture is the old Compton Bowling Alley, located on Rt 50 E. Bowled there a couple times when I was in HS. And I had relatives that bowled in a league there.

From: Randy Martin (WI 74)

Compton Lanes at the bottom of Bridgeport Hill is my guess. I only remember going bowling there once. Jewel City was closer to our home.

From: John Petitto (ND 64)

The June Mystery Picture is Compton Bowling Lanes at the foot of Bridgeport Hill.  Sorry, Roleta,  but I have never bowled in my life, so I have no memories of Compton's other than I knew it was there, and  before the by-pass up the hill you had to drive by it coming and going when you went to Bridgeport

From: Greg Merrill (WI 66)

The mystery picture is Compton Bowling Lanes on East Pike Street in Clarksburg. I grew up across the street at 1200 East Pike Street next to radio station WHAR that my father built in the 50's. Before the bowling alley was built, it was our neighborhood baseball field.(our "Sand Lot" field) -by the way it was filmed in Utah. On the back side there were two retaining walls about 15 ft. high and we used them like the "green Monster wall" or the vine left field at the old Forbes Field of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Eventually all of the kids went to Victory High School but living on the other side of the Bridgeport Hill Road; I went to Linden and Central Jr High and then Washington, Irving. Rode the City Bus most of the time (it was also only 10 cents) until I got my 56 Chevy my junior year at WI.

Once the bowling alley was finished, I got to know the manager and staff and would spend a lot of my spare time behind the pins in the little office of the Maintenance/pin ball boy. There was a side door (special knock) that would get me in during league play. During the day they would let me bowl for 10 cents a game (that it what they paid in a lease to Brunswick). I joined the bowling team and was on the house team and again they would let me practice for 10 cents a game. My sister Darla was also a frequent bowling and had one of the high averages for Jr. Bowlers in the City. Bowling treated me well....after graduating from WI, move to Logan, Utah and went to Utah State University. Joined the university bowling team and we traveled to various universities/colleges in the intermountain and west region. I met my wife to-be on the team as well. She was State Bowling champion in the State of Utah her senior year in High School and her freshman year at USU. We got married and were on various mix double teams in the region until the first of our four children arrived and we hung up the shoes and bowling balls.

Compton Lanes has some great memories for me.

From: Wayne White (WI 60)

The mystery picture is Compton Lanes Inc...Bowling Located on E. Pike St., Clarksburg WV, Inside it has Jackee’s Grill which serves American and Italian Food...Been a lot of Bowling Leagues formed and played there.

They stock apparel & accessories.

From: Steve Griffith (NDHS 60)

I have had my bedtime cocktail, but I am not too sleepy to recognize this picture as

Compton's Bowling Lanes, still operating today, but under the ownership of Jim Smith. 

From: Jim D Smith (Victory 62)

The June picture is Compton Lanes. It opened in Sep, 1961. I started working there in Summer of 1961 while I was still 16. (Turned 17 Sep 2). 51 years later in April, 2012 I purchased the land and business from Mr. Compton, now 95. I left the name the same to honor the owner who hired me when I was 16. He is now 95, and his name is Otha Compton, Jr..

JULY MYSTERY PICTURE

Recently while in central West Virginia, we were driving past a building and Bill said, “Look, Roleta, remember what that was?” When he told me I said, “I want a picture”! So here is the picture, the rest is up to you.

Can you identify this building? Tell me the name, location and share a memory of being there or something about this place. The building is still at the same location but the name has been changed. 

Please send your guess to Roleta1@aol.com.

Please remember:

When writing to Roleta1@aol.com

When emailing me, please include your name, school and year you did or would have graduated. I can’t remember all of you, sorry.

Thank you.

Only correct answers with a memory will be printed.

That life is like a roll of toilet paper. 

The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.

TIM CORK HAS DONE IT AGAIN

LIST OF ALL WI GRADUATES

From: Tim Cork (WI 62)

tpcork@bellsouth.net

Earlier in this newsletter you read one of the most recent endeavors that Tim Cork has completed. That being the IN MEMORIAN for his class and he is willing to do it for any class.

But here is something else he has worked up for us. It is a list of all of the graduates from WI. Just follow his instructions for the link he sent. This is a list of every person who ever graduated from WI.

You can look at this now but you can also return to the newsletter anytime and look at this file by clicking on the tab at the top of the page that says WI GRADUATES.

EDITOR'S NOTE: 
Please note that the OLD WEBSITE link is still available to our readers, however it has now been moved from the TOP TABS to the SIDE MENU (at the bottom of the SIDE MENU below the WI Newsletter Archives)

Instructions:

1. Open this link:

2. The grad listing will come up. Only Tim can make changes to this listing. If you see something that needs changed or you have something additional that can be added, please write to Tim at his email tpcork@bellsouth.net.

How to use the listing:

1. The left side of the gray divider is an alphabetical listing of all graduates and the year they graduated. Just scroll to find a name you're looking for and year is next to the name.

2. Then scroll the column to the right of the gray divider to find the year they graduated. The years are marked in Red and show all the other students in the class for that year, plus more.

EDITOR’S NOTE: We are adding this as a permanent addition to the newsletter. There is now a tab that you will be able to use as easily as the other tabs at the top of the WI Newsletter.

PARADE REPORTS

WEST VIRGINIA OFFICIAL STATE FOOD

From: John Teter (WI 61)

GREAT MEMORIES 

ON SEVERAL SUBJECTS

From: Terry Shorr (WI/Elkins 58)

Roleta,

You are amazing in your talent for stimulating memories, thoughts, and on occasion responses for the WI Newsletter. The June issue triggered a few for me.

Shinnston Tornado: I recall, if memory is correct, looking in the AAA window in the Waldo Hotel building at a fence post with a broom straw impaled in it from the tornado, probably my first physics lesson at the age of four.  From that date on, nothing is as frightening to me as a tornado.

Country Roads: I loved John Denver's music, particularly a 1981 album he made with Placido Domingo - Perhaps Love. But when WVU fans adopted Country Roads as the anthem for Mountaineer sports, I resisted, based on the lyrics relating to (EAST, by God) Virginia's Shenandoah River (I know, it touches Jefferson County) and Blue Ridge Mountains (they don't).  I felt the West Virginia connection wasn't authentic, and resisted singing the song at WVU rallies and after Mountaineer victories.

UNTIL... October 15, 2005. When Pat White and Steve Slaton debuted their amazing crowd thrilling skills in the triple overtime win over Louisville - still to me the most exciting football game I've seen - I sang heartily "Country Roads," and have ever since. I don't give a @#%$ about geographic nitpicking, THAT song is WVU Mountaineer property!

Different spelling of ancestors' names: My grandfather, Edward Shorr of Weston, had two brothers, John and George, both in Columbus, OH who spelled their names Schorr. Seems my granddad's signature obscured the "C" and my dad's, aunts' and uncles' birth certificates were likewise issued without. No matter hereafter as all of us male Shorrs have fathered only daughters. Anyway, being a beer lover, when I discovered the German beer, Hacker-Pschorr, Intrigued since the great-grandparents Schorr had emigrated from Germany, I asked my father if our name had once been spelled Pschorr. "Hell no," he said, "it used to be spelled Scherer." Regardless, I used to take Hacker-Pschorr Octoberfest to Mountaineer Field tailgates and tell people it was an old family recipe.

WI Cannon: Bill Lear's "Big Moe" cannon was after my time at WI, but I have a cannon story. After I emigrated to Elkins, I became a member of the West Virginia Highlanders bagpipe band, founded in 1947 by American Legion Post 29 and now sponsored by Davis and Elkins College. In 1963 I went with the band to the National Legion Convention in Miami Beach. The band at that time had a cannon party of six who wore khaki kilts rather than the MacLeod tartan and fired a civil war vintage cannon several times in each parade. After the big parade, my cousin, a member of the cannon party, told me to stick around as they were going to fire it one last time in front of our hotel, the St. Moritz. Two of us single guys had met two girls from Venezuela and were meeting them for drinks and begged off to go to our room to change. After arriving at our room we heard a tremendous blast and credited the cannon party for a job very well done. We soon discovered that a drunk had flipped a cigarette into a 5 lb can of black powder which exploded, sending several people to an ER. Fortunately, no one was killed and a couple had facial powder burns and one some permanent vision damage. I never again saw the cannon, which was dismantled, brought back to WV and sold. The cannon party, sadly, also was dismantled. The blast broke storefront windows more than a block away from the hotel.

Wendell Cramer and I met the two Venezuelan girls, who spoke very little English while we spoke less Spanish. I asked mine if she was in school. She said, "Que?" I responded with, "You know, studying," making gestures like turning book pages. She said, "No, no, no." I asked if she had a job. She said, "Que?" I responded with, "You know, go to work every day, office, etc." She said, "No, no, no." I said to her, "Oh, then you're independently wealthy." She said, "Que?" I responded with, "You know, very rich, mucho dinero." She said, "Oh, si, si, si." Then I said, "Great. Why don't we get married?" She said, "Que?" I answered, "You know, senor and senora, live in la casa." She said, "Oh, no, no, no." I said, "Why not? We could have a winter home in Caracas and a summer home in Elkins, West Virginia." She said, "Where?" And I responded, "Good argument..." True story.

Thanks for your very much appreciated efforts on our behalf.

Have something you would like to share with our newsletter readers?

Write to Roleta1@aol.com

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

Thank you.

...IN CLARKSBURG

From: Janet White Davis (WI 60)

I lived on Little Street in Clarksburg while my dad built our house at 967 Washburn Street, neighbors on Washburn were Susie and Bill Brookover and 2 doors down was Gary (WI 1960) and Kay Wamsley. My brother, Ron White (WI 1962) now lives in that house.  We went to Point Comfort Elementary School, which no longer exists, being replaced by a fire department. After marrying Bob Davis (WI 1959, deceased 12/2015) lived in Norfolk, VA while he was in the Navy then moved back to Clarksburg. Lived in 2 rooms and a bath in the upstairs over a lady on Waldeck Street, then a small house on 16th Street in North View until after our son was born, then moved to 410 Haymond Hwy., lived there for 7 years. We then bought a house in Bridgeport, lived there for 10 years before moving to Irmo, SC where I still live. My life is different and harder now, without Bob, but I try to keep busy with my church, bowling, and playing games with friends.

Roleta, thank you and all the others who help, for all the work you have done, for so many years in preparing the Newsletter.

From: James Strider (WI 55)

Harriett Stout’s June letter jogged the old memory cells. I remember having a brief conversation with her after her family bought our home. I remember her having dark hair, NOT short on words, quite cute and too young.

The Nancy she referred to is probably Nancy Byard (WI 1962?). Also Josephine Haught (WI 1962) lived down the street on Ryder Ave. Her aunt, Miss Jarvis, taut at WI. Also Ann Cole and Carol Findley, both WI 1964 lived within a house or two of Harriett.

As a buy the way, David Corbett (WI 1961) lived at 301 Ryder Ave also. I’m not sure of the Corbett’s time line. David’s older brother “Mac” was a good friend of mine.

Please note that the OLD WEBSITE link is still available to our readers, however it has now been moved from the TOP TABS to the SIDE MENU (at the bottom of the SIDE MENU with the WI Newsletter Archives)

BUZZ(Y) FLOYD

Victory H.S. 1956

From Bill Meredith (Monongah HS 57)

Like most of his many friends on Facebook, I was shocked to read a post last week from his wife telling us that Buzz Floyd was being moved from the hospital to hospice. I knew he had been in poor health for awhile, but he always seemed to "come out of it" in high spirits. This time, it was different. He wanted to go home from hospice and apparently was able to do so, but passed away shortly thereafter. It all happened way too quickly and I'm having a tough time accepting it.

You see, Buzzy, that's what I always called him, was my fraternity brother at WVU in the 50's. He had graduated from Victory High School, but was dating Martha Frye, who attended Washington Irving H.S. In the spring of 1958, Martha visited Buzzy in Morgantown for "Spring Fling" weekend. She brought along a friend and Buzzy arranged for me to be her "blind date". As you've probably guessed by now, that blind date was named Roleta Smith, who later became my wife. We are still together after over 59 years.

If my memory is correct, Buzzy left school and went to work for WBOY-TV in Clarksburg. He later moved to Las Vegas, where he worked in local television for many years until his retirement. I lost track of him until the dual miracles of the WI Newsletter and Facebook combined to help me rediscover my old friend.

We often talked of visiting him, but never took the time to do it. I'm really sorry that didn't happen. But, if you believe as I do, Buzzy may just be reading this. If he is, I'd like to tell him one more time how much I appreciate what he did for me. Through his efforts, I have had a long and wonderful life with the best girl in the world. And, by the way Buzzy, our Mountaineers should be fun to watch this fall, so keep an eye on them.

Your Brother in PiKA,

Bill Meredith

From Roleta Smith Meredith (WI 59)

Remember in Mythology we so often read about ambrosia being the food or drink of the Greek gods? 

Well, if there was food for the West Virginian gods in mythology, wouldn’t we read about their food? 

At a recent Meredith family reunion, with 47 present and held in Canaan Valley, we rented a home which slept 16. I had made 3 dozen pepperoni rolls for a snack treat for anyone interested. My youngest granddaughter (18 years old) was explaining the pepperoni roll to her boyfriend. She said, "Hey, NaNa, Will doesn’t know about pepperoni rolls, isn’t it a West Virginia thing?” I thought, it was first made in Fairmont, WV, so it is a “West Virginia thing”. Good enough to be “food for the Mythological gods” of West Virginia, don’t you think?

I thought you might be interested in this. And even though the author isn’t from Clarksburg, here is a write up about a book titled:

The West Virginia Pepperoni Roll
 “WVMetroNews” writes: Wellsburg native and WVU grad hopes newly published pepperoni roll book is “definitive”

MEMORIES OF ELLIS DRIVE-IN

From: David Ellis (WI 60)

This is one of the first pictures ever taken of the Ellis Restaurant. It is a 1951 picture. Later, the Sky Castle DJ Booth was added in an elevated booth on the left side of this picture.

Spaces for curb service were added within a year of this picture being taken. Later, posts with menus and speakers were added so customers could call in their orders.

To the immediate right of the edge of this picture is the area on Rt 50 where the Twin Oaks Restaurant and Town House Motel now stand.

Many will remember the front of the Restaurant looking much different after it was expanded twice and the Brothers Four Supper Club was later added in the 70's.

From: David Ellis (WI 60)

Born and raised in Clarksburg. My dad, along with his brothers owned the Ellis Drive-in Theater and Ellis Restaurant. The theater and restaurant were very popular spots beginning in 1951.

In the 50's and 60's the restaurant had real curb service with car hops bringing food out on trays that hooked to the car windows. We started out with customers giving orders to the waitress, and later added two way speaker phones so customers could push a button and give their order over the speaker phone.

The restaurant was on Route 50 east of Clarksburg next to where Twin Oaks and the Town House East Motel are located.

There is only a small portion of the restaurant structure still standing, and it is part of a landscaping business, I think.

The drive-in theater was directly behind the restaurant. Any semblance of the theater facilities is now gone and the land now contains some doctor offices and other commercial buildings.

I'll stop there, although I could write much more about the drive-in theaters and restaurants popular in the 50's and 60's. Maybe I will convert this excessively long response to your simple question about my name and class into an article or series for you to consider.

I enjoy the Newsletter very much.

EDITOR’S NOTE: I look forward to the series of memories that you will be sharing with us.

Write to Roleta1@aol.com

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

Thank you.

WHO ARE THESE KIDS?

Can you identify any of the people in this picture? Write your guesses to Roleta1@aol.com. Include your name and maiden name if it applies, along with the school and year you did or would have graduated. 

Write to Roleta1@aol.com

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

Thank you.

DID WI HAVE A CANNON?

From: Chris Wyatt (WI 71)

I too remember the cannon and Bill Lear. Bill was also instrumental in starting Stealey Pool. His son Bob and I went to school together from probably Kindergarten on. Jackie Skinner King and I went to WI together and we all graduated together. Fond memories of Bill, Bob and Jackie.

“THE PRODIGALS”

From: Bob Pugh (Elkins 61)

Back in 2008 you posted on the WI newsletter about “The Prodigals” and how most of them went to WI. I’m writing because I grew up in Elkins (graduated from high school in 1961) and we were frequently driving to Willow Beach back in (I think) ‘57,‘58 and ’59 (I heard that they tore it down, and it’s now a shopping center) to see Gerard Folio and The Prodigals. In the summer of ’58, the Shades were formed in Elkins, and I played keyboards occasionally, and then full-time beginning in ‘60. Also in ‘60 Chucky Collins sang with our band for about 6 months nice guy, very quiet and ohh what a voice.

You mentioned their “Marsha” and “Judy” (I love Judy), but are you aware of their other two recordings, “Vangie” and “Won’t You Believe”? (Just Google them to listen on YouTube.) “Won’t You Believe” is great. Finally, there is an excerpt from a book written about Doo Wop that I think you will enjoy. It tells “The Prodigals” story, I can’t provide a link here, but if you will Google “The Prodigals” Clarksburg, you will find a link to page 130 of a book called “Doowop: The Chicago Scene”.  In that book they say that they didn’t have a name for “Theme Song”, but I noticed a response to your WI posting back in 08 (by Cliff Judy) saying that Bill McCoy was called Theme Song and sometimes just “Themie”.

The Prodigals were the first that we knew to make a recording, so they were like celebrities to us. Oh Yeah, there was also the “El Salvador’s” from Fairmont who played at the “Melody Manor, they also did a show at the local American Legion in Elkins one night in what I think was ‘57 , it was a big deal for our small town. They were really good, and were also a kind of show band too.

Check out this link or this link

This is so interesting and with a great surprise!

From: Mary Beth Hilburn (WI 55)

Thank you so much for the wonderful newsletter. It is such fun.

My husband Paul was a Park Service ranger at several of the National Parks in Alaska. When he was out at Katmai on the Alaska Peninsula (if you’ve seen bears in the fall catching salmon, you’ve seen Katmai), he was responsible for letting the “fisher folks” know the rules of the waters. He met every float plane (everyone came in by float plane or boat), to let them know how to deal with the fearless bears in the river. The instructions included no barbs on hooks, so catch, take pictures, release, and most important, get the heck out of the dodge if a bear is attracted to the splashing catch. He was constantly concerned that he would not forget any of this, resulting in a person being injured or worse.

Once, a pilot landed late in the day. Paul met the plane and went into his checklist. He checked the pilot’s fishing license, his identification, gave him the “talk” and ended his shift. When he got back to the cabins all the other rangers asked, “What did you and John Denver talk about?” Mr. Denver just smiled as Paul went over his papers, not connecting the dots.

From: Carolyn Layfield Cady (WI 53)

The first time that I heard John Denver's "Country Roads", we were visiting my brother, Marvin, and his family in Houston, TX. My husband and I were in a camera shop buying film when that song played over the store music system. We were delighted and immediately had to buy and hear the whole song. His melodious voice and the song have always had special meaning to these displaced West Virginians.

WI GRAD WINS EMMY AWARDS

Above is a picture of David Bailey and his wife, Grace, taken in Detroit Michigan on June 10, 2017. David received three Emmy Awards for his news reporting, presented by the Michigan Broadcasters Association and the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. He won in the crime, politics, and transportation reporting categories. David has previously received an Emmy for his reporting in Michigan earning him an award as the best General Reporter in the state. He has also received various other awards for his stories, including Associated Press Awards.

David graduated in 1995 from Washington Irving High School as part of the very last graduating class of this school. He also graduated Cum Laude from Ohio University with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Communications. He has worked at various television stations across the country located in Macon, GA, Orlando, FL, and currently, for ABC news in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he lives with his wife, Grace, and their two children.  David is the son of Margaret Ann Heflin Bailey (WI 62).

1939 WI GRAD

ALMOST KILLED BY FRIENDLY FIRE

(HIS OWN!)

From: Dave Kuhl (WI 62)

Robert Hutton Spangler (1922-2004) WI class of 1939 entered the US Army 22 July 1942 for WW II at Patterson Field in Ohio and was trained as a nose gunner on a B-26.

Flying out of Libya and Sardinia, on one ill fated mission, the captain ordered the crew to prepare to crash. They assumed that they were behind enemy lines and proceeded as they had been trained. The bombardier had the duty to turn off electrical power to the high-speed gyros in the classified Norden bombsight.

As the nose gunner, it was Bob’s duty to wait as long as possible for the gyros inside the bombsight to slow down and then place his 45 automatic pistol against the bombsight casing, protect his face with his free arm and pull the trigger to destroy the highly classified device so that the enemy could not retrieve it and use it against us.

Unfortunately, the new bombardier was nervous and failed to do his duty. When Bob pulled the trigger the bombsight caste metal housing violently exploded sending pieces of metal and small gyros rotating at full speed in the 800,000 rpm range flying about the compartment like shrapnel.

Bob told me the story in 1965, so he obviously survived the experience. Even then, some 22 years later, he was still angry with the bombardier. He also exhibited many signs of PTSD where he would wake up in the night swinging at an unseen enemy. Everyone in the family knew to stand back if they had to wake him. Bob told me other war stories which I will save for another time. He may have been shot down as many as three times.

Bob was the middle brother of the three Spangler brothers. Burt (1920- 2010), WI class of 1938, was on Omaha Beach on D-Day and was a regular contributor to the WI newsletter. Youngest brother Mirth (1924-2016), WI Class of 1942 served in the infantry in the Philippines in a unit designated by MacArthur as the “Avengers of Bataan”. Mirth contracted malaria in the Philippine jungles and suffered from it until his death.

Their mother was Lena Estelle Kuhl Spangler (1901-1995) WI Class of 1919. Their uncle was my father, Mirth H. Kuhl (1905-1989) WI class of 1923.

CORRECTIONS

Mary Ann Hite Williams (WI 52) and Gordon Williams (WI 50) grw.mahw@gmail.com

Albert (Al) Cox (Bridgeport 60) anewtc2@aol.com

Dave Ferraro (Bridgeport HS 55) dbferraro1@gmail.com

Bobbie Grossa Ferraro (Bridgeport HS 55) dbferraro1@gmail.com

 SOMETHING TO ENJOY

Just click on this hyperlink and select the date. 

Then click on the answer and listen!

This one's a keeper.

It plays the song that was Number One on the day you were born or any other date of significance to you. 

Play around and have fun!

GETTING TO SCHOOL

From: Jody Buffington Aud (WI 77)

You asked how I got to school.  In grade school, we walked to Morgan. About 35 years later my sister and I decided to walk the route to see how long it was. We were sure it was at least 2 miles!! We made it there in 10 minutes, meaning it was about ½ mile, we had a good chuckle about that. When I got to Central I usually got a ride with my dad to school. We didn’t have school bus service from my house. Again, if Morgan was 2 miles away then it was only reasonable to assume that Central was 10 miles!! Early on in seventh grade, I was always getting up late and my dad used to threaten that he would leave without me. I took incredible advantage of his patience until one day he actually DID leave without me. I’ve been an early riser ever since.

Coming home from Central, I would generally jump on a city bus that got me halfway home. City buses ran in any kind of weather too – and back then if the city buses could make it out, then there was school. I think that is a long time before they discovered “liability”. Anyway, my sister and I joke that snow had to be up to the butt of a tall Indian for them to call off school back then. Today, I live in the Baltimore, MD area. We are notorious for calling off school if someone simply smells snow in the air – necessitating a run on the grocery store for milk and toilet paper.

Once I got to WI, I began getting rides to school from older siblings and friends who could drive. I look back at the places we parked our car on that hill and know that’s why I can now parallel park so well. I taught my oldest daughter to do it in one afternoon with the construction cones and a mop handle sticking out so she could see what she was doing. I made it JUST big enough for her car to get into the spot. When she took her driving test she was so nervous about the parking part. Then, she saw that they gave her about two car lengths to work with. She aced it!

CLARKSBURG STREET NAMES

From: Carolyn Reynolds Burnside (WI 52)

Nicholas and Carpenter Streets should be included in origins of street names. By the way, I am a descendant of Nicholas Carpenter on the Reynolds side. That horrible Mental Mathematics once a week in seventh grade, I didn't try to solve a problem. I can't remember the teacher's name, that's all best forgotten.

That is a City Lines bus token for a 10 cent (I think) fare to ride the bus.  Finally, the Clarksburg League for Service sponsored the Follies with the Rockettes.  It's always fun to catch up on your news.

  

JUNE 20 1863

WEST VIRGINIA DAY

From David Ellis (WI 60)

In the June Newsletter, you had a short article about West Virginia Day, June 20. It brought to mind my first job (from which I did not retire until 2017), which was working for the Public Service Commission of West Virginia. I started work on June 19, 1963. At the end of the day, I mentioned to a few fellow employees that I would see them “tomorrow”. They informed me that “tomorrow” was a holiday and we would not be working. I asked them if they meant it was a paid holiday, and they said yes. I thought that was a great job, I worked for one day and immediately got a paid day off.

I remember the next day well, because it was June 20, 1963, the 100th birthday of the State. It was raining that day, but I joined a large crowd at the State Capitol Building because President John F. Kennedy visited Charleston that day. His opening remarks were:

“The sun does not always shine in West Virginia, but the people always do, and I am delighted to be here.”

The President also mentioned the 1960 Primary where he won a hard fought campaign in West Virginia, when many believed that a Catholic could not win in a Southern State. There were a lot of people at that time saying that his win in the WV Primary was the signature win he needed in 1960 that would carry him on to get the Democrat nomination. He remembered that campaign, and the importance of the win in West Virginia, saying:

“I would not be where I now am, I would not have some of the responsibilities which I now bear, if it had not been for the people of West Virginia. And therefore I am proud to come back here on this rainy day and salute this State and join you in committing West Virginia and the country to another 100 years of progress. I salute West Virginia and I join you, and I will carry on Saturday when I go to Europe the proud realization that not only mountaineers, but also Americans, are always free.”

The picture attached is JFK standing next to then-Governor William Wallace (Wally) Barron. Our entire Congressional delegation was present that day, but the picture shows only Senator Robert C. Byrd (far right over the Governor’s shoulder).

Probably too long for your Newsletter, but if anyone is interested, the entire text of JFK’s remarks that rainy West Virginia Day are:

“The sun does not always shine in West Virginia, but the people always do, and I am delighted to be here. In many other places this crowd would long ago have gone home, but this State was born in a period of difficulty and tension. 1863 was marked by three extraordinary events--the birth of this State, the Emancipation Proclamation, and the Battle of Gettysburg.

This State was born to turmoil. It has known sunshine and rain in a hundred years, but I know of no State, and I know this State well, whose people feel more strongly, who have a greater sense of pride in themselves, in their State and in their country, than the people of West Virginia. And I am proud to be here today.

I am proud to come here today to join you in saluting the birth of this State. I am proud to join you in telling the United States what West Virginia stands for. And I am proud to join you with the same hope for the future of this State in 1963 that you must feel.

When I was here in 1960, West Virginia had all of the difficulties that had affected it for so many years. This State still has many problems, and so does this country, but where in 1960 West Virginia was at the bottom--50th in percentage of attention it received from the National Government-it is a fact that in 1963 it has moved up to 30th. This State has cut unemployment in half. There is still too much unemployment, but I believe that West Virginia and the United States have a bright future.

I would not be where I now am, I would not have some of the responsibilities which I now bear, if it had not been for the people of West Virginia. And therefore I am proud to come back here on this rainy day and salute this State and join you in committing West Virginia and the country to another 100 years of progress. I salute West Virginia and I join you, and I will carry on Saturday when I go to Europe the proud realization that not only mountaineers, but also Americans, are always free.

Sports Editor: Bill Meredith

billmere@aol.com

WEST CHANGING TEAMS

Below is an article concerning Jerry West moving his expertise from the Golden State Warriors to the Los Angeles Clippers organization. Maybe he can work his magic for the Clippers, like he has done for the Lakers and Warriors. Jerry apparently doesn’t know what the word retirement means. Stay Tuned.

Report: Jerry West is leaving the Warriors to join the Clippers s to take a similar job with the Los Angeles Clippers, SI.com has learned. West, who turned 79 as the NBA Finals began, made his decision over the last couple of weeks.

Known as the architect of two Laker championship teams as a general manager (Showtime in the decade of the 80s and the Kobe-Shaq threepeaters at the beginning of the century), West was not in a decision-making capacity with the Warriors. But he was a respected voice on personnel matters as Golden State turned from a laughingstock to a model franchise.

The Golden State Warriors have reportedly suffered their first significant loss of the off-season.

According to a report from Jack McCallum of SI.com, NBA legend Jerry West has agreed to leave his position as a special consultant with the Golden State Warriors in order to accept a position with the Los Angeles Clippers.

After six years as a special consultant, Jerry West is leaving the Golden State Warriors to take a similar job with the Los Angeles Clippers, SI.com has learned. West, who turned 79 as the NBA Finals began, made his decision over the last couple of weeks.

Known as the architect of two Laker championship teams as a general manager (Showtime in the decade of the 80s and the Kobe-Shaq threepeaters at the beginning of the century), West was not in a decision-making capacity with the Warriors. But he was a respected voice on personnel matters as Golden State turned from a laughingstock to a model franchise.

While losing guidance of someone the likes of West is enough of a loss in itself, the fact that Golden State is seeing the man who helped bring Kevin Durant to the Bay Area leave for a division rival only makes West's decision that much more difficult to stomach.

With plenty of major decisions on the way for the Clippers this summer, it seems clear that Steve Ballmer is looking to make sure he receives some of the best advice possible before signing off on any decisions. The Golden State Warriors have reportedly suffered their first significant loss of the off-season.

From: Bob Pugh (Elkins HS 61)

Bill: I wanted to let you know that while in high school I played football and remember at least two of your WI players that I played against Bob Secret and Gene Donaldson. Both were really good running backs Secret was fast and elusive, while big Gene would just run over you. Once, after tackling Gene he got up, glared at a couple of us and said,"I'm gonna’ tear down your playhouse". We didn't laugh because we were pretty sure he meant it, LOL. I know that Gene went on to play at Purdue with the guy that I replaced on keyboards with The Shades, Nat Jackson. Lots of great memories of high school, including games in your city against WI, Victory, and RW. We went 8-1-1 in 1960 losing only to Parkersburg, with a tie in the Victory game.

Reply to Bob:

It is good to hear from another Elkins grad. Terry Shorr writes to us often. Although I was not fortunate enough to have played against Bob or Gene, I have heard nothing but great things about both of them. I lived in a different county, but was very aware of their accomplishments at WI.

I often saw the Elkins HS basketball team when they played at Colebank Gymnasium in Fairmont against Fairmont Senior (West). My brother-in-law was a Polar Bear fan and took me to several games each year. I think the coach for Elkins at that time was Frank Wimer. Does that sound right? I also have fond memories of a player at WVU named Mack Isner, who was from Elkins. He played in the 50's and I listened to every game, which Jack Fleming so ably described. Unfortunately, Mack passed away earlier this year.

Finally, I've always had a soft spot in my heart for Elkins. Not only do I enjoy visiting there, but my Mother graduated from Elkins HS. I still have a picture of her graduating class, which dates around 1918.

Thanks for your comments. I look forward to hearing from you again soon.

From: Terry Shorr (WI/Elkins 58)

Guess it's not unusual for a guy in such a high profile job as a major college athletic director to have both strong supporters and fierce detractors. Thus Oliver Luck fits the mold for his contributions in getting WVU into the Big 12 over Mitch McConnell's alma mater, and for his unfortunate handling of Bill Stewart's termination, though I believe he was trying to be kind to Stewart. Some may think the Big 12 affiliation was wrong, but I much prefer that conference over whatever the heck the old Big East is now called (most couldn't tell you how many teams are there, let alone name them all). And no one should expect WVU to be left out in the cold with any future realignment. BTW, for those detractors of the late Coach Stewart, I'd remind them that he was the one who recruited and signed Geno Smith, Tavon Austin, and Stedman Bailey, and he has a better winning percentage than all WVU coaches in the past 100 years but for Clarence "Doc" Spears. And Stewart won twice as many bowl games as Spears.

Luck has to be given credit for Dana Holgorsen, who's maturing in many positive ways, notably recruiting and hiring of assistants, several with prior WVU tenure. Likewise, Randy Mazey, who has the Baseball program on a rising trajectory. Luck also hired Sean Covich who seems to be developing a fine golf program (just announced that WVU will bring the 2019 Big 12 Golf Championship to The Greenbrier!), and Sammie Henson, who brings strong credentials to Wrestling. (Too soon to either new coaches Reed Sunahara (Volleyball) and Miha Lisac (Women’s Tennis), yet there is promise.) Luck's leadership led to the new baseball stadium and major improvements in football and basketball facilities

There are those who thought ill of Eddie Pastilong, but he hired Bob Huggins (2010 Final Four), Jon Hammond (six National Championships in 10 years), Nikki Izzo-Brown (National Runner-up), and Mike Carey (Ranked Women's basketball team).

I believe the current success of the WVU Athletic Department as a whole is a product of not just the administration, coaches and players, but has to be credited in great part to alums and fans like us who provide emotional and financial support. It probably doesn't hurt that WVU is the only game in town (sorry, Marshall) for a small and poor state with a chip on our shoulder (no respect, last in many good rankings and first in too many bad, the old "West, by God" thing, etc. No pro teams to compete with (in begrudged fairness to Pitt, that's a factor in our fans outnumbering theirs at football games IN Pittsburgh).

Just announced was the transfer of Miami QB Jack Allison to WVU. Since 2013, Holgorsen has somehow attracted quarterbacks from Florida State (Clint Trickett, who did us proud), Florida (Will Grier, Parade Magazine 2014 Player of the Year), and now Allison, a four star recruit who will have three years of eligibility after sitting out 20 17. Do we have QB play to look forward to, or what?

Consider the team that Huggs has returning, including National defensive player of the year Jevon Carter, Kentucky antagonist Daxter Miles, Four Star Esa Ahmad, beast Sagaba Konate, and shooter Lamont West. Anyone who hasn't should Google 2018 commit Jordan McCabe. The only players I have watched who can shoot, handle the ball, and pass as well are Pistol Pete Maravich and Stephen Curry. While you're at it, check on clips of 2019 prospect Maceo Austin, from the same PA school that gave us Konate. I can't wait for the next few BBall seasons.

Mountaineer fans of our "chronoligically giftedness" vintage have never come close to the successes we've enjoyed in recent years. Here's hoping we all last long enough to see a national championship in football and / or basketball.

Just my thoughts. Thanks, Bill, for spurring the interest in Mountaineer and other WV sports.

Reply to Terry:

What a great letter. You've covered it all. I agree with what you say about Luck. As for Stewart, I really hated the way that turned out. He deserved better. I also like the looks of the offense in football for the foreseeable future. Hopefully, the defense will catch up.

I have watched a few film clips on Jordan McCabe. I can't wait to see him at WVU.

Thanks for your comments. It's always good to hear from you.

Bill (billmere@aol.com)

From: John Teter (WI 60)

I am sorry that I cannot provide more input to your SPORTS SECTION of the newsletter, but the only sport that I normally pay a lot of attention to is NASCAR and COLLEGE FOOTBALL. College football is on break right now, and you do not seem to have any articles on NASCAR.

Reply to John:

As I mentioned in my reply to you earlier, you have certainly supported the newsletter over the years and we appreciate it. I must admit that even though I do follow NASCAR events, I would not be considered a big fan. However, I'm sure that many of our readers follow the sport closely. If anyone writes to us about any sports subject, we will publish it. So, come on NASCAR fans, let us hear from you.

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. recently announced his retirement as a driver at the end of 2017. Why did he decide to leave? It seems to me that he is the top superstar driver on the circuit. Maybe someone can help me on this. Please send your comments to:

Bill (billmere@aol.com)

From: Lyle Corder (RW 57)

I was in that class of 57 at WVU with you and Mike. Mike even stopped at our little house one time. His beloved friend Andy was with him. I always have to remind people that the basketball team of 57-58 was probably the best team ever. If Vincent hadn't broken his leg in the Southern Conference Tournament, we probably would have been National Champions.

Reply to Lyle:

I couldn't agree with you more. They finished 26-2, losing to Manhattan in the NCAA tournament. They really missed Don Vincent in that game. West was the star, but Vincent, who was from Shinnston, was the glue that held it all together. Other members of that team (not pictured) included Willie Akers (I had an English class with him), W I's Bob Clousson and Jim Warren, Bucky Bolyard from little Aurora, WV, Don Eddy from Fairmont, Jay Jacobs from Morgantown, who currently assists Tony Caridi with WVU basketball broadcasts and Ronnie Retton from Fairview (Mary Lou's father, who I was fortunate enough to have played against). I could form a pretty good team with just these guys and they were all from West Virginia.

Thanks, Lyle for reminding us of what was probably my favorite college basketball team of all time. By the way, I don't remember ever missing seeing a home game in the old field house that season. Magical times.

Bill (billmere@aol.com)

ANOTHER WV COACHING LEGEND

I always try to read the Charleston Gazette/Mail sports section every morning. I especially enjoy reading columns by Mitch Vingle, since I played sports with his father in high school. I seem to agree with most of his thoughts on sports in general and WVU sports in particular.

Vingle wrote a column recently covering, "A State Born Legend You Might Not Know". His name is Ace Mumford, from Buckhannon. I admit that I never heard of him before this and it bothers me to realize that I'm probably not alone. Have any of you ever heard of Coach Mumford?

Here is the link to the article. We can now add another name to the list of great football coaches from the true "Cradle of Coaches", West Virginia.

Enjoy.

BACK TO THE 50's PART 2

In last month's newsletter, we shared the first half of an article which appeared in the May 6, 2017 issue of the BLUE & GOLD NEWS, written by Mike Snyder, WI 1957. Below is the second half of the article. I hope you enjoy reading this and it brings back pleasant memories. 

Enjoy more of Mike's stories about his youth, friends and experiences in his book (find it on Amazon here).

LIFE AT WVU USED TO BE VERY DIFFERENT

From: Mike Snyder (WI 57)

As conservative as we might have appeared in those days, remember that rock and roll was in its heyday and Friday and Saturday nights when we could have dates in the fraternity houses were very loud and raucous affairs fueled by alcohol and rock and roll dancing. There was a rock dancing competition two different years which were won by two of my frat brothers who danced with the same Fairmont coed rocker who was nicknamed Bouncy, believe it or not.

If I recall there were about 19 fraternities and sororities on campus. There was very spirited athletic competition throughout the year between the larger fraternities for the All-Year Cup which my fraternity, Phi Sigma Kappa, won for two of my years there. The Phi Sigs were also shut down socially for two years for parties that were too wild and out of control for the administration to overlook.

The sports that I remember we competed in were: basketball, volleyball, track, swimming and diving, and archery. I scored points for my fraternity in the last three events. Many of the athletes competing were all-staters, some of which could have competed in lower division college competition. We also had varsity athletes living in the fraternity houses. In ours were baseball and soccer players, a couple of track guys, a Southern Conference wrestling champion, and several football players including Jim “Shorty” Moss, the Mountaineer running back. Shorty was a guy we all thought a lot of, not just because he was a top-notch athlete, but he was friendly and easy going, and always seemed to have a confident grin on his face. Shorty went on to become a Marshall football coach who lost his life in that team's horrific plane crash in 1970.

Another big event on campus worth noting was one that brought out a very positive aspect of fraternities. The annual Mother's Day Sing competition held in the Field House. We practiced hard for several months and then donned tuxedos or dinner jackets and tried to sing like the angels for our moms whom we escorted afterwards back to the frat houses for a dinner banquet in their honor.

Also I would like to pay tribute to the 1960-61 Mountaineer mascot Bill McPherson from Parkersburg. All male students were required to take at least two years of Army or Air Force ROTC. We had to wear our uniforms every Tuesday and Thursday. Some students spent two more years in ROTC and graduated as officers. Bill McPherson was one of them. He lost his life while serving in combat early in the Vietnam War.

I have to admit that I let my studies slip at times during my years at WVU. I was booted out of the University three times for bad grades. In 1961-62 I was on active duty in the USMCR which shaped me up so much that when I returned to the University my grades shot up above the 3.0 mark and I earned my AB degree in history. I graduated in the summer of 1963, packed a knapsack and headed for Europe. My travels that fall and winter took me from Norway to Morocco and when I returned home in January 1964 I was without a dime to my name.

My life took a lot of turns in a lot of different jobs and places afterwards, many of which were very unconventional. But eventually my path lead me back home to West Virginia, and later at age 40, I graduated  WVU grad school earning a master's degree and spent three rewarding decades as a school teacher. My wife Jill and I raised our son and daughter here in the mountains near Harman in Randolph County where I continue to write, hunt and fly fish, blacksmith, and raise heritage apples.

Montani Semper Liberi

THINGS TO WRITE ABOUT

FOR THE AUGUST ISSUE

Write to Roleta1@aol.com

Here are some suggestions:

1. Memories of starting school any year and any school.

2. The Prodigals or any other Rock Band in Clarksburg.

3. Where did you live in Clarksburg when growing up and what have you been doing since high school, where are you now?

4. How I got to school. Did you walk? How far did you walk? What was your path to school? Did you ride a bus? Where did you catch the bus?

5. Growing up: Do you think you grew up in the best of time? Why?

6. Bowling Alleys in Clarksburg: How many were there and where were they located? Did you bowl? Were there adult leagues? Was Clarksburg bowling ever televised?

7. Memories of Ellis Drive-In or any other Drive-In.

8. The July Mystery Picture

9. Any reply about any subject in this newsletter.

10. Let’s tell our memories about a teacher. Who would you like to read about? Write and suggest the name of a teacher.

11. What would you like to read about in the newsletter? Do you have any suggestions?

Write to Roleta1@aol.com

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

Thank you.

 

JAMES BENNETT

From: Harriett (Danley) Van Voorhis (WI 1958)

I wrote in May of 2015 to tell of my sister (Gerry Danley Bennett's) death to anyone who was fortunate enough to have known her. She graduated in the W.I. Class of 1952.

Now sadly, I am writing for the same reason about her husband, Jim Bennett, who died June 1, 2017. Jim was also a member of the W.I. Class of 1952. He was a devoted husband to Gerry, and missed her terribly. They were happily married for 61 years and had 2 children, 3 grandchildren, and 1 great grandchild.

Rest in Peace together Gerry and Jim!

DONALD EUGENE SUMMERS

Donald Eugene Summers, 80, passed away on Sunday, June 4, 2017.

He was born in Clarksburg, WV, on October 25, 1936, a son of the late Harry and Bonnie Kemper Summers.

He married his wife of 58 years, Eva Mae Butcher Summers, on June 1, 1958.

Also surviving are one son, David Summers; one daughter, Becky (Marty)George; and two grandchildren. In addition to his parents, Mr. Summers was preceded in death by one sister, Peggy Keefer.

Donald graduated from Victory High School, and received his Bachelors of Science degree from Fairmont State College. He formerly worked at Anchor Hocking as a glassworker, and retired after 10 years of service as a Tax Auditor for the state of West Virginia.

Mr. Summers attended the Church of the Nazarene. He was an avid WVU sports and Pittsburgh Steelers fan.

GARRETH BROCK CRABTREE

Garreth Brock Crabtree, born in Birkenfeld, Germany, formerly from Clarksburg, West Virginia, passed away on May 26, 2017.

Garreth was the son of Brock and LaDonna Crabtree, the brother of Kayla, Krista and Kara Crabtree, and the proud father of Braxton Crabtree.

Garreth graduated from Liberty High School in 2009. During that time, he won many awards in wrestling. These include Big Ten champ, Viking smash champ, and runner-up Region II champ. After graduation, he worked as an electrician. Garreth also was an avid snowboarder, loved to hunt and fish and was a skilled water skier.

Garreth will always be remembered for his incredibly big heart, infectious personality and a beautiful smile that would warm your heart. He will always be remembered as the brother, dad, son, friend who inspired us to love deeply, laugh loudly, and to cherish the ones close to you.

MARY W. COUNTS

Mary W. Counts, 74, of Reynoldsville, WV, passed away on Thursday, June 1, 2017, at home.

She was born in Baltimore, MD, on September 17, 1942, a daughter of the late Pete Gallo and Floda Hope (Davis) Gallo Knapp.

Mary is survived by her husband of 30 years, Farley R. Counts.

In addition to her husband, Mary is survived by six children: Tammy Mickey, Tonya Krivosky (Duane) Terry Yeager (Scott) Tommy Fury (Kathy), Timmy Fury (Tina), and Tricia Fury (Mike),one stepdaughter, Misty Counts; seven siblings: Sarah Gallo Freddie Gallo, Faith “Chick” Dixson, Mike Gallo, Dawn Godfrey Angela Adams, and JoLee Gallo; nine grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; as well as several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, Mary was preceded in death by one brother, Richard “Dickie” Gallo.

Mary was a graduate of Victory High School and attended West Virginia Business College and WVU.

She worked at Salem Glass, then Louie Glass for 29 years, and later retired from Laborers Local 984, where she enjoyed her favorite job as a “flagger.”

Mary was an avid Mountaineer football fan and enjoyed going to games, and also going to stock car races..

Mary was a member of the Women’s Auxiliary of the Reynoldsville Volunteer Fire Department, and was all around very involved and helpful to others.

HARVEY L. PRESTON

Harvey L. “Bud” Preston, Jr. 74, of Elkins, formerly of Lumberport, passed away on Saturday, May 13, 2017 at his home following a sudden illness. He was born on October26, 1942 in Clarksburg, a son of the late Harvey L. Preston, Sr. and Lois Hathaway Preston. Mr. Preston is survived by his first wife June Preston, whom he married in 1968 and their three children, Steve (Julie) Preston; Stephanie (Jessica) Preston; David (Jessica) Preston; second wife, Marjorie Clifford Preston; and their daughter, Heidi Kanitz and her husband Bob; brother, William (Karen) Preston; sister, Martha Carr; and several grandchildren. He graduated from Victory High School in Clarksburg in 1960. Upon graduation he attended WVU with a major in Forestry. Mr. Preston then joined the U.S. Navy aboard the U.S.S Perkins as a radar man. Following his discharge in 1967, he was employed with the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company. Mr. Preston attended in 1969 the West Virginia Police Academy. In 1985, he trained at the U.S. Government Police Academy in Little Rock, AK. Mr. Preston was a West Virginia State Trooper, and a security officer at United Hospital Center. Mr. Preston received his HVAC certification in 2007. Mr. Preston was an avid hunter and a member of the National Rifle Association. Mr. Preston was Baptist by faith. Mr. Preston will be cremated at his request.

PAUL LEHOSIT

Paul Joseph Lehosit, 82, of Clarksburg, WV, passed away Friday, June 9, 2017, at his residence surrounded by his loving family following a short-term illness.

He was born in Clarksburg on January 10, 1935, a son of the late Stephen and Anna Skocik Lehosit.

On March 30, 1957, he married his wife, Wilma Elaine Lehosit, of 60 years.

Also surviving are five sons, Paul Lehosit II and his wife Melody, Jeffrey Scott Lehosit and his fiancée, Patrick Lehosit and his fiancée Shara, Michael John Lehosit and his wife, and Jason Lehosit and his wife TracY; seven grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Paul was the last surviving member of his immediate family, having been preceded in death by brothers and sisters, Emil Lehosit, Anna Colombo, Steve Lehosit, Frances Peasak, Joe Lehosit, John Lehosit, Andy Lehosit, Margaret Lehosit, Genevive Morris, Mary Visokay, Agnes Lehosit, Willie Douglas, Theresa Dean and an infant brother.

Mr. Lehosit worked as a millwright for Fourco Glass, where he retired with 32 years of service.

He was 1953 graduate of St. Mary’s High School and later went on to attend two years of college at Glenville State College, where he was on scholarship for football having been nicknamed “slippery hips Lehosit.”

He was a United States Army veteran, serving as Company Clerk for 600 men from 1955 to 1958.

RALPH EDWARD COX

Ralph Edward Cox, age 90, of Clarksburg, WV, passed away Tuesday, June 6, 2017, at his residence.

He was born May 2, 1927, in Weston, WV, son of the late Ralph Dee Cox and Ethel Blanche (Robinson) Cox.

Ralph is survived by a daughter, Dianne Savina and her husband, Bryant; daughter-in-law, Cathie Cox; two grandchildren AND; three grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, Ralph was preceded in death by his wife, whom he married on June 5, 1947, Betty Marie (McCoy) Cox; a son, Terry M. Cox; a sister, Marie White; three brothers, John Cox, Bill Cox and Thomas Cox.

Ralph was a graduate of Washington Irving High School and attended Salem College. He began working for Consolidated Hope Gas in 1947 before his retirement. He was the financial analyst. He served in in the U.S. Navy.

 HARVEY L. PRESTON, JR.

Harvey L. “Bud” Preston Jr. 74, of Elkins, formerly of Lumberport, passed away on Saturday, May 13, 2017, at his home following a sudden illness.

He was born on October 26, 1942, in Clarksburg, a son of the late Harvey L. Preston Sr. and Lois Hathaway Preston.

Mr. Preston is survived by his first wife, June Preston, whom he married in 1968, and their three children, Steve Preston and his wife Julie, Stephanie Preston, David Preston and his wife Jessica; his second wife, Marjorie Clifford Preston, and their daughter, Heidi Kanitz and her husband Bob; brother, William Preston and his wife Karen; sister, Martha Carr; and several grandchildren.

He graduated from Victory High School in Clarksburg in 1960. Upon graduation, he attended West Virginia University with a major in forestry. He then joined the U.S. Navy, serving aboard the USS Perkins as a radar man. Following his discharge in 1967, he was employed with the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company. In 1969, he attended the West Virginia Police Academy. In 1985, he trained at the U.S. Government Police Academy in Little Rock, AK. Mr. Preston was a West Virginia State Trooper and a security officer at United Hospital Center. He received his HVAC certification in 2007. He was an avid hunter and a member of the National Rifle Association. Mr. Preston was Baptist by faith.

TIMOTHY LYN GOOTS

Timothy Lyn Goots, 48, of Clarksburg, passed away unexpectedly Tuesday, June 20, 2017.

He was born in Clarksburg Sept. 15, 1968, a son of the late John B. and Geraldine J. (Mayle) Goots.

Tim is survived by his wife of 16 years, Brandi DeAnn (Sandy) Goots.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Goots is survived by two sons, Cody A.M. Goots and Nikalus J.I. Goots, both at home; seven siblings, Barbara J. (Jim) Murray, Michael A. (Melissa) Goots, Paul D. (Robin) Goots and  Tina M. (John) Bulka, Tonia R.(Ken), Paula R. (Jimmy) Harris, and Angie McCartney; a special cousin, Kattie Moore; two special friends, Mike Audia II and Mike Tassos; mother-in-law, Rebecca (Dave) O’Brien; brother-in-law, Tim (Aimee) Gorby Jr.

In addition to his parents, Tim was preceded in death by one brother, John Francis Goots, and his father-in-law, Tim Gorby Sr.

Tim was a graduate of (Notre Dame 1986), and the PA Institute of Culinary Arts. He loved to cook and was most recently a chef with Maple Valley working at Pratt and Whitney. Along with his wife, he had also owned and operated Johnnie B’s restaurant. Tim was a “Grateful Dead” fan, an avid fisherman and enjoyed camping. He loved spending time with his family and friends and will forever be in their hearts

MARCIA JEAN GEIPE

Marcia Jean Geipe, 62, of Marshville, passed away Saturday, June 17, 2017, at her residence.

She was born Oct. 7, 1954, in Clarksburg, the daughter of Velma Louise (Wagner) Norman of Clarksburg, and the late Gerald Eugene Norman.

Marcia is survived by her husband of 34 years, Leon Geipe; two daughters, Stephanie Jean Gump, and Amanda Christine (Joseph) Johnson; two stepsons, Jonathan Baker and Leon Norman; stepdaughter, April (James) Moore, Michelle Gola; two brothers-in-law, James Geipe and Gale Glaspell; 10 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren,; and a niece, Tiffany Marie Elder.

Marcia graduated from Washington Irving at the age of 16.

She attended the Helen Keller School for the gifted and United Technical Center, where she received her nursing certification. Marcia was a talented piano and organ player, and she played the South Chestnut Street United Methodist Church in her younger years. Marcia was a loyal NASCAR fan and loved Dale Earnhardt No. 3. She loved to plant her garden and flowers.

ANN KNIGHT SHELBAER AMMONS

Ann Knight Shelbaer Ammons died on June 23, 2017 following a very difficult illness of a very aggressive non-small cell lung cancer. She was a resident of Biltmore Lake, NC.

Ann was born in Clarksburg, WV on June 28, 1943, daughter of William Norwood Shelbaer, Jr. and Martha Jane (Judy) Stealey Shelbaer. She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Larry Richard Ammons; a sister Barbara S. Strasser, nieces Elizabeth and Meredith and nephew Andrew; and brother Joseph G. Shelbaer, his wife Sherry and nephew Kye.

Ann graduated from WI high school in in 1961, received her BA in Chemistry with Honors from WVU in 1965 when she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. She received an MS in Chemistry from Purdue University in Indiana in 1974.

She taught at WI after college and then embarked upon a 32 year career with Eli Lilly and Company, first in West Lafayette, IN and then in Indianapolis, IN. She had assignments in Technical Services and Research but spent most of her career in Purchasing focusing on specialty chemicals for Research and Development. She served on International Regulatory committees. She retired in 2002.

Ann's interests included travel, gardening, reading and internet research. She travelled extensively in Europe, first with Lilly, then with Larry, friends and fellow gardeners from Indianapolis. She branched out and toured the world with her friends Marilyn and Sara. She became interested in hostas, developing a garden at her home in Indianapolis with more than 400 different varieties of hostas. This garden was featured on the 2007 American Hosta Society National Convention Tour. She was a past President of the Indianpolis Hosta Society. She became very active in the Buncombe County Master Gardeners and served as editor of the group's monthly newsletter.

BEVERLY BAILEY CHINNIS

Beverly Bailey Chinnis of Richmond, VA died on Monday June 2, 2017. She was the widow of Carter Cabell Chinnis. Mrs. Chinnis was born in Clarksburg, WV on April 17, 1937. She was the eldest daughter of the late Douglass Moxley Bailey and the late Marjorie Holden Bailey. Mrs. Chinnis was a graduate of Washington Irving in Clarksburg, WV; Colorado Women’s College, Denver, Colorado and the The University of N.C.  at Chapel Hill where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Education. During her time spent at UNC, Mrs. Chinnis was a member of Alpha Delta Phi Sorority and was awarded Miss Congeniality in the 1959 Miss Chapel Hill Pageant. She loved Europe and all things French and had a command of the French language. In 1958, Mr. Chinnis was selected as a US representative to the American Pavilion at the Brussels World’s Fair. The event was the first major international exhibition following the end of WW II and opened with a call for world peace. She accompanied world dignitaries such as Princess Margaret, Prince Ranier and Princess Grace (Monaco) and King Leopold III (Belgium) on guided tours. She sailed to Europe on the SS America and returned on the SS United States. After College, Mrs. Chinnis taught freshman and sophomore English at Petersburg HS in VA. She enjoyed returning to Clarksburg and reminisced about her youth in her childhood home, fond memories forged on the family farm and summers spent in the company of her loving aunts at Oral Lake. Mr. Chinnis often remarked how she felt comforted by the mountains of WV and how she derived her strength from the hills. She was a former member of The Junior League and the Woman’s Club of Richmond. Mrs. Chinnis was a long standing member of St Stephen’s Episcopal Church and volunteered at the May Fair House for over 30 years. She was also a member of the Country Club of VA, The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the Commonwealth of Virginia, The Jamestowne Society, Kinsdale Museum and the VA Museum of Fine Arts. Mrs. Chinnis was predeceased by her sister, Mrs, Connie Bailey Casto, formerly of St. Mary’s, GA. She is survived by two daughters, Leigh Ann (Robert) Watson, and Claire (Andrew) Hunter, two brothers The Rev. Dr. Douglass Moxley (Carolyn) Bailey and Gary Holden Bailey.; three grandchildren, 9 nieces and one nephew. Mrs. Chinnis is also survived by 2 stepchildren, Dr. Ann Short Chinnis, and Carter Cabell Chinnis.