Editor: Roleta Smith Meredith
Publisher: Jalon Smith Burton
CHARLES MORGAN FERRELL
Title: Nuclear
Engineer, Physicist
Location:
Gaithersburg, Maryland
Charles
Madison Ferrell, Nuclear Engineer and Physicist, has been recognized by Marquis
Who’s Who Top Scientists for dedication, achievements, and leadership in
nuclear engineering and physics.
A
celebrated figure in his industry, Mr. Ferrell has amassed more than 65 years
of professional excellence. A consultant in the field since 1995, he formerly
served the U.S. National Research Council as a nuclear engineer from 1974 to
1995. Prior to this appointment, he was a radiological physicist with the U.S.
Atomic Energy Commission from 1956 to 1974. He commenced his career as a
physicist and physical scientist with the U.S. Army Chemical Corps from 1951 to
1954.
To
prepare for his illustrious career, Mr. Ferrell earned a Bachelor of Science
from Salem College in 1950. He subsequently completed postgraduate coursework
at such academic institutions as Vanderbilt University, West Virginia
University, and the University of Maryland. Among his other notable
achievements, he was responsible for the design of instrumentation to measure
thermal radiation from nuclear tests, the study of gamma radiation shielding,
the evaluation of radioactive sealed sources and devices for atomic energy
commission licenses, and the evaluation of shipping casks for spent reactor
fuel. He has also been the coauthor of five U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
publications.
In
recognition of his contributions to the scientific industry, Mr. Ferrell won a
U.S. Atomic Energy Commission Radiological Physics Fellowship in 1954 and 1955.
In addition, he has won various volunteer service awards, as well as the James
E. West Fellow Award and Silver Beaver Award from the Boy Scouts of America.
The recipient of the Distinguished Citizen Outstanding Community Service Award
by the City of Gaithersburg in 2004, he was named to the Maryland Senior
Citizens Hall of Fame in 2001. Mr. Ferrell has been highlighted in several
editions of Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in Science and Engineering, and
Who’s Who in the World.
Sandra Squires
Beverly Alta Vista (WI 1956) sandy38chuck@gmail.com
Deanna
Glenn Handley (WI 1963) 4mygarden@att.net
Martha
Williams (WI 1964) mwilliams9@msn.com
Debbie Brandli
(WI 1966) dancindeb@comcast.net
Cindy
(King) Shaver (WI 1967) jjstooth8@yahoo.com
Connie
McCue Hoffman (WI 1968) Rrh6022@gmail.com
Victoria
Mihaliak Turner (WI 1980) Vickieturner1962@gmail.com
Write to
Roleta1@aol.com
When submitting information in
writing to the editor always include:
2.
3.
From:
Bud Collins (WI 1955)
I received the newsletter and as usual another great
one. Thanks to everyone for the great letter. This has to be the best
newsletter college or high school in the country.
Thanks again and the check is ready to be sent for the scholarship.
Thanks again and the check is ready to be sent for the scholarship.
From: Dave Kuhl (WI 1962)
I was
in WV from 8/17 through 8/26. I had a Kuhl family reunion on 8/19 in Glenville then
the WI Class of 1962 dinner on 8/23, then a picnic planning meeting on 8/24 and
the WI picnic on 8/25 and then headed back south on 8/26.
I also
managed to visit friends or family in Keyser, Elkins, Charleston, Weston, Jane
Lew, Philippi, Clarksburg, Bridgeport, Fairmont and Grafton.
I also
visited libraries in Clarksburg, Philippi and Weston and visited a few gift
shops looking for something for my sister, who lives in Cortez, CO. I bought
her a “Take me home, WV” tee shirt at the HCPD library and a Jackson ’s Mill
beach towel at Jackson ’s Mill. She had both knees replaced and spends a lot of
time in a resistance pool exercising.
I had
done an interview with a local TV station which they broadcast on 8/20 while I
was out of town. When the tech was fitting me for the microphone, he attached
the telemetry pack to my belt in the back then ran the mic up under my shirt
and out my sleeve. Then he ran it from the sleeve to under my chin and popped
off the top button of my shirt when he attached the mic to the front of my
shirt. I thought I was going to look like a homeless person with my shirt tail
out in the back and a button missing in the front. However, if I did not point
these out, you probably would not notice.
It was
a good safe trip. I got back just in time for a hurricane practice. Gordon
knocked down a few limbs but did not do me any damage. People on the other side
of the eye path got a lot of damage from wind and rain including one death
where a tree fell on a home in Pensacola.
I hope
everyone has had a safe summer and is looking forward to fall.
OCTOBER MYSTERY
PICTURE
Above is a picture of some boys, where are they going?
Can you name anyone in the picture?
Hint: they graduated from WI in 1962.
Write
your guesses to Roleta1@aol.com. I will only publish correct guesses.
When emailing, please include your name, school and year you did or would
have graduated. Thank you.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Also, I always need pictures for this section of the
newsletter, please email me any that you may have. Tell me as much as you can
about the picture. For instance: the subjects pictured, when, what and where or
anything you can remember about the picture.
Thank
you for helping.
CLARKSBURG WINTER PICNIC
SARASOTA FLORIDA
SAVE THE DATE: March 9 2019
Don’t forget to mark your calendars
and make your plans now!
One more time for the old times.
It will be the first time in 3 years
and the very last ever.
One final time to see everyone and
have some good times sharing memories.
Come join us!
TWIN LAKES
PARK
JUST ONE MILE
OFF OF I-75
More details later
SHARING
CHILDHOOD MEMORIES
EDITOR’S NOTE: This letter from Sandra is packed full of memories.
Even though I didn’t live in her neighborhood nor did I remember her from
school. I could share a lot of these same memories. I would love it if more people
would write and share their childhood memories with us.
Write to Roleta1@aol.com. When emailing, please include your name, school and year you did or would
have graduated.
Thank
you, Sandra Squires Beverly for the memories.
From: Sandra Squires Beverly (Alta Vista, WI 1956)
First
many thanks for Roleta and the amazing job she has done for years. What
dedication!
Jim
Alvaro gave me the nudge with the 4th grade picture, which sent him
some names, so here goes.
Martin
Street ended at Elk Creek Keller’s lived in the end house and had 2/3 horses
and barn on the bank. Mrs. Boggess on the other side ran numbers and a black
limo would drive down the street daily and pick them up.
Mrs
Kerns had a greenhouse and sold plants and flowers.
“Bunky”
Brown lived across the street and we would gather at the street light for Hide
N Seek and Kick the Can. His Grandma, wore an Aunt Jemima bandana, and Grandpa
would sit on the porch. She would yell “Bunky” get under that street light
where I can see you”. We loved it and laughed-heck we couldn’t see him either.
She would make us yummy donuts. At that time “Bunky” attended Kelly Miller High
School.
Borror’s
lived behind us. Webb’s lived up the street. My parents never went many places
so the Webb’s would take me on picnics and other places. I remember Neil
Woofter? Don, Jim and Mary Sue’s parents were also special.
Joe’s
Dairy Bar and Stalnaker’s.
Gypsies
camped along the West Fork River. Jack was a deputy sheriff and threatened if I
didn’t behave they would take me.
Alta
Vista: Mr. Lawson always waiting at end of hall each morning. If you ate lunch
at school and they had soup beans he would add a dab of ketchup in yours as he
liked it in his.
In Mrs.
Iams 1st grade she made each of us a construction paper marker for reading.
Walter Wiltsie sat beside me and grabbed mine and tore it up, so I hauled off
and hit him and she took me to the cloak room for a whack.
Most of
us took tap with Mr. Louie. There was some kind of program with crepe paper
costumes, I remember I was a flower.
Miss
Morrow took a nap every day and supposedly so did we.
In Miss
Bauer’s speech class, she used the blackboard a lot and one day she got up and
there were a bunch of thumb tacks stuck in her corset. Now who would have done
such a thing?
Lived
in the same house until 1960 when I married Chuck Beverly. He transferred with
the post office to FL in 1970 and I worked as a high school bookkeeper.
I have
2 daughters, one is a widow and high school teacher who lives next door and the
other works for the Tampa Bay Lightning. I now live in New Port Richey, so if
you are over this way look me up.
In 1999
after all family had passed found out that I was adopted by Margaret and Jack
Squires in 1939 and Ruth Douglas (Margaret’s sister) was my mother--father
unknown. She lived with us until I got married.
Nancy
Keller, George’s wife, said everyone on Martin and the neighborhood knew, so I
am wondering if this is true. Then found out all cousins in family knew and I
had a sister. From a few old letters I started a long search and in 2003, I found
her. We began corresponding and met, cruised and see each other at least once a
year and there is no doubt we are sisters.
So,
wondering if anyone remembers any of this.
I plan
on being at picnic in Florida next March!
We are
looking for WI grads who have had a book published so that they can be featured
in the newsletter. If you have written something or know of someone in the
class who has, let’s work on a story for the WI newsletter.
Write to
Roleta1@aol.com
When
emailing, please include your name, school and year you did or would have
graduated. Thank you.
From:
Carolyn Burnside (WI 1952)
Many of
your readers may not know about HAIL, WASHINGTON IRVING Eighty-one Years on
the Hill, the school history I published in 1996. It is original text with
memories/reflections of former students and personnel. The cost is $12.00 plus $00.72 tax and $4.00
postage.
Proceeds
will go to the WIN Scholarship.
I have also published Unto the
Least of These, a history of the Clarksburg League for Service and some
magazine articles. Currently, I am trying some fiction - short stories
From: Tim Corsini (WI 1951)
Ooplets is a book of illustrated poetry laced with enough
absurdity to be sharply funny, evoking frequent laugh-out-loud responses while
complex enough to make one think. Teens, pre-teens and forty-something children
can be entertained with this collage of homonyms and conflicting noun and verb
usages. Comical illustrations serve to exaggerate and reinforce their meanings.
The cover illustrates homonyms hare/hair:
Hare/Hair
Hair upon our heads we treasure
Some by that will take our measure.
Bald men try to grow it back
Or buy toupees right off a rack.
But if upon one’s head were hare,
What would be their place up there?
How many on one’s head would fit?
And would they stand or would they sit?
EDITOR’S NOTE: I started this Literary Section to expose Clarksburg
authors who have had a book or 2 published. I would love for the readers to
know about you and your book. Please write and tell us about your book, send us
a picture of it. Tell us where it is sold. Sign your name, school and year of
graduation.
All from Clarksburg are welcome
NOT JUST WI GRADS!
NOT JUST WI GRADS!
Write to Roleta1@aol.com
When emailing, please include your name, school and year you did or would
have graduated.
Thank you.
OCTOBER MYSTERY
PERSON
Who is
this man pictured below? Do you remember his name? Do you remember how you met
him? Do you have any memories about him to share with us?
Hint:
He did graduate from WI!
Write to Roleta1@aol.com
When emailing, please include your name, school and year you did or would
have graduated.
Thank you.
This
question was sent to me by John Harpold (WI 1962). John
says his brother Randy came up with a question that stumped them.
If you
know the answer, write to Roleta1@aol.com.
When emailing, please include your name, school and year you did or would
have graduated.
Thank you.
QUESTION:
What was the name of the March that Miss Nutter used to play on the piano?
BILL JACKSON (WI 1943)
On
September 11, 2018, Bill and I had lunch at the Nutcracker Restaurant in
Pataskala, Ohio with Bill Jackson (WI 1943). He resided with his family on
Austin Street in Broad Oaks. He played soft ball in city leagues. He also liked
to play golf. Mr. Jackson graduated from high school and volunteered to serve
in the Navy for the rest of the War. After returning to the states he enrolled
at Fairmont State and upon graduation he taught a year of Math. He spent most
of his years working for I.B.M. We had a very nice visit with him. Just as our
lunch was ending, he mentioned that he was a descendant of Samuel Stalnaker
(who came to American in 1705). I said, well, we are probably cousins! I
checked, we are cousins! However, there are probably now thousands of
descendants of Mr. Samuel Stalnaker!
From: David Saucer (WI 1951)
My
favorite auto had to be my Jaguar XK140MC. When I graduated from WVU my first
job was in Denver Colorado. I had an old Plymouth sedan at Morgantown and my
wife and I drove it out there and the old gal (car not wife) performed well. I
got worried once because while driving through Kansas it kept pulling to the
left. I stopped at a garage to get it checked. The mechanic just laughed and
said “You’re in Kansas now and the wind is always blowing you across the
highway. We safely arrived in Colorado and drove the Plymouth for another year
or two but the mountains and frigid winters were too much for the old car. We
had already purchased our first house so we went looking for a car. We tried to
trade in the Plymouth but no dealer wanted it. I ended up swapping the car for
a deer rifle. We found the "Jag" and immediately fell in love with
it. Lots of power and speed (but no citations). great in the mountains and we
drove it back to WV a few times. But alas, then time to start a family, so back
to a station wagon.
EDITOR’S NOTE: That Jaguar was a lovely car. Giving it up had to be
a tough decision. Thank you for writing and sharing this with us.
Do you
have a picture and a story about your favorite car? Please send it to Roleta1@aol.com. When emailing, please include your name, school and year you did or would
have graduated.
Thank you for participating.
2018 WI REUNION
PICNIC
From: Jeannie McKenon Donnelly (WI 1964)
Another great picnic is in the books. But, I believe
this was the best and biggest since I took over 3 years ago. We had 109
attendees with some traveling across the United States to be here. The class of
1959 had the largest number of attendees with 15, and they had the longest
travelers with Vince Fragomene, Seattle, Washington and Mickie Ford Brummage,
Edmond, Oklahoma. There were others from other classes who came from afar also
such as: Francis Muscari, Norfolk, VA, Bob Teter, Kingsport, TN, Carole Findlay
Cinci, Athens, TN, Dave Kuhl, Ocean Springs, MS, Ruth Ann Martin Hill, Stone
Mountain, GA, Bob Combs, Winter Park, FL, Jerry Mick, Virginia Beach, VA and
Shirley Burnell Melles, Melbourne, FL.
This year the Committee decided to give prizes for the
farthest traveled, oldest class attendee, youngest class attendee, and instead
of tickets, we drew names for other prizes.
Next year’s Picnic is going to be held on August 24,
2019, (MARK YOUR CALENDARS) at the HILLTOP PAVILION at the VA Park which is
just to the left as you enter the Amphitheater entrance and directly across
from our old pavilion on the right. Don’t worry if I have confused you, there
will be signs pointing you in the right direction.
I would like to thank all my committee members for
their help; without them I could not have pulled this off so well.
I hope to see lots of our classmates again next year
and I put out the challenge to all classes to get your fellow classmates
together for next year and see who has the most represented.
I hope all had a great time and will be back next
year.
AUGUST WI
REUNION PICNIC PICTURE
We are rerunning
this picture to prove that Mike Fresa was indeed present at the picnic reunion.
Back
row: John Christie, Jeanne Werner Davis, Ron Werner, Wirt Wolfe, (a picture
of-Mike Fresa to prove he was there), Vince Fragomene.
Second
row: Roleta Smith Meredith, Sharyn Cottrill McGahan, Beth Twigg Deverick, Julia
Davis Pinti, Rosemary Grow Warne, Ruth Ann Martin Hill, Carolyn Pinella Warne.
Also,
attending but too late for the picture was Phyliss Fittro Brown.
In the
front of this picture is Wirt’s son. If I remember correctly his name is
Travis.
WI CLASS OF 1968 REUNION PICTURE
I have not received the names of those pictured but it looks like they had a great reunion.
WRITE ABOUT
ANYTHING
Here
are a few suggestions of things you can write about for our
November Newsletter.
1.Write
and tell me the name of one teacher you had while in school. This can be your
favorite one or your least favorite one. Then tell me why you feel that way
2.
THANKSGIVING. When you were growing up, what was your family tradition for
Thanksgiving? What is your tradition for Thanksgiving now?
3.
Please write about something of interest. I am in my 20th year doing
this and my brain is drained. I need your help.
4. What
was your first job? (Where, when, etc.) What was the most favorite job you have
ever had? (Where, when, etc.)
5.
Nicknames were very popular when we were growing up. However, due to political
correctness and many other reasons we seldom hear nicknames today. Tell us some
of the nicknames you remember. Tell us the real name of the person if you can
remember of tell us something about the person. These can be persons around
town or in school. For instance, some people are called by names that have
absolutely nothing to do with their given name. An example, one of Bill’s
relatives was called “Loppy” when he was young because he had big
ears…Remember?
Now
write to me and share what you are remembering.
Write to Roleta1@aol.com
When emailing, please include your name, school and year you did or would
have graduated.
Thank you.
Remember,
if you don’t write, I have nothing to publish.
SEPTEMBER
MYSTERY PICTURE
The
picture above was sent to the newsletter by Marolyn Tustin Jett (WI 1956).
The
picture was taken at Stealey Pool.
Pictured: the blond boy in sunglasses is Mike Snyder (WI 1957)
The boy standing with his
feet apart may be Kenny Palestrant?
All are
graduates of WI.
Can you
give us the name of any of the other people in this picture?
Write
to Roleta1@aol.com
When emailing, please include your name, school and year you did or would
have graduated.
Thank you.
From: Deanna
Glenn Handley (WI 1963)
My very first job was at the Stealey Swimming Pool in
the early 60’s working there during the high school summers was an opportunity
that I could never have expected. Not only was it fun filled, but taught me a
lot about responsibility, relationships and especially myself. Swimming of
course was the added bonus, spending off hours at the pool in my pass time.
Many wonderful memories of lifeguard training, water melon races and 4th
of July events including homemade ice cream come to mind.
Still to this day I love to spend time in a pool, now
more aerobic exercise, but always a way to relax and enjoy people. Thanks for
jogging those memories.
Have attached a picture [1962] of the staff I worked
with: starting on the right John Sutton (Bridgeport); myself; Helen and Mike
whose last names are still in the vault, (might need some help there). John
& Mike were lifeguards while Helen and I worked the check-in counter where
personal belongings could also be left for safe keeping.
From:
Mary (Markey) Adams Hood (WI 1942)
Your mystery picture is the Stealey Pool.
From:
Bob Kramer (WI 1965)
Stealey Pool. I am still
good friends with Mike Snyder. READ his book. It's a great reading.
From:
Gladys Williams (WI 1971)
September mystery picture is Stealey Pool. I swam for
Chestnut Hills Swim team from 1963 – 1970. I started swimming at age 10 and
swam through age 18. Every year we would go to Stealey Pool for the Stealey
Invitational. When we swam, the Invitational was only one day. We would swim
preliminaries Saturday morning, go home for a break and to eat, then if you qualified,
go back in the evening for finals. This was always the last swim meet of the
summer.
From: Bob Kramer (WI 1965)
This was an early pic of Stealey Pool before the top
was put on the bath house. This is where I met Mike Snyder. He and a few others
started the Stealey Swim team. He was a mentor to us and probably kept us out
of trouble.
A LETTER FROM THE
RECIPIENT OF
THE 2018 WASHINGTON IRVING NEWSLETTER SCHOLARSHIP
Mrs. Meredith,
It’s Haley. I was just checking up and reporting my
progress for the first month of school. College has been going great! I have
learned that Fairmont is basically stairs lol. As the first month continues on
I seem to be getting out of my shell and meeting new people and joining some
clubs and activities. My classes are great! I am taking Math, English, Anatomy,
Anatomy Lab, Psychology, and freshman Soar class! I am staying on top of my
work and getting good grades. I am maintaining a job at the same time. I am
truly enjoying Fairmont State! Can’t wait to see what next month has in store!
Thanks,
Haley Thomas
THOSE WHO SENT CHECKS THIS MONTH TO SUPPORT
THE
SCHOLARSHIP ARE:
Margaret Cleavenger (WI 1965) wrote a very nice note
telling me how much she appreciates what Jalon, Bill and I do to bring the
monthly newsletter to her desk. Thank you, Margaret for your continuing support
to the scholarship.
Cinda O’Neill sent a nice gift to the scholarship
fund. Sorry but Cinda did not send me her school and year of graduation. Thank
you.
If you wish to send a check to help cover the cost of
a WIN Scholarship, please write your check to:
Roleta Meredith c/o WIN Scholarship
And mail to:
Roleta Meredith
3025 Switzer Ave
Columbus Ohio 43219
“Thank you for giving back to our Old Home Town of
Clarksburg by helping a young person defray the costs of his/her education.”
CURTIS
WILSON
WHERE ARE
YOU?
I
received the letter below with a question trying to locate Curtis Wilson who
may have graduated from WI in or around 1958. If you can help me find him,
please have him contact me and I will put him in contact with Iris Davis Hyson.
Contact
Roleta1@aol.com
Please include your name, school and year you did or would have graduated.
Thank you.
This is the letter from Ira Davis Hyson:
Dear Roleta:
This is a long shot, but I am trying to locate Curtis Wilson who graduated WI around ‘58 or ‘59. Any chance you have contact information for him. I recently discovered I have his 1959 Fairmont State Yearbook and would like very much to give it to him.
This is a long shot, but I am trying to locate Curtis Wilson who graduated WI around ‘58 or ‘59. Any chance you have contact information for him. I recently discovered I have his 1959 Fairmont State Yearbook and would like very much to give it to him.
Jacques Clichés:
Annoyer
Extraordinaire
Fit to Be Tied
By: Timothy (Ted) A. Corsini (WI 1951)
Jacques Clichés is skating on thin ice and doesn’t
have a leg to stand on. The deck is stacked against him; he is at the end of
his rope and fit to be tied but he doesn’t let things get under his skin. He
has a millstone around his neck but he is not at wits end. While it’s a hard
pill to swallow, Jacques takes it with a grain of salt. He thinks outside the
box, pushes the envelope, pulls out all the stops, leaves no stone unturned and
goes over the top to level the playing field. In his heart of hearts, Jacques
knows that what goes around comes around.
At the blink of an eye, Jacques gets his back up,
throws down the gauntlet, gets down to brass tacks, lays all his cards on the
table and puts his money where his mouth is. He flies by the seat of his pants
but never flies off the handle. He has a plan up his sleeve and knows it like
the back of his hand. He vows to turn the tables on his foes and get the upper
hand. Armed to the teeth, he does not talk out of both sides of his mouth; he
sugar-coats nothing and lets no one off the hook.
Jacques does not hide his light under a bushel, knows
that no one can hold a candle to him and believes he can walk on water. He
stays on his toes, fights tooth and nail and causes foes to wring their hands
while he fans the flames and holds their feet to the fire. Jacques has another
victory under his belt - if only by the skin of his teeth.
Copyright 2006 by t. edgar corsini
Sports Editor: Bill Meredith
(Monongah HS 1957)
please email our Sports editor with your comments, questions and especially your memories
Bill,
This is a "back in the day photo" of the
first golf team WI High School had (1964). This team qualified for the state tournament.
The team members names are listed in the photo.
Thank you,
Russ Rice (WI 1965)
Reply to Russ:
Thanks for sending the picture. Those guys look like
all business. It would be interesting to know what other schools had golf teams
back then. Did you compete against mostly local schools from the Big Ten
Conference or did you have to travel out of the area to find competition? Also,
where did you play your home matches?
Last month I asked our readers to send me pictures
like this from "back in the day" and Russ found a good one to send to
us. Hopefully others will get out their scrapbooks and share some sports
memories.
Again, thanks Russ for the interesting picture. If you
have other pictures, be sure to send them. Also, if you can answer the
questions about the golf team, please do so.
Bill (billmere@aol.com)
When writing, please include your name, school and year you did or would
have graduated.
Thank you.
A New Ritual
It was good to see the Mountaineer football coaching staff and players
get further involved with the WVU Medicine Children's Hospital by starting a
new ritual. During the walk to the stadium (The "Mantrip"), the team,
coaches and fans (if possible), turn and wave to the children at the hospital.
It is something that has been done at the University of Iowa for a few years.
Since Coach Dana Holgorsen is from Iowa and knew about what was being done at
Iowa City, he suggested it be started at WVU.
If you want to read more about this, click on this link.
When Is Half A Hundred Enough for Hundred?
Apparently, it is on September 15, 2018. Tiny Hundred High School in
Hundred, WV (Wetzel County) fields a football team which had lost 50
consecutive games. Their last victory was in the last game of the 2010 season.
On Saturday, September 15, that streak ended as the Hornets defeated Hannan
High School, 42-26. They did this with only 17 healthy players. Supposedly, Hundred
is the smallest school in the state to field a football team.
The team was rewarded by locals near midnight, when they returned to the
town following a three-hour bus ride home from the game. They were met by five
fire trucks with full lights on about two miles from their home field and
escorted to the lighted stadium, where 75-100 fans greeted them with loud
cheers.
Coach Shayne Minor hopes this is the beginning of a long winning streak.
Good luck coach! You deserve it.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Unfortunately, Hundred lost its next two games by wide
margins, so the streak has been restarted.
Never
Sit on A Lead
Elsewhere in
this newsletter is a story about Bobby Bowden learning the hard way to never
sit on a big lead. Dana Holgorsen almost made the same mistake against Texas
Tech. I'm not sure if the WVU coaching staff was just too close to the Tech
staff and didn't want to blow them out or what the problem really was, but
after the first quarter, WVU buttoned up their offense and nearly lost the
game. I guess that if you win, you can't complain too much, but it certainly
made the old ticker flutter a few times.
If the
Mountaineers can get the offense on track, they should be 7-0
going into the Texas game. The defense is vastly improved, but can't be left on
the field too long or it will break down. It has been an interesting season so
far and, as predicted, this team is fun to watch.
Don't forget,
you are the newsletter, so send you thoughts and comments to:
Bill (billmere@aol.com)
When writing, please include your name, school and year you did or would
have graduated.
Thank you.
Harrison County Athletes
The WI Newsletter is now in its 20th
year. What began as an attempt to keep a single class from Washington Irving
High School together has turned into an outlet for memories from not only all
Harrison County high schools, but also from schools located in other parts of
West Virginia and the country.
Since we started the sports section
of the newsletter a few years ago, we have depended mostly on letters from our
readers for the content, while throwing in an occasional opinion or update on
the current local sports scene. Getting people to share their memories has
become more difficult as the months and years have passed. Because of this, we
thought it would be interesting to start interviewing local athletes who played
sports in Harrison County through the years. There would certainly be thousands
of subjects from which to choose, but when and where do we begin?
That question was answered for us a
few months ago, when we did a piece on the number of young men from Clarksburg,
who are listed on the all-time roster of WVU football players. We received a
letter from Gladys Williams (WI 1971), informing us that her husband, Tom
Williams, played for the Mountaineers from 1967 to 1970. She also stated that
she thought that Tom might have been the last player from Clarksburg to score a
touchdown for WVU. This definitely got our attention.
In late August, while in Clarksburg
for the WI Picnic, we were able to interview Tom and Gladys Williams at their
home. The resulting article is below. Please note that this ended up being not
only a piece about Tom's career, but we've included some very interesting
stories about his experiences (in bold
type), while playing sports in Harrison County and at WVU. We feel that
even though it is a long article, it is well worth the read, especially if you
love local sports and Mountaineer football. Coach Bobby Bowden was quoted as
describing Tom by saying, "He gets my vote as the boy with the biggest
heart. I couldn't put into words how tough he is".
We hope you enjoy this article.
We hope you enjoy this article.
Tom Williams
Tom Williams grew up in the Northview area of
Clarksburg. His father worked in the mold shop at Hazel Atlas, while his mother
ran the kitchen during the day at Minard’s Restaurant. He has one sister, who
still lives in Clarksburg and one sister who is deceased. He also has
half-brothers, but none played sports locally.
A “LOADED” AMERICAN LEGION
TEAM
When Tom was 16 years old in 1965, he “graduated” from Babe Ruth baseball to American Legion ball. Only three players from his league made the American Legion team that year, Paul Romano, from Notre Dame, Larry Alvaro from W I and Tom. Some of the older players on that team were Felix Veltri, Pete Secret, Tim Brinkley, Braden Swaney, Bruce Chapnick, Tom Quickle and Jim Salentro. Tom remembers that team so well, because they were “loaded”. In many games, they were so far ahead, that the game had to be stopped due to the mercy rule. Their coach was “Smiley” Jamison, who was a coach at Bridgeport HS. Most of the games were played at either Nutter Fort or Anmoore.
He started playing football when he was in the 8th
grade. He was too small to play in the 7th grade and almost didn’t
get to play in the 8th grade, but after he scored four touchdowns
against Central, the coach decided it was okay for him to play. He played in
the 8th and 9th grade at Northview Junior High and then
played football for three years at Victory High School, starting in 1964.
Because of his speed, his nickname was “Hot Rod”. Tom also played baseball in
high school and would have played basketball, but was injured in both his
sophomore and junior years while playing football, which ruined his chances to
play basketball at Victory.
 |
| Victory High School |
HIS FIRST GAME
Victory
always played Notre Dame the first game of the season. Tom’s first carry was in
that first game and he went about 70 yards for a touchdown. Tommy Quickle was
the senior QB, who went on to play at Fairmont State. Jimmy Salentro was the
fullback, Tom Hilton the center and Danny Harris was a big lineman. They had a
lot of good players and everyone was unselfish and team-oriented.
Tom played both defense and offense in football until halfway through his junior year, but due to some nagging injuries, his coach, John Mazzei, decided he was no longer going to play defense. Then, against Buckhannon-Upshur later that year, he had a serious knee injury which would prevent him from playing anymore defense in high school. He was taken to WVU to see Whitey Gwynne, the famous athletic trainer, who confirmed the need for surgery. Dr. W K Smith at West Penn Hospital in Pittsburgh performed the knee surgery. After extensive rehab, Tom was cleared to play football his senior year, with the stipulation that the knee would have to be taped for every practice and game. Coach Mazzei learned how to tape the knee from a local physical therapist named Joe Manchin, and did so before every practice. On Fridays, before a game, Tom would go to have Mr. Manchin do the taping. Later, at WVU, Tom had to go through the same routine of taping before every practice and game. His right knee still gives him some problems.
BUCKHANNON-UPSHUR - AGAIN?
For
four years in a row, Victory played Buckhannon-Upshur in the 9thgame
of the year and both teams were undefeated (1963-66).
They were both in the Big
10 Conference, which was very competitive. B-U won the state title in 1963 and
didn’t have to play a title game, because there was a tie for second place in
the rankings. Granville Zopp was their coach in 1963. They also
won in 1966, defeating Huntington 21-2. Tom roomed with Mike Gillespie from B-U
for two years at WVU. Tom, Mike and Gary Lockwood from East Fairmont were the
three players from the Big Ten Conference who received scholarships to WVU the
same year. |
| West Virginia University |
ONE LOSS TO - GUESS WHO?
The
only football game Tom lost in high school was to Buckhannon-Upshur his senior
year, 13-7. Victory fumbled three times inside B-U’s five-yard line. It was the
largest crowd he ever saw at Hite Field. That night was the first time Tom ever
met Bobby Bowden, the offensive coordinator at WVU at the time, who was at the
game, recruiting Tom and Mike Gillespie, from B-U. Tom received a scholarship
offer after the season ended. He had made 2nd team all-state his
junior year and 1st team all-state his senior year, along with Mike
Gillespie of B-U. They were the two running backs on the 1stteam
all-state team that year. Joe Michael was the B-U coach. Tom’s coach at
Victory, John Mazzei, played college football at WV Wesleyan with Joe Michael
and they may have been roommates. Joe later went to Virginia, where he had a
very successful coaching career. His son, Mike Michael, from Fredericksburg,
VA, attended WVU and played football in 1973.
After graduating in 1967, Tom went to WVU to play for
head coach, Jim Carlen and offensive coordinator, Bobby Bowden. He was 5’-9”
tall, weighed between 175 to 180 lbs. and played halfback or scat back, as the
faster backs were known back then. He played on the freshman team in 1967,
since freshmen could not play varsity at that time. In 1968, he played mostly
on the practice squad, followed by varsity ball in 1969 and 1970. Incidentally,
1969 was the first year there was AstroTurf on old Mountaineers Field. The
first game that year was against the University of Cincinnati. Tom scored a
touchdown, while gaining about 70 yards. However, he hurt his shoulder so badly
that he couldn’t raise his arm for over
a week. In major college football, there is a window of opportunity and you
need to take advantage of it when it opens. The shoulder injury basically
“closed the window” on his playing time for the balance of the year. At the
time, he was playing behind Jim Braxton and Bob Gresham, both of whom ended up
in the WVU Hall of Fame and played in the NFL.
BOY, DID IT RAIN - 1969
PEACH BOWL
Several games stand out in Tom’s memory. One is the muddy 1969 Peach Bowl in Atlanta, where WVU beat South Carolina, after changing their offense to the wishbone, due to their best receivers being injured and the availability of six quality running backs. The team finished the season with a record of 10-1, which was the best record for a West Virginia team since 1922. Their only loss was to a great Penn State team. The WVU roster included around 20 players from West Virginia, which seldom if ever happens today.
A COACHING CHANGE & A
LESSON LEARNED
After
WVU beat South Carolina in the 1969 Peach Bowl, Jim Carlen left and Bobby
Bowden became the new head coach. Carlen had taken half of his staff with him
to Texas Tech. Coach Bowden learned a lot that first year. One vivid memory was
of the Pitt game that year. WVU was leading 35-8 at the half and ended up
losing the game. Many rumors circulated around about the game and most of them
were false. For instance, the players were not arguing among themselves in the
locker room at halftime. In fact, every player wanted to double the score and
beat Pitt 70-8.
Unfortunately, WVU’s best defender, All-American Dale Farley,
was injured.
In the 2nd half, Pitt decided that everywhere on the
field was four-down territory. They then proceeded to use two fullbacks and two
tight ends and as Tom put it, “They literally ran the ball down our throat”.
The momentum changed and the rest is history. On that day, Bobby Bowden learned
that it was never safe to sit on a lead and he never did again for the rest of
his coaching career.
THE NEW COACH’S FAULT
The week before, at the homecoming game against Duke, on fourth down, Bowden told his punter to just “pooch” the ball. Tom was on the punt coverage team and was as shocked as everyone else, including Coach Bowden, that the punt went all the way into the stands at the closed end of the stadium. Of course, Bowden was blamed for the mistake, even though he had planned for a different result.
Tom feels that, other than his father, his high school
coach, John Mazzei, was the most influential person in his life. He was his
favorite coach and he stated that Coach Mazzei looking out for his health,
specifically his knee, enabled him to play football for as long as he did. He
had no thoughts of playing football after college. His main goal was to get his
college education and he did, receiving his degree from WVU in Business
Administration.
OH - WHAT A TEAM
Among
the better players Tom remembers playing against were Franco Harris, Lydell
Mitchell and Charlie Pittman, all of whom played in the backfield for the 1969
Penn State team.
One of their tight ends was Ted Kwalick, Mike Reed was a
defensive tackle and Jack Hamm was a linebacker. They also had a couple of
really quality players in the secondary. Seldom has there been so much talent
and future NFL stars on one college team. These guys made that Penn State team
one of the best ever and also the best team Tom remembers playing against
during his days in Morgantown.
They were undefeated, but were not considered
for the national championship.
After graduation, Tom worked in an administrative
position for Brockway Glass for eight years, until Anchor Hocking bought the
plant where he worked and his position was eliminated there. His severance
package consisted of one week’s pay for each year of service or eight week’s
pay. He used the money to purchase an engagement ring for his girlfriend,
Gladys Williams. They had met at a Christmas Party, while both were working at
Brockway. They married in 1979 and celebrated their 39thanniversary
in August of this year. They have two sons, one of whom is in business with
Tom. Gladys was a 1971 graduate of W I and went on to Fairmont State where she
got her undergrad degree in 1975. She received her master’s degree from WVU in
1981 and was a physical education teacher, mostly at R/W and Bridgeport High
Schools.
After Brockway, Tom worked as office manager for J F
Allen and later worked for B. F. Goodrich and was a partner in Jerry’s Auto. In
the early 90’s, after more schooling, Tom became a Certified Financial Planner
and has been doing that for 28 years.
BEST FRIENDS
He
enjoyed playing football on all the various teams. His years at Victory were
very memorable, but he also developed some great friendships during his years
at West Virginia, many of which have lasted through the years. His best friend,
Carl Andrews, a retired attorney in Charleston, was a WVU teammate. They met
each other as high school seniors, during a recruiting trip to Morgantown to
see a game against Syracuse. That Syracuse team had a backfield which included
Larry Csonka and Floyd Little. Their team was very big, unlike the WVU team,
which was made up of agile, athletic and faster players, which were the type of
players Carlen and Bowden liked.
A GREAT STORY
Of his two college coaches, Tom enjoyed playing for Bobby Bowen more than Jim Carlen. According to Tom, both Carlen and Bowden were instrumental in starting the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at WVU while he was there. In 2010, almost 40 years after Tom left WVU, Coach Bowden returned to Morgantown for a fundraiser for the organization at the Waterfront Hotel. Tom and many other former players under Bowden were invited to attend. Tom had not seen or had any contact with the coach in all that time. Realizing that Bowden had probably recruited over a thousand players since 1970, he decided to go up and introduce himself to his old coach, knowing that after 40 years, coaches seldom remember players who were not stars on their teams. Tom moved in near Coach Bowden and stuck his hand out to shake hands and introduce himself, when Bowden turned around and looked at him and said, “Tommy Williams”. Tom was shocked and blown away that Bowden remembered him after all those years.
EVEN BILL STEWART REMEMBERED
HIM
That same evening, as they were preparing to take pictures of Coach Bowden with his former players, the then coach at WVU, Bill Stewart, approached and Tom introduced himself. Stewart said that he remembered Tom very well. Stewart was a freshman at WVU when Tom was a senior and he, Braxton and Gresham were some of his idols. Stewart was a walk-on from New Martinsville and was a long (and special) snapper. Freshmen had their own team and locker room, etc., so they really didn’t mingle with the varsity players then like they do today. Tom thinks that Bill Stewart probably knew him from meeting him at another location, also. Tom had worked as a facilitator at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes camp at Jackson’s Mill between his junior and senior year at WVU. He was in charge of a cabin that included all the athletes from New Martinsville and Stewart was probably there. Wilbert “Wib” Newton also was in the cabin and ended up getting a scholarship to play linebacker at West Virginia. Of course, Bill Stewart transferred to Fairmont State and later played for the Falcons.
Tom and his wife are season ticket holders for both
football and basketball at WVU. Gladys recently served four years on the
Mountaineer Fan Experience Committee, which was formed to discuss the needs of
Mountaineer fans to help enhance the fan experience at events, an idea which
originated with former AD Oliver Luck. She was one of five ladies chosen for
the committee. One member was a gentleman from Romney, WV, who has attended
over 400 consecutive home basketball games. Gladys claimed that this person
brought dozens of great ideas to the committee and many were accepted and used
by the university.
When asked if young people should specialize in one
sport at an early age, Tom indicated that he felt that if they did this, they
would be doing themselves a disservice. Playing multiple sports gave him an
opportunity to meet many other young men, some of whom became lifelong friends.
Even though you might compete against them later in high school sports, if you
played with them earlier in organized sports, like Babe Ruth baseball, you knew
that they were really nice guys and you respected them much more. Therefore, he
feels that if you are talented enough, you should try to play as many sports as
possible when you are young.
THESE GUYS WERE GOOD
Some of the better players Tom remembers seeing as a youngster in Clarksburg were Dominic Marano, Jim Salentro, Butch Leeson and Sonny Bastin at Victory and Bobby Secret and Gene Donaldson at WI.
As
for high school teammates, the best player was probably Jimmy Salentro, who was
two years ahead of Tom. He played fullback and was the West Virginia State High
School Player of the Year in 1964. He went on to play at WVU (66-67) He was an
outstanding athlete. He played all three sports and was a better baseball
player than he was a football player. He had offers to play pro baseball, but
opted to go to WVU. He graduated from Victory in 1965.
HOW TIMES HAVE CHANGED
During our discussion, Tom offered a couple of interesting observations. He stated that during his days of playing sports at Victory and football at WVU, he never heard a coach use vulgar language nor do anything that would embarrass a player, the coach or the school. He is amazed by the behavior of some coaches at all levels of sports today, from Pop Warner to high schools and colleges.
As
for the current football coach at WVU, Tom feels that Dana Holgorsen is “coming
around”. The school has let him feel his way along and he has “learned how to
coach” during his first few years there. He thinks Dana has also come to
understand what it means to play and to coach football at West Virginia and is
pleased to see him get deeply involved in promoting the proposed new children’s
hospital at the university. In other words, Holgorsen is discovering what it
means to be a Mountaineer.
I’m proud to say that Tom Williams didn’t have to
learn that lesson. From his days of playing “baseball” using a taped-up rag
ball and broomstick on the streets of Clarksburg, local Babe Ruth and American
Legion baseball and high school and college football to attending almost every
WVU home football and basketball game, he has proven that he has always been
and will always be a True Mountaineer.
 |
| Gladys and Tom Williams |
EDITOR’S NOTE: We would love to have your feedback on this article
and your thoughts on our featuring other Harrison County athletes in future
issues.
Please send your comments to: Bill (billmere@aol.com)
Writing, please include your name, school and year you did or would have graduated.
Thank you.
DAVID JAY CARTER
David Jay Carter, 73, of Clarksburg, WV, passed away
on Sunday, September 9, 2018, at the Louis A. Johnson Veterans Administration
Medical Center following a brief illness. He was born in Clarksburg, WV, on
August 10, 1945, a son of the late Chester Ray and Macel Shaffer Carter. His
wife, Elizabeth Jane Mudge Carter, preceded him in death on September 16, 2015.
Mr. Carter is survived by one son, Eugene “Wink”
Carter and wife Kristin of Clarksburg; two daughters, Melissa Carter Hall of
Clarksburg and Susan Murphy and husband James of Salem; his former son-in-law,
David L. Hall of Clarksburg; 10 grandchildren, Joshua David Hall, Meghan
Elizabeth Rickles and husband Kurtis, Jordan Lee Hall, Brittany White and
husband Justin, J.D. Roach, Arliff Murphy, Mackenzie Murphy, Jessica Carter,
Beth Carter and Andrew Carter; two great-grandchildren, Elliana Rickles and
Everett Rickles; one brother, Joseph Carter and wife Irene of Clarksburg; two
sisters, Louise “Bootsie” Williams and husband Duane and Joyce K. Sharp and
husband Brooks, both of Clarksburg; as well as several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded
in death by one brother, William Carter and two sisters, Lorraine Betsy Heaton
and Virginia Collins.
David was a graduate of Washington Irving High School,
and served our country in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He retired from
the Clarksburg Water Board where he was the treatment operator. Mr. Carter was
a member of the Bible Baptist Temple, the Clarksburg Odd Fellows Lodge and the
American Legion Post 13. He enjoyed old cars, camping and hunting.
ALBERT JOHN “Eugine” ARCO
Retired owner and operator of the Red Caboose for over
50 years.
Albert
John “Engine” Arco, 95, of Clarksburg, WV, passed away on Friday, September 14,
2018, at River Oaks Nursing Facility.
He was
born in Clarksburg, WV, on September 15, 1922, a son of the late John and
Catherine Congi Arco.
He was
preceded in death by his wife, Rosemary Clemente Arco.
Mr.
Arco is survived by one son, John Albert Arco and wife Carla of Clarksburg; one
grandson, Jimmy Arco; one granddaughter, Maria Rose Arco; two
great-grandchildren, Isaiah Singleton, and Ashirah Singleton.
In
addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by his grandson,
John Salvatore Arco; five brothers, Sam, Frank, Jimmy, Joe and Salvatore Arco;
and four sisters, Betty, Rose, Margaret and Mary.
Engine
was a graduate of Washington Irving High School, and
retired owner and operator of the Red Caboose for over 50 years. He proudly
served our country as a veteran in the U.S. Army during World War II. He would
often reminisce with friends about his time spent during the Battle of the
Bulge, where he used the 50-caliber machine gun. He always celebrated D-Day at
the Red Caboose, and his story of the war is in the Library of Congress.
Mr.
Arco was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, VFW Post 573
and the American Legion Post 13.
Per his
request, Mr. Arco will be cremated. There will be no public visitation and a
memorial service will be announced at a later date.
PEGGY MORRIS
(WI 1955)
Peggy
Jane Morris, child of God, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend, entered the
Church Triumphant September 15, 2018.
Born in
Clarksburg, she was the daughter of the late Chester P. and Genevieve Long
Morris. She was also predeceased by her brothers Ralph B. Morris and A. Paul
“Bud” Morris and her sister-in-law Barbara Christie Morris.
She is
survived by her sister-in-law Betty Shuman Morris as well as her beloved nieces
and nephews: Melissa Morris Phillips and her husband Bob, Ralph B. Morris, Jr.,
James C. Morris and his wife Janet, and Lynn Morris Goard and her husband Jim.
She also leaves great-nieces and nephews Zachary Morris, Katie Morris, Jamie
Morris Dailey and her husband Dean, Bill Morris, Nicholas Goard and Matthew
Goard as well as great-great nephews Dylan and Parker Dailey and Ethan Morris.
She also leaves behind a host of cherished friends.
A
lifelong member of Duff Street United Methodist Church, Peggy was placed on the
Cradle Roll at birth, July 15, 1936. She was a good and faithful servant,
having been Sunday School secretary for more than 60 years, a member of the
Memorial Committee and a Trustee. She was honored with a Special Mission
Recognition award by the Duff Street United Methodist Women in 1999.
A
graduate of Washington Irving High School with the class of 1955, Peggy was
loyal employee of Metropolitan Life Insurance Company from June 1955 until her
retirement in April 1996. She was the only West Virginia clerical employee of
Met Life to receive the Special Presidential Quality Award for 1986-1987.
A
charter member of Stealey Pool, Peggy served on the Board of Directors, was a
driving force in many projects there and was a proud member of the “Shade Tree
Ladies” of the pool.
Renowned
for both her boundless generosity and her galette and peanut butter candy
making skills, over the year she turned out untold thousands of goodies to be
sold with all proceeds benefitting her two passions, Duff Street Church and the
Harrison County Relay for Life.
A
Gathering of Friends was held at the church on Friday, September 28 at
11:00 a.m. A memorial service followed at noon with Pastor Mark Smith
officiating.
Peggy
loved her church and she worked tirelessly to help ensure that the parishioners
of Duff Street United Methodist Church would have a new sanctuary in which to
worship. We, her family, honor her by asking that, in lieu of flowers, memorial
donations be made to the Duff Street United Methodist Church Building Fund.
GAIL “Skip” SMITH
(WI 1955)
Gail L.
"SKIP" Smith, 77, Homosassa, FL passed away May 7, 2018.
He was born on June 8, 1940 in Westin, West Virginia and came to Englewood in 1982 from Pinellas County. Skip was a retired bank President and a Navy Veteran.
He was born on June 8, 1940 in Westin, West Virginia and came to Englewood in 1982 from Pinellas County. Skip was a retired bank President and a Navy Veteran.
He was
preceded in death by his brothers; Marvin Smith and Tom Gooden.
Skip
leaves to cherish his memory; wife of 55 years, Sharon Dillmore Smith (WI
1958), three children; Christine (Mike) Bartlett of Homosassa Florida, Dona
Hofmeister of Glendale, Arizona and Geff Smith of Pensacola, FL, five
grandchildren; Michael, Shannon, Todd, Devin and Tyler, three great
–grandchildren; Timothy, Trent and Brody, brothers; Howard Smith, Blaine
Gooden, sister; Jeannie Russell, and many nieces and nephews.
A
Celebration of Life was held on May 12, 2018 at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church,
1115 Center Rd, Venice FL 34292.
NANCY ROSALEE STUMPO
Nancy Rosalee Stumpo, 67, of Clarksburg, passed away
on Wednesday, August 8, 2018 in the Ruby Memorial Hospital following an
extended illness.
She was born in Clarksburg on October 18, 1950, a
daughter of the late David Edwin and Blonda Kelley Summers.
She is survived by her husband, Michael Patrick
Stumpo, whom she married on December 20, 1977.
Also surviving are two daughters, Krista Sharma and
her husband Rakesh of Silver Spring, MD, and Catherine Marie McVaney and her
husband Justin of Frederick MD; one son, Michael Patrick Stumpo of Bowie, MD;
five grandchildren, Nathan and Kavi Sharma, Lauren and Jeffery McVaney and
Gabriella Stumpo; one brother, Tom Summers of Clarksburg; one aunt, Joann
Stumpo Oliverio, one sister-in-law, Donna Stumpo; one brother-in-law, Chuckie
Stumpo; three nieces, Traci Terango and her husband Joe Pat and family,
Jennifer Duarte and her husband Scott and family, and Amy Moneypenny and family.
She was also preceded in death by her grandmother,
Ruby Summers; one aunt, Lucille Coyner; two sisters-in-law, Linda Stumpo and
Debbie Moneypenny; two brothers-in-law, Lewis Stumpo and Jim Moneypenny; and
one niece, Nicole Stumpo.
Mrs. Stumpo was a 1968 graduate of Washington Irving
High School and was a retired account manager with Shaffer Amusement, formerly
BF Specialties with over 25 years of service. Nancy maintained her faith in the
Lord and her family and grandchildren were everything to her.
BERTHA LILLIAN ROBERTS SNYDER
Bertha Lillian (Roberts) Snyder, 96, a longtime
resident of Nutter Fort, passed away peacefully at her home on September 25,
2018. She was born in Bridgeport on October 24, 1921, a daughter of the late
Walter G. and Stella Friese Roberts.
On February 4, 2003, she was preceded in death by her
beloved husband, William W. Snyder, whom she met during WWII in the “Magic
City” of Barberton, Ohio, and married on December 3, 1943 in Ashland, Ohio.
Those left behind to cherish her memory are three
daughters, Janet (Snyder) Sponaugle and Harriet L. Snyder Thomas, both of
Nutter Fort, and Lois J. (Snyder) Wright of Bridgeport; her grandchildren,
Kimberly A. (Pernell) Smetana of NY, Jerri L. (Criner) Hinebaugh and Aimee
(Criner) Wright and Ernest Nevels, all of WV, Jonathan D. Sponaugle of WV,
Shannon (Thomas) Bragg, Charles Thomas, Andrew Thomas and Jeremiah Thomas all
of WV, Zane Wright of FL, and Zachary Wright of WV, her great grandchildren,
Desiree` Smetana, Dakota Smetana and Dawson Smetana, Chloe Hinebaugh, Joshua
Wright, Sarah Wright, Joseph Wright and Carter Wright, Kolby Bragg and Camryn
Bragg, Taylor Thomas, JoAndi Thomas, Alex Thomas and Adalynn Thomas; and her
great-great-grandchild, Lillian Smetana.
She was also preceded in death by her first daughter,
Carol A. Snyder Pernell Criner Nevels on November 4, 2010; and be her great
granddaughter, Isabell Thomas on January 22, 2009.
Bertha was a 1939 graduate of Roosevelt Wilson High
School. She worked at Evan’s Lunch in Clarksburg and then went to Barberton
Ohio to work in a factory sealing tanks for the WWII effort. She worked at W.
T. Grant Company until the time of its closing, and Nelson Drug Store until the
time of its closing. She was a longtime member of the Central Church of Christ,
where she was a Sunday school teacher and sang in the church choir.
We were blessed to have her in our lives for so many
years.
The family would like to thank the staff and
caregivers at Amedisys Hospice for their loving care, compassion and grace, and
our friends and neighbors their kind words and thoughts.
