Editor: Roleta Smith Meredith
Publisher: Jalon Smith Burton
QUESTIONS FOR
APRIL’S NEWSLETTER
APRIL’S NEWSLETTER
1. Do you think Miss
Nutter was ever married? Yes or No and give us the reason for your answer?
Your Complete Name
Your School's Name
Your Year If and/or When You Graduated
Thank you.
2. Do you
remember SHOP CLASS or HOME EC CLASS?
Who taught the
class? What projects did you make? If you still have the item, send us a
picture of it.
Write to Roleta1@aol.com
When emailing,
please always include:
Your
Complete Name
Your
School's Name
Your Year If
and/or When You Graduated
Thank you.
3. Or write on any
subject!
Write to
Roleta1@aol.com
When emailing,
please always include:
Your
Complete Name
Your
School's Name
Your Year If
and/or When You Graduated
Thank you.
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS FOR MARCH'S NEWSLETTER
So many say they can’t
think of anything to write about.
Each month I try to give
you suggestions--Some ideas that should jog your memory.
In the February newsletter I wrote:
Write and tell us where your family shopped for groceries in
Clarksburg when you were in high school there.
Were there stores in your neighborhood?
Did you mother shop at them?
Do you remember the name or location of any?
Did your family own a store in Clarksburg? What was the name
of it?
There’s still time
to write to Roleta1@aol.com
Remember, please when
emailing, always include:
Your Complete Name
Your School's Name
Your Year If and/or When You Graduated
Thank you.
From: Bill Bryan (RW 1957)
Growing up in the 40's
and 50's, our family shopped at Broadway Market in east Clarksburg. It was
located at the bottom of Broadway Ave. Still many small grocery stores at that
time. The owner was Patsy Guzzi (and wife Thelma). They had charge (before charge
cards) and delivery. You could call in an order and pick it up or have it
delivered. I grew up a block from the store, and as a youngster walked through
back-yards many, many times to get bread, milk, etc. On some Saturdays, my Dad
would deliver around east Clarksburg for Patsy. They were good friends. At the
time, it was a school bus stop for RWHS. Winter days we waited inside the store
for the bus. I can vaguely remember square tins of loose cookies from which you
could choose and mix-up.
Once while playing
basketball on Nutter St., I put a pretty wide one inch cut in my knee. I may
have been 10 or 11. Ran home. Mom said go see Patsy. Went to the store, he
looked at it, said I didn't need stitches, took me behind the meat counter,
pinched it together, and taped it! Healed nicely! I'll always remember that
care! And the store.
From: John Teter (WI 1961)
I remember that most of
my family grocery shopping "back in the day" was done at the Garden
Fresh Market. There was one on Pike Street at the corner of Pike and Chestnut
Streets that was within walking distance of where we lived on Broaddus Avenue.
There was also another Garden Fresh out on Pike Street, just past Minard’s,
that we would also frequent. I remember that we sometimes went to Kroger’s, but
I am not sure about where Kroger’s was at the time. We also went to the A &
P (I think) Grocery Store located on Pike Street just around the corner from
Notre Dame High School. I remember that there was a fire in the business above
the A & P at some time and people were all standing out in the parking lot
collecting items that were being thrown out of the building to help stop the
fire. Those items were materials used to make bras.
From: Terry Shorr
(WI/Elkins 1958)
I lived in Broad Oaks
from 1940 into 1957, on the lower half of Point Street between Harrison Street
and Vermont Avenue. There were three grocery stores within a block and a half
when I was in grade school at Alta Vista. Mazzie’s, owned by my 2nd and
4th grade teacher, Loretta Mazzie, was at the corner of Point and Haymond
Highway, across from the Broad Oaks Methodist Church. Barrack's was at the
corner of Harrison and Point, and Jones' was on the corner of Harrison and
Tyler Avenue. Between the latter two was the Broad Oaks Dairy Bar
(confectionary), aka Joe's (famous for his hot dogs and as my de facto study hall).
Across from Alta Vista on
Haymond Highway was another grocery, name of which escapes me. Others may
recall differently, but there may have been yet another grocery at the corner
of Haymond and Harrison. The building then was occupied by Wuchner's who sold
grocery store equipment, I think.
I recall my Grandmother
shopping at Parrack's, then Jones'. On rare occasions we might shop at the
A&P at East Main and Monticello, and even rarer at a Kroger on West Main.
(Or was that another A&P I'm sticking with Kroger.)
In my neighborhood, if my
memory serves, Parrack's was the first to close, followed in order by Jones'
and lastly Mazzie's, maybe by then under newer ownership.
Jones' corner served as
the daily drop off point for Exponent, Telegram, Pittsburgh, and other papers.
Sunday mornings before papers arrived, we newsboys could often be found playing
hockey with crushed cans aimed for the four corner storm drains (There may have
been some later rainwater overflows from the tin cans accumulated below). The
second that papers were dropped, we hurried to open their wrapping wires with
pliers, packed 80-100 papers in our canvas carrier bags and took off briskly,
folding papers between houses. Customers would be calling the circulation
manager if their paper wasn't promptly delivered.
Thanks!
From: David Saucer (WI
1951)
Being of a certain age,
and privileged to grow up in Clarksburg in the 40’s and 50’s, I have fond
memories of the neighborhoods and the small family markets.
There were eight small
stores in Broad Oaks alone and in the other neighborhoods I imagine it was very
much the same. They were small family businesses that carried most of the
essentials that our families needed. My Grandfather Saucer owned and operated
the Haymond Hwy Market right across the street from Alta Vista Elementary
School. I can remember as I was going to AV, I would go there at lunch time and
after school to hang out and help out if I could. Home delivery was standard
operation (No FedEx, UPS or Amazon Fresh in those days) and I would go with my
Grandad in his car to deliver groceries to homes. We would take the groceries
into their house and put all the goods on their kitchen table. In the early
forties (WW2) there were a lot of shortages and rationed items that were not
available all the time. What really impacted us kids was the shortage of
candies. The shops seldom had any so we kids would check the stores daily to
see if there had been any candy deliveries. If we were lucky there may be some
candy bars so we would run home and tell our Moms. They would usually give us
some funds to buy a few bars. (Candy bars then were 5 Cents each not like $1.50
as today)
A more “elite” store in
Clarksburg in those days was the Chicago Dairy uptown on 4th Street (Chicago?).
It just occurred to me after all these years, why the “Chicago” Dairy? That
would be a good mystery question. Not what is it, but why/how did it get its
name?) It was the largest market in town and carried many more specialties than
the little neighborhood stores. I was always fascinated with the large barrel
of pickles in the middle of the store.
Then came the 50’s and
the new big kids in town were the A&P, Kroger and other Supermarkets. The
little neighborhood stores struggled on as they could but mostly faded away.
And now we have the newer growth of mega
Markets: Wal-Mart, Sam’s
Club, Costco, Amazon Prime and many more that are putting pressure on older
markets. Adding on, when I was small my sister and I would play the game of
“Grocery Store” with my Mother at night or in the car. I still use it to play
with my young grandchildren. Maybe you know and use it yourselves with your
grandkids.
My turn, “I am going to
the store and buy something that starts with an “A” or you pick the letter for
the item you select. They query with responses and questions until someone
guesses the correct answer like “Apples.” It can be fun for littles ones and
you can modify it many ways.
Note from Editor:
WHY was the CHICAGO DAIRY named for CHICAGO?
From: Ken Matheny (WI 1973)
You asked your readers
for their memories of Clarksburg's grocery stores. I grew up in Stealey in the
1960s, and my father did almost all of our shopping at the old A&P Store on
West Pike Street. I usually went with Dad to "help”. My father loved
grocery shopping because he almost always met someone he knew from his work at
Union Carbide or from the church we went to on Duff Street. Grocery shopping
was very much a social event back then when you met and chatted with your
friends and neighbors. My main memory of the old A&P is the smell of coffee
that permeated the store. I was too young to drink coffee, but I liked the
smell.
I can recall four small
stores within walking distance of my house in Stealey. One was a little store
across the street from Morgan Elementary School. It was at the corner of Duff
and Davis. Our principal, Mr. Sheets, had an ulcer (I wonder why?), and would
sometimes give me some change to go to the store across the street from Morgan
and buy him some milk, which apparently helped ease his pain. Further down the
street on Duff Avenue was Kelly's grocery store. My father would always go
there after church to buy The Sporting News and talk sports with the folks who
owned the place. There was also a little store on Joseph Street between Duff
and Woodland. It was owned by Mr. and Mrs. Woods. They were on my paper route
and were nice folks. It was a very tiny store and closed down decades ago. On
Euclid Avenue was Wagner's Grocery Store, and this store was important to
people in Stealey because they would deliver groceries to the elderly and
disabled. It was pretty big for a family owned operation. I remember that
Charlie Wagner was a butcher, and Wagner's store was popular for its meat. Dad
often bought ground beef there. The delivery driver was named Dale, I believe.
Probably every kid who grew up in Stealey in the 1960s remembers Wagner's
Grocery Store because most of us walked past it on our way to Morgan School.
Most of us would stop there and buy gum, coke, candy bars, and my favorite treat--candy
cigarettes. Over the years I spent a lot of my parents' money on junk food at
Wagner's store. None of the stuff had any nutritional value, it was loaded with
sugar, and I loved it. Stopping at Wagner's store to buy some Bazooka bubble
gum and candy cigarettes on my way to school is one of my fondest childhood
memories. And, even though I consumed a ton of sugar, I still have my teeth!
Those little neighborhood stores were an important part of a thriving, prosperous
community, which Clarksburg was in the 1960s. I'd love to go back and relive
just one day.
From: Frank Bush (WI
1959)
Broad Oaks had two
neighborhood stores. Roseanna’s (sp) was at the corner of Haymond Hwy and
Harrison St. My parents and grandparents both had tabs there and would
occasionally send me there to pick up items for them. There was an IGA store on
Harrison St. I think it was on the coroner of Tyler Ave. I worked there one
summer delivering groceries in their station wagon. I remember the owner was
also a butcher. He had slabs of beef in the refrigerator that he would keep
until the meat was aged. We don’t get that today except at gourmet stores.
Also in the February issue I
wrote:
I would love to read your memories of Miss Hollins, WI teacher. It’s never too late to write, let’s hear your memories about our typing teacher.
Write to
Roleta1@aol.com
When emailing,
please always include:
Your Complete Name
Your School's Name
Your Year If and/or When You Graduated
Thank you.
From: Custer Burke (WI 1952)
Miss Florence Hollins was
a true Southern lady. She and "Mammie", her mother, would return to
Clarksburg every fall after spending the summer at their Kentucky home. Their
winter home in Clarksburg was an apartment at 527 Hornor Avenue. I do not know
how long they followed this routine except that Miss Hollins was teaching at
Washington Irving when my father graduated in 1923 and was still teaching when
my sister graduated in 1954.
Florence Hollins was an
outstanding Commercial teacher as they were called in those days. I was one of
her Typewriting I students in my sophomore year. The typing room was down a hallway
on the first floor.
I immediately fell in
love with typing and knew I wanted to become a secretary. I did that for a
while and then went to school and became a typing teacher for thirty years.
Those year-long
typewriting classes as we knew them are a thing of the past. They have evolved
into something call Keyboarding lasting a few weeks at the most. I still love
to type. In fact, to this day, my IBM Wheelwriter sits here near my computer.
My aunt, Miss Pearl
Custer, School Secretary, and Miss Hollins were close friends.
Note from Editor:
Thank you for the
interesting letter. It was nice of you to answer my request and show respect to
one of our former teachers by sharing such interesting memories of her.
I also had Miss Hollins
for Typing 1. She kept good control of a room of sophomore boys and girls. She
was patient and kind. I used my typing skills in college to type out some
papers but never typed again until 20 some years later when Bill and I started our
business. Bill was the salesman and creator of our business and I ran the one-person
office. I didn’t remember much typing and had no idea how to type a business
letter. I went to a garage sale and found a typing book. I re-taught myself to
type using a manual typewriter and lots of bottles of white-out. We had no
copier so I used carbon paper. Oh, what a mess. When Bill decided it was time
to start a company of his own, he left a good-sized company which had several
ladies who would type anything and everything needed in the office. Now he was
putting up with a 1st year typist (who would indeed have failed
Typing1.). This caused many arguments and I left the office crying and mad to
walk the mile home many times. I thought of Miss Hollins many times and wished
I had gone on to take more business courses from her. But little did I know I
would need any of those skills as I planned to be a teacher like my mother and
daddy.
New for March:
Did she teach anything else besides typing?
I don’t think they teach typing in schools now? Is that correct?
Nobody uses a typewriter. People teach themselves how to type on a computer or with their thumbs on an iPhone. I cannot use my thumbs to do it, can you?
Write to Roleta1@aol.com
When emailing, please always include:
Your Complete Name
Your School's Name
Your Year If and/or When You Graduated
Thank you.
DESCRIBE THE STUDY HALL AT WI
From: Ted Wolfe (WI 1974)
To get to the study hall
(the boys study hall, I think they had one for the girls also, but I was never
in it) you would go to the top floor of the building and then go the rear of
the building down the hall on the right-hand side of the building. The person
that I can remember supervising the study hall was Coach Castellana, although I
would guess that other people were in charge at different times of the day. I
don't know how much studying got done there although it was quiet and orderly
enough. I didn't study much in High school and usually would go to the library
and read something like a science fiction book there. The entrance to the
library was in the study hall room.
I remember at least one
time when Coach Castellana deputized one of the students to run up to Rider's
market to get him some chewing tobacco, I don't know if that would happen now
though.
From: Frank Bush (WI
1959)
Others have written about
the location and layout of the study halls so I won’t repeat their works. My
friend Parker Fulton (WI 59) came back from a Ramp Festival with some raw ramps.
For those that don’t know ramps are a very pungent member of the leek family.
Parker and I ate some of these ramps before going to a six-period study hall.
It wasn’t very long until the study hall monitor, I think it was a new P.E.
instructor, ferreted out it was Parker and myself. He threw us out of study
hall and made us sit on the window sills overlooking the auditorium. Later in
my senior year I was the recipient of a teaching scholarship. If Mr. Cubbins
saw me in the hall, he would ask if my lessons for the next day were done. If I
answered “yes”, he would give me permission to skip six period study hall. It
didn’t happen too often but it was nice when it did.
From: David Bates (WI 1951)
I have. one memory in
four years of study hall, probably my junior year ('49-'50). Delores, the "commander"
sez I've already sent this one to you?
The faulty
"supervisor" was Mr. Duckworth. Looking out the windows one could see
many of the buildings along Main Street. Because of being at a higher altitude
we could see the tops of several of them. The one, at this time, was the top of
Saint Mary's nurses training center. Several students, knowing they were above
observation (wrong), they were sunbathing to get an "all over" a tan.
Three or four guys were stuck to the windows. In a teenage boy's mind, from
that distance, they may think that they were seeing more than they really were.
Mr. Duckworth came to the window, took a long stare, and ran the boys back to
their seats. It was only after that, word spread to other boys. True? or false?
At the time I knew it was
true. Now?
Note from Editor:
David: It is a good story. Was it told earlier? What does it
matter? Like a good joke, the story is always good. And remember each month we
get new readers so even if you told it before--a lot of our readers would never
have seen it. Or a lot of us would never remember ever reading it before. LOL
From: Bryan McIntyre (WI
1965)
My main memory of study
hall was from my sophomore year. Study hall was in the auditorium and Coach Al
Castellana was the monitor. One day I was near the back of the auditorium
listening to my transistor radio through an earpiece. Somehow, I turned my head
quickly and the plug came out of the radio and “Chain Gang” by Sam Cooke blared
loudly for a few seconds till I turned off the radio. Coach Al came running up
the aisle as all the students in the front turned and looked at me. Dave McCue was
sitting beside me and he turned and looked back at the two rows behind us.
Quick thinking! I did not get caught. Thanks Dave.
Note from Editor:
Dave McCue must have watched mystery programs on TV.
His reaction was perfect!
From: Linda Purnell (WI 1967)
I had study hall right before lunch. Eleanor Smith was
in study hall with me. She always asked to be excused and would make a quick
run to the grocery store behind WI. We all looked forward to getting our
pepperoni rolls. Eleanor would collect our money and off she would go. I do not
remember the teacher, but I recall she was young. She soon caught on and tried
her best to stop this from happening. Those that knew Eleanor, knew she could
be intimidating. The teacher was over her head, ha- Eleanor always found a way
to outsmart her. Those that knew and loved Eleanor miss her. She made
everything fun and exciting and she certainly had more guts then the rest of
us!
Note from Editor:
WHAT ARE YOU MEMORIES OF STUDY HALL?
ALL OF YOU HAD TO GO TO STUDY HALL
AT ONE TIME OR THE OTHER
AT ONE TIME OR THE OTHER
Write to Roleta1@aol.com
When emailing, please always include:
1. Your Complete Name
2. Your School's Name
3. Your Year If and/or When You Graduated
A MYSTERY CHILD
This darling little boy
grew up to graduate from WI and he will be at the Clarksburg Picnic on March 9,
2019. Guess who he is? Tell us how you know him.
Write to
Roleta1@aol.com
When emailing,
please always include:
Your Complete Name
Your School's Name
Your Year If and/or When You Graduated
Thank you.
From: Arreta Radcliffe Jaranko (WI 1940)
I wonder if I am the only
one who remembers the Chicago Dairy on 4th street. I went to WI and during
lunch time a friend and I would
go downtown and look at
things in some of the stores. We rarely had any money but once in a while we
might have a quarter from babysitting. Chicago Dairy had a barrel of dill pickles
5-cents each. We would take our money and head to Chicago Dairy and that barrel
of dill pickles! Boy, what a treat! We would buy one and share it. Yum. It
tasted so good. Kids today don’t know what they are missing. I wish I could be
there for the picnic. I will be thinking of you though. Best Wishes,
Note from Editor:
There it is again, the
Chicago Dairy. And I will ask again, why was it named for Chicago?
Write to
Roleta1@aol.com
When emailing,
please always include:
Your Complete Name
Your School's Name
Your Year If and/or When You Graduated
Thank you.
AUTUMN SPLENDOR
VISIONS OF WEST VIRGINIA
2019 WIN SCHOLARSHIP QUILT
From: Sue Selby Moats (WI 1955)
"Oh, the West
Virginia Hills,
How majestic and how grand...."
Do you remember singing
the words to this song?
These words come to mind
often when I'm driving from the DC Metro area to our cabin near Martinsburg WV.
It's still thrilling to top the South and/or North Mountains and see the
scenery in the distance.
Autumn is particularly my
favorite time of year in West Virginia.
This year's WIN quilt
features the pencil drawings by Tina Richmond featuring Visions of West
Virginia.
They were featured as a
fabric panel in the WV Mountain State Quilt Quest in 2010. This is the third
quilt we have made with these drawings.
This is a Sneak Peak of the 2019 WIN quilt as it is still a WIP (Work In Progress
!!)
Quilters participating this year are: Carolyn Cady, Liz Carder, Barb
Charles, Verna George, Mary Hulick, Sherry Keith, Joan Merrill, Gig Meredith,
Sue Moats, Joyce Royse, Mary Sue Spahr and Lin Stricker. A few of our regular
quilters were not able to participate this year due to hurricanes, family or
personal illness, etc.
If you have not yet donated to the WIN Scholarship fund for chances
on Autumn Splendor: Visions of West Virginia, please do so before the
opportunity closes.
NO TICKETS WILL BE SOLD
AT THE PICNIC
The winning ticket will be drawn in April and announced in the May
newsletter!
Write your
check to:
Roleta Meredith-c/o Win Scholarship
Mail to:
Roleta Meredith
3201 Charles MacDonald Dr
Sarasota FL 34240
Tickets
cost 6 for $5.00, 12 for $10.00, and 24 tickets for $20.00 and on and on and
on.
THANKS TO THOSE WHO GAVE THIS MONTH TO
THE WIN SCHOLARSHIP
Tickets for the quilt
drawing will be made out for:
Capt. Frank Bush (WI
1959)
Mary Ann Bailey Donato
(WI 1956)
Sandy Zickefoose Lindke
(WI 1956)
Frank Muscari, Sr (WI
1957)
Elise (Leesie) Guthridge
Beverly (WI 1958) and Larry
O’Grady (Bridgeport 1955)
WATER FOUNTAINS IN CLARKSBURG
From: Ted Wolfe (WI 1974)
QUESTION: Was there ever
a water fountain om Maim Street?
The only water fountain I
can remember was built on the lot at the corner of Main and Second St., after
the Sears building was torn down, so that would have been in the early 70s. It’s
still there, but the water is turned off in it, as well as I can remember. When
it was newer, someone loaded it up with some kind of soap or detergent on at
least one occasion and it overflowed with suds.
CHARLES FERRELL TRAVELS
From: Charles Ferrell (WI
1946)
In reference to the photo of the Washington National Memorial as seen
above: My recent visit to the Masonic George Washington Memorial Temple in
Alexandria, Va.
An interesting place to visit in the Washington DC area. I am a
32*Mason,Shriner and formal DeMolay for over 70 years. Bill Yoke and Eddie
Toompas in my WI class of 1946 were also members of Hermon Lodge No 6 in
Clarksburg. I helped to start the Douglas McArthur Chapter here in
Gaithersburg, MD with some of my Eagle Scouts.
JAMES FRAGALE BOOK
From: James Fragale (WI 1958)
Author James ("Lucky
Jim") Hart, who was married to Carly Simon for twenty years, posted this
about Clarksburg's Jim Fragale on Facebook, February 21, 2019:
"I call
"Breathroughs" a "rollicking pastiche" published at the end
of last year by my pal James Fragale. It is his latest work and it continues a
dialogue with the reader about the Answers to Life, and how he has come to them
through his journey from West Virginia to the Golden promise of the Big Apple. This
joins three other works published in quick succession. Please enjoy.
THANK YOU
From: Nancy Powers (Victory 1961)
Thank you so much for
telling me about your newsletter. I stayed up late last night "going down
memory lane " Absolutely love it. Great job! My husband would have been in
the WI class of 1958 -- Joe Powers and his foster sister Frances (WI 1958).
Both deceased so it brought back a lot of memories. It's great that you have a
scholarship fund going also. Looking forward to reading more newsletters.
ROCK AND ROLL FOREVER
From: Steve Radcliff (WI
1964)
I enjoy reading the
Newsletter every month. Several graduates have requested that I place this info
in the newsletter with the hope some others enjoyment can come of it. After
retirement I took up a Disc Jockey position at a local public radio station. I
have enjoyed doing it for going on 6 years. The station is non-profit, and I do
it for fun and the love of the music. I have a show on Sunday evenings from 6-9
PM EST playing rock & roll from the 50's and 60's exclusively. Music brings
back the memories and good times of the past. Hopefully a few or many will get
the enjoyment I get out of the music. The radio station itself plays strictly
50's, 60's & 70's music only, 24 hours a day with volunteer, live DJ's on
in intermittent peak hours. We steam all over the world. Below is the web site
containing info on getting connected into the music via computer/phone. We are
located on the north side of Dayton Ohio. I left Clarksburg in 1966 at Uncle
Sam's request and get back a couple of times a year to have my Minard's &
pepperoni roll fix. You can place Dayton oldies or WSWO in your browser and get
to the web site or follow the yellow brick road below. Again, this a public
station nobody gets paid, no profit of any kind, all funds received are used
for maintenance and to keep the lights on.
FLASHBACKS
From: Frank Bush (WI
1959)
The February newsletter
caused a few flashbacks for me.
Jim Ashley’s letter
reminded me of working for Maxine at the Clay Street Market. She used to punch
me in the arm. If I said anything she would always say “It’s just a little love
tap.” The market was narrow and every bit of wall space was covered up to the
ceiling. We had to use a stick with pinchers on the end to get stuff down from
the top.
Kelly Miller High School
had a fire slide on the side of the building. My first wife, Donna Jo Nutter
(WI 61) lived on Water Street in her youth. As her mother was taking her to
Towers School to start first grade, they walked past Kelly Miller and Donna
asked why they were not going to that school. Her mother just said it wasn’t
her school. Donna replied she wanted to go to that school so she could go down
the slide. She never did get to use that slide.
HOW DID I MEET MY SPOUSE?
From: Eann T. Hodges (WI 1971)
As an employee of the U.S. Foreign Service, I had been transferred from
Copenhagen, Denmark, to Ottawa, Canada, in September 1985. Three months later,
on a bitter cold winter night (-400; whether in Fahrenheit or
Celsius, it is the same!), my agency hosted an official Christmas dinner party
for our liaison counterparts in the Canadian government. I was seated at a
table for 10; I strategically seated myself at the far-left corner to enable
the couples to be seated together which left the spot on the end for the other
lone guest. Having just arrived in this country three months previous to that
evening, we engaged in conversation about my former assignments and I had asked
numerous questions about Canada. Once the official portion of the function had
concluded my dinner partner asked me to join him by the fireplace and we enjoyed
an after-dinner drink. Two weeks later on New Year’s Eve, he called and invited
me to attend the fireworks display at midnight on Parliament Hill. From that
time onward we had a standing “date” every Friday night to play racquetball and
go out to dinner. Once my tour of duty had come to an end, I resigned from the
government and remained in Canada, first on a student visa; three years later I
obtained my permanent resident status and eventually my Canadian citizenship.
Both of us having been previously married we were hesitant to rush into
marriage, but we eventually tied the knot before our friends and family in October
2001.
THE MARCH MYSTERY
PICTURE
Okay, the picture tells what it is…but the big
question is:
DO YOU
REMEMBER WHERE IT WAS?
Tell us something about this place,
what do you
REMEMBER?
Write to Roleta1@aol.com with your guess/memories.
When emailing, please always include:
Your Complete Name
Your School's Name
Your Year If and/or When You Graduated
Thank you.
From: Janice Waller
Metzgar (WI 1968)
I attended Kelly Miller
during my senior year 1968. That was when you attended school half the day and
then worked half a day. My first job was with Fragale Insurance Agency on the
9th floor of the Goff Bldg. I would sit at my desk and collect payments and
answer the phone. This went very well until he was short $10. out of the
payment money. No, I did not take it. LOL But I went on to have a successful
career in the insurance business for 35 years. I also worked the catalog desk
at Sears sending orders thru on the teletype machine, which I said I knew how
to work, but didn't even know what it was. I told the girl training me that it
was different that the one I used, so in those days, they just showed you how
to use it and done. You didn't need a 4-yr. college degree and 5 yrs.
experience to get an entry level job. As far as living and growing up in
Clarksburg, that is the reason I now watch the Christmas Lifetime movies. Small
towns, sidewalks, snow falling downtown, music playing, all the neighbors out
Christmas shopping. It was a Beaver Cleaver kind of life. One our grandchildren
will never ever know and enjoy.
EMAIL ADDRESSES THAT WILL BE ERASED:
If you know any of these people, please
contact them and tell them that their email address is no longer working for
me.
fragilegranny@ma.rr.com
dkandu@hotmail.com
dcolombodr@ma.rr.com
hlohr@ma.rr.com
rongainer@scia.net
radhesai@earthlink.net
dicanddu@hotmail.com
ackieammaw@yahoo.com
eqh1232@gmail.com
nas335@charter.net
dadco@valley.net
katiecbur@frontier.com
jdarnall@socal.rr.com
nas335@charter.net
bjbwv@yahoo.com
pabryan@frontier.net
jcjks@frontier.com
REVISED EMAIL ADDRESSES:
Rex Zickefoose (WI 1959)
rzmst000@gmail.com
Allen Alverez (WI 1958) xtsea89@aol.com
NEW EMAIL ADDRESSES:
Martha Lou (Morrison) LaLance (WI 1958)
lulunboro@comcast.net
Al Hoffman (WI 1962) alhoffmn@gmail.com
Nancy Shreve Powers (VHS 1961) Nancypsalem@aol.com
Karen S. Wilson (WI 1974) karenswilson24@gmail.com
Elisa DuFour Rowe-Dye Mahoney (WI 1977)
jbugsmaemae@aol.com
Donna
Hollandsworth Williamson (WI 1965)
donnahwilliamson@gmail.com
Steve
Radcliiffe (WI 1964) rwc1353@yahoo.com
W. Thomas Myers (WI 1953) tom@mountaineerlog.com
Judith Ann (Kirkpatrick) Powell (WI
1988) japowell6@gmail.com
Sports Editor: Bill Meredith
(Monongah HS 1957)
please email our Sports editor with your comments, questions and especially your memories
Bill,
Thanks for that link to
the WV High school scores web site. I had tried to gather that information for
some local teams (but was never able to set it up in a usable way like that),
and it is a tedious job. A lot of the scores are not that easy to track down.
Ted Wolfe (WI 1974)
Reply to Ted:
I'm glad you enjoyed it.
I've always liked to read old newspaper articles about high school games. Now,
we've got a source for all of the football schedules and scores. Almost Heaven!
Bill (billmere@aol.com)
When emailing,
please always include:
Your
Complete Name
Your
School's Name
Your Year If
and/or When You Graduated
WHY AM I BORED?
You would think that any
true sports fan would be excited at this time of year. The college and high
school basketball seasons are winding down. It is tournament time for the preps
and March Madness is right around the corner. College baseball has already
started and the spring game is about a month away for the football teams.
What's not to like about all of this? Nothing, really.
However, for me, something
is missing and most of you can guess what it is. Our Mountaineer basketball
team is not competing for anything. Their tailspin continues. Since my last
comments to you, two of the most experienced members of the team have been
dismissed for some sort of rule violation(s). The two best players are out for
the season and a team of mostly first year players and freshmen are trying to
compete in the Big 12 Conference and the results are just as expected.
So, where do we go from
here? Really, no one knows. Not even Bob Huggins. Some of the remaining players
have shown improvement, which could help next year. Huggs would like to see a
couple more wins before wrapping up the season, but those will be hard to
achieve. Regardless, it will be a long spring and summer. Expect to see more roster
changes before next fall. Some Jr. College additions would not be surprising.
At least two of the 2019 recruits will be welcome additions to the team and
could play right away.
My prediction----Huggins'
team will be competitive next year. I feel that he learned something this year.
That is to pull the plug on the under-achievers earlier and go with the players
who want to play team ball. If that happens, I'm sure I'll not be bored this
time next year.
Please send your thoughts
and comments about sports to:
Bill (billmere@aol.com)
When emailing,
please always include:
Your
Complete Name
Your
School's Name
Your Year If
and/or When You Graduated
MARCH
1. Were you surprised to
see Wes Harris and Esa Ahmad dismissed from the WVU basketball team?
2. Which, if any, current
team members with eligibility remaining will leave the team after the season
ends and why would they leave?
3. Will Sagaba Konate
return to play for the Mountaineers next season. Please give a reason for your
answer.
4. Would you prefer that
Sagaba Konate return to play at WVU next season or should he move on to the
pros?
5. Will Bettle Bolden
return to play for the Mountaineers next season?
Send you answers and
comments to me at:
Bill (billmere@aol.com)
When emailing, please always include:
Your
Complete Name
Your
School's Name
Your Year If
and/or When You Graduated
CHRISTMAS/HOLIDAY FAMILY
PICTURE CONTEST
THE CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED
Joe Malone (WI 1952) suggested that we run this contest in the newsletter.
Joe will be the single and sole judge of who wins.
It is his game so it is his rules!
The winner will receive $200.00 worth of tickets for
The 2019 WIN Scholarship Quilt raffle
Tickets will be in the winner’s name and will be paid for by Joe Malone
This helps you and helps the scholarship too!
Yeah... THANKS, Joe Malone!
Yeah... THANKS, Joe Malone!
THE WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED
IN THE APRIL NEWSLETTER
PURNELL FAMILY HOLIDAY PICTURE
From: Linda Purnell (WI
1967)
Picture of Linda, her
daughters and grandchildren.
METZGAR FAMILY HOLIDAY PICTURE
From: Janice Waller Metzgar (WI 1968)
Picture of Linda with her grandson, Troy Washam (Bridgeport HS 2009) on a Christmas Cruise to Aruba.
TWINS!
From: Don Ogren (WI 1950)
Good monthly letters you’re
doing. I like them.
And you asked for
pictures from the season. Here’s a shot of Ron and Don Ogren, WI class of 1950.
Picture was taken shortly after the New Year, in Spring Hill, Florida where I
live. Ron lives in Orchard Park, NY and likes a vacation in the south every few
years. Don and his wife, Rosemary, celebrated their 63rd anniversary on
December 31st. Sorry, I will not be at
the picnic.
From Ron Ogren (WI 1950)
That is a good picture
(Don sent) at a recent event in Spring Hill, FL. but it would be more
interesting if it could be compared to the olden days of 1950. I don't think
that others would offer similar pictures at our old ages. In fac, I've never
seen you publish pictures of us old folks. Pictures of old folk are seldom
flattering.
Sharon and I will also
have to miss this last ever picnic, but I can honestly say that we have really
enjoyed all of the picnics that we have attended, and there have been several.
Thank you so very much for making our Florida vacations more enjoyable. We met
so many old friends there!
WILLIAMS FAMILY HOLIDAY PICTURE
From: Gladys Williams (WI 1970)
Pictured is the
William’s Family
Ann Williams, (Victory
1940), Anna Walsh (WI 1970), (Gladys Williams WI 1970), Bryanna Williams,
Gianna, Elise Williams Back row- Matt Williams- (RCB 2002), Chuck Walsh
(Victory), Tyler Williams (RCB 2006), Tom Williams (Victory 1967)
FEATURED AUTHOR
From: Catherine Custer
Burke (WI 1952)
Don Marple, I am certain
has contributed to the WI Newsletter.
The back of the book "MARA'S
BABY" reads: "A teen girl's sudden disappearance and her reasons for
it led to a man's unexpected search for answers - and closure - twenty years
later. MARA'S BABY is a surprising tale that at times will keep you on the edge
of your seat."
You can find the book on Amazon.com.
"About the Author:
Dr Donald Marple (WI 1953) is a retired business executive and a former Army
Reserve officer. He lives in Charlotte North Carolina with his wife, the
visual artist Nancy Marple. They have three grown children. Mara's Baby is his
first novel."
The publisher is
CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, Charlotte North Carolina.
Copyright 2017.
Nancy is the former Nancy
Harper (WI 1954). She is a lifelong friend of my sister, Mary Elizabeth
Custer (WI 1954).
WHAT IS THIS?
I have never
seen anything like what is pictured here, have you?
To make it easier, just
pretend I am from Mars and have never seen anything like this. Now explain to
me what I am looking at in the pictures.
And to tell you the truth,
I am not very familiar with what is pictured.
Write to
Roleta1@aol.com
When emailing,
please always include:
Your
Complete Name
Your
School's Name
Your Year If
and/or When You Graduated
Thank you.
WANT TO SEE WI YEARBOOKS?
In this section, I am
going to tell you how to see all of the yearbooks ever printed for Washington
Irving High School. All of this marvelous work was done by Tim Cork (WI 1961).
He did a marvelous job. Unfortunately, Tim passed away in November. He is truly
missed. He indeed left his mark with us through all the marvelous things he did
on the computer for the WI Newsletter.
NOW LET’S BEGIN
First Step:
Call up on your screen
any WI Newsletter. In case you don't keep the web site address, here it is https://winewsletterwv.blogspot.com/. Save this! Anytime
you want to read the newsletter, you can click on this link and the latest
newsletter will appear on your screen. If you want to read any past
newsletters, there is an archive on the right-side bar menu --marked “WI Newsletter Archive”. From there you
can read all of the newsletter since the beginning, including choices listed at
the bottom of that section “Newsletters
Prior to 2/2015” (link is at bottom of right-side bar menu).
Second Step:
Across the top of each newsletter
page (under the heading) you will see what looks like file tabs. Click on the
tab named “WI HISTORY”. A different
page will appear, read or scroll down the page until you see the link (in blue
letters) titled “WASHINGTON IRVING HIGH SCHOOL HISTORY”
Click on this link.
Third Step:
On this next page, you
will see the high school emblem WI and the words Washington Irving High School
History. Scroll down and you will see years in parenthesis. Click on the year
of the graduation you wish to see. Another page will pop up offering the yearbooks
for the years that you clicked on. Scroll down and the chosen yearbooks will
pass by right before your eyes. Look for the one you want, stop and enjoy. You
will see the picture of the teachers, then the students, then a few activities,
and etc., etc.
Please Enjoy!
Now you can look at your
yearbook through the computer or try some of our other tabs! They all navigate
just about the same.
Let me know how you enjoy
them.
REMEMBER WHEN?
From: Gladys Williams (WI
1970)
A few years ago, some
students attended a TV show in Clarksburg. The memory was captured in the paper
and now shared with you.
Remember when?
Remember when?
THE FEBRUARY MYSTERY PICTURE
From: Martha Rice (WI
1955)
I was glad to see that
you were having one more picnic, however, I cannot attend because I have season
tickets to the Rep Theater for the matinee. It would have been fun to see you
again.
The mystery picture this month
is the Palace Furniture Store. I worked there a couple of years manning the
switchboard. It was the old kind that required my putting the plug in the right
hole. It was a fun job for me. I got to work with the interior director, Peter
Massenberg, who was the first gay person I had ever met. His partner, Jerry,
used to bring his lunch to him. I thought his decorating ideas were impressive
and he was so kind to me.
From: Gladys Williams (WI
1971)
The mystery picture is of Palace furniture company. I still own the
wrought iron table & chairs my mom bought from there for her back porch.
They are remodeling the building & making apartments for Senior citizen
From: Terry Shorr (WI and
Elkins 1958)
Sitting here in thought,
it came to me. Palace Furniture Store.
From: Ted Wolfe (WI 1974)
The February picture is
the Palace Furniture store. I don't really have any memories of it, I never set
foot in it in my life. I hear someone is in the process of converting it into
residential apartments, although I think a previous redevelopment plan a few
years ago didn't get carried out. I don't recall when the furniture store
closed probably the late 70's/early 80's when everything else seemed to move
out of town. I was never in the little toy store in the white building either.
I noticed in the picture they were featuring wringer washers in the front
window. My mother had one of them when I was a kid, but I don't think they make
them anymore.
From: Linda Purnell (WI 1967)
I believe the mystery picture for February is the
Palace Furniture store. I just remember that they sold high quality furniture,
so to buy something there was buying a piece that was expected to last a life
time. I believe they had a layaway as most of the furniture was expensive. If
memory serves me right – I bought the baby bed all three of my children used.
It was white with one end Plexiglas so you could look in. It was very modern at
the time and well-made as it lasted through 3 children.
From: Sandra Squires
Beverly (WI 1956)
Palace Furniture in 1935
you could buy 3 piece living room set for $59.50.
Margaret worked there and
at grand opening they gave all female employees a Shirley Temple doll, which I
still have. In our time they gave each senior girl a small cedar chest, I still
have mine.
Lawson's on 3rd street
delivered groceries, Joe had few essentials and Mr Rosanna opened his store. We
lived behind him after marrying and he would call me to the fence with veggies.
What a great treat from a fine gentleman. Then came A & P with Maidenform
above. Pappy Flynn, Murphy's manager, would walk up the streets singing
Clarksburg My Home Town, which I am sure he wrote as it mentioned Main Street
stores.
Miss Holland made stick
figures on the board and we all got out fingers stuck between keys. Our
daughter teaches 6 different computer classes...couple you could get a job
right away. No books.
Neighborhood character
was Patience Murphy corner of Harrison and Boyd.
We walked from BO to Hite
Field with just enough money to get in with a quarter extra for ice cream cone
at Hagan's.
I am still looking for
Bunky.
We were/are a special Group.
From: Eann Hodges
(WI1971)
The photo is that of the
former Palace Furniture Company located on West Main Street. The store was
closed in the early 1980's and I believe it has been or will be converted into
affordable housing for seniors.
From: Mary Sue Clark
Spahr (WI 1956)
The mystery picture for
February is the Palace Furniture store. Though I was in the store dozens of
times while growing up in Clarksburg, my best memories are the gorgeous
Christmas displays in the windows during the Christmas season. Elves,
princesses and princes, Santa, toy trains, reindeer and all things holiday
moved about in the displays. It was magic and everyone in Clarksburg walked by
at least once per season to enjoy the beauty. It was a time of innocence and
wonder, hopes and dreams for so many children. I sometimes wish I could see
today's world through such beautiful filters.
I miss the innocence….and the wonder, too.
From: Melanie Haught (WI 1973)
The Palace Furniture. I
have been trying to remember what was in the little house to the right. Does
anyone know?
From: Beth Twigg
Devericks (WI 1959)
I think the Mystery
Picture for February was Palace Furniture store. I was there many times - was
really the only furniture store in town that I remembered.
From: Bill Bryan (R-W 1957)
I think the January
picture is the Palace Furniture Company store. In our day, it was very popular
and consisted of several floors of selections. I was married in 1964, and we
bought furniture there over the years we lived in Clarksburg. The only person
we knew well in the store (and would stop in and say "Hi" to) was Barbare
Libicer Oliverio (R-W 1958). She worked in the first-floor office/billing as I
remember. She was married to my classmate David Oliverio (R-W 1957).
She was employed at
Palace for quite a few years. Many Washington Irving graduates would have dealt
with her on purchases. She was a valued employee.
My wife and I were good
friends with Barbara (and David) over the years. A nice memory!
From: Sharyn Cottrill
McGahan (WI 1959)
I believe this mystery
building is the Palace Furniture...I remember my mother took me there to get my
first stroller for my first son..a deluxe model that lasted thru all 3 boys and
on to a friend for children.
It was later turned into
offices and now has been remodeled for 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom secure apartments
for seniors. HERE
is an article about it now.
From: Joe Tripper (VHS
1958)
I think it is the Palace
Furniture store and the Little Palace next door. During Christmas holidays we
would visit Santa in the Little Palace.
From: Chuck Wilson (WI
1967)
The February Mystery
Picture, is the Old Palace Furniture Building on Main St. I bought a Magnavox
Quadraphonic Stereo system from there back in the 70’s.
Great furniture store in its
day. Now it has been converted to living units.
From: Bob Kramer (WI
1965)
It is the old Palace
furniture building on Main St. It is now being converted into apartments. Mr.
Jarvis was the manager when I was in high school. They gave a small cedar chest
to all of the graduating senior girls. In its time it was the place to buy home
furnishing.
From: Richard George (WI
1965)
Picture is the Palace. I
bought my first lawnmower there for $99.00 and it was a Lawn Boy.
My parents bought
furniture and lighting at the Palace. I always enjoyed going there. Their
warehouse was at the end of Oak Street. Good to see they are saving the
building.
My son is working there
now and his company is converting it to 40 apartments.
From: John Teter (WI
1961)
My guess at the mystery
picture in the February WI Newsletter that the building is PALACE FURNITURE. I
do not remember much about it, as my family did not really buy a lot of
furniture during my tenure living in Clarksburg. Palace Furniture was located
on Main Street, just below James & Law, and I think that Parson-Sounders
was on the corner just above Palace.
From: Judy Davis Pinti
(WI 1959)
As you may recall the Class of 1958 had their 60th
reunion September 29, 2018. What a great
time we had.
I just want to share some of my thoughts since the
reunion. We lost two classmates who attended the reunion since that time. One
was Linda Spelsberg Wolfe of Maryland who passed away in December. The other
one was Melinda “Linda” Moore Pritchard of Shinnston who passed away in
January. Who would have thought these two women would be gone so soon? Linda
Pritchard was instrumental in forming the plans for our reunion. She became
sick soon after with cancer so others gladly picked up the reins. There may be
others who have died but these are the two we know for sure. The total is 60 if
my count is correct.
I graduated with the Class of 59. Recently Roleta shared
a list of those in our class who had passed away. Frankly I was so shocked to
see how many were gone. Some of you are asking “what did you expect?” I guess
when I saw it written it hit me.
A good friend of mine posted on Facebook that she had
graduated 30 years ago and her daughter had graduated 2 years ago. Her
daughter’s class has more deaths than the one 30 years ago. Many of these young
deaths were a result of drug overdose, suicide/depression and drunk driving.
The mother asked what has happened to our nation.
It is a very sad state of affairs. I won’t preach
about this, but I would like to encourage parents and grandparents not to have
a blind eye to the problem. Please stand up for good morals, hope and faith and
of course show love to one another even if you have different political views
or different faiths.
Perhaps others have some good ideas on this subject. In
the meantime, love and enjoy your family and friends.
EULOGY FOR FRED ALVARO
From Larry Alvaro (WI 1967)
My name is Larry....Fred Alvaro's brother. Being the baby
brother, I always looked up to Freddie with the deepest respect. He taught me
so much about life: dating, sports, springboard for advice and developing an
early sense of maturity dealing with his personal leanings and mistakes and
passing on down to me. You and your husband knew him quite well, but many
others did not. Therefore, I felt compelled to pass on a little information
about him that maybe you could pass on to others at your Clarksburg picnic.
Freddie was a very smart man, witty, but sometimes lacked a little common
sense. For example, the time he heated a boiled egg in the microwave; a time
when he was in college, had his girlfriend push his stalled car since she did
not have her driver's license; the smartness of having two white wall tires and
two black wall tires, you put two of the same on one side as you only see one
side of a time!
For his athleticism, pound for pound he was a great athlete
and always excelling in form. I was one of the bat boys for their 1955 Babe
Ruth star baseball team and I remember one night, in one game, he hit two home
runs in the deepest part of Clearlite field. But I also remember the time they
had two a day sessions of football practice and after morning session, he came
home for lunch with a black eye and later that evening came home with another
black eye. However, Freddie never quit anything in his life that he had
started.
As I had mentioned earlier, he was not the biggest athlete,
but his huge heart made up for the difference. Being of a family of hard
blue-collar working parents, no matter their financial circumstances, they
would see that we received our college education. Freddie was the first in our
family the Alvaro families to receive a college degree. With his 1st. pay
check, he purchased our parents a washer and dryer so that they wouldn't have
to hurt their backs lugging clothes up and down the basement stairs. I also
remember his first Christmas with his pharmacy job, he would go to the front of
the court house and pass out Christmas envelops with money to those less
fortunate people so that they could have a nicer Christmas with their family.
I could go on for hours with the goodness of this
kind-hearted man. However, I think that many, from some of these stories can
get a better understanding of this man. Freddie was quite modest about his
accolades, but he would, humbly in his own quite way, accept within himself. He
was deep into his faith but as with his other endeavors, would go silent to
others.
We all lost a great, kind, big hearted loving man and a
great brother to look up to. I know he is up there asking those that he likes, a
million and one questions so that he can know them better and hanging out with
Gene Donaldson, Bobby Secret and others and talk about their " Field of
Dreams".
REBECCA L. PRICE
On Saturday, January 26,
2019 Rebecca “Becky” Price of Leland North Carolina (formerly of Bridgeport)
passed away after a courageous battle with lymphoma. Becky was born on
September 16, 1943 in Clarksburg, WV to Chilton and Mary (Pinella) Price. She
was a graduate of Notre Dame High School and attended West Virginia University.
She was the previous owner of Home Industry Bakery before retiring from
Honeywell. She then spent 20 years in Danville, CA where she worked in Real
Estate.
She is survived by
daughters Johnna Harrison, CA, Gina Yoder and husband John, AL, Mia Biafore and
husband Danny, Bridgeport. Grandchildren Taylor Harrison, Nella Yoder and Mark
Biafore. Brother William “Bill” Price and wife Sharon, Quiet Dell and several
nieces and nephews.
Becky had a passion for
cooking, shopping, traveling and going to sporting events. Her most treasured
times were spent showering her grandchildren with love and going to the beach.
She was known for her
quick wit, her infectious smile and her kind and compassionate spirit. Becky
was preceded in death by her father, mother and nephew Michael Price.
MELINDA LEE “LINDA” MOORE PRITCHARD
Melinda Lee “Linda”
(Moore) Pritchard, 78, of Shinnston, WV, passed away on Monday, January 14,
2019.
She was born October 11,
1940, to Heber M. and Narsa (Lewis) Moore in Portsmouth, Ohio.
Linda is survived by
three children: her son, Bradley S. Pritchard, and his wife Sue from Shinnston,
WV, her daughter, Kristy Vaughan, and her son, Brian S. Pritchard and his wife
Shawna from Fredericksburg, Va.; as well as her beloved fur baby, Molly.
Linda’s sister is Narsa
“Marian” (Moore) Cooke from Wilmington, NC, and brother James L. Morris and his
wife Betty from Huron, OH. Sister-in-law Norene Bush and husband Michael “Mike”
of Lost Creek, WV. Linda has five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Preceded in death by her
husband, Cary Randall “Randy” Pritchard, whom she married on September 29,
1959, along with her parents, Heber and Narsa (Lewis) Moore, stepmother, Gladys
M. Moore, and sister-in-law, Sandra (Pritchard) Misocky.
Linda will be remembered
as a kind, loving and strong woman.
Growing up, you could
always find her in the water at Maple Lake, playing with her siblings and
enjoying her Daddy’s Weimaraners.
As an adult, her hobbies
included: spending time with her family, going to “camp” with her dear friends
and family, gardening, her talented seamstress work, and her incredible knack
for house repairs.
In addition to her work
at Dr. Powelson’s, she provided childcare for her “adopted” children.
She spent her final days
at home being cared for by her loving son Brad, spending time with her sweet
Molly, and soaking up special memories with her children and grandchildren
LINDA SPELSBURG WOLFE
(WI 1958)
Linda, age 78, passed
away peacefully on December 8, 2018. She was preceded in death by her husband
Charles Richard (Dick) Wolfe.
She will be sorely missed
by her daughter Victoria Wolfe-Tumas; son Gregory Wolfe; granddaughters Dr
Hayley Tumas and Austin Tumas; twin brother Dr Thomas Spelsberg; and sister
Marian Stevens. Siblings Dr Walter Spelsberg and Carolyn Shiben preceded her in
death.
JUNE ZINN ELSEY
(WI 1935)
June Zinn Elsey, age 102, of Clarksburg, WV, passed away on
Friday, February 8, 2019, at the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center in
Clarksburg. Mrs. Elsey was born on February 5, 1917, in Clarksburg, a daughter
of the late Melvin “Chick” and Goldie Zinn.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her
husband, John H. Elsey, on August 19, 2010; one brother, Melvin Zinn; and one
niece, Joyce Judge.
Mrs. Elsey is survived by her stepson, John Thomas “Tom” Elsey
and wife Donna of Bridgeport; two granddaughters: Samantha Elsey Taylor and
husband Tim of Pittsburgh and Dr. Jaclyn Elsey Rominger and husband Johnnie of
Bridgeport; nephew, Melvin “Buddy” Zinn of Martinsburg; two nieces: Harriett
West of McKeesport, PA, and Sharon Wasiecko of Richmond, VA; as well as many
other nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Elsey attended Alta Vista Grade School, Central Junior
High School and was a graduate of Washington Irving High School, Class of 1935.
She went on to graduate from St. Mary’s School of Nursing as a Registered
Nurse.
During World War II, June was a nurse in the United States
Navy, stationed in Florida. She was employed as a Registered Nurse at St.
Mary’s Hospital in Clarksburg for many years and also a nurse at Pittsburgh Plate
Glass Company for many years until her retirement in 1975.
John and June were both life-long residents of Clarksburg,
having both grown up in Broad Oaks. They were active members of Broad Oaks
United Methodist Church for many years. They were one of the first residents of
Maplewood Retirement Facility in Bridgeport and lived there for 19 years. After
moving to Bridgeport, they became members of the Bridgeport United Methodist
Church.
