West Virginia became a state on June 20, 1863. Thus our state
is celebrating it’s 150th birthday. WV was born during and
because of the Civil War. We are sharing memories here of
stories about relatives who fought in the Civil War. If you have
any stories to tell, please write them to: Roleta1@aol.com.
We will be doing this for the next few months so write your story
now. Below are a couple from people who responded to our plea.
submitted by:Arreta Radcliffe Jaranko (WI '40)
Someone mentioned the Civil War in one of the newsletters and I thought the story about
what happened to my great-great grandfather could be added to other stories about that
period of time. The area where he lived was rural and most of the people had large farms,
so communication was mainly by word-of-mouth. From the story handed down from my
dad and my grandmother, Union soldiers came looking for someone who had killed one
of their Calvarymen. Someone said it was my great-great grandfather, so Union soldiers
came into his farm and found him and two of his sons standing in front of his house.
They shot him and his two sons, killing them.They were completely innocent. My great
grandfather, who was fifteen , came running out of the woods where he had been on an
errand, to see what the shooting was about, and they shot him,too. They apparently
thought they had killed him as he was shot in the face, so they left. The bullet went
through his mouth, tearing away a part of his tongue, and exiting through his cheek.
When he was sure the soldiers were gone, he ran into the woods to hide. His mother
eventually found him and took care of him. While most of that area and certainly his
family were for the Union, after that experience they became Confederates and he later
joined the Confederate Army. He bore the scars of that bullet the rest of his life. As a
man, he always wore a beard to conceal the scars. My aunt told me that when she was a
very small child, one of his Confederate buddies came to see them. She said they both
wore their Confederate uniforms and sat in the living room talking while she and my
grandmother prepared meals for them. My grandmother was his daughter which made my
dad and my aunt his grandchildren. I don't know if this is anything you might use for the
newsletter but the story of my great grandfather and what happened to him was told over
and over through generations eventually being published in a newspaper. I am sure this
same kind of thing happened on both sides during this terrible conflict. Being the kind of
person that he was, he never held a grudge. In fact, when he came home from the war,
those who needed help would find a friend in him.
Love to you, and thanks for keeping
us old grads in touch.
submitted by:Bill Jackson (WI '43)
My 4th cousin, Thomas Jackson was a Gen. For the south and my Great Grandfather, Cap.
William Dexter Hall fought for the north. They were 1st cousins and my Aunt told me Dexter was
worried that they might have to face each other in a battle. Dexter had a daughter named Julia
that married my Grandfather Stalnaker, so I was related to "Stonewall" through my mothers side. I
was also related to him through my father’s side. I was 5th cousin on my father's side and 4th on
my mother's. My mother and father were related. I guess that's must be why I'm so goofy. My
sister, Nancy, is an expert on the Genealogy of the Jackson's. Maybe she will add more to this.
submitted by:James Lee Nutter (WI '71)
This is in response to last month's WI Newsletter pertaining to the Civil War. I really
enjoy reading the newsletter.
During the Civil War my great-grandfather, John Lee Nutter (B: 1841 & D: 1925) served
as a private in Company C, 5th West Virginia Infantry Regiment. They served mainly in
the Kanawha Valley area, but also throughout WV such as Parkersburg, Beverly, and
Martinsburg. In addition, the 5th fought in many of the Shenandoah Valley battles.
According to http://civilwararchives.com/ the Regiment lost a total of 151 men. I don’t know
where and when John joined Company C. Perhaps, it was when they were in the
Clarksburg area. I was told by my father, Oscar Lee Nutter WI ’28, that John survived a
wound to the hip and for the remainder of his life carried that bullet attached to his watch
chain.
My family, like many WV families, has a long history of military service to our country.
Great-grandfather John’s great-grandfather, Christopher Nutter (B: 1760 & D: 1845)
served during the Revolutionary War. Christopher left the Clarksburg area to enter the
volunteer corps of Virginia, under the command of General George Rogers Clark in May
1781. According to his Declaration for Pension (No. 5434), Lewis County, (West)
Virginia, 16 July 1832: He was also called into service by Captain Thomas Nutter of the
Virginia militia, to serve against the Indians in the frontier of Virginia. Captain Thomas
Nutter (B: 1735 & D: 1807) was Christopher’s father. Thomas obtained the rank of
Captain during the Revolutionary War. He along with his two brothers, John and
Matthew, built and defended Nutter Fort during the Indian Wars.
WEST VIRGINIA FLAG
West Virginia became a state on June 20, 1863. In 2013 it will celebrate its 150th
year of statehood. It is the only state formed out of another state and only state
born from turmoil of the Civil War. The Civil War was fought from 1861 until
1865.
You can Google West Virginia and read many different things about West Virginia.
Thanks to Buzz Floyd (VHS '56) for this information on a commemorative stamp.
Yvonne Tiennebrunne….Major of French, Spanish with a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts
degree from West Virginia University; Salem College and University of California. She taught
many years at Washington Irving High School.
submitted by:Bill Jackson (WI '43)
I took two years of Spanish from Mrs Tiennebrunne and I wish I had taken more. I just loved her
and thought she was the nicest teacher I ever had. My sister, Nancy, used my old book and she
told Mrs Tiennebrunne that I put notes in my book on translation. Mrs Tiennebrunne told her I did
very good in her class and now she knew why.
EDITOR’S NOTE: If you took any classes from or have any memories of Ms.Tiennebrunne, please
write and share your memories of her. Write to: Roleta1@aol.com
TEACHERS WHO LEFT/OR RETIRED FROM TEACHING AT WI IN 1958-1959
Miss Albright
Miss Yoak
Mrs. Lowther
Mr. Folio
Mr. Judy
NEW TEACHERS WHO ARRIVED AT THE SAME TIME
Mrs. Eckard
Mr. Kovach
Mrs. Andrew
Mr. Heckert
Mrs. Martino
Mrs. Minter
Coach Moore replaced Coach Folio as head coach.
Share some memories of these teachers. Do you remember what subject
they taught? If you had the teacher, what did you think of him/her?
ON A HOT MUGGY DAY IN CLARKSBURG, WV.
(Picture from Dave McMunn WI 1957)
When you were a kid and sitting out the afternoon at the coolest place you
could find, maybe under a shade tree or down by the West Fork River (or in
it) would you have ever been able to dream that one day there would be
something like this in Clarksburg, WV?
It is located at the Clarksburg City Park adjoining VA Hospital facilities.
Isn’t it wonderful? Makes me want to go take a dip!
WOW! TIME FLIES
This has only been 103 years ago...Amazing!!!
The year is 1910, over one hundred years ago. What a
difference a century makes!
ANOTHER OLD CAR
submitted by:Judy Daugherty Kimler (WI '59)
When I saw the old car pictured above it reminded me of the this picture of my mom and dad beside their car. It was probably taken in the early 30's. Not quite as old as the one from 1910 but 80yrs is pretty close.
I don't know for sure what make the car is but I think my mom told me it was a Packard. Hey, all you car buffs out there, is it a Packard?
NOTRE DAME/ST. MARY’S SCHOOL
From: Ian McAra Director of Advancement
Notre Dame High School and St. Mary's Grade School
Graduation, Sunday, May 26, 2013 3:00 pm, IC Church
Congratulations to the baseball team who have made it to the regional final which will be
played on Thursday at Frank Loria Field.
The Notre Dame & St. Mary’s Fund “Onward to Victory” is now only $7,000 away from
reaching the campaign goal of $105,000. Thank you to all the donors who have made
gifts totaling $98,000.
QUIET DELL BRIDGE PROJECT
SOON TO BE RENAMED:
USN S1C Jack Wayne Wade and USMC PFC Don Edgar Wade
Memorial Bridge
submitted by:Tom Keenan (WI '49)
This item is not quite like a lot of the other items for the Newsletter but it is a
“happening” from my high school years and I would like to make the information it
contains to all the folks that read the letter.
Item #1
QUIET DELL BRIDGE PROJECT
I am sure that many readers of this Newsletter drive through the Quiet Dell Intersection
on I-79 on a regular basis or when returning for a visit. Soon, the bridge over Elk Creek
at that exit will be named “USN S1C Jack Wayne Wade and USMC PFC Don Edgar Wade
Memorial Bridge” in honor of their sacrifice for this Country. These two young men grew
up about one-half mile North of Quiet Dell at Walnut Hill, another of those inconspicuous
unincorporated areas that abound in WV. They were brothers, two of nine children. Jack
was killed in WWII at age 18 and Donnie killed in Korea at 23. The loss of two from the
same family is unusual and, like any loss, tragic.
Neither of these young men were high school graduates, had they been, Jack would
have been RW ‘43 or ‘44, and Donnie RW ‘47 or 48. Jack may have dropped out at 17 to
join the Navy and Donnie dropped out shortly after becoming 16, a happening that was
not unusual at that time. So much time has passed since their death, there are few of us
who remember them and I want everyone that passes through area to be aware of who
they were and what they did. Quite often, I see a similar naming and I wonder who he
or she was and what they did.
In my teen age years, I spent quite a bit of my summers on Walnut Hill with my cousin
David Saas, RW ‘49, and I became familiar with the Wade Family, especially Donnie.
Donnie is the only true Free Spirit, Tom Sawyer, type that I have known in my life. A
very likable person, liked by all, who never stayed long at any one spot before moving
on. I still see him in my mind, walking down the road in bib overalls and bare feet. He
liked a dare, I am sure that is why he chose the Marines. Unfortunately, it is one he
didn’t survived but I am sure he was a good Marine to the end.
As making bridges and other public facilities memorials, Jim Nutter, RW ‘55, Ann Nutter,
RW ‘54, Billy Nutter Masterson, RW ‘49, and I were discussing this issue and we thought
that naming a bridge at Quiet Dell for the Wade brothers would be appropriate. I
researched their deaths and after coordinating with the family, proposed the idea to
Richard Iaquinta, WI ‘64 and a Harrison County Delegate to the Legislature. Richard is a
former Bridgeport High School and R. C. Byrd High School Football Coach and has
served several years as a Delegate. Richard accepted my proposal and the Naming was
enacted by the Legislature in 2013. Receiving that news was one of the best things that
I have been associated with in my life. Dedication is tentatively scheduled at the Quiet
Dell Methodist Church on July 13.
My belief is that these two young men are the epitome of so many West Virginians who
have served this country. Not rich in worldly goods but loving what this State and what
this Country stands for, left their home and returned in a body bag or as a MIA/POW. I
ask that those that pass this place, this bridge, remember Donnie and Jack and all the
others like them.
The Resolution passed by the Legislature follows. If you have any comments or
questions, particularly, anyone who knew Jack or Donnie, please contact me at
tpkeenan@frontier.com.
Requesting the Division of Highways name bridge number 17-79-114.9 over Elk Creek in
Harrison County the “USN S2C Jack Wade and USMC PFC Don Wade Memorial Bridge”.
Whereas, Brothers Jack Wayne Wade and Don Edgar Wade were born on December 29,
1925 and November 13, 1929, respectively, and were two of the nine children of the
late Arlie Ray Wade and Nellie Hennen Wade; and
Whereas, Jack and Don “Donnie” Wade grew up along West Virginia Route 20 near the
old swinging bridge at Walnut Hill in Harrison County and were members of a good,
hard working family of modest, but hard-earned means; and
Whereas, Seaman Second Class Jack Wayne Wade enlisted in the United States Navy
Reserves December 21, 1943 during World War II and was stationed on the USS
Birmingham; and
Whereas, On October 24, 1944, the cruiser Birmingham was engaged in what is known
as the Battle of Leyte Golf, in the South Pacific, where she suffered great topside
damage from explosions on board the carrier Princeton while courageously attempting
to aid that stricken vessel, and as a result of the events of that day, the USS Birmingham
suffered 233 killed, 426 wounded, including the loss of S2C Jack Wayne Wade, whose
duty station was a gun tub on the topside of the ship; and
Whereas, Although the exact details of his death and burial remain unknown, records
indicate that Jack Wayne Wade was buried at sea in the Leyte Golf; a Memorial at Fort
William McKinley, Manila, the Philippines lists Jack Wayne Wade as MIA/Buried at Sea
and as a recipient of the Purple Heart Medal; and a memorial was placed on December
4, 1995 at the West Virginia National Cemetery in Grafton, West Virginia; and
Whereas, Brother Don Edgar “Donnie” Wade enlisted in the United States Marine Corp
and completed basic training at Parris Island, South Carolina and was later assigned to
Company F, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division stationed in Korea
in July, 1952; and
Whereas, PFC Donnie Wade was mortally wounded while on combat patrol in the Battle
Zone known as the Jamestown Line, Western Outposts, Korea on October 2, 1952, from
small arms fire and was evacuated to the USS Repose, where he died from his wounds
two days later on October 4, 1952 and was laid to rest in the Elkview Masonic Cemetery
in Clarksburg, West Virginia; and
Whereas, Donnie Wade is remembered by his contemporaries who were acquainted
with him in their youth near Quiet Dell, as a likeable, engaging and free-spirited person
who has been since that fateful day in 1952 “forever young”; and
Whereas, The ultimate sacrifice made by these two brothers, S2C Jack Wayne and PFC
Don Edgar Wade, in service to their country, their state, their community, family and
friends should be memorialized in the community in which they were raised and were
known and are remembered; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name bridge number 17-79-114.9
on I-79 over Elk Creek in Harrison County the “USN S2C Jack Wade and USMC PFC Don
Wade Memorial Bridge”; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is requested to have made and be
placed signs identifying the bridge as the “USN S2C Jack Wade and USMC PFC Don Wade
Memorial Bridge”; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates forward a certified copy of
this resolution to the families of Jack Wayne Wade and Don Edgar Wade and the
Secretary of the Department of Transportation.
Item # 2
I missed putting my input on April’s Mystery Building so I will do it now. As I remember
it, it was a Chevrolet Dealership during the War Years, repairs but no cars to sell. When
it started I don’t know but it later was a Tucker Dealer. There was a ramp up to the
second floor.
MORE ABOUT DANCING CLASSES IN CLARKSBURG
submitted by:Colleen Luzader Holliday (WI ’61)
In the April newsletter, Sherry Hutchinson Keith (WI ’64) wrote about dancing classes in Clarksburg. Her article brought about some memories and a little searching on my part. The search revealed a couple of old pictures to share with you that might bring a little chuckle from readers and perhaps more memories from others that participated.
As Sherry wrote, the Chorus Line (aka “The Charmettes”), arose from the Bill DeFere Dance Studio on Main Street where the steps indeed were steep and long. Several girls from various high schools , including me, were taking tap lessons at Mr. DeFere’s Dance Studio. Somehow we all (including Mr DeFere) became enamored with the idea of developing a “chorus line” with lots of high kicks and flicks of the toes. The original group included sixteen “Charmettes” with assistant instructors and Bill’s wife as “stand-ins” in case of illness during a performance. The earliest pictures I could find were in 1959.
As Sherry told you the costumes were simple to defray the cost as each girl was financially responsible for, and many times had to complete her own costume. We began with only two leotards, a black one with a mock turtle neck and a royal blue v-neck one with a white band at the neck. These were paired with black fishnet stockings, a pair of two inch-heeled silver shoes with a single strap and jingle taps. The jingle tap provided better sound quality and volume in the kickline. Today jingle taps are used by” cloggers” and the Rockettes particularly when they are outdoors or in parades. The jingle taps took some “getting used to” by all of the girls. The vests, gloves and hats in the picture at the old Robinson Grand theatre were added to the basic black outfit and probably were silver, but we also had ones with green sequins. Some seamstress had to sew the sequins on row by row. The silver was material that glittered. The gloves had a loop over one finger and zipped tightly once you put the glove on your arm . In the small picture of me, you can see we used white satin tails, a top hat and white gloves over the same black leotard. Another Charmettes costume used white gloves, a diagonal piece of white tape across the front of the black leotard, and a stool (straight chair with the back cut off and black material around the bottom as a skirt with a diagonal strip of white tape matching the direction of the tape on the leotard). With black lights only the diagonal stripes and gloves seemed to move as we danced on, off and moved the stools.
We danced many places in the Clarksburg area, and if money was received for our dancing, Mr. DeFere let us use it to help pay for new costumes or more dance lessons …our choice.
Two funny incidents occurred during my dancing years. The first one occurred at one of the “Moose Minstrel Shows”. During the routine, one of the girls accidently kicked off one of her shoes into the orchestra pit. She promptly removed the other, tossed it to an “Endman” in the show, and finished the dance in her “fish-net stockinged” feet as if nothing happened. The other incident occurred during a show on WBOY television. Connie Leasburg ( WI, ), our tallest girl, kicked the lens off one of the WBOY cameras during some high kicks as the cameraman came too close. Wow, did that camera move back quickly when the lens crashed to the floor!
In the Robinson Grand picture, Melinda Goodwin, Linda Graves, and Connie Leasburg are all WI graduates. I am unsure of the others listed in the “Telegram” as being from Clarksburg. Perhaps some of you readers know.
Enjoy the old pictures and maybe someone will have more memories! By the way, I never became a professional dancer (People always ask). I just loved all the fun we shared. My career has been providing training and education to persons (paramedics, nurses and physicians) in pre-hospital and in-hospital emergency care.
BUILDING BEHIND COLEEN LUZADER
AS PICTURED IN LAST MONTH’S NEWSLETTER
The building behind Colleen Luzader is, I believe, the old White and Bailey warehouse in
Hartland. It is near the dam and down the street from where Colleen lived.
JUDY WHO? MYSTERY SOLVED!
submitted by:Sherry Ellen Hutchison Keith (WI ’64)
Left to right in back row: Judy Matthews (originally IDed as Judy Holden), Brenda Winston, Tammy LeBrun
Front row l to r: Nancy Swiger, Sherry Hutchinson, and Melinda Mazza
Roleta,
Correction regarding the Bill Deferre Recital photo in April's edition of The Letter..
It is Judy Matthews. They lived on Ridenour in Stealey.
Mystery solved with the much appreciated assistance of Melinda Mazza Sutter! I ask that you forgive my error!
Glad to get that settled. Ha Ha!!
Also,really enjoyed the May photo of the chorus line of Bill Deferre... Many of those girls were dancers and girls we looked up to! It brought smiles to remember their names once again... We followed in their "dancesteps" a year or so later.
Thanks, Roleta and crew, for the wonderful experience of our old town, as we remember it fondly! It lives again every month! "Cburg!"
WHERE WE WENT ON DATES
submitted by:Becky Allen (WI '70)
In looking back, compared to today, there were a lot of places to go for a date in high school in
Clarksburg.. There was the good old RED BARN, THE CAROUSEL, (if you could sneak in) Ellis
Drive Inn, The Skyline Drive Inn, the movies at the Robinson Grand and the Ritz Theaters, and
of course everyone went to the good old GREEN PARROT.. My last two years of high school,
there were summer dances on the lawn at Lake Floyd with a Live Band on the weekends in the
summer. That was always a good time. A lot of kids just hung out at the Burger Chef on Chestnut
Street and the good old Coffee House at the church next to the Burger Chef. A lot of the boys
hung out at Joe’s Pool Room on Pike Street next to the Dairy Queen across from Southern States
or in that area . I think the name was Joe’s . A lot of us back " In the day " just drove around and
went to others houses and hung out if someone’s door was always open. Parents were always
home at that time and kids were always welcome it seemed. Many friends had parties at their
homes on New Years and Special Holidays......
I need to include all the clubs with live bands on old Rt 50. You could hop from club and hear live
bands and those included The Red Caboose, The Capri Club, Twin Oaks Supper Club and the
Red Carpet behind Compton Lanes.. There were always live bands and great entertainment and
then when the bands stopped playing everyone would meet at the Old Truck O' Tell bottom of old
Bridgeport Hill or the Canteen in Stealey for breakfast.. never ever a dull evening in Clarksburg
West Virginia..
OH THOSE WERE THE DAYS MY FRIEND
EDITOR’S NOTE: So good to hear from someone from the 1970’s. Please write again. I wish
more would share their memories. It was good to see that some of the places where we shared
dates were still around and being frequented by others years later. Would love to hear more.
PRESS RELEASE
RE: DICK FITCH (WI 1956)
J. R. Dick Fitch is about to publish his fourth book, ”The Awesome Duo”.
His story is written for elementary-age children and is about three sixth grade
classes coming together at an elementary school to produce and perform a talent
show for the entire school student body. The story takes the reader through the
planning stages, division of Responsibilities, building sets and backdrops,
costumes, makeup, making posters, and developing ten skits to perform.
Some who have reviewed the story suggest it is a tutorial for staging a talent
show.
The class clown, Jimmy, and his friend Jesse, make up The Awesome Duo as
they guide the show through ten skits, most original and written by Fitch.
Fitch, a veteran of the U. S. Air Force, as a young airman was in little theatre and
appeared in numerous productions while stationed in Tokyo, Japan.
The story is illustrated by Margaret Silva-Chairez, an award winning cartoonist
and illustrator who worked with Fitch at the Imperial Valley Press in El Centro,
CA. This is the fourth book they have done together.
Fitch was assisted by 37 sixth grade students who evaluated the story. Over 73
percent rated it as three or better on a scale of 1 to 5. Fitch said two of his
favorite favorable comments are: "it is an awesome story" and "I loved it and I
hate reading books!" His favorite negative comment was, "Boring! Don't waste
your time, Mister." Fitch said he asked the reviewers to be "brutally honest." That
student took me at my word," he chuckled. The story is targeted at children from
second grade and up.
Fitch is a graduate of Washington Irving class of 1956. He is a retired newspaper
editor and publisher now residing in Kerrville, Texas.
Contact Fitch at fitch1@ktc.com for details on ordering a signed and numbered
first edition and copy.
LUNCH ROOM AT SCHOOL
submitted by:Bill Meredith (Monongah HS '57)
Our high school didn't have a cafeteria or lunch room, so, even though a few students went home
for lunch, most went to one of the two hog dog restaurants next to the school or to the pool hall
nearby.
The "pool room", as we called it, only sold pepperoni rolls, which was fine, unless you wanted
sauce on it. If so, you needed to take it to one of the hot dog joints and pay a few cents to have
it "sauced". My preference, when I was working after school and on weekends and had money,
was to go to Morris' Restaurant. There, I could buy 3-hot dogs and a quart of milk for $1.00. I
don't know how many hot dogs I ate during those four years, but it had to be close to a thousand.
As anyone who has attended the Sarasota Picnic knows, I am blessed with a wife, who has
mastered the art of making W.Va. hot dog sauce, so I get to enjoy great hot dogs regularly. Even
so, when we return to north central West Virginia, we still go to eat at one of the local hot dog
places. Woody's in Fairmont is our favorite, but Ritzy Lunch or even Yann's will do. I'm making
myself hungry, so I'll close with that.
REMEMBER TO DISPLAY THE FLAG ON FLAG DAY JUNE 14, 2013
FOOTBALL MOTHERS
submitted by:Dave McMunn (WI '57)
My thanks to Cliff Judy for the end of the season November 1953 photo of the WI
Football Mothers in front of their well-known stand. For some reason I am thinking that
Jim Alvaro may also have a copy. Cliff Judy was an exceptional athlete and genuine nice
guy (another Broad Oaks boy) who went on to athletic fame at West Virginia Wesleyan.
The lady in the center in the back in the photo is Eleanor Coleman McMunn. She and her
husband Charles were both 1926 graduates of WI as was their daughter Ann who had
just finished WI in that spring of 1953. Her son Dave was a lowly freshman at that time.
These mothers, like all of the other team mothers, devoted years of time and labor
making and selling the very popular hot dogs in support of their sons. Cliff was correct,
the ladies treated the effort as a “Club”.
What started as a “once in a lifetime” trip is quickly becoming an annual tradition for my family. Three years ago, our oldest daughter, Lori, got two tickets for the NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four Tournament. She knew it was on her dad’s bucket list. She took him to Houston and they had a wonderful time. Well, needless to say, they were hooked and both submitted to the lottery for tickets the following year. So, last year, four of us went to New Orleans. John and I met Lori and her son, Ryan, in the “Big Easy”.
In early April of this year, we attended the 2013 Final Four in Atlanta, Ga. We stayed downtown, adjacent to Bicentennial Park and the Georgia Dome. We saw four great teams. And, what a wonderful visit we had. We spent a day at the Georgia Aquarium, shared many laughs and lots of great food. We also met many people with so many stories. Some had been to 20 or more Final Fours. For others, it was their first.
When my children were young and at home there was usually a basketball bouncing somewhere, either outside, in the basement or in the garage. When there wasn’t a basketball bouncing, we were most likely at a game or watching one on television. Little did I know, way back when, that basketball would play a huge part of our lives all of these years later. Our children and grandchildren live in different cities on the east coast. However, from November to April, the phone calls amongst us about basketball are never ending. We have a family March Madness bracket pool and the competition is fierce. Next year, we plan to be in Dallas. Hopefully, our favorite teams will join us there!
Marolyn Tustin Jett WI 1956
Reply To Marolyn:
What a wonderful way to spend time with your family. Having played basketball of some kind since I was about 8-years old, I love the game. I have never been to a Final Four, but almost made it to St. Petersburg, FL to one several years ago. It looks like you guys have started something big. Here's hoping it continues for a long, long time. I really envy you. You should be very proud of this great adventure. I hope you get to see the Mountaineers win one someday.
It's kind of strange but I had just finished reading about Carl & Jack Lyons and Eldon Malling
came to my house. Eldon graduated from RW in 46 and went to WV Wesleyan. He was a great
basketball player at RW and Wesleyan. I was also there for the 46-47 year and I saw them
playing there. I remember an Oldaker that was a good outside shooter. I remember Carl and Jack
some. I think Jack graduated with me in 43.
Vaya con Dios
Bill Jackson, W I 1943
Reply To Bill:
It appears that there was a pipeline from RW to WV Wesleyan. Actually, it was from the
entire city of Clarksburg. The commute to Buckhannon is a piece of cake today, but as I
recall, it was a difficult drive back in the day. Thanks for writing.
I noticed your article regarding the “dog days of sports” and I was wondering if you were just
referring to college and/or high school sports? I am an avid NASCAR fan; my brother-in-law and
nephew are avid BASEBALL fans; and my brother is an avid GOLF fan – which to me are
“SPORTS”. I am not being critical as I think that your addition of the sports section of the
newsletter is AWESOME, and I wish that I followed more of the sports that your column seems to
favor, but the only time that I watch college football is when the University of Georgia (my son
went there) or Virginia Tech (my brother went there, along with a lot of the members of his family)
or West Virginia is playing; the only time that I watch college basketball is when Duke or Virginia
Tech or West Virginia is playing. I like hearing from your article what the high schools in the
Clarksburg area are doing from your sports section, so keep up the good work.
John Teter, W I 1961
Reply To John:
You make some good points. However, when we were young, there was no
NASCAR, a least not like it is today. Very few young people could afford to play
golf and there were few public courses. Major League Baseball consisted of 16
teams and there was no free agency. You always knew the players from year to year
and you loved them. Now, you can't tell who is on the team without a program. The
roster changes every year. They didn't pay a guy who hits .240, $3 million per year
and they played 154 games per season. You could watch a game live for less than
$10.00
I say all of that to point out that everything has changed. The only things halfway
constant are college and high school sports. I like NASCAR, but can't watch it for
three hours, because I really don't have a favorite driver. I love golf and play three
times per week year around. However, the pros play a game I'm not familiar with. I
play with no one who can hit a driver 300 plus yards. Equipment has radically
changed the game. Maybe, because I live in Florida, where we have baseball from
February through October, I get tired of the long season. Plus, have you priced a
ticket to see a MLB game lately? A good box seat costs over $150.00 to see the
Tampa Rays.
So, when the college basketball season is over, my dog days begin. Do I still watch
sports? Certainly, but I am always looking forward to the first crack of the pads in
August.
Thanks for the note. Your comments are always interesting and I love to receive
them.
Below are a couple of excellent columns by Mickey Furfari about
Clarksburg native and RW grad Jim Crutchfield. Enjoy.
Furfari Column for Wednesday, May 15
CRUTCHFIELD ‘MIRACLE MAN’ AT WEST LIBERTY
By Mickey Furfari
MORGANTOWN – Jim Crutchfield, who learned the value of “aggressive
defense” in basketball as a player at Roosevelt Wilson High School in
Clarksburg, continues to parlay that play phase with others to lead the nation in
scoring as well as smashing success as an NCAA Division II head coach.
His West Liberty University basketball team posted a 34-2 record and
averaged an amazing 103 points per game. That amazing average topped all of
the country’s hoops teams in every college classification.
What’s more, West Liberty ranked No. 1 nationally in Division II at regular
season’s end, and advanced to the NCAA Division II semi-finals for the second
time in three years.
Crutchfield, who at age 57 must be one of college basketball’s most
honored, led this year’s club to a fourth consecutive WVIAC championship as the
Hilltoppers paced all Division II schools in scoring for the eighth time in nine
years.
The Clarksburg native not only was named by the West Virginia sport’s
writers as State College Coach of the Year for a third straight time, but Basketball
Times named him as National Division II Coach of the Year for the second time
in three years.
Thanks to Dough Huff of Wheeling, the state leader of sports writers, this
one had the honor and privilege to sit next to Crutchfield during the recent Victory
Awards Dinner in Clarksburg. It was a most enjoyable evening for me.
He not only struck this old scribe as a great coach, but also as a “class
act” and gentleman.
The West Liberty mentor’s career college coaching record is 244-45. It is
the best, percentage-wise, among the nation’s basketball coaches at any level,
according to Huff.
Crutchfield, who’s a non-athlete-playing graduate of West Virginia
University in 1988, taught mathematics and coached basketball for 10 years at
Cameron High School.
It was after that stint that he joined West Liberty as head tennis coach
and assistant basketball coach. His tennis teams also were very successful,
winning many WVIAC titles.
Jim and his wife, Diana, also a Clarksburg native, have two grown
daughters. They are Caroline and Allison.
Mrs. Crutchfield, who is a WVU graduate, serves as an attorney in a
Moundsville law firm with State Senate president Jeff Kesler. She also teaches
criminal justice classes at West Liberty University.
That school had only two 20-victory seasons in history before Crutchfield
took over the reins and he has guided the Hilltoppers to nine consecutive 20-win
seasons including the last three of more than 30 wins.
His impact obviously has had an absolutely historic impact on that
Wheeling-area university’s history.
Furfari column for Thursday, May 16
CRUTCHFIELD TALKS ABOUT HIS SYSTEM, RECRUITING, FOCUS
By Mickey Furfari
MORGANTOWN – Jim Crutchfield, whose basketball program at West Liberty
University is the nation’s best in NCAA Division II, insists that there’s really no secret to
his team’s soaring success.
The Hilltoppers not only lead the collegiate basketball world in scoring with an
incredible 103-point average but also are No. 1 in marginal victory at 25-plus.
“I try to stay as local as I can in recruiting,” the 57-year-old Clarksburg native said.
Most of his players come from West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.
He does have a lot of college coaches ask what he’s doing. “I think that’s because we
are doing something different,” he admitted.
While Crutchfield isn’t sure his system is a secret, West Liberty’s high-scoring results
testify that his players’ efforts are paying off in huge dividends.
“But it’s probably a lot of things that we do are a little bit different,” he stated.
Asked if there’s an emphasis on scoring in his system, Crutchfield replied:
“No. I think it’s more an emphasis on aggressive play both offensively and
defensively. Our scoring is just like a byproduct. It happens when we play that way.”
He noted some teams averaging 60, 70, 80 points per game try to slow down the
tempo when playing WLU. “But our defensive pressure usually dictates the tempo of the
game,” he said.
“We go with pressure defensively and put the other team into position (where) it’s
hard to hold onto the ball very long.
“That’s the kind of key I think that our tempo is good (because of) pressure defense.”
Crutchfield isn’t a coach, I’m told, who thrives on “pouring it on” with glee. But he
readily admits that some of his wins certainly were one-sided.
So that does give him opportunities to empty his bench and use every player, and he
likes that. It’s good for experience sake, at least.
Crutchfield, whose team posted a 34-2 record and ranked No. 1 in Division II this past
year at season’s end, is looking ahead to his 10th year at West Liberty. His career
basketball coaching record of 241-45 is the nation’s best, percentage wise, among all
college basketball coaches at any level.
He has won numerous honors and awards, including a third consecutive time winner
of the West Virginia Coach of the Year in any sport. He also was named by Basketball
Times as the national Division II basketball Coach of the Year twice in the past three
years.
There have been a few other coaching jobs which caught his interest. But he has
decided he’s very happy and likes to stay where he is.
“I enjoy where I’m working,” he said. “I like the players. I like the people I am
working with.
“I’m happy my family is in Wheeling. So I really haven’t focused on moving out to
another job. I’m just happy where I’m at, and I don’t want to change that.”
RANDOM THOUGHTS
It's late May, so that means the high school baseball tournaments are well under way. Locally,
Morgantown, Bridgeport, Fairmont Senior and Notre Dame are still alive in regional play. By the
time you read this, you'll know who made the state tourney and maybe who won it all. I saw no
local girl's softball teams who made the state tournament this year.
It looks like the Pirates are going to be contenders again in the National League Central. Last
year, they played well early, but faded late. Let's hope they make it a three way race this season
with the Reds and Cardinals.
Probably, to the surprise of few big fans, Chavas Rawlins, a freshman QB on WVU's roster, has
decided to transfer. With the addition of Clint Trickett from Florida State and the return of two
QB's, who have been on the team longer, he must have seen the handwriting on the wall. It's
doubtful if he would have played this year, probably redshiirting and I question whether he would
ever start for the Mountaineers. There is a stud QB committed for 2014, so it is best for Rawlins
to take his game elsewhere.
Speaking of transfers, Keaton Miles, who would be a junior in the fall has left the WVU basketball
program. That makes four players, who have left the team since season's end. This will give
Huggins room to recruit a good point guard, which, in my opinion, he desperately needs. If my
count is right, the program has lost at least twelve players since the 2010 recruiting class. That
makes it tough to field a competitive team in major college BB. However, this year's class looks
great on paper. Here's hoping they play half as well as their headlines.
Write to me on any sport's subject. We love receiving your letters and starting a discussion with
other readers.
The 2012-2013 WIN Scholarship quilt drawing raised $4,101.00.
Congratulations and THANK YOU to the WIN Quilters for helping to create
another masterpiece which raised money to send more Clarksburg students to
college.
We can't rest on our "laurels", so plans are underway to make the 2014 quilt
even better. All quilters are welcome to join our efforts. If you'd like
participate and we don't have your name & address, please contact: Mary Liz Carder marylizcarder@msn.com OR Sue Moats moatsue@aol.com
SOME FACTS
With the presentation of the 2013-2014 WIN Scholarship we have given
back to Clarksburg through supporting education the grand total of:
$44,000.00
Each of you who have given to the scholarship through the years can be very
proud of this. YOU made it possible. It is a very rewarding feeling. Thank
you so much for making this possible. It shows that all of us coming
together with our gifts (no matter how large or how small) can accumulate
enough to make a difference “together”.
If you wish to give to the next scholarship, please make out your check or
money order payable to:
Roleta Meredith c/o WIN Scholarship
Mail to:
Roleta Meredith
3025 Switzer Ave.
Columbus, Ohio 43219
SHARING MEMORIES
submitted by:Sally Anne Pulice (WI '69)
First, thank you Roleta and Judy for the newsletter. It has helped me remember so many
good memories of my childhood/teenage years.
I lived in Clarksburg, but I grew up in
Shinnston. So, here's a "shout out" to Shinnston, WV. Both of my parents were graduates
of Shinnston High School, and I spent every weekend and most of my summer days in
Shinnston. I stayed with my maternal grandmother/aunts/uncles, but my father's family
resided just 4 blocks away. I learned to swim at the Shinnston pool. I learned to dance at
the Women's Club and Moose Club teen dances, and I learned to tap dance with my
teacher, Helen Jones, at the Moose Club. I took baton lessons and marched in the
Lumberport parade.
The Shinnston High School band was so fabulous and especially
so during the annual Frontier Days, held every second or third week in September. The
majorettes spelled out SHINNSTON! and led the band down the street where everyone
gathered for the Saturday parade that closed the Frontier Days celebration. We all dressed
in cowboy/cowgirl outfits. I can still remember loving my boots and thinking that I was
going to be a majorette for that band some day and wear those pretty boots just like the
majorettes were wearing, and I hoped to be chosen to wear the ! That seemed like such an
honor. My father took us to many Shinnston football games, and he was especially proud
of his high school friendships with Joe Stydahar and John McKay. (Bill, I'll leave you to
tell of their connection with football/Shinnston.)
My father's mother was a great Italian
cook, and she fed many people at her home, including Joe Stydahar and John McKay. I
have a signed copy of the Shinnston Tornado (book), by J. L. Finlayson that was
mentioned a few months ago in the newsletter. That must have been a terrible time for the
good people of Shinnston.
One last thought...during President Kennedy's time, he pushed
for greater emphasis on physical education. It became a tradition for the WI girls who
were going to be Seniors to take a long walk during the summer prior to the start of their
Senior year. So, one summer day in 1968 about 20 girls in the WI class of 1969 began
our walk from the Court House to Shinnston and back. In Shinnston we were greeted by
the Shinnston Fire Truck and given a tour of the city as we rode on the Fire Truck and ate
ice cream cones. Shinnston hospitality....such a fun, happy memory.
MICROWAVE MEMORIES
submitted by:Bill Jackson (WI '43)
I was at my son's house and I heard a loud noise and I looked at the window. There was a
smudge with red feathers on it. I went out to find a Cardinal lying on the ground and I thought he
was dead. I picked it up, put it in the palm of my hand and started massaging it's chest. It finally
started moving and came to. I held it for quite a while giving it a chance to recover. In the
meantime my niece got a rock and put it in the microwave, hoping to get it warm and lay the
Cardinal next to it. Needless to say the rock exploded into several pieces. The Cardinal finally
flew up to the roof and perched there for a while then flew off and I never saw it again.
EDITOR’S NOTE:An amazing story. I never have heard of anything like this. Do you have a
story about a MICROWAVE to share with us? Write to Roleta1@aol.com.
REMEMBERING CLARKSBURG
EDITOR’S NOTE:John Cooper wrote his memories of Clarksburg and sent
them to the newsletter. I know that you will enjoy reading them as much as
I have; therefore, I have cut this into installments. This is the second
installment and I will put one in each of the next few months until we have
read all the memories that he sent.
MEMORIES
Second Installment
submitted by:John Cooper (WI '51)
Sears, Montgomery Ward, Palace Furniture, O.J. Morrison, Watts-Sauter-
Lear, and Parson Souders were all the wonderful department stores. There
were a great variety of specials each week with more than just the first floor
sale items. Not only were there great Christmas parades but Halloween
Parades too. You could buy a five cent package of confetti to throw at
anyone. Everyone usually got a mouthful. One Halloween Parade featured
a fellow in a bright red devil costume carrying a pitchfork while walking
down Main Street past the Empire Bank. He looked so real, the kids would
forever remember him. I do!! But Christmas Holidays were a very-very
special time in downtown Clarksburg. Sidewalks were absolutely so
crowded with shoppers that you could hardly walk. Hard to believe when
you see downtown streets during recent holidays. The store windows
featured moving mechanical toy displays with a Christmas theme. It seems
they were trying to out do each other every year as the families toured each
big window display. There was always a crowd outside around each store
window. Some offered Santa Claus; I will never forget the one store that
had a woman, dressed as Santa, giving out small chocolates. She may
have been a clerk pressed into action at the last minute when the guy
playing Santa did not show up. All of the kids were a little in the dark,
except one kid told all the others, “It was not the ‘ole guy’ himself, he was
too busy so Mrs. Santa showed up.”
The Court House plaza and G.C Murphy’s had a “Santa Claus house”
outside on the sidewalk. Salvation Army people were here and there. One
just had to drop some money in the red kettle or miss the good generous
feelings of the holiday spirit. I remember that Grant’s store had a great
promotion: A man who stood all day in the front window and did not move,
kids and adults made faces and did funny things but he would not crack a
smile or move a muscle. But the very best promotion was a “Human
Spider”, a daredevil who started at the bottom of the Stonewall Jackson
Hotel entrance and climbed up the outside of the building floor by floor
without a safety net below him.
Another great memory certainly was when John W. Davis of Clarksburg
was nominated on the Democratic ticket to run for president of the United
States but was soundly defeated in the national election. This was a
terrible disappointment for Clarksburg and Harrison County.
The national news headline event of the Harry Powers murder case made
newspaper headlines for the entire nation to follow. I had found some old
detailed newspapers and photos my dad had of the Powers murder case. I
was blown away with it all. I strongly got the idea of producing a local
Clarksburg Art Center play of the Powers incident. Everyone said it
couldn’t be done because of guaranteed negative feed-back. We pushed
and pushed and saw a dozen sold-out performances and had to quit
because the volunteer cast members wore out. The local newspaper
publicity was tremendous with a lot of help from city editor Bob Stealey.
It was the most popular happening in Clarksburg at that time. People
phoned me and became angry when I told them it was sold out with
standing room only performances; we simply had no more tickets available
for the caller. A few years later we repeated the performances inside the
Harrison County Court House and in the Lewis County Court House. Local
Clarksburg writer and funny guy, Steve Goff, did a great job playing Powers
in this revived play. I always played the part of the chief of police who
finally nabbed Powers and had the scene especially with Mike Simons (who
we secretly did not reveal until opening night playing Powers) in the scene
where the chief beats up Powers every performance. Mike would whisper
to me with the audience yelling and applauding loudly “Quit being so dang
rough and smearing all that fake blood stuff all over me.” Actually all of us
were having a great time. Mike was the local poplar TV weather man who
also produced and directed many Art Center Shows including many I was
in. “Guys and Dolls”, “Peter Pan”, “1776”, “Anything Goes”, “Barnum” etc
all at great expense, professionally produced and offered to Harrison
County area Broadway Theater fans.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Write your memories of Clarksburg and send them to
Roleta1@aol.com.
Remember to read the July issue of the newsletter when we will have the 3rd
installment of John Cooper’s memories.
IDENTIFY THE LOCATION PICTURED BELOW
The Mystery Picture for May was Deegan/Hinkle Lake in Bridgeport
JUNE MYSTERY PICTURE
If you would like to guess the identification of the picture above, please write to Roleta1@aol.com.
Remember to add a memory and include your name, school and year of graduation. thanks
WHO ARE THESE THREE BOYS?
FEATURED IN THE MAY NEWSLETTER
submitted by: Mary Sue Spahr (WI '56)
The kid on the left is Jim Alvaro. The little one on the handlebars is Fred Alvaro. I'm still thinking
about the kid in the middle. Jim is looking mighty serious. No doubt he was worried about the
trouble he'd be in if his parents found out that Fred was on the handlebars. BTW, look at those
adorable little slippers that Fred is wearing.
submitted by:Steve Limbers (WI '57)
The guy on the left has to be Jim Alvaro, and so the guy on the handlebars must be brother Fred.
The person in back is a true mystery to me.
submitted by:John Harrison (WI '56)
Looks like the Alvaro boys, Jim, Fred and Larry. This was my extended family growing up without
my Dad. I owe them so much.
I see a bicycle in the picture. Jim and I rode one from Hite Field to my house one evening after
football practice and Jim insisted on our going down Hickman St without using any brakes. It was
as close to "Come to Jesus" as I ever had. Jim was on the bar and when we hit the bottom of the
hill, Jim bounced in the air and did not come down till we passed Bibbie's house, half way out the
street. Jim was kidding me and said that his life flashed before his eyes. Now I ask you.... is that
really possible? Of course not.. Just a scary ride on a good ole sturdy bike.
Some day I'll tell you how I broke their living room coffee table and was banned from their house
for a time.
And the one who got all the names correct is:
submitted by:Don Sager (WI '56)
I can’t believe that Jim Alvaro keeps coming up with pictures. If I had the time, I would
investigate whether he just PhotoShops various people and puts them together to keep
“getting some PR”. Anyhow, the 3 adorable children are Jim (WI 1956), Freddy (WI
1959) (such cute slippers—looks like mine from the Sarasota fiasco) and MAYBE their
cousin Eddie Lucente (WI 1955)
WHO ARE THESE BOYS?
Do you recognize any of these boys? I do not have their ID's so any help would be greatly appreciated. Please write your guesses to Roleta1@aol.com. Remember to add a memory and include your name, school and year of graduation. thanks
NICKNAMES
submitted by:Arreta Radcliffe Jaranko (WI '40)
Hi, Roleta: I was so glad to read the letter from Carl Lyons. I wrote about him when you requested
letter about nicknames. My brothers always called him "Blue" and I never thought to ask them
where he got that nickname. Maybe he will read this and send another letter telling us where that
came from. As I told you before, my mother never wanted her boys to have nicknames but they
had them anyway!! Some people never knew my youngest brother was Darrell because they
always called him "Jug" or "Juggie". Isn't that something? I well remember the Lyons family as
they lived on the same street as we did. I knew Mr. Lyons worked for the railroad and for a time
he was our councilman. One time I was walking down from visiting with my mother there on
Stealey Avenue and Mrs. Lyons was cutting back her lilac bushes. I asked her if she would give
some of the trimmings to me to plant and she did. I have been away from Hart Street for many
years but when I was in Bridgeport taking care of my brother through his illness, I drove over to
my home on Hart Street and those lilac bushes I had planted so long ago were still there and
doing well. Amazing.
I hope Blue will read this and respond. Best Wishes to you and Judy and
thanks for the newsletter.
FROM “THE HILLTOP”
Dated December 1957
The Hallwalker mentioned nicknames in a small article and some of the nicknames used were:
Scaborch
Tank
Hogjaw
Spc
Snowie
Gismo
JTW
Mugsy
Peanuts
Heabie
Bulldog
King Kent
EDITOR’S NOTE:Can you identify any of the people who had these nicknames? Write to:
Roleta1@aol.com
MAY SUBJECTS
submitted by:Mary Virginia (Duncan-Johnson) Wilke (WI '55)
May I say again Thank you for the wonderful newsletter! I, so, look forward to it!! On to some
of the things you requested in May:
1. MYSTERY PICTURE: I believe the picture was of Maple Lake. The last time I was there was in
1955 on our Sr Skip day! Went with girlfriends, Claire Hawkins, Betty Kay Hanifan, Nancy
Johnson were a few of us. I think there were more but memories are faded. When I was a child,
my Mom & I went with neighbors to the lake.
EDITOR’S NOTE: No it wasn’t Maple Lake but I had to leave in this guess as you shared so many names of friends.
2. WHY I LEFT WEST VIRGINIA: I married after graduation & in September, my husband, Hugh
Johnson Jr & I traveled to Ohio to check on work there on the advice of a friend, Gene
Jones. We had planned to spend one day there, but he was asked to go to work the next
day so we stayed for a week! We returned home to WV & gathered clothes & went back
to OH. We lived there for 12 years, built a house, & had 3 children. "Jr" went eventually
to work for Republic Steel Door & learned to be a Die Setter. We, also, acquired other
property. Very successful, but troubles happened & I & my children relocated in AZ in
March of 1967. I had family here. Hugh Jr joined us in later months & we remained
married until 1978.
I remarried in 1985 to a wonderful man, Malcolm "Mac" Wilke & acquired 2 teenage daughters!
It was a wonderful marriage, but sadly, he suffered heart & cancer in his time on earth & died in
2001. Through "Mac" I regained my religion, joined the Eastern Star & my family was complete.
My only regret is that he did not live long enough to be the Great Grandfather to these 13 children
but he was the best Grandfather to all 13 grandchildren that we had at the time . There was never
a person in our world that didn't respect "Mac" Wilke!
I never returned to live in WV but my memories of my youth there was wonderful & the people
the best! Visited a couple of times but sadly no immediate family remains there. I, do, however
keep in touch with my one girlfriend, Jeannine (Greynolds) Fultz, by e-mail & occasionally phone
calls. She has been my friend for over 62 years!
3. WHERE DID WE GO ON DATES: During our dating years, we went to Willow Beach, Ellis
Drive In, Hilltop Drive-In, many movies & many drag races on Bridgeport Hill. Never a dull
moment! Ha!
4. DURING SCHOOL, WHERE DID YOU EAT LUNCH? I always went home for lunch, as my
Mom always fixed the main meal at lunch - chicken & dumplings, Swiss steak, etc. She worked
from 3:00 to 11:00 PM as a nurse at Union Protestant Hospital, so it was very important that I
came home for lunch. I, often brought girlfriends with me & they were delighted to have such
meals. My Mother, Violet Duncan, was a wonderful Mother, worked, taught Sunday School & had
raised 5 children with me as her last one.
5 . DO YOU OR SOMEONE IN YOUR FAMILY QUILT? I mentioned to you previously that I
have been making quilts for my great-grandchildren. Well they now number 13 & the 14th is due
in July!! Here are the last two quilts that I finished:
Butterfly quilt for Layla Marie Oates - 13th G-grandchild
For the baby girl expected in July.
Now I am currently working on a "Flower Garden" quilt, all hand sewn & will probably take me the
next 20 years to finish! Ha! I am working with scraps of all the quilts that I have made so that it
will be a memory quilt for the family. My one daughter & one of my nieces are going to contribute
in the near future. I think this will be a fun project. In the meantime, I am looking forward to the
WI quilt project & can't wait for the package!!
HOY “JR” DELBERT QUEEN JR., 49, of East View, passed away Wednesday evening, May 8, 2013, in
Ruby Memorial Hospital.
He was born April 9, 1964, in Clarksburg, a son of the late Hoy Delbert Queen Sr. and Margie
Catherine Dean Queen.
He is survived by two sons, Andrew and Austin Queen; his brother, Mark Queen, East View; his
companion, Andrea Phillips; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.
JR was a graduate of R-W High School, and enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was employed at
the FOP Restaurant, Nutter Fort.
ANGELA MARIE MASCARO
Angela Marie Mascaro, 66, of Stonewood, passed away April 28, 2013.
She was born April 19, 1947, in Clarksburg, a daughter of the late Frank Mascaro and Angeline
Lucille Piccolo Minard Mascaro.
She is survived by a brother, John Mascaro; and a niece, Holly Dutchess Austin and her husband
Michael of Ohio.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her twin sister, Marie J. Dutchess of
Dublin, Ohio.
Angela was a graduate of Roosevelt-Wilson High School class of 1969 and was a homemaker.
JOHN EDWARD KERNS
Jon Edward Kerns, 66, of Nutter Fort passed away on May 1, 2013 at United Hospital Center.
He was born in Clarksburg, WV on November 10, 1946, a son of the late Arthur G. and Thelma V.
Rogers Kerns.
He is survived by one daughter, Jessica Wood and husband Matthew of Morgantown, WV. Also
surviving are the mother of his children, Helena Simmons Kerns of Clarksburg, WV, and two
beloved grandchildren, Jacob Matthew Wood and Bailey Rose Kerns.
In addition to his parents, he also was preceded in death by one son, Artie Kerns.
Mr. Kerns was a graduate of Roosevelt-Wilson High School and a construction manager for
Thrasher Engineering. He also served in the U.S. National Guard for six years.
ROBERT L. MERRYMAN
Robert L. “Butch” Merryman, 87, of Clarksburg, WV, departed this life on Saturday, May 11, 2013,
at Ruby Memorial Hospital, Morgantown, WV, due to complications from a fall.
He was born Dec. 22, 1925, in Clarksburg, WV, a son of the late Vincent Brent Merryman and
Lillian G. Fox Merryman Benninger.
Surviving are his wife of 65 years, Catherine Louise Griffith Merryman; two sons, Stephen E.
Merryman and his wife Barbara, and Gary E. Merryman and his wife Tonja; two grandchildren,
Robert Stephen Merryman, and Brad Lee Merryman; and a sister-in-law, Betty Merryman Criss.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Jack Merryman and Jim Benniger, and a sister, Ruth
Layman.
Robert was a Methodist by faith. He graduated from Washington Irving High School in the Class
of 1943. Mr. Merryman retired from Pittsburgh Plate Glass as a glass cutter.
EDWARD EUGENE YOUNG
WW II VETERAN
EX PRISIONER OF WAR
(read a bit of his history here)
Edward Eugene Young, 92, of Mount Clare, passed away early Saturday morning, May 11, 2013,
at United Hospital Center.
He was born December 27, 1920, in Harrison County, to Eva Marie Paugh and Eugene Burton
Young.
Eugene, or Ed as he was sometimes called, was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of
almost 50 years, Peggy Minear Young; and one son, Edward Eugene “Gene” Young II.
He is survived by two children, Stephen Young and wife Terry of Crestwood, Kentucky, and
Susan Young of Clarksburg, WV; eight grandchildren, Christopher Young and wife Amy of
Arnolds Run, WV, Jennifer Young of Lost Creek, WV, Grant Bayerle of Miami, FL, Tessa Bayerle
of Miami, FL, Scott Young of Louisville, KY, Sean Young of Louisville, KY, Kristen Rabold and
husband Tyler of Spokane, Washington, and Roxanne Young of Mount Clare, WV; five great grandchildren,
Tori Young, Cody Young, Hannah Young, Gavin Young and Riley Young of
Arnolds Run, WV; and special friends, Diane and Donald Douglas of Clarksburg, WV.
He is also survived by Gene’s wife, Barbara Young, who cooked and helped care for Eugene for
many years.
Eugene attended Roosevelt-Wilson High School, graduating in 1939. In July 1942, he enlisted in
the United States Army and served as a corporal in the 106th Infantry Division, Artillery during
World War II.
Eugene was later captured on December 19, 1944, during the Battle of the Bulge. He marched in
the snow for days in Belgium before getting transported by boxcar to Bad Orb, Germany. It was
there, in Stalag 9B, Eugene spent the next three months as a prisoner of war. He was liberated
on Easter Sunday, 1945, by General George Patton’s 44th division, The Big Red One.
Eugene used to say his experience of being so close to death in the camp was a “blessing in
disguise,” because it taught him to appreciate life more than ever, as well as his freedom. He
finished out his military career stateside as a sergeant at Fort Jackson in South Carolina, working
primarily as a payroll master.
Upon discharge, Eugene returned to the family farm in West Virginia, working as a bricklayer
before securing a job at Hazel Atlas Glass in Clarksburg. Upon retirement, he continued farming
the family land, raising grass-fed cattle and putting up hay every year.
In the years following his liberation, Eugene became heavily involved in the West Virginia chapter
of American Ex-Prisoners of War, which he helped form 26 years ago. Since the organization’s
inception, Eugene served as either a chapter commander or chaplain, often sharing his POW
experiences with schools and area organizations. He also served as a past chapter commander
and most recently as chaplain for the American Ex-Prisoners of War Barbed-Wire Mountaineer
Chapter 1.
Eugene attended Green Hill United Methodist Church, occasionally serving as Sunday school
teacher. He spent many days visiting friends at The Philippi Inn diner and Medallion Restaurant in
Philippi, WV. There, Eugene regularly enjoyed soup beans and cornbread, often with close friend
and fellow World War II POW Benjamin Portaro. His hobbies also included playing the lottery with
longtime friend Bill Compton. He will be missed by many.
PAULINE McKINNEY SCOTT
Pauline (Polly) McKinney Scott, age 90 years, of Bridgeport, WV passed away Saturday, April 27,
2013 at home.
She was born May 4, 1922 outside Philippi, WV, a daughter of the late Clarence
McKinney and Merle Stansberry McKinney.
She married Frank L. Scott of Pittsburgh, PA in
March 1947. They were blessed with 65 years together before his passing on July 5, 2012. She is
survived by one son, David R. Scott of Bridgeport; one daughter, Nancy C. Pulice of Bridgeport, one grandchild, Shelby Watkins and husband Greg and one great-grandchild Trent Watkins also of Bridgeport.
She is also survived by two sisters, Dolores Powell and husband Joe of Bridgeport
and Susan Walls of New Castle, PA along with several cousins, nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her son-in-law, James E. Pulice.
Polly graduated from Bridgeport High School in 1940 as Valedictorian of her class.
JAMES R. FERGUSON
James R. Ferguson, 87, passed away Thursday morning, April 25, 2013.
He was born July 18, 1925, in Arnold, PA, a son of the late Joseph and Rose Harbert Ferguson.
He was married for 52 years and 4 months to Marjorie E. Ferguson, who preceded him in death
on October 24, 2000.
Surviving are two sons, James M. Ferguson and his wife Barbara of Bridgeport, and Joseph B.
Ferguson of Bridgeport; two grandsons, Major Nathan Ferguson and his wife Angela of Fairmont,
and Damon S. Ferguson of Bridgeport; two great-grandsons, Jonathan James and Frank James
Ferguson; two great-granddaughters, Adrian Roze and Lylah Marie Ferguson; and a sister-in-law,
Helen Ferguson, Fairmont.
He was the last surviving member of his immediate family, having been preceded in death by a
sister, Kathleen Ewing and a brother, William Ferguson.
Jim was a graduate of Bridgeport High School, Class of 1943, and was a World War II veteran of
the United States Navy, having served in the Pacific Theater. He was a glass cutter for PPG
Industries, retiring after 33 years of service. He was a member of Simpson Creek Baptist Church.
NANCY GRACE CONWELL HALL
Nancy Grace Conwell Hall passed away May 17, 2013, at the age of 71 following an extended
illness.
Nancy was preceded in death by her parents, Roy M. and Maine D. Conwell, her brother, Dale G.
Conwell, her sister, Leoma L. Hathaway, and her brother-in-law, Robert B. Hathaway. She is
survived by her sister-in-law, Lillian Conwell of Ripley, WV.
Nancy is also survived by her husband, Robert R. “Bob” Hall of Bridgeport, and by her five
children and 11 grandchildren. Her son, Roy P. and his wife Jodi L. Hall and their children,
Patrick, Landon, Ryan and Harrison of Bridgeport, WV. Her son, Andrew M. Hall and Genae
Zupancic and daughter, Olivia of Myrtle Beach, SC. Her son, Scott M. and his wife Brianna Hall
and their children, Owen and Georgia of Myrtle Beach, SC. Her daughter, Erin G. and her
husband Brian Bonham and their children, Eleanor, Abigail, Charlotte and Wilson of Inwood, WV.
And her daughter, Lara K. and her husband Jason Offutt of Fairmont, WV.
Nancy was a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Stonewood, WV, where
she had served previously as choir director.
Nancy was a 1959 graduate of Bridgeport High School and a 1963 graduate of Fairmont State
College, where she served as Homecoming Queen and was involved in numerous theatrical
productions and beauty pageants. Nancy was chosen to represent West Virginia as Centennial
Queen in 1963. She was considered a “Renaissance Woman” by family and friends who knew
her well.
Upon graduation from college, where she majored in English and Education, she did her student
teaching at her Alma Mater, Bridgeport High School, and went on to teach briefly at Lumberport
Middle School. Her love of theatre and journalism led to a brief stint at WBOY-TV, where she
hosted her own program segment entitled “Nancy’s Neighbors.” She moved to the Washington,
DC area in 1965, where she worked for Xerox Corporation for nearly three years.
She returned to Bridgeport in early 1968 to marry the love of her life, Bob, on May 18. Nancy
loved music of all kinds and sang and played several musical instruments. After raising her
children, Nancy returned to the classroom at St. Mary’s Grade School in 1986 where she taught
religion for approximately 10 years.
CHARLES REED
Charles (Charlie) Reed, 80, passed away on Friday, April 26, 2013.
He was born Sept. 5, 1932, in West Union, a son of the late Curt Reed and Laura Jenkins Reed.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Freda Shuman Reed.
He is also survived by one son, Richard (Rick) Reed of Bridgeport; and one daughter, Tammy
Reed Gibson of Clarksburg; five grandchildren, Kurt Gibson, Cordel Gibson, Jessica Reed, Laura
Reed and Nathan Reed; two great-grandchildren, Juliana Crites and Jonas Reed-Lee; and two
brothers, Lester (Dink) Reed and William Edward Coleman.
He was preceded in death by one grandson, Devin Tyler Gibson.
Mr. Reed was a graduate of Bridgeport High School and from there he was a veteran of the U.S.
Navy. He was employed by Allegheny Freight Line as a truck driver for 25 years until his
retirement in 1990. He was also a member of the Stealey Assembly of God Church.
