THE WI NEWSLETTER 01/10

THE WI NEWSLETTER

Editor: Roleta Smith Meredith

Issue 125

January 2010

HOPE YOU HAD A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND WISHING YOU A HEALTHY, HAPPY NEW YEAR
FROM THE MEREDITH FAMILY

Pictured above for your ease of identification: From left to right: Victor (our son); Aubrie (his youngest); Tiana (in the back row is Vaneta’s oldest daughter); Hayley (Victor’s third daughter and a freshman at The Ohio State University); Jack Rogers (son in law); Vaneta Meredith Rogers (daughter-graduate of The Ohio State University); Addison (center and wearing #33 is Vaneta’s youngest daughter); tucked in the back and peeking thru is Justin who is married to Tiffany (Victor’s oldest daughter) who is in the blue shirt with the string of Buckeyes around her neck; next in back row is Matt Dorsam who became engaged on the cruise to Chelsea (Victor’s second daughter who is a senior at The Ohio State University); in the white shirt is Roleta; next is Martha (our daughter in- law); and “PaPa Clause” is Bill. In case you didn’t notice, we are all wearing our Ohio State shirts and are big OSU fans.

All of our immediate family went on a pre Christmas cruise and it was a wonderful trip.

FROM CENTRAL TO NY CITY
submitted by: Lynn Hornor Keith (WI 1966 but left WI in 10th grade)
Blhk2@aol.com

I can identify some of the people in the photo.

On the right side, second person is Barbara Berry, ?, Carol Gottleib

Second row right side, right to left
?, Greg Robertson, Stephanie Pearcy, ?, Janet Lemasters, ? Cecil or Duncan Jarvis, Ronnie Hanlon

Back center, Mike Mayfield, Lynn Hornor, Cheryl Bond, ?

Below left from center, Cathy Sutter, Jack or John Weaver, ?, Jack or John Weaver, ? Mrs. Dodds

Back row left to right, Steve Marstiller, Gail Grimm? Steve White, ?, ? Bobby Humphries

Hope you can get more ID's. This was such a great trip. We stayed at a hotel on Broadway that had an ice skating rink in the basement that the famous skater and now commentator Dick Buttons used to skate there. This photo was taken in a night club and we all felt so grown up.

OCTOBER 1960 CENTRAL JR. HIGH TRIP TO NY CITY
submitted by: Wayne Winters (left Clarksburg in 1964 graduated Huntington High 1966)
wwinters@ix.netcom.com

I picked up a photo recently of Mrs. Jack Dodds of Central JR HS TRIP TO THE BIG APPLE --before it was the big apple--in October of 1960.

At the Jack Silverman's Supper Club Broadway and 53d Street.

Sitting at that table was likely the biggest group of persons in NYC who were celebrating the outcome of the Baseball World Series. Game 7 held at Forbes Field PGH the day of the pic. Maz in the 9th inning --10-9 PGH -- Series 4-3 PGH. Yankees lost that one. Beat 'em Bucs!

Partial and suspect ID's

Mr. Jack Dodds--Pat Dodds seated on left
First male one on left seated Andrew J Weaver John?
Name might be last name of Cava
Male standing near female seated --Andrew J Weaver Jackie?

First male standing on left face almost directly above Mrs Dodds --Larry Burton

Fifth face standing from left --last name of Cava? I think two sisters Linda and Diane Cava were on the trip

Lewis Gale Grimm almost center with glasses an a bow tie

First male to right of Gale --Steve White?

I recall Fred Booth was on this trip --person standing to the left of the supper club manger

Two rightmost boys standing --Pat Mascaro and Wayne Winters in the bow tie and glasses.

Apologies for all I did not venture a guess and that goes double for the ones I misidentified

NEW EMAIL ADDRESSES

Mary Lynn Reardon (WI '74)	Mary.Lynn.Reardon@me.com
Anthony J. Selario (WI '56)	aselario3257@hotmail.com
Mary Delores Howell Landers (VHS '47)	mdlanders@windstream.net
Debra Strother Sepsi (WI '72)	parkblvd3@verizon.net

CHANGE OF EMAIL ADDRESS

Joellen Fletcher Allman (WI '53)	tollady123@netzero.com
John Mark Freeman (WI '75)	markf@jtmartinfire.com

SUBJECTS FOR DISCUSSION NEXT MONTH
Did your grade school have a playground? If not, what did the students do for physical exercise or to work off excess energy?

What do you think about the discipline in your high school?

At WI, we had separate stairways for girls and boys, separate locker rooms, separate hallways where lockers were located, do you see anything wrong with this?

Do you believe that having the front steps for seniors at WI was against your rights? Did you feel that way when you were a student? I figure this was a rule of tradition enforced by the senior class and not particularly a school rule. Did you ever feel you were discriminated against because of it?

In the last couple of months I have received letters re: Miss Nutter, what is your best or worst Miss Nutter story?

Share your memories about the carnivals which used to come to Nutter Fort or Bridgeport.

Write your opinions to: Roleta1@aol.com

ARE YOU COLD?
THINK OF MARCH AND THE PICNIC
Suffering through the cold where you live? Well, get out the calendar and mark March 6, 2010 as the date you aim to be in Florida. It should be warmer by then especially here in south western Florida.

Come on down, stay a few days and enjoy our beautiful weather and beaches… but most of all, come and visit with old friends, relatives and neighbors. It is amazing each year when someone sees an old friend they haven’t seen for 20, 30 or even 40 years.

You only need to bring your own drink and a covered dish to share with others… we do this picnic style! If you are staying in the motel, you can pick up something at the local deli in Publix. Motel information will be in the February issue of the WI Newsletter. Most out of towners arrive in Sarasota on Friday and stay until Sunday. It makes a fun week-end as nearly all stay at the same motel.

Fred Alvaro (WI 1959) kindly called the Country Inn and Suites on Clark Road in Sarasota, Fl and got a special price for those who are attending the picnic. He wrote the following: “The hotel originally quoted $119 but I talked her and the hotel mgr. to $99. They said first of March is a very busy time. I think this will be the best and everyone seemed to like it.

So, if you are interested: call County Inn and Suites, at (941) 925-0631; tell them that they are part of the Clarksburg, WV Picnic group. If there is any question, ask to speak to Kelly or you can email Fred at Falvaro33@aol.com.” This is a deal compared with other motels in the vicinity.

When calling to make your reservations at the hotel, ask for "inhouse reservations" or your call might be transferred to a national reservations center.

Just contact me and tell me how many of you plan to attend the picnic this year. Email me at Roleta1@aol.com or call me at 941-342-0030.

Hope to see you there. This is a big year for me, so I am hoping for a big crowd!

THANK YOU
submitted by: Sue Selby Moats (WI '55)
moatsue@aol.com

(photo by Morgan Moats)
MANY THANKS
Despite the present state of our economy, those of us who read Roleta’s WI Newsletter have many reasons to be Thankful. One major reason is that we are lucky enough to have had a good education and can now enjoy a good retirement life. As one of the Selby siblings (Alice, Sue, Buck, Amy~deceased 2001~ and Gig), I am thankful that our Dad believed that girls needed a good education too.

I am thankful that Roleta started the WIN Scholarship fund for RCBHS to help deserving students receive aid for their college education.

I am thankful that so many of the WIN readers wholeheartedly support the scholarship fund with their generous donations. I have developed writer’s cramp from filling out your chances for the 2010 WIN scholarship quilt: “WV Winter Wonderland”

Many thanks go out to the wonderful quilters who support this effort to make a quilt each year to help raise scholarship money. Even more quilters have joined the group this year-from the various Clarksburg schools or several who are spouses of C-burg high schools. Participants this year are: Carolyn Cady, Liz Carder, Barb Charles, Carol Dean, Sara Graham, Mary Ella Flowers, Mary Hulick, Nancy Jackson, Gig Meredith, Joan Merrill, Sue Moats, Elaine Nortemann, Kitty Sager, Mary Sue Spahr, Lin Stricker and Mary Ann Williams. (Hopefully no one has been omitted.)

“WV Winter Wonderland” is going to be a beautiful quilt. These talented quilters have sent all types and sizes of quilt blocks-some are hand-sewn while others are machine stitched. It will be a lot of fun to combine them into a Winter Wonderland-which reminds me of that BIG snow in the early ‘50s when we were out of school at least a week. The quilt photo shows only a few of the squares that have been received, so if any of the quilters don’t see their blocks in the photo, rest assured they are ALL being included in the quilt.

Now that we have started a new decade-2010-let’s continue to provide even more support for THE WIN Scholarship and help those deserving students obtain their goal of a college education.

Remember, the winning ticket will be drawn on March 6, 2010 at the Clarksburg Reunion Picnic which will be held in Sarasota, FL. Contact Roleta at Roleta1@aol.com if you plan to attend.

To buy tickets for the quilt drawing, write your check to:
Roleta Meredith c/o WIN Scholarship and mail to:
Roleta Meredith
3201 Charles MacDonald Dr.
Sarasota, Fl 34240

All money from the sale of the tickets goes to the WIN Scholarship.

PAST NEWSLETTERS
submitted by: Roleta
Roleta1@aol.com
If you are interested in reading past newsletters, there are a couple of ways you can catch up on some of the things you have missed over the past 125 issues (that is almost 10 and a half years)!

First you can go to the bottom of any current issue that you have in front of you on your computer screen. There you will see the words NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE, click on this and magically the archive page will appear on your computer screen. From there you can click on a few of the recent newsletters that are still available on the newsletter sight. Due to space Judy is unable to keep more on the site but there are 6-7 past issues there for your enjoyment.

If you wish to have 120 past issues, the first 10 yrs, Judy makes a CD containing them and which has read program installed so you can just drop the CD into the CD tray on your computer and click on the issue you wish to read. It is a marvelous way to catch up, to remember, to smile, cry and refresh your memories. It makes a great gift for any occasion. If you are interested, just contact Judy Daugherty Kimler at jkimler@verizon.net for details of how it works, how to purchase it, etc. It is still only $10.00 for the copy and for shipping…(Judy doesn’t charge that high fee for handling!). All profit from the sale of the CD goes directly to the WIN Scholarship bank account.

MAGAZINE ARTICLE ABOUT BUCKHANNON, WV
submitted by: Steve Goff (WI '72)
sgoff53@hotmail.com
I think Jayne Anne Phillips is the best WV writer. This is a nice piece about finding stories back in your own home town, as she writes about Buckhannon, WV for Smithsonian magazine. Thanks to JD in NC.

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/Buckhannon-West-Virginia-The-Perfect-Birthplace.html?c=y&page=1

WV FACTS
submitted by: Charlie McClung (VHS '48)
cmclungsr@msn.com
http://www.funtrivia.com/en/Geography/West-Virginia-3977.html

CLARKSBURG - MY HOMETOWN
submitted by: Tim Cork (WI '62)
tpcork@bellsouth.net
I have made many additions to my blog on Clarksburg and would like to share them with our Clarksburg and West Virginia friends. Not only have I added many more interesting pictures, but I have also posted a link to another blog I created on West Virginia. It too has many pictures posted on it.

http://clarksburg-myhometown.blogspot.com/

FLOUR SACKS / FEED SACKS
submitted by: Frances Tate Barrett (WI '50)
Flmom1cat4@roadrunner.com
Oh yes, I had lots of clothes made out of feed sacks that I wore in grade school. I didn't wear any after I started going to Central. I don’t remember my mother using flour sacks for clothing. She made tea towels out of the flour sacks. We had chickens when we lived on Davisson Run Road, and we paid the extra 25 cents to get the printed feed sacks.

Above is a class picture taken outside Morgan School in which I’m wearing my prettiest feed sack dress. I am second from the left in the front row. I also had saddle shoes and they must have been good ones, I was still wearing them in 1952. I also had penny loafers, but I kept dimes in mine, they shined and the pennies didn’t. I got a new pair of shoes just before school started each year and they had to last until spring. Many times I’ve padded the insides with cardboard when the sole wore through from skating on the sidewalk on Waverly Way. You know how that was, skate with one foot and push with the other to get back up the hill. I also got a new pair of dressier shoes each Easter. I had to save those for church. By the way, how many of you remember the resoles. You could buy a package with two rubber soles, a metal scratcher and a tube of glue that you could surely get high off of. You took the scratcher and roughed up your old soles, put the glue on and then placed the soles on. Pressed them down good with your fingers and then set them someplace and put a weight on them for over night. Voila, new shoe soles.

You're right Roleta we didn’t dare wear slacks or jeans to school or church, in fact I don’t remember having any slacks until into the 50’s and the jeans came later. When it was bitter cold and I walked to Morgan School I wore snow pants. They were so bulky they were hard to walk with them on and then wearing boots made it worse. In the winter I was allowed to take my lunch to school, and that was before cafeterias, and I had a ½ pint glass bottle of milk that the teacher sat in the windowsill. Believe it or not, the milk never spoiled it was that cold in the room. When you think about it in comparison to the world today, we had a very nice, happy childhood in Clarksburg.

submitted by: Roleta
Roleta1@aol.com
I believe I wrote about feed sack dresses one time in the newsletter; but some memories came to mind that I don’t think I shared. As I got taller and the home sewn dress got shorter my mother would cut a strip off the dress about 5 or 6 inches above the hemline, sew onto the raw edge of the dress a piece of plain material that coordinated with the dress (unhappily it was often white which didn’t particularly match the dress) and then she would sew the hem strip back on the bottom. Most of the time this dress was a wear at home dress but I still hated the doctored up hemline.

One other memory was how soft the cloth became with the washing and the colors were soft and muted too. I think the best use of feed sacks were for dish cloths not my dresses. LOL. However, at the time I wore these, there wasn’t much money in the family for luxuries. I am sure most of you remember those times!

RECIPE
submitted by: Roleta
Roleta1@aol.com
Here is a recipe that I know you have been wishing you had! Actually, it is one I have heard about for years. I made Creamed Chipped Beef for years for my family. It is made something like this. Creamed Chipped Beef was one of my daughters favorites and she now makes it for her family and her nieces request her to make it often. When I made it my son would always complain but ate it like it was his last meal. I served cooked potatoes and/or biscuits with it. I did not serve toast.

“SOS” RECIPE - U.S.M.C. STYLE
submitted by: Charlie McClung (VHS '48)
cmclungsr@msn.com
1-1/2 pounds extra lean hamburger or ground chuck
2 table spoons Butter
1 cup freshly cut chopped onion
2 table spoons flour
2 tea spoons granulated garlic
4 table spoons Soy Sauce
1 table spoon Worcestershire Sauce
2 cups milk
Salt and pepper to taste

Brown meat, add butter and stir. Add onions and cook until they are translucent.
Add flour, stir and cook two to three minutes.

Add garlic, soy sauce and Worcestershire. Mix thoroughly. Add milk and stir till it thickens. Serve on a shingle (toast}.

FAVORITE OR LEAST FAVORITE TEACHER
submitted by: Blair Gloss (WI '61)
Bgloss2@cox.net
Mrs Grace Albright was my favorite teacher. I probably learned more English in her Latin class than all my English classes to that time. As regards Miss Nutter; I am not sure if I feared her or thought she was a little crazy. Thus Mrs. Nutter was my least favorite teacher.

CLASSES I LIKED
submitted by: Frances Tate Barrett (WI '50)
Flmom1cat4@roadrunner.com
My favorite classes were Mr. Frederick’s American History and Mr. Sobak’s Chemistry class.

Why, because Mr. Frederick made a game out of the fallacies of American History. We each had a black and white notebook, he would give us statements about history and we had to do research to find out if the statement were true and if not, why not.

Mr. Sobak was such a gentle soul. Even when I scorched my hair on one of the Bunsen burners, he never got excited. Besides chemistry was trying to find out how things worked and where they came from.

submitted by: Gladys Williams (WI '71)
gwill1004@aol.com
I had Miss Nutter for Latin I 1st period my Freshman year at WI (1967). Her room was on the second floor in the back of the building (on the alley side). Many mornings she would come to work late. She would never come down the hall, but would come through Mrs. Bowers' classroom which had a door that connected to hers in the back of the room. She would stand behind the door and listen to hear if anyone was talking. You wouldn't dare talk even if she wasn't there. She had all kinds of excuses for being late for school - coal trucks, fog, snow, even someone glued her lock on her garage door. Later, when we attended Fairmont State, we met a boy that was her neighbor. He actually put glue in the lock on her garage door so she couldn't get the key in it. It was a true story after all. I remember being very scared of her. She would say " If you say you will not cough, you will not cough!" My one friend lasted 1 week in her class and then dropped it because she would make her cry everyday. I took Jr. English in summer school so I wouldn't have to take her again.

submitted by: Roleta
Roleta1@aol.com
My least favorite teacher throughout all my school days was Mr. Gudekunst. Math had always been my favorite and my best subject until in my Freshman year I took Algebra at WI and had Mr. Gudekunst. He spoiled math for me. He was the first male chauvinist I ever encountered even though I didn’t know the word for his attitude back then. He seemed to like male students but he gave females a very hard time. This is my opinion. I know many of you disagree as over the years I have received letters from many of you about him being your favorite teacher. However, most of you were male!

It is amazing how some of the teachers were fair to the students. Some like Miss Glyde Bailey earned our respect because she showed us respect. She brought English history to life for us. There were a few who seemed to not like a lot of students, for instance, Miss Nutter seemed angry at the world and acted as though she hated athletes and was not fair to them. Some male teachers had roaming hands (we won’t mention any names at this late date). Some teachers like Mr. Frederick taught but made learning fun. Miss Taylor had an unusual way of teaching parts of speech by using colors and crayons when diagramming a sentence, I bet anyone who diagramed in her class still remember that prepositions were brown, etc. Some teachers were not competent and should not have been teaching but I guess that is always true in schools. A few of the teachers earned our love and were friends while others we avoided because they thought there were far above our lowly forms. But I do believe that through teachers who were a hit or a miss with us, we survived and received a great education in those hallowed halls on the hill….dear Washington Irving….how we loved those days!

submitted by: Diane Cork Sullivan (WI '52)
n1tdf@hotmail.com

I was reading in the Elder Hostel the other day about a class to make salt raising bread at Ripley, WV in April. Now I just love salt raising bread and every Wednesday, Mrs. Chalfant made it. She had the bakery at the top of the Arcade Bldg. I'm not interested in making it, but the bakery in Glen Elk that makes the pepperoni rolls. Do they make this bread too??? You certainly can't buy it here in the northeast. My father adored it and we always had it in the house. I know the bakery that was on Main Street in the Golf Bldg. also made it. Believe they have moved to another part of town. I'm now looking for some feed back from all of your readers.

submitted by: Boo Beall (ND '58)
Bbeall2@verizon.net

The Notre Dame High School Class of 1958 has been updated.

http://mysite.verizon.net/vzew42av/notredamehighschoolclassof1958/

submitted by: Wade Call (?)
wadecall@gmail.com

For years I have been searching for information about the song you referenced in the October '09 WI Newsletter (shown below in Italics). If you don't mind, could you let me know if you have any other information about it? My mother used to sing it and she learned it from her father, other than that I don't know much, except that I used to love for my mom to sing it. Here's the lyrics I remember. It's a little different, but similar:

"My name is Joshua Eberneser Frye, I know a thing or two you're gosh darn right I do. You can't fool me 'cause I'm too darn sly. Well, I swan, I must be gettin on, giddy up Napoleon it looks like rain. A stranger came up and he said to me the other day, do you have two tens to change a five. I say ya dern fool, I should be the constabule. You can't fool me 'cause I'm too darn sly.

From the WI newsletter:
"I seen a feller lookin at my pocket book, he says ya got two tens for a five. I say ya dern fool, I be the constabule, and I'll have ya arrested soon as yur alive. Well, I swan, I must be gettin on, giddy up Napoleon it looks like rain. I'll be jiggered, the cash ain't figgered so come over to the farm when yur here again."

Thank you!

HELP NEEDED TO LOCATE A CLASSMATE
submitted by: Barbara Sutton Elder (WI '57)
bse57@hotmail.com
I have searched for quite sometime now for a former classmate of mine and had no luck at all. Her name is Shirley Ann Bleigh{Yoder}. She graduated from WI in 1957.We lived on Grove Ave and she lived on Fairview Ave in Stealey. I know at one time she lived in Alexandria, VA with her husband and sons.

If anyone knows anything about Shirley, please contact me at bse57@hotmail.com

Thank you

submitted by: Carol Ann Shinn Schweiker (WI '56)
cshweiker@yahoo.com
Roleta,
I hope that I am sending this in time for the January newsletter. In any case, please have a great holiday. I really enjoy the newsletter and all the effort you and so many put into it.

I am writing for a friend of mine who roomed with Mary Eliza Swiger (WI 1957) while attending Kent State University. She is trying to locate Mary Eliza's current location or any information concerning her. Mary Eliza, who lived at that time on Buckhannon Ave., married Jimmy Allen at one point, and is now divorced my friend believes. My friend is Ann Lawrence Nye, originally from Ohio, who now lives in Bridgeport.

If someone has any knowledge of Mary Eliza Swiger Allen, they can contact me at cshweiker@yahoo.com and I will forward the information to Ann..

Thanks so much.

GIVE TO THE WIN SCHOLARSHIP
AND RECEIVE TICKETS FOR THE QUILT DRAWING
Yes, you might win the 2010 WIN Scholarship Quilt which is being made at this time. The Name of the quilt this year is “WEST VIRGINIA WINTER WONDERLAND” but I think we should rename it “Wonderful West Virginia Winter Wonderland”! It is done in beautiful blue and white materials. The winning ticket will be drawn at the CLARKSBURG PICNIC which will be held on March 6, 2010 in Sarasota, FL. If you are unable to attend the picnic, we will ship the quilt any place in the continental USA to the designated address.

The tickets are $1.00 each or 6 for $5.00. When you write to me and send your check, please tell me you want tickets, and supply us your name, school and year, phone number, and email address so we can notify you. ALL MONEY SENT TO THE WIN SCHOLARSHIP OR FOR THE QUILT TICKET DRAWING GOES INTO THE WIN SCHOLARSHIP ACCOUNT.

Just write your check out to: Roleta Meredith c/o WIN Scholarship (MAKE SURE TO WRITE IT THIS WAY)

And mail to: Roleta Meredith
3201 Charles MacDonald Drive
Sarasota, FL 34240

Those who so generously gave in December were:

Bud Collins (WI 1955)

John Teter (WI 1961)

Jim Alvaro (WI 1956)

Marolyn Tustin Jett (WI 1956)

Fran Barrett (WI 1951)

1890 CENSUS
submitted by: Charlie McClung (VHS '48)
cmclungsr@msn.com
WILSONBURGH (156) CLARKSBURGH (3008) Did you ever hear of CRIMS, GRASSLAND or RESPECT? If so write to Roleta1@aol.com.

HARRISON: Adamston, 55; Bartlett; Benson, 26; Big Buffalo, 33; Bond Summit; Brandy Gap; Brickchurch; Bridgeport, 455; Brown's Mill, 100; Cherry Camp, 322; Clark; CLARKSBURGH, 3008; Craigmoor, 52; Crims; Dayton; Dola; Enterprise, 72; Glen Falls; Goodhope, 80; Grassland, 25; Gypsy Grove; Haning; Jarvisville, 121; Jimtown; Johnstown, 120; Kincheloe, 72; Lost Creek, 42; Lumberport, 107; Lynches Mines; Marshville, 26; Maulsby; Milford Road; Mineral Point; Monongahila Junction; Mount Clare, 341; Olive, 26; Oral; Pine-Bluff; Prospect Valley, 28; Quiet Dell, 98; Respect; Reynoldsville; Rockford, 125; Romine's Mills, 164; Salem, 310; Sand Cut; Sardis, 125; Shinnston, 403; Skidmore's; Sycamore Dale, 16; Wallace, 49; West Clarksburgh; West Milford, 210; West Virginia & Pittsburgh Junction; Wilsonburgh, 156; Wolf Summit, 53; Wyatt

NORTH VIEW WAS A CITY AT ONE TIME?? Write comments to Roleta1@aol.com.

REGARDING: “THE ITALIAN GANG”
(the article in last month’s newsletter Author Unknown..)
submitted by: Sherry Ellen Hutchison Keith (WI '64)
SKeith1514@aol.com
My SNAPSHOT reflections on growing up NOT Italian in Clarksburg are kinda funny too... I moved there with my family from Charleston, as I have stated in this rag before... so not to bore you, hopefully, but I was 11 years old when I first heard the Italian Hour on the local radio station every Sunday... Wow... what was this music with concertina, mandolin, etc...And speaking another language, yet? LOL As many things truly Italian popped up in Clarksburg, I adjusted...

My education was just beginning... Many friends and neighbors were of Italian descent and my first real steady boyfriend was too... through these friends, I began to be introduced and included, however slightly, to the Italian Family...Delicious foods cooking on the stove, pizzas to die for, Catholic beliefs and " Saints Names" given at Christenings, Mass in Latin on Christmas Eve, which many of us Protestants went to just for the majesty and awe! Confession? Well that gave us food for thought, I'll tell you! Rosary Beads.. Hail Mary’s for Penance. While exotic and new to me and my non-Catholic friends, these beliefs made us reflect on our own beliefs, for we too, went to Sunday School and Church every Sunday. We saw statues honoring The Holy Mother in homes, gardens and cars. Religious art and jewelry depicting Jesus on the Cross with Bleeding Heart which was both heart wrenching and compelling...

The homes of many Italian families were brick ranch styles, the latest of the day, showing wonderful hospitality and affection to one and all, yes, very neat clean households, many had the latest in family/recreation rooms and gorgeous tiled kitchens and baths, formal living rooms with carpeting wall to wall. Most all had a vegetable garden outside the kitchen door and of course wonderfully fresh salads and vegetable dishes.

The love of music was also a mark of the homes I visited. Reverence for family closeness was a given. A hint of the " old country" lingered in language where small Italian words crept into all our conversations.. like, " Capeesh?" for " Do you Understand me?" or in the modestly chosen dress of grandparents or maybe even parents of a certain age. Hardworking men and women whose word was their bond.

The Knights of Columbus Hall and its respected members always sponsored Little League and Babe Ruth League baseball teams. And of course the whispers of the unspeakable/unknowable Mafia influences, the Black Hand Murders, and the superstitions of " The evil eye" curses and their yearly removal.

I feel very privileged to have grown up in such a varied community where, we were honorary Italians..by proxy. I hardly ever eat Italian Cuisine when dining out today, as it never does match up to Minards' Spaghetti, Lasagne, and Minestrone Soup or The Twin Oaks Pizza on Bridgeport Hill, and elsewhere, I do try my own hand at these dishes and hope they are just somewhere near the ones of Mary Tomaro's.. And the Bread/ Pepperoni Rolls never match Tomaro's or Tiano's Or the Peppers, Oliverio's. Yes, we have been enriched and spoiled by it all.

So Merry Christmas to everyone and enjoy the Christmas Eve Latin Mass and some Italian Cookies and Gallettes for me and your many Clarksburg friends!

NICKNAMES
submitted by: Frances Tate Barrett (WI '50)
Flmom1cat4@roadrunner.com
My nickname is Fran or Franny. I always went by my middle name Frances because my first name was the same as my mother’s. Mrs. Moore the Home Economics teacher at WI insisted that I be called by the first name that was on her class list. I acted like I didn’t hear her part of the time. I don’t think that endeared me to her when she figured it out. I found out in doing some research into my family tree that my paternal great-grandmother was named Frances. Most all my friends now call me Franny.

Source of nickname Skipper Bowie
submitted by: Skip Bowie (WI '57)
Sbowie11140@aol.com
In response to your request about 'favorite" class in school. This is a no brainer... StudyHall.

Second best was Mr. Judy's class on Greek Classical Lore. "Good Book Mr. Judy" was a favorite response to his lectures.

Captain Andre, Social Science class was describing the inhabitants of Tibet one boring day. He stated that a characteristic of the herdsman in that region had flat hair as opposed to round hair of the other "races". He asked, does any one know why? The answer was simple They wear hats all the time.

Miss or Mrs. Taylor taught English grammar by using colored Crayolas to determine nouns, verbs, etc. to this day I think she taught me how to color within the lines.

SPORTS
I just finished watching the Gator Bowl and the WVU-Purdue basketball game. Not a good day to be a Mountaineer fan, but it's always a good day to be a Mountaineer. It is tough to see Jarrett Brown end his days at WVU this way, but I can live with seeing Bobby Bowden win his last game. It will be fun watching Geno Smith mature next year. I think the BB team was probably a little overrated. When we get a healthy point guard and the big guy from Turkey eligible, things will get better. To peak about tournament time would be nice. Hope you enjoy the sports this month. We have several interesting comments from readers.

GAME ANAYLSIS
WVU-Pitt:

WOW!!! What a game. A last second field goal wins it. Based on the play of the Mountaineer defense, it should not have been that close. Mental mistakes and poor play calling in the red zone hurt the offense. But, we'll take the win. Now it's on the Rutgers, which has been both hot and cold recently. Win that one and then the bowl game and the season will be about what I expected. We still need better play from the offensive line. For now though, let's enjoy the win.

WVU-Rutgers:

Maybe the wet and cold weather had something to do with it, but, regardless, this was a poor performance by both teams. After the first two scores, it appeared WVU buttoned up the offense. A few quick thoughts---I wish that Geno Smith would have taken more snaps this year---Jarrett Brown has not looked the same since the concussion---The offense took a vacation the last half of the season--- Bill Stewart should fire his special teams coach---24 points will not win a bowl game. I'm sure we will hear that a win is a win. However, this Rutgers team lost to Syracuse. Go figure ! On the bright side, we are 9-3 and headed to the Gator Bowl. Most teams would love to be there. (I should go to the bowl game, but if I stay home, I can watch the Gator Bowl, the WVU-Purdue basketball game and the Rose Bowl---Long day---Keep the eye drops handy). Next year, a new QB, a new adventure. I'm already looking forward to it.

INTERESTING!
This is what most of the fans at Ohio State think of Rich Rodriquez.

MAIL TO THE SPORTS EDITOR
We had many interesting answers to our question this month, which was, "At some future date, would you welcome Rich Rod back as football coach at West Virginia University?" Bill

I don't want him back. No way. WVU is doing just fine without him. He chose his own path so he can just continue to follow it wherever it may lead.

Mary Sue Clark Spahr—(WI 1956)

In answer to your question about Rich Rodriquez. My answer is NO, actually HELL NO! No explanation necessary.

Brooke Beall (NDHS Class of 1958)

I have to admit I am a transplant from WVU to Ohio State. No way would I want to see RR returning to WVU or heaven forbid Ohio State. Unlike a dog, a fraud, liar and cheat doesn't change his spots.

Judy Siders McDougal (WI 1957)

Take back Rich Rod? Not a chance. He had it made but got greedy!! Let him go back to Glenville.

Bob White (WI 1963)

Absolutely not! The man is untrustworthy. He also never heard of throwing the ball down field.

Mitch Davis (WI 1961)

Since I still live in West Virginia I have been involved in many, many discussions concerning Rodriquez. The general feeling is that Rodriquez will never be welcome again in the state of West Virginia and especially not as a coach at WVU.

It is not because he left WVU to go to another school. Coaches do that all the time. The WVU basketball coach left and most fans felt no hard feelings toward him. But...and it is a big but, you don't leave your team on the eve of one of the biggest bowl games in the history of the school. We were getting ready to play a BCS bowl game against Oklahoma. You just don't do that. Adding salt to the wound that will never heal.... just the year before, Rodriquez said he was here to stay after almost taking the Alabama job and all of us think he blew the Pittsburgh game. During the game he looked like he was off in space somewhere.

We Mountaineers have long memories.

Lyle Corder (RW 1957)

Reply to Lyle,

It seems to me that a certain coach at Cincinnati is doing the same thing by grabbing the money and heading to Notre Dame. I wonder how the folks in Cincy feel about Mr. Kelly.

Bill

I agree that everyone has an opinion on Rich Rod. Mine is not a good one. My poor opinion of him is based mostly on the way he chose to leave WVU, the way he chose to leave his players and the way he chose to leave the great Mountaineer fans who supported him unconditionally. People make choices all the time. His choice, to me, is unforgivable. Accordingly, I consider him a disloyal Mountaineer who is nothing more than a self serving , very lucky individual.

Rich did well at WVU mostly because of the talent he had to work with. The spread offense that he brought with him to WVU was perfect for great players like Pat White, Steve Slaton and additionally the great players who supported them on both sides of the ball. Had they not been at WVU his system would have failed just like it has at Michigan. He is a lucky, egotistical man. Now we all know that Michigan has a well established football program and along with it many great players for Rich to work with. It seems, however, that the “magic” of his spread offense, which was so successful at WVU, didn’t follow him to Michigan. It appears that the players at Michigan weren’t suitable to the spread offense and Rich wasn’t suited to coach them in a different offense style. Looking back on his years at WVU and the talent that was there and those that followed, I can sincerely say that Rich was a very lucky man, back then. I also believe that with his loss to Ohio State that his luck is about to run out.

He is disloyal, self serving and he left WVU, in his mind, prior to the WVU Pitt game. This was the worst possible time. Had he been focused on the WVU/Pitt game instead of thinking about himself and his pending position at Michigan, he could have taken WVU to the national championship game. After the season was over he could have left for Michigan as far as I am concerned and I believe that even though they would have been sad, he would have had the blessings of most Mountaineers. I also believe that the way WVU was playing and the way they handled Oklahoma, that they would have had a great chance to have won the national championship. That would have been great for the players, who gave their all for him and it would have been great for the fans who worshipped him, great for recruiting and it would have been wild and wonderful for the great State of West Virginia.

For those reasons, I would want to be counted among those, who in no way, would welcome him back to WVU.

Frank Martino (WIHS 1960)

Reply to Frank,

I agree that it is the players who win games, but it is the coaching staff that recruits them. Rich Rod did a very good job of recruiting players to WVU who fit his system. Don't be surprised if, should he last another couple of years, he does the same thing at U of M.

Bill

There is no way I would want a traitor coming back to WV at all, ever. He made his bed, so let him sleep in it.

Bob Turner (WI 1958)

Most of my words are well-worn by this time. I've been venting for two years and using these sentiments with the Detroit Free Press, Toledo Blade, USA Today, several others and the U of Michigan message board, from which I was banned. I really couldn't care less about Michigan itself, and expect to ignore both them and RR after he's fired.

In August, I read a story in the Toledo Blade story where RR had told the writer he'd been back to WV this summer and people were ready to forget the past, bury the hatchet, let bygones be bygones, etc. I reacted immediately and wrote the author. Actually, I'll just forward the exchange to you rather than relate further.

RR has to be miserable for the hole he has dug for himself. Winning is about athletes, I believe, more than coaches and schemes. I think he has so much baggage now that the athletes that might have been attracted to UM are now skeptical of his tenure there. Thus his situation may become worse rather than better.

At least that's why I continue to rant, chant and light candles! Thanks, very much, for what you, others and, especially, Roleta do to keep so many, many of us informed and entertained. I have no doubt that her WI newsletter has added pleasant years to our lives.

Terry Shorr (WI 1958)

Reply to Terry,

I've visited a few of the Michigan newspaper sites. They spew venom at any WVU fan, so I quit writing to them. Obviously, they have no class.

Bill

I think they should leave him at Michigan. Let Texas break the record and see how grateful the Michigan fans can be to him.

Louie Robinson (WVU 2005)

Reply to Louie,

I'm not sure what record you mean (Total wins?). Regardless, Texas is on the upswing, while Michigan is going the other way.

Bill

As an Ohio State grad I am just as pleased to see Rich Rod's Michigan team lose to OSU as just watching WVU beat Pitt tonight. I wore my WI Hilltoppers gold tshirt with blue lettering to my nearby Buffalo Wild Wings location in Wilmington, NC but nobody there recognized it! But there were a lot of Mountaineer fans there (and no Pitt fans or they were quiet) as I cheered for my 2nd favorite team. And earlier today I stayed at home instead of Christmas shopping on Black Friday to watch WVU beat Texas A&M in basketball. Thanks to you and Roleta for keeping the newsletter going,

Bryan McIntyre (WI 1965)

Reply to Bryan,

We have something in common---reversed. Having lived in Columbus, OH for 45 years, Ohio State is my second favorite team behind the Mountaineers. Therefore, it is only natural for me to cheer against U of M. Had Rich Rod gone anywhere but Michigan, I might have a soft spot in my heart for him, since he is a local boy. However, he left his "Dream Job" for "that school up north", so it is very difficult to wish him well.

Bill

To your question, "At some future date, would you welcome Rich Rod back as the football coach at West Virginia University?," I have a one word answer - Absolutely, under no circumstances whatsoever, not.

OK, there were more words than one.

Three years ago, WVU supporters dug deep to keep him from leaving for Alabama, after which he expressed words to the effect that he would stay at WVU for the rest of his career. He was family and he was our hero. Two years ago, he told the world what he thought of WVU. Since then I've used a variety of forums to state what I think of him.

Among factual findings, he told recruit Terrelle Pryor of his departure for Michigan before his own WVU team, he shredded WVU football program documents and he stated in a deposition that the WVU job wasn't that (expletive) great.

Hey, I've heard the Michigan fight song and, compared to WVU's IT ain’t that (expletive) great!

I've enjoyed his losses at Michigan nearly as much as WVU victories in the past two years. At Michigan he isn't family - he's the hired help. I hope he loses more next year, culminating in another loss to Ohio State, which should result in his firing and subsequent hiring as a defensive back coach at some obscure Division III team (no offense to Division III). Then I will go back to ignoring "the alltime winningest program in NCAA football history."

Welcome him back as the WVU football coach? (Expletive), I wouldn't welcome him back to the STATE!

Terry Shorr (WI 1958)

Reply to Terry,

You have just about covered all of the bases. Your points hit home, because people in and from West Virginia are probably more like a family than any other state. We protect each other, due to all of the flak our state receives. We remain extremely loyal throughout our lives. When one of our own betrays us, it hurts even more. Even though I think there was as lot of greed involved in the whole mess, I think Rodriquez was hurt more than we will ever know by the loss to Pitt. His mistake was that he wasn't able to accept it and the criticism, and move on to bigger and better things at WVU. Instead, he bolted to Michigan. But, believe me, the hurt will now follow him wherever he goes.

Bill

MISCELLANIOUS SPORTS MEMORIES
Some basketball memories: Joe Dinaldo and I made the varsity as freshmen. We kept each other company at the end of the bench. It was about our second game of the season, and one of our seniors got hurt. Then I heard, "Elder, get in there!". TOTAL SHOCK & PANIC!! I tore off my warm-ups and ran to the scorer's table. My knees were knocking--"Knock, Knock, Knock, Knock" I could hear them and I imagined everyone else could too, regardless of the noise. Fred Hikel was our point guard (Fred was a very popular, high profile BB referee later in life and called some of the top NCAA championship games on television--Very Good). But here, he was a junior in high school and threw one of the prettiest passes I have ever seen, with the wrists and fingers, looking straight at you when he released it. Well, he dribbled the ball past half court, faked right and made a perfect pass to me in the corner. The guy guarding me was a senior. I faked him toward the baseline and he went for it. I went around him and made a basket for my first varsity points. You talk about hyperventilation! I still marvel that Freddy even looked at me, a lowly frosh, but he told me later that, "I pass to the uniform, not the person". How is that for "Spaghetti & Meatballs", basketball fans?

More BB--Sheriff Tiano worked his way up to a high profile NCAA referee. One of my favorite stories about him was during a WVU/Pitt game played in Morgantown. Sheriff was one of the referees calling the game. The game was down to the final seconds and the ball went out-ofbounds.

Both teams thought it was their ball out. The Pitt player got the ball and immediately tried to in-bound it. Sheriff got there and was frantically blowing his whistle. Sheriff said to the Pitt player, "Oh No! Our Ball! He handed the ball to a WVU player, who tosses the ball in-bounds, under the basket. A shot was taken and went into the basket. Game over! True story!

I have just one more basketball story. During my senior year, Grafton came to play NDHS at our gym. They had a good team and a 6'-5" center, averaging about 25 ppg. Our coach came to me the week before and said, "He is yours". Coach asked me to stay after practice that night. He taught me to step on his feet, pull his pants down, shove him, push him around and hold his jersey (without being caught by the refs) He told me to taunt him, talk to him the whole game and do anything to upset him. I was to do anything to force him out of his game. This really shocked me, because all through school, our coach preached clean play and good sportsmanship. The night of the game, the plan worked. We got the guy rattled and won the game. Immediately after the game, our coach took me aside and told me to forget everything that he had taught me that week. He said, "If I ever see you play dirty again, you will ride the bench the rest of the season! I was confused! (Our coach fought in WW2 and he drove a tank in the Battle of the Bulge and fought Rommel's tanks successfully.) That is the Real Spaghetti & Meatballs!

Disclaimer: After fifty-some years of embellishment, all of the "spaghetti & meatballs" above has been over seasoned with fiction & humor, smothered in parmesan, overdone with red pepper, loaded with garlic and all done in good fun utilizing a lousy memory. Of course, all the names are fictitious!

Pat Elder- (NDHS 1957)

Reply to Pat,

Thanks for more interesting stories from the 50’s. I’ll never forget my first points as a varsity player, either. I ran into a couple of “dirty” players in basketball, but most teams in that era played by the rules.

Bill

SPORTS DEPARTMENT NEEDS YOUR HELP WITH THIS
submitted by: Bill Meredith
billmere@aol.com
I got a note from Ron Cleavenger mentioning Tim Brinkley of RW as another great athlete from our area. Can anyone give me some information on his sports career? Thanks in advance for your help.

QUESTIONS THIS MONTH:
There are two questions this month for your comments and discussion.

1. WVU ended it's season with a 9-4 record. Briefly, evaluate the season. Did they underachieve? Overachieve? Were they well coached? Will anyone leave early for the NFL? How badly will they miss Doc Holliday?

2. Bobby Bowden coached his last game for Florida State in the bowl game. Clarksburg's own Jimbo Fisher will be his replacement. It is usually difficult to follow a legend (See John McKay, Bear Bryant, Woody Hayes and others). How do you think Jimbo will do next year at FSU? Will he be able to bring the program back to compete with Urban Meyer at Florida?

Please send you comments to billmere@aol.com. Be sure to include your name, school and the year you either did or would have graduated.

THIS IS A COUPLE OF YEARS OLD BUT STILL GREAT
YouTube - Country Roads

THANK YOU
submitted by: Rex Zickefoose (WI '59)
rexzickefoose@hrea.coop
Roleta,
I want to thank you and all the WI folks that got word of my recent surgery. The messages of encouragement and good will, cards and especially those prayers were definitely a help.

I am now at home recovering and expect to be back to full speed soon. God bless all of you all.

JANUARY JINGLES
submitted by: Steve Goff (WI '72)
sgoff53@hotmail.com
I really enjoy hearing from so many of you about the tunes. Favorite music makes that connection to our sense/memory experience. Just by hearing a catchy chorus, a favorite drum roll, or a killer guitar riff you can be instantly transported to a time and place of your past. For me it is always surprising how much detail shows up when I go time trippin' with my tunes. What you were wearing, who you were with, riding in a car, swimming at the lake, the time of year, tastes and smell, all that past information snaps back quicker than any digital fiber optics retrieval system.

That’s why we love it so much. No matter how you're feeling, a favorite song can come on, out of nowhere, and for a few minutes you're in touch with your past. It can evoke the range of emotions, but while you’re there you can pay a quick tribute to the people, places and things that populate your past. As an old-timer once told me, "Steve, it's OK to look at the past...just don't stare." True words by me! Let's go visit some memories. When the songs are over, you can let 'em go, or bring 'em with you.

These songs were all at the top of the charts in Januarys of years past.

1946 "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dvO-DxkJAU

1949 "A Little Bird Told Me" Evelyn Knight. Here's one of those wonderful, wacky tribute videos somebody creates that really loves an artist, and/or tune and has decided to make a video of a particular song. You just know somebody had a ball working on this one. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whdnvaqIZ98

1952 "Cry" Johnny Ray and the Four Lads. This was number one the entire months of January and February. It was a huge hit. Here is a real video find. This comes from a kinescope of Patti Page's musical variety TV program, "The Big Record", live from New York City. Here Ray sings 3 songs, starting with "Cry", a new release he is promoting, and finally a duet with Page. A nice 8 minute glimpse of old-time, live television. (Check out the sleeves on the 2nd piano player in the finale.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFgV5fx33e8

1956 "Memories are Made of This" Dean Martin. This was released in December of '55, and become number one, the second week of January. It held that position for 5 weeks. This is a very good live, TV version. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MWN_duZfIs

1959 "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" The Platters. What a classic! Just found out it came from a 1935 Fred Astaire film, "Roberta", where it was performed by Irene Dunne. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57tK6aQS_H0

1961 "Wonderland By Night" Bert Kaempfert. Here's an instrumental, I must say, that I'd never heard. It was number one for 3 weeks in January of '61. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnU_nMYb0C4

1964 "There I've Said It Again" Bobby Vinton. Come February of 1964, the Beatles would conquer America and begin to dominate the charts. This song was number one for three weeks, and then "I Want To Hold Your Hand" took over and everything changed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83RpoiPWZsU

1966 "We Can Work It Out" The Beatles. Here's a "Fab Four" triple play bonus, as your local DJ might have intoned. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59NNupminV8

The flip side: Day Tripper (which peaked at #5). That opening guitar riff always gets me going! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwmtNk_Yb2Q

Home recording, studio out takes of the Beatles working on "We Can Work It Out". Very rare. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1I4xPbsO-FM

1968 "Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)" John Fred and His Playboy Band. Here's a one hit wonder for you. These guys were from Baton Rouge, LA, and played frat houses all over the south. They had some fun with the Beatles' song "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds" and turned it into a national hit. This has great sound, shaky video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaWaQBxc0aI

1971 "My Sweet Lord" George Harrison. The flip side, "Isn't It a Pity", also got a lot of play. This is great concert footage from the 1971 Concert for Bangladesh with Eric Clapton playing lead guitar. Other videos from that concert are alongside and worth checking out. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wynYMJwEPH8

1975 "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" Elton John. Rare recording of Elton John, with special guest John Lennon, live at Madison Square Garden in November of '74. The single would reach number one in the US the following January. Good background on this performance under "more info" text tab. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zWSJQvFTg4

1978 "Baby Come Back" Player. Nice enough tune. When I first heard this I thought it was the new Hall & Oates single. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hn-enjcgV1o

1982 "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)" Hall & Oates. Speaking of H and O, this song was every where the year I went back to grad school. Memories of Goff-Hall! Salute! This has an annoying, very short ad attached. Good sound and video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccenFp_3kq8

1986 "That's What Friends Are For" Dionne and Friends. Here's another tune that could serve as the theme song for this newsletter. Dionne Warwick, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight and Elton John, now there's a quartet for ya! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGbnua2kSa8&feature=related

I'll end with a song that always makes me think of old friends. If I had a band and played my high school reunion, you can bet I'd do this song, probably more than once.

"It's Been a Long Time", Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, with guests Little Steven and Bruce Springsteen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hf7is_eYtT8

DONALD FRANCIS BRAMER, SR.
Donald Francis Bramer, Sr., 67, (Bridgeport HS) November 27, 2009. He was the son of Wade S. and Mildred Smith Bramer. He is survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Margaret “Beany” Weber Bramer. In addition to his wife, he is also survived by three children, Yvonne Denise (Tom) Eakle, Eva Marie (Scott) Conner and Donald F. (Paula) Bramer, Jr

Don attended two years of Business College in Washington, D.C. He was a veteran of the United States Army, having served from 1964-1966.

MARGARET E. WILLIAMS
Margaret E. Williams passed away on November 26, 2009. She was born in Bristol, WV, a daughter of the late George and Delma C. Yarnell Edgell.

Margaret attended Victory High School and was a very outgoing and giving person. Margaret is survived by her fiance K. Robert Ryan Jr., her son, James Lee Williams and fiancee Debbie Fansler, and her daughter, April Williams, all of Clarksburg. She is also survived by 4 siblings: Samuel C.(Betty) Edgell; Delbert Lee (Mary) Edgell; Crystal R. Jones and Shorty Edgell.

KATHLEEN ROLLINS MCGREW
Mrs. Kathleen Rollins McGrew, (WI 1950) passed away Dec. 3, 2009, at hospice in Savannah, Ga. after a short illness.

Mrs. McGrew was born in Clarksburg, WV, July 7, 1932, the youngest daughter of the late Russell and Pearl Rollins.

She is survived by her husband of 19 years, Gene McGrew, Hilton Head; son, Bryan Corsini.; daughter, Susan Gary; stepdaughters, Lynn and Gayle McGrew; five grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs. Christine Riley and Mrs. Wilmageen Moebus, both of Bridgeport; and several nieces and nephews.

DANIEL E. KNISKA
PARKERSBURG — Daniel E. Kniska, 76, (RW) of Parkersburg, W.Va died November 27, 2009, in Morgantown, W.Va.

He was the son of the Andrew and Elizabeth Sotak Kniska. Dan was an industrial engineer graduate of WVU. His professional career began at Mead Paper Co. He was a former owner and operator of Gooley Distributing Company in Parkersburg and more recently a real estate developer for McPherson-Kniska Contracting.

He is survived by his wife, Tania Nicolai Kniska; a daughter, Alexia Marie Kniska (Paul) Smith); two sons, Daniel A. (Lorena) Kniska, and Gregory M. (Kimberly) Kniska.

MINTER A. QUEEN, JR
Minter A. Queen Jr., 78, (RW) passed away on November 29, 2009.

He was the son of the late Minter A. Queen Sr. and Bessie Looman Queen.

He is survived by his wife, Arlene F. Ballard Queen.. In addition to his wife, he is survived by one brother, Arthur T. Queen, and one sister, Wilma Brandenberg, both of Baltimore, MD.

Mr. Queen was a retired accountant for the Union Carbide Company, a graduate of R-W High School and Fairmont State (College) University. Minter was a lifetime member of the First Baptist Church of Nutter Fort.

JOSEPH ANTHONY SKINNER, SR
Joseph Anthony Skinner, Sr., age 87, (WI) died Dec. 15, 2009, in the United Hospital Center, Clarksburg.

He was the son of the late John Skinner and Mary (Minard) Skinner. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Madeline (Matthews) Skinner.

Surviving are four sons, Rick Skinner, VA; John Skinner, VA; Mike Skinner, Clarksburg, WV and Joe Skinner Jr., Clarksburg, WV; two brothers, Ernie Skinner, Bridgeport, WV and Albert Skinner, Charleston, WV; nine grandchildrenand four great-grandchildren.

Mr. Skinner retired from the B&O Railroad as a ticket clerk. After retiring he owned and operated with his brother Tony, Terranova’s Restaurant from 1964-1986 in Clarksburg and Fairmont, WV.

WILLIAM MICHAEL “TWINNY” PINION
William Michael “Twinny” Pinion, 81 (WI 1946), died December 22, 2009. He was the son of the late Joseph Pinion and Pauline Goots Pinion. His wife of 56 years, Delores “June” Prine Pinion survives.

Also surviving are one daughter, Terri Pinion (Don)Johnson. Three sons, Joe (Jeanie) Pinion, Bill (Cathy) Pinion, and Shane (Rebecca) Pinion.

He was a United States Army veteran, having served his country proudly in the Korean War for two years.Upon returning from war, he was employed with Sears Roebuck for 26 years. He was owner and operator of Pinion’s Appliance Repair, starting in 1971 until his retirement.

ALVA EVERMONT “JACK” BRYANT, JR.
Alva Evermont “Jack” Bryant, Jr, (WI), November 30, 2009, in San Diego, CA, where he had lived for more than 55 years. He was 91. Jack was born in Clarksburg, WV. He attended Washington Irving High School. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, the former Isabel Cuppett (also from Clarksburg), three children, nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He is also survived by one sister, Helen Buffington.

Jack served in World War II as an engineer and navigator on a B-17 bomber. While on a bombing raid on Germany, his plane was shot down behind enemy lines. He was captured and remained a POW until the war was over. For the injuries he sustained on that bombing run, he was awarded the Purple Heart. Additional honors included two Bronze Stars and Good Conduct.

After leaving the service, Jack began a long career with NCR, a company he stayed with until his retirement in 1980.

WILLIAM TRUMAN BARKER
William Truman Barker, 62, (WI 1965), died September 10, 2009. Mr. Barker was a retired draftsman with Union Carbide Corporation.

He was the son of the late Morris Truman and Mable Rogers Barker.

He is survived by three children, Jennifer Anne Barker Pumphrey, William Dale Barker, and Joshua Scott Barker; and three grandchildren.

KATHLEEN MAE “KATIE” ROLLINS MCGREW
Kathleen Mae (Katie) Rollins McGrew (WI 1950) age 77, died December 3, 2009.

She is survived by her husband, Eugene McGrew of Hilton Head, SC., two children, Susan Elaine Corsini Lisher of Doylestown, PA, and Bryan Rollins Corsini of Cumming, GA, and five grandchildren. Also surviving are two sisters, Christine Riley and Wilmagene Moebus of Bridgeport, WV.

JAMES FLEMING PEET
James Fleming Peet, Sr., age 89, (WI) Clarksburg, WV, died, December 30, 2009. He was the son of the late Wilbur Alonzo Peet and Bessie W. Hamilton Peet; grandson of the late John Elwood Peet and Mary Elizabeth Peet and of William Hamilton and Margaret Byrnes Hamilton.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary Louise Prunty Peet, and four brothers, Arthur, Edward, Robert and Wilbur Harry Peet.

Surviving are his sister, Alice Marie Peet Somers, in the Crestview Manor Nursing Home, Jane Lew, and his children, Diana Peet (Dean) Hickman, Sherry Peet Wimer, James F. Peet, II, Joseph (Pam Perri) Peet and Timothy (Mary Kinder) Peet.

Also surviving are his second wife, Alta Boyce Peet (married in 1992) and her children, Ralph Lee Boyce, Jr., Elizabeth Ann Boyce (Philip) Wilhelm, Ella Boyce (Phil) Green, Jennifer Boyce and James Logan (Tamara Ritter) Boyce; a total of ten children, 21 grandchildren and 22 greatgrandchildren.

Mr. Peet served as a Navy Seabee in World War II in the South Pacific, Africa, Italy and France during 1942-1945. He was a cabinet maker for Creighton Cabinets and owner of Peet Plumbing and Heating.

Mr. Peet was a child of God an a member of Duff Street United Methodist .

MITCHELL THOMAS KOPP, JR.
Mitchell Thomas Kopp Jr., 63, (ND 1963), died suddenly December 29, 2009, at Ruby Memorial Hospital. He was the son of the late Mitchell Thomas Kopp Sr. and Gwendolyn Davis Kopp.

His wife, Kathryn Patsy Kopp survives. Also surviving are his daughter, Leisa R. (Michael) Nutter; two sisters, Michele A. “Mickey” (Bob) Mazza and Linda Cherubino of Clarksburg; his brother-in-law, Ron Patsy and his partner Paul Hayden; several nieces and nephews; and two great-nephews.

EVELYN SHOCK HUFFMAN
BRIDGEPORT — Evelyn Shock Huffman, 100, formerly of Glen Falls and North View, passed away Thursday morning, December 17, 2009, surrounded by her family.

She was born in Washington, PA, on April 7, 1909, a daughter of the late Peter and Anna Tipper Shock.

On August 11, 1930, she married Ernest M. Huffman, who preceded her in death on June 23, 1985.

She is survived by three daughters, Anna Marie Swisher of Beverly, Cora Jean Davis and her husband Gary of Clarksburg, and Carolyn Sue Gola and her husband Frank “Shorty” of Elkins; two sons, Oliver Lee Huffman and his wife Jeannie of Clarksburg, and Ernest Edward Huffman and his wife Betty of West Milford; 13 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren; and two sisters, Betty Hall and Helen Hoover, both of Charleston; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by a son-in-law, James Swisher, and seven brothers and sisters.

Newsletter Archive

Back to WI Index