THE WI NEWSLETTER 11/12


THE WI NEWSLETTER


Editor: Roleta Smith Meredith Issue 159 November 2012




THE WI NEWSLETTER

IMPORTANT THAT YOU READ THIS
Re: wihs59.tripod.com

From Roleta Meredith and Judy Kimler
Your newsletter staff

Judy and I have been friends since meeting one summer at Stealey Playground when we were in the 7th grade. We lost contact shortly after high school and got in contact again at a class reunion. I wrote the first simple little newsletter 13 years ago and Judy contacted me and after much discussion she said she could easily put in the pictures and put it on her free website. We have done the newsletter for 13 years as of August 2012. I do the writing and take care of the written word. Judy places in the pictures, the graphics and puts the newsletter on line for you to read.

Tripod changed their site that we have used for years and last month, we went thru a scare that we wouldn’t have a website for our newsletter. Judy searched for free websites but none could accommodate our need. Finally she went back to Tripod and opted for a different way of putting the newsletter on line for you to read.

You were able to get to the newsletter a new way last month. This is the address you will always use for the newsletter…..month after month until something happens to change it. The address you will use is simple. You can write it done in your diary or as my grandmother did, put it in your Bible….LOL wihs59.tripod.com is the address that you will type into your search engine each month. I am going to repeat it often in this article so you will take the time to remember or write it down)….. You will no longer receive a link in our reminder letters. There is a new look also, because this wihs59.tripod.com location is not a free site to us, we no longer have to put up with surprise advertisements on the top of the page and those advertisements that sometimes popped up on your screen while reading the newsletter.

This is very important: there is a wonderful surprise that Larry Kimler (Judy’s husband, who is a computer guru) has done for your enjoyment. Remember, Judy has always had CD’s of past newsletters for sale for $10.00 and the money went to the scholarship fund? Well, now you get them FREE. Just save the address wihs59.tripod.com and anytime you feel like reading a newsletter, type the address wihs59.tripod.com into your web browser, click on the newsletter button and the most current newsletter will come into view on your screen. Go to the bottom of that newsletter and click on NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE. There you will see all 13 years of newsletters. WHAT A WONDERFUL SURPRISE.

I ask you to click on the first newsletter at the bottom of the page which was Sept. 1999. Then compare it with how we have grown over the years. Thanks to those who were kind enough to support the newsletter by writing and sharing their memories and thoughts with us.

Please write to the newsletter because unless you write, we have nothing to read! Write to Roleta1@aol.com


VETERAN’S DAY
NOVEMBER 11

submitted by: Roleta
Roleta1@aol.com

Over the years you have heard me say many times that this month’s newsletter is one of the best or my favorite but I will honestly say the one newsletter of which I am most proud and it really is my favorite is the VETERAN’S DAY issue that Judy and I did in 2005. Please look it up and see if you don’t think it is very special. You can read it by going to the bottom of this newsletter, click on NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE and then go to the year of 2005 and click on VETERAN’S DAY.



THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO HAS SERVED OUR COUNTRY




HOW CAN I LIGHT A FIRE?

submitted by: Roleta
Roleta1@aol.com

We are made up of memories. Our personalities and often our professions are based a great part on our memories. We all lived at one time or the other in that special place we still refer to as our “hometown”. We share so many things. We may have gone to different schools but we experienced the same things. Whether you grew up in the 40’s, 50’s, 60’s, 70’s or 80’s…..we all passed through those stages of life in similar ways and in similar places. Our homes were basically alike, our schools were alike, we had the same or same type of teachers. We went to town and most often shopped at the same stores until WalMart came to Bridgeport Hill and changed the world. We share the same friends, and many of us share the same neighborhoods and work places.

WE HAVE MEMORIES IN COMMON!
I want to hear from you. I don’t know what to do to inspire you to remember and WRITE!

HOW CAN I LIGHT A FIRE UNDER YOU? What can I do besides beg for you to remember and share a few memories with the readers of the WI Newsletter? Just write to Roleta1@aol.com and email your memories to me. Sign your name, school and year of graduation.

Below are a few subjects and suggestions about which I have written so you can chose one or all to write about but PLEASE PUT EACH SUBJECT IN A SEPARATE EMAIL.

Thank you so much for helping with this project.

LAST MONTH I ASKED THE FOLLOWING
NO ONE REPLIED
ANYONE INTERESTED?

Many people have suggested that it might be interesting to have a genealogy section. If you write it and send it to me, I will publish it. Perhaps this may be a way to connect with relatives that you are not even aware you have. If you have pictures, send them too. One thing though, I would like there to be a connection with Harrison County, WV. Write and send it to Roleta1@aol.com.

GOING TO TOWN

I remember when I was young and growing up in Clarksburg, WV that going to town was a special time. I remember often when my Aunt Thelma Smith (yep same name as my mother) would visit us from Niles, Ohio and she would comment that she couldn’t afford to live in Clarksburg as it took so many different outfits to live there. At the time I never gave it a thought but later when remembering this statement I know exactly what she meant. I had school clothes which we wore to school and then came home and changed into play clothes (or hanging out clothes). Play clothes when young were usually shoes and clothes that I had really outgrown so I couldn’t wear them to school or they were a bit worn and I wasn’t supposed to wear them to school or they were shorts, slacks or jeans which we were not allowed to wear to school. We had social clothes or church clothes which we kept special just for such and occasion….these were pretty dressy outfits and shoes. As I grew to be a teenager I copied the ladies of the church and my church outfits included dressier shoes, nice purse and often a dressy hat. Then we had “go to town clothes”…which were better than school clothes but not as special as church clothes. As I grew a little older, I even remember ladies wearing hats and gloves to town. Do you remember this? Did you have different clothes for different occasions events. Did you ever notice this?. Do you think any other town in WV experienced this in the 1940’s 1950’s and early 1960s? Just look at old pictures of people on the streets of downtown Clarksburg. The ladies were usually dressed in nice dresses or coats, high heeled shoes and even hats. The gentlemen wore overcoats, dress hats and nice slacks. Do you agree? Write to Roleta1@aol.com.

SWIMMING AT WI

Does anyone remember ever swimming in the pool at WI? If so, what was the occasion? I would guess there were many people who graduated from WI and never knew there was a pool inside that building. Write to Roleta1@aol.com.

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
THIS IS NOT FOR THE SORTS SECTION


It is November, time for that big football rival game. I would like for you to write about some of your memories about going to a high school football game. Here are a few things to help jog your memory. . Do you remember attending football games? What was the biggest game of the year? Against what other school? How did you get to the football field? How much did it cost to go inside? There were programs, did you buy one or did someone give them away free? If you bought one, who sold them and how much did they cost? Did they have any advertisers? Do you remember? Who were the coaches of the teams? Do you remember the name of any football players who played when you were in school? What did the football uniforms look like? Did they wear shoulder pads, rubber cleats and helmets like they wear today? Where did you sit? Were the stands on each side of the field? Was the band at the football game? If so, where did the band sit? Was there anything sold to eat at the games? Did someone come around in the stands to sell refreshments? If so, who? Where did the food come from? Where was the food cooked, was it prepared by the High School Lunch Room cooks, the girls in the Home Ec classes, parents, students or a local restaurant? Was a local restaurant set up at the games? Was there a refreshment stand at the games? What was the food? Do you remember what anything cost? What was usually worn by people to the football games? Did the girls and boys wear jeans and sweat shirts? How about the parents, what did they wear?

Now those should be enough suggestions to get the old brain matter boiling enough that you should be able to write a few sentences to tell us of some of your memories of the fall.

Oh, one more thing: Do you remember any words to any songs sung at the football games?

Write your memories to Roleta1@aol.com.



A SMALL COSMOPOLITAN TOWN

In the September Newsletter, there was a note by Rebecca Lynn Smith Hunn about Segregation in Clarksburg. I think that topic can be expanded beyond School Integration into an ability to meet and get along with everybody and anybody. I have thought for a long time that Clarksburg was one of most cosmopolitan small towns in the USA. With the waves of immigrants that flooded this Country, a portion of them settled in Clarksburg. While they may have settled in unique communities within the area; school, work, and love reduced/eliminated the differences. Over the years of my life, I had the good opportunity to meet and become friends with many Nationalities or ethnic groups. I never found it difficult, as what I was taught by my family and the community about people, made acceptance of persons from all groups very easy for me wherever I was.

I was one of those boys that frequented the Stonewall Pool Room as it was the place to go for lunch or after school. On the way there, we would meet kids coming from Kelly Miller on Washington Avenue, and while I didn’t know any of students, those that did greeted them as friends and I never heard a disparaging word spoken then or afterwards. For myself, the Segregation of the schools in WV for such a long time leaves a Black Mark against her. She cheated us out of friends and more understanding.

On a similar note, the stories about Rufus were very revealing and illustrated the Community Standard. After I read them, I asked my friend, Billy Jean Nutter Masterson, RW ’49, if she remembered Rufus as she had worked at Roger’s Drugs after she graduated. Her comment was the same as the others, a very nice person. She remembered that her fellow employees at Roger’s, had a Birthday Cake for both her and Rufus as their birthdays were very close, Oct 6th. Apparently, he made an good impression on many people, including wild kids.

Tom Keenan
WI, Class of ‘49

“He that has no fools, knaves, nor beggars in his family, was begot by a flash of lightning.” Thomas Fuller


THE GATHERING

submitted by: Jane Faust (WI '66)


CLASS OF 1963



CLASSES OF 1964 AND 1965



CLASSES OF 1966 AND 1967




submitted by: Wayne Winters would have graduated with the class of WI 1966

Part of the August Gathering that Dave Hood put together was held at Maple Lake. You can see from one of these two attachments that the Green Parrot can still get around.






EMAIL ADDRESSES OF READERS
Some are new and some are changed

Sonnie Cork Brown (WI '62) sonniebrown@live.com
Marlene Parsons Andre (RW '53) eandre@twmi.rr.com
Carol Gregory DaSanna (RW '53) c_desanna@yahoo.com
Eleanor Postlewait (RW '56) Elliegreen@carolona.rr.com
Susan Courtney (WI '63) sdorrsml@yahoo.com
Sheila Dennison Anderson (WI '62) danderson7007@hotmail.com
Doug Aspy (WI '62) dougaspy@gmail.com
Alex Thwaites (WI '65) Athwait1@fairview.org
Jim Villers (VHS '57) jimvillers@hotmail.com
Vera Lowther Harper (WI '62 vharper2@verizon.net
Marie Ann Vacolas Mascaro (WI '62) mariemascaro@hotmail.com
Joy Greene Wiggins (WI '62) wig258@hotmail.com




GIRL’S STATE AND BOY’S STATE

Did you attend one of these camps? Where was it held? How were you selected to attend? Why were you selected? Did you hold any official position while at the camp? Do you remember who attended from your school or any other?

Tell us everything that you remember, we are interested.

Write To: Roleta1@aol.com.



BOMB SCARE AT WI

Apparently there was never a bomb scare at WI as no replies were received. I know there was never a bomb scare while I attended WI or I certainly would remember it because it would more than likely mean we were let out of school for the day.

Write to Roleta1@aol.com.



MISS SARAH MARGARET ISRAEL

submitted by: Ruth Harpold Israel (WI '42)

Sarah Margaret Israel will be 100 on January 6, 2013. She is now in assisted living at Maplewood. If you would like to send her a note or a card write to her and mail to:

Sarah Margaret Israel
c/o Maplewood
No. 1 Maplewood Drive
Bridgeport, WV 26330

Below is a poem written by Sarah Margaret Israel, who taught English at Central Junior High School.

THE MOUNTAINEER
By Sarah Margaret Israel (WI 1934)

For one who has lived in mountains
The plains are never home;
There's something flat and empty
Wherever he may roam.
He'll like the lakes and rivers,
Groves, forest shades so dim,
But nothing but the mountains
Can quite be home to him.
He'll miss their strength and courage.
Their rugged, constancy,
He'll miss their very harshness
As the sailor does the sea.
The mountains seem so sure and old,
Sturdy, changeless, true
Protective, friendly; in their shade
I'll live my whole life through.




MYSTERY PICTURE IDENTIFIED

submitted by: Markey Adams Hood (WI '42)
mary.hood@frontier.com



In response to the picture ....I think it is the Baker Apts. on the corner of 6th and Main Sts. On the other corner (same side of the street) is the Clarksburg Central Fire Station. The apartments were demolished and DeSales Nursing Hall was built for student nurses at St. Marys hospital. That too was demolished and is presently the Gaston Caperton Campus of Fairmont State College. Hope my memory is correct. Keep the up the interesting work of the Newsletter.



NAME THE NOVEMBER MYSTERY PICTURE

IF YOU RECOGNIZE THIS PICTURED SITE
PLEASE WRITE TO Roleta1@aol.com
.
picture submitted by: Jim Alvaro (WI '56)

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



ALTA VISTA ELEMENTARY PICTURE

submitted by: Michael S. Elyard



I was going through some old photos and found this – the Patrol Boys/ basketball team from Alta Vista Elementary in Broad Oaks. I think it was around 1969. I’m terrible with names, but think I have a few:

Back Row – Kim Lancaster (???), Linda Belt, (???), Debbie Brooks (???)
Middle Row (L-R) Michael Elyard #41, Tom White #13, Michael Butz #42, (???), (???), Coach ___ ???
Front Row – Joey Paugh #53 (???), Jeff Knicely #43 (???), Mark Compton #55 (???), Don Brelsford #21 (???), (#31 - ???)

Please forgive me if I got any names wrong. I’d like to get a corrected list, so please let me know if you can positively identify anyone. Thanks!


SOLD!

Since the last newsletter, I received one check for tickets. I hope more will respond this month.

Thank you: Cinda O’Neill

Tickets for 2013 WIN quilt are on sale. You may buy as often as you like between now and March 1, 2013. You may sell tickets to anyone who wishes to buy a ticket. The price of the tickets has not changed. The tickets are still 6 for $5.00 or 12 for $10.00 and multiples there after. Send your check or money order made out to:

Roleta Meredith

And mail to this address please:

Roleta Meredith
3201 Charles Mac Donald Drive
Sarasota, FL 34240

I hope we sell enough tickets to support 2 WIN Scholarships. Thank you..

TWO BLOCKS FROM THE QUILT





BACK IN THE DAY

submitted by: Billie Anne Cork Clevenger (WI '52)

For some reason, my twenty three year old granddaughter finds this expression “back in the day” extremely hilarious. But she just kept on with that incessant giggling that makes my much beloved child less than charming at that moment. (I've got to admit that the expression is kind of antiquated and humorous, but don't tell Lyndsi!) Was she actually daring to insult her dear Grammy by ridiculing me, when I, at her request, was telling her tales of our family history, which she had requested? Oh, this younger generation, I thought to myself!

Then I recalled the days when “I” was the “younger” generation! I recalled, however, how I sat so quietly as my two Mammaws told me of the “good old days”. I only wish I could recall all of those precious gems of wisdom so that I could finally begin my memoirs.

Now, as I meet with my dearly beloved former classmates, I cherish the memories that we share. Carolyn Burnside brought us two old, old group pictures last month which caused us to reminisce once more and we spoke of possibly writing down some of our old grade school memories, regardless of which school we attended “way back when”. I wonder if anyone other than me will do that - we will see -

I am remembering one Fall day in 1940 when I was six years old. Do any of you Morgan School alumnae recall the “candy sales” that we had out in the hallway? Well, I had forgotten to tell my sweet and beautiful Mama that I was to bring a plate of chocolate fudge that morning for the sale. Thus, while I was eating a leisurely breakfast in the kitchen, my feet propped up on the adjacent chair, Mama was feverishly cooking a pan of fudge. Her haste was because the school bus was due in about 45 minutes, so she set the pan in a pan of cold water to cool it and set it on a chair next to the one I was in. Still barefoot and in my pajamas, I started to rise and accidentally kicked the other chair, bringing the hot fudge pouring down upon my (then tiny) foot! OH! The most excruciating pain I had ever experienced gripped my little foot and I began to scream! My Mama, who was actually somewhat overly protective, began to cry and grabbed up her little girl and began her plan on what to do. The proper first aid treatment for a burn in 1940 was to put, of all things, butter, on the wound! Needless to say, there was no school that day for me. I bemoaned the loss of my favorite patent leather sandals because after the doctor’s visit that followed, Mama had to cut a big piece out of the top of the shoe to accommodate my wound.

I soon forgot the pain of the accident, but I recall vividly how ugly my beautiful shoe looked and how I hated to miss “candy sale” day!



PICTURES FROM TRIPS READERS HAVE MADE

HAVE YOU MADE AN INTERESTING TRIP?
WRITE AND SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH US
INCLUDE SOME PICTURES
Write to: Roleta1@aol.com

submitted by: Jim Alvaro (WI '56)

We went on a two week cruise that took us from Ft. Lauderdale to Los Angeles.

Ports:
Ft. Lauderdale
Georgetown, Grand Cayman
San Andres, Columbia
Gantun Yacht Club...(Transit the Panama Canal)
Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Huatulco, Mexico
Acapulco, Mexico
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
San Diego, CA
Los Angeles, CA

The whole cruise was wonderful but to me the high light of the trip was going through the Panama Canal. We spent New Years Eve on Lake Gantun, which was a beautiful evening with all the fireworks. Also, we met our sister ship on the lake. Both ships were highly decorated with lights. The Captains exchanged gifts and both ships set off fireworks at the same time. It was amazing to think of the technology and engineering that went into the construction of the Panama Canal. I could have sent 100 pictures of the cruise but I thought these would be the most interesting.






submitted by: Barbara Younkin Park (Chestnut Hills Elementary)
bparkbsma@aol.com

I moved away when I was eleven. I came back to the WI 50 year reunion this past June. I graduated in 1962 from Easton High School, Easton, MD.

I went on a river cruise here in end of Mar into April 2012



Kinderdyke, the Netherlands, Unesco World Heritage Site. 2012 (Historically preserved windmills)




Indoor tulips at Keukenhof Gardens, Lisse, NL 2012



submitted by: Richard Wagner (WI '65)
rev.wagner@gmail.com



Sunset over mountains is the Sandia mountains in Albuquerque, NM




Royal Poinciana is from Nassau, Bahamas




Front yard is a Christmas Day snowfall in 2010 in my current home town of Fayetteville, NC (very unusual)




Sedona, AZ



Aerial view of the Grand Canyon

Thank you for doing the newsletter.


submitted by: Sherry Keith (WI '64)

Sending along photos of the Beatrix Potter's Museum.. in Birnam Perthshire Area of Scotland.

Seen here with Mr. Fox... from Tales of Peter Rabbit, is Peter and family, and inside the museum, a cabinet marked " Open for fun" I loved that, and when opened, showed lots of things for visiting children to do.. puppets, etc. And a photo of Beatrix herself!









I went to Scotland for the Perthshire Amber Festival an annual 10 Day Music Festival presented by the Dougie MacLean family with all kinds of activities within the area specially planned to chose from and concerts held in gorgeous cathedrals and castles as well as new first class auditoriums and even Scotland's smallest licensed brewery. Great Time! in '09.


submitted by: Mayf Nutter (Bridgeport HS 1959)



Photo -
Left - Mayf Nutter
Center- Lindsay Bloom Nutter (Mayf's wife)
Right - Robin Horn (musician and son of Paul Horn an American jazz flautist, and an early pioneer of New Age music.)
The photo is from the collection of Robin Horn.

My guitar is an exact 24 inch miniature copy of a Fender Stratocaster, later borrowed from me by Frank Zappa for his European tour.

Background far right: The Chinese Official who informed me that I had just become the first American to sing on National China TV, because our Thank You Concert had been broadcast live throughout China.

My son, Chase, just found this photo on the internet.

The photo was taken, March of 1982 just moments before I went on stage at the Sun Yet Sin Memorial center to perform for 10 acres of Chinese for a Concert broadcast "Live" on China National Television.

When I returned backstage, I was greeted by Chinese dignitaries who informed me that I was the first American to ever perform on China National Television. Before that time, we were told, American music and American movies had been banned since World War I.

This movie, CYCLING THROUGH CHINA was released by Disney in the US. It was the very first movie co-venture between America and The People's Republic of China. Our diplomatic relations were very shaky at that time (1982). Our two film crews traveled across China in vans and leap-frogged ahead of us as we bicycled for 6 weeks over miles and miles of unpaved dirt roads and through tiny villages and communes where the people there had never seen a white person before we rode in.

The government would not allow us to use 2-way radios for our film vans to communicate our location to each other as we trekked for 6 weeks across China. With only one Chinese interpreter among us, to help with directions, etc. this made for some challenging and often very funny moments every day.

The smaller towns had no running water in homes; dirt floors, mostly no doors in the huts, but almost always a single orange light bulb hanging from a strand of wire dangling from the ceiling of the single room dwelling.

Pigs and chickens ran freely in and out of homes and in the street (often the only street in town). No inside toilets or baths in the homes.

Each morning human waste was carried in buckets by a family member and dumped into a community holding facility 15 feet high with cement walls and no roof or other covering. This required climbing a 90 degree vertical wall on an attached wooden ladder, then down a ladder inside of that same wall, then dumping the bucket beneath two slats, which crossed this enclosed sewage pond. The wooden slats were also used to stoop on... so as to relieve one's self into the odorous sewage below. When the sewage grew deep enough to reach the slats, the slats were raised to the next higher notches on the inside wall. Once the cement enclosure had reached its full capacity, the villagers formed a line and passed buckets filled with human refuse hand-to-hand to each other and dumped the sewage into the fields where they grow their food.

When we saw this in action we realized why, at the beginning of our trip, we were warned to never eat raw vegetables along the way, even when offered in friendship by the always kindly villagers.

There was one, and only one, telephone in each commune. It was located in the mayors office. That phone could only call the mayor's office in the next town.

The hotels where we stayed along the way were converted prisons with cots and mosquito nets. Drinking water in our rooms was boiling hot in Thermos bottles. We did not see an ice cube for weeks at a time. Showers in those hotels were only available during 2 specific hours each night. Your room, with its cement walls and rug-less floor, was cleaned using a garden hose.

Hotels in the major cities, those seen in Newsreels, etc., were quite luxurious even by American standards. Good propaganda tools.

When the movie that we were filming was shown here no footage was seen of the squalor that we had witnessed. All the scenes shown were of colorful horizons, majestic mountains, lovely lakes and our biking was shown to have taken place in beautiful park-like settings or on pristine city streets where cars, trucks, buses, and swarms of bicycles moved busily along.

It was an adventure of a lifetime; at a time when no American movies or TV or American music had been allowed in China since before WWII when Japan had attacked China and movies about Americans defeating the Japanese were then shown in China. So, John Wayne was a movie hero and the only actor that the Chinese had ever heard of.

As for music, they had never heard of Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald or the likes of Elvis. American music was still banned in China during our visit there in 1982. After asking people all along our China cycling adventure, the only songs that we knew in common with the Chinese at that time were OH SUSANNA , a Steven Foster song from the 1860's and JINGLE BELLS, which is actually a British folksong sung around Christmas time.

So....as part of my "Thank You Concert Show" to that wonderful crowd, which spanned 10 acres of shoulder to shoulder Chinese, I sang OH SUSANNA...in the Mandarin Chinese dialect; along with a song I had written during the trip, UNDERNEATH THE SOUTHERN CHINA SKIES, and some of my own music from my records.

Since the concert was being broadcast LIVE on National China Television, a Chinese diplomat came backstage and shook my hand, congratulating me on being the very first American to sing on National China TV as well as the first American ever to sing on stage at the Sun Yet Sin Memorial Center.

Quite an honor for a kid from Harrison County, West Virginia, USA.


submitted by: Ron Ogren (WI '50)

Last June we went to Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard Island where we took these pictures. We didn't know that the oldest wind mill in the USA is located there, and didn't know we'd find the wonderful cottages with the beautiful Ginger Bread paintings.The trip was a real eye opener for us in learning more about USA and New England history. Take the trip if you can!









CHESTNUT HILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

submitted by: Barbara Younkin Park
bparkbsma@aol.com

I am not sure what I sent to you, but here is a photo of Chestnut Hills Elementary School chums at the WI 62 Reunion in July at Clarksburg Country Club.


L to R: Michael Patrick Carduff Frankhouser (Mike Patrick, ESPN sports announcer) Barbara Younkin Park, Frances "Frankie" Wiseman, Bob Gainer, Dan Wheeler. Missing is Jim Hovey.



WHO WAS THAT WI TEACHER?

submitted by: John Teter (WI '61)

Do you (or your readers) remember any WI teacher that passed away in 1960 - 1964, or somewhere thereabouts. A friend of mine is telling me that my brother (Bob) and I made her go to a teacher's viewing/funeral and we cannot remember which teacher it might have been?

Write your answer to this question to Roleta1@aol.com.



CHARLES FARRELL
CLASS OF 1946

This E-mail from our NARFE Chapter 581 president and the fourth photo. It shows seven chapter members who have been inducted into Maryland Senior Citizens Hall of Fame (MSCHF). They are the first six persons on the left and me the second on the right. My wife Donnie Sue is the fourth person on the right front row. I was the second member to be inducted in 2001 for my volunteer work in scouts, Methodist Church, Gaithersburg civic activities including the Police Advisory Committee, Scouting Representstive to the Character Counts! Committee and to The Add Hoc Comminity to build a New Senior Citizens Center.

My NARFE letter on "Protecting Our American Heratige" was sent to the US Congress to protect our federal retirement. As an example I compared the Japaneese and Russian reactor accidents with our Three Mile Island incident and the many orders of magnitude difference in the radioactivity released to the environment due to the differences in engineering standards. I spent the midnight shift in the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Emergency Center folling the TMI2 accident doing radiological dose calculations.











THE WVU CROWD AFTER THE BAYLOR GAME SANG

This is great. Look how much of the crowd are still in their seats. The only empty areas are in the end zone boxes. The only bad part is near the end of the clip, when a guy who is tone deaf tries to join in. Note the blue and gold stripes in the various sections. Many Baylor fans stayed and joined in. You will also notice a man sprinkling ashes of a friend on the center of the field, per the request of the friend who was a great WVU fan and had died.

To watch video of crowd singing “Country Roads” after the Baylor game, click on the next line

https://www.youtube.com/watch? feature=player_embedded&v=Cs-lrLfPqWU



BROAD OAKS (IAN) PICTURE
KIDS IDENTIFIED



submitted by: Mary Sue Clark Spahr (WI '56)

1. The "Guess Who" picture of Broad Oaks kids:
Front Row, left to right: Steve Limbers, Sandra Ross, Hank Ross, Mary Sue Clark, Don Sager
Middle Row, left to right: Nancy ?, Sandra Squires, Sandra Price, Delores Boone, Judy Rice
Back Row, left to right: Jack Borror, Roy Feldman, Jim Alvaro, Harold Brewster, Bob Kopp, Ronnie Brown

I actually think this picture was taken in my home. I'd be sure if there were any space between the boys in the back row. There was a mantle in the middle room of our house and it would have been visible had the boys not been grouped so well. I don't know what kind of gathering we were having at the time.

2. I think this month's mystery picture may be the St. Mary's Hospital nursing home on Main Street.



submitted by: Steve Limbers (WI '57)

I won't name everyone in the picture, although I know the names of nearly all of us. (Don Sager and Jim Alvaro will, as usual, know more than I.) But I think I might be able to add one comment of interest. I am bottom row, left end. Behind me is Nancy Hamilton, who I am 99.9 percent certain never lived in Broad Oaks. She lived in Stealey when we became friends. She was in my class and started high school at WI. At some point soon after, the family moved and she did not graduate with us.

In my last note to you (published in the October issue), I referred to our visit to "WI Junior High." I am sure there will be many notes of correction. WI is actually a Middle School now. It is very strange to see sixth graders changing classes in that place. But everyone in the office and all the teachers we bumped into were reminders of how nice West Virginians were, and still are.

Let me know if anyone in the picture remains unidentified and I will try to complete the identifications.



WHO ARE THESE KIDS


submitted by: Marcia Booth (WI '65)

If you can identify any of these kids write your guess to Roleta1@aol.com. Remember to add a memory and include your name, school and year of graduation. thanks

A little hint...they're Brownies.



LETTER FROM A BAYLOR FAN:

I just want to first say, on behalf of all of the Big XII, welcome. I certainly had heard all of the reports, and came ready for a verbal assault. I honestly did not bring my wife and kids specifically because of the history and first hand reports, and in hindsight, I really wish I had brought them. In all sincerity, the only thing I could possibly complain about was the result on the scoreboard, because everything else was excellent.

The blue and gold carpet rolled out by the true fans was just unbelievable. You should definitely thank your administration for whatever they did in a PR campaign, public awareness moves, etc, because I have never seen a more solidified fan base dedicated to an excellent game day experience for BOTH fans. I have been around the world, watched soccer matches, rugby matches, college football in every state, including heated and non heated rivalries, and I have never experience the welcome I experienced in Morgantown. It started with the waiters, waitresses, bartenders, hotel personnel, and all the fans staying in the hotels. It continued throughout the evening as we walked around and got our bearings. The next morning, on our way to the game, the hotel shuttle was full of good banter, and then when we arrived…

I have never shook that many hands in my life. I have never received that many offers for a beer and a pepperoni roll in my life. I have never been stood up for by other opposing fans when the random drunk fan at 9am screams an obscenity. I have never been offered a personal view into an opposing team's game plan, and a thorough interest in what Baylor is going to do, and a healthy debate on what we think the result is going to be…. all with more pepperoni rolls, bratwurst, salads, dips, beer, and did I mention beer?

I could rave about the experience for hours on end… but I am just going to tell you… if you continue to treat opposing fans this way for the rest of your time in the Big XII, you will absolutely be crowned the king of the road trip cities, and you can expect 3-4 times as many fans each time, as I fully expect to tell my friends to go enjoy Morgantown, stay a while.

If any of you are working for the Morgantown economic development committee though… please take one note… start building more hotel rooms. I booked in February the day after the schedule was announced… I had a ton of friends who chose to stay in Pittsburgh because the lack of hotel rooms allowed for a normally $150 a night hotel (Hilton Garden Inn) to be $279. That was a shade under ridiculous.

I would also like to tell you in no uncertain terms… you are welcome to Waco anytime. If you are coming, and bringing the same fans that were tailgating out there this weekend… keep my name, send me a private message and we will make sure to roll out the green and gold carpet to you.

Thanks!

My Reply:

See, not everyone in Morgantown burns couches, throws bottles and acts obnoxious. What a welcome relief to see something nice written about our state and state university. May it continue to be so !!

Bill (billmere@aol.com)

To Bill:

Sure is different playing the big boys who are infatuated with this sport all through the south and west. What a trouncing and what a weak team the Mountaineers field this season. Seems the staff has been so astonished at the outstanding quarterback and lost focus on the whole. I watched the OK game too and holy cow, if we get on the field with them in our current weakness, it will be DOA at the airport, Rod has put together a very good team, probably the best defense I have seen so far this season, even in NFL. And don't forget, he has a torch to bear, so we better be ready. There are some very good teams in between. I hope they use them for better prep for what is coming. Holgorsen's team is totally out of rhythm for some reason and that's sad. I was hoping for a really big attention winning season. I pray I am wrong and he can still pull it off, but there's a long way to go.

Gary Robey, W I 1957

Reply To Gary:

I think we are all a little disappointed at the moment. Young people are strange in many ways. Their emotions vary wildly and change on the spur of the moment. Sometimes football is like golf. If I don't think I can make a shot, I probably can't. WVU has lost it's confidence. I feel sure they will come back. Let's hope so.

I'm not sure who you mean by "Rod", but assume it is Rich Rod, the Arizona coach, and we don't play them this year. Unfortunately for him and his staff, almost all of whom were once at WVU, they are also having some problems. But as I've said before, I believe he will be back on top someday. Time has a way of healing hard feelings, so maybe we'll forgive and forget. At least, I hope we'll try.

As far as great defenses are concerned, watch Alabama. They do play defense like an NFL team. Maybe we can borrow their second team for the rest of the year. (Just wishful thinking)

Thanks for the comments. I hope to hear from you again soon.

Bill (billmere@aol.com)
To Bill:

Last year, I said it would take 50 points to beat us. Looks like this year, the number goes up--?, 60 or 70? I'll tell you this, I have never been so amazed after watching WVU & Baylor and then Texas & OSU. I don't think any of us have ever really been exposed to any of this in the past, but I was glued all day long. Win or lose, this will be one heck of a season to watch. Looks like Geno found a way to keep his eyes open (JOKE) this year & who were those guys that suspected drugs last year. He was unprecedented today. Those records he set may well never be broken. I just totally loved this today--hope it continues.

Pat Elder, NDHS 1957

Reply To Pat:

I enjoyed reading this when you sent it on September 30, but enjoyed reading it even more in the last few days. It reminds me of how good we all felt after the Baylor game and even after the Texas game. We are all sad now, but remember, sports glory is very short-lived. You are correct in saying that Geno's records will stand for a long time. Here's hoping we get to see many more record-breaking performances before the season is over.

Bill (billmere@aol.com)

To Bill:

I went to a high school game not long ago and was looking at how big the players were. Then I started wondering how big they were compared to when I played. I took a roster from Grayson HS., which is one of the better football teams around here, and then I had a program from WV Wesleyan COLLEGE. I thought, "What are they feeding these boys now?"

Jim Alvaro, WI 1956

There are 89 on the roster and I just picked the ones 200# and over...

1 Robert Nkemdiche Nations # 1 high school recruit Grade: Senior Pos: DE/RB Height: 6'5 Weight: 281
Grade: Senior Pos: DE/TE Height: 6'3 Weight: 225
Grade: Senior Pos: LB Height: 5'11 Weight: 200
Grade: Senior Pos: LB Height: 6'0 Weight: 205
Grade: Senior Pos: DL Height: 6'1 Weight: 220
Grade: Junior Pos: LB Height: 6'1 Weight: 210
Grade: Senior Pos: LB Height: 5'11 Weight: 215
Grade: Junior Pos: DL Height: 6'4 Weight: 215
Grade: Senior Pos: LB Height: 6'1 Weight: 200
Grade: Senior Pos: OL Height: 5'11 Weight: 215
Grade: Junior Pos: OL Height: 5'9 Weight: 200
Grade: Senior Pos: OL Height: 5'10 Weight: 250
Grade: Senior Pos: OL Height: 6'1 Weight: 240
Grade: Senior Pos: LB Height: 6'2 Weight: 220
Grade: Senior Pos: OL Height: 6'2 Weight: 240
Grade: Senior Pos: OL/LB Height: 5'9 Weight: 200
Grade: Junior Pos: LB Height: 5'10 Weight: 200
Grade: Senior Pos: DL Height: 5'10 Weight: 250
Grade: Junior Pos: OL Height: 6'3 Weight: 245
Grade: Junior Pos: DL Height: 5'11 Weight: 240
Grade: Sophomore Pos: DL/OL Height: 5'11 Weight: 235
Grade: Senior Pos: OL Height: 6'5 Weight: 250
Grade: Senior Pos: OL Height: 6'1 Weight: 248
Grade: Senior Pos: OL Height: 6'2 Weight: 260
Grade: Senior Pos: OL Height: 6'0 Weight: 285
Grade: Junior Pos: OL Height: 6'0 Weight: 260
Grade: Senior Pos: DL/TE Height: 6'3 Weight: 225
Grade: Junior Pos: TE Height: 6'0 Weight: 215
Grade: Senior Pos: TE Height: 6'1 Weight: 210
Grade: Senior Pos: DL Height: 5'11 Weight: 220



Reply To Jim:

The sizes of the players listed in the high school program are amazing. The Wesleyan roster shows only two players over 200 lbs. I saw an article a few years back stating that the starting offensive line at a high school in Orlando, FL averaged over 300 lbs. per man. So, this Georgia school is not as unusual as we may think. I think there are several factors involved. First, these schools are probably very large, with over 2000 students or maybe much larger Plus, we humans are getting bigger. That's been proven. Finally, football teams now train throughout the year. Weight training adds a lot of bulk to these young men. We didn't have that in our day. When I played, I was 165 lbs. soaking wet as a senior. I can't imagine facing players this big and living to tell the story. Thanks for sharing this with us.

Bill (billmere@aol.com)

To Bill:

I think WVU is where I thought they would be. I felt they would lose the two Big Twelve away games, but Texas was worse than I thought and Kansas State may play for the national title. Seeing Kansas St. handle Texas Tech yesterday strengthens my opinion, that the 7,500 miles we traveled before the Tech game, was the main reason we were two steps behind all day.

We lost 5 or 6 players from last year's defense, who are now playing on Sunday. We cannot reload like most of your perennial powers. We have to rebuild. Our offense cannot keep up with the pressure of having to score every time we get the ball. With an offensive-minded head coach and a new defensive coordinator, we have a long way to go to make a serious, recognizable dent in the armor of the Big 12.

We had Baylor down 56--35 and Texas down 21--7. They were close wins, but not hard wins. They were close, because we cannot score all of the time. We either need to make some stops or, if we are going to give up 60 points a game, play all underclassmen. Playing seniors makes it hard to rebuild.

Go Mounties !!!

Bob Secret, W I 1960

Reply To Bob:

I agree with everything you say. As I mentioned in my comments above, we were so caught up in the "70 points syndrome", we forgot that defense wins football games. If you don't believe that, see Alabama, LSU, Georgia, Florida and the rest of the SEC. They win national titles with defense.

I think you will see more and more underclassmen playing the rest of the season. Plus, look for more Jr. College recruits in the future. You can buy experience.

Bill (billmere@aol.com)

THE ALVARO FAMILY

We moved to Broad Oaks, to 322 Harrison St,, when I was in the eighth grade. Our next door neighbors were Tony and Josephine Alvaro and their son, Nicky Alvaro (WI '55). Donny Sager lived right around the corner and Jim Alvaro lived on Haymond Highway, near the Ice Plant. Later Jim's parents, Fred and Mary, moved their family of five right next door to us, but on the other side.

Jim and Freddie Alvaro were very good athletes. Nicky was too, but his father, Tony, wouldn't let him play organized sports in high school. I spent hours trying to get Nick to transfer to ND and talked to Tony, too. I just could not pull it off. After school, Nicky formed an independent league basketball team, that became somewhat legendary around north central WV.

Living between two Alvaro families was an amazing pleasure. They were all loving and caring people and true friends. Later, I went away to college and missed Fred's sports career that was very successful. Jim played college football on scholarship at W. Va. Wesleyen. Nicky got married to Joretta Folio. I started to lose touch after that, because I went out of state.

I reconnected with my high school around the year 2000. Just after that, NDHS hired a new football coach. His name turned out to be Sam Alvaro. That is Nicky's son !! Sam did go to ND and turned out to be a star athlete. The genes were certainly there. Below is a picture and short biography of Nick's son, Coach Sam Alvaro, taken from the NDHS Webpage.

I also found out, (it's heck to be away for so long) that my buddy Nick had a son Nick, Jr. Nick Jr., in turn, had a son named Nicholas, known as Nick the 3rd. Nick the 3rd graduated from NDHS a year ago and could have had a scholarship at a major Division 1 school, but was just way too small. He set the current receiving record for all of Harrison County in his senior year at NDHS. He is being red-shirted at Fairmont State U. while they are trying to beef him up. I want to wish Nick the 3rd good luck in football next year at Fairmont. I'll have to find a way to follow him.

Meanwhile, I am honored to have been so close to an outstanding family---The Alvaro Family !! All of the Alvaro family are such humble people, that they would never publish this. So, I wanted all of you to know the history and I hope they take it the right way. It is my salute to the whole family and especially to my best high school friend, Nick, who passed away a couple of years ago. Congratulations, Nick!!!

Pat Elder, NDHS 1957

COACH SAM ALVARO
(From Notre Dame High School Webpage)


Sam Alvaro took over the head coach position of the football team in 2002. He was previously the assistant varsity coach and the head junior high coach. A 1991 alumnus of Notre Dame, Alvaro was a stand-out athlete in football, basketball, and baseball. He received all-state, all-conference, and all-county honors in football and baseball, along with basketball all-county recognition.

Upon graduation from NDHS, Alvaro continued his athletic career playing baseball at Marshall and Garrett County College. He was also the head baseball coach at Notre Dame for three years where he took the team to the state championship tournament and won two Catholic state tournaments.

Alvaro has taken the football team to the state play-offs in four of the years he has been coaching. Before he took over the team, Notre Dame had not made the play-offs since 1980.

Alvaro is the owner/manager of Tony’s 5-Star Muffler in Clarksburg



JUST MY THOUGHTS:

From what I've heard from many WVU fans and readers over the last couple of weeks, three words can best describe their feelings. SHOCKED !! EMBARASSED !! SICK !! That about sums it up. What began as a wonderful dream has turned into a nightmare.

From the beginning we were warned that this was a very young and inexperienced defense. We knew there were new coaches and a new defensive system. Still, we dreamed, because we had an offense that had scored 70 points in the Orange Bowl. Never mind that we had struggled last year with teams like Pitt and USF, plus we all remember the Syracuse fiasco. We thought the offense had arrived and could outscore anyone.

We were right for five games. Then, it all caught up with us. We lost our big back and even though we ran on an overrated Texas defense, we became one-dimensional. The D-backs are bad enough, but a good pass defense always starts with a good pass rush, which we don't have. One of my good friends, who has been watching Mountaineer football for over 65 years, stated that he had never seen a worse defense than the one he watched in person Saturday night in Morgantown. My memory is not that good or long, but who could argue with him?

Where do we go from here? If we can regroup (and that is a big IF), we can still win at least three more games. We need Alston playing tailback.. I don't see us beating Oklahoma or Oklahoma State, even though OSU lost another quarterback this week, so I might be wrong there. We do, however, have a shot against TCU, Iowa State and Kansas. My prayer is that the good Lord will give us at least one "three and out" per quarter in every game in order to give our offense a chance to win it for us.

If you think I'm desperate, you are right. I don't think I can stand to see many more games like the last two. I don't mind losing, but we weren't even competitive !! The only long term solution is to recruit defensive personnel like you see playing for SEC schools every weekend. They are big and fast, plus they don't often miss tackles. Until we do that, we can probably only dream of that elusive national championship.

How do you feel about the team? Will we still go to a major bowl? Can Geno still win the Heisman? Let me and our other readers know what you think.

Bill (billmere@aol.com)


submitted by: Jenny Heston (WI '64)
jencarr@aol.com

Thanks so much for the hard work you girls put into sharing the memories of our blessed life growing up in Clarksburg. I really enjoy the monthly connection!



submitted by: Jim Alvaro (WI '56)

Roleta, Steve Limbers mentioned in the Oct Newsletter, during his class reunion they went to a real nice restaurant above what used to be Broida's on 3rd St.. Well, Sonja and I went home for Labor Day and the Italian Festival and we went to the restaurant he had mentioned. The name of the Restaurant is Fifth Floor. It is a real nice place to spend the evening. Like it says on the logo, good food, good drinks, good friends and good times.



We were really surprised and impressed by what we saw. We wished we would have known about it earlier. By the way, the elevator takes you up and lets you out right in the restaurant. There are a couple other business located below the restaurant. Embellishments has everything interesting for your home. Sonja was really impressed with that store. The other store, Wicked Sisters, a clothing boutique. According to Sonja, pretty neat clothes.



LAST OUNCE OF COURAGE

submitted by: Mayf Nutter (Bridgeport HS '59)

Since I "left home" right after graduating from Bridgeport High School in 1959, most of "MyWritings" have been in response to friends and fans who ask about my Showbiz adventures, whether in the movies, TV, or music industry.

Not sure how that ties into the Newsletter's attachment to folks who have stories about their High School connections.

You can be assured that I do share good ole West Virginia attitudes, morals, ethics, and family values that are precious treasures to me.

The current movie, now in theaters, LAST OUNCE OF COURAGE is one that every reader of the Newsletter will love and want to share with every member of their family and all their friends.

I took my 22 year old daughter on one of our Daddy and Daughter dates on Wednesday to see the film. Tonight.... I went to see it again with my wife Lindsay.

Never have I gone to see the same movie on two consecutive days....ever!

That's how much I believe everyone will love it.

I especially encourage our Newsletter readers to take with them.. every teen and twenty-something person they know.

This movie is about our freedom and how we should continue to fight for it....even those not in military...every day.

Remember the ACLU attacking the Harrison County School Board for the picture of Jesus in the hallway of Bridgeport High School a few years back?

Well........ LAST OUNCE OF COURAGE is about a small town who faces a similar attack on Christmas.



THANK YOU

submitted by: George Herrod (RCB High School 2012)
LunarwOlf@aol.com

Dear Mrs. Meredith and WI Newsletter Readers:

Hello, it is George Herrod. I am here to tell you that school is going great and to thank you for your scholarship that is helping me make my future career possible.



OBITUARIES

JEFFREY R. MILLS

Jeffrey R. Mills, 52, of Arlington Addition, Clarksburg, passed away unexpectedly Saturday evening, October 6, 2012.

He was born in Lorain, OH, on September 15, 1960, a son of the late Charles and Maxine Mills. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary Mills, on March 25, 2002.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia K. Merritt Mills, whom he married May 28, 2011.

Also surviving are eight stepchildren, Wes Newbrough and Kenna Farren, both of NC, Megan Dolly, Mineral Wells, Will Harlow, Ritchie County, Bethany Deem, James Deem, Christopher Deem and Bryan Deem, all of Clarksburg; two sisters, Donna Jenkins, Mt. Clare, and Judy Markley and her husband Frank, Kent, OH; three brothers, Ronald Mills and his wife Loretta, Mt. Clare, Michael Mills and his wife Linda, Clarksburg, and Raymond Mills and his wife Jennifer, Clarksburg; and several nieces and nephews.

Jeff was a graduate of Liberty High School, Class of 1980, and served six years in the U.S. Army Reserve. He was currently a custodian at United Technical Center with over 15 years of service. He was an active member of Liberty in Christ Church, Anmoore. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed hunting, fishing and was a member of the Appalachian Rangers Muzzleloading Clu



RICHARD D. COOPER

Ralph D. Cooper, born May 8, 1941, passed away Sept. 11, 2012. He was born in Winona, Ohio, and raised in Bridgeport, W.Va. He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard M. Cooper and Virginia Macon Cooper Lovelace.

He graduated from Bridgeport High School, Bridgeport, W.Va., with the Class of 1959. He served in the U.S Air Force from 1959 to 1979 and fought in the Vietnam War. After the war, he was stationed at various radar sites throughout the U.S.

He married Barbara K. Knight on Sept. 30, 1962. This September would have been 50 years of blissful marriage.

Survived by his wife of 50 years, Barbara K. Cooper; sons, Gary A. Cooper and Michael D. Cooper; daughter, Krista L. Polcari; and grandchildren, Dominik Polcari, Dmitri Polcari, Cody Lewis, Bryan Cooper, Allen Cooper, Serena Cooper, Casey Gondek, Colin Sekatz, Samantha Lewis, Matthew Lewis and Nicole Hudson; and brother, Robert Cooper, Richmond, Va.



LORETTA LOUISE HAMMITT JENKINS POLING

Mrs. Loretta Louise Hammitt Jenkins Poling, age 72 ,passed away on September 18, 2012, at the Talbott Personal Care Home in Belington, WV, with her loving husband by her side.

She was the daughter of the late Lawrence Hammitt and Helen Lantz Hammitt.

Surviving Loretta are her loving husband, Gary L. Poling, whom she married on December 31, 1988; one son, Eddie Jenkins, Clarksburg; a daughter, Tonya Devericks, Clarksburg; two granddaughters, Christina Jenkins and Shawna Devericks; a beloved sister-in-law, Martha Hammitt; and her beloved Shih Tzu companion, "Nikki."

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Poling was also preceded in death by a brother, Kenneth L. "Kenny" Hammitt, and a sister, Beverly Cunningham.

Mrs. Poling was a member of St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Clarksburg. She was a graduate of Roosevelt-Wilson High School, Class of 1957. She was an avid and devout R-W, Liberty High School and WVU Mountaineer football and basketball fan.

She had worked as a sales associate at the BonTon Clothing Store for several years. She loved baking for the holidays, especially Christmas, and greatly enjoyed being with family and friends.



RICHARD PRITCHARD

Richard "Dick" W. Pritchard, age 85, died September 19, 2012. He was the son of the late Richard W. and Ione Jane Butler Pritchard.

Upon graduating from Bridgeport High School in 1944, he enlisted in the United States Navy, serving through the remainder of WWII, and attended Salem College before starting his 42-year career with the Morton Salt Co. A company relocation in 1966 took his family to Willingboro, NJ. Upon retirement in 1989, Mr. and Mrs. Pritchard moved to Spring Hill, FL, and then relocated to Lugoff in 2006, where he most enjoyed his association with Harvest Baptist Church.

In addition to his wife of 63 years, Irene Atha Pritchard, Mr. Pritchard is survived by his daughter, Almeda Jane and husband Stephen L. Ruger of Rock Hill, SC; son, Richard Pritchard and wife Carol of Burlington, NJ; son, Mark Pritchard and wife Diane of Washington Township, NJ; son, Luke Pritchard and wife Kathleen of Burlington Township, NJ. Also surviving are 7 grandchildren.

He was predeceased by one sister, Jane Pritchard (Clem) Clower, and one brother, J. David (Bonnie) Pritchard of Bridgeport; and survived by two sisters, Mary Elizabeth Clotts of Whitehall, OH, and Anne Pritchard (B. Leroy) Morgan of Warren, OH.



BARBARA JEAN CAMPBELL

Barbara Jean Campbell, 67, of Bridgeport, passed away October 11, 2012, in the United Hospital Center following an extended illness.

She was the daughter of the late Hayward Clarence Campbell and Eva Marjorie Harper Campbell.

She is survived by two daughters, Ronda Lanham, Bridgeport, and Donna Shinkovich and her husband Danny, Morgantown; a son, Jeff Butcher and his companion Leslie McDavid, Marco Island, FL; five grandchildren, eight sisters, two brothers, Larry Campbell and his wife Polly, Cutler, OH, and Jacob Campbell, Clarksburg; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by three sisters, Rebecca Dell Patton, Carolyn Sue Campbell and Janet Lee Brunetti.

Barbara was a graduate of Bridgeport High School.



ELMER JACK MITCHELL

Elmer Jack Mitchell, 80, of Clarksburg, departed this life on October 18, 2012, at his residence of a brief illness. He was the son of the late Harry and Pearl Cork Mitchell.

On October 24, 1957, he married Martha Ann Haggerty Mitchell, who resides at their residence.

Mr. Mitchell is also survived by two nephews, whom he raised, Gary M. Cobb and Thomas H. Cobb; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Also surviving are one brother, Richard W. Mitchell and wife Mary Lou of Clarksburg.

He was also preceded in death by eight sisters and one brother.

He was a graduate of the WI Class of 1951 where he was an outstanding football player. It was said that he was one of the toughest halfbacks to ever come out of WI. He wasn’t big, but he was a rawboned country boy with a reserve of power that was backed up with courage, aggressive determination and a love for the game.



BETTIE MARIE SPROUSE

Bettie Marie Sprouse, 88, of Zephyrhills, FL, formerly of Ohio Avenue in Nutter Fort, departed this life on October 18, 2012, at the home of her daughter Nancy. She was the daughter of the late James Clark and Ada Marie Jones Gum. Arlis “Fred” Sprouse, her husband, preceded her in death In May of 1980.

Mrs. Sprouse is survived by her son, James (Sue Ellen) Sprouse; daughter, Nancy David) Schultz; six grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

In addition to her parents and husband, Mrs. Sprouse was preceded in death by three brothers, Joseph Gum, Kenneth Gum and Franklin Jones; and one sister, Dorthy Lee Gum.

Bettie was a graduate of Roosevelt-Wilson High School, Class of 1941, and was a member of the Clarksburg Wesleyan Church. She worked at G.C. Murphy, W.T. Grant and Lowther’s Market in Nutter Fort. She was an avid reader and enjoyed fishing, hunting and playing cards



BONNIE JEANETTE SNIDER STALNAKER

Bonnie Jeanette (Snider) Stalnaker, age 90, of Clarksburg, WV, departed this life on Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012, at The Heritage in Bridgeport, WV. She was the daughter of the late Jay G. Snider and Bertie Emma (Bland) Snider. Her husband, Eugene F. Stalnaker, preceded her in death.

Surviving are a son, Dan E. Stalnaker; a sister, Helen Pritchard; several nieces and nephews; and a good friend, Robert Romine of KY.

She was a member of the Broad Oaks United Methodist Church, Clarksburg.

A graduate of Washington Irving in 1940 and Salem College in 1961, she received her master’s from West Virginia University in 1967.

Mrs. Stalnaker was a retired teacher of Harrison County Schools with 23 years’ service, and she was a member of the retired teachers association. She also was a member of Queen Esther Chapter 11, O.E.S., and the Order of the Amaranth Court 3.



DAVID CARROLL KING

David Carroll King, 88, of Clarksburg, departed this life on September 28, 2012, at his residence following an extended illness. He was the son of the late Wilson Otto and Gertrude Nan Doss King. His wife, Dortha Jean Ramsey King, survives.

Mr. King is also survived by two sons, Mike King (Cathy) and Jeff King (Mary); two daughters, Cindy Shaver (Jim) and Becky Chase (Kevin); six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; one sister, Patty Godfrey, as well as several nieces and nephews.

He was a graduate of Washington Irving High School, Class of 1943, and a 1949 graduate of West Virginia University. He was President and CEO of W.O. King Plumbing and Heating for 40 years and retired in 1988.

For over 60 years, David was an active member of Stealey United Methodist Church, serving many terms as church treasurer. He was also a former President of the WV Plumbing, Heating, Cooling Contractors’ Association. In retirement, he volunteered for the Meals on Wheels Program.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy during World War II and was an Aviation Ordnance Officer aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ticonderoga, experiencing combat in several South Pacific Theaters.



ELMER JACK MITCHELL

Elmer Jack Mitchell, 80, of Clarksburg, departed this life on October 18, 2012, at his residence of a brief illness.

He was born on May 31, 1932, in Clarksburg, a son of the late Harry and Pearl Cork Mitchell. On October 24, 1957, he married Martha Ann Haggerty Mitchell, who resides at their residence.

Mr. Mitchell is also survived by two nephews, whom he raised, Gary M. Cobb and Thomas H. Cobb; six grandchildren four great-grandchildren. Also surviving are one brother, Richard W. Mitchell and wife Mary Lou of Clarksburg.

He was also preceded in death by eight sisters and one brother.

He was a graduate of the WI Class of 1951 where he was an outstanding football player. It was said that he was one of the toughest halfbacks to ever come out of WI. He wasn’t big, but he was a rawboned country boy with a reserve of power that was backed up with courage, aggressive determination and a love for the game.

He was on the board that started the Tri-County Football League and coached the Pop Warner Stealey Bulldogs from 1962 to 1970. He attended Salem College, served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean Conflict, was employed at Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co. and retired as a service representative of Hope Natural Gas Co. with 21 years’ service. He was a Protestant by faith.

As a result of Elmer’s father’s early death, Elmer, at an early age, helped his mother take on the responsibility of raising his siblings.

Expressions of sympathy may be expressed to the family at http://www.amoscarvelli.com/



DEBORAH LA ROSA BURNS

Deborah I. (LaRosa) Burns, age 56, of Jackson Avenue, Clarksburg, WV, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 20, 2012, at her home following an extended illness.

She was born in Oakland, Maryland, March 4, 1956, to Ernest A. LaRosa of Clarksburg and the late Juanita (Ringer) LaRosa.

She is survived by her husband of 33 years, James P. Burns IV; her three children, James P. (J.P.) Burns V and wife Ashley of Grafton, WV, David M. Burns of Fort Myers, FL, and Maryrose J. Burns, who attends college at USC Sumter, Sumter, SC; one brother, David P. LaRosa of Fort Myers, FL; mother-in-law, Joan Burns of Fairmont, WV; and many brothers- and sisters-in-law of her husband's family.

Debbie graduated from Notre Dame High School in Clarksburg, WV, with the Class of 1974 and from Fairmont State College, Fairmont, WV, with the Class of 1978, where she received a degree in Education. She taught at Grafton High School, Grafton, WV, and Eastbrook High School, Marion, Indiana, before her health problems forced her retirement to become a full-time mother and homemaker.

She was a member of the Immaculate Conception Parish of Clarksburg, WV, and has donated her body to the Human Gift Registry of West Virginia University.

The family has entrusted the Donald G. Ford Funeral Home in Grafton with the arrangements.



LOIS WISEMAN FIELDS







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