I am finally getting back to normal, if my life is ever normal. But the Clarksburg
Reunion Picnic is over for 2013. It seems it came and went so quickly. It was wonderful
this year. I would say this is one of those things that has gotten better with age. I have
now done it 12 times so I have a pretty smooth routine. It certainly helps when people
show up early to help.
This year we had a great group of people attend the picnic. We had about 20 couples
who canceled out or couldn’t make it due to illnesses in their families or various other
reasons. Hope all of you make it next year. We just never know---and as I have said,
“YOU BETTER DO IT NOW BECAUSE THERE MAY NOT BE A CHANCE TO
DO IT LATER!” You know once something is done, it is gone and over and you an
never experience it again.
It was so great this year as we had people who graduated from high schools all over
Harrison County and Gilmore County. We are all neighbors and all considered
Clarksburg our “home town” for shopping, doctors, dates, etc. And this year we blended
in so well together, I guess that is maturity.
The hot dogs were the best we have ever had as I brought the wieners in from WV special
for the picnic. And the chili sauce was just like home….the best yet. I now have the
recipe down!! I just can’t figure out a way to steam the buns out of doors at a picnic.
Now, mark your calendar and don’t let any other appointment interfere with you
attending next year. It is the second Saturday of March—which makes it March 8, 2014
for the Clarksburg Reunion Picnic which will be held in Sarasota, FL.
See you next year!
Ladies admiring “There is Gold in them thar Hills”
Roleta,
I just received the quilt and there is no way you will get it back!!!! We love it. My
wife is artistic, and she says it is a really beautiful work of art!!
Now we must decide where to place it to show its beautiful colors, pictures and
stitching. We have grandkids at our house each week and don't want them
getting close to it.
You shipped the quilt last Thursday which is the day my beloved step mother
passed away in Bridgeport, WV. It arrived today, shortly after her funeral. We
didn't get to the funeral due to the snow storm currently hitting the state. We
spent all day Friday trying to make flight arrangements but just couldn't get a
flight meeting our needs. She, Alice Hall, and her daughter and son-in-law,
Sharon and Terry Fleming, were with us a few years ago when we got to the
Sarasota picnic. Sharon and Terry graduated from Victory HS a couple years
after I finished WI. Their home is in Morgantown but they normally spend winters
at their condo on Longboat Key.
Sue Moats did a great job getting this all together. I really appreciate the info
sheet on the blocks and the care sheet. The picture just doesn't do the quilt
justice. Like you said, the quilt colors really do jump out at you.
Thanks for all you do in keeping us communicating our memories and caring for
each other.
JUST SOME SUGGESTIONS TO CAUSE YOU TO REMEMBER---NOW THINK
THEN WRITE AND SHARE YOUR MEMORIES
1-When was the first time you saw a microwave or tell us about your first microwave.
2-Did you ever go to Willow Beach? Write and tell us about it.
3-When you went on a date, what night spot did you frequent most often? Tell us where it
was, why you liked it better and
What years did you go there and with whom?
This is for anyone no matter what high school in Harrison County you attended!!!!
4-Where did you go most often after high school classes were over in the afternoon? If
you ate there what was your favorite thing to eat?
This is for all readers---no matter what high school you attended.
5-When you were in high school did you go home for lunch, if not, where did you go?
Again for all readers. I don’t think that any high school had a lunch program, did yours?
6- Have you kept in touch with any of your high school friends? Who and do you still
live close?
7- Why did you stay in Clarksburg or Why did you leave Clarksburg after graduating
from High School? Where did you move to?
I like to share any memories, I only give suggestions in order to make it easier to
remember something special. You remember it, you write it and share it. Afterall, there
aren’t too many current things in the newsletter…..this one is just full of memories.
SEND PICTURES We love pictures…Contact me at Roleta1@aol.com and find out
where to send your pictures.
DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR FAVORITE DOLL?
Every girl had a doll when growing up. Tell us about yours. Write to
Roleta1@aol.com. Below you will see the memories of Sandy about her doll.
submitted by:Sandy Zickefoose Lindke (WI '56)
Girls, do you remember your favorite doll? Mine had a cloth body and molded head, arms and
legs. Her brown hair was molded and painted onto her head. She had brown eyes with lashes.
Her eyes opened and closed. She did not cry or wet but she had the most beautiful and original
wardrobe. My mother sewed all of her clothes. She used scraps and old clothes for material to
create these one of a kind outfits. I remember she made a matching navy blue coat and hat. The
coat had red buttons from mom's button box and a red lining. I could hear the old treadle Singer
just flying away after we had gone to bed. The machine was located in the dining room which was
under our bedroom. I gave the doll and all her clothes to Vickie Lynn Booth when I married and
moved away from home after graduation. She lived across the street and I used to be her
babysitter. I also gave Vickie my parakeet. How I wish I still had that doll and the clothes. I do not
remember giving her a name and I did not play with her. She sat on my bed and I kept all the
clothes in a box in the closet. I did have quite a few shoe boxes of paper dolls and clothes. Loved
to design, draw, color and cut out clothes for them. They got plenty of wear and tear. Hope this
jogs some happy memories for some of you.
I also want to thank Roleta and Bill for a wonderful day in Sarasota, FL at the picnic.. Of course I
was not happy when one of my tickets was not drawn for that beautiful quilt but the money goes
for a very good cause. I was pleased to know that a WI band mate won the quilt.
Thanks again Roleta and Judy for all the hours you spend on the newsletter and hats off to your
spouses for supporting you in this effort of keeping classmates and friends in touch.
REMEMBER CURRY’S MARKET IN STEALEY?
Write your memories of Mr. Curry and the market to Roleta1@aol.com. Now,
here is a memory to start you off on this subject.
submitted by:J.R. Dick Fitch (WI '56)
CURRY'S MARKET ON MILFORD STREET: I worked there for more than two
years after school and all day Saturday's, and six full days a week in the summer
when I was a WI junior and senior. I remember Mr. Curry as being a kind man
and a wonderful employer. He loaned me the money to buy my 1934 Ford which
was, in high school, my pride and joy. He always was Mr. Curry to me. Now, 57
years later, it bugs me I never knew, or I can't remember, what his first name
was. Does anyone know? Plus any other details about him? Sadly, I did not keep
in touch.
Good morning, Just wanted to give you a big thank you for working so hard on the
Clarksburg Reunion Picnic. Joe and I and Jean had a very good time and hope to see you
next year.
Please keep me on the e-mail list, Joanna
submitted by:Stephen Limbers (WI '57)
As a WI freshman, I looked up to a lot of older WI students and Mary Bird Carder
was certainly an admirable person. I was disappointed that her maiden name
was omitted from the obit. I checked my freshman yearbook and found her
picture second in the senior section -- she was class vice-president.
I remember reading that her husband Tom Ferguson died some time ago. I
remember them as a "golden couple" and sincerely hope that they had a
beautiful life together.
The obit did not mention siblings, but I am certain she had a brother Bill. I think
he was between Mary Bird and me in age and extremely nice. If anyone knows
what happened to him, I would be interested to read a paragraph or two on him.
My name is Bob Reger, 1960 graduate of Buckhannon-Upshur High School. My
wife Betsy Brown Reger was a 1961 grad of Bridgeport High School. Even
though I am not a W-I alum I have enjoyed reading The W-I Newsletter.
Your March edition asked about memories of the Shinnston Tornado. My
grandfather the late John L. Finlayson wrote a book "Shinnston Tornado", which
gives a very graphic account, with illustrations, of the happenings of that day
June 23, 1944. His book was published by The Hobson Book Press in New York,
N.Y. in 1946. His oldest daughter Gwen was my Mother. My first cousins John &
George Rice still live in Shinnston.
Bob Rector & I worked together in Ocean City, N.J. during the summers of 1961
&1962, We became friends after he moved to Buckhannon and attended West
Virginia Wesleyan together. Holly Furbee's Mother Ginny and my mother Gwen
were college roommates at Wesleyan & we have a copy of the old Wesleyan
Sundial magazine of them studying together in the lobby of Agnes Howard Hall
Women's Dorm. Mom and Dad were in the Furbee wedding and Jim & Ginny
were in theirs as well.
Dan Pettrey lives in Parkersburg and I run into him once in awhile.
In your newsletter of 3/13 you had a newspaper article regarding a 105 year old lady in
Clarksburg. That lady sits in front of me in church each Sunday Morning. She is a real delight,
she lives on her own, she takes a cab to church but some of us always take her home after the
services. She comes into Clarksburg each Saturday for her hair appointment. Up until her sister
died a couple years ago she and her sister would walk from the Christian Church up to the Senior
Center for lunch each Sunday. Mrs Gibson graduated from WI in 1926. She has meant a lot to
all of us here at the church and is a real inspiration to us all. We celebrated her 105 years at the
church with a luncheon, many of her family attended with her. Thanks for recognizing her and
thank you for sharing all the high school news each month.
KEEPING TOUCH WITH FRIENDS
submitted by:John Teter (WI '61)
I have been fortunate in keeping in touch with two of the guys that I ran around with when I was at
WI, but unfortunate that the other two guys that I ran around with have passed away. Bill Post
was my best friend in high school, as he and I ran around together most of the time going to
dances, double-dating, hanging around on weekends at the Stealey playground and at his home
out on Davisson Run Road. He was able to use his father’s car pretty much whenever he wanted,
whereas my father kept the cars to himself most weekends (or I had to share time with the car
with my brother). Bob Swats and I have kept in touch over the past few years, and several years
ago Bob and his wife (Debbie) came to the Northern Virginia area for a sight-seeing trip. He and
his wife stayed at a motel close to where I live. My wife had dinner with Bob and his wife one
night and the next night, I was able to get one of my “WI LOCAL DINNERS” together and a
couple of other WI grads from 61 that live in this area joined us. I took off from work one of the
days that Bob was here and joined him and Debbie for a tour of Old Town Alexandria, Virginia as
well as Mount Vernon. I have kept in touch with Bill and try to get to see him whenever I go in for
the WI picnic in August, as he lives in Salem. I have been able to see Bob several times over the
past few years, as he and I are both on the reunion committee for the class of 61, and usually try
to go in to Clarksburg for reunion committee meetings.
I have kept in touch with 82 of my other WI classmates from 61, via E-mail, as I am the record keeper
for our class and I have everyone’s E-mail addresses. SO, they tolerate me sending out
“literature”, “jokes” and “headlines” from E-mails that I receive from various persons that are of
(what I deem) enjoyable reading.
submitted by:Nancy VanHorn Moore Stunger (WI '54)
Mary K. Tutwiler Gaskins (WI 1954) and I have been friends since first grade. Her parents were
like parents to me and much of the neighborhood in Stealey.
We have always stayed in touch.
Now, even though she is in Montana and I am in South Carolina, we still talk on the phone two to
four times a month.
Thank you so much for spending your time on the newsletter, it means a lot to all of us.
Pictured above is: Mary K. Tutwiler Gaskins and Nancy VanHorn Moore Stunger. This picture
was taken in 1954.
submitted by:Fred Alvaro (WI '59)
Bud Collins, (WI class of '55) is one of my brother Jim's best-ever friends and like a second
brother to us. He lived up the street from us in Broad Oaks. Then later on both he and I moved
to Columbus, Ohio where we lived for several years. Then about 6 years ago we both moved to
The Villages, Fl and live less than TWO miles from each other.
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE AND WHERE HAVE YOU LIVED SINCE H.S.
GRADUATION
submitted by:John Teter (WI '61)
In my article regarding what I have done since graduating in 61, I left out a very good friend that I
have kept in touch with since 1962; that being Carolyn MILLS Henderson. Carolyn actually came
to Washington, D.C. before I did as she came up here right after graduating in 62. She and
Charlene McKinnon moved into a rooming house in Washington, and when I decided it was time
to go out on my own (instead of staying with my brother-in-law and sister), I moved into the same
rooming house that Carolyn was living in. She and I dated for a while after I moved into the
rooming house; went our separate ways for a while; started dating again; both moved out of the
rooming house into furnished apartments in Alexandria, Virginia – she with her roommate from
the rooming house; me with my roommate from the rooming house. We eventually broke up
again; I bought furniture and moved into an apartment by myself, still in Alexandria. Over the
years, she and I kept in touch, but then she got married and moved to Jacksonville, Florida. I
then got married and moved to Reston, Virginia. We have both since divorced from those
marriages; she moved to Lagrange, Georgia; then St. Mary’s, Georgia; I have stayed in the
Alexandria, Virginia area; and have since remarried. The point of all of this is that she and I have
stayed friends since she and her parents moved next door to my parents on Broaddus Avenue
over 50 years ago, even with everything that we have been thru. I actually had lunch with her a
few years ago, before she moved from Lagrange to St. Mary’s, as my son lives in Roswell,
Georgia which is only about an hour drive to Lagrange.
QUILTING
Did your mother or grandmother quilt? Do you? Tell us about quilting in your
family and what quilt is your favorite one and who made it? How do you use
your quilts?
Reading about all the people who quilt in the January issue interested me quite a bit. As a
small child, I remember watching my grandmother "piecing" a quilt every night. She
would work on it til it was ready for the quilting frames. She would set them up in the
dining room, get in touch with my aunts, and for a week our house would hum with all
the talking, cooking, and eating supplied by the family being together for one of my
grandmother's quilting bees. It was so exciting to me. My grandmother always said she
wanted to piece a double wedding ring, a pattern she loved, but somehow she never got
around to that one. Watching her,my aunts, and my mother inspired me to sew and I have
always wanted to learn how to quilt. Somehow that has eluded me but I did "buy" a quilt
with the double wedding ring pattern as a tribute to my beloved grandmother and all that
she taught me. Too bad that days like this are no longer a wonderful way for families to
be together. Thank you, Roleta and Judy, at least we can talk and write about them.
HAMMOND MEMORIAL METHODIST COOK BOOK
REQUESTED RECIPES
Hi Dale,
Here are the recipes you wanted. Sorry this has taken me so long. My computer
was in the shop. Am copying exactly as they were printed.
Enjoy! Diana
BLUSHING BUNNY
1 can tomato soup
1 c. milk
1/2 lb. American processed cheese
1/2 tsp. salt
2 eggs well beaten
Add milk to soup. Add cheese, cut in cubes and cook, while stirring until cheese
is dissolved. Add salt and eggs and serve hot over crackers or toast.
Mrs. Jane Palmer
WALDORF SALAD
2 c. diced apples
1 c. diced celery
1/4 c. chopped nuts
dash of salt
1/2 c. salad dressing
Mix all together. Serve on leaves.
Mrs. W.F. Long
Also from your mom:
MASHED POTATO DOUGHNUTS
1 1/2 c. sugar
4 Tbsp. Crisco
3 eggs
5 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. vanilla or lemon flavor
1 1/4 c. sour milk v
1 c. hot mashed potato
1 1/4 tsp. soda
1 tsp. salt
Flour to make soft dough, about 5 cups. Cream sugar, Crisco and eggs well. Add
mashed potatoes. Add soda and vanilla to sour milk. sift flour, salt and baking
powder and add to creamed ingredients alternately with milk to make soft dough.
Roll on floured board to about 1/2 inch thick, cut with doughnut cutter and fry in
hot deep fat. When slightly cooled roll in confectioners sugar. These doughnuts
may be dropped from a teaspoon instead of rolled if desired.
Mrs. Jane Palmer
Also from your grandmother:
MEAT PIE
Crust:
1 egg
1 c. milk
2 c. flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
6 Tbsp. shortening
Use any meat boiled until tender and cut in small pieces and enough gravy to
cover. Arrange meat and gravy in baking dish. Cut shortening into flour which
has been sifted with salt and backing powder. Beat egg, add milk and mix quickly
into flour. Pour over the meat and bake in a quick oven until golden brown. This
crust may be used with fruit filling instead of meat.
Mrs. W.F. Long
MEAT LOAF
1 1/2 lb. hamburger or ground beef steak
3/4 c. oatmeal, uncooked
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 c. chopped onion v
2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 c. tomato juice
Combine all ingredients thoroughly and pack into loaf pan. Bake in moderate
oven (350 degrees) one hour.
Mrs. W.F. Long
THE NEELEY FAMILY
submitted by:Nick Stevens (WI ’63)
I knew the family quite well. They lived one door down from our house on 609 W. Main St which
was next to the Davisson Revolutionary War cemetery. Their house was on the corner of
Chestnut Street and Main which is now current site of Go Mart. Senator Walter Neely, his wife,
and sons Wally and Timmy and their housekeeper Lizzy lived there.
I was in the home many times since I played with Timmy who was my age. Wally was about 6-7
years older but I got to know him especially later in life. I think that Wally went to a private school
in Georgia. The home I remember was very well appointed in the southern tradition. Senator and
Mrs. Neely were very nice to me and I respected them. I have so many stories to tell.
One was
about the lady that lived between our houses who just did not like us. Timmy and I would cross
her lawn to get to the other’s home to play. We would run across the lawn and she would come
out screaming at us not cross her lawn and then would call our parents complaining. Well once
we knew how much that irritated her you know we did not stop.
The one funny story that comes
to mind concerned the housekeeper Lizzy. She ruled the roost. She took no guff from Wally,
Timmy or me. One day I went over to play with Timmy and I knocked on the kitchen door and
Lizzy opened the door and told me the boys had been bad and couldn’t play and for me to go
home. As I was leaving to cross the mean old lady’s yard, the boys were up on the third floor of
the house and told me not to leave. They were going to drop a rope down and for me to tie it
around my waist and they would pull me up. So I tied the rope around me and they started
pulling me up. Each pull would advance me about 18 inches and we were making progress. The
only problem was that the rope crossed the window of the kitchen where Lizzy was preparing
dinner. All of sudden I was face to face with Lizzy whose terrified but very angry face I can still
see 60 years later. Of course, I was panicked but couldn’t do a thing. Lizzy dropped the knife
and made a beeline to the upstairs. All of a sudden Wally and Timmy let go of the rope and I fell
to the ground knocked out of breath. Lizzy didn’t allow me to play there again for about a month.
Roleta thank you for letting me reminisce about those wonderful days on Main Street.
submitted by:Carolyn Burnside
Wally and his wife Penny live in Bridgeport on Ridgeway Avenue --- their daughter is a
friend of my daughter. And I was in his mother’s house on the corner of Chestnut Street
and W. Main.
CUB SCOUTS
Do you recognize any of these little Cub Scouts? Come on, have some fun…try to guess.
I won’t publish any incorrect answers so what do you have to lose?
The only thing I remember is my mother dropped me off at the Robinson Grand
by myself. I brought a stool from home, carried it on stage, and jumped on and
off it, while I hula hooped, without breaking the rhythm (in my mind anyway). I
had no costume or music, but it was great fun. The judges were not impressed.
Then I sat in the audience and watched some other friends do their routines. I
guess it wasn't as impressive as Susie Woolard, Barbara Minehart, someone
else, and I singing "Sugar in the Morning", at Linden School for another one of
the many events we all entered. We won that night, thanks to Susie and Barbara
harmonizing. They were great!
I lived in Broad Oaks until I was 14 and never thought much about the boundaries of the place
until it became a popular topic for newsletter notes. Maybe there is an expert out there
somewhere who can set us all straight.
I considered Broad Oaks to continue down to Elk Creek beyond Harrison Street. It continued
behind Alta Vista Grade School and included all the houses on that hill. It ended at the Ice Plant
on Haymond Hightway, or possibly at the Creek. (What was the hill beyond the Harrison Street
intersection with Haymond Highway called?)
I am pretty sure Broad Oaks officially ended at Buckhannon Avenue. Our bus stopped and
"rested" there at the start and end of its route.
Any other input (or corrections) would be appreciated.
My wife lived on Stanley Avenue and knows that that was Goff Plaza. She also taught me that
the "Goff" for whom it was named was the same person or family who owned the Goff Building
nears Blands. And that woman is never wrong.
EDITOR’S NOTE: What do you consider the boundaries of Broad Oaks? Write to
Roleta1@aol.com concerning this subject. Thanks
MYSTERY PICTURE FOR FEBRUARY
Sorry, I forgot to run this letter last month:
submitted by:Bob Teter (WI '60)
Looks like the grocery store that used to be at the corner on Pike St. below where the post office
is now located. Garden Fresh Market, maybe. There was also at least one other that I remember,
just past Minard's on old US 50. Seems there was a time that they became Kroger, at least the
one on Pike St. My family used to shop there a lot.
I also have a vague recollection of a playground just up from the store towards downtown. Spent
a good deal of time at the playground. Central Apts. were nearby and seems I was able to visit
with Terry Tibbs, her sister Carol and others at this playground. I think the playground gave way
to a gas station before the post office took up the entire block.
Many thanks for all you do to keep the newsletter going. I still have to remember to go look for it
each month as I get no reminder. Sorry!
THE 2013 WIN SCHOLARSHIP QUILT
There's Gold in Them Thar' Hills
The Visions of West Virginia prints were drawn by artist Tina Richmond & are from the 2010 WV
Mountain Quilt Quest and were provided by WIN quilter Nancy Jackson.
For this year's quilt we selected a black/gold & white color scheme. The black represents the
black diamonds-coal-in our beautiful mountains and the gold is our liquid gold-oil-which is also
under our mountains. Both of these are important resources for our state.
Row 1
Mail Pouch Barn Greenbrier County Mary Nophsker
Seneca Rocks Pendleton County Carolyn Cady
Rhododendron Liz Carder
State Capitol Charleston Kitty Sager
Row 2
Prickett's Fort Fairmont Mary Sue Spahr
Glade Creek Grist Mill Babcock State Park Mary Sue Spahr
Old Country Church Fayette County Joyce Royse
Herns Mill Covered Bridge Greenbrier County Gig Meredith
Row 3
Blennerhassett Mansion Parkersburg Elaine Nortemann
New River Gorge Bridge Fayetteville Barb Charles
West Virginia Coal Miner Joan Merrill
Cardinal with Apple Blossoms Carolyn Cady
Row 4
West Virginia Black Bear Lin Stricker
Rustic Log Cabin Kitty Sager
West Virginia Whitetail Deer Mary Virginia Wilke
Cass Scenic Railroad Pocahontas County Pam Brown
Quilt Consultant: Mary Liz Carder
Quilted by Sue Selby Moats
THOSE WHO GAVE MONEY THIS MONTH TO SUPPORT THE WIN SCHOLARSHIP ARE:
Barb Patton
Augie Malfregeot
Mere Gurson Schwartz
Mary Sue Spahr
Denny and Linda Van Horn
Irv Miller
Barbara Gordon
Sherry Greitzner Dial
Seymour Wolfe
Sandy Zickefoose Lindke
Glen and Nan Cowgill
Eileen Feldman
Jim Alvaro
Sonja Alvaro
Sara Stevenson
Kay Collins
Joy Nutter
Bob Rector
Vera Harper
Marolyn Jett
Mary Ann Donato
Martha Rice
Albert C. Lindke
Bill Brasine
Mimi Lee Fanning
Donald Thomas Allen
Bernie Cohen
John Harrison
Bob Clouson
Alex Lancaster
Joe Haught
Lora Booth Caputo
Jim Sutton
Pat Prusak
Jay Olivero
Jean Haught
Buck Tustin
Bill Meredith
Won’t you join these people and send some money to support the WIN Scholarship?
Make out your check or money order to:
Roleta Meredith c/o WIN Scholarship
And send to :
Roleta Meredith
3201 Charles MacDonald Dr.
Sarasota, FL 34240
I graduated from Fairmont St. in 1951. The only decent place I could get a
teaching job was Ohio, so my wife Mary, and I left and never looked back. After a
year I got a job with IBM. My sister, Nancy, is the only one left in Clarksburg,
except for my 4th cousin sitting on a horse at the Court House.
We live in Blacklick, OH now in a condo. We lived in Reynoldsburg from 1957 until 1994 then we
lived in Winter Haven, Fl. For 10 years and moved back here when I could no longer play golf.
Our three boys live close to us, which is nice since my Mary now has Alzheimer's.
Vaya con Dios
LEAVING WEST VIRGINIA
submitted by:Bill Meredith (Monongah HS '57)
Among the several categories you mentioned, I would most likely fit into the
"Moved on, but always want to return" slot.
Like most people, I left the state due to economics. In 1961, there was just no
way to make a decent living in north central WVa, unless you had funds to start a
business or were willing to work in a coal mine. I didn't have any money and
during the summers, while attending WVU, I had seen enough coal mining to last
me a lifetime, so I moved on.
After working for other people for 21 years, my wife, Roleta, and I took the plunge
and started our own business, which is in it's 31st year and still providing
income for our family. We have been blessed in many ways, since leaving our
home state, but I've always wondered how things would have been had we
stayed in West Virginia.
There are several things I have missed. First, I missed my friends. I have
always felt that the people with whom you go through elementary and high
school are the best friends you will ever have in life. I have not seen many of
them for over 50 years. Having so much in common, they would have added
untold joy to my life, had I not left them.
I also missed the land, the hills and valleys, the rivers and creeks and, as strange
as it may seem, even the smell of coal smoke.
Finally, being the sports nut that I am, I've missed being able to follow the high
school and college sports teams. I've been back to a few high school games
over the years and try to see a WVU football game each fall, but what a thrill it
would have been to see dozens of games each year and experience the tailgate
parties in Morgantown and at Fairmont State football games. But, being gone
has forced me to relive the games by reading newspaper articles, listening
via radio or watching games on TV. It's not the same as being there.
Would I return full time to West Virginia? Probably not, at my current age.
However, I do envy those who have chosen to stay. They probably don't realize
how fortunately they've been to have "stayed home". We do get back to the
mountains each summer, by spending 3-1/2 months at Canaan Valley in God's
country, where the temperatures are much more pleasant at that time of
year, than at our home in Florida and we love being able to do that.
It has been said that "You can take a boy out of West Virginia, but you can't take
West Virginia out of a boy". I can assure you that I am living proof of that.
submitted by:John Teter (WI '61)
Your choices for “Where do I fit in” is a very interesting list of options, as I think since I made the
decision to come to the Washington, D.C. area, I have gone thru stages in my life that have
encompassed three out of the four, and the first one was the hardest decision I think I have ever
made in my life.
1. I never thought that I would leave Clarksburg, and the security of knowing I had total
security living with my parents. Plus, I enjoyed the security of knowing where everything
was that I needed.
2. Once I made the decision to “move on”, I also made the decision to never “look back”,
figuring that I had made the most important decision of my life and I would have to live
with it.
3. HOWEVER, there were times during my divorce from my first wife that I did actually
consider going back to Clarksburg, but after several trips back to Clarksburg to evaluate
this decision, I decided that there was nothing there for me to do in the way of work, so I
just hung in here in Virginia, and things did get better.
4. I am approaching a decision on retirement, probably over the next year or so, and I am
sort of locked into staying in this area (or getting a divorce) as my wife has family in the
immediate area and has been very vocal about her NEVER LEAVING VIRGINIA.
Again, your latest newsletter was AWESOME, and I thank you, Judy and Bill – AGAIN. My
classmates have thanked me many times for keeping them in touch with your newsletter as well.
In locating an E-mail address for Richard Underwood’s search for Dave Bevan, Dave thanked me
for putting him back in touch with Richard and the newsletter. SO, keep up the good work.
MORGAN MEMORIES
submitted by:Dave Stalnaker (WI '61)
After high school I attended Potomac State Junior College and WVU, graduating with a BS in accounting. I began my working career in Delaware with Dupont and was later transferred to Texas. We liked Texas but wanted to be closer to family so I interviewed and was hired by a local accounting firm in Charleston and moved back to WV. I became a Certified Public Accountant and in 1973 a co-worker and I started our own CPA firm, Suttle & Stalnaker. I retired in 2001, however I maintained an office at the firm for several years doing special projects on my own. I now keep busy traveling, spending time with our three children and eight grandchildren, and managing my properties. We still live in Charleston.
I recently found these pictures while going thru my Mother’s things. I was surprised at the time to remember so many of faces and names. I have difficulty today remembering the names of the people across the street, yet can remember names of people from over 60 years ago the most of whom I have not seen in over 50 years.
Lucy Thomas’s first grade class at Morgan School. About 1949
Miss Thomas, Mr Sheets the Principal and Mr Louie, the tap dance instructor, are in the back row.
A note on the back said I was sick that day and therefore I am not in the picture.
Second Row, left to right--Shona Woodruff, Jay Hurst, ? , Gary Orhood, ? , ?, ?
First Row, left to right-- Gary Clutter, ? , ? , Ridenhaur twins (Frank and Sam I think) ? , ? , ?
Mrs Heinzman’s second grade class at Morgan School. Probably the spring of 1950
Third Row, left to right—Jay Hurst, Gary Orhood, ? , ? , Ridenhaur twins, me (Dave Stalnaker) and Gary Clutter
Second Row, left to right-- ? , ? , Dawn Chilton, ? , ?
First Row, left to right-- ? , ? , ? , ? , Shona Woodruff, ?
Appears to be both second grade classes at Morgan School. Probably the spring of 1950
Mr Louie, Mrs Heinzman, ? , Mr Sheets
Back Row—Guy Bragg is the third from the left and next to him is Donald ?
Second Row down—third one over is Toby Wise and next are my eyes looking over someone.
I believe it is Jeanie Christie at the far right of the third row up.
Far right of second row up is Shona Woodruff and Dawn Chilton.
Front Row left to right--? , Gary Orhood, one of the Ridenhaur twins, Jay Hurst, Gary Clutter, ?
Did the best I could with matching the pictures with names. Hope no one is offended if I made any mistakes.
To Bill:
First, you all are doing a great job with the newsletter. I have only been getting it for the last year.
My nephew, Bill Cowgill, told me about it and I wanted to thank you for doing it.
I believe your wife sent you my letter about Bob Jackson. I didn't mean to be bragging but I'm
getting to the twilight of my life and I have been reminiscing a lot. My wife has Alzheimer's
and sleeps a lot, so I now have time to think about those things. Besides, my sons wanted me to
write about my life.
Do you remember the WVU team of Schaus, Green, Sidaris, Beach and Duff. My brother, Bob,
was the sixth man. That was a great team and I believe they were runner-up in the 1949 NIT.
.Afterward, my brother went to work for a construction company and did juggling on the side.
Bob's original letter is below:
I would like to tell you something about our family. We were a sport's minded family and I can
remember when my Dad and the rest of us sat in the living room and listened to the Joe
Louis/Max Schmeling fight. My father died at age 47 from a ruptured appendix, after fathering 8
children, 4 boys and 4 girls. I was 11 when he passed away.
I was a nobody in my younger years, as I was always called Bob, Jake or Tom's brother. Bob was
the best known. He was unorthodox in about every thing he did. Shooting marbles, he would put
a big Rolly Polly marble on the back of the first two fingers with the thumb on top and he could
bust a pot of marbles. Marbles was big then. We lived on Quincy St. in Broad Oaks. It, along with
Worley Ave. and Austin Ave., were cindered, which was ideal for marbles. The only thing I
accomplished was winning the Buena Vista marble championship when I was in the sixth grade.
Man, I had dreams of going to Wildwood, NJ for the National championship, but that ended when
I was defeated in the City Championship
I digress, Bob never played basketball for WI, but he played for the Pure Oilers at the Carmichael
Auditorium. Then, Coach Patton, the WVU coach, offered him a scholarship. He played there for
four years. He was the best behind-the-back passer I ever saw. I was sitting in the balcony, right
above Bob, when he got the rebound and immediately had two guys all over him. Somehow he
threw the ball behind his back 3/4 the length of the court and hit Eddie Sedaris on the run and he
went in for the layup. He played with Freddie Schaus, Clyde Green, Sedaris and I don't remember
the other two players that made up the first team. He went on to become a professional juggler.
His wife, son and daughter appeared with the Circus in Clarksburg one year. Bob died in 1990 of
pancreatic cancer.
Vaya con Dios
Bill Jackson, W I 1943
Reply To Bill:
Thank you so much for the interesting letters. I'm very sorry to hear of your wife's health
problems. We can only pray that someday, doctors will find a cure for that debilitating
condition.
I strongly urge you to write about your life, so that your children, grandchildren and those
beyond will be able to learn about their roots. I often think about what I missed by not
talking much to my Mother and grandparents about family history.
I do remember the WVU teams with Fred Shaus, Eddie Beach, Clyde Green and all of the
others. As a youngster, I listened to Jack Fleming's broadcast of every game. We had
excellent teams back then and the game was certainly different. You had to dribble the
ball, not carry it and you couldn't touch the opposing player without being called for a
foul. Unlike today, most scores were in the 80's and 90's.
Your mention of the game of marbles brings back a lot of memories. I must have owned
several hundred marbles at one time and always enjoyed the game. We played them,
"Knuckles down and bonies tight". No "Hunching" !! What great fun. Kids today don't
know what they are missing.
Your brother, Bob, had a very interesting life. How many players, who did not play high
school ball, would play on today's college teams? Probably none. Also, his career as a
juggler was fascinating.
Below is an article about Bob and a picture of him and his wife during their act.
Bob Jackson Led His Family With Lightning Quick Passing by his son, Lee Jackson
Bob Jackson was born Jan. 14, 1923, and raised in CIarksburg, W.Va., during the Great
Depression. He was fortunate to have a father who was a newspaper typesetter, and
therefore got free passes for the circuses and shows passing through town. That planted
the seed of love for the entertainment arts that shaped his life.
When he was almost 14, his father died, and Jackson took on a newspaper route to help
provide for the family. Strangely enough, this job developed one of his first juggling
skills. Instead of merely throwing the rolled up newspapers, he mode a game out of it
by tossing them behind his back.
This penchant for making a game out of what might hove been drudgery carried over
into later sessions of family juggling practice, which he directed with a work is fun
psychology into games, contests and rewards.
He joined the Navy in 1942, serving in Brocklyn, and was spotted throwing extremely
accurate behind the back basketball passes to teammates. He was recruited for the base
team and was assigned to be in charge of the athletic gear room. He found it boring
until he picked up some tennis balls and taught himself to juggle.
His juggling skill was at first just an adjunct to his basketball skills. At the end of the war
he received a basketball scholarship to West Virginia University, and become a crowd pleaser
with his ball spinning and behind the back passes. His juggling skill also increased
and he began to perform around the university town of Morgantown. He met Lois Kay
Trevillion, a local acrobatic dancer also enrolled at the university, and married her
shortly after his graduation with an accounting degree in 1950. They moved to
Pittsburgh and began their show business career.
There was plenty of work in area night dubs, company functions, parties and
conventions. Bob performed comedy juggling and occasionally emceed. Lois danced tap
and did acrobatics. When Lois become pregnant with their child, a son named Lee, they
moved to Cleveland. The entertainment career was ended with a 9-to-5 accounting job.
But during the pregnancy, Lois learned to juggle and pass dubs. Her left handedness led
to some unusual passes, and Bob began throwing some of his passes behind the back.
He took credit as the first person to pass dubs behind the back, and never heard anyone
dispute the claim.
Bob and Lois worked their act on the side in Cleveland, with Lois taking a break in 1952
to give birth to a daughter, Joy. Bob took a leave of absence from his job in 1955 to go
on a summer tour with Goodings Shows. Bob and Lois practiced their act up to 20 times
a day to a razor precision in the back yard or living room as the children watched. "The
Jacksons" become a top notch passing act always in demand.
The Jackson house was always open to jugglers and other show people, and the family
had many friends in the business. Bob had attended the first IJA convention in
Jamestown, N.Y., in 1948, and the young family regularly attended conventions in the
1950s. Bob was active in the organization, and was elected as its president in 1957.
In 1959 he was transferred to Son Diego. The two children, Lee and Joy, joined the act at
that time, though most of their time was spent in practice rather than performance.
But in 1963 with another move to Crown Point, Ind., "The Juggling Jacksons" began
performing regularly around the Chicago area through the Howard Schultz Agency. The
feature attraction was what Bob called "The Big Act" - four people passing. It began with
Bob and Lois doing take-aways. Eventually Lee and Joy joined in for four person takeaways.
Then back to Bob and Lois and three club passing, including two handed throws by
ambidextrous Lois, novelty passes by Bob and "the John Behann Trick" - one club caught
under the leg, the next behind the back and a quick turn to catch the third one. The
finale was a series of rapid behind the back passes.
Next they continued with four club passing, culminating in the club between the legs
catch. Next was rapid six club passing. Then Joy, Lois and Bob juggled in a line formation
with a walk around to change places and Lee walked between them while he juggled.
With all the walking and juggling, it was always interesting in a tight space.
Lastly, all four jugglers crisscrossed in the box pattern, which then transformed into a
three way feed. As a finale, they used a drawn-out comedy routine in which they
knocked a cigar out of the mouth of an audience volunteer.
After the family moved to Tennessee in 1966, the act eventually grew to seven
members as brothers and daughter Jay, Joni and Jeff cameoed in a segment. More often
than not, The Juggling Jacksons were not just an act in a show, but the whole show! Bob
opened with a comedy act that included juggling, devil sticks, basketball spinning and
clubs. Then Joy would perform on acrobatic act similar to the one formerly done by Lois.
And finally "The Big Act" would fill the stage with a fast and furious display of precision
passing.
In the 1970s as family members went on to other pursuits, The Juggling Jacksons come
to an end as an act. Bob continued to juggle for fun, and Bob and Lois frequented IJA
and regional festivals. Bob gained the admiration of others through his willingness to
help them, and he and Lois would always astound folks with a display of their incredibly
quick passing.
Bob would be the first to admit there were plenty of other jugglers better than him. But
as a juggling entertainer, he was one of the best. Many IJA members saw and talked to
him at the LA festival this summer, but few knew that he was ailing at the time. He died
less than two months later, September 9, 1990, at age 67. Take a bow, Bob. You deserve
it
RANDOM THOUGHTS FOR SPRINGTIME:
1. For the first time in my life, I'm leading a "bracket pool" going into the Final Four weekend. I
picked Michigan and Louisville correctly, but missed on Wichita St. and Syracuse. I've got
Louisville to win it all. How did you do with your brackets?
2. While daydreaming the other day, I thought how surprising it would be if Logan Moore, the
walk-on transfer from Fairmont State, would end up being the starting quarterback for the
Mountaineers this fall. He's not a big guy, but according to his stats, he is quite capable. It should
be an interesting preseason.
3. The Major League Baseball season is underway. Will the Pirates improve on last year's nice
run and not fold in mid-season? I didn't get to any of their spring games, but have read many
articles in the local paper. It sounds like they could make a run at the Reds and Cardinals.
4. There has been much speculation about which players might leave the Huggin's camp before
next season. With the four current recruits measuring in at 6'-8" (2), 6'-9" and 6'-10", most fans
think we still need a couple of guards who can put the ball in the basket, particularly at the point.
We can't all be smarter than Huggs, so look for him to add a few more new faces before May.
5. I usually don't pay much attention to the NFL draft, but this year is different. We all know
Tavon, Geno and Stedman will be drafted pretty high, but wouldn't it be nice to see someone take
a chance on Ryan Nehlen? Sometimes "smart" is better than "fast and athletic". Also, it would be
a treat to get to see Pat White actually get a chance to show his game in Seattle's run and gun or
some other innovative offense.
6. Finally, we are coming into the slow season for sports as they relate to our newsletter. That
means we need your input even more. Please write to us about any sport's subject. We
especially love to hear about the "good old days". Remember, without your letters, there is no
newsletter.
CITY SERVICE TEAM PICTURE
FROM LAST MONTH’S NEWSLETTER
submitted by:Mike King (WI '61)
I would like to comment on the picture of the City Service Little League baseball team. I am
somewhere in the middle of that picture along with these other team members:
Frankie and Mike McGahan
Davis Flynn
Mike Swiger
Tom Young
Bob Swats
Paul Embry
and Greg Jeranko
There are a few others but can't seem to remember their names.
TAKING DANCE CLASSES IN CLARKSBURG
submitted by:Sherry Ellen Hutchison Keith (WI '64)
Just listening to 50's radio on XM and thought of Clarksburg...of course..
Thinking of the dance teachers in Clarksburg and the competition between those
who took from Bill Defere or Mitsy Layne ...
We took Tap and Chorus Line from Bill, who had two studios, one in
Clarksburg and one in Fairmont..
Once a week after school or maybe on Saturday mornings we would faithfully
climb up one steep flight of steps over the Kinney's Shoe Store on Main Street
carrying our shoes and leotards and towel.
With Bill, we made our own costumes and cut costs every way we could... his
emphasis was on difficult and synchronized dance steps and routines... Our tap
shoes had single taps, we made every sound you heard..not double taps which
would sound when you barely raised your foot, which we thought was cheating.
We would buy standard leotards and tights in black or yellow and decorate them
with sequins and make hats from wild things like cottage cheese cartons covered
with yellow satin and black sequins..
Once we used reflective tape on our every day black leotards with white gloves,
(again cottage cheese cartons, this time white satin with 3 little white fluffy
feathers). We used wooden straight back chairs cut into stools and painted black
so that, when we danced an intro in the dark lit with black lights, only our stripes
and gloves and hats showed! The lights came up for the rest of the routine!
Always surprising!
The chorus line was made up of Jr. High, High School and College girls from all
over the area, we learned the same routines in both towns and would travel on a
bus to Fairmont for practice and the Fairmont girls would come to our studio too.
During recitals or special events like the Strawberry Festival, we would join
together and become a long long chorus line stretching from one side of the
Robinson Grand Theatre stage to the other. Our kicks were very high and our
taps sounded like one person tapping... as least that was the ideal we strove for.
He was such a good dancer and his wife was his receptionist and helped with the
costuming.
Sometimes after class we would try to teach him the latest popular rock'n roll
dances, but he would dramatize them till they were, to us, not good...
I believe the other teacher was Mitsy Layne who had a lot of students and they
spent lots of money on gorgeous costumes they special ordered. We attended
their recitals as they did ours, because we had friends who took classes with her
studio. We criticized their tap and jazz dance routines as very simple steps
repeated and repeated. We were biased!
For sure, the competition was healthy, and dance was alive and well in
Clarksburg and Fairmont!
Below is a picture taken at a Bill Defere Studio Jazz Recital Routine to the song: ”Peter Gunn” by Henry Mancini. Peter Gunn was the name of a popular TV show
and the song was the theme song for the TV show.
Left to right in back row: Judy Holden, Brenda Winston, Tammy LeBrun
Front row l to r: Nancy Swiger, Sherry Hutchinson, and Melinda Mazza
MYSTERY PICTURE LAST MONTH
submitted by:Lyle Corder (RW '57)
The picture this month is COZY REST RESTAURANT AND MOTEL on Rt. 50 East of
Clarksburg, near Pruntytown, WV. The motel was made up of several small cottages for
overnight stay. It was a great place to eat and my family stopped there many times in the 1950s.
At some point the buildings were all removed and a discount furniture store operated there. Our
dining room suite and the desk behind me were purchased there. It was the place to stop and eat
on the way to Grafton. The Four Corners Restaurant at the intersection of Rts. 50 and 119,
further down the road, was a good place to eat when going back to school at WVU after a
weekend home.
submitted by:Jack Emrick (WI '53)
Haven't written for such a long time, that I am ashamed. The mystery picture is
of the old Cozy Rest Restaurant and Tourist Lodge.
There were probably 20 to 30 little cottages arranged on the hillside just behind
the restaurant. Many years later (50's or early 60's) they built a small in-ground
swimming pool which was located close the road as it curved up the hill to
the East toward Pruntytown which is about 1 mile away. It may still be there but
so grown over that it is not visible. The restaurant was a popular truckers stop
and had good food. It also had some wild animals in cages over the years. I
remember a black bear that was there for several years, and I think there was a
bobcat and, perhaps, a red fox (these were at different times). It burned down 2
different times, and I can't remember the years. I have a newspaper clip (photo)
of it taken from the roadway, just before the sharp right hand turn at the top of the
hill (and just above the pool location ( 1/8 mile). This was taken many years
ago (probably before the first fire) and all of the cabins are visible. The curve that
I mentioned leads into a short downhill straight and then a left turn and level run
into the community of Pruntytown (which in our day was where the young men
who got in legal trouble were sent to do their time).
This mystery picture is taken
from a position West of the restaurant and the one I am talking about is taken
from the hill just to the East of it. Of course, the cabins have been gone for many
years. It was a neat place to stop back in the day and I have some 35mm slides
of my late sister, Margaret Jean "Jeannie" Wilson; WI-44, her husband, Arden
Kayes "Doc" (a nickname, and not an MD) Wilson; WI-43, and their two girls,
Linda Karen (Robinson) and her younger sister, Paula Lee (Cera) when they
were very small playing on the swings, slide, and see-saw that the restaurant had
which were located just out of view to the left in the newsletter picture. Paula
wrote to you about her dad's nickname "Doc" in an earlier issue of the newsletter.
The swing set was located in the area just to the left of the 56 Ford Station
Wagon
which is located on the left of the pic.
Anyway, this was a neat place to visit in the 40's - 50's. Well, that is all for this
occasion, but I will try to write something from my remembrances, soon.
MYSTERY PICTURE FOR APRIL
When the picture of this building was taken it was FOX 46. We want to know what it was before that. If you would like to guess the identification of this building, please write to Roleta1@aol.com.
Remember to add a memory and include your name, school and year of graduation. thanks
PICTURES OF FRIENDS GATHERED AT THE
12TH ANNUAL CLARKSBURG REUNION PICNIC
HELD IN SARASOTA, FLORIDA
MARCH 9, 2013
(not all attendees are pictured)
Thanks to all who supplied us with pictures and especially Bruce Gordon who took the group pictures.
FRIENDS VISITING
BIG CAT HABITAT
While in Sarasota, FL., Bruce and Barbara Gordon visited Big Cat Habitat an animal rescue facility.
And the owners/trainers are from a long line of circus animal trainers
EDITOR’S NOTE:I have been to Big Cat Habitat several times. It is a great show.
Trainer with a chimpanzee who has appeared in commercials, etc. Cute show.
He is as cute as a monkey—(pun intended)
Below are pictures of a bird from the Bird Sanctuary and a picture from Mote Marine.
There are many wonderful places to visit in Sarasota when you come to attend the picnic.
OBITUARIES
EDWARD STERLING BANKHEAD
(WI 1959)
On Friday, March 1, 2013, God called Edward Sterling Bankhead, affectionately known as
“Eddie,” home to be with the Lord.
Edward was born in Meadowbrook, West Virginia on June 20, 1941, to the late Gladys Bell
Bankhead-Griffin and the late Thomas Bankhead. Edward was the oldest of eight children. He
was educated in the public school systems of Clarksburg, West Virginia, where he excelled as an
outstanding athlete in basketball and track at Washington Irving High School.
In 1963, Edward move to the big city of New York where he lived for 15 years, having worked at
Mutual of New York and Bankers Trust. In the late 1970s, he moved his family to Columbia,
South Carolina, where he worked at the South Carolina Board of Education as a computer
analyst and retired after 30 years. He also was employed at USC Faculty House for many years.
Edward was a faithful member of Bibleway Church of Atlas Road. He volunteered at Harvest
Hope Food Bank. He was a board member of the Kelly Miller Foundation and a member of the
Elk’s Mount State Lodge 1171 BPOE.
No one was a stranger to Edward. He had numerous friends and spent many hours on the phone
talking to friends and family. He was an avid Pittsburgh Steelers and West Virginia Mountaineers
fan. He spent countless hours in his yard and keeping up with the current events in world with his
family.
Edward was preceded in death by his father; Thomas Bankhead, his mother, Gladys Bell
Bankhead-Griffin, sister, Gloria Jean Coleman; and his loving daughter, Lisa Kate Bankhead-
Miller.
He is survived by loving wife, Lee Ruth Bankhead. Left to honor Edward and remember his love
are his daughter, Jemaine Love Bankhead (Greenville, SC), sons, Melvin (Ilee) Pitts (Greenville,
SC), Dennis Pitts (Greenville, SC); brother, James (Joyce) Griffin (Clarksburg, WV); sisters,
Josephine Goza (Flint, MI), Martha Griffin (Chesterfield, VA), Roberta Taylor (Newport News,
VA), Carolyn Bankhead-Procope (Bronx, NY), Sharon Bankhead (Bronx, NY); grandson,
Johnathan-Cole Sterling Andrews (Greenville, SC); granddaughters, Mya Demony, Zamel Pitts
(Greenville, SC), Xendria Miller (Charlotte, NC); and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and
friends.
RAYMOND EUGENE COX
Raymond Eugene Cox, 67, of Flemington, passed away Thursday, March 7, 2013, in Hudson, FL.
He was born in Clarksburg on July 29, 1945, a son of Mildred F. Watkins Cox, who survives in
Hudson, FL, and the late Eugene M. Cox.
In addition to his mother, he is survived by his loving wife, Cleo Margaret Pitts Cox.
Also surviving are four sons, Raymond E. Cox, II, Flemington, Rodney S. Cox, Clarksburg,
Richard P. Cox, Bridgeport and Robert M. Cox, Flemington; eleven grandchildren and three
great-grandchildren.
In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by a son, Randolph B. Cox, and a nephew,
Matthew Crimm.
Ray retired from Verizon Communications on December 29, 2001, after 37 1/2 years of service.
He took great pride in being an active union man, start to finish, with Local CWA 2011. He
graduated from Roosevelt-Wilson High School with the great Class of 1963 and was very close
with many of his classmates and their spouses, and he was looking forward to their 50th Class
Reunion to be held August 2013.
He attended church regularly at LifeWay Bible Fellowship, Bridgeport, and the Gulfview Grace
Brethren Church, Port Richey, FL. He also volunteered as a chaplain at Zephyrhills Correctional
Institution, Zephyrhills, FL.
JOE NESTOR
Joe B. Nestor, 84, of Clarksburg, passed away on Tuesday March 19, 2013, at his residence.
He was born November 24, 1928, in Clarksburg, a son of the late Fay Bronson Nestor and Ila
Lavada Keiser Nestor.
He was also preceded in death by his wife, Helen C. Nestor, who passed away on March 26,
1999.
Mr. Nestor is survived by one brother, Lloyd Nestor and his wife Karen of Clarksburg, one sister,
Dorothy Jean Philippart, also of Clarksburg; two nephews, Bill Nestor of Morgantown and Michael
Nestor of Clarksburg; one great-nephew, Reese Nestor of Pt. Marion, PA; a special friend, Janet
Coster of Fairmont; several nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews complete his family.
Mr. Nestor was a graduate of Victory High School class of 1941 and also attended West Virginia
Wesleyan College for two years. He was also a veteran of the United States Army serving from
1951-1953. Following his time in the service, he was employed for Osborne Machinery and Valley
Supply, where he was still employed for 64 years.
DIANE COTTRILLE BROWN
WI 1958
Diane Cottrille Brown, 73, of Fredericksburg passed away Friday, March 15, 2013, after a lengthy hospitalization and complications related to Parkinson's disease.
Diane was born Jan. 5, 1940, in Clarksburg, W.Va. She graduated from Washington Irving High School in Clarksburg and from West Virginia University. She was a longtime resident of Tampa, Fla., having moved there in 1976. She also obtained two master's degrees.
Diane worked within the education system for more than 40 years as a teacher and as a guidance counselor. Most of that time was spent within the Hillsborough County Public Schools system. She retired from Tampa Palms Elementary in 2007. Shortly after her retirement, she moved to Fredericksburg to be closer to her grandchildren.
Diane is survived by her only child, Brad O'Dell; and two grandchildren, Shelby and Brayden O'Dell.
Diane was preceded in death by her husband, Johnnie "J.B." Brown. She is also survived by his three children, notably Kelly Brown Stover, her husband, Chris, and their two children, Lauren and Zachary.
Diane was also preceded in death by her father, Dent Harrison Cottrille, in 1965, and her mother, Veryl Wilson Cottrille, in 1979. She is with them now.
