James C. Steele
GASSAWAY -- James C. Steele, 66, of Flaherty, Ky., formerly of Gassaway, died Tuesday, June 29, 1999, at Hardin Memorial Hospital, Elizabethtown, Ky., following a brief illness.
He was born Nov. 17, 1932, in Gassaway, a son of the late Curtis and Stella Wagner Hensley Steele.
Surviving is his wife, Willa Jean Fisher Steele.
Also surviving are one daughter, Sarah Steele, Flaherty; five sons, Rev. James Steele, Philippi, Rev. Charles Steele, Frametown, Richard Steele, Flaherty, Michael Steele and Kelly Steele, both of Statesville, N.C.; one sister, Bonnie Workman, Exchange; one half brother, Delmar Hensley, Lorain, Ohio; 11 grandchildren.
He was also preceded in death by one son, Curtis Wayne Steele and one granddaughter, Holly Elizabeth Steele.
Mr. Steele was an orderly for the Summersville Memorial Hospital and a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War. He was Protestant.
Joseph R. Stachowiak
COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Joseph Richard Stachowiak, 73, of Cayce, S.C., died Saturday, July 3, 1999, at his residence.
He was born in Detroit, Mich., a son of the late Joseph Jerome and Mary Winifred Patton Stachowiak.
His wife, Audrey May Powers Stachowiak, formerly of Clarksburg, survives.
Also surviving are two stepsons, Ken Copley, Rincon, Ga., and Ron Copley, Wilmington, N.C.; one stepdaughter, Ann Godfrey, Cayce; four brothers, John Stachowiak, East Point, Mich., James Stachowiak, Columbia, Paul Stachowiak, Detroit, Mich., and David Stachowiak, Michigan; three sisters, Teresa Strogh, Gloria Carroll, and Frances Busch, all of Detroit; six stepgrandchildren, 11 stepgreat-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
He was also preceded in death by two brothers, Jerry and Tony Stachowiak; and one sister, Marie Woodell.
Mr. Stachowiak was a U.S. Navy veteran.
He was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, served as Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Detroit, and was a member of St. Peter's Catholic Church.
Mr. Stachowiak worked for the Grand Trunk Railroad for over 40 years.
He was an active volunteer with the Tri-City Leisure Center after his retirement.
Friends will be received at the Greenlawn Memorial Park & Funeral Home, 845 Leesburg Rd., Columbia, from 11 a.m.-noon today. A funeral service will be held at noon today in the funeral home chapel.
Memorials may be made to the Tri-City Leisure Center, Seniors Program.
Ronald Stalnaker
GLENVILLE -- Ronald "Gene" Stalnaker, 71, of Grass Run, Letter Gap Community, Gilmer County, died Friday, July 2, 1999, at his residence on Tater Knob following a farm accident.
He was born July 17, 1927, in Gilmer County, a son of Wynona Brannon Stalnaker, Grass Run, and the late Okey Stalnaker Jr.
His wife, the former Audra Ancell Stalnaker, survives.
Also surviving are one son, Ronald Gene Stalnaker Jr., Grass Run; four daughters, Barbara Miller, Judith Smith, and Sheri L. Wildman, all of Grass Run, and Sandi Rankin, Mentor, Ohio; three brothers, Richard "Dick" Stalnaker and William "Bill" Stalnaker, both of Glenville, and Okey L. Stalnaker, Grass Run; and seven grandchildren.
Mr. Stalnaker was a local businessman, oil and gas producer and farmer.
He was a veteran of World War II stationed in Japan.
Mr. Stalnaker was a 50 year member of the Hardman Fork Baptist Church on Grass Run where he was also a deacon.
Friends will be received at the Ellyson Mortuary, Glenville, from 5-9 p.m. today, and 10-11 a.m. Tuesday at the Hardman Fork Baptist Church, Grass Run. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the church with Elder Charles Fisher and Elder Larry Fisher officiating. Interment will follow in the Meadow Lane cemetery, Glenville.
Earnest R. Sterling
BRIDGEPORT -- Earnest R. Sterling, 80, of Severna Park, Md., died Saturday, July 3, 1999, at his residence.
He was born Nov. 2, 1918, in Kingwood, a son of the late Charles J. and Edith Johns Sterling.
His wife, Dorothy E. Finley Sterling, survives.
Also surviving are one son, Earnest R. Sterling II, Phenix City, Ala.; six daughters, Virginia P. McDonough, Baltimore, Md., Helen Cleavenger, Grafton, Nancy S. Polak and Pamela S. Kidd, both of Severna Park, Patricia A. Hachat, Vine Grove, Kent., and Debra L. Gibson, New Bern, N.C.; two brothers, Carmel Sterling, Warren, Ohio, and Wallace Sterling, Lewis, Dela.; one sister, Mrs. Willard (Helen Beatrice) Sandy, Adamston; 20 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
He was also preceded in death by four brothers, Charles Sterling, Clarence Sterling, John Sterling, and an infant brother; and three sisters, Lucille Gray, Virginia Sterling, and Carmella Brown.
Mr. Sterling previously worked as a foreman for the Clinchfield Mines in Harrison County, and the Carmichael Auto Body in Clarksburg.
He enjoyed his family, fishing and wood working.
Friends will be received at the Allen Funeral Home, 215 E. Main St., Bridgeport, from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. today. Mr. Sterling will lie in state from 10-11 a.m. Tuesday at the Bethel Temple Church, Bridgeport. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the church with the Rev. Virgil Wilson conducting the service. Interment will follow in the Floral Hills Memorial Gardens. The military veterans council will conduct full military rites at graveside.
Rebecca L. Stire
BRIDGEPORT -- Rebecca Lynn Stire, of Mt. Clare, died Sunday, July 4, 1999, at Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown.
She was born June 24, 1999, in Clarksburg, a daughter of Joni Lynn Sandy, Mt. Clare, and Thomas Lee Stire, Quiet Dell.
Also surviving are her maternal grandparents, Debbi Allen, Mt. Clare, and Lynn Sandy, Mt. Clare; paternal grandparents, Ronald and Kathy Stire, Quiet Dell; maternal great-grandparents, John and Adaline Sandy, Mt. Clare, and Hoy Allen, Center Branch; paternal great-grandparents, Luther Elliott, Quiet Dell, and Ronald and Carolyn Stire, Quiet Dell; and one aunt, Brandi Sandy, Mt. Clare.
She was preceded in death by one maternal great-grandmother, Irene Allen; and one paternal great-grandmother, Ann Elliott.
Friends will be received at the Burnside Funeral Home, 607 S. Virginia Ave., Bridgeport, from 2-8 p.m. Tuesday and noon-1 p.m. Wednesday at the Quiet Dell United Methodist Church. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the church with the Rev. Mary Ellen Finegan presiding. Interment will follow in the Floral Hills Memorial Gardens.
In addition to flowers, donations may also be made to the family of Rebecca Lynn Stire to be used according to the wishes of the family at Route 1 Box 537 B, Mt. Clare, WV 26408.
Pearlie Francis
PENNSBORO -- Pearlie Francis, 81, of Ellenboro, died Friday, July 9, 1999, in Parkersburg.
He was born Feb. 25, 1918, near Glendale Community, Ritchie County, a son of the late Clarence and Nellie Parks Francis.
His wife, L. Oneta DeLancey Francis, survives.
Also surviving are one son, Lyle Francis, Marietta, Ohio; two grandsons, Roger and Rick Francis; two granddaughters, Sherry and Ella Vrolyk; and four great-grandchildren.
He was also preceded in death by an infant son; three brothers, Leonard, Wilbur, and Gilbert Francis; and one sister, Stella Richards.
Mr. Francis was a retired school transportation superintendent for the Ritchie County School System with 36 years of service.
He was a member of the Wince Chapel United Methodist Church at Pike.
Friends will be received at the McCullough-Rogers Funeral Home, 447 W. Myles Ave., Pennsboro, from 4:30-8p.m. today and after 9 a.m. Monday. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Monday in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Clyde Border officiating. Interment will follow in the Masonic cemetery in Ellenboro
Wilda M. Gibson
GRAFTON -- Wilda Margaret Gibson, 86, of Route 2, Grafton, died Saturday, July 10, 1999, following an extended illness.
She was born Dec. 29, 1912, in Harrison County, a daughter of the late John Thomas and Ida Elizabeth Williams Crumrine.
Her husband, Charles Raymond "Chuck" Gibson, whom she married on March 19, 1926, in Oakland, Md., preceded her in death on Aug. 18, 1981.
Surviving are two daughters, Violet L. McDaniel and Mrs. Earnest (Eleanor) McDaniel, both of Webster; two sons and daughters-in-law, Charles R. and Bonnie Gibson, and Michael K. and Robin Gibson, all of Mentor, Ohio; several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
She was also preceded in death by three brothers, Paul, Grover, and Lilburn Crumrine; one sister, Mrs. Ora E. Stewart; one son-in-law, Merle L. McDaniel; one grandson, Richard Gibson; and three great-grandchildren, including a set of twins.
Mrs. Gibson was a seamstress and cottage parent at the West Virginia Industrial School for Boys.
She was a faithful member of the Union Baptist Church and the Women's Society of Simpson.
Mrs. Gibson was a Past Nobel Grand of Star America Rebecca Lodge No. 79, Fleminton.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete.
Bartlett Funeral Home, Grafton, is in charge of the arrangements.
William H. Hazelwood Jr.
SALEM -- William Howard Hazelwood Jr., 77, of Sunrise Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Salem, formerly of Monroe Street, Salem, died at 6:05 a.m. Saturday, May 29, 1999, at the facility following an extended illness.
He was born Jan. 9, 1922, in Salem, a son of the late William Howard Hazelwood Sr. and Kizzia A. Bates Hazelwood Furbee.
Surviving are five sisters, Erma G. Lake, Clarksville, Tenn., Ruth E. Cantrell, Earle, Ark., Willa H. "Peggy" Berryman, Clarksburg, Ida "Dot" Kimball, Daytona, Gla., and Judith Bolton, Humboldt, Tenn.; and several nieces and nephews.
He was also preceded in death by one sister, June Wamsley; and one brother, Thurl R. Shields.
Mr. Hazelwood had served as a private in Company "B" Twenty Sixth Medical Training Battalion during World War II.
He had retired in the late 1950's from McBride Glass with over 20 years of service as a carryman and bitman.
Mr. Hazelwood was a member of the Open Door Tabernacle, Salem.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and was an avid golfer.
A memorial service will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, July 17, 1999, at the Center Point Christian Church in Center Point, with the Rev. Haymond Plaugher officiating.
Harbert Funeral Home, 287 W. Main St., Salem, is assisting the family with the arrangements.
Cecil J. Merriman
FAIRMONT -- Cecil Judsun Merriman, 79, of Millersville, died Friday, July 9, 1999, at his residence.
He was born March 20, 1920, in McWhorter, Harrison County, a son of the late Cecil James and Fonda Iva Bland Merriman.
His wife of 59 years, Mary Jane Toothman Merriman, whom he married on Feb. 21, 1940, survives.
Also surviving are two sons and daughter-in-law, Judson Merriman, Suffolk, Va., and David and Nancy Merriman, Vacaville, Calif.; two daughters and sons-in-law, Charlotte M. and Roger Grove, Fairmont, and Barbara Jane and Richard Bickerstaff, Baltimore, Md.; one brother and sister-in-law, Clyde and Myrtle Merriman, Holliday, Fla.; one sister, Norma A. Robinson, Fairmont; 11 grandchildren, Joey Mayo, David Burns, Misty Lee Bickerstaff, Bobbi Jo Burns, Lara Matthews, Nicki Merriman, Shawn Merriman, Heidi Tucker, Chad Grove, Erin Frey, and Danny Merriman; 10 great-grandchildren, and a very dear friend and fishing buddy, Gip Cyphers, Fairmont.
He was also preceded in death by three brothers, Leland A., Harry S., and Eshet L. Merriman; one daughter-in-law, Judith Merriman; and one brother-in-law, James Robinson.
Mr. Merriman was a member of the Norway Church of Christ, a former member of the Fairmont Auxiliary Police, and a member of the Fairmont Archery Club.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Army with service prior to World War II and was in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
Mr. Merriman enjoyed gardening and fishing.
Friends will be received at the Frey Home For Funerals, Fairmont, from 7-9 p.m. today and Noon-9 p.m. Monday. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Eddie Stewart and the Rev. Andy Miller officiating. Interment will follow in the West Virginia National cemetery in Pruntytown.
