Dorothy B Geisel
Parkersburg, WV
Dorothy B. Geisel, 85, of Parkersburg passed
away on Wednesday, May 23, 2007, following an
extended illness.
She was born Aug. 22, 1921, in Parkersburg, a
daughter of the late Thomas P. and Edna G.
Cooper Graham.
Dorothy had been affiliated with the Big
Tygart Baptist Church. She retired from the
W.T. Grant Co. with many years of service.
After retirement, she was very active in the
Masonic organizations including the Order of
Eastern Star, the White Shrine of Jerusalem
for over 50 years and the Bethany Shrine
Patrol. She also was a volunteer at Camden-
Clark Memorial Hospital for many years.
Surviving are two brothers, Larry Graham and
his wife, Janice, of Lafayette, Ind., and Dan
Graham and his wife, Kathy, of Parkersburg;
one sister, Louise Johnson and her husband,
Paul, of Bradenton, Fla.; several nieces and
nephews; her stepson, Norman Geisel and his
wife, Prudence, of Baltimore, Md.;
stepdaughters, Olive Mills and her husband,
Alvie, of Washington and Anna Richards of
Warren, Ohio; and stepgrandchildren, Mike and
Patty Mills of Parkersburg, Susan and Bill
Little of Baltimore, Charlotte Fulton in South
Carolina and Amy Richards of Warren, Ohio. She
is also survived by best friend, Connie Brown,
with whom she spent many happy hours. Dorothy
will long be remembered by her many friends
and relatives.
She was preceded in death by her husband,
Alvin W. Geisel; a brother, Thomas E. Graham;
and her sister, Ruth Utt.
The funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Friday
at Kimes Funeral Home, 521 Fifth St.,
Parkersburg, with Pastor Rufus Hoalcraft
officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset
Memory Gardens. Visitation will be from 6-9
p.m. this evening at the funeral home, where
the White Shrine will conduct a memorial
service at 8 p.m.
Murlo D "Lucky" Fansler
Parkersburg, WV
Murlo D. "Lucky" Fansler, 86, of Parkersburg
passed away after an extended illness at his
home on May 22, 2007.
He was born Aug. 3, 1920, in Parkersburg, the
son of William Boyd Fansler and Sarah Isner.
Murlo, "Lucky" as he’s better known, attended
schools in Wood and Tucker counties. He was a
member of Stout Memorial United Methodist
Church. He retired in 1985 from Allegheny
Power after 40 years of service. He owned and
operated "Lucky’s Archery Supplies" on Cypress
Street from 1958 to 1975 when he sold it to
J.B. Sports. Prior to selling the shop, Lucky
also used it to host local musicians to play
some of his favorite country and bluegrass
music.
Lucky was a member of "America’s Greatest
Generation, " where he proudly served in the
U.S. Army from 1939 to 1945. He served in
Company G, 35th Infantry during World War II.
At the time of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, he
was stationed at Schofield Base. He then
served in the Central Pacific, Guadalcanal,
North Solomon Islands and Luzon. During his
tenure in the infantry as a special platoon
sergeant, he was awarded the Purple Heart
Medal, Oak Leaf Cluster to the Purple Heart in
1945. From his service in World War II, Lucky
received the following medals: Good Conduct
Medal, American Defense Service Medal with one
Bronze Service Star, Pearl Harbor
Commemorative Medal, Asiatic Pacific Service
Medal, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Expert
Rifle, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with
Bronze Star and Expert Bayonet.
Prior to his illness, Lucky was an avid fan of
W.Va. football, with season tickets and
regular attendance at bowl games. Lucky was
also a sportsman who enjoyed bass fishing, bow
hunting and golfing. He was a former member of
Mountain State Sportsmen. As a golfer, he
played on the Allegheny Power company league.
He was appointed by Gov. Wallace Barron to
chair the West Virginia Centennial Archery
Committee. He was a staunch supporter of
National Rifle Association and the Second
Amendment. He was a national instructor of
archery, teaching many young Boy Scouts the
art of archery, especially those of Troop 12
of Stout Memorial United Methodist Church. He
loved helping young boys to succeed and making
a difference in their lives. Lucky was also a
Kentucky Colonel, member of the WVU Athletic
Association, a supporter of W.Va. Law
Enforcement agencies, the Honorable Order of
Purple Heart, American Legion Post 15, VFW
Post 1212 and a life member of Parkersburg Odd
Fellows Lodge No. 7, Paran Encampment No. 3,
Canton Parkersburg No. 6 (now Canton Francis
I.O.O.F. No. 18).
Lucky was a past noble grand of Sharon Lodge
No. 28 and Parkersburg Lodge No. 7, past chief
patriarch and past grand patriarch of W.Va.
and past Department Commander Patriarchs
Militant of W.Va. In 1974, he was elected and
served as General Commanding of the Patriarchs
Militant, the highest office to be attained in
this unit of the order. Through his service in
this unit of Oddfellowship, he was awarded the
Grand Decoration of Chivalry, the highest
decoration awarded to a member of the
Patriarchs Militant. He was also awarded the
Meritorious Service Award, the highest
decoration bestowed upon an Odd Fellow, for
saving the life of a member and other
meritorious service in the order. He was the
chaplain of Blennerhassett Lodge 79 Fraternal
Order of Police Associate.
Surviving is his wife of nearly 61 years,
Cleone Mathess Fansler; a daughter, Mary Renee
White and her husband, John B. White, and his
pride and joy, a granddaughter, Khatelin White
of Scottsville, Ky.; a sister, Frances
Williams of St. Petersburg, Fla.; and several
nephews, nieces and cousins.
In addition to his parents and stepmother,
Susan Mitchell Fansler, he was preceded in
death by his sister, Chloe Bell; and his
brothers, Stanley, Denzil and William Boyd Jr.
Funeral service with full military honors
conducted by the American Legion will be 1
p.m. Friday at Kimes Funeral Home with the
Rev. Scott Sears officiating. Interment will
follow at Parkersburg Memorial Gardens.
Visitation will be from 2-8 today and from 11
a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
The family requests that donations in Lucky’s
honor be made to Stout Memorial United
Methodist Church NETS project to protect
children from malaria.
Family and friends are invited to the house at
1989 Ashby Ridge Road after the service.