Edith Knight, 86, of Big Bend, died Wednesday, Nov. 11, 1998, at Worthington Manor, Parkersburg. Surviving are one daughter, Phyllis Munday of Munday, three brothers, Woodrow Criss of Grantsville, and Raymond and William Criss, both of Vienna; one sister, Emogene Anderson of Parkersburg; seven grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Hale Knight, and two daughters, Betty Starkey and Mary Doak. Services were held at Stump Funeral Home, Grantsville, with Rev. Mary Zimmer officiating. Burial was in Big Bend cemetery.
KNOTTS, EFFIE
Effie Knotts, 81, of Ripley, died Sunday, Jan. 18, 1998, in Eldercare of West Virginia, Ripley. She was born in Calhoun County, a daughter of the late George C. and Nancy Jarvis. She was a homemaker. Surviving are three sisters, Mary Offutt of Ohio, Minnie Moran of Weston and Sylvia Pursley of Ona, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Scott Knotts. Graveside services were held at Eventide cemetery near Spencer, with Rev. Michael E. Hall officiating.
KUHL, BERNARD D.
Bernard D. Kuhl, 56, of Normantown, died Sunday, May 24, 1998, at his home following a long illness. He was born in Gilmer County, the son of Russell Kuhl of Normantown and the late Jewell Collins Kuhl. He was a 1960 graduate of Normantown High School. He was a former employee of W.Va. Dept. of Highways and was retired from Consolidated Natural Gas Corp. with 28 years of service. He was a farmer and member of Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church, Stumptown. Surviving in addition to his father are his wife of 37 years, Mescal James Kuhl; one sister, Deloris Furr of Letter Gap; three brothers, Bob Kuhl of Ashland, Ohio, Bill Kuhl of Walker, and Byrle Kuhl of Barberton, Ohio. Services were scheduled Wednesday, 1 p.m., at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church, Stumptown, with Rev. Mark Watkins officiating, and burial in Collins Community cemetery, Stumptown.
LAMBERT, FERN
Fern Lambert, 73, of Akron, Ohio, died Saturday, July 11, 1998. She was born at Orma, the daughter of the late Anna Fleming and James Lambert. Surviving are four nieces, Carol Majoras of Elyria, Ohio, Jean Sampson and Margaret Sampsonn-McClain, both of Massillon, Ohio, and Janneta Sampson, Orma; and several great nieces and nephews, great- great nieces and nephews, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by two sisters, one half-sister, one half- brother, two nieces and two nephews. Services were held in Akron. Burial was in East Liberty cemetery, Akron.
LANHAM, HOMER C.
Homer Clarence Lanham, 82, of Parkersburg, died Thursday, Nov. 19, 1998, in St. Joseph's Hospital. He was born in Brooksville, the son of the late Thomas Jefferson and Rosie Alice Richards Lanham. He retired from Ideal Corrugated Box Co. in 1979 after more than 40 years of service, and was a member of Christian Life Center. Surviving are his wife of 54 years, Roxie Copen Lanham; one daughter, Barbara Fleenor; two grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Ross Lanham and Larance Lanham, and two sisters, Lusille Frame and Louise Frame. Services were held at Lambert-Tatman Funeral Home, Parkersburg, with Pastor Delton G. Smith officiating. Burial was in Owl Hill cemetery.
LAW, BETTY J.
Betty J. Law, 74, of Bridgeport, died Tuesday, Sept. 1, 1998, at her residence. She was born in Grantsville, the daughter of the late James Alley Gunn and Elizabeth Kelly Gunn McIntire. She was a graduate of Calhoun County High School and West Virginia Business College, and retired from the Harrison County Clerk's office where she served as bookkeeper. She was a member of Rachel Chapter #47 Order of Eastern Star (now Queen Ester Chapter #11). Surviving are two daughters, Victoria Seders of Bridgeport and Robin Compton of Farmington, N.M. one sister, Edna Fowler of Lorain, Ohio; and four grandchildren, Michael and Robert Seders of Bridgeport and Nathan and Tyler Compton of Farmington. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert G. Law; two brothers, Edward Bill Gunn and Robert Gunn; and two sisters, Eleanor Lutz and Emma "Boots" Johnson. Services were held at Bridgeport cemetery, with Rev. Thomas P. Horne officiating.
LEACH, ORVILLE
Orville Leach, 88, of Millstone, died Wednesday, June 17, 1998, at Americare of Parkersburg. He was born at Daniels Run, the son of the late Madison and Mae Carpenter Leach. He was a retired driller in the oil and gas industry for 60 years, and was a former employee of Francis Cain Oil and Gas Co. Surviving are his wife of 67 years, Oleda Leach; one daugh-ter, Ruby Offutt of Parkersburg; two sons, Donald Leach of LaGrange, Ohio, and Richard Leach of Huntington; one sister, Ethel Slider of Beckley; one brother, Hatzel Leach of Millstone; seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Services were held at Stump Funeral Home, Arnoldsburg, with Rev. Joseph Law officiating. Burial was in Mt. Zion cemetery.
LERCH, ESTHER JANET
Esther Janet Gump Keaton Lerch, 94, died Tuesday, Oct. 6, 1998, at Redding, Calif. She was born in Calhoun County, the daughter of the late Charles Edward Gump and Margaret Ellison Gump. Surviving are one son, Desmon Keaton of Redding; and several nieces, nephews and cousins, including Imogene Brock, Glen and Betty Ellison, Milford Harold of Davisville, Jennings and Bonnie Ellison of Minnora and Hazel Bullard of Minnora. She was preceded in death by two sons, Bernell Keaton and Bill Keaton; one daughter, Glada; three brothers, Josiah Gump, Phillip Gump and Robert Gump; one sister, Estel Hinkel; and two foster sisters, Flossie Carter and Shirley Stalnaker. Services were held at McDonald Chapel, Redding, with Rev. Jack Ennis of Faith Tabernacle officiating. Burial was in Burney cemetery, Burney, Calif.
LITTLE, WILLARD
Willard Little, 82, of Ft. Wayune, Ind., died Friday, Jan. 9, 1998, in St. Joseph Medical Center, Ft. Wayne. He was born in Grantsville, the son of the late Lewis and Nellie Elliott Little. He retired from Fruehauf Trailer Copr. in 1981 after 35 years. He was a member of U.A.W. Local 776. Surviving are one son, D. Bruce Little of Ft. Wayne; one daughter, Janice I. Little of Ft. Wayne; one sister Gertrude Propst of Grantsville, and one grandchild. He was preceded in death by his wife, Donna E. Little, in 1993. Services were held at D. O. McComb & Sons Foster Park Funeral Home, Ft. Wayne. Burial was in Highland Park cemetery, Ft. Wayne.
LOWE, ESTA
Esta L. Lowe, 86, of Vienna, died Tuesday, Aug. 25, 1998, in Camden- Clark Memorial Hospital, following a long illness. She was born in Minnora, the daughter of the late Thurman and Maude Jarvis Bush. She was a homemaker. Surviving are one half-brother, Don Bush of Grantsville, and one half-sister, Dorothy Propst of Zephyr Hills, Fla. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph D. Lowe. Services were held at Stump Funeral Home, Grantsville, with Rev. Larry Jones officiating. Burial was in Pleasant Hill cemetery.
LUDWIG, EVA
Eva Ludwig, 91, of Parkersburg, died Monday, Aug. 17, 1998, at her residence. She was born in Calhoun County, the daughter of the late Ralph and Nora Yoke Ayers. Surviving are one daughter, Betty Tassinare of Southfield, Mich.; one grandson, Steven Neale of Corona, Calif.; two brothers, Paul Ayers of Parkersburg and James Ayers of Tampa, Fla.; and one sister, Mary Casto of Parkersburg. She was preceded in death by her husband, Curtis Ludwig, Sr.; one son, Curtis Ludwig, Jr.; two brothers; and two sisters. Services were held at Big Tygart cemetery, with Rev. Paul Russell officiating.
LYNCH, MERLE W.
Merle Witte Lynch, 92, of Charleston died Thursday, Feb. 19, 1998, at Boone Memorial Hospital, Madison. She was born in Arnoldsburg and was a retired postmaster at Millstone from 1964 to 1980. She was a member of Louisa Chapel United Methodist Church, Arnoldsburg. Surviving are two daughters, Norma Boggs of Clothier and Patricia Laughlin of Charleston; one sister, Elsie Wilson of Frametown; and one great-grandson, Bryan W. Boggs of Flower Mound, Tex. She was preceded in death by her husband, Henry H. Lynch; one daughter, Betty Jo Lynch; an infant son; and one grandson, William B. Boggs, Services were held at Stump Funeral Home, Arnoldsburg. Burial was in Albert's Chapel United Methodist Church cemetery, Sand Ridge.
LYNCH, RANDALL R.
Randall R. "Pipewrench" Lynch, 51, of Creston, died Friday, Dec. 26, 1997, at Roane General Hospital. He was born in Parkersburg, a son of Seaward Lynch of Creston and the late Emma Blankenship Lynch. He was a 1964 graduate of Wirt County High School and attended Glenville State College. He was an oil and natural gas producer and owner of several Creston-based businesses including Weva Operating, R&R Construction, R&A Production, Creston Well Service and L&W Farms. He was an overseer of Mt. Pleasant (Groundhog) cemetery, enjoyed hunting, and was a longtime CB radio operator, having been known under the handle Pipewrench. Surviving, in addition to his father, are his wife, Barbara Ann Vandale Lynch; one son, Randall Lynch of Creston; two daughters, Christina Miller of Annamoriah and Stephanie Lynch of Gallipolis; two brothers, Robert Lynch of Creston and Rodney Lynch of Akron; and two granddaughters. Graveside services were held at Mt. Pleasant cemetery, near Creston, with Pastor Ron Swiney officiating. Memorials may be made to Mt. Pleasant cemetery, c/o Busch Funeral Home, P.O. Box 43, Elizabeth, WV 26143.
MALLEY, OPAL M.
Opal M. Malley, 85, of Grantsville died Tuesday, Nov. 3, 1998. She was born in Calhoun County, the daughter of the late James Herbert and Erna Mae Burrows Saunders.She enjoyed making crafts, quilting, gardening, and spending time with her grandchildren. Surviving are one daughter, Sandra Wilson; two grand-children, Jan and Caitlin; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by 12 brothers and sisters. Services were held at Stump Funeral Home, Grantsville, with Alfred Hickman officiating. Burial was in Broomstick cemetery.
