Richard Harold Whipkey, 73, of Vienna, died Sunday, Apr. 5, 1998, at his cabin in Newark. He was born in Grantsville, a son of the late George and Daisy Mathews Whipkey. He was self-employed in the oil and gas business and also had worked at L.F. Franklin Construction and United Welding. He was a member of Eureka Masonic Lodge #40, AF&AM, and Nemesis Shrine. Surviving are his wife, Wanda Ford Whipkey; one son, Richard H. Whipkey, Jr.; two daughters, Mary Downs of Hunting-ton and Neva Bryant of San Diego, Calif.; three step-daughters, Letitia Kincaid of Vienna, LeAnn Cain of Atlanta, Ga., and Rogena Cain of Charleston; two sisters, Sue Davis of Vienna and Lois Welch of Hebron, Ohio; eight grandchildren; and his dog, Babe. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Bill Whipkey and Don Whipkey; and one sister, Catherine Heiney. Services will be held Thursday, 11 a.m., at Lambert-Tatman Funeral Home, Vienna, with Rev. Joseph Kenaston officiating. Burial will be in Bethlehem cemetery, Grantsville. Visitation was scheduled Wednesday, 2 to 8 p.m., and Thursday, 9 to 11 a.m.
WILKENSON, REV. CHARLES
Rev. Charles Wilkenson, 87, of Parkersburg, died Saturday, Feb. 21, 1998, at Camden-Clark Memorial Hospital. He was born in Sandyville, Jackson County, a son of the late John R. and Lizzie Kittle Wilkenson. He was a retired minister with United Methodist Conference. He began his ministry with his wife in 1939, having served various churches in Calhoun, Roane, Wirt, Jackson and Wood counties. He pastored churches for 42 years. Three churches were built during his ministry and several young men entered the ministry under his influence and by his example. He was an ordained Elder and member of W.Va. U.M. Conference and had completed the Conference Course of Study of the United Methodist Church. Surviving are his wife, Ruby I. Cheuvront Wilkenson; two daughters, Bonnie Knapp of Parkersburg and Sandra Osgood of Moorefield; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; two step-great- grandchildren; two brothers, Delbert Wilkenson and Milford Wilkenson, both of Sandyville; three sisters, Anna Nuzom of Mt. Blanchard, Ohio, Maysel Wright of Mineral Wells and Corene Wright of Parkersburg; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by four brothers, Clifford Wilken-son, Orland Wilkenson, Carleston Wilkenson and Raymond Wil-kenson; three sisters, Zona Cline, Erma Fleak and Velma Kittle. Services were held at Cedar Groves United Methodist Church, with Rev. Phillip Dent and Rev. William Miller officiating. Burial was in Sunset Memory Gardens.
WILLIAMS, NORMAN D.
Norman "Norm" Denver Williams, 72, of Medina, Ohio, died Saturday, July 11, 1998, at his home after a two-year battle with cancer. He was born in Grantsville, the son of the late James C. and Belvi Hosey Williams. He was a Medina County resident for 46 years. He was a member of Masonic Lodge 58, AF&AM, Lighthouse Baptist Fellowship, and charter member of Medina County Special Deputies. He retired from Ford Motor Co. in 1978 and was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II.Surviving ar his wife of 50 years, Emily Iris Hurt Williams; one son, James Williams of Brunswick, Ohio; one daughter, Jane Habeeb of Omaha, Neb.; one sister, Opal Jean Ross of Grantsville; one brother, Charles Williams of Medina; two grandsons, Troy of Brunswick and Ryan, serving in the U.S. Navy at Camp David, Md.; and three granddaughters, Tonia Mason of Valley City Ohio, and Kellie and Jennifer Habeeb, both of Omaha.He was preceded in death by two brothers, James and Dale. Services were held at Waite & Son Funeral Homes, Medina Chapel, with Rev. Gerald Clevenger officiating. Burial was in Eastlawn Memory Garden, Brunswick.
WILLIAMS, THOMAS, JR.
Thomas Griffen Williams, Jr., 60, of Stafford, Va., died Wednesday, May 6, 1998, at University of Virginia Medical Center, Charlottesville, Va. He was born in Newport News, Va., a son of Nellie Ashworth Williams of Newport News and the late Thomas Griffen Williams, Sr. He graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1962 with a degree in civil engineering. He retired in 1996 as an engineer with Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C. Surviving in addition to his mother are one son, Thomas Scott Williams of Stafford, a student at West Virginia University; one daughter, Whitney A. Williams of Stafford, a student at VPI, Blacksburg, Va.; and one brother, John F. Williams of Newport News. He was preceded in death by his wife, Brenda Sue Scott Williams, formerly of Calhoun County. Services were held at Stump Funeral Home, Grantsville. Burial was in Mt. Zion cemetery, Mt. Zion.
WILSON, EFFIE
Effie Wilson, 76, of Grantsville, died Thursday, Jan. 22, 1998, at Charleston Aea Medical Center's General Divison. She was born at Pine Creek, a daughter of the late George and Gatha Digman Nichols. She was a homemaker and member of Mt. Zion United Methodist Church. Surviving are two sons, Marvin L. Wilson of Grantsville and Clarke A. Wilson of Big Bend; one daughter, Janey D. Bell of Grantsville; four sisters, Goldie Haynes of Spencer, Opal Selmon of Five Forks, Bernice Little of Davisville and Hazel Morris of Parkersburg; three brothers, Paul Nichols of Spencer, and Burl Nichols and Georgie Nichols, both of Mt. Zion; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Clarke A. Wilson, Sr.; and two brothers, Basil Nichols and Brown Nichols. Services were held at Stump Funeral Home, Grantsville, with Rev. Brad McBee officiating. Burial was in Mt. Zion cemetery. Memorials may be made to Mt. Zion U.M. Church or Calhoun County Emergency Medical Services, Mt. Zion.
WILSON, ELSIE
Elsie Wilson, 95, of Walker, died Tuesday, Oct. 20, 1998, at The Willows, Parkersburg, following a long illness. She was born in Calhoun County, the daughter of the late Roy and Olive Price Witte. She was a Calhoun County school teacher and had served as a deputy in the Calhoun County circuit clerk's office and Calhoun County clerk's office. She was a member of Knotts Memorial United Methodist Church and Order of Easter Star, Grantsville. Surviving are two daughters, Peggy Knotts of Walker and Martha Wolfe of Davis; two step-children, Rev. James L. Wilson of Vienna and Margie Hulen of Lake Wales, Fla.; and 16 grand-children. She was preceded in death by her husband, Clyde Wilson; one son, Forrest Gail Wilson; and one daughter, Louis Reading. Graveside services were held at Bethlehem cemetery, near Grantsville.
WILSON, LEON F.
Leon F. Wilson, 75, of West Union, Lawford Community, died Wednesday, Jan. 28, 1998, at United Hospital Center, Clarksburg. He was born near Grantsville, a son of the late Dorsey O. and Letitia Johnson Wilson. He was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Army, having served in the Middle East, Europe and Africa. He retired from Orco Rubber Plant, Willoughby, Ohio, after 35 years of service. Surviving are his wife of 34 years, Oleta S. Carder Wilson; three sons, Dannie Wilson and Michael Wilson, both of West Union, and Monty Wilson of Shirley; two daughters, Debra Smith of West Union and Penny America of Central Station; one stepson, Thomas Robinson of West Union; one stepdaughter, Donna Clevenger of Harrisville; two brothers, Ronald E. Wilson of Mt. Zion and David Wilson of Five Forks; two sisters, Oleta Reed of Lloyd, Ky., and Ruth Beall of Charleston, Ind.; eight grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one daughter, Kelly Jean Wilson; and two brothers, Richard Wilson and Donald Wilson. Services were held at McCullough-Rogers Funeral Home, Pennsboro, with Rev. Dan Lipscomb officiating. Burial was in West Virginia National cemetery, Pruntytown, with graveside military rites.
WILSON, LUKE
Luke S. Wilson, 80, of Parkersburg, died Tuesday, Dec. 8, 1998, at Camen-Clark Memorial Hospital following a brief illness. He was born in Calhoun County, the son of the late George and Bessie Stump Wilson. He attended Belleville Methodist Church, Parkersburg. Surviving are one daughter, Peggy Tennant of Homestead, Fla.; one son, Henry Wilson of Phoenix, Ariz.; two grandchildren, Susan Tennant and Shayne Wilson; two great-grandchildren; two brothers, Hugh Wilson of Grantsville and Rolly Wilson of Parkersburg; five sisters, Donnie Waldeck and Eda Stalnaker, both of Parkersburg, Mary Starkey and Osa Fowler, both of Grantsville, and Bessie Ledsome of Reedy; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by one daughter, Linda Wilson; two sisters; and one brother. Services were held at Stump Funeral Home, Grantsville.
WOOFTER, VERCIL JOAN
Vercil Joan Rafferty Woofter, 81, died Wednesday, Oct. 7, 1998, at Chapel Hill Home, Canal Fulton, Ohio, after a long illness. She was born in Withers, W.Va., and was a resident of Norton and Akron, Ohio, for 42 years. She worked in housekeeping at Wadsworth Rittman Hospital until retiring in 1981. Surviving are one son, Richard Woofter of Akron; four daughters, Linda Hopkins of Rittman, Ohio, Sandra Stanovic of Mogadore, Ohio, Carolyn Godbey of Stow, Ohio, and Colleen Fling of Manchester, Ohio; one sister, Audrey Richard of Silver Lake; two brothers, Clark Rafferty of Florida and Victor Rafferty of Parkersburg; 12 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband of 29 years, Worthy N. Woofter, in 1967, and one brother, Dale Rafferty. Services were held at Stump Funeral Home, Grantsville. Burial was in Chestnut Grove cemetery, Latonia.
WRIGHT, CECIL
Cecil F. Wright, 69, of Lebanon, Va., formerly of Calhoun County, died Friday, Sept, 4, 1998, in Lebanon. Services were held at Stump Funeral home, Arnoldsburg, with Rev. Allen Smith officiating. Burial was in Husk cemetery, Hur.
WRIGHT, GARY L.
Gary L. Wright, 47, of Weston, died Thursday, Apr. 9, 1998, at Ruby Memorial Hospital, Morgantown, following a long illness. He was born in Grantsville, a son of Lila Kelley Wright Wade of Weston and William W. Wright of Clearwater, Fla. He was a graduate of Calhoun County High School and attended Glenville State College. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran. Surviving, in addition to his parents, are his step-father, Kenneth Wade of Weston; two daughters, Ashley and Lacy N. Wright, both of St. Petersburg, Fla.; one sister, Linda Cain of Heath, Ohio; and two brothers, Jeffrey and Gregory Wade, both of Weston. Services were held at Stump Funeral Home, Grantsville, with Rev. Albert Cain officiating. Burial was in Bethlehem cemetery, Grantsville.
WRIGHT, REV. JAMES
Rev. James W. Wright, 84, of Marietta, died Sunday, Aug. 2, 1998, at Marietta. He was born near Grantsville, the son of the late Isaac T. and Ollie R. Bush Wright. He had served as pastor to chu ches in Wetzel, Calhoun, Ritchie, and Doddridge counties during his career in the ministry. He was a graduate of Baptist Bible Institute, now known as Cedarville College, Cleveland, Ohio. He was a U.S. Army World War II veteran serving in North Africa and the Middle East. He was a member of Brown Street Baptist Church, Akron, Ohio. Surviving are his wife of 51 years, Ruth Louise Miller Wright; two sons, Richard J. Wright of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, and Daniel L. Wright of Harrisonburg, Va.; one daughter, Margaret S. Lamp; one sister, Nell Dobbins of Tucson, Ariz.; four grand-children; and one great- grandchild. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Hubert and Robert Wright, and one sister, Rosa Stull.Services will be held Thursday, 11 a.m., at McCullough-Rogers Funeral Home, Pennsboro, with Pastor Scott Souther and Pastor John Foster officiating. Burial will be in Masonic cemetery, Ellenboro. Visitation was scheduled Wednesday, 6 to 8 p.m., and Thursday, after 9 a.m., at the funeral home.
WYER, WILLIAM C.
William Carol Wyer, 73, of Grantsville, died Saturday, October 31, 1998, at Camden-Clark Memorial Hospital. He was born in Gilmer County and was a retired truck driver for Consolidated Freightway Co. He was a member of Teamster's Union Local #135. Surviving are his wife, Mildred Walker Wyer; two sons, Lester and Neal Wyer, both of Indianapolis, Ind.; two daughters, Lisa Wyer and Carol Rikkers, both of Indianapolis; three sisters, Veda Marks, Pearl Singleton and Lila Dalton, all of Orville, Ohio; two step-sons, Noel and Donald Walker, both of Akron, Ohio; three step-daughters, Virginia Ford of Copley, Ohio, Janet Walker of Big Bend and Sue Swisher of Nobe; seven grandchildren; 22 step-grandchildren; and 22 step-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by three brothers and three sisters. Services were held at Stump Funeral Home, Grantsville, with Rev. Alfred Hickman officiating. Burial was in Mt. Liberty cemetery, Tanner.
