John R. LaRue, age 83, of Hillsboro, died Sunday, November 12, 2006, at University of Virginia Hospital in Charlottesville, Virginia.
John was a retired lead lineman for West Virginia Power Company, was a Mason, an Oddfellow, a former Mayor of Hillsboro, a former member of the Board of Directors of the First National Bank in Marlinton, the founder of the Greenbrier Cable Corporation, a Navy veteran of World War II, and was a member of Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church in Hillsboro, where he was chairman of the Board of Trustees.
He was born August 29, 1923, at Hillsboro, the son of the late Robert LaRue and the late Helen Blaine LaRue.
In addition to his parents, his wife, Colleen Clowser LaRue, a son, Bobby Lee LaRue, a sister, Mildred Smith, and brothers, Kyle LaRue, Wilford LaRue, Fred LaRue, and Robert LaRue, Jr., preceded him in death.
He is survived by his son, Barry LaRue, of Macedon, New York, two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Funeral service will be held at Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church, Hillsboro, at 2 p.m. Thursday afternoon by the Rev. Ed Vallandingham.
Interment will be at Oak Grove Cemetery in Hillsboro with military rites.
Visitation Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m. at VanReenen Funeral Home in Marlinton.
Sylvia Orndorff
Sylvia Orndorff, age 92, of Arbovale, died Monday, November 13, 2006, at Davis Memorial Hospital in Elkins of complications following surgery for a broken hip.
Born December 15, 1913, at Winterburn, near present day Thornwood, she was the daughter of the late Fountain C. and Abbie Wilfong Arbogast.
She was a lifelong resident of Pocahontas County. She worked alongside her husband, Moody, as merchants of The Farmers Supply Company in Arbovale from 1941 to 1975. After selling the store and retiring, she and Moody lived in Durbin until his death in 1981. She moved to an apartment in Marlinton, became involved with the Senior Center, and enjoyed many tours taking her to cities all over the United States, Nova Scotia, Hawaii, and Japan. In the 1990s she moved back to Arbovale beside her daughter, Betty Lambert. She was temporarily residing at the Colonial Place Assisted Living Center in Elkins at the time of her death.
She was a member of the Arbovale United Methodist Church and a devoted Christian.
Her husband, Dwight Moody Orndorff, and a brother, Ray Arbogast, preceded her in death.
Surviving her are a daughter, Betty Lambert, of Arbovale; three sons, William Orndorff, of Aurora, Ohio, Richard Orndorff, of San Antonio, Texas , and Roger Orndorff, of Monterey, Virginia; eleven grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren.
Services will be held Saturday, November 18, at 10 a.m. at the Arbovale United Methodist Church with Pastor Frank Plass officiating. Burial will follow at the Arbovale Cemetery.
Friends may call Friday from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. at the Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home in Arbovale.
Gene Hannah Kesler
Gene Hannah Kesler, age 70, of Cass, died Monday, November 13, 2006, at Pocahontas Memorial Hospital.
Mr. Kesler was a retired truck driver for Inter-State Lumber Company. The last few years he worked as a brakeman on Cass Scenic Railroad and was a life member of the Odd Fellows Lodge.
Born in Cass, Back Mountain Road, on March 12, 1936, he was the son of the late Pearl Arthur and Minnie Galford Kesler.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Ralph Cassell and Harold Kes-ler.
Mr. Kesler is survived by his wife of 47 years, Alice Meeks Kesler; a son, Fredrick Pearl Kesler; two grandchildren; brother, Paul Kesler, of Cass; and two sisters, Alleene Marsh and Audrey Ellingwood, of California.
There will be no services.
In lieu of flower, donations may be made to Pocahontas Memorial Hospital.
Ted Potterdied at his home in Richmond, Virginia, on Thursday night, November 2, 2006, after a yearlong battle with pancreatic cancer.
Potter was associate professor of art at Virginia Commonwealth University.
He was born in 1932 in Springhill, Kansas. He graduated from Baker University in Baldwin, Kansas, and studied at the University of Kansas, the University of California, and earned his M.F.A. in painting in 1961 at the California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland. He served as director of many arts centers in California, Louisiana, Florida, and was known by the grants he garnered for his institutions from national endowments and foundations. He held a number of important positions in arts administration in the Southeast, most closely identified with SECCA, where he served as director for 24 years, and throughout his life he maintained a career as a fine artist
He is survived by his wife, Laura Carpenter, and their twin daughters, Kenan Casteen Potter and Sarah Bethania Potter, of the home; daughters, Christine Potter Wang, of Missouri, Julie Potter Craig and Charlene Potter Hammond, of Baldwin, Kansas, and Kelly Potter Shifflett, of Marlinton; brothers, Orrin Trent Potter, of Baldwin, Kansas, and Keith Leverne Potter, of Jonestown, Colorado; and 11 grandchildren.
A tribute to him was held November 11 at the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Mary Sebert Myers
Mary Sebert Myers, of Marlinton, died Sunday, December 17, 2006, at Roanoke Memorial Hospital in Roanoke, Virginia.
Mary was born February 6, 1932, in Eden, a daughter of the late Lloyd and Margaret Hobbs Sebert.
She was the Executive Secretary to the President of West Virginia University in the 1950's, while her husband was in pharmacy school. After he graduated, she and her husband owned drug stores in Buckhannon, Webster Springs, and finally in Marlinton. Mary was active in the Marlinton United Methodist Women, the Order of the Eastern Star, and the Marlinton Business and Professional Women's Club.
She leaves to cherish her memory her husband, Billie; three children, Vonnie Myers O'Brien, of Marlinton, Matthew Sebert Myers, of Front Royal, Virginia, and Robert Myers, of Midlothian, Virginia, and a brother, John Sebert, of Ohio.
A memorial service celebrating her life will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, December 21, at the Marlinton United Methodist Church by the Rev. Betty Shields.
Expressions of sympathy may be made by Memorial donations to the Marlinton United Methodist Women.
Dessie Mae Pritt
Dessie Mae McMillion Pritt, age 76, of Droop, died Saturday, December 16, 2006, at Carilion Memorial Hospital in Roanoke, Virginia.
She was a retired housekeeper for Denmar Hospital.
Born at Leonard Cordova on February 16, 1930, she was the daughter of the late Jesse McMillion and the late Nannie Williams McMillion.
In addition to her parents, those preceding her in death were her husband, Burley Pritt; daughter, Barbara Cochran; brothers, Ray McMillion, Roger McMillion; sisters, Ruby Fowler, Annalee Deluca, Inez Galford; a grandson and a great-grandson.
She is survived by her daughter, Anita "Kack" Pritt Withrow, of Droop, son, Randall Pritt, of Droop, three sisters, Mary Weaver, of Buckeye, Dessaree Lewis, of Williamsburg, Virginia, and June Alderman, of Marlinton, two brothers, Quincy McMillion, of Buckeye, and Lonnie McMillion, of Renick, and three gandchildren.
Funeral services were held at VanReenen Funeral Home Tuesday afternoon by Pastor Ron Miller. Burial was at Sunset Cemetery in Jacox.
Robert Lee Starks, Sr.
Robert Lee Starks, Sr., age 73, of Bartow, died Saturday, December 16, 2006, at his home in Bartow.
Born June 24, 1933, at Thornwood, he was a son of the late Robert Allen and Carrie Mae Vandevender Starks.
Mr. Starks was of the Pentecostal Faith. He was a sawmill owner and operator, and was a United States Army Veteran.
Preceding him in death were his son, Robert Lee Starks, Jr., four sisters, seven brothers, and his parents.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Janet Gainer Starks; three daughters, Mary Peck, of Bartow, Debra Rexrode and Karen Allen, both of Avoca, Michigan; two sons, Allen Gainer, of Avoca, Michigan, and Thomas Starks, of Bartow; five sisters, Iona Albright, of Reisterstown, Maryland, Rosie Crites, of Smithsville, Wilma Jolley, of Bartow, Martha Wisner, of Avoca, Michigan, and Nealie Arbaugh, of Cherry Grove; two brothers, Russell Starks, of Avoca, Michigan, and Raymond Starks, of Jeddo, Michigan; fifteen grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were Wednesday afternoon at Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home in Arbovale by the Rev. George Bassford and the Rev. Charles Herron. Burial with military graveside rites was in Starks Cemetery.
Harry Eris Wooddell
Harry Eris Wooddell, of Greene Valley, Arizona, daughter of Harry and Rachel Wooddell, died December 1, 2006, She was 83.
Born September 16, 1923, in Green Bank, she was the last surviving child of five. She was preceded in death by her mother and father; sisters, Elizabeth (Libby) and Jane Donovan, and brothers, Geral (Tick) and Leland (Jake). Surviving her is her son, Larry Wooddell, of Colorado.
Harry spent the majority of her career as a bookkeeper, from 1958 onward with the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Green Bank. Known to all as a gifted quilter, collector, bridge player and joke teller, Harry's deep love and sense of humor will be sorely missed.
Her cremains will return to Arbovale Cemetery in 2007.
Memorial gifts may be made to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America in honor of Harry E. Wooddell.