He was a 1936 graduate of King College. While in college, he spent his summers working at Ward Manor, a camp for underprivileged children in Duchess County, N.Y.
In the late 1930s he moved to Washington, D.C., where he worked for the Department of Agriculture.
He taught fifth grade at Landon School for Boys in Bethesda, Md., and coached football for 20 years.
He founded and ran Inverness Camp for Boys and later founded and directed Inverness Montessori School on a Potomac, Md., farm, where he and his family lived.
He purchased The Country Inn in Berkeley Springs in 1972.
A veteran of World War II, he served with the 162nd Bomb Squad at Watton, Alconbury and Raydon Air Force bases in England.
He obtained his pilot's license in the 1960s.
He enjoyed gardening, music, poems and prose.
He is survived by his wife, Alice Barker; one daughter, Adele Marie Barker; and one grandson, Noah Barker of Tucson, Ariz.
A memorial service will be held Thursday at 1 p.m. at The Country Inn in Berkeley Springs.
Memorial donations may be made to the Jack Barker Memorial Fund, c/o King College, 1350 King College Road, Bristol, Tenn., 37620.
Agnes F. Laign
HEDGESVILLE, W.Va. - Agnes Frances Laign, 90, formerly of Hedgesville, died Tuesday, Jan. 6, 1998, at Heartland Nursing Home.
Born July 30, 1907, in Hedgesville, she was the daughter of the late Morgan Van Buren Laign and Margaret Ann Pearrell Laign.
He was a 1926 graduate of Hedgesville High School.
She was employed by W.H. Heiston and Son and previously with B&O Railroad for 23 years.
She was a member of Calvary United Methodist Church and Mispah Sunday School.
She also was a member of Brotherhood of Railroad Clerks, Adam Stephen Association, Berkeley County Historical Society, Asbury Methodist Home Guild, Friends of the Library and City Hospital Auxiliary, as well as a volunteer.
She is survived by nieces and nephews, including Kenneth M. Laign of Hedgesville.
She was preceded in death by three sisters and four brothers.
Services will be held Thursday at 10:30 a.m. at Brown Funeral Home, Martinsburg. The Rev. Al Clipp will officiate. Burial will be in Hedgesville cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home today from 7 to 9 p.m.
Memorial donations may be made to Calvary United Methodist Church, 220 W. Burke St., Martinsburg, W.Va. 25401.
James L. Sowers Sr.
BUNKER HILL, W.Va. - James Leroy Sowers Sr., 66, of Route 2, Bunker Hill, died Tuesday, Jan. 6, 1998, at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Martinsburg, W.Va.
Born Nov. 19, 1931, in Inwood, W.Va., he was the son of the late Earl and Lula Lee Sowers.
He retired after 23 years of service from Martinsburg Remodeling, where he worked as a carpenter.
He is survived by his wife, Hattie Clayton Sowers; two daughters, Deborah Knighten and Carol Lee Aquino; one son, James Leroy Sowers Jr.; one sister, Irene Miller of Martinsburg; two brothers, Rufus "Pete" Sowers of Baltimore and Earl Sowers Jr.; seven grandchildren; and two great-granddaughters.
He was preceded in death by one sister, Pauline Gosnell; and one brother, Leonard Sowers.
Services will be Friday at 11 a.m. at Brown Funeral Home, 327 W. King St., Martinsburg. The Rev. Elsie M. McKenney will officiate. Burial will be in Mount Zion cemetery, Augusta, W.Va.
The family will receive friends today from 7 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
William N. Austin Jr.
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - William N. Austin Jr., 51, of Martinsburg, died Wednesday, Dec. 17, 1997.
Born June 16, 1946, in Martinsburg, he was the son of the late William Nichols and Laura W. Domenico Austin.
He was employed by Quebecor Printing.
He was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church.
Graveside services will be celebrated Saturday at 11:30 a.m. The Rev. John V. DiBacco Jr. will be celebrant. Burial will be in Green Hill cemetery.
Arrangements are by Brown Funeral Home, Martinsburg.
Dortha M. Widmyer
BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. - Dortha Maxine "Dottie" Widmyer, 72, of Berkeley Springs, died Tuesday, Jan. 6, 1998, at Winchester Medical Center, Winchester, Va.
Born Feb. 16, 1925, in Morgan County, W.Va., she was the daughter of the late William McKinley and Anna Pearl Henry Fritzman Sr.
She attended Pleasant Dale School, Morgan County, Posey Hollow, W.Va.
She was a garment examiner for Londontowne Manufacturing, Hancock, retiring in 1975.
She was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, Berkeley Springs, where she was a member of Ladies Aid Society.
She was a member of Daughters of America, Bath Council 86; Ladies Auxiliary of Alderton-Dawson American Legion, Unit 60; Ladies Auxiliary of Risinger-Stotler VFW Post 4019; Ladies Auxiliary of Morgan County Chapter 34 DAV; and Ladies Auxiliary of the Berkeley Springs Volunteer Fire Co., all in Berkeley Springs.
She is survived by her husband, of 23 years, Ray B. Widmyer, at home; one daughter, Ann Schoenadel of Hancock; two sons, Carroll E. Luttrell of Berkeley Springs and Larry A. Luttrell of Cumberland; one sister, Lucy Werdebaugh of Hancock; four grandchildren; eight stepgrandchildren; one great-granddaughter; and nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by one sister, Viola Virginia "Tommy" Fritzman; and two brothers, Walter Woodrow Fritzman and William McKinley "Jigger" Fritzman Jr.
Services will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Helsley-Johnson Funeral Home, 306 Union St., Berkeley Springs. The Rev. Hennis H. Fox and Pastor Wayne Frum will officiate. Burial will be in Greenway cemetery, Berkeley Springs.
The family will receive friends Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home. The funeral home will be open Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. for the convenience of friends.
Clarence W. Hicks
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Clarence W. Hicks, 48, of Martinsburg, died Tuesday, Jan. 6, 1998, at City Hospital.
Born Jan. 24, 1949, in Staten Island, N.Y., he was the son of the late William and Georgia Clayton Hicks.
He was employed as a health care worker with Rescare Inc.
He was of the Muslim faith.
He was a member of Universal Temple of the Arts.
He is survived by his wife, Shirley Roberts Hicks; one daughter, Naomi C. Hicks of Martinsburg; one sister, Brenda Hicks of Martinsburg; four grandchildren; and nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by a brother, William Robert Hicks Jr.
Graveside services will be Monday at 1 p.m. at Frederick Douglas Memorial Park, Staten Island, N.Y.
The family will receive friends Saturday from 7 to 9 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home, 327 W. King St., Martinsburg.
David L. Yoder
RANSON, W.Va. - David Lynn Yoder, 45, of 104 Walnut Road, and formerly of 9707 June Ave., Hagerstown, died Wednesday, Jan. 7, 1998, at Washington County Hospital after a six-year struggle with Lou Gehrig's disease.
Born Dec. 10, 1952, in Hagerstown, he was the son of David and Evelyn Schooley Yoder of Hagerstown.
He was a 1970 graduate of South Hagerstown High School.
He was a trainer of thoroughbred race horses in Charles Town, W.Va., and surrounding areas for 20 years.
He was of the Protestant faith.
He was a member of Horsemen's Benevolent Protective Association.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by his fiance, Carren Valentine; and children, Nicole Valentine and Ryan Valentine, both at home.
Services will be Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Minnich Funeral Home, 415 E. Wilson Blvd., Hagerstown. The Rev. Raymond H. Shriver will officiate. Burial will be in Rest Haven cemetery, Hagerstown.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home today from 7 to 9 p.m.