INWOOD, W.Va. - John Herbert "Joe" Dawson, 81, of Inwood, died Wednesday, April 1, 1998, at City Hospital, Martinsburg.
Born Jan. 2, 1917, in Gerrardstown, W.Va., he was the son of the late James Junior and Sidney C. Myers Dawson.
He retired from the Berkeley County School System as custodian at Musselman High School.
He was a member of Mount Olive United Methodist Church.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Elsie Marie Johnson Dawson; four daughters, Marie Ann Dawson and Thelma Alberta Dawson, both at home, Glenda Elizabeth Tory of Martinsburg, W.Va., and Ann Marie Stephenson of Inwood; one sister, Harriett Scarborough of Darkesville, W.Va.; seven grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; and nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a son, James H. Dawson; and three brothers, Mervil Dawson, Glenn Dawson and Randolph Dawson.
Services will be Sunday at 3 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home, 327 W. King St., Martinsburg. The Rev. Alfred E. Statesman will officiate. Burial will be in Pleasant View Memory Gardens.
The family will receive friends Saturday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
The family will meet at the residence at 2:15 p.m. on Sunday before going to the funeral home.
Letha M. Brantly
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Letha May Brantly, 100, formerly of Martinsburg, died Thursday, April 2, 1998, at Avalon Manor Nursing Home, Hagerstown.
Born July 13, 1897, in Falling Waters, W.Va., she was the daughter of the late John W. and Lottie May Griffin Wright.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Brantly.
She is survived by two nieces, Doris Caskey and Janet Butcher; and four nephews, W.E. Wright II, Robert B. Wright, the Rev. John E. Wright and Kenneth H. Wright.
She was preceded in death by one brother, William Eugene Wright Sr.
Graveside services will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Harmony cemetery. The Rev. John E. Wright will officiate.
Arrangements are by Brown Funeral Home, Martinsburg, W.Va.
Margaret C. Steptoe
CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - Margaret Leonard Crane Steptoe, 83, of Charles Town, died Wednesday, April 1, 1998, in Charles Town.
Born June 30, 1914, at The Crane House, 201 E. Washington St., in Charles Town, she was the daughter of the late Charles L. and Annie Lionberger Crane.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas W. Steptoe, in 1985.
She graduated from St. Hilda's Hall, Ranson, W.Va., in 1933.
During World War II, she served as a volunteer at the Army Hospital at Baker Heights, W.Va., now the Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
She was a life member of Zion Episcopal Church, Charles Town, where she was a former member of the Altar Guild.
She is survived by two children, Sara Steptoe Turchi of St. Thomas, Pa., and Thomas W. Steptoe Jr. of Charles Town; and four grandchildren, David T. Turchi, Elisabeth Y. Turchi, Anne P. Steptoe and Philip P.B. Steptoe.
She was preceded in death by a sister, Sara Sadler Crane; and a brother, Charles L. Crane Jr.
Services will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Zion Episcopal Church in Charles Town. The Rev. John Bower will officiate. Burial will be in the Crane Family Plot at Zion Church cemetery.
There will be no visitation.
The family requests the omission of flowers.
Memorial donations may be made to Zion Episcopal Church, 221 E. Washington St., Charles Town, W.Va. 25414.
Arrangements are by Melvin T. Strider Colonial Funeral Home, Charles Town.
Virgil E. Markley
TOMAHAWK, W.Va. - Virgil E. "Pap" Markley, 72, of Tomahawk, died Friday, April 3, 1998, at City Hospital, Martinsburg, W.Va.
Born Dec. 27, 1925, in Edinburg, Va., he was the son of the late Russell and Anna Dellinger Markley.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Hilda Shirley Markley.
He was retired from West Virginia Division of Highways. He formerly was employed at North Mountain Brick Plant.
He was a member of Tomahawk Christian Church.
He is survived by two daughters, Beverly Markley of Hedgesville, W.Va., and Charlene Robertson of Glengary, W.Va.; seven sisters, Betty Miller of Tomahawk, Helen Bohrer of Martinsburg, Mary Ann Dick of Glengary, Reba May Wise and Linda Greenfield, both of Hedgesville, Catherine Faircloth of Pikeside, W.Va., and Sharon Barrett of Arden, W.Va.; two brothers, Robert Markley of Jones Spring, W.Va., and William Markley of Hedgesville; three granddaughters; and nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Vivian Rae Markley; and four brothers, Clifford Markley, Dennis Markley, Linwood Markley and Russell Markley Jr.
Services will be Monday at 2:30 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home, 327 W. King St., Martinsburg. The Revs. Louise Bowen and Lester Hess will officiate. Burial will be in Tomahawk cemetery.
The family will receive friends Sunday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Ottis E. Beck
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Ottis Edison Beck, 76, of Martinsburg, died Thursday, April 2, 1998, at Lakeland Regional Medical Center, Lakeland, Fla.
Born Dec. 3, 1921, in Wilmington, Del., he was the son of the late William Henry and Dola Brickhouse Beck Sawyer.
He was a Baptist.
He was a retired missile inspector for the U.S. government.
A World War II veteran, he served in the Coast Guard/Merchant Marines.
He was a member of National Association of Civilian Conservation Corps of St. Louis; American Legion Post 14 and Moose Lodge 120, both in Martinsburg; Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Jacksonville, Fla.; Nebo Lodge 91 Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Shepherdstown; Morroco Temple Shriners of Jacksonville, Fla.; National Association of Retired Federal Employees 1236; West Virginia Retired Teachers Association; and AARP.
He is survived by his wife, Lena Basnight Beck, whom he married April 5, 1942; a daughter, Iris B. Woodcock of Silver Spring, Md.; a brother, Henry Beck of Virginia Beach, Va.; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Ruth Rae Beck; and a brother, William Troy Beck.
Services will be Monday at 2 p.m. at Rosedale Funeral Chapel, 2060 Rosedale cemetery Road, Martinsburg. The Revs. Terry Beck and Benny Hampton will officiate. Burial will be in Rosedale Mausoleum.
The family will receive friends Sunday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
George W. Banks
SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. - George William "Daddy George" Banks, 87, of Shepherdstown, died Thursday, April 2, 1998, at City Hospital, Martinsburg, W.Va.
Born Jan. 11, 1911, in Ashburn, Va., he was the son of the late Philip Alberry and Cora Agnes Jacobs Banks, and a nephew of the late Dr. George W. Banks of Shepherdstown.
He attended public schools in Berkeley and Jefferson counties.
He retired in 1979 from General Motors Parts Division, Martinsburg; and was formerly employed for more than 28 years with Fairchild Hiller Aircraft Division, Hagerstown, retiring in 1970. Before that he was employed by State Road Commission, Charles Town. In his early life, he farmed.
He was a member of New Street United Methodist Church, Shepherdstown.
He was a life member of the Democratic Party. He was a member of Jefferson County Democratic Association, United Auto Workers Local 1590 and national AARP.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Frances Myers Banks; a son, Laign Myers Banks of Martinsburg; a sister, Corinne Lizer of Little Rock, S.C.; a brother, Walter Samuel Banks of Shepherdstown; nine grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; six nieces; and a nephew.
He was preceded in death by a son, Gordon W. Banks; a great-granddaughter, Jaime Lyn Banks; two sisters, Gene Wadell Banks Morrison and Mary Hilda Banks Brown; and three brothers, Philip W. Banks, Arnold Alberry Banks and David Hunter Banks.
Services will be Monday at 11 a.m. at Brown Funeral Home, 327 W. King St., Martinsburg. The Rev. Randall Tremba will officiate. Burial will be in Elmwood cemetery, Shepherdstown.
The family will receive friends Sunday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to Shepherdstown Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box F, Shepherdstown, W.Va. 25443.
Hope M. VunCannon
HEDGESVILLE, W.Va. - Hope McSherry VunCannon, 32, of Hedgesville, died Friday, April 3, 1998, at her home.
Born July 5, 1965, in Greensboro, N.C., she was the daughter of Janet Turner Passmore of Martinsburg, W.Va. and Robert and Anna Passmore of Newport News, Va.
She was a 1983 graduate of Martinsburg High School.
In addition to her parents, she is survived by one daughter, Sarah McSherry VunCannon of Siler City, N.C.; one son, Randall Scott VunCannon of Siler City; two sisters, Melody Barber and Tammy Prather, both of Hedgesville; and one brother, Robert J. Passmore of Martinsburg.
Services will be Monday at 1 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home, 327 W. King St., Martinsburg. The Rev. R. Shawn Edwards will officiate. Burial will be in Rosedale cemetery.
The family will receive friends today from 7 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Estelle B. Garrison
CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - Estelle Blocker Garrison, 84, of Charles Town, died Sunday, April 5, 1998, at Jefferson Memorial Hospital in Ranson, W.Va.
Born May 7, 1913, in Hillsboro, Va., she was the daughter of the late George William and Daisy Conard Blocker.
She was a graduate of Harpers Ferry High School in Harpers Ferry, W.Va.
She was a homemaker.
She was of the Methodist faith.
She is survived by one sister, Bess B. Hutton of Fairfax, Va.; six nieces; and seven nephews.
She was preceded in death by six sisters, Irene B. McDaniel, Louise B. Bowers, Helen B. Fentress, Evelyn B. Case, Audrey B. Coyle and Myrtle B. Jennings; and one brother, Sterling W. Blocker.
Services will be held Tuesday at 1 p.m. at Melvin T. Strider Colonial Funeral Home in Charles Town. Wyman Hall will officiate. Burial will be in Hillsboro cemetery in Hillsboro.
Friends will be received at the funeral home today from 7 to 9 p.m.
Memorial donations may be made to the charity of one's choice.