MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - E. Virginia Collis, 84, of Martinsburg, died Tuesday, June 9, 1998, at Williamsport Nursing Home.
Born Oct. 18, 1913, in Hagerstown, she was the daughter of the late Alexander F. and Elsie S. Waters Demory.
She was a 1932 graduate of Charles Town High School; and a 1935 graduate of Kings Daughters Hospital School of Nursing.
She retired in 1981 as a registered nurse from Kings Daughters Hospital and City Hospital.
She was a member of St. Luke's United Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday school for more than 40 years. She was a member of United Methodist Women.
She is survived by her husband, Homer U. Collis, whom she married Nov. 1, 1941; one daughter, Susan J. Bentley of Martinsburg; one son, George H. Collis of Arnold, Md.; one grandson; and one niece.
She was preceded in death by one son, Demory R. Collis; one sister, Sara Jane Aikens; and one brother, C. Adam Demory.
Services will be Friday at 11 a.m. at Brown Funeral Home, 327 W. King St., Martinsburg. The Rev. Arlene R. Carr will officiate. Burial will be in Rosedale cemetery.
The family will receive friends today from 7 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to Emma Virginia Collis Nursing Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 312, Arnold, Md. 21012.
William L. English
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - William L. English, 71, of Martinsburg, died Wednesday, June 10, 1998, at City Hospital.
Born Oct. 3, 1926, in Cody, Wyo., he was the son of the late William and Emma Moore English.
He was a retired heavy equipment operator and recently had been employed by Knights Inn.
He is survived by his wife, Elaine Rickman English; three daughters, Kimberly English at home, Kathy Guthrie of Cody and Krystal Gehrts of Worland, Wyo.; one son, Rick L. English of Falling Waters, W.Va.; one sister, Georgia Pinckard of Crawford, Colo.; one stepbrother, Onas Collins of California; and six grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held Monday, June 15, at 3 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home, 327 W. King St., Martinsburg. The Rev. Wayne Rimmer will officiate. Burial will be private.
The family will receive friends Monday from 2:30 to 3 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to Hedgesville Little League Baseball Association, P.O. Box 691, Hedgesville, W.Va. 25427.
K. Virginia Stephens
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - K. Virginia Trenary Stephens, 86, of Martinsburg, died Wednesday, June 10, 1998, at Silver Age Personal Care Home.
Born July 21, 1911, in Martinsburg, she was the daughter of the late Harry E. and Myrtle Mae Stewart Trenary.
She was preceded in death by her husband, William Lee Stephens Jr.
She was a 1929 graduate of Martinsburg High School; and a 1933 graduate of West Virginia University. She received her master's degree from Shippensburg University in 1965.
A retired teacher, she started her career at Hedgesville High School, where she was instrumental in starting the girls' basketball team. She taught English at Martinsburg High School and later at Boonsboro High School.
She was a life member of Christ Reformed Church United Church of Christ; was a member of Dillon Sunday School Class and taught Sunday school for many years.
She was a member of Washington County Retired Teachers Association; and American Association of University Women.
A well-known tennis player in the 1930s, she won state championships in both West Virginia and Maryland.
She is survived by two daughters, Virginia L. Reisenweber of Martinsburg and Dorothy Mae Stephens of Englewood, Fla.; one son, William L. "Buddy" Stephens III of Martinsburg; and five grandchildren.
Services will be Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at Christ Reformed Church. Dr. Thomas E. Hartshorn will officiate. Burial will be in Rosedale cemetery.
The family will receive friends today from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home, 327 W. King St., Martinsburg.
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of the Panhandle, 2015 Boyd Orchard Court, Martinsburg, W.Va. 25401.
Victoria S. Benham
CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - Victoria "Vicky" Stevens Benham, 95, of Charles Town, died Thursday, June 11, 1998, at Jefferson Memorial Hospital, Ranson, W.Va.
Born April 28, 1903, in Birmingham, England, she was the daughter of the late John Rowe and Jean Argyle Stevens.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward Monroe Benham, in 1977.
She attended Western Reserve University, Cleveland.
She had been a writer and newspaper reporter in Cleveland and New York.
She was a member of Zion Episcopal Church, Charles Town.
She was a member of Shenandoah Garden Club and the Friday Morning Book Club, both of Charles Town.
She is survived by two daughters, Glory Gay Landon of Honolulu and Judith Jivan Wolf of New York City; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by one sister, Elizabeth Vogelius; and one brother, James Gay Stevens.
Private services will be at the convenience of the family.
There will be no visitation.
Arrangements are by Melvin T. Strider Colonial Funeral Home, Charles Town.
Susan M. Whitesides
HEDGESVILLE, W.Va. - Susan Mary Whitesides, 41, of Hedgesville, died Monday, June 8, 1998, at Wildwood Lifestyle Center and Hospital.
She is survived by her husband, Steve Whitesides; three sons, Michael Robinson, David Robinson and Chris Robinson; two sisters, Janey and Rita; and two brothers, Freddie and Marty.
Memorial services will be Saturday at 4 p.m. at Seventh-day Adventist Church, 11507 Robinwood Drive, Hagerstown.
Joseph Rankin
RANSON, W.Va. - Joseph Rankin, 80, of Ranson, died Friday, June 5, 1998, at Integrated Health Services Nursing Home, Charles Town, W.Va.
Born July 5, 1917, in Virginia, he was the son of the late Robert and AdaBelle Rankin.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Genevieve A. Rankin.
He was a heavy-equipment operator.
He is survived by four sons, Lewis Rankin of Harpers Ferry, W.Va., Warren Rankin of Winchester, Va., Gerald Rankin of Martinsburg, W.Va. and Wayne Rankin of Ranson; a brother, Harry Rankin of Charles Town; 12 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Patricia Rankin Speaks; a son, Clyde Rankin; three sisters, Virgie Howell, Rosie Rankin and Annie Peacher; and two brothers, Pete Rankin and Charles Rankin.
Arrangements are by Jefferson Chapel Funeral Home, Ranson.
Alma L. Christian
CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - Alma Lee Strider Christian, 81, of Charles Town, died Friday, June 12, 1998, at her home.
Born Dec. 2, 1916, in Charles Town, she was the daughter of the late Melvin T. and Alma Williams Strider.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph P. Christian, in 1992.
She was a 1934 graduate of Charles Town High School; and a 1938 graduate of the College of William and Mary, where she was a member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority. She also attended Shepherd College, where she was a member of Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority.
She had served as vice president and owner for many years of Melvin T. Strider Co., Inc. Colonial Funeral Home, Charles Town.
She was a member of Zion Episcopal Church.
She was a member of Shenandoah Garden Club, Charles Town; Friday Morning Book Club, Charles Town; and served on the board of directors of Old Charles Town Library.
She is survived by a son, Joseph P. "Joey" Christian Jr. of Charles Town; and a granddaughter, Joann Strider Christian of Charles Town.
Services will be Monday at 11 a.m. at Zion Episcopal Church, Charles Town. The Rev. John Bower and the Rev. John Alfriend will officiate. Burial will be in Edge Hill cemetery.
The family will receive friends Sunday from 6 to 9 p.m. at Melvin T. Strider Colonial Funeral Home, 310 Fairfax Blvd., Charles Town.
Memorial donations may be made to Zion Episcopal Church, 221 E. Washington St., Charles Town, W.Va. 25414; or Old Charles Town Library, 200 E. Washington St., Charles Town, W.Va. 25414.
Eyerly E. Eichelberger
HARPERS FERRY, W.Va. - Eyerly Emmert Eichelberger, 73, of Locust Grove Home, died Wednesday, June 10, 1998, at Jefferson Memorial Hospital, Ranson, W.Va.
Born Nov. 25, 1924, in Dargan, he was the son of the late George Franklin and Loretta E. McGowan Eichelberger.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Nancy Lee Eichelberger, in 1992.
He was employed by Western Maryland Railway and retired with 30 years of service.
He was a Protestant.
He was a member of United Transportation Union Local 633.
He is survived by a niece, Beverly Reese of Myersville, Md.; two nephews, David Eichelberger of Myersville and Lionel Eichelberger of Frederick, Md.; uncles, aunts and cousins.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Glenvol Eichelberger.
Services will be Monday at 11 a.m. at Minnich Funeral Home, 415 E. Wilson Blvd., Hagerstown. The Rev. Louis Emerick will officiate. Burial will be in Cedar Lawn Memorial Park, Hagerstown.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home Monday one hour prior to the service.
Robert V. Raines
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Robert Van Raines, 80, of Martinsburg, died Thursday, June 11, 1998, at Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Martinsburg.
Born Aug. 25, 1917, in Romney, W.Va., he was the son of the late Albert Vanmeter and Chloe Smith Raines.
He is survived by his wife, Gyneth G. Raines of Romney; seven daughters, Stephanie Wolford of Flint Hill, Va., Alana McKee and Ganette Raines Ganoe, both of Romney, Margie Fowler of Cocoa, Fla., Debbie Massie of Winchester, Va., and Ava Carol Tephabock and Freeda Lee Raines McCarty, both of Keyser, W.Va.; three sons, Gamiel Clyde Raines of Romney, Garon Edward Raines of Great Falls, Mont., and Robert Vance Raines of Keyser; two sisters, Ava Bartgess of Augusta, W.Va., and Ellen Lepley of Cumberland, Md.; 25 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by one daughter, Avis McKinney; six sisters; five brothers; and one stepgrandson.
Graveside services will be Monday at 2 p.m. at Ebenezer cemetery, Romney. The Rev. Brian Moreland will officiate. Military services will be conducted by American Legion.
The family will receive friends today from 7 to 9 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home, 327 W. King St., Martinsburg.
