VIRGINIA L. MERRILL
ROCKVILLE - Virginia Lee "Ginny" Merrill, 74, of Rockville, formerly of Baker Street, Cumberland, died Wednesday, May 14, 1997, at the home of her daughter, Cathy R. Saia, of Rockville.
Born Aug. 17, 1922, in Cumberland, she was the daughter of the late Thomas Brant and Kathryn (Fazenbaker) Brant. She also was preceded in death by her husband, John Jay Merrill; and two brothers, Chester Brant and Paul Brant.
Mrs. Merrill worked at the Celanese Plant, Cumberland, where she was employed as a garment worker and later became an employees union representative. She moved to the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, and was employed at the Giant Food Headquarters, and then worked for the Royal Typewriter Co. She retired from the medical records department of Suburban Hospital, Bethesda, and returned to Cumberland after her retirement.
Surviving besides her daughter are two grandsons, Steven D. Saia and Jeffrey L. Saia, both of Rockville; two nephews, Paul Brant Jr., Rockville, and James Brant and wife Karen, Cumberland; four great-nieces, Jackie Leese and husband Craig, Robin Hoppert and husband Brian, Penny Brant, Melissa Baumna and husband Bill, all of Cumberland; one great-nephew, Gary Brant, Myrtle Beach, S.C.; and six great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews; many loving and devoted friends, both in Cumberland and the Washington, D.C. area.
Her body was cremated.
Memorial services will be held at the Full Gospel Pentecostal Church, 477 Eastern Ave., Cumberland, on Saturday at 1 p.m. with the Rev. James K. Peters officiating.
Friends may call at the church from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m., prior to the service.
Interment will be at Zion Memorial Park.
The family requests that donations take the form of contributions to the Western Maryland Food Bank, PO Box 243, Cumberland, MD 21502, where "Ginny" volunteered her time after her return to Cumberland.
The Kight Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
MARY MERRITT
FAIRFAX, Va. - Mary (Hitt) Merritt, 74, of Fairfax, died March 4, 1997, at Fairfax Hospital.
Born April 29, 1922, in Luke, she was the daughter of the late Sextus and Lily P. Hitt. She also was preceded in death by her husband, James G. Merritt; three brothers; and three sisters.
Mrs. Merritt is survived by one daughter, Ms. Elaine Lester, Fairfax; one granddaughter, Betsy Lester; one grandson, Jeremy Lester; one sister, Nancy Fazenbaker and husband Jack, Yellow Springs, W.Va.; one cousin; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held on March 6 at Truro Episcopal Church, Fairfax.
HOWARD V. MESSICK
FLINTSTONE - Howard V. "Red" Messick, 73, of Flintstone, died of pulmonary disease Tuesday, May 27, 1997, in Sacred Heart Hospital Hospice.
Born May 1, 1924, at Messick Road, Cumberland, he was the son of the late Charles Anthony and Pleasant Mae (Hardman) Messick. He also was preceded in death by one sister, Thelma Mae Chambers, and two brothers-in-law, Aubrey Chambers and Milton Oster.
Howard was taught to farm at an early age by his grandfather, Edward Hardman, and his goal through life was to farm and raise beef cattle. Previous employers were Collins Dairy Farm, located on Christie Road and Rawlings; Lester Raines Farm, Cumberland; Smiths Dingle Esso Service Station, Cumberland; Jim Kerr's Gas Station, LaVale; S.T. Brotmarkle Co., Cumberland; and Baughman Contracting Co., LaVale. He was a partner of Oster and Messick Excavating, and owner of Howard V. Messick Excavating. Howard was baptized in his parents' home on Dec. 27, 1924 by the Rev. D.R. Cleckner. He rededicated his life to his Lord in April, 1996, through witnessing by his brother-in-law, Harry Valdivia.
Surviving are his wife, Anna Marie (Raley) Messick, Flintstone; children Ernie Messick and wife Colleen (Gilmore), Everett, Pa., Rita Haggerty and husband Sherman, Eldorado Hills, Calif., and Diana Potts and husband Bill, Flintstone; six grandchildren, Michele Simpson, Austin, Texas, Charles Messick and wife Terena (Wright), Fort Ashby, W.Va., Cinnamon Potts, Flintstone, and Howard "H.B.," Matthew, and Mina Messick, all of Everett, Pa.; three stepgrandchildren, Paul Haggerty, Arizona, Molly Mackin and husband John, Houston, Texas, Lyndsay Haggerty, El Dorado Hills, Calif.; two great-grandchildren, Kayla and Jade Messick, Fort Ashby, W.Va.; two stepgreat-grandchildren, John and Heather Mackin, Houston, Texas; two sisters, Betty Lee Rice and husband Richard, Potomac Park, and Helen Louise Oster, DeHaven Road; and one aunt, Bessie (Hardman) Raines, Cumberland.
Friends will be received in the Hafer Chapel of the Hills Mortuary, 1302 National Highway, LaVale, on Thursday from 7 to 9 and Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
Services will be conducted in the funeral home chapel on Saturday at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Fred Iser officiating.
Interment will follow in Sunset Memorial Park, Cumberland, a cemetery where he excavated and selected his burial site while doing so.
Everyone is invited to attend the luncheon immediately following the burial at the Baltimore Pike Fire Hall.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be directed to the Flintstone Volunteer Ambulance Service, PO Box 105, Flintstone, MD 21530, attn: Pamela Kyle.
Pallbearers will be grandson Charles Messick, nephews Richard Rice Jr., Timothy Rice, Jerry Chambers, and Steve, Wayne, and Scott Oster.
Honorary pallbearers will be Paul Robinette, Martin Gordon, Hugh "Pete" Thompson, Erick Fronck, Marcellas Donahoe, and Russell Puffenbarger.
The family wishes to thank the Flintstone Ambulance; employees of Sacred Heart Hospital, especially the Sacred Heart Hospice; doctors Robert Orlino, Wayne Spiggle, Andrew Stasko, Magno Roque; and all of our family, friends, and neighbors for all of their loving, caring and kindness during this time of illness.
LESLIE A. METZ
WESTERNPORT - Leslie A. Metz, 77, of 20605 Lower Georges Creek Road, Westernport, died Wednesday, Feb. 26, 1997, at Memorial Hospital, Cumberland.
Born Oct. 16, 1919, in Barton, he was a son of the late John Metz and Elizabeth (Preston) Metz. He also was preceded in death by three brothers, Clarence, Earl, and Charles Metz; and one sister, Lilly Ross.
Mr. Metz retired from Westvaco Corp. as a foreman over the box shop. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, and a Methodist by faith. He was a life member of Victory Post 155 American Legion, and Alvin C. Neat VFW Post 5280.
Surviving are his beloved wife of 49 years, Alice (Wilt) Metz; beloved children, Gene L. Metz and wife Carol, Swanton, Leslie A. Metz Jr. and wife Norma, Rio, W.Va., Janet E. Haggerty and friend Kermit Perkins, Westernport, Karen S. Westfall, Westernport, and Sharon K. Porter and husband Marvin, Baltimore; one brother, Fred Metz, Lonaconing; one sister, Nellie Howell, Egle Nursing Home; ten grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Friends will be received at the Boal Funeral Home, Westernport, on Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
Services will be at the funeral home on Saturday at 1 p.m. with Milton Welling officiating.
Interment will be in Laurel Hill cemetery, Moscow Mills.
LLOYD W. METZ
CUMBERLAND - Lloyd William Metz, 83, of Yale Street, Cumberland, died Tuesday, Nov. 18, 1997, at Sacred Heart Hospital.
Born July 28, 1914, he was the son of the late Joseph E. and Mary (Sweitzer) Metz. He also was preceded in death by his wife, Mary E. Metz, in 1975. He was the last surviving member of his immediate family.
Mr. Metz was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. He retired as a machinist from Cumberland Steel Company.
Surviving are two nephews, John T. Melvin, Cumberland, and James P. Melvin, Potomac Park; two nieces, Anna M. Sheetz, Potomac Park, and Rita E. Deetz, Wiley Ford, W.Va., and one cousin, Viola McCoy, Baltimore.
Friends will be received at the Leasure-Stein Funeral Home, 230 Baltimore Ave., Cumberland, on Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
Funeral services will be conducted at the funeral home on Friday at 1 p.m. with the Rev. Richard C. Broome Jr. officiating.
Interment will be in Hillcrest Memorial Park.
Military honors will be accorded at the graveside by the local combined military honor guard.
VADA C. METZ
RAWLINGS - Vada C. Metz, 88, of Rawlings, died Tuesday, March 11, 1997, in Sacred Heart Hospital. She had been a resident of Lions Manor Nursing Home since October, 1996. Born on Dec. 13, 1908, near Loartown, she was the daughter of the late George Henry and Mandanna (Loar) Loar. She also was preceded in death by her husband, Cecil C. Metz, on April 1, 1991; four brothers; and five sisters. She was the last surviving member of her immediate family.
Mrs. Metz was a member of Rawlings United Methodist Church, and was involved with the church choir and United Methodist Women. She was a former organist for Barton United Methodist Church and St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Lonaconing. She also was a member of the Cresaptown Senior Citizens and Dawson Senior Citizens, as well as a life member of the Cumberland Choral Society.
Surviving are one son, James W. Metz, Baltimore; and a daughter, Mrs. C. Fay Crawford and husband Walter, LaVale.
Friends will be received in the Hafer Chapel of the Hills Mortuary, 1302 National Highway, LaVale, on Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
A private graveside service will be held at Rest Lawn Memorial Gardens on Friday with the Rev. David Paul officiating.
Memorial services will be held at the Barton United Methodist Church on Saturday at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Gary W. Trail, the Rev. John S. Park, and the Rev. William G. Boyer officiating.
Memorials may be directed to Rawlings United Methodist Church, Rawlings, MD 21557, or Barton United Methodist Church, Barton, MD 21521.
JOHN V. METZGER
CUMBERLAND - John Vincent Metzger, 84, of Cumberland, died Saturday, June 14, 1997, at Memorial Hospital.
Born Dec. 10, 1912, in Cumberland, he was the son of the late Charles Conrad and Elizabeth (Higgins) Metzger. He also was preceded in death by his wife, Edna Loraine Metzger; nine brothers; and four sisters.
Mr. Metzger was a former employee of the Cumberland Brewery. He retired as a custodian from the Allegany County Board of Education. He was a life member of the Allegany County Beagle Club, and he was an avid hunter. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church. Mr. Metzger was a U.S. Army veteran serving in World War II.
Surviving are three sons, Gerald V. Metzger, Manassas, Va., Roy P. Metzger and wife Mary Jo, Ridgeley, W.Va., and Charles "Chuck" Metzger, Richmond, Va.; two daughters, Pat A. Metzger, Cumberland, and Carol "Tuddles" Bryner, Cresaptown; one sister, Marvalee Hinkle, Akron, Ohio; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Friends will be received at the Scarpelli Funeral Home, 108 Virginia Ave., Cumberland, on Monday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
Services will be conducted at the funeral home on Tuesday at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Donald F. Sause officiating.
Interment will be in Maryland Veterans cemetery at Rocky Gap.
