ROBERT F. RIZER
CUMBERLAND - Robert Faulkner Rizer, 87, of 1044 Myrtle Street, Cumberland, died Friday, June 6, 1997, at his home.
Born September 8, 1909, in Mount Savage, he was the son of the late George Rizer and the late Lena (Faulkner) Rizer.
Mr. Rizer was a retired route salesman for Schmidts' Bakery. He was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church. He also was a member of the Teamsters Union, McKinley Chapter No. 12 O.E.S., and Ohr Lodge No. 131 A.F.& A.M.
Surviving are his wife, Elizabeth (Thomas) Rizer, Cumberland; one son, Thomas Lee Rizer and wife Karen Lee, Cumberland; a brother, Lawrence Rizer, Mount Savage; a sister, Zelda Domm, Wellersburg, Pa., and two grandchildren, Tad Rizer and wife Delores, Kingman, Ariz., and Keely Shoemaker and husband Butch, Westernport; and five great-grandchildren.
Friends will be received at the Merritt-Adams Funeral Home, 404 Decatur St., Cumberland, on Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
Services will be conducted at the funeral home on Monday at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Mark C. Dill officiating.
Interment will be in Sunset Memorial Park.
NELL V. RIZER
WESTERNPORT - Nell Virginia (Conner) Rizer, 93, a resident of Moran Manor Nursing Home, Westernport, for the last nine years, formerly of Cumberland, died Friday, June 13, 1997, at Sacred Heart Hospital, Cumberland.
Born Dec. 23, 1903, in Eckhart, she was the daughter of the late John and Mary Anderson (Gracie) Conner. She also was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph L. Rizer, in September of 1956. Mrs. Rizer was the last surviving member of her immediate family.
Mrs. Rizer was a graduate of Eckhart School in 1918, Beall School in 1922, Frost Normal in 1924, and received her BS of Elementary Education from the University of Maryland in 1936. She retired from the Allegany County Board of Education after teaching over 40 years at Parkside School, LaVale. She was a member of the Retired Teachers Association; and a member of Centre Street United Methodist Church and choir.
Surviving are half nieces and half nephews, Mrs. William L. (Betty Lee) Wilson, Cumberland, Dr. William Anderson Gracie, Ann Arbor, Mich., Linda L. Hafer, Baltimore, John William Loar, Newburg, Mary Aleta Loar, Debra Louise Loar, and Melissa R. Loar, all of Rawlings, and Eleanor Jean Loar, Piedmont, W.Va.; one great-half niece, Amanda Wilson Ruthenberg, Cumberland; and a great-great-half niece and nephew, William A. Kanner and Elizabeth Anne Kanner, both of Cumberland.
There will be no visitation.
Graveside services will be held in Eckhart cemetery on Monday, June 16, 1997, at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Lloyd B. McCanna officiating. Interment will follow.
Pallbearers will be Charles E. Hafer Jr., William B. Hafer, Leah D. Hafer, Ronald A. Ruthenberg, Shannon Van Meter, and John William Loar III.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Hafer Chapel of the Hills Mortuary, 1302 National Highway, LaVale.
OTIS F. RIGGLEMAN
CUMBERLAND - Otis Fayette Riggleman, 78, of 10505 Christie Road NE, Cumberland, went to be with the Lord on Friday, Oct. 31, 1997, at Sacred Heart Hospital.
Born Feb. 25, 1919, in Davis, W.Va., he was the son of the late Perry Elmer and Henrietta (Lewis) Riggleman. He also was preceded in death by two sisters, Elsie McDonald and Eula Riggleman.
Mr. Riggleman was a retired employee of the Kelly-Springfield Tire Company, with 37 years of service in the shipping department. He was a member of the Melvin United Methodist Church and the Melvin Men's Bible Class. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II serving with the 101st Airborne Division. He was awarded the Bronze Star.
Surviving are his wife of 44 years, Edith (Streett) Riggleman, Cumberland; a son, Gary A. Riggleman, Cumberland; a daughter, Lois Ann Starliper, Hagerstown; seven grand and other "special" children; and a brother, William Riggleman, Baltimore.
Friends will be received at the Merritt-Adams Funeral Home, 404 Decatur St., Cumberland, on Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
Services will be conducted at the Melvin United Methodist Church on Monday at 1 p.m. with the Rev. Richard Leslie and the Rev. Dan Taylor officiating.
Interment will be in Maryland State Veterans cemetery at Rocky Gap.
Full military honors will be accorded at graveside by the Combined Veterans Honor Guard.
Pallbearers will be Lou Klepitch, Howard Brode, and from the Melvin Men's Bible Class, Earl Wilson, John McFarland, John Alderton, and Kenneth Perdew.
Contributions may be made to the Melvin United Methodist Church Memorial Fund or to the family.
ANNA M. SMITH
FROSTBURG - Anna "Peg" Mary Smith, 83, of 92 Frostburg Village Nursing Home, formerly of Midland, died Sunday, March 9, 1997, at Sacred Heart Hospital. She had been a patient at the nursing home since Sept. 10, 1996.
Born Sept. 16, 1913, at Vale Summit, she was a daughter of the late Frank Leake and Lena (Higgins) Leake. Her husband, George Smith, died Nov. 5, 1979.
Mrs. Smith was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Midland, and the Sodality of the church; Midland Sportsmans Club; and Ladies Auxiliary, Farrady Post 24 American Legion.
Surviving are two daughters, Elizabeth Metz and husband Joseph, Montel Road, Frostburg, and Mary L. Wagoner and husband Donald, Keyser, W.Va.; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; two sisters, Jane Hughes and Catherine Seib, both of Frostburg; and two brothers, Myles Leake, Detroit, and William Leake, Akron, Ohio.
Friends will be received at the Eichhorn-McKenzie Funeral Home, Lonaconing, on Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Joseph's Catholic Church on Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. with Father James Hannon as celebrant.
A Christian Wake Service will be conducted at the funeral home on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. by Sr. Joan Maenner, O.S.F., Pastoral Life Director.
Interment will be in St. Joseph's cemetery, Midland.
ELMER S. SMITH
CUMBERLAND - Elmer S. Smith, 88, of Cumberland, died Wednesday, Nov. 26, 1997, at Memorial Hospital.
Born Sept. 4, 1909, in Cumberland, he was the son of the late John H. and Dora (Gurtler) Smith. He also was preceded in death by one daughter, Nancy Smith; one son, Elmer S. "Buck" Smith Jr.; and one sister, Ethel Price.
Mr. Smith was retired from the Celanese Corporation, Cumberland. He was a member of the Cumberland Eagles.
Surviving are his wife of 65 years, Dorothy (Twigg) Smith; two brothers, Bud Smith, Aberdeen, and Bob Smith, Ohio; one sister, Catherine Sulser and husband Oliver, Cumberland; four grandchildren, Scott Smith and wife Diane, Short Gap, W.Va., Susie Angle and husband Steve, Greencastle, Pa., Rosemary Mills and husband Ray, Chambersburg, Pa., and Hope Broadwater and husband Bill, Cresaptown; 11 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Friends will be received at the Scarpelli Funeral Home, 108 Virginia Ave., Cumberland, on Friday from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m.
Services will be conducted at the funeral home on Saturday at 1 p.m. with Pastor J. Gary Butler officiating.
Interment will be in Hillcrest Memorial Park.
EVA R. PUHALLA SMITH
CUMBERLAND - Eva R. Puhalla Smith, 84, of Bel Air, Cumberland, died Saturday, Dec. 20, 1997, at Memorial Hospital.
Born Sept. 28, 1913, in Cumberland, she was the daughter of the late Wilson C. Hutchinson and Bessie E. (Cowgill) Hutchinson. She also was preceded in death by her first husband, John E. Puhalla, and her second husband, George E. Smith; one daughter, Bessie Jean Bobo; five sisters; and one brother. Mrs. Smith was the last surviving member of her immediate family.
Mrs. Smith was retired from the Celanese and the Lazarus Department Store. She was a loving mother and grandmother.
Surviving are two sons, Joseph E. Puhalla and special friend, Nancy Snyder, Bel Air, with whom she resided, and Donald L. Puhalla and wife, Mary, LaVale; five grandchildren, Frank Puhalla and Doniele Pyles, Cumberland; James Smith, Pennsylvania, Jeffrey Smith and Charlene Cruski, Ohio; 12 great-grandchildren; and several great-great-grandchildren.
Friends will be received at the Scarpelli Funeral Home, P.A., 108 Virginia Ave., Cumberland, on Monday from 7 to 9 p.m.
Services will be conducted at the funeral home on Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. with the Rev. Jim Peters officiating.
Private interment will be at Hillcrest Burial Park.
FRANK V. SMITH, JR.
FLINTSTONE - Frank Vernon Smith Jr., 62, of Flintstone, died Friday, Aug.22, 1997, at Memorial Hospital.
Born Aug. 3, 1935, in Cumberland, he was the son of the late Frank V. "Smitty" Smith Sr. and Carrie M. (Fisher) Smith.
Mr. Smith was a U.S. Navy veteran.
Surviving are two sons, F. Michael Smith, Martinsburg, W.Va., and Steven P. Smith, Westminster, Calif.; a daughter, Cara L. Pensinger, Hagerstown; three sisters, Josephine Grubb, Flintstone, Phyllis Coe, Toms River, N.J., and Patricia Daniels, Vero Beach, Fla.; three brothers, James C. Smith, Seattle, Wash., John H. Smith, Mount Airy, and Myrle C. Smith, Flintstone; and three grandchildren.
Friends will be received at the Hafer Chapel of the Hills Mortuary, 1302 National Highway, LaVale, on Monday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
Services will be conducted at the funeral home on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. with Pastor Daren L. Ritchey officiating.
Interment will be in Maryland State Veterans cemetery at Rocky Gap.
