PETERSBURG, W.Va. -Alice Thompson Welton, 81, of Petersburg, died Tuesday, Dec. 29, 1998, at Grant Memorial Hospital.
She was born Nov. 13, 1917, at Petersburg, a daughter of the late Julius Thompson and the late Mary Paskel Thompson.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Welton, in 1955; and a daughter, Margaret Welton, who died of cancer in 1969 at the age of 20. Three brothers, Paskel Thompson, Ralph "Jerry" Thompson and James Thompson also preceded her in death.
A graduate of Petersburg High School and business school, at the death of her husband, Mrs. Welton assumed editorship of the Grant County Press, which she carried on until retirement.
Acquired by the Welton family in 1890 by the late attorney Arch J. Welton, and operated as the Grant County Press until his death in 1941, ownership was assumed by the late Ralph P. Welton, whose tenure as editor spanned only 14 years.
When Mrs. Welton retired, the paper was sold to the Potomac Valley Publishing Company, Keyser, which marked a close to the era of newspapering by the Welton family.
Mrs. Welton was a member of the Petersburg Presbyterian Church where she served as an elder, a participant in civic enterprises throughout the community, a member of the West Virginia Press Association, and a charter member of the Grant County Arts Council.
Surviving are one daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Welton, Arlington, Va.; and two grandchildren, John and Margaret Graham, Washington, D.C.; one brother, F. Richard Thompson, Petersburg; and a sister, Frances Thompson Meyer, Hagerstown, Md.
Memorial services will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 30, 1998, at the Petersburg Presbyterian Church at 7 p.m. with the Rev. Donald G. Scofield Jr. officiating.
Memorials may be made to the Grant Memorial Hospital.
EULA M. WERTMAN
KEYSER, W.Va. - Eula M. Wertman, 88, formerly of the Cut-Off Road, Keyser, died Saturday, Dec. 19, 1998, at the Heartland of Keyser Nursing Home.
Born Nov. 8, 1910, at Keyser, she was a daughter of the late David Kenny and Minnie B. (Riggleman) Snyder.
Twice married
, she was preceded in death by both husbands, Lawson W. Koontz in January 1936 and Albert L. Wertman on March 3, 1997.
She also was preceded in death by one son, Gladson D. Koontz; three brothers, John Elvin, H. Dwayne and Elijah Snyder; and four sisters, Eleanor Bosley, Effie Gurd, Stella Hanna and Mattie Crites.
Mrs. Wertman was a homemaker and was a member of the Keyser Assembly of God Church.
Surviving are one daughter, Virginia L. Umstot and husband Keith, Keyser; five sons, James E. Koontz and wife Marlene, Keyser, Marshall W. Koontz and wife Ruby, Scottsville, Va., Lawrence N. Koontz and wife Juanita, Clarksville, Tenn., Ronald K. Wertman and wife Carolyn, Peterstown, W.Va., and Douglas D. Wertman and wife Anne, Ashland, Va.; 20 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
Friends may call at the Rotruck-Smith Funeral Home, Keyser, on Monday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
Funeral services will be conducted in the funeral home chapel on Tuesday at 11 a.m. with Pastor George Keenan officiating.
NEW CREEK, W.Va. - Gerald Joel Whisner, 78, of P.O. Box 42, New Creek, died Saturday, March 21, 1998, at the Potomac Valley Hospital, Keyser.
Born Jan. 5, 1920, at Bloomington, Md., he was the son of the late Jacob Edward and Margaret Elizabeth (Paugh) Whisner.
He also was preceded in death by one daughter, Frances Elizabeth "Lizzie" Whisner; three brothers, Earl Whisner, Harry Whisner, and Johnny "Jinks" Whisner; and one sister, Frances Kitzmiller.
Mr. Whisner was a retired coal miner for Island Creek Coal, Bayard.
He was a former mayor for the town of Elk Garden, and was a former constable for the Elk District.
He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II. He attended the Nethken Hill United Methodist Church, Elk Garden.
He was a member of UMWA Local 1444, LOOM 662, Keyser, and Kelly-Mansfield Post 52 American Legion, Piedmont; life-member of Keyser Chapter 9 DAV; and social member of Nancy Hanks Post 3518 VFW, Keyser.
Surviving are his wife, Hazel Rebecca (Harrison) Payne Whisner; two sons, George Alvin Whisner and wife Vera, Elkton, Md., and Gerald Raymond Whisner and wife Janet, Dillsburg, Pa.; two daughters, Rebecca Christine Kuhn and husband Gary, Elk Garden, and Mary Jane Miller and husband Vernon "Swip," Maysville; one stepson, Warren Payne and wife Sue, Portsmouth, Va.; one stepdaughter, Susan Thorne and husband Jim, Crewe, Va.; four grandsons, Gary "Buddy" Kuhn Jr., Elk Garden, Greg Whisner, Elkton, Joel Whisner, Lovingston, Va., and Mark Kuhn, Elk Garden; four granddaughters, Margaret Agnew, Mount Storm, Jill Hagelin, Elkton, Stephanie Whisner and Lauren Whisner, both of Dillsburg; two step-grandsons, John Thorne, Crewe, and Charles Payne, Fort Hood, Texas; two step-granddaughters, Nancy Hicks and Elizabeth Crittenden, both of Portsmouth, Va.; six great-grandchildren, Chrissie, Willie, Homer, Jon Eric, Chuckie and Jessie; three brothers, Kemp Whisner and wife Ellanora, Wheeling, Satorius "Ike" Whisner and wife Jean, New Creek, and Mansfield "Manny" Whisner and wife Elizabeth "Liz," Keyser; and two sisters, Betty Simmons and husband Jim, Westernport, Md., and Mary Beard, Manassas, Va.
Friends will be received at the Rotruck-Smith Funeral Home, Keyser, on Sunday from 7 to 9 p.m., and Monday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
Funeral services will be conducted in the Nethken Hill United Methodist Church on Tuesday at 1 p.m.
The body will be taken to the church to lie in state one hour prior to the services.
MARY C. WHISNER
SOMERS POINT, N.J. - Mary C. (Tucci) Whisner, 85, of Somers Point, formerly of Piedmont, W.Va., died Saturday, May 23, 1998, at Shore Memorial Hospital, Somers Point.
Born in Piedmont, she was the daughter of the late Luigi and Edith (Liller) Tucci.
She also was preceded in death by her husband, John W. Whisner.
Mrs. Whisner retired after 20 years with the G.C. Murphy Co., Ocean City, N.J., as an assistant manager.
She attended the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Somers Point.
Surviving are one daughter, Sally K. Sturgis and husband Gerald, Somers Point; one son, Charles L. Whisner, Labock, Texas; two brothers, Patrick Tucci and wife Joann, Fairfield, Ohio, and Joseph Tucci and wife Lois, Coventry, R.I.; one sister, Rockine Elias, Westernport, Md.; six grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson.
Friends will be received at the Fredlock Funeral Home, Piedmont, on Saturday, May 30, 1998, from 9 to 11 a.m.
Funeral services will be held at the funeral home on Saturday at 11 a.m. with Father Jim Hannon officiating.
SHORT GAP, W.Va. - Opal L. Whitacre, 77, of Short Gap, died Sunday, April 26, 1998, at her residence.
Born July 5, 1924, in Patterson Creek, she was the daughter of the late Walter Thomas and Anna Elizabeth (Simpkus) Lechliter.
She also was preceded in death by her husband, Jennings Whitacre, on June 16, 1983.
Mrs. Whitacre was a member of the Old Furnace Church of the Brethren.
Survivors include two sons, Wallace W. Whitacre and wife, Roxy, Short Gap, and Roger L. Whitacre and wife, Marilyn, Akron, Pa.; one daughter, Judy Westfall and husband, Bobby Joe, Short Gap; three brothers, William Thomas Lechliter and wife, Joyce, Severna Park, Md., James Hershel Lechliter, Short Gap, and Phillip Ray Lechliter and wife, Leona, Largent; four sisters, Janet Pyles, who was reared by Opal and Jennings, and husband Richard, Short Gap, Cecelia Brady and husband, Felix, and Rosie Divelbliss, all of Cumberland, and Anthona Cox and husband, Clifford, St. Petersburg, Fla.; six grandchildren, Janet L. Mickey and husband, Dennis, Carpendale, Jean R. Dyson and husband, Doug, Kailua, Hawaii, Seth Whitacre and wife Keri, Frostburg, Lori Cross and husband, Jason, Short Gap, Amy Raush and husband, Joe, Marietta, Pa., and Abby Myer and husband, Jesse, Lancaster, Pa.; and two great-grandchildren, Brooks Aaron Mickey, Carpendale, and Cameron Nicole Dyson, Kailua.
Friends will be received at the Upchurch Funeral Home Inc., Route 28, Fort Ashby, W.Va., on Monday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.
The funeral service will be held on Tuesday at the Old Furnace Church of the Brethren at 1 p.m. with the Rev. Paul Heisey officiating.
The body will be taken to the church one hour prior to service time.
Serving as pallbearers will be Dave Sutton, Myron Moreland, Ray Moreland, Curtis Moreland, Ed Elza and Kenneth Cross.
Mrs. Whitacre had respectfully requested that memorial contributions be made to the Deacon Fund at the Old Furnace Church of the Brethren, Route 3, Box 5, Ridgeley, WV 26753.
