BERNARD E. BEARD, SR.
DUNBAR, W.Va. - Bernard Eugene Beard, Sr., 82, of Dunbar, died Saturday, Dec. 6, 1997, at Thomas Memorial Hospital, South Charleston, W.Va., following a short illness.
He was a retired bus driver in High Point, N.C.
Mr. Beard was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church, Charleston, W.Va.
He had been a resident of Dunbar for 20 years.
Surviving are two sons, Bernard Beard, Jr., Lexington, Va., and David C. Beard, Oakland; and a daughter, JoAnne Metz, Cumberland; 17 grandchildren; and 22 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Anthony Catholic Church, 1000 Sixth St., West, Charleston, WV 25301.
Barlow-Bonsall Funeral Home, 1118 Virginia Street, East, Charleston, W.Va., is in charge of arrangements.
KENNETH E. HARMON
BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. - Kenneth Edward Harmon, 44, of Berkeley Springs, died Monday, May 12, 1997, at his home.
Born April 30, 1953, in Martinsburg, he was the son of Helen Jane Weir Harmon, Westernport, and the late Edward Norris Harmon. He also was preceded in death by his foster father, Ercell Johnson.
He was a member of the Back Creek Valley Full Gospel Church, Hedgesville. He was a graduate of Berkeley Springs High School, Class of 1972. He was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local No. 307, Cumberland. He worked as a hand line technician with the Richardson-Wayland Electric Corp., Roanoke, Va., and most recently with M.J. Electric, Luke. He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Aerie No. 2883, Cresaptown.
Surviving, in addition to his mother, are his foster mother, Pearl Virginia Johnson, Berkeley Springs; six sisters, Carol Ann Herrell, Martinsburg, Ruth Louise Bennett, Hagerstown, Linda Lou Cooper, Berkeley Springs, Virginia Lee Silver, Hedgesville, Mary Gene Harmon, Martinsburg, and Evelyn Marie Harmon, Romney; one brother, James Meredith Harmon, Keyser; and many nieces and nephews.
Friends will be received at the Helsley-Johnson Funeral Home, 306 Union St., Berkeley Springs, on Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. The funeral home will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday for the convenience of friends.
Services will be conducted at the funeral home on Thursday at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Max E. Silver officiating.
Interment will be in the Back Creek Valley Full Gospel Church cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Back Creek Valley Full Gospel Church, Route 2, Box 127A, Hedgesville, WV 25427.
EDGAR W. ELLIFRITZ SR.
KEYSER, W.Va. - Edgar W. Ellifritz Sr., 80, of Keyser, died Thursday, March 27, 1997, at Potomac Valley Hospital.
Born Aug. 26, 1916, in Black Oak, Md., he was the son of the late Edgar Thomas and Nona Belle (Sears) Ellifritz. He also was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia Rosalie (Evans) Ellifritz, in 1973; and two daughters, Ginger Yvonne Ellifritz and Regina Gail Liebelt.
Mr. Ellifritz had been a machine operator and truck driver for several asphalt businesses in the area. He attended Calvary Assembly of God Church.
Survivors include four children, Nellie C. Isner and husband Gary, Palatka, Fla., Edgar W. Ellifritz Jr. and wife June, Keyser, Pamela L. Riggleman and husband Jim, Burlington, and Gregory T. Ellifritz and wife Kristie, McSherrytown, Pa.; one brother, Robert Ellifritz, St. Petersburg, Fla.; one sister, Dottie Belle Urice, Dawn View Manor, Fort Ashby; 11 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Friends will be received at the George-Upchurch Funeral Home, 202 Greene St., Cumberland, on Monday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
The funeral service will be held at Calvary Assembly of God Church on Tuesday at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Thomas L. Lantz officiating.
DR. LESTER K. BEAVERS
KEYSER, W.Va. - Dr. Lester K. Beavers, 57, of 17 Arnold St., Keyser, died Friday, Nov. 28, 1997, at Ruby Memorial Hospital, Morgantown.
Born April 30, 1940, in Berwind, W.Va., he was the son of Edna (Gillespie) Beavers Northern and the late Farren L. Beavers. He also was preceded in death by a stepdaughter, Jodie L. Heckman, on March 10, 1991.
Dr. Beavers was Dean of Academic Affairs for Potomac State College. He earned both his master's degree and doctorate in political science and sociology from West Virginia University. He has served Potomac State College as a faculty member and administrator for 26 years. In 1981, he earned the rank of professor. He began his teaching career at Potomac State in 1971 as an assistant professor of sociology and political science. During his career with the college, he has also served as interim president, coordinator of assessment, and coordinator of the NCA Institutional Self Study. He was fluent in Spanish and has taught intermediate Spanish for the college.
In addition to Potomac State College, Dr. Beavers was a faculty member at Universidad de Antioquia in Columbia, South America, Fairmont State College and the West Virginia University Department of Political Science. From 1963 to 1969, he served in the U.S. Peace Corps in Columbia, South America.
He has served as an institutional representative to the Faculty Consortium for Course Development in International Studies. He was a member of the Association of Institutional Researchers and AAHE Assessment Forum. He was a member of the West Virginia Sociological Association and the West Virginia Political Science Association.
He was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Keyser Rotary Club, Davis Lodge No. 51 AF&AM;, a member of the Democratic Party, and a former member of the Democratic Committee. He was a former member of the Developmental Center and Workshop, and a former volunteer for the Burlington Family Services.
In addition to his mother, surviving are his wife, Jeannette H. (Shepp) Beavers; one son, Kevin E. Beavers, Ann Arbor, Mich.; a stepson, William Thomas Heckman III, Morgantown; stepfather, Roland Northern, Forestville, Md.; one brother, Leslie E. Beavers and wife Brenda, Stanton, Ken.; brother-in-law, Carl Shepp and wife Cheryl, Saratoga, Wyo; Uncle Jack and Aunt Gladys Gillespie, Glen Burnie, Md.
Friends will be received at the Markwood McKenzie Funeral Home, Keyser, on Sunday from 3 to 6 p.m.
A Celebration of the Life of Lester K. Beavers will be held at the Church McKee Arts Center of Potomac State College, Keyser, on Monday, Dec. 1, 1997, at 2 p.m.
Interment will be in Potomac Memorial Gardens, Keyser.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions may be made to the Lester K. Beavers Scholarship Fund c/o Potomac State College, Keyser, WV 26726.
Masonic graveside service will be conducted by Davis Lodge No. 51 AF&AM.;
DOROTHY V. BECK
FORT ASHBY, W.Va. - Dorothy "Dot" Virginia Beck, 75, of Fort Ashby, died Monday, March 24, 1997, at Sacred Heart Hospital.
Born Oct. 15, 1921, in Cumberland, she was the daughter of the late Harry E. Moore and Melissa (Myers) Moore. She also was preceded in death by her sisters Odessa Jane "Wince" Blacka and Marjorie A. Hawse.
Dorothy was a graduate of Fort Hill High School and the Sacred Heart Hospital School of Nursing, class of 1942. She was employed as a registered nurse for 37 years. She worked at Hampshire Memorial Hospital and the Cumberland Nursing Center. She was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church; Ladies Auxiliary of Fort Cumberland Post 13; Ladies Auxiliary of Fort Ashby VFW Post 6667, where she served as chairman of the hospital committee; Women of the Moose, Chapter 914; Ladies Auxiliary of FOE, Aerie 245; and Ladies Auxiliary of the Cumberland Outdoor Club.
Surviving are her husband, Raymond L. Beck Jr.; one daughter, JoAnn Dean, Dallas, Texas; four grandchildren, Brandon C. Kidwell, Cumberland, Md., Daniel K. Brown, Mike Dean, and Cody Dylan Dean, all of Dallas, Texas; nephews James Gary Moore, Keyser, Clarence and Saundra Hawse, Fort Ashby, and several other nieces and nephews.
Friends will be received at the Upchurch Funeral Home, Route 28, Fort Ashby, on Wednesday from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m.
The Ladies Auxiliary of the Fort Cumberland Post 13, American Legion, will conduct a memorial service at the funeral home on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.
Members of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Fort Ashby VFW Post 6667 will conduct a service at 7:30 p.m.
Funeral services will be held at the funeral home on Thursday at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Dallas Forren officiating.
CHARLES T. BEEMAN
RIDGELEY, W.Va. - Charles (Tom) Beeman, 54, of Route 2, Box 2, Ridgeley, died Thursday, July 17, 1997, of injuries he sustained from an accident on December 4, 1992. Mr. Beeman had been in a coma since that day.
Born December 16, 1942, in Barton, Md., his birth parents were the late Dewey T. Beeman, of Michigan, and Marie (Zigler) Beeman, of LaVale. He was raised by his grandparents, the late George T. Beeman and Emma (Wiland) Beeman of Barton.
Mr. Beeman was employed by Westvaco Corporation for 30 years, the last 22 years as a security guard. He was a member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church, Patterson Creek.
Mr. Beeman was a car enthusiast from Nascar to street rodding. He was a member of Western Maryland Street Rod Association and he ran registration for four years at the Labor Day weekend rod run. He was a W.M.S.R.A. Street Rodder of the Year in 1992, and had been a member of the National Street Rod Association.
He was a member of Raymond E. Dawson F.O.P. Lodge No. 111, Keyser. He served with the Army National Guard, Company B, 121st Engineering Battalion of Maryland, from 1961 to 1969.
He was a loving husband, father and friend to many. He has been missed for the last four years and will continue to be missed by his family and friends.
He is survived by his loving wife of 26 years, Rita (Leese) Beeman, who, with the help of their two children, has cared for him since coming home from the hospital in July of 1993; a daughter, Amanda (Beeman) Festerman and husband Robbie, Charlestown; one son, Patrick Thomas Beeman, at home; one grandson, David Thomas Festerman; one brother, A. Dale Beeman and wife Debbie, Dogwood Flats, Barton; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Melvin and Martha Leese, Route 2, Ridgeley; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Gerald and Regina Baldwin, Winchester, Va.; two nephews; one niece; and a great nephew.
The special nurses who helped in his care were Sharron, Kelly, Joyce, Regina, Debbie, Basil, Lori, Lana, Sherry, and a special tribute in loving memory of Roxce Bevans.
Friends will be received at the Hafer Chapel of the Hills Mortuary, 1302 National Highway, LaVale, on Saturday from 1 to 4:30 and 7 to 9 p.m.
Services will be held at the funeral home on Sunday at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Delbert Poling officiating.
