BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. - Fred Edward Unger, 80, of Berkeley Springs, died Saturday, Sept. 25, 1999, at the Veteran's Affairs Medical Center in Martinsburg, W.Va.
Born Aug. 17, 1919, in Berkeley Springs, he was the son of the late Newton and Tillie Yost Unger.
He retired from West Virginia State Roads; was a former truck driver; construction worker; and worked at the riding stables in Cacapon State Park.
A veteran of World War II, he served in the U.S. Army.
He was a member of Highland United Methodist Church.
He was a VFW member and past commander of Post No. 4019.
He is survived by his wife, Ruth E. Golden Unger; seven children, Sue Ellen Dowler of Lowon, Ohio, Tina Hall of Charleston, W.Va., Ryan Unger of Warfordsburg, Pa., Billy Hovermale of Texas, Janet Moats and Ragan Haupt, both of Hagerstown and Paul A. Unger of Berkeley Springs; 15 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Cloris Widmyer; and two brothers, Paul Unger and Charles Unger.
A memorial service will be Thursday at 1 p.m. at Highland United Methodist Church in Berkeley Springs. The Rev. Mary Stevens will officiate. Burial will be in Oakland United Methodist Church cemetery, Berkeley Springs, with military services by American Legion Post No. 60.
There will be no viewing.
Arrangements are by Hunter-Anderson Funeral Home, Berkeley Springs.
Laura L. Payton
CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - Laura Lee Berry Payton, 55, of Charles Town, died Monday, Sept. 27, 1999, at Jefferson Memorial Hospital, Ranson, W.Va.
Born Nov. 25, 1943, in Rippon, W.Va., she was the daughter of the late Joseph Douglas and Marjorie V. Robinson Berry.
She was employed as a nutrition aide for the state of West Virginia; and as a private duty nurse.
She was a member of Sylvannah Baptist Church in Rippon. She was assistant secretary for Shenandoah Valley Baptist Union.
She is survived by her husband of 36 years, William Douglas "Doug" Payton; three daughters, Angela LaJean of Rippon, Beverly Brown and Jacqueline Payton, both of Charles Town; two sons, Douglas Eugene Payton of Martinsburg, W.Va., and Garren Patrick Payton of Charles Town; two sisters, Augusta A. Wilson and Michelle Berry; a brother, Joseph B. Walker; her stepmother, Dorothy Lewis; three aunts; an uncle; a great-uncle; three grandchildren; nieces; nephews; cousins; a surrogate daughter, Nancy Santana; and a surrogate granddaughter.
She was preceded in death by a daughter, Marjorie Christina Payton.
Services will be Thursday at 11 a.m. at Sylvannah Baptist Church in Rippon. The Rev. Lawrence E. Wilson Jr. will officiate. Burial will be in Myerstown cemetery in Rippon.
The family will receive friends Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. at Jefferson Chapel Funeral Home in Ranson.
Linda S. Fox
HEDGESVILLE, W.Va. - Linda S. Fox, 46, of Hedgesville, died Sunday, Sept. 26, 1999, at Winchester Medical Center.
Born Jan. 20, 1953, in Alexandria, Va., she was the daughter of Rachel Collier Lawson of Martinsburg, W.Va., and the late Alton Lawson.
In addition to her mother, she is survived by her husband, Jay M. Fox; two daughters, Tina Watson of Berkeley Springs, W.Va., and Melissa Fox of Needmore, Pa.; a sister, Gail Henry; three brothers, Harold Lawson, Lucky Lawson and Larry Lawson; and eight grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held Thursday at 7 p.m. at Johnsontown Bible Church.
Arrangements are by Brown Funeral Home, Martinsburg.
Bessie V. Diffenderfer
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Bessie VanMetre Bergdoll Diffenderfer, 87, of Martinsburg, died Sunday, Sept. 26, 1999, at Outlook Pointe of Martinsburg.
Born July 6, 1912, in Berkeley County, W.Va., she was the daughter of the late I.D. and Daisy Butler VanMetre.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Cleland B. Bergdoll, in 1936. They were married
in 1934.
She graduated from Martinsburg High School in 1929. She received her AB degree from Shepherd College in 1935 and was inducted into the Emeritus Club in 1981. She did graduate work there and at the University of Maryland. She graduated from Western Maryland University with a MA degree in Education in 1972.
She taught elementary school for 43 years, 25 years in West Virginia and 18 years in Washington County.
She was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, was on the Administrative Board and taught in the Junior Department.
She was former treasurer and vice president of Berkeley County Classroom Teachers Association; was a member of West Virginia and Berkeley County Retired School Employees; Maryland State and Washington County Retired Teachers Associations.
She was a member of Shenandoah Valley Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution; senior president of John Augustine Washington Chapter National Society Children of the American Revolution; and member and past matron of Golden Rule Chapter No. 69, Order of the Eastern Star.
She had been a member and president, secretary and treasurer of City Hospital Junior Auxiliary; member, president and secretary of the Raquette Club; and volunteered for Meals-on-Wheels.
She is survived by her husband, W. Homer Diffenderfer, whom she married
in 1946; twin daughters, Ann M. Nickerson of Stamford, Conn., and Blanch B. Brady of Summersville, W.Va.; a sister, Katherine B. VanMetre of Martinsburg; a brother, I.D. VanMetre of Martinsburg; six grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; three nieces and a nephew.
Service will be Friday at 11 a.m. at Brown Funeral Home, 327 W. King St., Martinsburg. Dr. G. Edward Grove will officiate. Burial will be in the VanMetre family cemetery at Old Stone House Farm in Berkeley County.
The family will receive friends Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of the Panhandle, 2015 Boyd Orchard Court, Martinsburg, WV 25401.
Ruth C. Miles
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Ruth C. Miles, 94, of Martinsburg, died Saturday, Sept. 25, 1999, at City Hospital.
Born June 15, 1905, in Berkeley County, W.Va., she was the daughter of the late Frank C. and Lula Weiskettle Miles.
She was a graduate of Martinsburg High School.
She was a member of Christ Reform Church.
She is survived by several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
She was preceded in death by two sisters, Madeline Miles and Helen E. Miles and two brothers, Ralph A. Miles and Albert W. Miles.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Brown Funeral Home, Martinsburg. The Rev. Thomas E. Hartshorn will officiate. Burial will be in Green Hill cemetery.
The family will receive friends this evening from 6 to 8 at the funeral home.
The family requests memorial contributions be made to Christ Reform Church, 117 East Burke Street, Martinsburg, WV 25401.
Harry E. Pickett
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Harry Ernest Pickett, 68, of Martinsburg, died Saturday, Sept. 25, 1999, at Fairfax Hospital, Fairfax, Va.
Born March 17, 1931, in Chattanooga, Tenn., he was the son of the late Homer and Dora Lusk Pickett.
He was employed with Max Locks Company, as a locksmith.
He served in the U.S. Army.
He was a member of Fraternal Order of Police and Loyal Order of Moose.
He is survived by his former wife, Irene Pickett of Falls Church, Va.; two daughters, Sandra L. Pickett of Fairfax and Dianna L. Pickett of Sterling, Va.; one sister, Helen Venable of Georgia; and two brothers, Pat Pickett and Homer Pickett, both of Tennessee.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Rosedale Funeral Chapel, Martinsburg. The Rev. Dave Palmer will officiate. Burial will be in Rosedale cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Northern Virginia, 6565 Arlington Boulevard., Suite 500, Falls Church, VA 22042.
