GANOTOWN, W.Va. - Alvis A. Smitherman, 62, of Back Creek Valley, died Wednesday, July 28, 1999, at Winchester (Va.) Medical Center.
Born Feb. 12, 1937, in Dinwiddie, Va., he was the son of the late Dalton Monroe and Stella Mae Lakey Smitherman.
He was a heavy-equipment operator.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Army.
He was a member of Buck Hill Church.
He was a member of International Union of Operating Engineers Local No. 12.
He is survived by his wife, Donna Shoup Smitherman; a daughter, Beverly Smitherman Brown of Wilmington, N.C.; four sons, Michael Alvis Smitherman of Leland, N.C., Darren Ray Albright and Daniel D. Smitherman, both of Martinsburg, W.Va., and Terrance M. Albright of Bunker Hill, W.Va.; a sister, Betty S. Jones of Mocksville, N.C.; a brother, Tom Smitherman of Franklin, N.C.; six grandchildren; nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Virginia Poindexter; and two brothers, Lakey Smitherman and Charles Smitherman.
Services will be Saturday at 10 a.m. at Brown Funeral Home, 327 W. King St., Martinsburg. The Rev. John M. Emert will officiate. Burial will be in Rosedale Cemetery.
The family will receive friends today from 7 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Vivian O. Vesper
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Vivian Onalee Vesper, 76, of Martinsburg, died Wednesday, July 28, 1999, at her home.
Born Nov. 6, 1922, in Berkeley County, W.Va., she was the daughter of the late Harry B. and Thailia Keyton Barton.
She was a member of Bethany Presbyterian Church, and was a charter member of Church Women and a Sunday school teacher.
She is survived by her husband, Charles H. Vesper; a daughter, Melanie D. Kozmon of Martinsburg; a son, C. Victor Vesper of Martinsburg; nieces; nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by a daughter, Sharon V. Vesper.
The family will receive friends Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. at the home of Melanie and Joe Kozmon, Route 11 North, Martinsburg.
Memorial donations may be made to Berkeley County Humane Society, 1531 Charles Town Road, Martinsburg, WV 25401.
Arrangements are by Brown Funeral Home, Martinsburg.
Roger Patrick Jr.
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Roger Patrick Jr., 46, of Martinsburg, died Tuesday, July 27, 1999, at Winchester Medical Center.
Born Dec. 10, 1952, in Winchester, Va., he was the son of Roger Patrick Sr. and Betty Lou Walters Patrick of Inwood, W.Va.
He was a 1971 graduate of Musselman High School.
He was a senior systems programmer for Airline Pilots Association in Herndon, Va.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by a sister, Patricia Pulse of Bunker Hill, W.Va.; a brother, Rodney Patrick of Bunker Hill; two nieces and a nephew.
Graveside services will be Friday at 1 p.m. at Green Hill Cemetery in Berryville, Va. Evangelist Leroy K. Hurley Jr. will officiate.
The family will receive friends today from 7 to 9 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home, 327 W. King St., Martinsburg.
Elwood O. Hamstead
KEARNEYSVILLE, W.Va. - Elwood Obed "Ham" Hamstead, 86, of Kearneysville, died Tuesday, July 27, 1999, at his home.
Born July 14, 1913, in Eglon, W.Va., he was the son of the late Obed and Annie Ficke Hamstead.
He received his master's degree in entomology from West Virginia University. He was a graduate of Van Der Meer Tennis University.
He retired after 30 years with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He taught tennis.
He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
He was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Martinsburg, W.Va.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Elsie Genevieve Heinz Hamstead; two daughters, June Margolin of Cambridge, Mass., and Margaret Wilson of Pittsburgh; two sons, Braun Hamstead of Kearneysville and Carl David Hamstead of Silver Spring, Md.; and seven grandchildren.
A celebration of his life will be held Saturday, Sept. 11, at 4 p.m. at his home in Kearneysville.
The family will receive friends Sunday from 6 to 9 p.m. at his home in Kearneysville.
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of the Panhandle, 2015 Boyd Orchard Court, Martinsburg, WV 25401; or Audubon Society, 700 Broadway, New York, NY 10003.
Arrangements are by Melvin T. Strider Colonial Funeral Home, Charles Town, W.Va.
Betty L. Longerbeam
HARPERS FERRY, W.Va. - Betty Lou Longerbeam, 67, of Harpers Ferry, died Tuesday, July 27, 1999, at Winchester (Va.) Medical Center.
Born March 29, 1932, in Loudoun County, Va., she was the daughter of the late Henry Fenton and Nellie Erwin Brackett.
She was a member of Mission Tabernacle Holiness Church.
She is survived by her husband of 50 years, Elzy D. Longerbeam Sr.; six daughters, Judy Cogle of Silver Grove, W.Va., Carolyn Weatherholtz of Clearville, Pa., Debbie Stillwell of Harpers Ferry, Kathy Jenkins and Cindy Killebrew, both of Summit Point, W.Va., and Mary Conrad of Charles Town, W.Va.; two sons, Elzy D. Longerbeam Jr. of Charles Town and Kyle Longerbeam of Harpers Ferry; a sister, Ruby Longerbeam of Harpers Ferry; two brothers, David F. Brackett of Charles Town and Doug Brackett of Shenandoah Junction, W.Va.; 20 grandchildren, including, a grandson, Michael Cogle of Summit Point, whom she raised; and 10 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a sister, Carra Mae Thompson; three brothers, Thomas Fenton Brackett, Henry Fenton Brackett and John C. Brackett; and a granddaughter.
Services will be Friday at 11 a.m. at Mission Tabernacle Holiness Church, Mission Road, Harpers Ferry. The Rev. Lee Strickler will officiate. Burial will be in Pleasant View Memory Gardens, Martinsburg.
The family will receive friends today and Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. at Eackles-Spencer Funeral Home, 970 Washington St., Harpers Ferry.
James L. Grimm
RANSON, W.Va. - James LeRoy Grimm, 81, of Orchard Hills, died Monday, July 26, 1999, at Integrated Health Services of West Virginia in Charles Town, W.Va.
Born Oct. 13, 1917, in Bakerton, W.Va., he was the son of the late Frank E. and Clemma Mae Weaver Grimm.
He retired after 32 years with the Federal Emergency Management Agency in Bluemont, Va.
He was a Protestant.
He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, in the Eurpoean and Panama theaters.
He coached Little Leaue teams in the Charles Town-Ranson League. He had played for the former Bakerton Baseball Team.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Iola Moler Grimm; two daughters, Wynona Shreck and Joyce Jamison, both of Charles Town; a son, Barry L. Grimm of Charles Town; three sisters, Audrey Starliper of Martinsburg, W.Va., Eileen Twenty of Hagerstown and Connie Powell of Woodbridge, Va.; a brother, Warren Grimm of Brookhaven, Miss.; three grandchildren; nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Doris Leonard.
Services will be Thursday at 11 a.m. at Melvin T. Strider Colonial Funeral Home, Charles Town. The Rev. Jerry Mehaffey will officiate. Burial will be in Pleasant View Memory Gardens, Martinsburg.
The family will receive friends today from 7 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to Jefferson High School Baseball Program, Attention: John Lowery, Route 1, Box 83, Shenandoah Junction, WV 25442.
