MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Yolande Virginia Gehri, 94, a resident of MonPointe Continuing Care Center, and formerly of Shepherdstown, W.Va., died Friday, Nov. 13, 1998, at the center.
Born Nov. 6, 1904, in Washington, D.C., she was the daughter of the late Homer C. and Yolande E. "Daisy" Coates Malone.
She was preceded in death by her husband, the Rev. William G. Gehri, in 1946.
She was a 1922 graduate of Shepherd State Normal School, now Shepherd College.
She was a pianist and organist.
She participated in church and area organizations in Morgantown and Memphis, Tenn., including Morgantown Music Club. During World War II, she was active in Traveler's Aid Society and YMCA Board. During the 1950s, she was active in the Southern Christian Leadership Coalition.
She was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, Shepherdstown, and had served as organist. From 1987, she was associated with the congregation of St. Thomas, a Becket Episcopal Church in Morgantown.
She and her daughter opened the first interracial nursery school in the Shepherdstown area.
She is survived by one daughter, Sylvia Yolande Sperow of Morgantown; eight grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by one daughter, Virginia Lee Solomon; and one grandson.
Services will be Friday at 2 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church, Shepherdstown. George T. Schramm will officiate. Burial will be at Elmwood cemetery, Shepherdstown.
Visitation will be at the church one hour prior to the service on Friday.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to MonPointe Activities Fund, 30 Vandervort Drive, Morgantown, WV 26505.
Arrangements are by Brown Funeral Home, Martinsburg, W.Va.
Dorothy V. Thomas
KEARNEYSVILLE, W.Va. - Dorothy Virginia Thomas, 75, of Kearneysville, died Sunday, Nov. 15, 1998, at her home.
Born Aug. 8, 1923, in Charles Town, W.Va., she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Florence Rowland.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin E. Thomas Sr.
She was a homemaker.
She was a member of Kearneysville Presbyterian Church.
She is survived by one daughter, Charlotte Ann Padgett of Leetown, W.Va.; five sons, Marvin E. Thomas Jr. of Harpers Ferry, W.Va., Tony Thomas and Gary W. Thomas, both of Shepherdstown, W.Va., Larry W. Thomas of Barnwell, S.C., and Kenneth Thomas of Charles Town; 10 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, Joseph Rowland and William Rowland.
Services will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Kearneysville Presbyterian Church, Kearneysville. John Cushwa, the Rev. Robin Reese and the Rev. Robert Campbell will officiate. Burial will be in Pleasant View Memory Gardens, Martinsburg, W.Va.
The family will receive friends today from 7 to 9 p.m. at Jefferson Chapel Funeral Home, Ranson, W.Va.
Russell B. Pottorff
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - The Rev. Russell B. Pottorff, 100, of Martinsburg, died Sunday, Nov. 15, 1998, at his home.
Born Nov. 29, 1897, in Adams County, Pa., he was the son of the late Clayton and Mary Wolf Pottorff.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Carrie Hayburger Pottorff.
He was a retired Assemblies of God minister.
He was a member of Calvary Assembly of God Church, Ranson, W.Va.
He is survived by his wife, P. Beulah Fields Pottorff; two daughters, Genevie Mazurek and Margel Sakorski, both of Lakeland, Fla.; one stepdaughter, Wanda C. Hardy of Martinsburg; three stepsons, Harmon Fields of Raleigh, N.C., Leland Fields of Port Orange, Fla., and Billy Fields of Luray, Va.; six grandchildren; eight step-grandchildren; great-grandchildren; and great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by one son, Donald Pottorff.
Services will be Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home, 327 W. King St., Martinsburg. The Rev. William P. Reed and the Rev. Arthur Beahm will officiate. Burial will be in Fairview cemetery, Mercersburg, Pa.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home today from 7 to 9 p.m.
Lance W. Cole Sr.
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Lance W. Cole Sr., 45, of Route 4, died Sunday, Nov. 15, 1998, at Winchester Medical Center, Winchester, Va.
Born Dec. 18, 1952, in Berkeley County, W.Va., he was the son of Granville R. Cole of Hedgesville, W.Va., and the late Louise Domer Cole.
He worked as a truck driver for the Evening Journal.
In addition to his father, he is survived by his wife, Carole Markley Cole; one son, Lance W. Cole Jr. of Martinsburg; two brothers, Granville D. Cole and Wayne D. Cole, both of Martinsburg; and one grandson.
He was preceded in death by one sister, Darlene K. Price.
Services will be Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. at Brown Funeral Home, 327 W. King St., Martinsburg. The Rev. J. Clyde Brooks will officiate. Burial will be in Pleasant View Memory Gardens.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home today from 7 to 9 p.m.
Barbara Albers
HEDGESVILLE, W.Va. - Barbara Albers, 47, of Hedgesville, died Sunday, Nov. 15, 1998, at City Hospital in Martinsburg, W.Va.
Born Dec. 23, 1950, in Washington, D.C., she was the daughter of John Darling of Martinsburg and Ruth Fox Darling of Baltimore.
She retired from Bell South as a customer service representative.
She attended Mount Zion Episcopal Church, Hedgesville.
In addition to her parents, she is survived by her husband, Philip Jay Albers; one daughter, Ann Marie Morris of New Orleans; one sister, Pauline Rowley of Laurel, Md.; three brothers, John Darling Jr. and James Frederick Darling, both of Laurel, and Edward Carl Darling of Baltimore; and two grandchildren.
