FALLING WATERS, W.Va. - Commodore Edward Giffin, 71, of 1003 Williams Drive, and formerly of Fairplay, died Sunday, Dec. 27, 1998, at Washington County Hospital.
Born April 30, 1927, in Dargan, Md., he was the son of the late Theodore Thomas and Glendora Virginia Myers Giffin.
He was self-employed as a school bus contractor for 26 years, retiring in 1985. During that time he was employed with T.S. Alphin at the Hagerstown/Washington Regional Airport.
He was a member of Hagerstown Bible Church.
He was a member of A.A.R.P.
He is survived by his wife, Ardella Ruth Lohman Giffin; one son, James Edward Giffin of Falling Waters; and two grandsons.
He was preceded in death by one sister, Naomi Giffin; one brother, Dallas Nolan Giffin; and one stepfather, Jacob Dusing.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Albert L. Leaf Memorial Chapel of Osborne Funeral Home, 425 S. Conococheague St., Williamsport. The Rev. Dale R. Carver and the Rev. Gerald D. Carbaugh will officiate. Burial will be in Mount View cemetery, Sharpsburg.
The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 7 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home. The funeral home will be open Tuesday after 9 a.m. for the convenience of family and friends.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hagerstown Bible Church, 203 Summit Ave., Hagerstown, MD 21740.
Dorothy M. Peacock
BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. - Dorothy Mae Peacock, 68, of Berkeley Springs, and formerly of Forestville, Md., died Monday, Dec. 28, 1998, at her home.
Born Oct. 28, 1930, in Washington, D.C., she was the daughter of the late James and Alice Fodder Cox.
A real estate leasing consultant, she recently retired due to illness. She also was a homemaker.
She was of the Baptist faith.
She is survived by two sons, Clifford Carr "Chuck" Peacock of Portsmouth, Va., and Jay Robert Peacock of Berkeley Springs; seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by a sister; and an infant brother.
Private services and burial will be at Fort Lincoln cemetery, Brentwood, Md.
Memorial donations may be made to Humane Society of Morgan County, 4100 Valley Road, Berkeley Springs, WV 25411; or Hospice of the Panhandle, 2015 Boyd Orchard Court, Martinsburg, WV 25401.
Arrangements are by Helsley-Johnson Funeral Home, Berkeley Springs.
Alice T. Welton
PETERSBURG, W.Va. - Alice Thompson Welton, 81, of Petersburg, died Tuesday, Dec. 29, 1998, at Grant Memorial Hospital in Petersburg.
Born Nov. 13, 1917, in Petersburg, she was the daughter of the late Julius and Mary Paskel Thompson.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Welton, in 1955.
She was a graduate of Petersburg High School and business school.
After the death of her husband, she assumed editorship of The Grant County Press in Petersburg, which she carried on until she retired.
She was a member of Petersburg Presbyterian Church, where she was an elder.
She was a member of the West Virginia Press Association; and a charter member of the Grant County Arts Council.
She is survived by a daughter, Elizabeth Welton of Arlington, Va.; a sister, Frances Thompson Meyer of Hagerstown; a brother, F. Richard Thompson of Petersburg; and two grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a daughter, Margaret Welton; and three brothers, Paskel Thompson, Ralph Thompson and James Thompson.
Memorial services will be today at 7 p.m. at Petersburg Presbyterian Church, Petersburg. The Rev. Donald G. Scofield Jr. will officiate. Private burial will be in Maple Hill cemetery, Petersburg.
Memorial donations may be made to Grant Memorial Hospital, P.O. Box 1019, Petersburg, WV 26847.
Arrangements are by Schaeffer Funeral Home, Petersburg.
Ralph E. Merchant
CHERRY RUN, W.Va. - Ralph E. Merchant, 79, of Cherry Run, died Tuesday, Dec. 29, 1998, at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Martinsburg, W.Va.
Born June 7, 1919, in Morgan County, W.Va., he was the son of the late Willard and Iva M. Bohrer Merchant.
He was educated at Posie Hollow School in Morgan County.
A veteran of World War II, he served in the U.S. Army.
He worked for Berkeley Club Bottling; and owned and operated Merchants Flooring until his retirement.
He was a past member of the VFW and American Legion in Berkeley Springs, W.Va.
He is survived by his companion, Ramona Fries of Hedgesville, W.Va.; a sister, Rosalie Graham of Berkeley Springs; two daughters, Laura White of Martinsburg and Ethelene Dawson of Berkeley Springs; two sons, Michael Merchant of Berkeley Springs and Ronald Merchant of Hagerstown; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two sisters, Eveline Taylor and Vernie Newbraugh; and a brother, Detral H. Merchant.
Services will be Thursday at 11 a.m. at Brown Funeral Home. Chaplain Jerry W. Mehaffey will officiate. Burial will be in Rosedale cemetery, with military graveside services by Newton D. Baker Post 896, VFW; and Berkeley Post 14, American Legion.
The family will receive friends today from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Marva J. Catrow
AUGUSTA, W.Va. - Marva Jean Long Catrow, 60, of Augusta, and formerly of Martinsburg, W.Va., died Monday, Dec. 28, 1998, at her home.
Born Nov. 22, 1938, in Martinsburg, she was the daughter of the late Harry Long and Thelma Cave Brown of Martinsburg.
She was a retired quality assurance worker for Corning Glass Works.
She was a member of Paw Paw United Methodist Church in Paw Paw, W.Va.
She was a member of Chapter F Gold Wing Road Riders.
In addition to her mother, she is survived by a daughter, Debbie Dilkes of Hedgesville, W.Va.; a son, Glennie Catrow of Gerrardstown, W.Va.; two sisters, Angela Walters of Hedgesville and Barbara Brown of Martinsburg; two brothers, Bill Long of Hedgesville and Wayne Long of Inwood, W.Va.; two grandchildren; and her companion, R. Lindsey Santmire of Bloomery, W.Va.
Services will be Thursday at 11 a.m. at Rosedale Funeral Chapel. Pastor Shawn Edwards will officiate. Burial will be in Rosedale cemetery.
The family will receive friends today from 7 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hospice of the Panhandle, 2015 Boyd Orchard Court, Martinsburg, WV 25401.
Carl T. Johnson
BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. - Carl T. Johnson, 75, of 105 Saint John St., died Tuesday, Dec. 29, 1998, as the result of an auto accident on Route 495 near Swanton, Md.
Born Jan. 20, 1923, in Keyser, W.Va., he was the son of the late William A. and Emma Rice Johnson.
He operated NuWay Cleaners in Berkeley Springs and other areas in Maryland. He was an appraiser for Morgan County, W.Va.
A veteran of World War II, he served in the U.S. Army in the Pacific Theater.
He was a member of Francis Asbury Methodist Church in Berkeley Springs; served on the Finance Committee; was the Financial Secretary for the Sunday School; and was former secretary for the church.
He was a member of Deford Masonic Lodge 88 in Berkeley Springs; and was a former member of Berkeley Springs Lions Club and Oris Shrine Temple in Wheeling, W.Va.
He is survived by his wife, Eloween Evans Johnson; a daughter, Karlyn S. Price of Deep Creek Lake, Md.; four sisters, Eleanor Stemple of Oakland, Md., Phyllis Helbig of Oakland, Nancy Glotfelty of Sarasota, Fla., and Rita Trout of North Port, Fla.; two brothers, Wayne Johnson of Oakland and Gerald Johnson of Myrtle Beach, S.C.; and a grandson.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Oneda Davis; and four brothers, Amos Johnson, Gene Johnson, John Johnson and Donald Johnson.
A joint service for him and his granddaughter, Meghan Price, will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Oakland. The Rev. Roger A. Harrison Sr. and Ann W. Harrison will officiate. Burial will be in Garrett Memorial Garden, Oakland.
Friends will be received Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at Fredlock Funeral Home, 31 Jones St., Piedmont, W.Va.; and Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at the church in Oakland.
Memorial donations may be made to Francis Asbury Methodist Church, 201 Wilkes St., Berkeley Springs, WV 25411.
