Susanne “Sophie” Ponek age 89 of Westover passed away Friday, December 25, 2009 at Point Manor Personal Care Home in Point Marion, PA. She was born February 19, 1920 in Morgantown a daughter of the late John and Edith Konchesky Tolka.
Sophie and her husband John at one time owned and operated a restaurant on the WVU Campus. She had also been employed as a cook for the University Hospital. Sophie was a member of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church where she enjoyed the fellowship of her church family. She was a loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother who loved crocheting, sewing, and gardening. She was the world’s best cook and loved baking for all her family and friends.
Sophie is survived by two daughters, Susanne Stone and husband Robert of Morgantown and Josephine Watts of Point Marion, grandchildren, Kelley Foreman, Kevin Stone, Jonathan Stone, Sarah Johns, Kimberly Keever, Robin St.Clair, Megan Stone and Michael Watts, and nine great grandchildren.
Sophie was preceded in death by her husband, John Richard Ponek, one son John Richard Ponek Jr., one sister Stella Smalsky and one brother Louis Tolka.
Friends may call at St Francis de Sales Catholic Church, 1 Guthrie Lane Morgantown on Monday from 2-4 & 6-8 with a Christian Wake service at 8:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday at 10:00 AM at the Church with Father Leon Alexander as celebrant. Burial will follow at Beverly Hills Cemetery. The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of WV, 1299 Pineview Drive # 3, Morgantown, WV 26505.
Phyllis Janes Popovich, resident at Heritage Point and long time Morgantown resident on the Tyrone Road died Monday, July 6th, 2009. Born in Martinsburg, the daughter of Marvin and Alice Janes, she was a 1944 graduate of Martinsburg High School. She enrolled at WVU in September 1947 where she met her husband, Peter, then an instructor in the Chemistry department. She completed her bachelors degree at Washington State University while her husband completed a PhD. She worked at WVU in admissions, and in Student Educational Services. Later she worked at NIOSH in the Regional Medical Program’s X-Ray Receiving Center. She was a member of the First Christian Church of Morgantown. She was a devoted Mountaineer football fan.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Dr. Peter Popovich, her daughter Lynn P. Pearse (husband Jon) , and a grandson Seth Popovich. She is survived by her sons and their spouses Peter (wife Ann) of Warrenton Virginia, and Keith (wife Barbara) of Butte, Montana. She is also survived by 9 grandchildren; Emily Pearse McGinnis (husband Patrick), Timothy Pearse, Peter Andrew- II (wife Emily), Daniel, Stephen (wife Amy), Jordan, Nathan, Kathrine, and Erin Popovich, as well as a great grandson, Liam McGinnis. Additionally she is survived by her sister, JoAnne Knauss (husband Don). She had a dear friend late in life - Ed Monahan.
Interment will be at Rosedale Cemetery in Martinsburg Friday July 10, at 2:30. A celebration of her life will be held at the First Christian Church of Morgantown on Saturday July 11 at 11:00 AM.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Morgantown Community Kitchen – in care of the Trinity Episcopal Church, 247 Wiley St, Morgantown, 26505, First Christian Church general fund, 100 Cobun Ave, Morgantown, 26505, or the US Paralympics in care of Julie O’Neill, 100 Olympic Plaza, Colorado Springs, CO, 80909. McCulla Funeral Home, Morgantown is in charge of arrangements.
Sheridan “Dick” Powell, age 82 of Westover passed away Saturday, June 19, 2010 at Ruby Memorial Hospital. He was born November 28, 1927 in Morgantown a son of the late Sheridan William and Mary Frances John Powell.
Dick was a long time employee of the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Morgantown and was a retired inter-campus bus driver for WVU. He was a Jehovah’s Witness, Morgantown Congregation. Dick was a loving husband, father, and pap pap who will be missed by all.
Dick is survived by his wife of 62 years, Helen Portick Powell, two daughters Nancy Powell Wikoff and husband Howard of NJ and Patricia Powell McCauley and husband Lewis of Morgantown, four grandchildren and spouses, Jeremy and Jennifer Wikoff of NJ, Rebecca and Jack Kamer of NJ, Carrie Yaskoweak and Shawn Thomas of Morgantown and Jessica and Marcus Ullom of Morgantown and eight great grandchildren, Andrew, Megan, Rhyann, Erin, William, Landon, Marc, and Laila, two sisters-in-law, Valena Powell of Morgantown, and Gay Powell of Rockville, MD
Dick was preceded in death by two sisters, Gladys Powell and Edna May, and two brothers, Arthur W. Powell and Hazen G. Powell, and one granddaughter, Lizabeth.
Friends may call at the McCulla Funeral Home on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 from 10:00 AM until the 11:00 AM Memorial Service conducted by Dennis Thomas of the Morgantown Congregation. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Kingdom Hall, 379 Smithtown Road, Morgantown, WV 26508.
Bonnie M. Pratt age 72 of Hagans passed away Tuesday, November 11, 2008 at her home. She was born October 3, 1936 in Red Creek a daughter of the late Isom and Bessie Bonner Carr.
Bonnie was retired as a factory worker at Sterling Faucet after thirty years and attended the Hagans Christian Church. She enjoyed baking, sewing, and going to the beach, but her greatest love was spending time with her husband, children and grandchildren.
Bonnie is survived by her husband, Bernard Pratt, three daughters, Darleta and George Bogdanich and granddaughter Holly of Fairmont, Kathy and Bill Gatian and grandson Billy of Morgantown, and Donna and Rick Adkins of Hagans and grandchildren Jerrod and Caitlin Adkins and great granddaughter Violet Adkins, one sister, Pearl Michael of Rivesville, two brothers, Rob and Marie Carr of Ohio and Jim and Rose Carr of Fairmont and several nieces and nephews.
Three sisters preceded Bonnie in death, Grace Satterfield of Rivesville, Elyatta Moore of Rivesville and Lenora Moats and two brothers Delbert Carr and Clarence Carr and one infant brother Elmer Carr.
Friends may call from 3-5 & 7-9 PM Thursday at the McCulla Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM Friday at the McCulla Funeral Home with Rev. Junior Koon officiating. Burial will follow at Beverly Hills Cemetery.
Betty Lou Prentice, age 81 of Parkview Drive, Westover passed away Saturday, September 19, 2009 at her home surrounded by her loving husband and daughters. She was born February 14, 1928 in Kitzmiller, MD a daughter of the late George and Marie Spiker.
Betty was a longtime twenty-year employee of both Sterling Faucet and the PI Beta Phi Sorority House. She was a Methodist by faith.
Betty is survived by her husband of 65 years, George H. “Granddad” Prentice, two daughters and spouses, Mary Edith and Allen Johnson of Brookhaven and Mildred Jean and Wilbert Austin of Fort Wayne, IN, grandchildren, Todd Austin, Jody Cooper, Pam Griffetts, Roy Utt Jr., and Beverly Bracken and seven great grandchildren.
Friends may call at the McCulla Funeral Home from 6-8 PM on Monday and on Tuesday from 10:00 AM until 11:00 AM. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday at 11:00 AM at McCulla Funeral Home with Rev. Kevin Cain officiating. Burial will follow at the Gladesville Cemetery.
Vesta Z. Price, 85, of Morgantown went to be with her Lord, Saturday, January 30, 2010 at Golden Living Center of Morgantown. She was born October 17, 1924 in Morgantown a daughter of the late Virgil D. Coombs and the late Mary E. Howell Coombs.
Vesta was a longtime member of the Riverside Apostolic Church who loved to sing praises to her God. Her favorite pastimes were reading the Bible, crocheting and working puzzle books.
Vesta is survived by one daughter, Patricia Coombs of Morgantown, one son Richard B. Price and wife Carol of Morgantown, one sister, Edith Eisentrout and husband Clarence of Westover, five grandsons, Thomas Price and wife Angie of Indiana, Joseph Price of Morgantown, Eric Price of Matwan, WV, David Coombs and wife Tabatha of Morgantown, and Kevin Coombs and wife Kendra of Morgantown, two granddaughters, Elizabeth Price of Matwan, WV and Jessica Stockett and husband Jason of Morgantown, nine great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Vesta was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Richard H. Price, her son, Rev. Archie Price, her son-in-law, Dwight “Ike” Coombs, one granddaughter, Kimberly Price, four sisters, Helen Toothman, Josie Stuyvesant, Emma Hoare and Mary Ette Stevens, and one brother, Virgil W. Coombs.
Friends may call at the McCulla Funeral Home on Monday from 4-7 PM. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday at 1:00 PM at the McCulla Funeral Home with her nephew, Rev. Danny Price officiating. Burial will follow at Mount Calvary Cemetery.
Pauline Prickett, age 80 of Morgantown passed away Sunday, January 31, 2010 at Sundale Nursing Home. She was born April 4, 1920 in West Virginia a daughter of the late John R. and Ora Mae Prickett.
Pauline was one of five children and is the last surviving member of her family.
Graveside services will be held on Wednesday at 11:00 AM at Pisgah Cemetery with Rev. Kevin Cain officiating. McCulla Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements
Ruth Ellen Rakosi, age 77 of Bethel Church Road, Morgantown passed away Saturday, June 21, 2008 at Monongalia General Hospital. She was born June 30, 1930 in Meadowbrook, WV a daughter of the late Delbert and Elva Collins Moore.
Ruth was a loving homemaker and a Methodist by faith. She enjoyed playing bingo and traveling.
Ruth is survived by her husband of 60 years, Webster G. Rakosi; four daughters, Janie Gatian of Granville, Janice Copper and husband Jack of Tallahassee, FL, Janet Loveridge of Maidsville and Joyce Eddy and husband Rick of Okeechobee, FL; one son Greg Rakosi and Sandy Snyder of Maidsville; grandchildren, Jodi, Buffie, and Blaine Gatian and wife Barbara, Cori and John Copper, Amy Riggleman, Kelly Loveridge, Stephanie and Michael Rakosi; and seven great grandchildren.
Four sisters and one brother preceded Ruth in death.
Friends may call from 3-5 & 7-9 PM Monday at the McCulla Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Tuesday at the McCulla Funeral Home with Reverends Larry Peters and Paula Policano officiating. Burial will follow at Bethel Cemetery.
Mary Ann Nevera Rice, age 71 of Willis Drive, Morgantown passed away Tuesday, April 7, 2009 at Ruby Memorial Hospital after a year long battle with lung cancer. She survived breast cancer from 1987. She was born at her late parent’s home in Hagans, WV on September 16, 1937.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Joe Sr. and Susan Porto Nevera, a brother Joe Nevera Jr., her grandparents, Jose Porto Sr. and wife Susan Gonzalez Porto and several aunts and uncles.
She retired from the Monongalia Board of Education after 23 years as a teacher’s aide for Head Start and she loved all the children she worked with. She enjoyed traveling but her greatest love was spending time with her children and grandchildren.
Mary Ann is survived by her husband Dale Wayne Rice. They were married for 481/2 years and were married on August 28, 1960 at Pleasantville, NJ. She is also survived by five children, two daughters, Madonna Rice Maroulis and husband Costa of Washington, PA and Leigh Ann Rice McCulty and husband Matt of Mt. Morris, three sons, Wayne Joseph Rice and Fiancée Judy Regondon of Morgantown, Dale Thomas Rice Sr of Morgantown and Scott Neveira Rice and wife Paula Johnson Rice of Jakes Run, five grandchildren, Dale Thomas Rice II of Morgantown, Autumn Marie Rice of Morgantown, Amira Maroulis of Washington, PA and Lanigan and Arison McCulty of Mt. Morris, one sister, Josephine Livengood and husband James Paul of Morgantown, sister-in-law, Eleanor Nevera of Morgantown, brother-in-law Dave Rice of Los Angelos, CA and Paul Edward Rice and wife Rebecca of Morgantown, aunts Sally Porto Sheperd of Morgantown, Auroa Porto Fuller of Westover, several nephews and nieces and great nephews and nieces and cousins.
She enjoyed traveling and in 2002 she went to Qatar with her daughter, Leigh Ann and grandson Dale Thomas for a month, when her daughter Madonna gave birth to Amira. She also traveled to Spain several times with different family members to visit relatives. She has been to many countries and this past fall, traveled to Europe, visiting seven countries. She also went to Hawaii with her husband, Dale in September and traveled many times to the Dominican Republic. She also went to the Midwest on a dinosaur dig, finding two dinosaur bones.
Friends may call from 3-5 & 7-9 PM Friday at the McCulla Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday at the McCulla Funeral Home with Rev. William Page officiating. Burial will follow at Beverly Hills Cemetery. The family would like to extend special thanks to Dr. David Bowlin and nurse Lorrie for their special care.
Melvin J. Richards age 63 of Dunn Street, Morgantown passed away Friday, October 15, 2010 at his home. He was born July 24, 1947 in Morgantown a son of the late Charles G. and Ida Mae Zonner Richards Sr.
Melvin had formerly been employed as a custodian at WV University until becoming disabled. He then loved working around outside the house or inside cleaning. Melvin was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Melvin is survived by his wife Donna Carr Richards, three daughters, April Shoemaker and husband Steven of Morgantown, Carrie Lewis of Fairmont, and Rebecca Hayse of Alabama, four sons, Kenneth Richards and wife Kristine of Grafton, Adam Richards and wife Angela of Morgantown, Edward Richards of Morgantown, and Keith Richards of Morgantown, three brothers, Charles Richards, Harold Richards, and Jerry Richards all of Morgantown, and three grandchildren, Steven Shoemaker Jr., Hunter Shoemaker and Troy Richards, and several nieces and nephews.
Melvin was also preceded in death by five sisters and two brothers.
Friends may call at the McCulla Funeral Home from 2-4 & 7-9 PM on Monday and on Tuesday from 10:00AM until 11:00 AM. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday at 11:00 AM with Bishop Irv Schuetzner officiating. Burial will follow at Beverly Hills Cemetery. The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to McCulla Funeral Home.
Lydia Jeanine Roach, 52, of Baltimore, MD died unexpectedly June 27, 2009 at Bayview Medical Center as a result of a pedestrian accident.
She was born November 11, 1956 in Morgantown, a daughter of Geraldine F. Roach and the late H. Eldon Roach.
Lydia was a 1974 graduate of Morgantown High School and held a Master’s Degree in Special Education magnum cum laude from West Virginia University.
She was currently self-employed, after working as a teacher in West Virginia, Ohio, and Maryland schools. Lydia had served as a missionary teacher in Truk, Microindonesia until her diabetes forced her return to the States.
Lydia was a member of the Westover United Methodist Church. She was a devoted daughter. She lived her life serving the Lord she loved in all she did. She was an avid quilter and crafter, who had many projects going on at the same time.
Surviving in addition to her mother is her uncle John (Jessie) Friend, Sr., of Brookhaven and first cousins who were her extended family Elizabeth (Bob) Thewlis, Fred (Sherry) Friend, John Friend, Jr., Jim (Shirley) Friend, Herbert Baker, Kathy (Jeff) Curtin and other cousins who miss her.
Friends may call at Westover United Methodist Church, 28 North Street, Westover, WV on Saturday, August 8, 2009 from 10:00 AM until 11:00 AM. A celebration of Life ceremony will be held at 11 AM with Pastor Rose “Jo” McCartney officiating. Per Lydia’s wishes she was cremated, and private family graveside services will be scheduled at a later time.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Lydia’s memory to Westover United Methodist Church, 28 North St., Westover, WV, 26501; Christian Help, 219 Walnut St., Morgantown, WV 26505; Habitat for Humanity, 293 Willey St., Morgantown, WV 26505, or your favorite charity.
