Dean Virgil Morningstar, 58, of Parkersburg
passed away Feb. 4, 2006, at his home.
He was born May 27, 1947, in Marietta, a son
of the late Virgil and Cora Moore Morningstar.
He was retired from The Parkersburg News as a
motor route carrier having served for 30
years. He was a licensed West Virginia
auctioneer. He loved and enjoyed tinkering
with and fixing cars and was a wonderful
grandfather.
Surviving is his wife, Rhonda Davis
Morningstar whom he always called “Sweet
Heart”; two stepsons, Maurice (Butch) Massey
and his wife, Jennie, of Parkersburg and
Randall Gene Massey and his wife, Carlotta, of
Chipley, Fla.; four grandchildren, Maggie
Minick and husband, Ken, of Columbus, Carrie
Massey of Athens, Ryan Massey and Alijah
Massey, both of Chipley, Fla.; two great-
grandchildren, Meredith (Cup Cake) Minick and
Gordon (Little Dean) Minick, both of Columbus;
one sister, Debby Brown and husband, Don, of
Marietta; and a special friend, Denzil Miller
of Parkersburg and his pet dogs, Milly and
Tuffy Bear.
It was his request that his body be cremated.
There will be no visitation or services.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Kimes
Funeral Home & Cremation Services.
William E. “Buzz” Johnson, 50, of Parkersburg
passed away Feb. 1, 2006, at St. Joseph’s
Hospital following a brief illness.
He was born in Wood County, the son of William
E. (Elbert) Johnson Sr. and Rosalee Staats
Johnson of Vienna. Buzz was a member of the
Davisville Community Chapel and was a student
at Mountain State College, majoring in medical
assistance. He had served in the U.S. Air
Force. He enjoyed golf, playing guitar and
riding a bike with his son.
Survivors include his wife, Sandra Ray
Johnson; two sons, Jeremiah Johnson of the
home and William E. Johnson III of
Parkersburg; two daughters, Tiffaney Fluharty
and her husband, Aaron, of Parkersburg and
Terri Garrison and her husband, Bill, of
Davisville; four grandchildren, Tiara
Fluharty, Joseph and Zachary Garrison and
Casey Johnson; three sisters, Suzi Scholl and
husband, Steve, of Vienna, Tina Johnson Whited
and fiance, Terry Hopper, of Madison, N.C.,
and Tami Summers and husband, Steve, of
Parkersburg; several nieces and nephews; and
his mother-in-law, Agnes Davis Ray of
Parkersburg.
The funeral service will be 1 p.m. Saturday at
Kimes Funeral Home, 521 Fifth Street,
Parkersburg, with Pastor Ray Seebaugh and
Pastor Mike Seebaugh officiating. Burial will
follow at Evergreen North Cemetery. Friends
may call from 2-8 p.m. today at the funeral
home.
Kathryn E. Peasley, 87, of Willowbrook Acres,
passed away Jan. 29, 2006, at St. Joseph’s
Hospital in Parkersburg.
She was born Aug. 10, 1918, in North East,
Pa., a daughter of the late Clayton E. Burch
and Pearl H. Lyons Burch. She was a member of
the North Parkersburg Baptist Church.
Kathryn was very well known in the Parkersburg
area for her piano instruction for over 20
years, specializing in classical and popular
music styles. She was also a freelance artist
in water and oil painting. She was a member of
the Landmark Garden Club and the Parkersburg
Art Center, where she also served as docent.
Surviving are her daughter, Sandra E. Hopkins
and her fiance, John Bush, both of
Parkersburg; her granddaughter, Kathryn M.
McClead and her husband, Michael, of Belpre;
and a great-grandson, Alex Ford.
She was preceded in death by her husband,
Charles E. Peasley, in 1974; and an infant
brother. She was the last surviving member of
her immediate family.
There will be a memorial service at 7 p.m.
Friday at Kimes Funeral Home, 521 Fifth
Street, Parkersburg. Members of her family
will be speaking at the service. The family
will be receiving friends one hour prior to
the service Friday at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be directed to the
Parkersburg Art Center or to the Humane
Society of Parkersburg.
Joseph Carlton “Joe” Crouch, 78, of Waverly,
W.Va., passed away Jan. 29, 2006, at St.
Joseph’s Hospital following an extended
illness.
Joe was born Sept. 29, 1927, in Valley Head,
W.Va., a son of the late Mary Eva Riggleman
Crouch and Warren Clay Crouch. He graduated
from Elkins High School and attended Davis &
Elkins College in Elkins, W.Va. He served in
the Navy during World War II and in the Army
during the Korean War. He retired after 45
years of service with Montgomery Wards and
moved back to West Virginia in 1992 to manage
the Parkersburg store. Joe was a member of the
Williamstown Masonic Lodge 129, past patron of
the Vienna Chapter 151 Order of the Eastern
Star, member of the Moose Lodge 118, Eagles
2307, American Legion Post 15, lifetime member
of the VFW in Parkersburg, 32nd Degree Mason,
Scottish Rite, Nemesis Shrine, Royal Arch
Mason Jerusalem 3, Knights Templar and a
Kentucky Colonel.
Survivors include his beloved wife, Patty Barr
Monroe Crouch; stepsons, Christopher and wife,
Sandy Monroe, of Vienna and Robert Monroe of
Waverly; grandsons, Sean and Michael Monroe; a
sister, Ann Weaver and husband, Russell, of
Buckhannon, W.Va.; brothers, Bob Crouch and
wife, Ted, of Fort Pierce, Fla., and Howard
Crouch of Wadsworth; sister-in-law, Linda
VanClief and husband, Charles; brother-in-law,
Carl Barr of Vienna; several nieces and
nephews; also his beloved Eastern Star family
throughout the state of West Virginia.
Joe was preceded in death by his infant son,
Rocco Crouch; his first wife, Ann Crouch;
sister, Thelma Hartman; brothers, Donald
Wilson Crouch and Henry Clay Crouch; nephew,
Mike David Crouch; and nieces, Le Ann Crouch
and Linda Williams.
The funeral service will be 1 p.m. Thursday at
Kimes Funeral Home, 521 Fifth Street,
Parkersburg, with Mr. Lewis Braithwaite
officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. Olivet
Cemetery with Masonic graveside rites by the
Williamstown Masonic Lodge. The family will be
receiving friends from 2-8 p.m. Wednesday and
one hour prior to the service Thursday at the
funeral home. There will be an Eastern Star
service at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral
home.
