GLENN A. GANK
KEYSER, W.Va. - Glenn A. Gank, 80, of Route 4, Keyser, died after a short and courageous battle with cancer on Saturday, May 10, 1997, at Memorial Hospital Hospice, Cumberland.
Born Sept. 10, 1916, in Hutton, Md., he was the son of the late George and Mary Etta (Bolinger) Shank. He also was preceded in death by eight brothers; three sisters; and two grandchildren.
Mr. Gank retired as a yard foreman with the B&O; Railroad after 40 years of service. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Keyser. Mr. Gank was an avid hunter and fisherman. He was a member of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen. He enjoyed a hobby of woodworking and was a talented wood worker.
Surviving are his wife, Dena L. (Johnson) Gank; one son, Glenn E. "Sonny" Gank, Keyser; and one daughter, Brenda E. Kitzmiller, Keyser; one grandson, Don Allan Gank; one great-granddaughter; and one sister, Lena Lantz, Oakland.
Friends will be received at the Markwood McKenzie Funeral Home, Keyser, on Monday from 7 to 9 p.m.
Services will be conducted at the funeral home on Tuesday at 11 a.m. with Dr. Parker L. Hinzman officiating.
Interment will be in Potomac Memorial Gardens, Keyser.
MICHAEL K. DAY
KEYSER, W.Va. - Michael Kelly Day, 44, of 135 Warner St., Keyser, went to be with his Lord on Wednesday, June 4, 1997, on the Savage River as the result of a boating accident.
Born October 11, 1952, at Takoma Park, Md., he was a son of Warren Kelly Day, Parson, W.Va., and the late Marie P. (Corbett) Day. He also was preceded in death by one sister, Terry Ann Day.
Mr. Day was a learning disabilities teacher at the Keyser Primary-Middle School and served as the head football coach at Keyser High School. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Keyser, where he served as the young adult Sunday School teacher and was a lay speaker. He was the local ambassador for the Promise Keepers.
He was a 1971 graduate of Parsons High School, Parsons, where he was a member of the football, baseball and basketball teams. He was a 1973 graduate of Potomac State College where he was presented the Outstanding Offensive Back Award. He earned a master's degree in educational administration and a master's degree in counseling psychology from West Virginia University.
Mr. Day had taught at Paden City Middle School, Paden City; Rockbridge County High School, Fairfield, Va.; Davis Correctional Center, Davis; Piedmont Primary-Middle School, Piedmont; Burlington Children's Home, Burlington; Fort Hill High School, Cumberland, Md.; and the Frankfort High School, Short Gap.
Surviving in addition to his father are his wife, Dawna (Grayson) Day; two sons, Michael Jonathan Day and Daniel Kelly Day, both at home; one brother, Danny William Day, Parsons; and one sister, Donna E. Gutshall, Moore, S.C.
Friends will be received at the Rotruck-Smith Funeral Home, Keyser, on Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. and on Saturday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
Services will be conducted at the First United Methodist Church on Sunday at 4 p.m. with Dr. Parker L. Hinzman and the Rev. Michael Dean officiating. The body will be taken to the church one hour prior to services.
Interment will be in the St. Thomas cemetery, Keyser. The family requests that expressions of sympathy take the form of contributions to the Kelly Day Scholarship Fund, c/o The American Trust Bank, 67 North Main Street, Keyser, WV 26726.
LOLA M. FRANCIS
KEYSER, W.Va. - Lola M. Francis, 88, of 12 N. Main St., Keyser, died Wednesday, June 4, 1997, at Heartland of Keyser Nursing Home.
Born Feb. 14, 1909, in Barton, Md., she was the daughter of the late Perry Phillips and the late Mary Ellen (Brooks) Phillips. She also was preceded in death by her husband, Frank Francis, in 1954; a granddaughter, Karen Bush; one brother, Aubrey Phillips; and two sisters, Alma Francis and Olive Morrison.
Mrs. Francis was a homemaker. She formerly worked at West Virginia Pulp and Paper. She was a member of Assumption Catholic Church, Keyser.
Surviving are one son, Jerry Francis and wife Martha, Keyser; three daughters, Betty Simpson, Keyser, Rosemary Tichnell and husband Willard, and Cindy Leatherman and husband Norman, all of New Creek; two sisters, Sylvia Wilt, New Jersey, and Helen Fout, Harrisonburg, Va.; grandchildren, Donald Francis, David Francis, Jerry Simpson, Kim Simpson, Sharon Simpson, Jody Leatherman, and Jamie Leatherman; and great-grandchildren, Ashley Kuhn, Becky Francis, Jeremy Simpson, and Bryan Simpson.
Friends will be received at the Boal Funeral Home, Westernport, on Thursday from 7 to 9 and Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
The Rosary will be recited at the funeral home on Friday at 7 p.m.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the Assumption Catholic Church, Keyser, on Saturday at 10 a.m. with Father Ivan Lebar, TOR, as celebrant.
GRACE E. ABERNATHY
ELK GARDEN, W.Va. - Grace Elizabeth Abernathy, 81, of Elk Garden, died Wednesday, April 2, 1997, in the Washington Hospital Center, Washington, D.C.
Born Nov. 14, 1915, in Greenland Gap, she was the daughter of the late C. E. and Emma (Moreland) Reed. She also was preceded in death by her husband, Charles W. "Bud" Abernathy; four brothers; and three sisters.
Grace was retired from the Mineral County Health Department. She was a member of Sulphur United Methodist Church; the Charge Choir; the United Methodist Women Church Group; Rebecca Lodge; and the Ladies Auxiliary, VFW Mount Storm.
Surviving are two sons, Dale and wife Ginny Abernathy, Keyser, and Dick and wife Bobbie Abernathy, Marion, N.C.; two daughters, Dorothy Schoenly, and Jean Knotts and husband Cliff, all of Elk Garden; one sister, Corrine Reed, Harrisburg, Pa.; nine grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
Friends will be received at the David A. Burdock Funeral Home, Kitzmiller, Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
Services will be held at the Nethken Hill Methodist Church Saturday at 2 p.m. with the Rev. William Withers and the Rev. Joseph Gerstell officiating.
JOHN H. DAVIS SR.
KEYSER, W.Va. - John H. Davis Sr., 77, of Route 1, Box 216, Keyser, died Monday, May 12, 1997, at Memorial Hospital, Cumberland, Md.
Born Nov. 1, 1919, at Barnum, Md., he was a son of the late William Edward and Sylvia Mae (Farris) Davis. He also was preceded in death by his wife, Leona I. (Haggerty) Davis; two brothers, Calvin Davis and Thomas Davis; and one sister, Frances Warnick.
Mr. Davis retired from the Westvaco Corp. in 1982. He was a member of the Willowdale Chapel and the Nancy Hanks Post 3518 VFW, Keyser.
Surviving are one son, John H. Davis Jr., Keyser; two daughters, Helen M. Davis and Vickie I. Bell, both of Keyser; four brothers, Howard Davis and Homer Davis, both of Swanton, Md., George Davis, Warfordsburg, Pa., and Benjamin Davis, Oakland, Md.; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Friends will be received at the Rotruck-Smith Funeral Home, Keyser, on Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m. and Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
Funeral services will be conducted in the funeral home chapel on Thursday at 11 a.m. with the Rev. William T. Shahan officiating.
Interment will be in the Potomac Memorial Gardens, Keyser.
Military graveside honors will be accorded.
RALPH L. ABE
RIDGELEY, W.Va. - Ralph Leslie Abe, 86, of Ridgeley, died Wednesday, April 23, 1997, at Memorial Hospital, Cumberland.
Born May 7, 1910, in Ridgeley, he was the son of the late Grover C. Abe, and Mary K. (Everett) Abe. He also was preceded in death by three brothers, Ernest Abe, Marshall Abe, and George C. Abe; and three sisters, Thelma Aldridge, Erma Saville, and Hazel Miller.
Surviving are a number of nieces and nephews.
Friends will be received at the Scarpelli Funeral Home, 108 Virginia Ave., Friday from 6 to 8 p.m.
Funeral services will be at the funeral home on Saturday at 10 a.m.
GLENVIOL O. DAVIS
KEYSER, W.Va. - Glenviol O'del "Windy" Davis, 71, of HC 84, Box 54, Keyser, died Wednesday, April 23, 1997, at the VA Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Born May 31, 1925, at Greenland, W.Va., he was a son of the late Joseph and Susan Davis. Mr. Davis was the last surviving member of his immediate family.
Mr. Davis was a long time diesel mechanic and truck driver. He was a U.S.Army veteran of World War II and was a life member of American Legion Post 91, Romney, VFW Post 1101, Romney, and the Disabled American Veterans.
Surviving are his wife, Violet M. (Leatherman) Davis; two daughters, Elsie M. Davis, at home, Martha L. "Marty" Evans and husband Phil, Keyser; four grandchildren, Marsha Ellifritz and husband Rob, New Creek, Malissia Evans, Keyser, Mary Evans, Keyser, and Philip Evans, Keyser; two great-grandchildren, Cindy Ellifritz, and Robbie Ellifritz; and several nieces and nephews.
Friends will be received at the Rotruck-Smith Funeral Home, Keyser, on Saturday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
Funeral services will be conducted in the funeral home chapel on Sunday at 4 p.m. with the Rev. Jack Sanders officiating.
Interment will be in the Davis cemetery, Antioch, where graveside military honors will be accorded.
