GERRARDSTOWN, W.Va. - Staton E. Smith, 69, of Gerrardstown, died Saturday, Sept. 11, 1999, at his home.
Born June 2, 1930, in Berkeley County, W.Va., he was the son of the late Utah S. and Sally E. Smith.
He retired from National Fruit, after 45 years of service.
He is survived by his wife, Airetta A. Smith; five daughters, Judith A. Kleptach of Inwood, W.Va., Shirley F. Moore and Bonnie J. Knight, both of Gerrardstown, Angelia E. Smith of Arden, W.Va. and Barbara L. Dunn of Hedgesville, W.Va.; five sons, Jonathan A. Smith, Jeffrey L. Smith and Staton A. Smith, all of Gerrardstown, Ricky D. Smith of Middleway, W.Va. and Michael W. Smith of Hedgesville; seven sisters, Edna Evans, Gladys Rogers, Wanda Rogers and Thelma Shade, all of Inwood, Agnes Unger and Dakota Markley, both of Martinsburg and Nancy Frye of Ganotown, W.Va.; a brother, John F. Smith of Hedgesville; 25 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; a step-grandson; aunts; uncles; nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a son, James E. Smith; three sisters, Georgia Donaldson, Texie Kackley and Mary Markley; six brothers, Donald Smith Sr., Ernest Smith, Lester Smith, James Smith, David Smith and Howard Smith; and three grandchildren.
Services will be Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home, 327 W. King St., Martinsburg, W.Va. The Rev. Marcus Caton will officiate. Burial will be in Bunker Hill cemetery.
The family will receive friends Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Joseph N. Merceruio
FALLING WATERS, W.Va. - Joseph Norman Merceruio, 75, of Falling Waters, died Sunday, Sept. 12, 1999, at Washington County Hospital.
Born Sept. 23, 1923, in Berkeley County, W.Va., he was the son of the late Peter Nathan and Mary Louise Potrico Merceruio.
He was employed by Potomac Edison until retiring in 1985.
He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
He was a member of St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church in Martinsburg, W.Va.; and attended St. Augustine's Roman Catholic Church in Williamsport.
He was a member of Hagerstown Lodge No. 378 BPO Elks; a charter member and past president of Marlowe Ruritan with perfect attendance for 43 years; a member of Potomac Post No. 202 American Legion and Last Mans Club of the Legion in Williamsport; Conococheague Tribe No. 84 IORed Men in Williamsport; Eagles Inc. in Waynesboro, Pa.; Quarter Century Club of Potomac Edison; and a volunteer with Meals on Wheels in Martinsburg.
He is survived by his wife, Kathleen M. Baker Merceruio; a daughter, Julia Cammer of Falling Waters; a sister, Theresa Fizer of Pikeside, W.Va.; and six brothers, Nicholas Merceruio, Paul Merceruio and Ronnie Merceruio, all of Martinsburg and Anthony Merceruio, Frank Merceruio and Peter Merceruio, all of Falling Waters.
Services will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Osborne Funeral Home, 425 S. Conococheague St. in Williamsport. The Rev. Alfred E. Smith will officiate. Burial will be in Greenlawn Memorial Park in Williamsport.
The family will receive friends Tuesday 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 donations may be made to Williamsport Ambulance Service, 30 W. Salisbury St., Williamsport, MD 21795.
Bishop Eugene E. Baltimore
RANSON, W.Va. - Bishop Eugene Ernest Baltimore, 87, of Ranson, died Friday, Sept. 10, 1999, at Winchester Medical Center, Winchester, Va.
Born Feb. 23, 1912, in Linden, Va., he was the son of the late Thomas and Anna Franklin Baltimore.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Frances Louise Baltimore.
He received his Doctor of Divinity Degree from Trinity Hall College and Seminary in Springfield, Ill.
He retired after many years of service at Fairchild Industries in Hagerstown.
He was pastor of King Apostle Holiness Church of God in Ranson for more than 50 years. He also served as Senior Bishop of the Church for the areas of Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, the District of Columbia, North Carolina, New York and Florida.
He was a community activist. He was chairman of the Board of Directors of King Apostle Holiness Church of God, Inc.
He was a member of National, West Virginia and Jefferson County Chapters of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; a member of the Board of Directors of the School of Hope in Charles Town, W.Va.; a member of Jefferson County Ministerial Association; Trinity Hall Ministerial Association in Springfield; he was a notary in West Virginia; and served several terms on the Ranson City Council.
He is survived by three children, Anna Baltimore Brown of Cliffside, N.J., Florence B. McDaniel of Washington D.C. and Bishop Wilbert L. Baltimore of Baltimore; four sisters, Lucy Summers of Hume, Va., and Margaret Summers, Elsie Banjamin and Alice Day, all of Front Royal, Va.; five brothers, Roland Baltimore of Harrisburg, Pa., Edward Baltimore of Washington D.C., Rev. Allen Baltimore, Lloyd Baltimore and Golden Baltimore, all of Front Royal; 17 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; nieces; nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by two children, Darlene Smith and Eugene Baltimore Jr.; a sister, Rachel Poles; and six brothers, Henry Baltimore, Robert Baltimore, John Baltimore, Warner Baltimore, Paul Baltimore and Charles Baltimore.
Services will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Asbury United Methodist Church, 110 W. North St. in Charles Town. Bishop Wilbert Baltimore of Holy Temple Cathedral in Annapolis, Md., will officiate. Burial will be in Pleasant View Memory Gardens in Martinsburg, W.Va.
The family will receive friends Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. at King Apostle Holiness Church of God, West 3rd Avenue in Ranson.
Memorial donations may be made in his memory to King Apostle Holiness Church of God, 504 West 3rd Ave., Ranson, WV 25438.
Arrangements are by Melvin T. Strider Colonial Funeral Home in Charles Town.
Georgia A. Dixon
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Georgia A. Dixon, 92, of Martinsburg, died Saturday, Sept. 11, 1999, at City Hospital in Martinsburg.
Born April 5, 1907, in Brilliant, Ohio, she was the daughter of the late John and Bertha Watkins Degenhardt.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank A. Dixon.
She was a 75-year member of Brilliant Christian Church.
She was a member of Brilliant Senior Citizens.
She is survived by a daughter, Donna L. Culp of Falling Waters, W.Va.; two sisters, Grace Roush and Nellie Degenhardt, both of Ohio; three brothers, Fred Degenhardt of Ohio, Harold "Bud" Degenhardt of Wheeling, W.Va., and Carl Degenhardt of Michigan; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by two sisters, Thelma Bucey and Ruth Ella Frye; and three brothers, Floyd Degenhardt, James Degenhardt and John Degenhardt.
Services will be Tuesday at 1 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home, 327 W. King St., Martinsburg. The Rev. Kenneth W. Burkhart will officiate.
Graveside services will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at New Alexandria cemetery in Brilliant.
The family will receive friends Monday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home in Martinsburg.
Memorial donations may be made to Child Evangelist Fellowship, P.O. Box 1123, Martinsburg, WV 25402.
Ernest K. Bowen Jr.
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Ernest Knight "Cotton" Bowen Jr., 45, of Martinsburg, died Wednesday, Sept. 8, 1999, at City Hospital.
Born March 27, 1954, in Olney, Md., he was the son of the late Ernest K. Sr. and Annie Persinger Bowen.
He is survived by his wife, Wanda Allen Bowen; one daughter, Angela Marie Bowen of Savage, Md.; one son, Ernest Allen Bowen, at home; two sisters, Wanda May of Reno, Nev., and Juanita Bowen of Laurel, Md.; two brothers, James Bowen of Laurel and John Bowen of Martinsburg; two grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Irene Bowen; and a brother, Richard Bowen.
Services will be Saturday at 3 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home, 327 W. King St., Martinsburg. The Rev. J. Clyde Brooks will officiate. Burial will be in Green Hill cemetery.
The family will receive friends today from 3 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Joseph D. Charley
CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - Joseph Dominick "JD" Charley, 84, of Charles Town, died Sunday, Sept. 5, 1999, at Integrated Health Services of West Virginia in Charles Town.
Born March 4, 1915, in Valley Forge, Pa., he was the son of the late Anthony and Julia Manett Calino.
He attended school in Philadelphia.
He owned and trained thoroughbred race horses at Charles Town Races; at tracks in Atlantic City, N.J., and in Bowie, Md., Laurel, Md., and Pimilco Race Track near Baltimore; and Monmouth Park Race Track and Garden State Park Race Track, both in New Jersey. He was a trainer at Waterford Park Race Track, Chester, W.Va.
He attended St. Paul Catholic Church, Philadelphia.
He was a member of Charles Town Division Horsemen's Benevolence Protective Association.
He is survived by his wife, Vel Maike Charley; two daughters, Jade Charley of Columbia, Md., and Helen Vitro of Glen-Olden, Pa.; one sister, Helen Kelley of Philadelphia; six grandchildren, several great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Julia Martinelli; a sister, Mary Volpone and six brothers, Francis Charlino, Anthony Charlino, Carmen Charlino, Dominick Charley, James Charley and Joseph Charley.
Memorial services will be Saturday at noon at Melvin T. Strider Colonial Funeral Home, Charles Town. The Rev. Brian Owens will officiate. Burial will be private.
