GRAFTON - Mary Elizabeth (Shafer) Sorrells, 77, of Martinsburg, died on Saturday, July 26, at the home of her niece, Lu Jenkins, also of Martinsburg.
She was born in Grafton, December 28, 1919, a daughter of the later Dr. Clare Field and Bertha Clatyon Shepherd.
Preceding Mrs. Sorrells in death was her husband, the late Hugh Sorrells.
Surviving are one sister-in-law, D. Lenore Shafer, Grafton; one nephew, Gary M. Shafer, Oakland, Maryland; two nieces, Lu Jenkins, Martinsburg, and Jill A. Poe, Asheboro, North Carolina.
Mrs. Sorrells was also preceded in death by one brother, Manfred W. Shafer, and one sister, Evelyn C. (Shafer) Aylestock.
Mrs. Sorrells was a member of the Eastern Star, the D.A.R. and was a Methodist by Faith.
Friends may call at the Davis Funeral Home, Bartlett Chapel, 202 McGraw Ave., Grafton, this evening from 7-9 p.m.
SHIRLEY J. GAINER
ELKINS -- Shirley J. "Jeannie" Gainer, 47, a resident of 225 Bruce St., died Thursday, July 24, at Ruby Memorial Hospital, Morgantown, following an extended illness.
She was born Nov. 22, 1949, in Elkins, a daughter of Howard Dean and Caroldeen Chenoweth Dean, who survive in Elkins.
Also surviving are one son, Aaron Marshall Gainer, Elkins; one brother, Howard J. Dean, Buckhannon; three sisters, Sherry L. Powers and Sandra K. LaRosa, both of Buckhannon, and Sheila A. Barkley, Nacogdoches, Texas, and three nephews and two nieces.
Ms. Gainer attended elementary school in Elkins and graduated from Buckhannon High School with the Class of 1968. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Alderson-Broaddus College in 1972 with a B.A. degree in Education and received a masters degree in Education and a masters degree in Administration from West Virginia University.
She was a teacher in the Tucker County School System from 1971 to 1975 and at Coalton Twelve Year School from 1976 to 1982. She served as assistant principal at the Coalton Twelve Year School from 1982 to 1985 and was the principal of North Elementary School from 1985 to the present time.
She was a member of the Randolph County Principal's Association, the West Virginia Elementary Principal's Association, was an active member of Beta Sigma Phi, having joined the sorority in the fall of 1976, pledging into the Xi Beta Mu Chapter.
She then progressed through several degrees and became affiliated with the Xi Alpha Alpha Chapter. Later as a member of the Preceptor Tau Chapter she received the Preceptor degree in 1992. She held all offices and served on all committees at least once during her sorority life and during her years of services was awarded the Girl of the Year Award, and the Order of the Rose in 1992.
She served as Chapter Sweetheart in 1982 and in 1990 was Elkins' representative to the West Virginia Beta Sigma Phi Convention and was selected as the state's Miss Diotima. She was a member of the First Baptist Church.
Friends will be received at the Lohr-Barb-Vance Funeral Home from 2-4 and 6-9 p.m. today.
O. LEE PEGGS
ST. ALBANS -- O. Lee Peggs, 68, of St. Albans, formerly of Sutton, died Friday, July 25, at home, after a short illness.
He was born March 6, 1929, in Sand Fork, a son of the late Taft and Octavia Curtis Peggs.
Surviving are his wife, Dixie H. Peggs; one daughter, Debbie Arms, Greer, S.C.; two sons, Richard L. and Ronald G. Peggs, both of St. Albans; three brothers, Robert Peggs, Cox's Mills, Burl Peggs, Buckhannon, and Donald Peggs, Sand Fork, and five grandchildren, Micah, Ian and Ashley Peggs, all of St. Albans, and Katie and Zachary Arms, Greer.
Mr. Peggs was a member of St. Andrew United Methodist Church, St. Albans and an agent for State Farm Insurance Company in St. Albans for 31 years. He was an Army veteran of the Korean War and a 33 year resident of St. Albans.
Friends will be received from 3-5 and 7-9 p.m. today at Bartlett- Chapman Funeral Home, St. Albans.
MRS. MICHAEL L. TIANO
Mary McGravey Tiano, 83, of 216 N. 26th St., Adamston, Clarksburg, died Thursday, July 25, at Continuous Care Center, Clarksburg.
She was born April 8, 1914, in Harrison County, a daughter of the late James McGravey and Hattie Talkington McGravey.
Surviving are her husband, Michael L. Tiano, Clarksburg.
She was also preceded in death by one half brother, Clovis Bennett.
Mrs. Tiano was a graduate of Victory High School, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio. She had been employed at the offices of attorneys Stahers-Cantrill for 10 years and at the Lowndes Bank of Clarksburg for 25 years.
DORSEY E. WINTERS Sr.
Dorsey Earl "Bud" Winters Sr., died Friday, July 4, at Mercy Hospital in San Diego, Calif.
He was born Feb. 1, 1926, in Clarksburg, a son of the late Dorsey E. Winters and Losie E. Miller Winters.
He is survived by his wife, Mildred "Midge" Bramer Winters, and 10 children, Becky Maldonado, Cindy Ward, Pamela, Tyler, Schulyer, Tom, Terry, Marvin, Jennifer and Anna Belle Winters; 15 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
He was also preceded in death by a son, Dorsey E. Winters Jr., and his only brother, Carl Winters.
Mr. Winters served 28 years in the U.S. Army, including tours of duty in the Pacific and European theaters during World War II, in the Korean Conflict and two assignments in Vietnam.
He retired from the military at Fort Ord, Calif., in 1972 with the rank of Chief Warrant Officer.
He continued working for the next 11 years as a military advisor to the Sang Modernization Program, a project of the Vinnell Corporation in Riyadh, Saudia Arabia.
After retiring from the Vinnell Corporation in 1987, he moved his family to Bonita, Calif. from their long-time residence on the Monterey Peninsula.
After settling into retirement, he spent his time managing the 32nd Naval Golf Course at the Admiral Baker naval base.
He loved golf and spent 50 years playing the game. He played with high-ranking dignitaries, politicians and business owners and at many clubs and courses around the world. One of his fondest memories was playing at the St. Andrews course in Scotland.
In his honor, flags at Admiral Baker were flown at half mast on July 4.
The body was cremated and military services, with honors, were held Friday, July 11, at Fort Rosencrans National cemetery.
Benjamin A. Fitzpatrick
Benjamin A. Fitzpatrick, 75, of 518 Pennsylvania Ave., Nutter Fort, died Wednesday, Jan. 14, 1998, in United Hospital Center following an extended illness.
He was born May 5, 1922, in Clarksburg, a son of the late Henry Fredrick Fitzpatrick and Lula Pearl McWilliams Fitzpatrick.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Grace Morgan Fitzpatrick, in 1986.
Surviving are one daughter, Mrs. Davis (Sandra) Patterson, Wolf Summit; one brother, Joseph Fitzpatrick, Pineytop, Ariz.; one sister, Patricia Rollins, Washington, D.C.; four grandchildren, Mrs. Frank (Kimberly) Secreto, Mrs. Doug (Jacqueline) Grover, Miss Shawna Patterson and David Edward Patterson II, and five great-grandchildren.
He was also preceded in death by one sister, Lena Nixon, and three brothers, Robert, John and Hank Fitzpatrick.
Mr. Fitzpatrick retired from the U.S. Postal Service in Clarksburg and worked at Quinn Cooper Cadillac for several years. He was a charter member of the Military Order of Purple Heart, Chapter 418, and Disabled American Veterans Chapter 13, Clarksburg. He received two purple hearts during World War II while serving in the U.S. Army.
Other memberships included Roy E. Parrish Post 13, American Legion, and VFW Meuse Argonne Post 573, Clarksburg.
Friends will be received from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. today at Davis-Weaver Funeral Home, 329 East Main St., where the funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday. Interment will follow in Greenlawn Masonic cemetery.
Walter Hunt Jr.
WESTON -- Walter "Mike" Hunt Jr., 72, of Route 1, Weston, Jackson's Mill community, died Thursday, Jan. 15, 1998, at his residence following an extended illness.
He was born Feb. 23, 1925, in Upshur County, a son of the late Walter Herbert Hunt Sr. and Anna Welch Hunt.
His wife, the former Louise Paugh, whom he married on May 25, 1946, survives.
Also surviving are one son, Kenneth Hunt, Jackson's Mill; two sisters, Arabelle Butcher, Weston, and Evelyn Douglas, Aliquippa, Pa.; one brother, Harvey Hunt, West Alexandria, Pa.; two grandsons, Jason and Brent Hunt, and several nieces and nephews.
He was also preceded in death by one son, David Hunt; one brother, Hubert Hunt, and one sister, Audrey Blake.
Mr. Hunt was owner and operator of Hunt's Body Shop in Jackson's Mill for 15 years and was a member of the McCanns Run United Methodist Church. He was a World War II veteran, serving in the U.S. Navy in the South Pacific, and an avid gardner.
Friends will be received from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. today at Floyd Funeral Home, 402 Main Ave., Weston, where the funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, with the Rev. Clyde Crites officiating. Interment will follow in Broad Run cemetery, Jane Lew.
Edith K. Jenkins
PHILIPPI -- Edith Kathleen Jenkins, 86, a resident of Route 1, Philippi, died at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 14, 1998, at the home of a granddaughter, Claudia Schoonover, Philippi.
She was born Nov. 4, 1911, in Hammond, Marion County, a daughter of the late Albert Neel and Letha Neel Neel.
She was united in marriage on Dec. 3, 1932, to Charles Arthur Jenkins, who preceded her in death on Aug. 1, 1995.
Surviving are one daughter, Mrs. Darl (Shirley M.) Fridley, Philippi; one son, Prentis B. Jenkins, Rivesville; three sisters, Dorothy Prunty, Maxine Cowger and Mildred Turner, and one brother, George Neel, all of Fairmont; eight grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by one son, Willis C. Jenkins; one great-granddaughter, Amanda Sheranko; two sisters, Jocie Rager and Dessie Neel, and two brothers, Ray Neel and Arnold Neel.
Mrs. Jenkins was a homemaker and a member of the Philippi Church of the Nazarene.
Lona M. Walls
SHINNSTON -- Lona Margaret Walls, 71, of Wyatt died at 3 a.m. Friday, Jan. 15, 1998, at Ruby Memorial Hospital, Morgantown, following a sudden illness.
She was born March 14, 1926, in Wetzel County, a daughter of the late Nathaniel Robert Higginsand Mary Elizabeth Eddy Higgins Walls.
Her husband, Robert Bruce Walls, preceded her in death in November 1982.
Surviving are three sons, Larry Walls, Shinnston, Denzil Walls, Ashland, Ohio, and Robert George Walls, Wyatt; six daughters, Mrs. Harry (Pansy) Owens, Gypsy, Mrs. Jimmy (Alice Lucas) Friend, Shinnston, Mrs. Roger (Mary) Drain, Mrs. Mike (Shirley Marks) Penner and Mrs. Michael (Kathy) Martin, all of Wyatt, and Mrs. Willard (Sandra Tate) Martin, West Salem, Ohio; three brothers, Ray Higgins, Weston, Clarence Higgins, Oakdale, and Raymond Higgins, Wyatt; two sisters, Martha Eddy, Wyatt, and Mrs. Charles (Virginia) Gross, Shinnston; 20 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
She was also preceded in death by one daughter, Patricia Ann Walls; one brother, Gail Higgins, and two sisters, Elsie Wright and Hazel Martin.
Mrs. Walls was Protestant and an avid deer and ginseng hunter.
Friends will be received after 3 p.m. today at Dorsey Funeral Home, Shinnston, where the funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, with the Rev. Tom Brown officiating. Interment will follow in Elizabeth Mason Memorial cemetery at Joetown.
Ruth M. Wolverton
NIKISKI, Alaska -- Ruth Marie Nixon Wolverton, 86, of Nikiski died Wednesday, Jan. 14, 1998, at her home.
Surviving are three brothers, Roy Nixon, Harrold, Ohio, Geo Nixon Jr., Lynchburg, Va., and John Nixon, Wapakoneta, Ohio; one sister, Beatrice Nixon Kerr, Cridersville, Ohio; one son, James N. Wolverton, Nikiski, and three grandsons, James P. Wolverton, Salcha, Alaska, William B. Wolverton, Kenai, Alaska, and Daniel L. Wolverton, Nikiski.
Mrs. Wolverton was a teacher most of her life, starting in Clarksburg's Victory High School from 1939 until 1943. She then became a business owner at City Motor Sales in Shinnston from 1945 until 1954. She went back to teaching in 1951 in Ocean City and Salisbury, Md., and taught in Harrison County near Clarksburg from 1953 until 1956.
She moved to Alaska in 1956 and was a teacher in Sitka until 1967. She then moved to Kotzebue and taught until 1971, when she retired from the Bureau of Indian Affairs school system.
She was affiliated with North Kenai Baptist Church, Daughters of the American Revolution, Huguenot Society, Colonial Dames, Daughters of the Eastern Star, Business and Professional Women's Club, Shinnston Historical Society, Women's Missionary Union, Daughters of 1812, National Education Association and Women's Christian Temperance Union.
Mrs. Wolverton received a Master Teacher Award and national 4-H awards. She also enjoyed sewing, cooking, church activities, singing, music, playing the piano, organ and violin, and gardening.
