Helga H. Fitchett
Helga H. Fitchett, 65, of Morgantown, died Saturday, Feb. 10, 2001, at home. She was born Dec. 27, 1935, in Danzig, Germany, daughter of the late Heinz and Meta Malishinzk Deitrich. She worked in maintenance for J.C. Penney. She is survived by her husband of 49 years, Grover Fitchett; a son and spouse, Norman and Ruth Fitchett, of Morgantown; four daughters and spouses, Ingeborg and Louis Pappas, Janice and Rick Porto, and Donna and Larry Murray, all of Morgantown, and Ruby and Ralph Shrout, of Masontown; a daughter-in-law, Jeanet Fitchett, of Morgantown; a brother, Erving Dietrich, of Karlsruhe, Germany; a sister, Gisela Pedrosa, of Tampa, Fla.; 11 grandchildren, Christopher Pappas, of Westover, Christina Porto, of Alexand ria, Va., Nathen Shrout, Alex Murray, Averial and Saturno Porto, and Justin, Benjamin, Mindy, Mandy and Brandy Fitchett, all of Morgantown; and a great-granddaughter, Kayla Pappas, of Morgantown. She was also preceded in death by a son, Nolan Fitchett; and two brothers, Manfred Dietrich and Gunter Malishinzk. Friends may call at McCulla Funeral Home from 7-9 p.m. Sunday and 5-9 p.m. Monday. Service will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13, with Pastor Joe Perozich officiating. Burial will be in Pine Grove Cemetery.

Virginia Fortney Auvil
Virginia Fortney Auvil, 81, of Canton Avenue, Star City, died Saturday, Feb. 10, 2001, at Monongalia General Hospital. She was born Jan. 1, 1920, in Fairmont, daughter of the late Elmer Ross Fortney and Lillian Nestor Fortney Gum. She was a longtime volunteer for the Monongalia County Senior Citizens, organized the community watch in her neighborhood and was a former member of the Eagles. She is survived by five daughters and three spouses, Shirley and Willis Morton, Zeta and Edgar Huggins, Toy and Mark Sullivan, and Toni Auvil, all of Morgantown, and Carolyn Webber, of Maidsville; 13 grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Carl T. Auvil; two sisters, Edith Aluicci and Naomi Martin. Friends may call at the McCulla Funeral Home from 7-9 p.m. Sunday and from 3-5 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Monday. Service will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13, with the Rev. Junior Koon officiating. Burial will be in Beverly Hills Memorial Gardens.

Michael A. Heatherly
Michael A. Heatherly, 60, of Clarksburg, died Friday, Feb. 9, 2001, at home. He was born Sept. 16, 1940, in Clarksburg, son of the late Arthur Ray Heatherly and Vonda Viola Clark Heatherly Grapes. He was a member of the Northview United Methodist Church and the church choir. He was a 1959 graduate of Victory High School. He retired in August 1996 after 33 years of service as a counter clerk with the Craig Motor Service/Fisher Auto Parts Co., having started with the company in 1963. He is survived by his wife, Lee Annette Conrad Heatherly, whom he married Aug. 6, 1966; a son, Matthew Michael Heatherly; a daughter and spouse, Laura Mae Heatherly and Joe Rice, of Hudson, Fla.; a grandson, Anthony Michael Heatherly; an aunt, Lonnie Ruth Swiger, of Chantilly, Va.; and an uncle and spouse, Walter and Virgie Clark Sr., of Hepzibah. He was also preceded in death by a son, Christopher Todd Heatherly; and a stepfather, Clarence Lee Grapes. Friends may call at Davis-Weaver Funeral Home in Clarksburg from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Monday and at Northview United Methodist Church from 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13, until the 11 a.m. service with the Rev. Kenneth Kendall officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery.

Beatrice R. McCroby
Beatrice R. McCroby, 100, of Louise Avenue, Morgantown, died Saturday, Feb. 10, 2001, at MonPointe Continuing Care Center. Hastings Funeral Home is in charge of funeral arrangements.

Kenneth Nile Carman
Kenneth Nile Carman, 49, of Rush Run, Hundred, died Friday, Feb. 9, 2001, at home. He was born May 13, 1951, in Hundred, son of Wanda Vivian Henderson Carman, of Hundred, and the late Charles Kenneth Carman. He was formerly employed by IBEW and was presently employed by the Wetzel County Board of Education as a custodian. He was a lifetime member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was a loving father who enjoyed spending time with his family. He is also survived by his wife, Patty Hayes Carman, of Hundred; three sons and spouse, Kenneth Boyd and Tammy Carman, of Vilonia, Ark., William Glen and David Lee Carman, both of Hundred; four daughters and spouse, Zula May and Brian Hall, of Katy, Katr ina Jean, Sasha Louise, and Savanna Marie Carman, all of Hundred; three grandchildren, Christopher Boyd and Lanie Ann Carman, and Sterling Daniel Hall; a brother, Charles David Carman, of Fairview; and two sisters, Charlotte Sue Postlethwait, of Metz, an d Nora Lee Minger, of Rymer Community, Mannington. He was also preceded in death by two sisters, Nancy Kay Ott and Debbie Lynn Carman. Friends may call at Masters Funeral Home in Mannington from 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13, until the 1 p.m. service with Elder Judd Ashcraft as speaker and branch president Bill Stout conducting. Burial will be in Scritchfield Cemetery in Hundred.

Shirley Ralph Cook
Word has been received of the death of Shirley Ralph Cook, 82, who died Saturday, Feb. 3, 2001. He was born Jan. 19, 1919, at Holcomb, son of the late Lawrence Watson and Clara McCarty Cook. He lived many years in the Uffington and Grafton Road area of Morgantown before moving to Tucson, Ariz. He is survived by his wife, Flossie; two daughters and spouses, Carolyn and Phil Mifflin, and Karen and Cordell Hagans; a son and spouse, Roger Dale and Candy Cook, all of the Tucson area; 11 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandchild; a brother, H. Wayne Cook, of Grafton Road; and a sister, Garnet Walls, of Front Royal, Va., formerly of Morgantown. He was also preceded in death by an infant son, Darryl Wayne; two sisters, Glenna Bibby and Bessie Howell; four brothers, Oscar, Burl and Lawrence Cook, and Clarence Cook in infancy. A private memorial service will be held Sunday, Feb. 11. Condolences to the family: 16252 North Columbus Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85737.

Mattie Marie Crow
Mattie Marie Porter Crow, 88, of Blosser Hill community, Lake Lynn, Pa., died Friday, Feb. 9, 2001, at Henry Clay Villa, Markleysburg, Pa. She was born Nov. 10, 1912, in Springhill Township, Pa., daughter of the late James A. and Della M. Sadler Porter. She was a graduate of Georges Township High School, and was a retired clerk from S.S. Kresge Co., Uniontown, Pa., where she worked for 25 years. She attended Point Marion (Pa.) United Methodist Church, where she was active in the church's Methodist women's organization. She was a member of the Golden Pointers Senior Citizen Club and the ladies' auxiliaries of VFW Post No. 747, American Legion Post No. 499 and the Forty-and-Eight Voiture 18, all of Point Marion. She is survived by two sons and spouses, Ronald K. and Sue Crow, of Blosser Hill, and Alvin E. and Edith Crow, of Old Frame, Pa.; a grandson, Alan Crow, of Blosser Hill; and three sisters, Catherine Sliger, of Weirton, and Helen Powers and Alta "Curley" Pidpyryhora, both of Dearborn, Mich. She was also preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Karl H. Crow, on April 1, 1995; and by an infant daughter, Carol Marie. Friends may call at Richard R. Herod Funeral Home, Point Marion, from 7-9 p.m. Sunday, and from 2-4 and 7-9 Monday. Service will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13, with the Rev. Mildred Martin officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Memorial Park, Point Marion.

Thomas H. Tonkery
Thomas H. Tonkery, 79, of Fairmont, Whitehall Community, died Monday, Feb. 12, 2001, at Wishing Well Manor, in Fairmont. He was born June 5, 1921, in Fairmont, son of the late Lloyd and Mary Little Tonkery. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and the Korean War. He also served in the U.S. Army reserves. He retired from the B&O/C&O railroad in 1982, with 45 years of service. He graduated from Fairmont Senior High School and Fairmont Business Schoo l. He was an active member of the Whitehall Church of Christ, where he was an elder for 37 years and helped begin the nursery school. He also served on the West Virginia Christian Youth Camp and Pleasant Acres Christian Haven boards. He is survived by a son and spouse, Dan and Linda Tonkery, of Morris Township, N.J.; two daughters and spouses, Kathy and Lloyd Tenney, of Coshocton, Ohio, and Joyce and Richard Webb, of Crossville, Tenn.; two sisters and spouse, Eleanor Dodd, of Charles ton, and Betty and Howard McFee, of Fairmont; two sisters-in-law, Mildred Tonkery, of Eldora, and Betty Tonkery, of Shinnston; nine grandchildren, Davean Tonkery, Andrew Tonkery, Michael Webb, Mindy Webb, Sherry Stephenson, Crystal Tenney, Michelle Tenne y, John Fiero, and Steve Fiero; and four great-grandchildren, Jamie Fiero, Mollie Fiero, Hunter Webb and Elijah Stephenson. He was also preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Doris Jean Carpenter Tonkery; a son, David Tonkery; a grandson, Joshua Tenney; two brothers, Paul Tonkery and Robert Tonkery; and two sisters, Virginia Tonkery and Mable Vandergrift. Friends may call at Carpenter and Ford Funeral Home, Fairmont, from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Friday, and at Whitehall Church of Christ from 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, until the 2 p.m. service, with Evangelist Harry Summers and Joe Spivy officiating. Burial w ill follow in Beverly Hills Memorial Gardens. Donations: Whitehall Church of Christ building fund, Route 7, Box 204, Fairmont, WV 26554.

Charlotte Kay Vannoy
Charlotte Kay Vannoy, 65, of Harrison Street in Westover, died Sunday, Feb. 11, 2001, at home. She was born Sept. 30, 1935, in Granville, daughter of the late Clarence and Gladys Trembly Turner. She was a member of Avery United Methodist Church. She is survived by her husband of 48 years, Clarence Jackson "Jack" Vannoy; four daughters and spouses, Karen L. Echard-Rice and Terry Rice, Pamela Jean and Ronnie Rakosi, Lori Ann and Fred Simmons, all of Morgantown, and Susan Diane and Michael Arbogast , of Fairmont; two sons and spouses, Michael and Marcia Vannoy, and David Vannoy and Melanie Metheny, all of Morgantown; 12 grandchildren, Amy, Abby and Josh Rakosi, Kelli Teets, Tami Echard, Holli Echard, Laci Echard, Bobbi Jo and Brier Simmons, Shane, Shannon and Travis Vannoy; three great-grandchildren, Tyler and Regan Teets, and Karmyn Keir; three sisters, Carolyn Six, of Ohio, Sharon Turner and Marilyn Knouse, both of Morgantown; and a brother, Carl Lepera, of Hershey, Pa. She was also preceded in death by two brothers, Richard Turner and an infant brother. Cremation services were provided by Hastings Funeral Home. A memorial service will be at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 14, at Avery United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Rick Curtis officiating.

Ruth Isabell Williams Cross
Ruth Williams Cross
Ruth Isabell Williams Cross, 73, of Liberty Street, Morgantown, died Sunday, Feb. 11, 2001, in Ruby Memorial Hospital. She was born May 19, 1927, in Tunnelton, daughter of the late Floyd P. and Leone Pyles Brown. She was a member of Sabraton Baptist Church. She was a member of the Monongalia General Hospital Volunteer Ladies Auxiliary, Pleasant Hills Homemakers Club, Senior Monongalians, Young at Heart, Goldie Bailey Mission Society, and was past president and a 38-year member of the Mon Valley Ladies Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America. She is survived by her husband, Dr. Kenneth J. Cross; a daughter and spouse, Carolyn and Robert Feathers, of Morgantown; three sons and spouses, Bill and Arletta McMillen, of Westover, Timothy and Cindy Williams, of St. Cloud, Fla., and Andy and Jennifer Cross, of Wheeling; three brothers and spouses, Walter Brown, of Ravena, Ohio, Robert and Doris Brown, of Morgantown, and Junior and Buleah Brown, of Columbus, Ohio; four sisters and spouses, Joanna Milner, of Cambridge, Ohio, Mary Halbritter, of Wester nport, Md., Ruby Criss, of Mansfield, Ohio, and Linda and Dave Sterling, of Westernport; 10 grandchildren and spouse, David and Ileana Arnold, Roger "Willie" Feathers, Kimberly Owens, Amanda McMillen, Alicia and Tonya Williams, Brad and Lisa Forbes, Kirk Forbes, and Dusty Forbes; and 10 great-grandchildren, Kim and Marc Owens, Kara Arnold, Jean Carlos Rodriguez, Talia Maldonado, Courtney, Danielle, Erica, Jacob, and Hunter Forbes. She was also preceded in death by her first husband, Roy "Bill" Williams; a son, James L. Williams; and a brother, Noble Brown. Friends may call at Hastings Funeral Home from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, and from noon Wednesday, Feb. 14, until the 1 p.m. service, with the Rev. David Kidd officiating. Burial will be in Maplewood Cemetery, Kingwood. Donations: Izaak Walton League, in care of Louise Nethken, 77 Hartford Ave., Westover, WV 26501.

Iris Hood Reed
Iris Hood Reed, 103, of Morgantown, died Sunday, Feb. 11, 2001, at The Madison. She was born June 24, 1897, in Lowesville, Monongalia County, daughter of the late William and Ida Merrill Hood. She was a member of Spruce Street United Methodist Church. She attended Wheeling Business College and worked in the office of the Pennsylvania Railroad in New York City. She also worked in the offices at Hartley's Department Store in Fairmont. She is survived by two nieces, Dorotha Morris, of Morgantown, and Thelma Jones, of Wolfe's Summit, Mo.; and two nephews, Alvin Hood, of Morgantown, and William Hood, of Chelmsford, Mass. She was also preceded in death by a son, Walter Hood Reed; her husband, Boyd H. Reed; three brothers, James Hood, Arlie Hood and William Fay Hood; and two sisters, Mary Hood Lyle and Letitia Hood Malone. Friends may call at Hastings Funeral Home from 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 14, until the 3 p.m. service with the Rev. William Turley officiating. Burial will follow in Beverly Hills Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Donations: West Virginia University Children's Hos pital, Development Office, Dept. 8227, Medical Care Center Drive, Morgantown, WV 26506-8227.

Harold 'Buck' Phillips
Harold "Buck" Phillips, 64, of Newburg, Birdscreek Community, died Saturday, Feb. 10, 2001, at Monongalia General Hospital, Morgantown, after a long illness. He was born Aug. 4, 1936, in White Front, Taylor County, son of the late Dellet "Tom" and Virginia Glass Phillips. He retired in 1997 from Island Creek Coal Co., where he worked as a mine operator. He was also a farmer. He was a member of UMW Local 1289 in Morgantown, the Fellowsville Apostolic Church and the Emmanuel Apostolic Church, Kingwood. He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Ruby Sines Phillips; two sons, Danny Phillips, of the Marquess Community, and David Phillips, of Point Marion; a daughter and spouse, Vickie and Marvin Thomas, of Newburg; a sister and spouse, Sandra and Jimmie Sin es, of Kingwood; four grandchildren, Marcus Thomas, Stacy Thomas, Natoshia Phillips and Nathan Phillips; an aunt, Rosalie Loar, of Cumberland, Md.; and two uncles, David Glass, of Tunnelton, and Waldo Phillips, of Thornton. He was also preceded in death by a daughter-in-law, Bobbi Phillips; and a brother, Tommy Joe Phillips. Friends may call at Fellowsville Pentecostal Church from 1 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13, until the 2 p.m. service, with the Rev. Glenn Riggleman officiating. Burial will follow at the Mount Israel Cemetery in Marquess. Donations: Fellowsville Volunteer Fire Dep artment, Route 1, Box 262, Tunnelton, WV 26444, or Mountaineer Ambulance Service Inc., P.O. Box 36, Newburg, WV 26410. Taylor Funeral Home, in Newburg, is in charge of arrangements.

Violet Ponceroff
Violet Ponceroff, 81, of Linnwood Road, Morgantown, died Friday, Feb. 9, 2001, at Knollwood Hospital, Mobile, Ala. She was born Oct. 23, 1919, in Buckner, Ill., daughter of the late Joseph and Katherine Trucano Zini. She was a member of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church. She is survived by two daughters and a spouse, Jacqueline K. and John Findlay, of Newport News, Va., and Carolyn S. Casteel, of Mobile; a brother, Primo C. Zini, of Gulf Breeze, Fla.; seven grandchildren and six spouses, Cathy and Alain Ring, Greg and An toinette Findlay, Lisa and Vinton Myers, Thomas Findlay, Michael and Jennifer Findlay, Jeremy and Susan Findlay, and Thomas and Kathryn Casteel; and 11 great-grandchildren. She was also preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Charles Ponceroff, on March 24, 1995. Friends may call at Hastings Funeral Home from 7-9 p.m. Wednesday and at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church from 9 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 15, until the 10 a.m. Funeral Mass, with the Rev. Carl Bauer as celebrant. Burial will be in Beverly Hills Memorial Garde ns Cemetery.

Caroline E. Stewart
Caroline Elizabeth Stewart, 67, of Ourtime Lane, Columbia, Md., died Monday, Feb. 12, 2001 at the Howard County Hospital, Columbia. She was born May 11, 1933, in Morgantown, daughter of the late James C. and Mary Madeline Elmo Burnside. She was employed with Mitron Electronic Co. as a production manager. She was Methodist. She is survived by her companion, Janie Warner, of Colombia, Md.; a brother and spouse, James C. and Shirley Burnside, of Core; two sisters and spouses, Kathleen and Jack Holbert, of Berkley Springs, Va., and Mary and Robert Hill, of Morgantown; her exte nded family, Sue Coker, Nancy Smallwood and John Warner, all of Florida, and Liz Lee, of Texas; five nieces; and two nephews. Friends may call at Hastings Funeral Home from 6-9 p.m. Wednesday. Service will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15, with the Rev. Richard Stackpole officiating. Burial will follow in St. Luke's Cemetery, Mooresville.

Joyce Pendleton Bertalan
Joyce Pendleton Bertalan, 77, of Augusta Avenue, Morgantown, died Sunday, Feb. 11, 2001, at Ruby Memorial Hospital. She was born June 23, 1923, in Princeton, daughter of the late John Randolph and Gertrude Hale Pendleton. She received her bachelor's degree from Concord State College in Athens, where she was president of Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority. She received her master's degree in music from Columbia University in New York City. She was a retired schoolteacher, having t aught at Suncrest Junior High School for 25 years, and she also taught in Mercer County schools for 10 years. She was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church. She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Joseph Bertalan; two daughters and spouses, Carol and Clifford Harvey, of Morgantown, and Catherine Way and Michael Stamey, of Orlando, Fla. She was also preceded in death by a brother, John Randolph Pendleton Jr., and a sister, Norma K. Harer. Cremation services will be provided by Hastings Funeral Home. Friends may call from 3-5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15, with a Memorial service at 4 p.m. with Dr. Ken A. Ramsey officiating. Donations: Monongalia County Humane Society, Box 390, Morgantown, WV, 26 507 or Morris Animal Research Foundation, 45 Inverness Drive East, Englewood, Colo, 80112-5480.

Georgia Purkey
Georgia Purkey, 87, of Flemington, died Sunday, Feb. 11, 2001, at Clarksburg Continuous Care Home. She was born Sept. 13, 1913, in Flemington, daughter of the late Ira and Betty Dearing Hudkins. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was a member of the Flemington United Methodist Church. She is survived by a daughter and spouse, Margaret Ann and Carroll McCauley, of Bridgeport; three sons and a spouse, William "Bud" Hudkins, of Ohio, James Daniel Purkey, of South Carolina, and Roland Fred "Buddy" and Lucy Purkey, of Detroit; a daughter-i n-law, Melba Purkey, of Virginia; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and a sister, Daisy Faircloth, of Newport News, Va. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Daniel Fred Purkey, in May 1964; a son, Thomas G. Purkey; a daughter, Adora Lee "Dode" Riffle; two sisters, Ethel and Pearl; and two brothers, Charles and Robert. Friends may call at Donald G. Ford Funeral Home, Grafton, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Tuesday, and from 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 14, until the 11 a.m. service, with Pastors Ronald G. Ford and Lois Sandy officiating. Burial will be in Flemington IOOF Cemetery.

Rebecca M. Kessler
Rebecca M. Kessler, 56, of Waynesburg, Pa., died Sunday, Feb. 11, 2001, at home. She was born July 14, 1944, in Morgantown, daughter of the late Daniel and Dorothy Tucker Wotring. She was the receptionist at her husband's dental practice in Waynesburg. She was a member of the VFW Post 4793 auxiliary of Waynesburg. She is survived by her husband, Dr. James Kessler, whom she married June 23, 1967; and a son, James D. Kessler, of Waynesburg. Friends may call at Behm Funeral Home, 182 West High St., Waynesburg, from noon Saturday, Feb. 17 until the 2 p.m. service, with the Rev. Dr. Richard E. Visser officiating. Burial will follow in Greene County Memorial Park, Waynesburg.

Irene Virginia Wright
Irene Virginia Wright, 92, of Kingwood, died Monday, Feb. 12, 2001, at Windy Hill Manor Personal Care Home, Kingwood. She was born Oct. 21, 1908, in Newburg, daughter of the late Ray and Ethel Skinner Cassaday. She is survived by a son, Terry L. Wright, of Punta Gorda, Fla.; two daughters, Betty Lois Soccorsi, of Punta Gorda, and JoAnn Polce, of Masontown; a sister, Frances LaRew, of Lake Lynn, Pa.; five grandchildren, Cindy Ezzi, Mark Polce, Maria Soccorsi, Te rri Polce and Melanie Peasley; three stepgrandchildren, Betty DeVall, and Robert and Randy Phillips; and four great-grandchildren, Tyler Ezzi, Jessica Polce, Sage Soccorsi and Cordell Peasley. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Ward L. Wright, on July 25, 1963; and three sisters, Eulah Mason, Thelma Mallow and Lillian Duff. Friends may call at Arthur H. Wright Funeral Home, Terra Alta, from 3-8 p.m. Wednesday and from 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 15, until the 11 a.m. service, with the Rev. Robert Harshberger officiating. Burial will be in Maplewood Cemetery, Kingwood.

Jack L. Akers
Jack L. Akers, 72, of Route 3, Shinnston, Owings Community, and of Frederickstown, Pa., died Monday, Feb. 12, 2001, at United Hospital Center in Clarksburg. He was born Dec. 25, 1928, in Owings, son of the late Charles L. and Maude Mae O'Dell Akers. He was a first-grade mine foreman, having retired in 1994 from Martinka Mines, Fairmont, with more than 35 years in the mining industry. He began his career with Consolidation Coal Co. as an engineering surveyor, and then worked for Jones and Laughlin St eel Corp., Vesta No. 5 Mine. He had also worked as a party chief surveyor for the West Virginia Division of Highways. He was a veteran of the Korean War, having served with the U.S. Navy based in Panama City and Key West, Fla. He was a member of the Firs t Baptist Church of Shinnston and was baptized in the fellowship of the church April 1, 1945. He was a member of St. John's Lodge 24, AF&AM Shinnston and a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason, with membership in both Clarksburg and Wheeling. He was also a me mber of the Hanson-Cole American Legion Post 391, Frederickstown, Pa. He enjoyed squirrel and deer hunting and was a collector of antique mining memorabilia. He is survived by his wife, R. Joan Howe Akers, whom he married Dec. 19, 1955; two daughters and a spouse, Tammy M. and Eric Wentz, of Morgantown, and Deborah K. Akers, of Fredrickstown, Pa.; three grandsons, Geoffrey J. Jones, and Allen and Lucas Bebout ; a great-granddaughter, Lacey Higginbotham; three brothers and spouses, Orville and Evelyn Akers, of Sistersville, Gene and Elaine Akers, of Goodlettsville, Tenn., and Donald and Evelyn Akers, of Conesville, Ohio. He was also preceded in death by a grandson, Ian Nathanial Wentz; and four brothers, Louis, Joseph, Charles "June" and Edgar Vance Akers. Friends may call at Dorsey Funeral Home, Shinnston, from 6-9 p.m. Wednesday, from 2-9 p.m. Thursday and from 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 16, until the 1 p.m. service, with the Revs. Gary L. Martin and Robert Wilson officiating. Burial will be in Shinnston Mason ic Cemetery, with full military graveside rites conducted by American Legion Post 391 of Frederickstown. Masonic graveside rites will be conducted by St. John's Lodge 24, AF&AM. Dorsey Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Nellie Vecchio
Nellie Vecchio, 84, of West Virginia Avenue, Morgantown, died Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2001, at the home of her niece, Diane Wickland, of Bridgeport. She was born Sept. 8, 1916, in Collier, Pa., daughter of the late Mike and Olympia Vecchio. She was Roman Catholic. She is also survived by a sister, Beauty Gregoria, of Morgantown; and a brother, Orland Vecchio, of Baltimore. She was also preceded in death by two sisters, Rose Lozzi, and Yolanda Vecchio; and seven brothers, Tony, Frank, Louis, Ernie, Joe, Andy and Patsy Vecchio. Friends may call at Hastings Funeral Home from 9-11 a.m. Friday. Mass of Christian Burial will be at St. Theresa's Roman Catholic Church at 11 a.m., Friday, Feb. 16, with the Rev. Colombo Bandiera as celebrant. Cremation service will follow with private burial at East Oak Grove Cemetery. Donations: St. Francis Elementary School, 375 Birch St., Morgantown, WV 26505.

Virginia Warnick
Virginia Warnick, 86, of Kingwood, died Monday, Feb. 12, 2001, at Preston Memorial Hospital. She was born Sept. 13, 1914, in Kingwood, daughter of the late Lawrence D. and Rosa Durindetti Baritell. She was a clerk at Plaza Drug Mart and a volunteer at the Preston Memorial Hospital snack bar. She was also a poll worker for the national, state and local elections. She is survived by two sons, John C. Warnick, of Nashville, Tenn., and Michael W. Warnick, of Kingwood; a daughter, Patricia L. Warnick, of Denver; three brothers, Babe Baritell and Fred Baritell, both of Kingwood, and Sonny Baritell, of Warren, Ohio; th ree sisters, Della Simko and Christine Schilling, both of Pittsburgh, and Catherine Marsteller, of Warren; and three grandchildren, J.C. Warnick, Chad Warnick, and Beth Warnick. She was also preceded in death by her husband, John K. Warnick, in 1958, and a sister, Mary Rampon. Friends may call at Browning Funeral Home in Kingwood from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Thursday. Service will be 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 16, at First Presbyterian Church, in Kingwood, with the Rev. John Zuercher officiating. Burial will be in Maplewood Cemetery, in Ki ngwood.

Thomas 'Tom' Shulick
Thomas "Tom" Shulick, 70, of Laurel Street, Morgantown, died Monday, Feb. 12, 2001, at Ruby Memorial Hospital. He was born Nov. 12, 1930, in New Geneva, Pa., son of the late Andrew and Julia Mitnik Shulick. He retired from C&P Telephone Co. after 49 years of service. He was a member of the Telephone Pioneers and the Morgantown Elks Lodge 411. He enjoyed motorcycling, boating and the outdoors. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Betty St. Clair Shulick; a son, Thomas E. Shulick, of Columbus, Ind.; a daughter, Karen (Shuba) Shulick-Robinson, of Morgantown; four brothers, Mike Shulick, of Sellersville, Pa., Pete Shulick, of Edmond, Okla., Ni ck Shulick, of Garden Grove, Calif. and Alex Shulick, of Doylestown, Pa.; seven sisters, Helen Hellerman, of Sellersville, Pa., Mary Ann Cartledge, of The Villages, Fla., Lois Mott, of Roswell, Ga., June Kaiser, of Marana, Ariz., Catherine Zimmermann, Ju lie Hall and Pauline Long, all of Pheonix; and three grandchildren, Autumne Shulick, Julia Robinson and Jake Robinson. He was also preceded in death by a brother, Andy Shulick; and a sister, Dorothy Shulick. Memorial service will be at Fred L. Jenkins Funeral Home Chapel of Prayer at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 16, with Pastor Edward Woods officiating. The family requests no flowers.

Nila Jean Smith Wyckoff
Nila Jean Smith Wyckoff, 57, of Pearl Street, Grafton, died Sunday, Feb. 11, 2001, at Cannonsburg Hospital, Cannonsburg, Pa. She was born Oct. 30, 1943, in Wendel, daughter of Hoy Calvin Smith, of Detroit, and the late Julia Madeline DeCost Smith. She was a homemaker and was affiliated with the West Hill Wesleyan Methodist Church. She is also survived by her stepmother, Sue Smith, of Detroit; her husband of 25 years, Tommy L. Workman; seven daughters and spouses, Nina Jean McMasters and companion, Ronald Phillips, of Tunnelton, Alice L. Wyckoff, of Huntington, Brenda S. and Blenne y Hawkins, of Morgantown, Julia A. and Johnny Coon, of Grafton, Anna H. Griffin and companion, Pete, of Morgantown, Christina Y. and Michael Shaver, of Texas, and Laura M. and David Holcomb, of Grafton; a son, Robert H. Wyckoff, of Morgantown; a stepson, Jimmy Lee Wyckoff, of Ohio; 25 grandchildren; a great-grandson; four stepgrandchildren; a sister, Mrs. Roy (Sandra) Mayle, of Grafton; a brother and spouse, Michael and Tracy Smith, of Michigan; four half brothers and spouses, David and Joann Smith, Kev in and Lori Smith, and Andrew and Royanne Smith, all of Michigan, and Dr. Greg and Kathy Smith, of Austin, Texas; a half-sister, Mrs. Roger (Deborah) Schmidt, of Michigan; a stepsister, Mrs. Ray (Diane) Vandierdonek, of Michigan; an uncle, Edward DeCost, of Canton, Ohio; and three aunts, Mrs. Alma Mayle, of Michigan, Mrs. Velva Mayle, of Lewisville, Ohio, and Mrs. Donnie (Lorena) Croston, of Canton. She was also preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, the Rev. Fred A. and Clara DeCost. Friends may call at Donald G. Ford Funeral Home, U.S. 50 West, Grafton, from 7-9 p.m. Wednesday and from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Thursday. Service will be 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 16, with the Revs. Winfield Mayle and Mark Miller officiating. Burial will be in Blue mont Cemetery.