Ronald Lee Clark

SHINNSTON -- Ronald Lee Clark, 57, of Hepzibah, died at 12:20 p.m. Monday, Nov. 6, 2000, at United Hospital Center, Clarksburg, following an extended illness.

He was born Jan. 17, 1943, in Hepzibah, a son of Walter W. and Virgie Johnson Clark Sr., Hepzibah.

His wife, Waltraud Roll Clark, whom he married Jan. 17, 1964, survives.

Also surviving are one son, Ronald Lee Clark II, Clarksburg; one daughter, Mrs. Steve (Monica Renee) Mitrovich, Hepzibah; two brothers, Keith M. Clark, Mansfield, Ohio, and Walter W. Clark Jr., Hepzibah.

He was preceded in death by one sister, Norma Jean Clark and one brother, Stephen Clark.

Mr. Clark was a lead meter technician with Allegheny Power with 33 years of service. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran and a 1960 graduate of Victory High School.

There will be no public visitation. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at Dorsey Funeral Home, Shinnston, with Pastor John Pigott officiating. Entombment will be in the Shinnston Masonic Mausoleum.

Doyle Brown

NEW MARTINSVILLE -- Doyle Brown, 82, of Glenview Drive, New Martinsville, died Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2000, at his residence.

He was born Dec. 22, 1917, in Pine Grove, a son of the late Charles G. and Ida Postlethwait Brown.

His wife, Merle A. Hudson Brown, survives.

Also surviving are one son, Ralph G. Brown and wife, Fanny, Georgetown, Texas; one daughter, Betty Whaley and husband, Pete, New Martinsville; four grandchildren, Cathy Allen, Georgetown, Cheryl McNutt and husband, Paul, Scottsdale, Ariz., Diana Palmer and husband, Dave, Friendly, and Melissa Tate and husband, Timmy, Concord, N.C.; one sister, Clarice Lemasters, Pine Grove; 10 great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter.

He was also preceded in death by four brothers, Gayne, Bud, Zane and Arles.

Mr. Brown was a retired district foreman for Consolidated Natural Gas Co. and a member of the First Christian Church Disciples of Christ, New Martinsville.

He was a 50-year member of Wetzel Lodge No. 39, A.F.&A.M., New Martinsville, a member of the Scottish Rites, a Masonic 32nd degree, member of Order of the Eastern Star No. 16, Mesa, Ariz., and the Order of Amaranth, Mesa.

Memorial contributions may be made to Journey Hospice, 314 South Wells St., Sistersville, WV, 26175.

Eleanor Harner Engle

CLARKSBURG -- Eleanor Harner Engle, 84, of Good Hope, formerly of Seminole, Fla., died Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2000, at Monongalia General Hospital, Morgantown, following an extended illness.

She was born June 30, 1916, in Morgantown, a daughter of the late Robert and Nellie S. Harner.

Her husband of 41 years, Blaine W. Engle, survives.

Also surviving are one son, Richard H. Lowther and wife, Patricia, good Hope; one daughter, Nancy Sue Roy, Seminole; one stepson, Robert Engle, Albuquerque, N.M.; four grandchildren, Bryan Lowther and wife, Krista, Mt. Clare, Matt Lowther, Good Hope, Debora Lowther, Baltimore, Md., and Jonathan Roy, Seminole; two great-grandchildren, Alex Lowther and Kensley Lowther, both of Mt. Clare; two sisters, Mrs. William D. (Sara) Gorby, Bridgeport, and Mrs. Robert M. (Bonnie) Smith, Spring Hill, Fla.; one niece and four nephews.

Mrs. Engle was retired from a teaching profession in the Harrison County Public Schools System as a music teacher at Lumberport and Washington high schools and Central Junior High School. She also taught private piano lessons for several years.

She graduated from West Virginia University with a B.M. degree in music. She was an active member of the Alpha Xi Delta Sorority, a member of the former Clarksburg Community Chorus and was also a worker for the Community Concert Association in Clarksburg.

Mrs. Engle was a former member of the New Bethel Methodist Church, Good Hope, where she directed the senior church choir.

At the request of the deceased, there will be no viewing or visitation. A private graveside service will be held at the convenience of the family, with the Rev. Gary Rapking officiating. Davis Funeral Home, Clarksburg, is in charge of the arrangements.

Harold G. Fortney Sr.

GRAFTON -- Harold G. Fortney Sr., 98, of Route 3, Grafton, Oak Grove community, died Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2000, at his residence.

He was born Oct. 11, 1902, in Fortney's Mill, Preston County, a son of the late John Wesley Fortney and Susan Virginia Williams Fortney.

His wife of 66 years, Nellie Sapp Fortney, whom he married Nov. 19, 1927, preceded him in death on Jan. 5, 1994.

Surviving are five children, Catherine Gelhausen, Route 3, Grafton, Oak Grove community, Harold G. Fortney Jr. and wife, Dorothy, Grafton, Rheta Zorik and husband, Mike, Painesville, Ohio, Kenneth Fortney and wife, Brenda, Shinnston, and Edith Gull and husband, Donald, Trap Springs Road, Grafton; 16 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson; and several nieces and nephews.

He was the last surviving member of his immediate family, having also been preceded in death by three brothers, Owen Fortney, Clarence Fortney and James Fortney; one sister, Lucy Bennington; one grandson, one great-grandson and one great-granddaughter; two half brothers and two half sisters.

Mr. Fortney was retired from the West Virginia Industrial School for Boys, was formerly employed by the B&O Railroad, and was a coal miner.

He was a member of the Blueville Church of Christ.

Estie I. Gonzales

WESTON -- Estie I. Gonzales, 74, of 124 First St., Weston, died at 6:52 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2000, at Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital, Weston, following an extended illness.

She was born April 3, 1926, in Gilmer County, a daughter of the late Lloyd Thompson and Susie Dotson Thompson.

Her husband, Jack Gonzales, preceded her in death.

Surviving are three brothers, Jay Thompson and Rue Thompson, both of Weston, and Clyde Thompson, Canton, Ohio; and several nieces and nephews.

She was also preceded in death by six brothers, Virgil, Earl, Ray, Grant, Robert and Lloyd Thompson and one sister, Luella Thompson.

Mrs. Gonzales was a personal care giver for many years in the Weston area.

Friends will be received at Floyd Funeral Home, 402 Main Ave., Weston, from 6-8 p.m. Thursday. The funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at the funeral home chapel, with the Rev. Clifford West officiating. Interment will follow in the Smith Cemetery, Roanoke.

Kenna Jean Groah Marple Lorentz

WESTON -- Kenna Jean Groah Marple Lorentz, 46, of Route 2, Buckhannon, Excelsior community, died at 2:15 p.m. Monday, Nov. 6, 2000, at her residence following an extended illness.

She was born Feb. 20, 1954, in Weston, a daughter of the late Kenneth Eugene Groah and Virginia Hite Groah.

On June 10, 1978, she married Michael Eugene Lorentz, who survives. Her former husband, George E. Marple, also survives.

Also surviving are seven sons, David Lee Marple, Michael Edward Marple and George Gregory Marple, all of Weston, Robert Michael Lorentz, Larry Dale Lorentz, Kenneth Allen Lorentz and James Dean Lorentz, all at home; several brothers and sisters; 10 grandchildren; several nieces and nephews and several close friends.

She was also preceded in death by one son, Kevin Dwayne Lorentz, in 1980.

Mrs. Lorentz was a homemaker and attended Liberty in Christ Church, Buckhannon. She enjoyed gardening and raising animals.

Friends may call at Boyle Funeral Home, 322 Main Ave., Weston, from 11 a.m. until the 1 p.m. funeral hour today, with the Rev. Mike Westfall officiating. Interment will follow in the Sand Run Baptist Church Cemetery, Excelsior.

James C. Morris

BRIDGEPORT -- James C. Morris, 62, of Wilson Street, Clarksburg, died Monday, Nov. 6, 2000, at United Hospital Center, Clarksburg.

He was born Jan. 18, 1938, in Bridgeport, a son of the late Willie Late Lang Morris and Lula Gay Brown Morris.

His wife, Judith Morris, survives.

Also surviving are one son, James C. Morris Jr., one daughter, Sandra Kay Morris, both of Philippi; two grandchildren, Michael Lynn Miller and Tabitha Ann Miller; three brothers, John Morris, Shepherdsville, Ky., Tom Morris and Paul Morris, both of West Union; four sisters, Rachel Shriver, Mary Shriver, Josephine Holbert, all of Bridgeport, and Sue Collins, Memphis, Tenn.

He was also preceded in death by one daughter, Pamela Gay Morris; one brother, David Morris; and one sister, Daisy Ewing.

Mr. Morris retired from the U.S. Government Civil Service. He was a member of the New Life Baptist Fellowship, Bridgeport, and was a U.S. Army veteran, serving two terms in Vietnam.

Friends will be received at Ford Funeral Home, Allen Chapel, 215 East Main St., Bridgeport, from 2-5 and 6-8 p.m. Thursday and from noon-1 p.m. on Friday at New Life Baptist Fellowship, 1000 Johnson Ave., Bridgeport. The funeral service will be held in the church at 1 p.m. Friday, with Pastor Chris Talton conducting the service. The entombment will follow at the Floral Hills Memorial Gardens, Mount Clare.

Norris "Eugene" Newell

CLARKSBURG -- Norris "Eugene" Newell, 71, of Route 7, Clarksburg, died Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2000, at United Hospital Center, Clarksburg, following an extended illness.

He was born June 11, 1929, in Parkersburg, a son of the late Glenn E. and Evelyn Virginia White Newell.

His wife of 51 years, Eva Jane Spence Newell, survives.

Also surviving is one daughter, Sheri Newell Bee, Clarksburg.

Mr. Newell was a contractor and owner of General Contracting Construction, retiring in 1991. He was a member of the Emmanuel Baptist Church.

Family and friends may call at Davis Funeral Home, 443 West Pike St., Clarksburg, from 7-9 p.m. today and 11 a.m. until the 1 p.m. funeral service on Thursday, with the Rev. Robert Shingleton, officiating.

Interment will be in the Sunset Memorial Park.

John Wesley Swisher

GRAFTON -- John Wesley Swisher, 56, of East Main Street, Grafton, died Monday, Nov. 6, 2000, at West Virginia University Hospital, Morgantown.

He was born June 2, 1944, in Fairmont, a son of the late Dellet R. "Rabbit" Swisher and Mildred V. Saunders Swisher.

Surviving are one daughter, Sharon Swisher, one granddaughter, Amanda Paugh, both of Ft. Pierce, Fla.; one aunt, Rev. Ruby Foley Gilbert, Grafton; one uncle, Paul Wesley Swisher, Virginia; and several cousins.

Mr. Swisher was formerly an orthopedic technician at Grafton City Hospital and a U.S. Army Vietnam veteran.

He was a member of the Calvary Baptist Church of Grafton, the Grafton Moose Lodge No. 2509, and the American Legion Taylor County Post No. 12.

Margaret Valdivia

SHINNSTON -- Margaret Valdivia, 87, of King, N.C., died at 1:10 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5, 2000, at Dorothy Goff's Nursing Home, Enterprise.

She was born Aug. 11, 1913, in Pittsburgh, Pa., a daughter of the late Max and Mina Haulaimt Kappauf.

Her first husband, Gilbert Harry Dankmyer and her second husband, Richardo Valdivia, preceded her in death.

Surviving are one daughter-in-law, Geneva Dankmyer, King; and four grandchildren.

Harmer Funeral Home, Shinnston, is in charge of arrangements.

Alice Jane Zirkle

PHILIPPI -- Alice Jane Zirkle, 64, a resident of Enterprise, Ala., died at 12:25 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5, 2000, at Flower's Hospital, Dothan, Ala.

She was born July 10, 1936, in Philippi, a daughter of the late David and Chattie Queen Woodford. She was united in marriage on Sept. 23, 1957, to Gerald Edward Zirkle, who survives.

Also surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Steve (Theresa Mae) Johnson, Edward's Air Force, California, and Roseanna Jannette Carnagey, Clarksville, Tenn.; one sister, Mrs. Lennie (Wilma) McVicker, Philippi; two grandchildren, Jeffery Carnagey and Shawn Anderson.

She was also preceded in death by one infant brother.

Mrs. Zirkle was a homemaker and a member of the First Baptist Church in Level Plains, Ala. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at the Wright Funeral Home, Philippi.