| Obituaries for Tuesday, February 20, 2001
BELINGTON -- Mrs. Christina Golden Bissett, 79, of the Oak Hill Nursing Home, Staunton, Va., formerly of Belington, died at 9:27 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 18, 2001, at the Augusta County Medical Center, Fishersville, Va. She had suffered from Alzheimer's disease for the past 12 years but death was attributed to pneumonia.
She was born Feb. 2, 1922, at Philippi, a daughter of the late George Jefferson and Blanche Fisher Golden.
Her husband, Jack S. Bissett, whom she married Feb. 18, 1943, at Baltimore, Md., preceded her in death on Jan. 7, 1978.
Surviving are one son, Wayne Bissett, Roanoke, Texas; one daughter, Carrol Talbott Moran, Staunton; five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; two brothers, Paul I. Golden and wife, Vivian, Akron, Ohio, Charles B. Golden and wife, Bertie Rae, Belington; three sisters, Wanda R. Zandt, Santa Rosa, Calif., Dorothy C. Jones, Akron, and Charlotte A. Corley and husband, Jack, Belington.
She was also preceded in death by one brother, Bertsel Golden, and two sisters, Madge Rhoades and Elizabeth V. Phillips.
Mrs. Bissett had attended the Belington Church of Christ and the Barbour Church of Christ. In former years she was a Sunday School teacher.
She was a graduate of the Philippi High School. She was a homemaker.
ELKINS -- Pansy O. Harris Johnson, 95, formerly of Coalton, more recently a patient at the Elkins Regional Convalescent Center, died at 10:05 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18, 2001, at the center. She had been in declining health.
She was born Nov. 25, 1905, at Barbour County, a daughter of the late Arthur and Ivy Oaster Harris.
Her husband, Lewis Bernard Johnson, whom she married April 15, 1931, at Philippi, preceded her in death on Dec. 13, 1972.
Surviving are two sons, John B. Johnson, Elkins, and David Johnson, Eastlake, Ohio; six grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
She was the last surviving member of her immediate family, having also been preceded in death by one infant daughter, two grandchildren, two brothers, Otto and Woodrow Harris, and three sisters, Bess Johnson, Mona Harris and Mary Cross.
Mrs. Johnson attended the schools of Barbour County, the Mountain State Business School at Parkersburg, and was a homemaker.
She was a former member of the Farm Woman's Club, Coalton, a member of the former Memorial General Hospital Auxiliary, the Elkins-Randolph County Senior Center, the First United Methodist Church and various other organizations.
She was an avid baker and cook.
Dorothy Ellen Williams Knotts
GRAFTON -- Dorothy Ellen Williams Knotts, 74, of West Main Street, Grafton, died Sunday, Feb. 18, 2001, at Ruby Memorial Hospital, Morgantown, following a sudden illness.
She was born Jan. 27, 1927, in Taylor County, a daughter of the late Howard Ray and Nora Pitzer Williams.
Her husband, Elbert G. Knotts, preceded her in death.
Surviving are one son, David G. Knotts and wife, Beverly J., Knottsville; one daughter, Donna K. Smoot and husband, Robert C., Forest Hills, Md.; four brothers, Leonard Williams and wife, Jean, Dorsey Williams and wife, Anne, all of Knottsville, Dorman Williams and wife, JoAnn, Fairmont, and Forrest Williams and wife, Pearl, Merritt Island, Fla.; four sisters, Alice Lucas and husband, Jack, Grafton, Sylvia Abel and husband, John, Fairmont, Trudy Mills, Glen Arm, Md., and Jean Lambert and husband, Bob, Suitland, Md.; five grandchildren, Sharon Davis, Largo, Fla., Rachel Davis, Tallahassee, Fla., Christopher Smoot, Alexander Smoot and Anna Jean Smoot, all of Forest Hills, Md.
She was also preceded in death by one daughter, Shirley Joan Davis; one brother and two sisters in infancy.
Mrs. Knotts was a telephone operator for three years. She was a homemaker. She was owner and manager of Knotts Pallet Co. for 19 years.
She was a member of the board of directors of the Taylor County Sheltered Workshop and treasurer of the St. John's United Methodist Church for 30 years.
PARSONS -- Lester Erwin Miller, 86, of Arthur, died at 4:45 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 18, 2001, at the Martinsburg Veterans Administration Medical Center. He had been in declining health and death was attributed to pneumonia.
He was born Feb. 24, 1914, at Erwin, Preston County, a son of the late Oliver Benjamin Miller and Savilla Agnes Wotring Miller.
His wife, the former Madeline Richards Hickman, whom he married April 20, 1936, preceded him in death.
Surviving are two daughters, Roberta L. Lantz and husband, Thomas H. Lantz, Petersburg, Phyllis T. Harman Vaughn, Arthur, and Captain Kurt L. Miller, Petersburg; two sisters, Ruth Dumire, Pittsburgh, Pa., and Helen Collins and husband, Clayton Collins, St. George; one sister-in-law, Jean H. Burns, Parsons; a special friend, Virginia Beckman, Petersburg; nine grandchildren, Merina L. Martin, Sheree L. VanMeter, Tom Lantz Jr., Kristy L. Morgan, Lester H. Lantz, Carrie A. Vaughn, Michael W. Vaughn, Kimberly J. Vaughn Helsley and Aric S. Miller; 13 great-grandchildren, Trooper Keith W. Martin, Lance W. Martin, Second Lieutenant Robert W. Lantz, E-3 Anna Marie Lantz Taylor, Jason L. VanMeter, Laura M. VanMeter, Logan J. VanMeter, Troy C. VanMeter, Alexandria N. Lantz, Amber M. Vaughn, Ashlyn N. Helsley, Brandon K. Helsley and Jacob S. Miller; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
He was also preceded in death by three sisters, Olive White, Goldie Meyers and Katie Townsend; and one grandson, Steven G. Vaughn Jr.
Mr. Miller attended the one- room school at Limestone School. He was a decorated veteran of World War II, where he served as a squad leader and later as a platoon leader in the 101st Airborne Division, Company E, 501st Parachute Infantry during the invasion of Normandy. His citations included the Silver Star, Purple Heart and Good Conduct Medal.
Following active duty he worked in the CCC Program in West Virginia, which helped develop roads and park systems in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. He worked for the Department of Natural Resources as a conservation officer for 17 years and after his retirement worked for the J.M. Huber Corp. for 15 years, Sites' Excavation for eight years and Advantage Foods for five years.
He was a lifelong member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars at Parsons, and later at Post No. 6454 at Petersburg. He was an active counselor in the 4-H program in Tucker County and an avid outdoorsman, where he enjoyed activities in the rugged, wild country at Canaan Valley and Blackwater River, prior to modern day development.
He enjoyed teaching youth the pleasures of outdoor activities, stressing the importance of firearms safety by visiting schools and educating young people in the safe, responsible use of guns and the right to bear arms.
The family suggest that expressions of sympathy be in the form of contributions to the Madeline R. and Lester E. Miller Scholarship Fund, in care of the Tucker County Community Endowment Fund, P.O. Box 491, Parsons, WV 26287.
PINE GROVE -- Coy Postlethwait, 90, of Dayton, Ohio, formerly of New Martinsville, died Sunday, Feb. 18, 2001, at Hospice of Dayton.
He was a son of the late Luther and Lenora Briggs Postlethwait.
His wife, Evalyn Milburn Postlethwait, survives.
Also surviving are one son, Lynn Postlethwait and wife, Jana, Dayton, Ohio; one son-in-law, James McCoy, Charleston; four grandchildren, Molly Fortuna, Slidell, La., Susan Hanna and David Hanna, both of Charleston, and Mindy Postlethwait, New Burn, N.C.; and three great-granddaughters, Crystal, Ashley and Blair.
He was preceded in death by one daughter, Marsha McCoy; six brothers and five sisters.
Mr. Postlethwait was a member of the First Methodist Church, New Martinsville. He was a retired teacher and principal for the Wetzel County Board of Education with 45 years service. He graduated from Fairmont College with a bachelor's degree and from West Virginia University with a master's degree.
He was a member of the Masonic Lodge No. 39 A.F. & A.M. of New Martinsville, National Retired Teachers Association, Association of Retired School Employees, Wetzel County Association of Retired School Employees and the New Martinsville Senior Citizens.
GRAFTON -- James Anthony Rogucki, 53, of Route 2, Grafton, passed away Saturday, Feb. 17, 2001, at Presbyterian Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pa.
He was born July 21, 1947, in Clarksburg, a son of the late Charles Rogucki Jr. and Grace Anne Guzzi Rogucki.
His wife, Connie S. Wyckoff Rogucki, survives.
Also surviving are one daughter, Jamie Annette McGee and spouse, Wade, Philippi; two sons, James Anthony Rogucki II and Joseph Aaron Rogucki, both at home; two grandchildren, Wesley and Jordan McGee; one sister and brother who are twins, Veronica Haller, Rosemont, and Robert Rogucki and wife, Mary Rose Lopez, Temple, Ariz.; one half brother, Charles Rogucki, New York; and several nieces and nephews.
He was also preceded in death by one brother, Ronnie Rogucki.
Mr. Rogucki was a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War. He was employed at the UCAR Carbon Co. Inc. of Clarksburg. He was a member of the Grafton Assembly of God Church where he was a cell minister.
MANNINGTON -- George Stevens, 81, of Joetown community, Mannington, died Monday, Feb. 19, 2001, at his residence.
He was born Jan. 5, 1920, at Salt Lick, Mannington, a son of the late Kinsey and Nellie Huffman Stevens.
His wife of 51 years, Maude Eurita Fordyce Stevens, preceded him in death on Oct. 8, 1995.
Surviving are three sons, Richard Stevens, Mannington, George Melvin Stevens and Mark J. Stevens, both of Joetown community, Mannington; two daughters, Doris R. Freeman, Fairmont, and Carolyn Carnes, Monongah; four brothers, Charles, Glen, Junior and Kenneth Stevens, all of Mannington; one sister, Helen Uiselt, Ohio; 15 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, several stepgrandchildren, nieces and nephews.
He was also preceded in death by one sister, Edna Baker; one infant sister, Mary Stevens; two daughters, Dove Louise "Suzi" Fleming and Barbara J. Reynolds; one son, Ralph Wayne Stevens; and one grandson, Christopher Stevens.
Mr. Stevens was retired after 23 years of service from the Marion County Board of Education as a bus driver. He was a member of the Joetown Church of Christ. He was a member of the American Legion Post No. 40 in Mannington.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Army having served in World War II. He was a member of the 82nd Airborne and fought in the Battle of Normandy where he received the Purple Heart.
BUCKHANNON -- William Burton Westfall, 70, of 11221 Centaur Drive, Wake Forest, N.C., died Sunday, Feb. 18, 2001, at his residence.
He was born Dec. 25, 1930, in Buckhannon, a son of Freeman Westfall and Isephine Barker Westfall of Buckhannon.
His wife, Thelma Gaterll Westfall, whom he married May 20, 1950, survives in Wake Forest.
Also surviving are one daughter, Debra and husband, Carl Rauh, Washington, D.C.; one son, Jody and wife, Polly Westfall, Greensboro, N.C.; one sister, Martha Cerullo, Buckhannon; three brothers, Bennie Westfall, Morgantown, Jerry Westfall, Cross Lanes, and David Westfall, Stonewood; four granddaughters, Olivia Rauh, Mandy Westfall, Jamie Packer and Brittany Packer; and one grandson, Nick Westfall.
Mr. Westfall was a member of the Wake Forest United Methodist Church.
He retired in 1996 from AT&T with 40 years of service. He was a member of the Wake Forest Masonic Lodge A.F. & A.M.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Wake County, 1300 St. Mary's St., fourth floor, Raleigh, NC 27605, or to the American Cancer Society, 11 South Boylan Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27603.
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