Obituaries for Sunday, July 11, 1999

Pearlie Francis

PENNSBORO -- Pearlie Francis, 81, of Ellenboro, died Friday, July 9, 1999, in Parkersburg.
He was born Feb. 25, 1918, near Glendale Community, Ritchie County, a son of the late Clarence and Nellie Parks Francis.
His wife, L. Oneta DeLancey Francis, survives.
Also surviving are one son, Lyle Francis, Marietta, Ohio; two grandsons, Roger and Rick Francis; two granddaughters, Sherry and Ella Vrolyk; and four great-grandchildren.
He was also preceded in death by an infant son; three brothers, Leonard, Wilbur, and Gilbert Francis; and one sister, Stella Richards.
Mr. Francis was a retired school transportation superintendent for the Ritchie County School System with 36 years of service.
He was a member of the Wince Chapel United Methodist Church at Pike.
Friends will be received at the McCullough-Rogers Funeral Home, 447 W. Myles Ave., Pennsboro, from 4:30-8p.m. today and after 9 a.m. Monday. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Monday in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Clyde Border officiating. Interment will follow in the Masonic Cemetery in Ellenboro

Wilda M. Gibson

GRAFTON -- Wilda Margaret Gibson, 86, of Route 2, Grafton, died Saturday, July 10, 1999, following an extended illness.
She was born Dec. 29, 1912, in Harrison County, a daughter of the late John Thomas and Ida Elizabeth Williams Crumrine.
Her husband, Charles Raymond "Chuck" Gibson, whom she married on March 19, 1926, in Oakland, Md., preceded her in death on Aug. 18, 1981.
Surviving are two daughters, Violet L. McDaniel and Mrs. Earnest (Eleanor) McDaniel, both of Webster; two sons and daughters-in-law, Charles R. and Bonnie Gibson, and Michael K. and Robin Gibson, all of Mentor, Ohio; several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
She was also preceded in death by three brothers, Paul, Grover, and Lilburn Crumrine; one sister, Mrs. Ora E. Stewart; one son-in-law, Merle L. McDaniel; one grandson, Richard Gibson; and three great-grandchildren, including a set of twins.
Mrs. Gibson was a seamstress and cottage parent at the West Virginia Industrial School for Boys.
She was a faithful member of the Union Baptist Church and the Women's Society of Simpson.
Mrs. Gibson was a Past Nobel Grand of Star America Rebecca Lodge No. 79, Fleminton.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete.
Bartlett Funeral Home, Grafton, is in charge of the arrangements.

William H. Hazelwood Jr.

SALEM -- William Howard Hazelwood Jr., 77, of Sunrise Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Salem, formerly of Monroe Street, Salem, died at 6:05 a.m. Saturday, May 29, 1999, at the facility following an extended illness.
He was born Jan. 9, 1922, in Salem, a son of the late William Howard Hazelwood Sr. and Kizzia A. Bates Hazelwood Furbee.
Surviving are five sisters, Erma G. Lake, Clarksville, Tenn., Ruth E. Cantrell, Earle, Ark., Willa H. "Peggy" Berryman, Clarksburg, Ida "Dot" Kimball, Daytona, Gla., and Judith Bolton, Humboldt, Tenn.; and several nieces and nephews.
He was also preceded in death by one sister, June Wamsley; and one brother, Thurl R. Shields.
Mr. Hazelwood had served as a private in Company "B" Twenty Sixth Medical Training Battalion during World War II.
He had retired in the late 1950's from McBride Glass with over 20 years of service as a carryman and bitman.
Mr. Hazelwood was a member of the Open Door Tabernacle, Salem.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and was an avid golfer.
A memorial service will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, July 17, 1999, at the Center Point Christian Church in Center Point, with the Rev. Haymond Plaugher officiating.
Harbert Funeral Home, 287 W. Main St., Salem, is assisting the family with the arrangements.

Cecil J. Merriman

FAIRMONT -- Cecil Judsun Merriman, 79, of Millersville, died Friday, July 9, 1999, at his residence.
He was born March 20, 1920, in McWhorter, Harrison County, a son of the late Cecil James and Fonda Iva Bland Merriman.
His wife of 59 years, Mary Jane Toothman Merriman, whom he married on Feb. 21, 1940, survives.
Also surviving are two sons and daughter-in-law, Judson Merriman, Suffolk, Va., and David and Nancy Merriman, Vacaville, Calif.; two daughters and sons-in-law, Charlotte M. and Roger Grove, Fairmont, and Barbara Jane and Richard Bickerstaff, Baltimore, Md.; one brother and sister-in-law, Clyde and Myrtle Merriman, Holliday, Fla.; one sister, Norma A. Robinson, Fairmont; 11 grandchildren, Joey Mayo, David Burns, Misty Lee Bickerstaff, Bobbi Jo Burns, Lara Matthews, Nicki Merriman, Shawn Merriman, Heidi Tucker, Chad Grove, Erin Frey, and Danny Merriman; 10 great-grandchildren, and a very dear friend and fishing buddy, Gip Cyphers, Fairmont.
He was also preceded in death by three brothers, Leland A., Harry S., and Eshet L. Merriman; one daughter-in-law, Judith Merriman; and one brother-in-law, James Robinson.
Mr. Merriman was a member of the Norway Church of Christ, a former member of the Fairmont Auxiliary Police, and a member of the Fairmont Archery Club.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Army with service prior to World War II and was in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
Mr. Merriman enjoyed gardening and fishing.
Friends will be received at the Frey Home For Funerals, Fairmont, from 7-9 p.m. today and Noon-9 p.m. Monday. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Eddie Stewart and the Rev. Andy Miller officiating. Interment will follow in the West Virginia National Cemetery in Pruntytown.

Roy L. Moran

GRAFTON -- Roy Lee Moran, 85, of Route 5, Country Club Road, Grafton, died at 11:24 a.m. Friday, July 9, 1999, in the Grafton City Hospital.
He was born July 31, 1913, in Junior, a son of the late Robert Lee and Della Maude Grimm Moran.
His wife, Helen Louise Ashby Moran, whom he married on Aug. 12, 1937, survives.
Also surviving are one daughter and son-in-law, Nancy and James Manno, Grafton; two sons and daughters-in-law, Howard R. and Sue Moran, Ledyard, Conn., and Guy W. and Beverly Moran, Beiver, Miss.; 12 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren.
He was also preceded in death by one son, Ronald C. Moran; two brothers, and two sisters.
Mr. Moran was the last surviving member of his family.
He was formerly employed with the Hazel Glass Co., Grafton, and the Knox Glass Co., Connecticut.
Mr. Moran was a lifetime member of the Grafton Elks Lodge B.P.O.E. No. 308.
He was Methodist.
A private graveside service will he held at the families convenience in the Woodsdale Memorial Park with the Rev. H. Edgar Suite officiating.

Emmett R. Murphy

PHILIPPI -- Emmett Ray Murphy, 73, of Route 1, Volga, died at 2:55 p.m. Friday, July 9, 1999, in the St. Joseph's Hospital Emergency Room, Buckhannon.
He was born Aug. 6, 1925, in Randolph County, a son of the late Robert and Beulah Salibury Murphy.
His wife, the former Clara Maxine Bennett, preceded him in death.
Surviving are two daughters, Carolyn Rounds, Missouri, and Ronnetta Murphy, Volga; three sons, Harold Murphy, Duane Murphy, and Robin Murphy, all of Buckhannon; three sisters, Pauline Henry, Volga, Nina Peters, Flint, and Alice Hart, Pennsylvania; three brothers, John Murphy and Pat Murphy, and James "Jim" Murphy, all of Philippi; and eight grandchildren.
He was also preceded in death by one brother, Perry Murphy; and one grandchild.
Mr. Murphy was a retired coal miner.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete.
Wright Funeral Home, 216 N. Walnut St., Philippi, are in charge of the arrangements.

Charles R. Shearer

ORANGE CITY, FLA. --Charles Robert "Bob" Shearer, 71, of Deltona, Fla., formerly of Ashland, Ky., and Mt. Clare, died Tuesday, July 6, 1999, in a Deltona hospital.
He was born Jan. 20, 1928, in Clarksburg, a son of the late Charles and Emma Campbell Shearer.
His wife, Jean Shearer, survives.
Also surviving are one daughter, Nancy, Deltona; one granddaughter, Ashley, Deltona; one sister, Velma Larry, Mt. Clare; and three brothers, Frank Shearer, Clarksburg, Paul Shearer, Bridgeport, and Edward Shearer, Ashland.
Mr. Shearer was a graduate of the Lost Creek High School Class of 1946.
He was retired from Ashland Oil Refinery in Ashland.
Mr. Shearer was a U.S. Army veteran.
Allen-Summerhill Funeral Home, Orange City, was in charge of the arrangements.

Howard W. Walker

JANE LEW -- Howard Wilbert Walker, 78, of 27 Hawkins Dr., Buckhannon, died Friday, July 9, 1999, at his residence.
He was born Aug. 21, 1920, in Jeanette, Pa., a son of the late Alonzo T. and Tressie Jane Shaffer Walker.
His wife, the former Dessie R. Knisell, whom he married on Jan. 24, 1942, in Mt. Lake Park, Md., survives.
Also surviving are one son, Howard W. Walker Jr., Alabama; four daughters, Luella Sinclair and Patricia Brown, both of Buckhannon, Barbara Messenger, Nutter Fort, and Yvonne Dadich, Morgantown; two sisters, Lucille Schmidt, Jeanette, and Viola Kelley, Morgantown; 10 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
He was also preceded in death by two sisters and four brothers.
Mr. Walker was a self employed auto electrician.
He was a veteran of World War II serving in the U.S. Army.
Mr. Walker attended the Buckhannon Pentecostal Church.
He was president of the Mountain State CB Club. His handle was "Alternator".
Friends will be received at the Morris Funeral Home, Jane Lew, from 6-8 Monday. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Lester Boylan officiating. Interment will follow in the Brick Church Cemetery in Lost Creek. Jane Lew Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 5131 and the American Legion Post No. 166 of Jane Lew will hold full military grave site memorial services.