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Obituaries for Wednesday, June 4, 1998

Rex K. Bumgardner

Rex Keith Bumgardner, 74, of 1559 Hoffman Ave., Clarksburg, died at 12:35 p.m. Monday, June 1, 1998, in United Hospital Center.

He was born Sept. 6, 1923 in Clarksburg, a son of the late Keith O. Bumgardner and Bonalee Kerr Bumgardner.

Surviving are four sons, Frederick Rex and daughter-in-law, Prisilla Benincosa Bumgardner, Bridgeport, Rex Douglas Bumgardner, Laurel, Md., Rex Keith and Christopher Bumgardner, both of Clarksburg; two grandchildren, Frederick Adrian "Sonny" Bumgardner, Bridgeport, and Jaqualynn Renee Bumgardner, Clarksburg, and extended family, James Franklin Kuffner, Anmoore, and Lisa Ann Feeney, Bridgeport, and two former wives, Mary Alice Smith Johnson and Judy Kuffner Bumgardner.

He was also preceded in death by one sister, Phyllis Tomash.

Mr. Bumgardner was a 1941 graduate of the former Victory High School and graduated from West Virginia University. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1942-1946.

He played professional football for five years with the Buffalo Bills and the Cleveland Browns, during which time he played in five championship games.

Mr. Bumgardner served two terms as Sheriff of Harrison County, first from 1957 to 1960 and second from 1965-1968. He was a U.S. Marshal from 1969 to 1975. He had also operated the Sport Shop in Clarksburg from 1961-1964. He was twice a delegate to Republican National Conventions.

Previously a member of several civic and fraternal organizations, he currently was a member of Bel Meadows Country Club, West Virginia University Alumni Association and was an alumnus of the Cleveland Browns Football Organization. He was a co-founder of the Bridgeport Country Club.

Friends will be received from 7-9 p.m. today and 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Thursday at Davis-Weaver Funeral Home, 329 East Main St., Clarksburg. The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. Interment will follow in Bridgeport Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be memorial contributions to the American Heart Association, Harrison County Unit, P.O. Box 1692, Clarksburg, W.Va. 26301.

Thelma Cleavenger

BUCKHANNON -- Thelma Cleavenger, 56, of Buckhannon, died Monday, June 1, 1998, at her residence.

She was born Oct. 30, 1941, in Nutter Fort, a daughter of the late Harry Osburn and Velma Skidmore.

Surviving are three sons, Rick Reger, Uniontown, Pa., Phillip Cleavenger and Marc Cleavenger, both of Buckhannon, and three sisters, Nancy Osburn, Uniontown, Pa., Dorothy Walker, Missouri, and Juanita Corkern, Massachusetts.

She was also preceded in death by her foster parents, French and Flora Reger; four brothers; one sister; one son, and one daughter.

Ms. Cleavenger was a member of the 700 Club and the Bible Deliverance Tabernacle on Horner Road, Weston. She was a homemaker.

James Coddington

PENNSBORO -- James William Coddington, 88, of Route 1, Greenwood, Buck Run community, died Sunday, May 31, 1998, in Parkersburg.

He was born Aug. 15, 1909, at Friendsville, Md., a son of the late Eldridge M. and Addie Friend Coddington.

His wife, Helen Grace Collier Coddington, whom he married March 31, 1946, survives.

Also surviving are three sons, William B. Coddington, Louisville, Ky., James E. Coddington, Kennesaw, Ga., and Robert R. Coddington, Westminster, Md.; three daughters, Barbara June Parker, Parkersburg, Helen R. Blair, Greenwood, and Charlotte S. Linnell, North Canton, Ohio; three brothers, George Coddington, McHenry, Md., Richard "Dick" Coddington, Frostburg, Md., and Robert R. Coddington, Manassas Park, Va.; three sisters, Florence L. Porter, Silver Spring, Md., Dora Wells, Desert Hot Spring, Calif., and Anna Marie Williams, Baltimore, Md.; nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

He was also preceded in death by three brothers and two sisters.

Mr. Coddington was retired from the U.S. Department of Agriculture where he served in a managerial position for many years. He was a graduate of the University of Maryland with a bachelor's and master's degree in Agriculture Economics. He served with the U.S. Navy during World War II.

He was a member of the Harris-Ritchie Post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Harrisville, the Harrisville Baptist Church and Harmony Lodge 59, AF&AM of Pennsboro.

Teddie G. Gibson

Teddie Gene Gibson, 50, of Route 1, Wolf Summit, died at his home Monday, June 1, 1998, following a sudden illness.

He was born Jan. 29, 1948, in Nitro, a son of Opal Maxine Gibson, Nitro, and the late Clifford Ray Gibson.

Surviving are his wife, Virginia Pearl Gibson; one son, Tellie Gene Gibson, Buckhannon; two daughters, Christy Wheeler, St. Albans, and Katrinia Sandy, Buckhannon; two brothers, Eddie Gibson, Cincinnati, Ohio, and Gary Gibson, Nitro, and five grandchildren.

Mr. Gibson was a U.S. Army veteran and Baptist.

Harvey L. Jenkins

Harvey Laco Jenkins, 71, of Hamill Avenue, Clarksburg, died Monday, June 1, 1998, at his residence following an extended illness.

He was born April 11, 1927, in Glen Falls, a son of the late William Henry and Eva B. Stull Jenkins.

His wife, Anne Mae Stutler Jenkins, preceded him in death in January 1981.

Surviving are six sons, Kenneth Jenkins, West Milford, Fred Jenkins, Robert Jenkins, David Jenkins and Gary Jenkins, all of Clarksburg, and Steven Jenkins, Walkersville; one daughter, Connie Collins, Lost Creek; four grandchildren; three brothers, Roy Jenkins, Kingman, Ariz., Orvel Jenkins, Morgantown, and Okey Jenkins, Warren, Ohio, and one sister, Ruby Hobbs, California.

He was also preceded in death by three brothers, Paul, Bob and Alvin Jenkins.

Mr. Jenkins was a glass packer at Pittsburgh Plate Glass and was retired from Fourco Glass, Jerry Run. He was a member of Clarksburg Lodge 52, Loyal Order of the Moose, and Clarksburg Aerie 2353 Fraternal Order of Eagles.

Friends will be received from 7-9 p.m. today and 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Thursday at Davis Funeral Home, Clarksburg Chapel, 443 West Pike St. in Clarksburg. The funeral service will be held at 11:30 a.m. Friday with the Rev. Robert Wilson officiating. Interment will follow in Stonewall Park Cemetery.

Bessie L. Stalnaker

FLATWOODS -- Mrs. Bessie L. Stalnaker, 84, of Corley Road, died Tuesday, June 2, 1998, at her home after a short illness.

She was born April 23, 1914, in Braxton County, a daughter of the late Charley Blake and Virginia Conrad Blake.

Her husband, Sam Stalnaker, preceded her in death on March 27, 1995.

Surviving are one daughter, Marie Stitt, Brooklyn, Ohio; two sons, Garl Stalnaker and Gail Stalnaker, both of Flatwoods; one sister, May Volinta, West Salem, Ohio; and five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

She was also preceded in death by one son, John Stalnaker.

Helen Toothman

MANNINGTON -- Helen Toothman of Charlottesville, Va. formerly of Clarksburg, died Monday, June 1, 1998, at her residence following a brief illness.

Surviving are her husband, O.D. "Hod" Bob Toothman; three daughters, Robin Poling, Richmond, Va., Linda Sue Reaser and Barbara Herath, and two sons-in law, Albert Reaser and Richard Herath, all of Charlottesville, and six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Toothman had been a deputy assesor, 4-H Club leader and All Star. She was a past president of the Harrison County Democratic Women's Association and an active member of the state association. She was a member of Christ Church United Methodist.

Lynwood D. Zinn

Lynwood Duane Zinn, 86, one of Clarksburg's highly respected physicians, died Tuesday, June 2, 1998, at his Country Club Road residence.

He was born March 24, 1912, in Glenville, a son of the late Lyda Duane Zinn and Jessie Hartman Zinn.

His wife, Ruth Blake Zinn, whom he married Aug. 1, 1936, survives.

Also surviving are two sons and daughters-in-law, Lynwood David and Margaret Zinn, Chicago Ill., and Stephen Blake and Wendy Zinn, Cleveland Heights, Ohio; four grandchildren, Jeremy A., Nicholas S., Chantal Zinn and Paul S. Morley, and one great-grandson, Zachery Michael Morley.

Dr. Zinn graduated from Glenville High School in 1929 and then from Glenville State College with the class of 1933. He attended West Virginia University School of Medicine and graduated from Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass., in 1937. Following an intership at Hartford Hospital, Hartford, Conn., and a residency at the Hospital for Women in Baltimore, Md., he was licensed to practice medicine in West Virginia in July of 1941.

During World War II (1942-1946) he served as a Lieutenant Commander in the USN Medical Corps aboard the USS "White Marsh" in the Pacific.

Dr. Zinn was associated with Dr. H.H. Haynes in the practice of his specialty, internal medicine in Clarksburg. Following his military tenure he resumed his association with Mr. Haynes and Dr. Andrew J. Weaver.

Mr. Zinn with Dr. William A. Walker was instrumental in organizing the Coronary Care Units in the former St. Marys and Union Protestant Hospitals.

In 1973, Dr. Zinn formed a professional corporation, Associated Internists, Inc. with Dr. James Thompson and Dr. Creel Cornwell. He was a member of the Harrison County Medical Society, the West Virginia State Medical Association, the American Medical Association, a diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine as is a fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians.

Mr. Zinn is an elder and past ruling elder of the First Presbyterian Church in Clarksburg. He has served on the Board of Deacons, the Session and the Board of Trustees of his church. He was a life member of Glenville Lodge No. 118, AF&AM, a member of Nemesis Temple of Shrine, and a member of the Clarksburg Lodge No. 482, Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks.

Friends will be received from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Thursday at Davis-Weaver Funeral Home, 329 E. Main St., Clarksburg. The funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, at First Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Dr. Eric Faust officiating. Interment will follow in Bridgeport Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, it is requested that memorial contributions be made to a cause of one's choice.