JANE LEW -- Spencer Dobbins, 92, of Mt. Olive, formerly of the Johnstown Community, died at 10 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 6, 1998.
He was born Sept. 1, 1906, in Clarksburg.
He married Mamie Williams, who preceded him in death on April 16, 1995.
Surviving is one stepson, Frank J. Williams, Columbus, Ga.
He was the last surviving member of his immediate family.
Mr. Dobbins was a farmer having worked for many people in the Johnstown area.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- The Rev. William H. Helms, 78, of Sand Dune Drive, died Sunday, Sept. 13, 1998, at his residence.
He was born in Grafton.
His wife, Susan Helms, survives.
Also surviving are one son, William Helms Jr., Stevensville, Md.; two daughters, Connie Elizabeth Briggs, St. Leonard, Md., and Barbara Grace Romine, Savannah, Ga.; two stepsons, Terrance Simmons, Millersville, Md., and David Simmons, West Virginia; two step-daughters, Kathryn Perkins, Maryland, and Andrea Friday, York, Pa.; one brother, Donald Helms, New Smyrna Beach; two sisters, Betty Closson and Helen Barr, both of New Smyrna Beach; four grandchildren, Lori Ann Tummonds, Savannah, Ga., Cheryl Lynn Green, St. Leonard, Md., Wendy Pittman, Portsmouth, Va., and Ginger Nicholson, Stevensville, Md.; five stepgrandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
The Rev. Helms moved to Florida in 1989 from Millersville, Md. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, having served in Germany and France and after the war worked at the Pentagon in the War Department.
He attended Northeastern Bible Institute in Greenlane, Pa., to prepare for his work as a minister and served in several Assembly of God Churches until his retirement in 1977. He later worked for the Maryland State Employment Office.
He was a member and past commander of both the Veterans of Foreign Wars Lodge of New Smyrna Beach and the American Legion Post in Severna Park, Md. He was a former member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
WESTON -- John K. Kafer, 91, of 518 Center Ave., Weston, died at 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15, 1998, at his residence following a brief illness.
He was born Feb. 13, 1907, in Morgantown, a son of the late John Kafer and Elise Fredrick Kafer.
His wife, Edna Mae Hoffman, whom he married Feb. 20, 1928, preceded him in death on April 20, 1995.
Surviving are one son and daughter-in-law, John G. Kafer and Roberta Kafer, Weston; three brothers, Karl Kafer, Parkersburg, William Kafer, Weston, and Rudolph Kafer, Jane Lew; several nieces and nephews.
He was also preceded in death by four brothers, Otto, August, Ernest and Joseph Kafer.
Mr. Kafer was a glass worker for 37 years and was part owner of the Lewis County Glass Factory.
He was Catholic and a member of the Weston Lodge 10 A.F.&A.M. He was a three-time West Virginia Ski Champion and recipient of the Greenbrier Trophy. He was a veteran of World War II, serving with the U.S. Army.
Friends will be received from 5-8 p.m. today at the Boyle Funeral Home, 322 Main Ave. in Weston. The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home chapel with the Rev. James Murphy officiating. Interment will follow in the Weston Masonic Cemetery.
WESTON -- Austin Eldridge Riddle, 80, of Camden, formerly of Glen Cove, N.Y., died at 5:50 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15, 1998, at United Hospital Center following an extended illness.
He was born June 4, 1918, in Tioga, a son of the late Zacreigh Riddle and Victoria Kissie Roberts Riddle.
He was twice married, first on Sept. 3, 1944, to the former Louise Oellrich, who preceded him in death on March 26, 1984, and on April 7, 1985, he married the former Mary Catherine Long Garrett, who survives.
Also surviving are one daughter, Alice Ann Lawrence, Glen Cove; one son, Austin E. Riddle Jr., Massaqua, N.Y.; four grandchildren, Melissa Kay Garrett, Steven Austin Lawrence, Austin T. Riddle and Jeromy John Riddle, and one sister, Ula Taylor, Scotts Depot.
He was also preceded in death by two brothers, Arron Edward Riddle and George E. Riddle, and two sisters, Alice Elizabeth Priest and Goldie Strickland.
Mr. Riddle was retired from the Lilco Lighting (Long Island Lighting Co.) with over 32 years of service. He was a veteran of World War II, serving with the U.S. Marines.
He was a member of the Camden United Methodist Church and the St. Patrick Catholic Church in Glen Cove. He was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion and Marine Corps League, all of New York.
Friends will be received from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. on Wednesday at the Floyd Funeral Home, 402 Main Ave. in Weston. The funeral service and interment will be held in Glen Cove.
PHILIPPI -- Madelyn Janet Thomas, 61, of Jerusalem Church Road, Route 2, died early Tuesday morning, Sept. 15, 1998, at her residence following a sudden illness.
She was born Feb. 6, 1937, in Brush Fork community, Barbour County, a daughter of the late Richard H. and Kathleen Marjorie Strawderman Nutter.
Her husband, Hugh Scott Thomas, whom she married Feb. 1, 1956, survives.
Also surviving are one son and daughter-in-law, Richard Goff "R.G." and Vickie Thomas, two grandchildren, Richard Lynn Thomas and Heather Rochelle Thomas, and one sister, Mrs. Jack (Melva) Freeze, all of Route 2, Philippi; one brother, Dewayne Nutter, Sebring, Fla.; several nieces and nephews.
She was also preceded in death by one sister, Betty Jean Poling, and three brothers, Olen Nutter, Lynn Nutter and Judge C.R. Nutter.
Mrs. Thomas was a homemaker and a former employee of the business office of the Broaddus Hospital. She was former deputy clerk of Barbour County and a former employee of the B&S Cleaners in Philippi.
She was a member and past worthy matron of Philippi Chapter 41, Order of Eastern Star and a board member of the Barbour County Fair Association. She was a member of the Crim Memorial United Methodist Church, where she served as treasurer of the United Methodist Women.