Junior R. Knotts

Junior Ray Knotts, 81, of Sugarlands, went to be with the lord on Saturday, April 21.  Death was attributed to cancer.

He was born June 9, 1925, at Sugarlands, the son of Claude R. and Perchie Lee Mullenax Knotts.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Cornell Elizabeth Gooding Knotts; three sons, Donald and wife Clarice Knotts of Sugarlands, Robert and wife Jeannie Knotts of Staunton, Va., and Timothy and wife Pam Knotts of Sugarlands; two daughters, Elzabeth and husband John Evans of Knoxville Tenn., and Geraldine and husband David Auvil of Haywood; brothers; Kenneth  and Jane Knotts of Parsons, Alva and Elda Knotts and Harry and Chris Knotts of Baltimore, Md.; sisters, Irene Duckworth of Charlotte, N.C., and Sylvia and Bill Rosenau of Parsons; sister-in-law, Pauline Knotts of Sugarlands; grandchildren, Melanie Putlovis, Karen and Rudy Hoffert, Sheila and Donnie Smith, Alaina, Tessa and Marla Knotts, Travis and Lindsey Knotts, Dawn Evans and John and Melissa Evans Jr.; great-grandchildren; Megan Putlovis, Emily Hoffert, Tylynn and Nathan Smith, Scott and Steven Evans and Chasity, Brandon, Haleigh and Ethan Evans; great-great-grandchild Regan Evans; and many nieces, nephews and extended family.

Junior was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Perry and Dave Knotts; infant sister Dolly Mae Knotts; nephew, Roger Knotts; and two grandsons, Donald Eugene Knotts Jr. and Curtis Andrew Knotts.

Junior was drafted into the United States Marine Corps on Oct. 30, 1943, and served in the Asiatic Pacific Theatre with the 29th Regiment 6th Marine Division. He was a baker and assistant cook and participated in action in Okinawa.

Junior was a senior at Parsons High School when he was drafted, and was awarded his high school diploma along with several other students from his class, leaving before his senior year was completed. He received an honorable discharge from the Marine Corps and moved home to Sugarlands.

Junior was married to the former Cornell Elizabeth Gooding of Thomas on March 15, 1948. They settled on the farm in Sugarlands and raised five children.

Junior served as a commissioner for Tucker County for 30 years from 1962 to 1992. Many projects were begun and completed during his tenure including Cortland Acres Nursing Home and Pineview Apartments. He also gave countless hours after the devastating flood of 1985 coordinating aid during the cleanup. 

Junior was a member of Farmers for Better Living, served on the Southern States Cooperative Board. He was a fifty year member of the Farm Bureau and received the award for Outstanding Farm Bureau Member in 1987. 

Junior received the Farm Management Award from the West Virginia Young Farmers Association in 1980. Junior and Cornell were recognized by the Tygarts Valley Soil Conservation District as Farmer of the Year in both 1980 and 2005. Other honors and awards he received included Master Conservationist, Honorary Chapter Farmer by the Future Farmers of America, Certificate of Cooperative Leadership from Southern States, Outstanding Soil Conservation Farmer from the Soil and Water conservation and recognition of appreciation for the Allegheny Highlands Project from the West Virginia University College of Agriculture and Forestry.

Junior was inducted into the Parsons High School Alumni Association Hall of Fame from the class of 1944. Junior also served for many years as president for the Knotts’ Reunion held at the Sugarlands Church of the Brethren.

Friends were received at Hinkle Funeral Home in Davis on Tuesday, April 24,  from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Funeral services will be conducted at the funeral chapel on Wednesday, April 25, at 1 p.m. Services will be officiated by the Rev. Mike Lantz assisted by the Rev. Walter Blough. Interment will be at Rose Hill Cemetery in Thomas. Hinkle Funeral Home services.  

Gertrude Wratchford

Gertrude Francis Wortring Wratchford, 83, a resident of Parsons, went home to be with the Lord Wednesday morning April 18at her home. She had been in declining health for the past two months and death was attributed to congestive heart failure

She was born Tuesday July 10, 1923 at White Ridge, a daughter of the late Renzie R. Wortring and Delsie M. Lipscomb Wortring.  On Dec. 21, 1943, at St. George, she was married to Delvin Elmer “Squeak” Wratchford, who preceded her in death Feb. 14, 1991.

Surviving are two sons, Delvin “James” Wratchford and Thomas Ray Wratchford and wife Lois, all of Parsons; four grandchildren, Teresa and Thomas Wratchford, both of Parsons and Tammy Wratchford and Carrie Allender and husband Jackie, all of Hambleton; two brothers, Ray Wortring of Hambleton and Robert Wortring of Baltimore, Md.; one sister, Virginia Nine of Moatsville; six great-grandchildren Mariah Bowley of Parsons, Kayla Friend, Jeremiah and Joseph Wratchford, Haley and Wesley Allender, all of Hambleton.

Preceding her in death were one sister Olive Gower and one infant brother.

She attended the one room school at White Ridge She owned and operated along with her husband and sons the Wratchford and Sons Exxon in Parsons until 1976. She was a member of Riverview Chapel Church in Porterwood.

The family received friends at Lohr & Barb Funeral Home of Parsons on Friday, April 20 from 5 to 8 p.m. Final rites were conducted at the funeral home parlor Saturday, April 21 at 11 a.m. Pastor Dick Gadd officiated and interment followed in Mountain State Memorial Gardens at Gilman. Lohr & Barb Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements for Gertrude Francis Wortring Wratchford. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.lohrbarbfuneralhome.com.  

Arthur Steinman

Art I. Steinman passed away on April 4. He was a resident of Elkins.  He worked as a PA-C at Tucker Community Care in Parsons. He is formerly from Philadelphia.  

Art is the son of Dowitt and Frances Resnick Steinman.

Surviving are two sons, Eli Steinman of Elkins and Andrew Steinman of Hambleton; his brother Barry Steinman; sister Ellen Popielski. Also surviving is his fiancé Angela McCrum of Hambleton.

There was a graveside service for Art on Tuesday, April 10 at 11 a.m. at the Shalom Memorial Park in Philadelphia.

Art will be missed by all of his family and friends. 

© - Copyright Notice
2001, Janet Cooper

This Page was last updated -- Friday, 04-May-2007 22:23:36 MDT.