Obituaries from the Parsons Advocate,
1 July 2009
Gary Blake
Gary ‘Pouch’ Paul Blake, 56 of Thomas, passed away June 25 at Memorial Hospital in Cumberland, Md.
He was born May 7, 1953 in Silver Hill, a son of the late Ronald Dale and Sara Elizabeth Hartley Blake.
He is survived by three brothers Larry Blake and Glenn Blake, both of Thomas and Robert ‘Elmer’ Blake of Romney; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by three brothers Ron, Joe and Bill; and one sister Betty Ann Hartley.‘Pouch’ was an avid sports fan and especially a WVU fan. He was a Protestant by faith.
Friends were received at Hinkle Funeral Home on Saturday, June 27 from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Funeral services were held on Sunday, June 28 at Hinkle Funeral Chapel with Rev. John Callaway officiating. Interment followed in the Davis Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Muscular Dystrophy, 1 Stadium Drive, Morgantown, WV 26506. Hinkle Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
Johanna Bergstrom
Johanna M. (Menter) Bergstrom, 79, of Mt. Storm, died Sunday, June 28 at the Garrett County Memorial Hospital in Oakland, Md.
She was born Aug. 30, 1929 in Eppieshausen, Germany, the daughter of the late Andres and Maria (Frank) Menter.
She is also preceded in death by her husband James F. Bergstrom; one son Steven J. Bergstrom; and one daughter Sabrina S. Fansler.
She was Catholic by faith. Johanna was a devoted housewife and mother, stern and no nonsense by nature. She lived her life through her children and will be greatly missed by all.
She is survived by four sons Thomas W. Bergstrom of Brooksville, Ky., Mikeal H. Bergstrom and wife Margo of Las Vegas, Nev., James A. Bergstrom and wife Christina of Byron, Ga. and Carl A. Bergstrom and wife Heather of Yuba, Calif.; 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
At her request her body will be cremated. The Newman Funeral Homes P.A., 203 Second St., Oakland, Md. is in charge of the cremation services. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.newmanfuneralhomes.com. .
Mary Gerasco
Mary Louise ‘Jackie’ Loughry Gerasco, 89, a resident of Parsons, departed this life Sunday evening, June 28, at Cortland Acres Nursing Home at Thomas.
She was born Monday, April 19, 1920 at Pheasant Run, a daughter of the late Wayne Loughry and Bessie Olive Moran Hull. On Nov. 13, 1937 at Oakland, Md., she was married to Samuel Eugene Gerasco, who preceded her in death Sept. 12, 1977.
Surviving are four daughters Sandra Jo Jones and husband Eugene of Pifer Mt., Judith Ann Minke and husband Butch of Elkins, Janelle Louise Judy and husband Mike of Beaverdam, Va. and Janette Ellen Caplan and husband Craig of Philadelphia, Pa.; and one sister Margaret Anne Parsons of Md.
She was preceded in death by one brother Ernest Claude Loughry; and two sisters Ethel Mae Robinson and Freda Lee Altiere.
She attended the schools of Tucker Co. She was a homemaker, a noted cook and a devout Christian and a member of the St. John’s United Methodist Church at Parsons. Jackie never met a stranger. She was a wonderful mother and grandmother.
The family received friends at the Lohr & Barb Funeral Home of Parsons on Tuesday, June 30 from 6 to 8 p.m. Final rites will be conducted at the funeral home parlor Wednesday, July 1, at noon. The Rev. John Morrison will officiate and interment will follow at the Parsons City Cemetery at Parsons. The Lohr & Barb Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.lohrbarbfuneralhome.com.
Winifred Gibbs
Winifred Johnson Kerns Gibbs, 73, of Marietta Ga., a native of Tucker County, passed away in Marietta, Ga. on Jan. 16.
A celebration of her life will be held Friday, July 3, at the First Presbyterian Church in Thomas at 3 p.m., with inurnment to follow at Rose Hill Cemetery.
She was a wonderful person, wife, daughter, mother, sister, friend, and nanny/granny to many. Her greatest pride was her children, grandchildren, and great-granddaughter.
She was born in Hendricks, on June 20, 1935, the eldest of eleven children of the late Fred and Ruth (Long) Johnson of Douglas. The proud daughter of a coal miner, she was the second mother to her siblings, and was the salutatorian of the Thomas High School class of 1952.
Following the death of her first husband, First Lt. Earl Kerns of Thomas, she married Gary Gibbs and moved to several states for short stays, before settling in Oak Ridge, Tenn. for many years, and then resettled in Atlanta, Ga.
She is survived by her husband of 47 years Gary Gibbs; five children Mike (Cathie) Gibbs of Oakdale, Conn., Marilyn (Jim) Wagner of Roswell, Ga., Mark (Gayle) Gibbs of Thompson’s Station, Tenn., Donna (Jere) Hook of Canton, Ga., and Alison (Seth) Butler of Marietta, Ga.; eleven grandchildren Malcolm (Melinda) Gibbs of Tampa, Fla., Cain
Benjamin Gibbs of Osaka, Japan, Ashley (Elmar) Narayan of Berlin, Germany, Colin and Matthew Gibbs of Oakdale, Conn., Trevor and Garrett Wagner of Roswell, Ga., Haley and Justin Hook of Canton, Ga., and Emma and Caden Butler of Marietta, Ga.; one great-granddaughter Madeline Gibbs of Tampa, Fla.; her sisters Millie Davis of Thomas, Sharon Hancock of Camden, S.C., Elizabeth Kennedy of Fairmont and Margaret Fowler of Greenville, S.C.; her brothers Fred Johnson of Thomas and Cudge Johnson of Owings, Md.
In addition to her parents and first husband, she was preceded in death by her brothers Tom, Harvey, Dale, and Gail.
Nellie Lewis
Nellie Agnes Lewis, 87, a resident of Hambleton, passed away Sunday, June 28
at her residence.
She was born Jan. 21, 1922 in Hambleton, a daughter of the late Alex Cecil and Laura Jane (Phillips) Summerfield. She was united in marriage in 1956 to James E. Lewis who preceded her in death Aug. 17, 1962.
Surviving are three daughters Laura Summerfield, Helen and Robert Dumire and
Margaret Roxanne and David Bolinger, all of Hambleton; one son Joe and Janet
Summerfield of Hambleton; one sister Reta Bennett of Hambleton; 11 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by one daughter Judy Bolyard; one grandson William Bolyard; two brothers Harry Summerfi eld and Don Summerfield; three sisters Bes Tuesing, Edina Jordan and Margaret Summerfield.
She was a homemaker and attended the Church of God.
Friends were received at the Wright Funeral Home, 216 N. Walnut St., Philippi on Monday, June 29 from 5 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, June 30 from 8 to 11 a.m., the service hour with Pastor Loren Metzner officiating. Interment followed in the Sunrise Cemetery in Hambleton.
Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.wrightfuneralhomeservices.com.
Elizabeth May
Elizabeth Ann ‘Bay’ Silvester May, 89, a resident of Elkins, and more recently a resident of the Elkins Regional Convalescent Center since Oct. of 2005, departed this life Friday, June 26 at the center.
She was born Friday, Nov. 28, 1919 at Coalton, the oldest daughter of the late Romeo Silvester and Marie DiBacco Silvester. On Jan. 5, 1946, she was married to Eugene H. May Jr., who preceded her in death Feb. 28, 1967.
Surviving are four brothers John ‘Johnny’ Silvester and wife Esther of Coalton, Joseph Silvester and wife Idia of Elkins, Anthony F. Silvester and wife Jean of Norton and Vincent ‘Freddie’ Silvester and wife Midge of Elkins; three sisters Mary Ferruso of Clarksburg, Pauline Johnson of Elkins and Magdeline "Maggie" De- Motto and husband L. Hugh of Red Creek; several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews which she loved.
Preceding her in death is one infant son in 1948; one sister Helen R. ‘Dolly’ Silvester; two brothers-in-law John Ferruso and John B. Johnson; and one nephew John Anthony Ferruso.
She was a graduate of Coalton High School with the Class of 1938 and attended Mountain State Business College at Parkersburg from 1938 to 1941. She had worked for the Works Progress Administration Certification Department in Elkins prior to enlisting in the U. S. Army, where she served in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corp from September 1942 until August of 1944. She then went to work during 1949 for the Golden Clinic at Fourth Street in Elkins and then worked as a Licensed Practical Nurse at the Memorial General Hospital, retiring in 1985 after thirty-six years of service.
She was a member of the H. W. Daniel’s Post # 29, American Legion, where she had served as the fi rst female Commander, Second Vice Commander, historian and chaplain; the H. W. Daniel’s Unit #29, American Legion Auxiliary, where she had served as President, First Vice President, Second Vice President and Ninth District President. She also belonged to the Randolph County Salon 238 of the Eight and 40; the Women’s Army Corps Veterans Association; the Citizens Flag Alliance; the All Veterans Memorial Council; the Aerie # 2344 Fraternal Order of Eagles Auxiliary; the Veterans of World War I Ladies Auxiliary Barracks # 1060, the AARP, a life member of the Licensed Practical Nurses Association of WV and was a charter member of the Women in the Military Memorial Foundation, Inc. at Washington, D.C.
She had a great love for the flag and patriotism and she, as a Legionnaire, visited local schools to encourage love for the flag. She was a member of the Saint Brendan Catholic Church, the Altar Society and the Holy Rosary Guild.
The family received friends at the Lohr & Barb Funeral Home from 5 to 8 p.m., Monday, June 29. On Monday at 7 p.m., at the funeral home, a prayer service was recited by the very Reverend Donald X. Higgs, V.F. On Tuesday, June 30 Mrs. May was moved to the Saint Brendan Catholic Church where the Liturgy of Christian Burial was celebrated at
11 a.m. The Very Reverend Donald X. Higgs, V.F. was the Presider and interment followed at the Saint Brendan Cemetery at Elkins, where the H. W. Daniel’s Post # 29, American Legion presented the American Flag. The Lohr & Barb Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.lohrbarbfuneralhome.com.
Virginia Milkint
Virginia Ethel Milkint, 86, of Thomas, passed away June 22 at her residence.
She was born Nov. 6, 1922 in Davis, a daughter of the late Marshall Burl Bennear and Emma Theresa Guhr.
Surviving are one son Louis Charles Milkint Jr. of Tampa, Fla.; one daughter Mary V. Johnson of Thomas; four grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband Louis Charles Milkint Sr. on November 15, 1999; two brothers Ken and Dale Bennear; and one sister Anna Mae Frye. Mrs. Milkint was the last surviving member of her immediate family.
She was a US Postal worker in Coketon for 12 years and in Thomas for 10 years. Mrs. Milkint was a member of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, Thomas Women’s Club, and The Bridge Club. She collected salt and pepper shakers, coins and enjoyed making quilts.
Friends were received at Hinkle Funeral Home on Thursday, June 25 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Rosary was held at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial was held Friday, June 26 at 10 a.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, with Father Timothy Grassi as Celebrant. Interment followed in Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Hinkle Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
Gredal Oaster
Gredal Geraldine Pennington Oaster, 89, of Parsons, departed this life Saturday, June 27, at the Cortland Acres Nursing Home at Thomas.
She was born Monday, May 3, 1920 at Bretz, a daughter of the late Seymour and Calnettie Roy Pennington. She was married to Melvin Peter Oaster, who preceded her in death during 1966.
Surviving are one son Philip Dale Oaster and Sandra of Mackeyville; daughter-in-law Lana Oaster of Hambleton; two grandchildren Philip Todd Oaster and April Rachelle Oaster Miller and Rick, all of Parsons; two great-grandchildren Brendan and Olivia Miller; many nieces and nephews; her extended family Cynthia Helmick and children Buck, Angiy and granddaughter Izabella; and many wonderful neighbors.
She is the last surviving member of her immediate family having been preceded in death by one son Melvin Alan ‘Bub’ Oaster; six brothers Boye Pennington, Lorenza Pennington, John Pennington, Junior Pennington, Woodrow Pennington and Denzil Pennington; five sisters Roxlanie Pennington, Gladys Pennington, Buena Phillips, Madeline Thorpe and Alberta Phillips; a very special friend Robert Bright; and great-nephew Robert Sponaugle.
She was a graduate of Parsons High School with the Class of 1939. She was an employee of the former Puffenberger’s Hotel, the former Dorman Mills, Nella’s Nursing Home ‘White Gables’, the former Tucker County Hospital and was a former employee for the Department of Health and Human Resources. She attended the Free Methodist Church in Hendricks and the First United Methodistn Church in Parsons. She loved caring for her flowers, garden and family.
The family received friends at the Lohr & Barb Funeral Home of Parsons on Monday, June 29 from 5 to 8 p.m. Final rites were conducted at the funeral home parlor on Tuesday, June 30 at 2:30 p.m. The Rev. Jeff Anderson officiated and interment followed at the Parsons City Cemetery at Parsons. The Lohr & Barb Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.lohrbarbfuneralhome.com.
Obituaries reprinted courtesy of the Parsons Advocate.
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Copyright Notice2001, Janet Cooper
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