James Fletcher

James Lee Fletcher passed away at Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown on Aug. 13. 

He was born May 22, 1943 at Elkins, the son of the late D. Edwin and Virginia Puffenberger Fletcher. 

He attended the schools of Elkins and graduated form Augusta Military Academy, Fort Defiance, Va. in 1961.  He attended the University of Virginia and Davis & Elkins College.  He enlisted in the U.S. Army and completed service in  he Army Reserves of Clarksburg.  

Jim began his insurance career with his late father's agency by selling hospitalizations and health policies.  He went on to work with Central West Virginia Underwriters.  He later purchased the agency, which became Fletcher Casualty Insurance.  He specialized in liability and casualty insurance for auto, homeowners and businesses.  He sold his agency in 1994 to Allegheny Insurance and retired in 1997.  

He was residing in Florida and Canaan Valley at the time of his death.

He married Sarah Thompson of Canaan Valley in 1968.  They are the parents of one son Ben and his wife Karen Cameron and their two daughters Caroline and Maggie, all of Charlotte, N.C.  In addition, he is survived by two brothers David Fletcher of Elkins and Tom Fletcher of Fairmont; one sister Betty Ruddle of Edgewater, Md.; and several nieces and nephews. 

Preceding him in death besides his parents was a brother Charles Fletcher. 

Jim was very active in the community while a resident of Elkins.  He served two terms as the President of the Elkins-Randolph County Chamber of Commerce.  Under his terms with the Chamber, he still holds the record for increasing membership and funding.   He began as a volunteer raising money for the Chamber and went on to become a real force through his use of personal contact with local and regional businesses.  He was chosen Member of the Year after his first year.  He lead the first Christmas Tree Auction to raise money for the lights for the City of Elkins to sue for the holidays.  He started the Taste of the Town series that brought both local and regional food businesses together for the presentation to the general public. 

Jim was a two-term president of the Randolph County Convention and Visitors Bureau (RCCVB) during the 1990's.  He assisted in the development of the popular annual Ramp Festival.  He secured state recognition of the Ramp Festival as the West Virginia Division of Tourism's Event of the Year.  

According to Brenda Pritt, who worked with Jim in both the Chamber of Commerce and the RCCVB, he was her mentor and "she learned so much from him about organizing and getting people to volunteer.  He was enthusiastic in getting the things accomplished, such as getting the first computers for both the Chamber and the RCCVB.  He got the Chamber state recognition and helped the Visitors Bureau by assuring that it was current in methods of getting information out to the public and to visitors.  He was diligent in his efforts to get a decent pay scale and bonuses.  He always was involved in improving our image for the visitors and the public." 

The family of Jim FLetcher, in honor of his commitment to Elkins and the surrounding communities, suggests that, in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be given to the "RCCVB Building Improvement Fund" for the new Visitors Center.  Those gifts may be sent to the "RCCVB Building Improvement  Fund," Randolph County Convention and Visitors Bureau, c/o Davis Trust Company, P.O. Box 1429, Elkins, West Virginia.  

Friends were received from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 19 at the Tomblyn Funeral Home in Elkins.  Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 19 at the funeral home chapel with Rev. James Martin and Rev. Dr. Basil A. Hensley officiating.  Interment followed in the Davis Cemetery.  Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.tomblynfuneralhome.com  

Ancil Moore

Ancil J. "Andy" Moore, age 81, died June 3, at Prince William Hospital, Manassas, Va.

He was born May 14, 1924, in Parsons, a son of the late Flossie Corcoran Moore and Ray Moore.  He was the nephew of the lat Earl Corcoran and Margaret Moore Cashdollar. 

He served with the US Navy during World War II in the South Pacific.  He retired from Safeway Stores in 1983, and later Haymarket Grocery Store in Haymarket, Va.  

He was preceded in death by his wife Thelma, in 1965; and a son Robert, age 16, in 1973. 

Survivors include one son Ancil Moore, of Buena Vista, Va.; and three daughters, Diane Neal of Front Royal, VA., Margaret Shifflet of Virginia Beach, VA., and Debbie Dokken of Linden Va.; three grandchildren, two great grandchildren, and brother Earl Moore of Alexandria, Va. 

Funeral services were conducted on June 7 at Lee Funeral Home in Manassas with the Rev. Paul Campbell presiding, followed by interment with Military honors at Quantico National Cemetery, Quantico, Va. 

Maxine D. Simmons

Maxine Doris White Simmons, 72, a resident of Currance Street, Parsons, departed this life Sunday morning, Aug. 20, at her home. She had been in declining health.

Family will receive friends on Wednesday, Aug. 23 from 3 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Lohr & Barb Funeral Home, Parsons.  Funeral services will be conducted on Thursday, Aug. 24.  

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2001, Janet Cooper

This Page was last updated -- Monday, 04-Sep-2006 08:58:59 MDT.