Sunday, June 29, 2014


Lois Carol Smith passes away

Barbara Fleming Marsh, Class of 1947, who lives in Thousand Oaks, California, sent me this email with sad news about a Monongah High grad:

John, 

On a sad note, we lost another classmate from the Class of 1947.  Lois Carol Smith passed away June 27, 2014.   She would have been 85 on July 2, 2014.  She was also a graduate of Monongah Elementary School and the Drum Majorette during the 1946-47 year.  She is being buried in Myrtle Beach, where she lived most of her adult life.

Barbara Fleming Marsh, Class of 1947

If you have memories of Lois Carol Smith, email John Olesky at jo4wvu@neo.rr.com and I’ll put them in this Monongah High Alumni blog.

Lois’ obituary:

Lois Carol Smith
Myrtle Beach, SC

Lois Carol Smith 84, passed away Friday, June 27, 2014, at her daughter's home in Charlotte, NC following an extended illness. She was born July 2, 1929, in Monongah, West Virginia, a daughter of the late Eugene and Claudine Rogers Smith.

She was pre-deceased by husband, Gilbert Smith, a daughter, Pam Wood, and infant son Eugene Smith.

Lois was a graduate of the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics. She traveled all over the world with her husband during his military career. For over thirty five years she was involved in the Order of the Amaranth on a local and state level.

She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She is survived by her daughter, Caryn Smith and husband Dave Vanderbosch of Charlotte, NC, her son, Gilbert Smith Jr and wife Natalie of Apex, NC, her step-children, Wayne Smith and wife Gayle of Conway, SC, and Nancy Johnson and husband Elton of Aynor, SC, She is also survived by seven grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and four great-great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM, Tuesday, July 2, 2014, at McMillan-Small Funeral Home with burial following at Southern Palms Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM at the funeral home prior to her service. The family would like to give a special thank you to Hospice and Palliative Care, Charlotte Region and the Visiting Angels Agency of Charlotte.
Party time? Sue’s having a birthday!

Mary “Kitty” Ahouse Morrison posted this:

“Sue Ahouse Schrader is at her place at Stoney Lonesome. Her birthday is July 3rd if anyone wants to stop by and wish her Happy Birthday.”
Sue Ahouse Schrader

If I know the Ahouse girls, there WILL be a party. That’s what they do best.

If you want to congratulate Sue, Class of 1971, who runs half-marathons in Chicago and scampers around the art place of Sedona, Arizona, pop in to her Stoney Lonesome home July 3rd for the fireworks.

When Sue isn’t hanging out in Stoney Lonesome, she’s living in Piscataway, New Jersey in the shadow of Rutgers University. That's where Kitty popped up last year to surprise Sue for her birthday.

Kitty, Class of 1968, is a bit of a gadabout herself, from New York City to Key West. Her birthday is Jan. 29. Get ready for another birthday blowout then, too.

Poor Mike Ahouse, a North Marion grad and a mailman living in Monongah, needs a GPS chip in both his sisters to keep track of where they are. 

Sue’s birthday kicks off a string of July birthdays for Monongah High Alumni, including former MHS Lions football star Bob Fox, Barbara Fleming Marsh (who went from Lockheed Missiles to real estate in California), Bill Meredith (who spends his summers at his Buckeye Lake, Ohio home and the rest of the year at his Sarasota, Florida residence just off a golf course, of course), and the Nagel siblings, Ted and Jeanie (Ted lives in Vinton, Virginia and Micco, Florida; Jeanie, who gave me my first boy-girl kiss, on my aviator cap goggles, in Fairmont).

It is a sad time for the family of Ronnie Shea, Class of 1954, who passed away in Deland, Florida, last year, as 1954 classmate Bertha Pazdric Sullivan reported. His birthday is July 14. Let us hoist a toast to Ronnie, too, huh?

If your name isn’t on the birthdays list, email John Olesky at jo4wvu@neo.rr.com with your full name, including maiden name, graduation year, birthday date and current hometown and I’ll add you to the list.

July


3 – Susan Ahouse Schrader, Class of 1971
4 – Bob Fox, Class of 1948
4 – Barbara Fleming Marsh, Class of 1947
5 – David Gowers, Class of 1971
5 – Bill Meredith, Class of 1957
14 – Ted Nagel, Class of 1954
16 – Jean Nagel Viglianco, Class of 1949

August


9 – Paula Kerns Fazio, Class of 1979
16 – Debby Morrison Harden, Class of 1966
18 – Jim McDaniel, Class of 1960
19 – Greg Postlethwait, Class of 1964
29– Pat Meredith Wills, Class of 1950
30 – Beth Pritchard Brooks, Class of 1978

September


7 – Mary Louise Orsini, Class of 1948 (honorary)
8 – Fred Moorehead, Class of 1964  
8 – Jackie Olesky Straight, Class of 1955
13 – Karen Manzo, Class of 1974
14 – Suzanne Barr Loss, Class of 1948
14 – Jim Shaver, Class of 1954
15 – Bettie Hensley Lowther, Class of 1948
17 – Patti DeMary Evans, Class of 1972
20 – Greg Patrick, Class of 1970
24 – Joe Fazio, Class of 1974
25 – Marylee Hertzog Gwinn, Class of 1948
25 – Jim Davis, Class of 1964
26 – Nathaleen Cameon Oliverio, Class of 1948
27 -- Bonita Lavencheck Waybright, Class of 1968
29 – Dietta Harden Goush, Class of 1959

October


7 – Sherry McIntire, Class of 1975
8 – Valerie Vandetta Aldridge, Class of 1973
9 – Mary Frances Miller Myers, Class of 1951
11 – Jay Holman, Class of 1971
12 – Brenda Manzo, wife of Danny Manzo, Class of 1957
16 – Jaimie Feltz Riley, daughter of Betty Lynn Wilson Feltz, Class of 1952, and late Coach Jim Feltz
20 – Leona “Duckles” Davis Schooley, Class of 1953
21 – Dorman Keith Beckner, Class of 1942
21 – Ken Slovekosky, Gilmer County High Class of 1976.
26 – Lori Hawkins Ice, Fairmont East graduate.
29 – Robert Boydoh, Class of 1956
31 – Patty Steele McCombs, Fairmont East graduate.

 

November


1 – Tom Dean, Class of 1949
5 – John Olesky, Class of 1950
10 – Tony Orsini, Class of 1946
14 – Ann Marie Mascak Davis, Class of 1955
19 – Jim Weaver, Class of 1948
20—Hellen Snider Carpenter, Class of 1950                
20 – Kathryn Toothman Crim, Class of 1950
23 -- Antheai Justice Turner, North Marion 1982
25 – Gerald Nelson Hartley, Class of 1955

December


2 – Adam Michna, 1980 North Marion graduate
4 – Ronald Pearse, Classs of 1961
5 – Duane Harbert, Class of 1951
8 – Brenda Urban, Class of 1971
13 – Otis “Sarge” Shaver, Class of 1948
22 – Frances Wimer Miller, Class of 1951

January


6 – Jeanette Barr Baczuk, Class of 1940
13 – Beatrice Salisbury Mills, Class of 1951
17 – Susan Colaneri Monell, Class of 1949
18 – Arlene Marteney Decker Edgell, Class of 1951
?? – Marie Bee Zwiegel, Class of 1951
18 – Bertha Pazdric Sullivan, Class of 1954
18 – Greg Vandetta, Monongah mayor, husband of Debbie Manzo Vandetta, Class of 1973
19 – Joe Martin, Class of 1957
19 – Joann Thompson, Class of 1962  
22 – Jo-Jo DeMary of Monongah, who lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee and is married to Yvonne King DeMary
24 – Marcia Michalski Westfall, Class of 1974
29 – Kitty Ahouse Morrison, Class of 1968

February


1 – Debra Manzo Vandetta, Class of 1973
2 – Sylvia Edwards, Monongah grad living in Idamay
3 – Debbie Weaver Hurley, Monongah grad living in Monongah with husband Milton Hurley
3 – Rebecca Urish Anderson, Class of 1971
8 – Tom Fleming, Monongah grad living in Bridgeport
9 – Bob Nichols, Class of 1964
10 – Bonnie Nicholson Moats, Class of 1960
11—Linda Renay Hess Postlethwait, Class of 1968
15 – Jerry Koloskie, Class of 1975
17 – Larry “Danny” Eates, Class of 1970
18 – Mark Tarley, North Marion grad
20 – Harold Dean Kniceley, Class of 1960
21 – Eva Huey Jarvis, Class of 1975
24 – Mary Kelly, Monongah & North Marion
29 – Betty Sikinow Cunningham, Class of 1954

 

March


5 – Phil Colanero, Jr., Class of 1963
5 -- Doris Carpenter Rogers, Class of 1971
6 – Karen Fitzwater Pausch, Class of 1961
9 – Richie Basagic, Class of 1975 
9 – Brian Evans, Monongah graduate married to Patty DeMary Evans
11 – Benny C. Morgan, Class of 1948
15 – Donna Colvert Davis, Class of 1961, married to 1958 MHS grad Bill Davis
21 – Denver Browning, MHS grad, brother of Dorothy Browning Woods, Class of 1955
22 – David Haines, Class of 1964
25 – Sandy Cook, Class of 1959
25 – Richard Fitzwater, Monongah graduate

 

April


4 – Charlotte Walker Cahill, Class of 1954
9 – Paula “P.J.” Hickman, North Marion 1983
11 – Leo Kubiet, Class of 1942
12 – Linda Sawyer Duckworth, Class of 1966
14 – Lyla Cosner Howell, Class of 1958
16 – Becky Shelosky Carvillano, Class of 1961  
30 – Shirley Knight Ritterhouse, Class of 1954

May


4 – Freddie Jane Colosino Villers, Class of 1964
5 – Frank Franze, Class of 1950
6 – Jerry Loss, Class of 1956
12 – Arlene Kitchin, main squeeze of Joe Martin, Class of 1957
14 – Donna Post Swiger, Class of 1955
14 – Mike Jurasko, Class of 1957
14 – Virginia Belle Littleton Curtis, Class of 1957
17 – Colette Stanley Melton, Class of 1970
20 – Linda Tomlinson Stevenski, Class of 1955
21 – June Paxton Rogers, Class of 1948
27 – Ed Graffius, Class of 1971
28 – Terri Orsini Saye, Class of 1972

June


1 – Parma Kay Fetty, Class of 1973
3 – Jim Birdsell, North Marion grad from Monongah; married to Angela
7 – Kenneth Kincaid, Class of 1968
8 – John Koloskie, Jr., Class of 1944
8 – Pat Slovekosky Morris, Class of 1970
13 – C.L. “Roy” Parker II, North Marion Class of 1982
13 – Rick Morrison, son of Kitty Ahouse Morrison, Class of 1968  
14 – Pamela Bombardiere, Monongah grad
14 – Regina McCoy Murphy, Class of 1973
17 – Delmas Gene Hartley, Class of 1979
17 – Dennis Jones, Class of 1954
23 – Ramona Fullen Michalski, Class of 1949
23 – Kathryn Manuel Marshall, Class of 1960
23 – Ron Manzo, Monongah grad
23 – Frankie Vandetta, North Marion grad

Saturday, June 28, 2014


1940 team was Monongah’s first champions

Dorman Keith “Legs” Beckner, Class of 1942, speaks up for the unbeaten 1940 Monongah High football team that had 3 victories and 4 ties (not a lot of scoring in those days).

Keith, who was an end of that team that included two from the famous Lipinski athletic family of Monongah, writes:


“I may have missed your post in the past about the, maybe the first, Monongah
High Football Champions. We were the undefeated 1940 Marion County Football
Champions with a record of 3 wins, 4 ties and no defeats.

“To me, it was a sad day when the Marion County High Schools were
consolidated except for FSHS and ESHS. Old rivalries went by the boards when
the consolidation took place.

“The Farmington Farmers were our big rival when I played.

“Keep up the good work with the site.

“God Bless,

“Keith Beckner
“Class of 1942”

Eugene and Ted Lipinski were on that 1940 team. 

The Lipinski siblings were “Big” Jim, Joe, John, Frank, Stephanie, Henry, Loretta, Eugene, Theodore and Lyndon. 

They had a farm that was a left turn as you headed south, off U.S. 19 near the United Mine Workers Hall and Pepsi Meffe’s service station, then up a road a short way. 

You knew you were there when you heard the German shepherds growling menacingly until their Mom said, “Friend.” Then they just watched quietly, but you knew to behave.

I met Jim in 1970 in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio after I began working in the Akron Beacon Journal newsroom because he taught phys ed at Bode Elementary and my son, John Larry Olesky, who today lives in Tallmadge, Ohio, was in the class. 

Jim’s son, Jim, Jr. was deeply involved for years in Boy Scouts in Cuyahoga Falls.

Jim's first wife, Loreene, was the cosmetology teacher for my daughter, LaQuita Olesky Timberlake, today a schoolteacher in Aurora, Ohio.

Keith was in Washington, D.C. last month as part of the Honor Flight, which takes America’s veterans on a free flight to see our nation’s capital and visit war memorials.

Keith’s daughter is Rhea Lee Beckner Hillberry of Littleton, Colorado, married to Gary Hillberry. Rhea is a Fairmont West High and Fairmont State business education graduate who retired from the Coors Brewery, the largest single brewery facility in the world, in Golden, Colorado. Paula and I were there and tasted six free and different brands of Coors beer after we watched WVU play Colorado in Boulder.

Keith’s son is Roger Keith Beckner, who love to fish.

Nick Demus, who came along later and played football at Monongah High, in “Marion County Sports History” by the Fairmont Times’ John Veasey and Cliff Nichols, named Big Jim Lipinski, John Koloski, Mike Salopek, Fred Pacito and Anthony “Bugs” Vingle as the better athletes of the 1940s during the World War II years.

While it wasn’t until 1952 that Coach Jim Feltz brought Monongah High its first state football title, and did it again in 1955, and Coach Earl Keener, Feltz’ assistant, did it in 1968 and 1969 and Mike Argobrite and Rick Mazza coached the Lions to the 1973, and final, MHS state title, Keith is right that the 1940 team may have been the first football champs at Monongah High.


If you have memories of ANY of Monongah High’s championship teams, email John Olesky at jo4wvu@neo.rr.com and I’ll put the information in this Monongah High Alumni blog.
West Virginia 48th in nation for businesses

West Virginia is No. 48 among the 50 states when it comes to attracting businesses, according to CNBC.

Only Rhode Island, the smallest state, at No. 50 and Hawaii, the happiest state, at No. 49, are worse, CNBC decided.

The assessment of West Virginia:

West Virginia is mired at 48th, its same ranking as last year. The Mountain State finishes last for Business Friendliness, tied for last in Access to Capital, and 48th for Technology and Innovation. Some in the state are recognizing the need to change. A coalition of charities, government and educational institutions has launched "What's Next, West Virginia," aimed, the group says, at "building stronger local economies." But the initiative—and even its website—are barely off the ground.”

I guess all those decades of coal and lumber barons plundering West Virginia to buy more yachts in far-off places where they lived paid off, after all – for them.

Jenna Won’t Sing Band at
Firehouse Cafe

Jenna Won’t Sing Band performed at its favorite haunt, the Firehouse Café,  Friday, June 28.

Jim Pulice, Class of 1969, retired Monongah Middle School principal and son of Jim Pulice, Class of 1948; son Eric Pulice, Ron Yanero and Greg Patrick, Class of 1970, form the Jenna Won’t Sing band.

Other gigs on their schedule:

July 4 -- Fairview Town Celebration
July 5 -- Rivesville
Aug. 16 – Monongahfest
Sept. 6 – Heston farms
Dec. 5 – United Way at the Elks
Dec. 12 – Christmas party
Dec. 31 – New Year’s Eve party at Monongah Town Hall


Larry Salai, Regina Humphrey (inset)
Larry Salai powers to recovery

Larry Salai, Class of 1973, who had a bone marrow transplant March 18 to deal with his AML (Acute Meloid Leukemia), has recovered enough to power-clean the engine on his Mustang. Larry is from Carolina and lives in Fairmont.

So happily reports M. Regina Humphrey, also Class of 1973, who calls it “turning the corner.” Regina grew up in Worthington.

Amanda Salai Kropog, North Marion Class of 1997, is Larry’s daughter.

The Salai family is spread through Monongah High history.
o   James Salai, Class of 1966
o   Mickey Salai, Class of 1967 is Mrs. Garnett Satterfield
o   Daniel Salai, Class of 1970
o   Frank Salai, Class of 1973
o   Debra Sue Salai Rush, Class of 1975
o   And then there’s Bryan Salai, North Marion 1982


If you have memories of the Salai family, email John Olesky at jo4wvu@neo.rr.com and I’ll put the information on this Monongah High Alumni blog. 

Joe Manchin IV’s godfather passed away Wednesday, June 25.



John Staunton Hickman
(January 13, 1944 - June 25, 2014)
http://www.hutsonfuneralhomes.com/images/spacer.gif

John Staunton Hickman, 70, of Fairmont, passed away Wednesday, June 25, 2014 at his residence. He was born January 13, 1944 in Fairmont, a son of the late William K. and Willette Hoult Hickman. John was a 1961 graduate of Farmington High School and received a B.S. degree from Salem College.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, stationed in Germany during his service. He was a District Sales Manager for Motorola Corporation and was also owner and operator of “The Hut” restaurant in Beckley. He was a member of the Mannington Lodge 31, AF&AM, a member of the Elks Lodge No. 388 and Moose Lodge No. 1344 in Mannington, a member of Beni Kedem Shriners in Charleston, The American Legion, Charles Millan Post 40 in Mannington, and a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason with membership in the Wheeling and Morgantown bodies. John was a Baptist by faith.
Survivors include his wife, Linda Roberts Hickman, whom he married on May 18, 1974, 1 son: John S. Hickman, II of Fairmont, a brother: James W. Hickman and wife, Patsy of Derby, KS, a Godson: Joseph Manchin IV of Fairmont, friends whom he considered as his children, Michael Joyce, L.D. Schmidt, Heather Bresch, Brooke Roberts, and Abby Anderson, a nephew: Col. James P. Hickman, USAF, stationed in England, a niece: Tawni Caylor of New Castle, PA, and several cousins.
In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his in-laws, Clarence and Ethel Roberts. Friends may call at the Hutson Funeral Home in Farmington on Sunday from 4-8 p.m. and Monday from 2-8 p.m. where services will be held on Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. with Rev. Father Douglas B. Sutton officiating. Cremation will follow. Donations may be made to the WV Rescue Mission, 107 Jefferson St., Fairmont, WV 26554, Soup Opera, P O Box 10, Fairmont, WV 26555-0010, or the Marion County Humane Society, P O Box 905, Fairmont, WV 26554.Online condolences may accessed at www.hutsonfuneralhomes.com .


Friday, June 27, 2014

Lisa Myers McCombs
Lisa Myers  McCombs’ ‘Abby’ 2nd in Purple Dragonfly book contest

Lisa Myers McCombs, Class of 1977, won second place in the Young Adult Fiction category in the 2014 Purple Dragonfly book contest with "Abby."

“Abby” is part of the children’s books triology by Lisa, Y-Teens sponsor at Monongah Middle School. The others are “Opening Pandora's Box” and “Raspberry Beret.”

Purple Dragonfly awards are by Five Star Publications, which Linda Radke began in 1985. Five Star also handles marketing, publicity, networking, special event coordination, design/development/production of curriculum guides and materials, book trailers, companion marketing products and audiobooks.

Lisa posted this July 7th:
Just received my certificate this week. It is official.

"In recognition of excellence in children's literature. 2014 Young Adult Fiction 2nd Place. Lisa A. McCombs. Abby, Purple Dragonfly Book Award."

Lisa is married to Harless McCombs, Class of 1976, Monongah Fire Department chief.

Lisa’s mother, Pat Myers, taught at Monongah Elementary and her father, John Myers, was the golf pro at Green Hills Golf Club for many years.


Book No. 7 for Linda Tomlinson Stevenski

Tate Publishing has accepted the manuscript for the seventh children’s book by Linda Tomlinson Stevenski, Class of 1955, who lives in Monongah -- “A Collection of Small Animal Stories.”

There are six animal stories in the book. Linda is big on animals. Two are about “Chetty T. Chipmunk.”

Her other books are "The Ghost of Maple Road," "They Came to the Mine," “Monongah 1949” and “The Gnome’s Dome.”

Linda writes that "it usually takes several months to do a book" after the manuscript has been accepted. I'll let you know when it's available for purchase.

Former Monongah High majorette Linda has been married for 58 years to Andy Stevenski, a 1950 Grafton High grad. Linda, a former Monongah High majorette. Their meeting at the 12th Street Skating Rink led to  six children and several grandchildren. 

Linda's siblings are Martha Sutcliffe of Mineral Ridge, Ohio, Patty Clark of Ohio, William Hammond of Four States and James Hammond of Fairmont.