When I attended the 2019 Monongah High Alumni Reunion last month in Fairmont I saw in the In Memorial part of the program that Harold Spragg, Class of 1950, passed away November 1, 2018.

 

But I don’t find any evidence that I reported Harold’s passing by checking the Monongah High Alumni blog.

 

So this is my tardy tribute to Harold.

 

Like me, he was in the newspaper business, as a pressman for 26 years with the Fairmont Times West Virginian.

 

Harold was married for 63 years to Karen Eddy Spragg, who passed away June 11, 2018.

 

Harold and Karen both worked at Mountaineer Electric.

 

Karen’s parents were Thomas Hayes Eddy, Sr. and Mary Crawford Eddy of Fairmont.

 

Harold’s siblings were Gerald Spragg, Class of 1939, and Geraldine Spragg Gawthrop, Class of 1939, who predeceased him, and Bernice Spragg Detwiler, Class of 1945. Gerald lived in Worthington when he passed away in 2010. Geraldine was on the Monongah High newspaper staff.  

 

Their parents were Grover Spragg and Mary Jane Yost Spragg.

 

There was a Eugene Spragg, Class of 1932, but I don’t know if he’s tied to Harold’s ancestors.

 

Harold’s obituary:

Harold V. Spragg, 87, of Inwood, WV, passed away November 1, 2018. Those who had the privilege of knowing him will remember his entertaining stories, his willingness to find the humor in everyday situations, and his uncanny ability to make any stranger into a good friend. He was born in Monongah, WV to the late Grover and Mary Jane (Yost) Spragg.

Harold started his career and worked at the Fairmont Times West Virginian for 26 years as a Pressman where he developed a life-long love for the printed word and current events. He worked at Mountaineer Electric while in Fairmont and he ended his career when he retired from Winchester Electric Services. After retirement, he particularly enjoyed spending time with his beloved wife as they shared their interests in reading, visiting the beach, and going to Amish Country.

Harold was preceded in death by his loving wife and best friend of 63 years, Karen (Eddy) Spragg, his brother Gerald Spragg, and his sister Geraldine (Spragg) Gawthrop. He is survived by his daughters and sons-in-law, Rosemary and Roger Thorne of Princeton, NJ and Holly and Joseph Cattrell of Lancaster, OH. Additionally, he is survived by his sister Bernice Detwiler of Lancaster, OH. He will be missed by his grandchildren, Joelle Thorne, Jordan Poling, and Benjamin Poling whom he loved and cherished.

Harold was a member of the First Church of the Nazarene in Fairmont and during his time in Inwood he was a member of the Westview Baptist Church of Martinsburg, WV. A graveside service will be held December 27, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at the Rest United Methodist Church, 4713 Martinsburg Pike, Clear Brook, VA 22624. In lieu of flowers, please contribute in Harold Spragg’s name to either Westview Baptist Church Building Fund, 301 S Louisiana Ave., Martinsburg, WV 25401 or the Blue Ridge Hospice, 333 W Cork St., #405, Winchester, VA 22601. Online condolences may be offered at www.BrownFuneralHomeWV.com .

Harold’s wife’s obituary:

Mrs. Karen Irene Eddy Spragg, 82, of Inwood, WV. died Monday, June 11, 2018 surrounded by her family and friends.

Mrs. Spragg, born in Fairmont, WV; was the daughter of the late Thomas "Hayes" Eddy, Sr. and Mary Crawford Eddy. She was also preceded in death by a brother, Thomas Eddy, Jr.She worked hard in the male dominated world of electrical motor winding that she learned from her mother, who was a pioneer in the field. She had a reputation that she could wind any motor big or small and she enjoyed teaching the next generation how to wind while sharing life lessons. She worked for Mountaineer Electric while living in Fairmont and retired from Winchester Electric Services in her 70's. After retirement, she particularly enjoyed spending time with her beloved husband as they shared their interests in reading, visiting the beach, and going to Amish Country.

She was a member of First Church of the Nazarene in Fairmont and during her time in Inwood she was a member of the Westview Baptist Church of Martinsburg, WV.

She is survived by her loving husband and best friend of 63 years, Harold Spragg; her daughters, Rosemary Thorne (Roger) of Princeton, NJ; Holly Cattrell (Joseph) of Lancaster, OH; brother, Roger Eddy (Kathy) of New Castle, PA; grandchildren, Joelle Thorne, Jordan Poling and Benjamin Poling who she loved and cherished.

Obituary for Ester Mae Steele Spragg, widow of Gerald Spragg, Harold’s brother:

Esther Mae Spragg Obituary

Here is Esther Mae Spragg’s obituary. Please accept Everhere’s sincere condolences.

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the death of Esther Mae Spragg (Fairmont, West Virginia), born in Worthington, West Virginia, who passed away on January 15, 2019, at the age of 92, leaving to mourn family and friends. You can send your sympathy in the guestbook provided and share it with the family. You may also light a candle in honor of Esther Mae Spragg.

She was loved and cherished by many people including : her parents, Joseph Steele and Pearl Jackson Steele; her nephews, Larry Varney of Wothington and John Dunn of Minnesota; her niece Beverly Chickerell (Ronald) of Fairmont; her great-niece Joann Malburger of Ohio; her sister-in-law Bernice Detwiler; her husband Gerald G. Spragg; her siblings, Joann Dunn and Charles Steele. She was also cherished by several other nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Monongah Baptist Church, 256 Lyndon Avenue Fairmont, WV 26554.

Among the Class of 1950 survivors, Rose Commodore Cain is the widow of 1950 Fairmont East grad Bill Cain, who passed away in 2006.

They had 3 children, 5 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. Rose lives in Fairmont.

Her brother, the late Jim Commodore, also was in the Class of 1950.

Another brother, Joe Commodore, passed away in 2018.

 

Anna Currence Sutton is the widow of Grant Sutton.

They met when Anna’s father lost his coal mining job and found employment in Delaware.

Her brother, Bob, passed away in 2001.

Tony Eates lives in Fairmont with wife Lucy Cann Eates.

He is a Fairmont State graduate and was president of the 1950 senior class.

They had 4 children and 9 grandchildren.

Tony also was one of the quieter members of The Gang That Terrorized Marion County. His siblings are Dominick, Joe, Mike and Mary.

Frank Franze lives in Slidell, Louisiana. Both wives passed away, Alice Earlene Brownell Franze in 1981 and Linda Corkern Franze in 2013. Frank has 2 daughters and 6 grandchildren.

 

Barbara Glover Rombola was in the Glee Club and on the Monongah High newspaper staff and is a widow living in Fairmont.

 

Bernice Grandstaff Maranville married Charles Manville, who passed away in 1984. Joe Manzo’s brother was the real estate agent when they bought their Cleveland home. She has 5 children and lives in Tennessee. She went to Fairmont Junior High and Fairmont West High before coming to Monongah High, where she was class salutatorian.

 

Donald “Jake” Halpenny married Anita Cremeans Hallpenny, who is deceased, and lives in Fairmont.  They had 5 children, 9 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild. Jake is a Fairmont State graduate and has played in Marion County bands.

 

Lucille Herron Anderson married Sam Anderson and lives in Annapolis, Maryland. She is retired teacher who had 3 children, 9 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. They travel extensively.

 

Bob Kasper married Pat, who passed away. They have 2 children and 5 grandchildren. Bob lives in South Lyon and Presque Island (Grand Lake), Michigan. His sister is Evelyn Kasper Boggess, who still lives in their childhood home on Willow Lane near St. Barbara’s Nursing Home in Monongah. Satch and I have been exchanging the same 2 Christmas cards since 1955. We became best friends in first grade at Sts. Peter and Paul School and visit each other every year.

 

Pat Kiehl Williams lives in Edgewood, New Mexico. She married Gervais James Williams, who understandably prefers to be called GJ. Pat is a retired schoolteacher. She met GJ because her sister married GJ’s brother.

 

Reva McDougal Ash lives in Marietta, Ohio. She has 4 children, 8 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild. Her sister, Edna McDougal Saunders, passed away in 2011. Other siblings are Helen McDougal Mudry and, living in North Carolina, Earl McDougal and Jimmy McDougal.

 

Arnold Morgan married Janet Arnold Morgan, then Peggy Main Morgan. He had 3 children and moved to Palatka, Florida.

Mary Ann Puffenbarger Moore grew up in Carolina, was on the Monongah High student council and a cheerleader before moving to Fairmont.

 

Pat Meredith Wills married Fairmont West graduate and football player Don Wills. She was class secretary and is a Fairmont State grad who has homes in Fairmont and Crescent Beach in St. Augustine, Florida.  They have 3 children. Bill Meredith, Class of 1957, is her brother and lives in Sarasota, Florida.

 

John Olesky married Monnie Turkette Olesky of the Cinderella coal camp adjacent to Williamson. She is deceased. They had 3 children, 7 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. John has been with Paula Stone Tucker for 15 years. They have homes in Tallmadge, Ohio, an Akron suburb, and The Villages, Florida. John was a newspaperman for 43 years, retiring in 1996, and has been to 56 countries, 44 states and on 14 cruises.

 

Kathryn Toothman Crim is the widow of Monongah High grad Reid Crim, who played football for the Lions before beginning his Air Force career. Reid and Kathryn have 5 children and 6 grandchildren. 

She lives in Farwell, Michigan where she has a decades-old relationship with her neighbor, whose 40-acre property adjoins her 40-acre property. 

Kathryn’s sister Melba lives in Linden, Missouri and Blanche passed away in Tennessee.

 

Pat Urban Utz married John Utz, a Naval Academy graduate who was a helicopter pilot in Vietnam. They live in Springfield, Virginia and have 5 children and 5 grandchildren. 

Pat was class valedictorian. Pat’s father was Andrew Urban, whose father was Peter Urban. Peter survived the 1907 Monongah mines explosions that killed 362 but late was killed in a mine cave-in.

Pat’s brother, Michael Urban, passed away in 2008.

 

Leatrice Yokay Greaser is the widow of Bob Greaser. She kept in touch with fellow MHS grads Pat Urban Utz and Mathaleen Cameon Oliverio and, until they passed away, Kathryn Slamen, Mary Frances Miller Myers and Agnes Jean Larry DiLaura.

Leatrice grew up in Carolina and lives in Fairmont. She had a grandson and 2 grandchildren.

She joined Mary Jo Forte, who played piano, to sing on her WMMS radio show.