Tuesday, October 25, 2022

FANNIE CAPUTO VANDETTA, SURROUNDED IN LIFE BY FRANK VANDETTAS, PASSES AWAY

 


Fannie Vandetta, whose father-in-law, husband, son, grandson and great-grandson all are named Frank Vandetta, passed away Sunday, October 23. Another 65 minutes and she would have been 91.

 

Fannie was called Nunna by her grandchildren. My maternal grandmother, Maria Fedrigon Futten, born in Italy, was called Nona. Other Italians call their female ancestors Nonna. It all began with Madonna in Italian and Spanish. The Mona in the famous Mona Lisa painting is short for Madonna.

 

Fannie was the widow of Frank, Jr., whose parents were Frank Vandetta, Sr. and Olga Grandoni Vandetta. Fannie and Frank, Jr.’s son is Frank Vandetta III, married to Brenda Sturm Vandetta. Frank III and Brenda are the parents of Frank Anthony Vandetta IV, whose child with Stephanie Kishbaugh Vandetta is Frank Vandetta V (as in the 5th).

 

I went to Monongah High with Carl Vandetta, Class of 1948, and passed his house many times on my way to my Uncle Frank Loss and Aunt Gezala Futten Loss’ home in Mill Fall. Aunt Gezala was a sister of my mother, Lena Futten Olesky, and the late long-time Fairmont barber Si Futten.

 

Fannie is survived by her sister, Deloris Caputo Butcher.

Unrelated: The late Deloris Butcher Beals was in my Class of 1950.

Fannie’s obituary:

Fannie Vandetta, 90, of Monongah affectionately known as Nunna by her grandchildren passed away Sunday night one hour and five minutes prior to her birthday on October 23, 2022 at the Tygart Center. She was born on October 24, 1931 in Shinnston daughter of the late John and Angeline Caputo.

Fannie was a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church and attended Mass regularly. She was an avid gardener and was a great cook and baker. She was proud of her Italian heritage.

She attended West Virginian School for the Deaf and Blind in Romney.

Fannie is survived by her three children Frank and wife Brenda Vandetta of Monongah, Carlo Anthony “Sonny” and wife Kimberly Vandetta of Fairmont and Tina Riggs and companion Billy Carpenter of White Hall.

She is also survived by her grandchildren Frankie (Stephanie) Vandetta, John (Breanna) Jenkins, Christopher Vandetta, Logan Jenkins, Gina Jenkins, JoMarie Bogard, Gian Carlo Vandetta, and Joey Riggs. She was also survived by ten great grandchildren Frankie, Meya, Nathan, Elijah, Maci, Kristian, Colten, Raelynn, Kaelynn, and Gemma.

Fannie is also survived by her sister Delores Butcher of Monongah and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents she is preceded in death by her husband Frank Vandetta, one son John Vandetta, one brother Jimmy Caputo, one infant brother and five sisters Rose Sloan, Lena Cupp, Mary Yurkovich, Betty Marshall and Virginian Okidie.

In keeping with her wishes, no public viewing will be held.

Friends may attend the Catholic Funeral Liturgy on Thursday October 27, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Monongah with Fr. Romeo Bacalso as celebrant. Entombment will follow at Shinnston Memorial Cemetery in Shinnston.

The family would like to thank Amedisys Hospice, the nursing staff and aides at the Tygart Center for the compassion and care given to the Vandetta family during this difficult time. They also would like to thank Deacon David Lester for his visits.

In Lieu of flowers donations can be made to Holy Spirit Catholic Church.

Arrangements are under the care of Ross Funeral Home 801 Fairmont Avenue Fairmont.

Condolences may be sent to www.rossfh.com.


Friday, October 21, 2022

MONONGAH HIGH HAS ONLY ONE SWEET CAROLINE! NEIL'S DIAMOND

 




I attended a Neil Diamond concert at Blossom Music Center and the final song, “Sweet Caroline,” first introduced in 1969, was sung by Neil and the audience under the roof and on the lawn. That got me to thinking. Any sweet Caroline graduates from Monongah High? Plenty of sweet Carolina girls but that’s not the same thing.

So my research began for Sweet Carolines who graduated from Monongah High.

Lo and behold: Caroline Corbin Brown Suplita, Class of 1938. I even found of photo of her at the Class of 1938 honor class 50th anniversary reunion in 1988!


Before “Sweet Caroline” showed up in 1969 so that’s not how she got her Caroline name.

Not the Caroline Corbin, Connecticut advocate for women’s voting right who, after chatting with Karl Marx’s daughter, Eleanor, became an opponent of women voting.

Jim McDaniel, Class of 1960, provided more information about Caroline Corbin Brown Suplita:

 

“The Corbins lived in Worthington. Father was a barber and Mom worked at Jones in Fairmont. House was beside the old Methodist church. Believe she had 4 children.”

In Class of 1938 photo for 50th anniversary reunion in 1988:

Clarence Bradley, Jr.

Quintin Farrance

Thomas Ammons

Loretta Lee Malcolm

Caroline Corbin Brown Suplita

Helen Heltzel Hay

Doris Jean Menear Basnett

Nellie Demus Bailey

Julia Osco Shaver

Eva Mae Brown, class advisor

Wilma Louise Currey Johnson, Class of 1944, had a granddaughter named Caroline Johnson Hamilton, married to Carson Hamilton.

Another Caroline but not a Monongah High grad to my knowledge is Ursula Shipco’s daughter Caroline Shipco Kasper, mother of my best friend for 84 years till he passed away Bob “Satch” Kasper and the late Evelyn Kasper Boggess. Lawrence Kasper was Bob and Evelyn’s father.

Monongah High graduate Dave Carlot, son of Julie Carlot and Gene Loss Carlot, married a Caroline Pellillo. They lived in the house once occupied by Tony and Rose Tropea, who operated the Tropea Grocery next to Carlot’s Grill.

Susan Staron Sanders, Class of 1971, vacationed in marvelous Deep Creek Lake, Maryland (I’ve been there several times) with her cousin, Caroline Sparks, a Pentagon retiree living in Falls Church, Virginia.

Susan also persuaded Carolyn Tice, who moved to Monongah with husband Chuck Tice, to join her legendary Monongah Christmas Lights Committee that lights up Monongah every December holiday with huge street lights in various shapes from angels to my pearl in a seashell light next to my Church Street home.

Caroline McVicker Haught is a daughter of Pat Levelle, Class of 1971, and Cindy McVicker Levelle.

Clarice Oakes Hobbs, Class of 1920, Clarice Paxton Annan, Class of 1935, Clarice Riggs Phillips, Class of 1940, Carolyn Grubol Jackson, Class of 1943, Carolyn Conley Lawson, Class of 1949, who married Dr. Bill Lawson, also Class of 1949, Monongah’s drummer boy at MHS concerts, Carolyn Shaver and Carolyn Suplita Gearde, both Class of 1958, Carelyn Jean Satterfield, Class of 1962, Carolyn Elizabeth Caffee Roach, Class of 1964, Carolyn Sue Dalton, Carolyn Marie Prahl Mikulski and Carolyn Sue D’Amico, all Class of 1966, Carolyn Chenoweth Littleton, Class of 1976, came close phoenetically but not enough to make Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” list.


Thursday, October 20, 2022

36 YEARS, NO LINDA AS MHS GRADUATE. THEN, BOOM!, 30 LINDA GRADS OF MHS

 


Linda Vernon Hyde, Class of 1954, is the FIRST Linda to graduate from Monongah High, which had its first graduation class in 1918.

So, for 36 years, NO ONE named Linda – Spanish for “beautiful” -- was among the MHS graduates.

Since Linda in 1954, who left Almost Heaven for Ohio later, there have been THIRTY Lindas among Monongah High alumni, including SIX in the Class of 1968!

Linda Hess Postlethwait, Linda Palmer Nelson, Linda Shipco, Linda Savereno Moorehead, Linda Moorehead Saurborn and Linda Moorehead Larry.

Linda was the #1 most popular name for girls in America EVERY YEAR from 1947 through 1952, dethroning Mary which had been #1 for 400 years, and in the TOP THREE from 1944 through 1960!

It doesn’t come close to matching Mary, as in Christ’s mother, which was the #1 choice for 42 years. Jennifer, Emily, Jessica and Lisa also have been #1 more years than Linda, which makes Linda #6 in popularity in America.

Linda’s popularity is attributed to a 1946 Jack Lawrence song, “Linda,” named after the singer’s attorney’s then five-year-old daughter, Linda Louise Eastman of Scarsdale, New York, who later went on to marry Beatle Paul McCartney, her second husband. Linda McCartney, keyboardist in the Wings band that included Paul McCartney, was born in 1941.

Linda Lopez Gandy, Monongah High Alumni Association president, confirms that the "Linda" song provided her birth name:

“I don’t know about the other Lindas but I was definitely named after that song. My mom and dad danced to that song when my mom was pregnant with me.

“So did my aunt and uncle (Alfred and Mary Jean Bonfantino).  They were going to name their baby Linda but I came first. So Marlene Faye was her name, after Alice Faye the movie star.”


30 times Linda has been an MHS graduate, starting in 1954.

Linda Tomlinson Stevenski, Class of 1955

Linda Sue Ammons, Class of 1960

Linda Virginia Efaw Bonfantino, Class of 1962

Linda Kay Snider, Class of 1963

Linda Lee Nottingham Willis, Class of 1964

Linda May Ramsey, Class of 1964

Linda Lopez Gandy, Class of 1965

Linda Martin Keener, Class of 1965

Linda McGinnis Sandy, Class of 1965

Linda Cameon Mezzanotte, Class of 1966

Linda Sawyer Duckworth, Class of 1966

Linda Zickefoose, Class of 1966

Linda Bonasso, Class of 1967

Linda Jean Noble-Carr, Class of 1967

Linda Samuels Taylor, Class of 1967

Linda Lou Satterfield Hinerman, Class of 1967

Linda Hess Postlethwait, Class of 1968

Linda Palmer Nelson, Class of 1968

Linda Shipco, Class of 1968

Linda Savereno Moorehead, Class of 1968

Linda Moorehead Saurborn, Class of 1968

Linda Moorehead Larry, Class of 1968.

Linda D. Moorehead & Linda K. Moorehead in Class of 1968 and Linda Savereno, in Class of 1968, became a Moorehead when she later married.

 

Linda Martin, Class of 1969

Linda Minnear, Class of 1970

Linda Mills Levelle, Class of 1972

Linda Doreen Pyles Wright, Class of 1974

Linda Kay Duckworth Menendez, Class of 1976

Linda Phillips, Class of 1977

Linda Lou Hayhurst Eller, Class of 1979

 

Even Tommy Boyce, who made “Along Came Linda” song famous in 1932, would be overwhelmed by Legion of Lion Lindas walking pass his front porch.



Tuesday, October 18, 2022

NO LYIN', LIONS ARE BEACH BUNNIES ON MYRTLE BEACH

 


Donna McGinnis Suppa-Fullen, Class of 1963, her sister Linda McGinnis Sandy and their friend Donna Osbourn had a great time on their trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, which was so crowded that had bodies up against each other when I hit that beach.

Donna gushed about sunrises on the Atlantic Ocean, Alabama Theater entertainment.

The trio also landed on the same beach in 2018 and visited Linda Moorehead Larry, Class of 1968, who with husband John Larry was at the 2018 Monongah High Alumni Banquet, the oldest high school reunion in West Virginia history. Linda Moorehead Pruitt and Linda Savereno Moorehead, both Class of 1968, also were at that MHS event as one of the honor classes. Linda Savereno Moorehead’s husband, Fred Moorehead, Class of 1964, passed away in 2016.  

That’s THREE Linda Mooreheads who graduated from Monongan High. Easily to get confused about which Linda is which. Even Tommy Boyce, who made “Along Came Linda” song famous in 1932, would be overwhelmed by THREE Lindas walking pass his front porch.

Linda Moorehead Larry revealed that Donna “planned the whole trip and drove us there and back.”

And they have arrived safely home.

Donna posted: “Hopefully we can do it again.”

Donna married Bernie Fullen after Donna’s husband, Jack Lee Suppa, and Bernie’s wife, Chloe Anne, passed away.


Tuesday, October 11, 2022

AHOUSE SISTERS KITTY & SUE MEET COUSINS AND MAN WITH WVU SHIRT ON VACATION

 


Sue Schrader, Class of 1971, saw a man wearing a WVU shirt while they were vacationing with her sister, Kitty Morrison, Class of 1968, and waiting in line for a tour of a home in Savannah, Georgia.

So, of course, they stopped and chatted with him, as Mountaineers do all over the world.

He was orthodontist and 1989 WVU School of Denistry graduate Dr. Glenn Boyles and his wife, Dr. Laura Withers-Boyles. They met while being dental school classmates, married in 1989 and have two children, MacKenzie and Catherine.

Kitty explains: 

The strangest thing happened today. We were standing in line waiting to take a tour of a home in Savannah, Georgia. There was a couple standing behind us and Sue noticed he had WV on his shirt so naturally that started a conversation about where they lived in WV. He said Fairmont and I said I live in Monongah. He said I have a couple girls who work for us, one being Megan. That is Megan Hawkins, Linda McCullough’s daughter. I said Linda, her mom, she is taking care of my dog. They said we know about Penny (Kitty’s dog) and knew you were coming here. Wonderful couple. We had to call and tell Linda. Small world. We all took tour together and enjoyed their company. Was nice to meet Laura and Glenn Boyles.

 

I wear my WVU shirts and jackets and caps when I travel, to 56 countries so far, and have fellow West Virginians stop and talk to me because I do, in China and Thailand and Egypt and Europe. Mountaineers love to run into Mountaineers anywhere in America or the world!

 

The Ahouse sisters also had a cousins reunion at Tybee Island, a barrier island and small city near Savannah. The cousins are Alice Burgess of Texas, Linda Fratto of Lumberport, WV, Vicki Black of Milford, Ohio and Jo Chaconas of Alexandria, Virginia. Jo’s twin, Kay Leslie, stayed home because Kay’s daughter just had a baby.

 

Kitty added: “It was the first cousins trip since 2019 because of covid.”





Monday, October 10, 2022

JOHN PELLILLO, CLASS OF 1973, PASSES AWAY

 


John Pellillo, Class of 1973, passed away Saturday, October 8. He resided in Monongah. He is survived by his 23-year partner, Robin Ellen Reed of Grafton.

John’s parents were Joyce Carlot Pellillo, Class of 1952, who passed away in 2012, and Albert Pellillo, also deceased.

John’s siblings are Jay Pellillo, Class of 1975, of the 1973 Monongah High state football championship team; James Pellillo, Class of 1973, and Julie Pellillo Beafore, Class of 1971, widow of

1970 Fairmont East graduate Anthony Joseph Beafore. A.J. and Julie have a son, Anthony Jason Beafore, who married Lucretia Beafore and lives in Monongah.

 

 

Joyce’s parents were Julie and Gene Loss Carlot, who operated Carlot’s Grill across the street from Monongah High. Joyce’s brother Dave Carlot and his wife Caroline once lived in Rose Tropea's house (Tropea Grocery co-owner with husband Tony) and made a ladies'  clothing store out of the building that had previously housed the Tropea grocery store. Dave also re-did Carlot's Grill and made it into a Dairy Mart store. 

 

Helen I. Massett, Albert Pellillo’s sister, is deceased.

 

John’s obituary:

John E. Pellillo, 67, of Monongah passed away Saturday evening October 8, 2022 at J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown. He was born in Fairmont son of the late Albert and Joyce Carlot Pellillo.

He retired as an engineer. John enjoyed hunting, fishing, bird watching and being outdoors. He was very creative and also liked to explore and doing anything that had to do with industrial work.

He was Catholic by faith.

He is survived by his longtime partner of 23 years Robin Ellen Reed of Grafton. He is also survived by one sister’ Julie M. Beafore of Monongah, James Thomas (Kim) Pellillo of Fairmont and Albert Jay (Tabitha) Pellillo of Fairmont. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents he is preceded in death by his brother-in-law Anthony “AJ” Beafore.

Friends may call at Ross Funeral Home 801 Fairmont Avenue Fairmont on Friday from 1-3:00 p.m. services will follow at 3:00 p.m. with Deacon David Lester officiating.  Interment will be at Mt. Carmel Cemetery.

Condolences may be sent to www.rossfh.com


Sunday, October 9, 2022

LINDA AND SANFORD CARR NEPHEW, 47, HOSPITALIZED

 

Linda and Sanford Carr’s nephew hospitalized

Linda Knobel-Carr’s nephew, Jimmy “Sam” Mays, only 47 years old, is hospitalized with liver and spine cancer.

Jimmy’s parents are the late Sanford Carr’s sister, Debbie Sanford Mays, who is married to Jim May since 1973 and lives in Fairmont.

Debbie posted: “I would like to thank everyone for praying for my son.”

Wednesday, October 5, 2022

THE QUIETLY REMARKABLE ROGER WHITE, SR. PASSES AWAY

 


Roger Dale White, Sr., the Old Man and Mr. Fixit of Monongah, passed away Saturday, October 1.

Roger’s daughter, Shannon White Corbin, is married to Edward Corbin. Shannon works at Fazio’s Elder Care in Monongah run by Cora Fazio, my cousin David Fazio’s wife. She’s from Baltimore.

Monongah Mayor Johnboy Palmer called Roger’s family “a wonderful family.”

Shannon provides an even incredible story. She wrote to me:

“I grew up in Baltimore. We moved here (Monongah, on Camden Avenue) when I was a teenager.

“My dad, who people would call Old Man, retired and stayed with me and took care of my kids while my husband I worked (Shannon, at Fazio’s Elder Care, run by my cousin Dave Fazio’s wife Cora Fazio).

“On the side he would work on neighbors’ lawn mowers, weed eaters and pretty much anything they would bring to him that he could fix and get running for them. Pretty soo9n people from all over knew about the guy that called Old Man in Monongah who would fix things for them and not charge and arm and a leg.

“He was a simple man who didn’t have much and didn’t bother anyone. He had a few fellas here in town like Tom Ramsey (again, someone married to another Fazio cousin, Mary Chris Ramey, also a marvelous person) he would go fishing and hunting with. But he pretty much stayed to himself but would help anyone he could.”

That makes Roger one of the most remarkable people on Earth to me.

Shannon added:

“My mother lives in Monongah. They’ve been divorced for years but always remained friends. She helped me care for him until the day he passed away.”

As Johnboy told me: “A wonderful family.”

The world needs more people like Roger Dale White, Sr.

Roger’s obituary:

Roger Dale White, Sr., 70, of Monongah passed away on Saturday, October 1, 2022 at his residence with family by his side. He was born November 11, 1952, in Bluefield, VA, son of the late Floyd Walker White and Reba Alice Rose Atwood and husband Mack “Jack” Atwood.

Roger worked as a carpenter his entire life. He enjoyed hunting and fishing. 

Roger is survived by his two children, Shannon Corbin and husband Edward, Roger White Jr. and their mother Debra Bingamon White who helped care for him; four grandchildren, Payton Corbin, Aubrea Corbin, Kearstin White, and Isaiah White; sister, Jackie White, Charlotte, NC, half-sisters, Donna Kramer, Baltimore, MD, Mary White, Clover, SC, half-brothers, Mack Atwood, Baltimore, MD, Johnny White, Clover, SC, several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents and stepdad, Roger was preceded in death by his half-sister, Janice Hubbard; half-brother, Gary White.

Roger will be cremated per his request. Online condolences can be made at www.affordablefueneralandcremationcenter.com . Affordable Funeral and Cremation Center is honored to serve the White family.


Saturday, October 1, 2022

JUDY KAYE RHOADES McCOY PASSES AWAY

 


Judy Kaye Rhoades McCoy, Class of 1968, passed away Friday, September 30.

She is survived by her husband, Daniel McCoy. Her parents were Leeman “Dusty” Rhoades and Beatrice Martin Rhoades.

Judy graduated from Fairmont State and was a registered nurse for Fairmont Regional Medical Center’s PACU Recover Unit for more than 50 years.

Judy’s obituary:

Judy Kaye Rhoades McCoy, 71, of Monongah, WV, passed away on Friday, September 30, 2022 at Ruby Memorial Hospital after a brief battle with cancer.

 

She was born December 14, 1950 a daughter of the late Leeman A. “Dusty” and Beatrice Martin Rhoades. She is survived by her husband, Daniel L. McCoy.

 

Judy was a faithful member of the Fairmont Free Methodist Church where she served as pianist for over sixty years, Sunday School Teacher, Children’s program director, as well as many boards over the years. She also served as the church representative for the Marion County Union Mission, was a member of the Secret Sisters group, and the sang with the Singing Disciples.

 

Judy was a 1968 graduate of Monongah High School as well as a graduate of Fairmont State College with a degree in nursing. She retired from Fairmont Regional Medical Center with over fifty years of service as a registered nurse in the PACU Recovery Unit.

 

She was a member of the GWRRA Chapter I Motorcycle Club of Morgantown and enjoyed many wonderful trips with her husband. She was a devoted grandmother and enjoyed attending her grandchildren’s activities.

 

In addition to her husband, Judy is survived by her daughter, Lisa McCoy of Monongah, and her sons, Mark McCoy and Todd McCoy, both of Monongah, her grandchildren, Zach McIntire and his girlfriend Kiersten Templin, and Hayleigh McIntire, and her brothers, Ron and Karen Rhoades of Barrackville, WV, and Larry and Kim Rhoades of Kelly town, WV. She is also survived by her uncle, Raymond Martin, and her aunt Ann and Sonny Carpenter, as well as several nieces and nephews.

 

Memorial donations may be made to the Fairmont Free Methodist Church, 910 Morgantown Avenue, Fairmont, WV 26554. The family has entrusted the arrangements to Ford Funeral Home, R.C. Jones Chapel, 1410 Country Club Road, Fairmont, WV.

 

Friends and family may visit the funeral home on Wednesday, October 5, 2022 from 1PM until 8PM, and on Thursday, October 6, 2022 from 10AM until 11AM. The funeral will be held in the funeral home on Thursday at 11AM with Pastor Carl Radcliff officiating. Interment will follow at the WV National Cemetery in Pruntytown, WV. Online condolences may be made to www.fordfuneralhomes.com .

 

Visitation

1:00 pm - 8:00 am

Wednesday, October 5, 2022

R. C. Jones Funeral Home

1410 Country Club Road, P.O. Box 2098

Fairmont, West Virginia, United States

304-363-3130

 

Visitation

10:00 am - 11:00 am

Thursday, October 6, 2022

R. C. Jones Funeral Home

1410 Country Club Road

 

Funeral Service

11:00 am

Thursday, October 6, 2022

R. C. Jones Funeral Home

1410 Country Club Road

 

Burial

1:00 pm

Thursday, October 6, 2022

WV National Cemetery

42 Veterans Memorial Lane

Grafton, West Virginia