Homer ‘Sonny’ Tichenor passes away

Homer “Sonny” Tichenor, Class of 1960, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 14. He was born in Shinnston but lived in Worthington when he attended Mononogah High.

Jim McDaniel, in Sonny’s Class of 1960, recalls:

Homer "Sonny" Tichenor

“His Dad was killed in the Number 9 mine explosion in the 60's.” That was the Farmington mine, where 78 of the 99 in the mine at the time died in 1968. 19 bodies were never recovered.

Fairmont State graduate Sonny was among thousands of children who lost their fathers in Marion County coal mining history, which included more than 500 miners killed in 1907 in the twin Monongah mines explosions.

Sonny’s obituary:

Homer "Sonny" Tichenor
(April 16, 1941 - October 14, 2015)

Homer “Sonny” Tichenor, Jr., 74, of Fairmont passed away Wednesday October 14, 2015 at his home. He was born April 16, 1941 in Shinnston, WV, son of the late Homer Edward Tichenor, Sr. and the late Martha Louise (Davis) Tichenor.

Sonny was a graduate of Fairmont State College with a degree in Accounting and Economics. He was a loving husband and father and enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife, Maryannia (Snider) Tichenor; two children, Deborah Hearn of Fairmont, Michael Tichenor and wife Cheryl of Manassas, VA; two grandchildren, Lindsey Hearn and Lance Hearn; one sister, Carolyn Harley of Ravenswood, WV; three sisters-in-law, Penny and George “Sonny” Koski and their children, Jeff Koski, Eddy and Gina Koski, Stephen and Renee Koski; Terri Morrison and her children, Rebecca and Stephen Myers, Scottie and Jodi Morrison, Christopher and Billie Morrison; Toni Young and husband George and their children, Cricket and Scott Russell, Teresa and Mark Michael.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Rhonda Tichenor.

The family will receive friends at Domico Funeral Home, 414 Gaston Ave. in Fairmont from 1 to 8 p.m. Friday and noon to 2 p.m. Saturday. The funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday October 17, in the funeral home with George Young and Sonny Koski officiating. Interment will follow at the Shinnston Memorial Cemetery. Condolences may be sent online to the family at www.domico fh.com .