Know where these 1966 MHS grads are?

Linda Sawyer Duckworth, Class of 1966, is trying to find more members of the honor class for the 2016 Monongah High Alumni Reunion on May 28 in Fairmont.

Class of 1956, Class of 1961 and Class of 1976 are the other honor classes, and the Class of 1971 already lined up a Friday gathering at Kip Riley’s home in White Hall before the Saturday reunion.

 

Her email to me:

Hi John,

I have mailed information about the reunion to seventy-three classmates. Seventeen are deceased, and nineteen are still missing. 

Will you run another list for me in case someone missed the first one and recognizes a name and can provide info to help me find a missing classmate?  If anyone knows a maiden name for any of the girls, that would be a help. 

Information can be emailed to lduckworth129@gmail.com . 

Thanks for your help, John.

Linda Sawyer Duckworth

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One of the names on Linda's list, Connie Fullen Cantrell, lives in Jasper, Alabama. I ran a Monongah High Alumni blog article when her brother, Jim Fullen, Class of 1962, passed away last year in Columbia City, Indiana.

Linda, who lives in Meredianville, Alabama, is a sister of Patricia Sawyer Skeen, Class of 1965, of New Martinsville.

Linda once was a pharmacist for Giant Eagle in New Martinsville, West Virginia, where sister Patricia lived and was in the Tyler County school system.

Linda’s husband, Steven Duckworth, Class of 1966, was in the Wetzel County school system.

Linda’s list of those not found yet:

Terrece Banks 

Marcie Barr (Marsh)

Mary Binion
Wilma Brown
Donna Coulter (Miller)
Margaret (Margie) Davis
James Day
Harrison Edwards
Connie Fullen
Donald Hendershot
Shirley Horton (Johnson?)
Beneetha Jackson
Gail Martin
William McDonald
John Moorehead
Sheila Nestor
Charles Ronald Pethtel
Antonia (Toni Marie) Riggs
Linda Zickefoose

If you know how to contact any one on this list, or whether they are deceased, contact Linda at lduckworth129@gmail.com

WVU band in Macy’s parade

The Pride of West Virginia, The Mountaineer Marching Band is among 10 bands chosen to perform in the 2016 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. This will mark the first Parade appearance by the band.

The Pride of West Virginia will join the Parade to the tune of “Let’s Have a Parade,” the iconic phrase that has signaled the start of every Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade since 1924.

The Pride of West Virginia was selected from 175 applicants.

The parade draws more than 3.5 million spectators and more than 50 million TV viewers.

Charlie Miller has a stroke

Charlie Miller, star defender and halfback on Monongah High’s 1968 state title football team and state champ relay team in track, has suffered a stroke. Charlie also starred for WVU.

Charlie Miller & Kerry Marbury

Alabama coach Nick Saban was the quarterback in 1968 and Kerry Marbury was elusive running back for the 1968 and 1969 state football crowns.

Marbury and Miller were on the relay team that won the state in track. 

The 1968 and 1969 Monongah champions nucleus came from the Idamay Black Diamonds, a Pop Warner children’s football team that was coached by Nick Saban, Sr.

Miller and Marbury also played together on the WVU football team.

Charlie had interceptions, fumble recoveries and blocked punts during his time at WVU. 

He had 263 tackles, 107 of them solo, for the Mountaineers even though he was only 6 feet tall and weighed 180 pounds, far below today’s measurements. Charlie also returned kicks 267 yards for WVU.

Kerry scored 22 touchdowns for the Mountaineers.

Left to right: John Nibert, Marvin Waugh, John Lopez, Jim Foster,  Linda Phillips Foster, Mimi Frederick, Brenda Phillips Waugh, Jeanie Phillips Nibert and Riley Henderson

Wedding behind them, Fosters ready for 1971’s reunion blastoff

This is a photo of the wedding of Jim Foster, Class of 1971, to Linda Phillips Foster, Class of 1977, on June 7, 2014 at Valley Falls State Park, which is off Exit 137 of I-79. Another 7 miles south on Route 310 and you’re there.

Jim is about as Monongah as you can get. He grew up there, went to Monongah Middle School and Monongah High School.

Linda is from Monongah, too, and, of course, went to Monongah High.

Jim and Linda live in Fairmont.

Two other Mononogah High grads were in the wedding party: Brenda Phillips Waugh, Class of 1978, and Jeanie Phillips Nibert, Class of 1975.



Jim & Linda still smiling today

All three Phillips sisters in the wedding are former MHS prom queens, which must be a record.

Despite almost two years of marriage, I’m guessing that Jim and Linda will be among the Class of 1971 crowd at Kip’s house at 5 p.m. Friday, May 27 for that with-it class’s reunion before the 92^nd annual Monongah High Alumni Reunion the next evening at the Knights of Columbus on Mary Lou Retton Drive in Fairmont.

If they do, they’ll meet Joanna Cameon Reeves, Gary Domico, Jay Holman, former Lion Bob and wife Diane Bonasso, former Lion Pat and wife Cindy Levelle and, the woman organizing the food inventory, Sue Ahouse Schrader, at 27 Pine Ridge Lane in White Hall.

And, if I know the super-active Class of 1971, they are just the tip of the iceberg of those showing up.

As for the Saturday, May 27 activities:

Honor class photos will begin at 5:30 p.m. for 1956, 1961, 1966 and 1976 grads.

The banquet will start at 6:30 p.m., the dancing to the Stepping Stone music at 8:30 p.m.





Ribbon cut, Ashley open for business

Ashley Hunt cut the ribbon to open her Downtown Grill restaurant at 323 Adams Street in Fairmont.

In the Fairmont Times photo are her grandmother and cook, Barbara Hayes, server Greta Satterfield, Ashley Hunt and staff member Katrina Emerick.

Ashley’s mother is Paula “P.J.” Hickman, North Marion Class of 1983 who started at Monongah High before the consolidation into North Marion. Her stepfather is Odis Martin of Fairmont.

The Adams Street building still reverberates from the echoes of the Jenna Won’t Sing Band headed by Greg Patrick performing regularly until the Firehouse Café closed.

Ashley is a Marion County substitute teacher after graduating from North Marion High and Fairmont State. She frequently is involved in charity work or helping out those in need after a crisis.

Inside view of Ashley's Downtown Grill

 

Fairmont Times article on Monongah Mayor Greg Vandetta

For those who don’t get the Fairmont Times, mainly because they don’t live in Marion County, here’s an interesting Times story on Monongah Mayor Greg Vandetta, Class of 1975, married for 39 years to Monongahfest president Debbie Manzo Vandetta, Class of 1973.

Greg is a candidate for Marion County commissioner.

 

Vandetta has focus on county development

·         By Hannah Rosche Times West Virginian

·      

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Vandetta has focus on county developmenthttp://www.timeswv.com/news/vandetta-has-focus-on-county-development/article_2810522a-0c2f-11e6-b851-8f57c1a39dFAIRMONT — Greg Vandetta, a Democratic candidate for the Marion County Commission, has had an interest in the position for a number of years and is now giving the position a shot.

“I always thought it’d be an interesting job, something to get into,” Vandetta said.

Vandetta is currently serving his second term as the mayor of Monongah, and he has served on the Monongah Town Council for several years.

He is a lifelong resident of Marion County. Vandetta grew up in Monongah and attended Monongah High School.

After graduating from high school, he began working at the Fairmont Kitchen Center.

In 1987, Vandetta started his own business, Vandetta Construction, and has been running it ever since.

His wife Debbie is also a lifelong resident of Marion County. They have two daughters, Jessica and Bethany, and one son, Greg II. They also have six grandchildren whose ages range from 6 months to 9 years.

Between being the mayor of Monongah and running his own business, Vandetta doesn’t have much free time. But in the free time he does have, he enjoys camping at Big Bear, being outdoors and attending Little League games and soccer matches. One of his favorite pastimes is going to West Virginia University home football games. He also enjoys spending time with his family and is family-oriented.

The position became of interest to Vandetta after he graduated from high school, when he was working for the Fairmont Kitchen Center. There, he was working for a former Marion County commissioner and learned about the commission and how it serves the county and community members.

Vandetta said he’s qualified for the position because he has served on the Monongah Town Council for several years. He said he knows how local government works, and he thought it was a good time for him to run for county commission after collecting years of experience.

The development of Marion County is important to Vandetta. If elected, he plans on furthering the county’s development and keeping Marion County moving forward.

Vandetta wants to help “keep the bills paid” and believes he has the fiscal responsibility to do so. His experience running his own business serves as a template for what he can do on the Marion County Commission if he’s elected.

He said being level-headed and easy to get along with are some of his greatest qualities. He believes his hardworking attitude and his positivity will be a good addition to the Marion County Commission.

Overall, Vandetta feels blessed to have the support of his friends, family and loyal supporters. He said that during his campaign, he has had an overwhelmingly positive experience.

If elected, Vandetta doesn’t plan to stop running his business, but he will dedicate less time to it.

“If I’m lucky enough to get elected, I’m going to do 90 percent county commission work and 10 percent construction work,” Vandetta said.

Vandetta wants to keep the momentum of development in Marion County going. His love for the county is one of the reasons he is running for Marion County Commission. He believes he can do right by the citizens of Marion County, and he plans to do everything he can to diversify the economy and continue moving forward.

 

Mill Fall’s Mary Bunner Jones passes away

Mary Bunner Jones of Mill Fall passed away Tuesday, April 26 in St. Barbara’s Nursing Home.

Her daughter, Debbie Hayhurst, lives in Mill Fall.

Mary Bunner Jones

Mary’s siblings are Clarence Sam Bunner, Joseph Bunner, William Bunner, Beatrice Thomas, Lillian Valentine, Marietta Cain, Virginia Capel, Martha Swisher and Netta Kelly.

Other Bunners who are Monongah High graduates:

Barbara Baczuk Bunner, Class of 1950.

Betty Tate Bunner, Class of 1944.

Mary's obituary:

Mary Mae Jones

·         BORN: January 6, 1937

·         DIED: April 26, 2016

·         LOCATION: Mill Fall Community, West Virginia

Mary Mae Bunner Jones, 79, of Mill Fall Community, passed away Tuesday, April 26, 2016, at St. Barbara's Memorial Nursing Home in Monongah.
She was born in Marion County on January 6, 1937, a daughter of the late Hilda Stevens Bunner.
Mary is survived by her daughter, Debbie Hayhurst, of Mill fall; granddaughters, Dottie (Chad) Weaver, of Mill Fall, and Jennifer (Randy) Johnson, of Pera; and great grandchildren, Michayla, Sierra, Cheyenne, and Levi Weaver, Elijah, Sarah, Lilly, and Ezra Johnson.
She is also survived by her sisters-in-law, Jean Blair, Jerry Benson and Margie (John) Prunty; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her mother, Mary was also preceded in death by her husband, Edwin E. Jones; son-in-law, Joe Hayhurst; brothers, Clarence Sam Bunner, Joseph Bunner, William Bunner; sisters, Beatrice Thomas, Lillian Valentine, Marietta Cain, Virginia Capet, Martha Swisher, Netta Kelly; sisters-in-law, Maxin Seliga, Betty Copen, Juanita Jones; and brothers-in-law, Bill Jones, Joe Seliga, George Copen, Eugene Blair, Harry Benson, Bill Kelly, and Woody Swisher.
Mary was a wonderful homemaker and a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She previously attended Swisher Hill Union Mission Church. She enjoyed bird watching, Bill Gather videos and watching her great grandchildren playing in her yard. Mary loved to play cards and dominos. She was always concerned about her family and what she could do to make their lives more enjoyable.
Friends and family may call at the Carpenter and Ford Funeral Home 209 Merchant Street from 9am to 1pm Saturday. The funeral service will be 1pm Saturday, April 30, 2016, at the funeral home with Pastor Chad Weaver officiating. Burial will follow at Grandview Memorial Gardens.

 

Last of Max Rauer’s 7 children passes away

Helen Rauer Capet Sypult, the last survivor of the seven children of Max Rauer and Anna Ubach Rauer, passed away Wednesday, April 27.

Her siblings were Elmer Rauer, Herb Rauer, Max Rauer, Gertrude Rauer Horn, Eva Rauer and William Rauer.

Helen Rauer Capet Sypult

Rauers in Monongah High graduation lists, possibly the offspring of Helen’s siblings:

Peggy Rauer Orsini, Class of 1959, widow of Tom "Bum" Orsini, Class of 1950, lives in Titusville, Florida where Tom was a teacher for 30 years. 

Shirley Rauer, Class of 1952, Peggy’s sister. They grew up on Camden Avenue.

Barbara Rauer, class of 1954, who was living in Las Vegas near the end of the 20^th century.

Lanny Rauer, Class of 1960.

Robert Rauer, Class of 1958.

Ronny Rauer, Class of 1957.

Charlotte Rauer, Class of 1956.

Shirley Rauer Erda, Class of 1952.

Another Monongah High grad:

Crystal Hinebaugh Sypult, Class of 1979.

Brenda Rogers Rauer, Class of 1958.

 

Helen's obituary:

Helen Sypult
(August 3, 1920 - April 27, 2016)

Helen Ann Sypult, 95, formerly of Farmington, WV passed away Wednesday, April 27, 2016 at the Pierpont Center in Fairmont. She was born August 3, 1920 in Monongah, WV, daughter of the late Max and Anna (Ubach) Rauer.

 

She was a former postmaster for the USPS in Farmington, from which she retired after 25 years of service. At one time, she was also employed at Owens Illinois Glass Factory. Helen was a former member of the United Methodist Church in Farmington, the Farmington Women’s Club, and the National Association of Post Masters.

 

Survivors include her children, Charles E. Capet of Fairmont, Cathy L. Maxwell and husband Terry of Fairmont; her stepchildren, Clyde W. Sypult and wife Norma of Fayetteville, WV, Diane Schneider of Myrtle Beach, SC, Craig Sypult and wife Lenise of Homer City, PA; grandchildren, Jeffrey Maxwell and wife Melissa, Benjamin Maxwell and wife Chesney, Chad Capet and wife Mandy, Christy Capet and fiancé Jessica Trevora; step grandchildren, Andy and Mark Sorine, Chris Stache, Jullie Soltis, Stephen, Kaleigh, and Jason Sypult; great grandchildren, Nathan, Kaden, Caroline, Jocelyn, and Maggie Maxwell, and Ava Capet.

 

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Charles Lewis Capet; her second husband, Clyde C. Sypult; a stepson, Michael Sypult; a granddaughter, Tiffany Capet Maxwell; her siblings, Elmer Rauer, Herb Rauer, Max Rauer, Gertrude Horn, Eva Rauer and William Rauer.

 

The family will receive friends at Domico Funeral Home, 414 Gaston Ave. in Fairmont from 2 to 8 p.m. Saturday and noon to 2 p.m. Sunday. The funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday May 1, in the funeral home with Pete Staud officiating. Interment will follow at the I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Farmington.

Condolences may be sent online to the family at www.domicofh.com .

Ken Slovekosky’s wife’s surgery ‘went well’

Ken Slovekosky, who went to Monongah Junior High “till it burned down,” reports that surgery for his wife, Julie Slovekosky, who is from Indianapolis, “went well. We won't know how well for a while. Thank you everyone for your concern and prayers it means a lot to know there are so many loving friends and family we love all of you God bless you all.”

Later, Ken reported:

“Patch is off of the eye. Very blurred. Dr. Kim says it will be that way for a while. Pressure is down.”

In February, Ken, who lives in Jackson, Tennessee, was dealing with the hospitalization of his mother, Wilma June Sheppard Slovekosky, who suffered a heart attack.

As if Ken didn’t have enough to deal with, Thursday in Nunnelly, Tennessee, he was stuck on I-40 with Julie in the car because of “a bad accident. They are saying we’ll be here at least an hour.”

Later, Julie posted:

“Got home from Nashville around 4 p.m. after return trip to doctor and getting stuck on interstate most of the day.

“My eye is hurting like hell. But hoping and praying for good results.”

After leaving Monongah, Ken graduated from Gilmer County High in 1976.

Wilma lived on Fairmont Avenue with her late husband, Walter Frank Slovekosky, who passed away several years ago. 

 

Kim DeMary Clowers, Class of 1979, and Earl Lee Clowers celebrated their 17^th wedding anniversary today in Red Bank, Tennessee.

Kim wrote:

“Happy 17th Anniversary, Earl Lee!!! I can't imagine my life without you!!! I love you with all my heart & soul!!! May God bless us with many more!!!”

Kim is a daughter of Joe DeMary and Laurelle “Lou” Costello Hustead. Her siblings are Joe Jo-Jo DeMary, Julie DeMary and Joanne DeMary.

Kim became a Registered Nurse after her graduation from Chattanooga State Community College in Tennessee. She is famous for her bunny rabbit cookie jars collection.

 

Patti DeMary Evans, Class of 1972, and her husband, retired coal miner Brian L. Evans, Class of 1969, will be observing their 42^nd  wedding anniversary May 30 in Fairmont.

Patti is a retired nurse (1987-2006) and graduate of MHS and Fairmont State. Patti’s parents are Peaches and Frank DeMary, who ran DeMary Grocery in Monongah at the end of the Brookdale Bridge. Previously, they owned a grocery store in Pennsylvania.

 

Patti's sister is BettyAnne DeMary. Patti's cousin, Junie Osborne Aldridge, lives in Farmington.

Patti and Debbie Manzo Vandetta, Class of 1973 and married to Monongah Mayor Greg Vandetta, have been friends for 60 years.

Frank DeMary, Jr.’s parents were Frank Joseph DeMary, who passed away in 1972, and Lena Duva DeMary, who passed away in 1986. His siblings are Louise DeMary Lusi of Clearwater, Florida and Rose Ann DeMary Flore, Class of 1943, married to Robert and living in Princeton, Rhode Island.

Frank, Jr.’s brother, Joseph A. DeMary of Rivesville, passed away in 2007. Joe’s children are Kim DeMary Clowers; Sgt. 1^st Class Joanne Mary DeMary of Fort Meade, Maryland; another Joseph Allen DeMary, living in Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee with wife Yvonne; and Julie Ann DeMary, also of Soddy.

Anthony and Lucy DeMary are the parents of Ann DeMary Eates, married to Joe Eates, and Jimmy DeMary and Anthony “Plumber” DeMary, Jr. Ann and Joe live at the bottom of Bridge Street hill. Jimmy and Plumber are deceased. Ann DeMary Eates and Joe Eates are the godparents of John Larry Olesky of Tallmadge, Ohio, the only son of John Olesky, Jr., Class of 1950, who also lives in Tallmadge. Tony Eates, also Class of 1950, is Ann DeMary Eates’ brother and lives in Fairmont with wife Lucy Cann Eates.

Betty Anne DeMary is Class of 1979. Mike DeMary is Class of 1974.

Valderie Vandetta Aldridge, Class of 1973, worked at Fairmont General Hospital and lives in Monongah with husband Jim Aldridge.

Egads! I sure hope I got all the DeMary connections right. This family tree has so many branches and roots. Maybe that’s because it’s an Enchanted Forest.