Jim Fallon passes away

 James Sheldon Fallon, Class of 1972, passed away January 20. He lived in Rivesville.

I got the sad news from Jay Holman, Class of 1971, who is a whiz at keeping track of former Lions.

Jim’s mother was the late Monongah native Delores Shaver Eddy, daughter of James Reedy and Mabel Edna Whitecotton Shaver.

Jim’s siblings are Barbara Ann Long of Shinnston, Donald D. Eddy of Baxter and Denise Eddy of Fairmont.

Delores’ siblings are Robert L. Shaver of Morgantown and Glenn G. Shaver of Fairmont, married to Ruth "Sis" Shaver.

 

Jo Ellen Stanley passes away

Jo Ellen Stanley,  Class of 1972, passed away Saturday, February 16.

Jo Ellen Stanley

She was born to Norman Stanley and Colleen Stanley.

Collette Stanley Melton, Class of 1970, is Jo Ellen’s sister.

Doris Stanley Urich, Class of 1947, is Jo Ellen’s aunt.

Jo Ellen’s obituary:

FAIRMONT — Jo Ellen Stanley, 64, of Francis Mine, Fairmont, passed away on Saturday, February 16, 2019, at United Hospital Center. She was born in Fairmont on August 31, 1954, the daughter of Colleen Stanley of Swisher Hill, and the late Norman D. Stanley.

Jo Ellen was a 1972 graduate of Monongah High School, and later went on to work at Electronic Control Systems, Creative Labels, Infocision and Ruskin. She enjoyed listening to oldies music and watching WVU sports. Jo Ellen was a Baptist by faith and loved Jesus; she was a member of the Everson Baptist Church.

In addition to her mother, Jo Ellen is survived by her daughter, Rachael Amalett; sister, Colette Melton; and grandson, Kobie Amalett-Griffey.

Jo Ellen is also survived by her aunts: Ruth Kramer, Doris Urich, Mary Ellen Haney and Mary Kramer; her two best friends: Paul Darway and John Anderson; as well as many loving nieces, nephews and cousins.

In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by her son, Norman A. Stanley; husband, David Cain; and canine companions: Pearl, Tag and Judy.

In keeping with her wishes, Jo Ellen was cremated.

Family and friends are welcome to call at Carpenter and Ford Funeral Home, 209 Merchant Street, Fairmont, on Friday, February 22, 2019, from 10 a.m.–11 a.m., with the memorial service starting at 11 a.m. at the funeral home, with Pastor Bob Tennant officiating.

Condolences and memories may be shared with the family online at www.carpenterandford.com .

Phil Colanero passes away

 

Phil Colanero, Jr., Class of 1963, one of the nicest Lions ever, passed away Sunday, February 24.

Phil Colanero

Phil’s brother, Tom Colanero, Class of 1968, who married Julie Khuri Colanero, reported the sad news.

Phil lived in Morgantown with wife Betty Hanlin Colanero. I often had a meal with Phil and Betty before or after a WVU game in Mountaineer Field

Phil’s father was on the unbeaten 1940 Marion County Champions Monongah High football team.   Betty’s son, Daniel, passed away in 2015.

 

Phil visited Tom in Memphis and attended Alabama games with help from Tide Coach Nick Saban, Class of 1969.

 

Phil’s sister is Paulette Colanero O’Connor, Class of 1966.

Phil with Brenda Manzo at MHS Reunion

Phil and Betty Hanlin Colanero

Hellen Snider Carpenter passes away

Hellen Snider Carpenter, Class of 1950, passed away. Her funeral was Thursday, February 21 in Evans, West Virginia.

Her daughter, Susan Carpenter Querry, gave me the sad news.

Susan added:

“Just wanted to let you know she really enjoyed talking to you . You’ve been a good friend to her. Thank you so much.”

Other daughters include Faith Carpenter Holbert and Patti Carpenter Curtiss.

 

Hellen lived in Cottageville, West Virginia between Ravenswood and Ripley.

Hellen was the widow of Paige Carpenter, a Fairmont East High grad. Hellen and Paige met when they both worked at Fairmont’s Owens-Illinois Glass Factory. Later, Paige worked at Ravenswood’s Kaiser Aluminum plant and they settled about two miles outside Cottageville and 40 miles south of Parkersburg. They were married in 1955.

Hellen was 1 of 5 children.

Her funeral was Thursday, February 21.

She joins a too-long In Memoriam list of 23 Class of 1950 graduates (we had 45 in our class):

Barbara Jean Baczuk Franklin.

Mary Bienkoski Domico.

Bill Birdsell.

Kathleen Blagg Goldstein.

Walter Brzuzy.

Deloris Butcher Beals.

Martha Jean Carpenter.

Anthony “Plumber” DeMary, Jr.

Theresa Demus.

Richard Garrett.

Lawrence “Sonny” Godby, Jr.

Joe Manzo.

Iris Martin Carpenter.

Ann Manuel Richardson.

Virginia Manuel Eddy.

Tom Orsini.

Bill Pringle.

Paul Rankin.

Nancy Robinson Saunders.

Jim “Judge” Starcher.

Lyman Wadsworth.

Jim Wimer.

 

Dawn Mastrodonato with John Olesky

Another reunion with 1944 Shinnston tornado survivor

Dawn Holleman Mastrodonato, who was an infant survived the 1944 tornado that killed 30 in Shinnston and 103 there and elsewhere in West Virginia that day, had her artwork on display in The Villages, Florida today.

It still is the worst tornado toll in West Virginia history.

Dawn was almost 4 months old when rescuers plucked her from the rubble of her home. All of Dawn’s family survived the tornado. They lived on the West Side, but could see over to Pleasant hill where 50 homes were demolished.

Paula and I have reunions with Dawn nearly every winter in Florida.

Dawn and Ron have 3 children and 4 grandchildren.

Other towns visited by the tornado were Flemington, Meadowsville, Montrose and Thomas in West Virginia, Oakland in Maryland and Chartiers, McKeesport and Smithfield in Pennsylvania.

Today, she is marrried to Ron Mastrodonato.

Dawn sometimes makes it back to Fairmont, where Ron was born and spent his childhood, for a visit.

Paula and I were at the Laurel Manor Recreation Center where Paula was performing in the lobby with the Flute Fanatics.

Hellen Snider Carpenter health report

Hellen Snider Carpenter, Class of 1950, suffered a stroke.

Her daughter, Susan Carpenter Querrey, says Hellen has been hit by the flu, too, and is battling to recover enough to come home.

Hellen’s left side is weak, which will require rehab.ell

Other daughters include Faith Carpenter Holbert and Patti Carpenter Curtiss.

Hellen lives in Cottageville, West Virginia between Ravenswood and Ripley.

Hellen is the widow of Paige Carpenter, a Fairmont East High grad. Hellen and Paige met when they both worked at Fairmont’s Owens-Illinois Glass Factory. Later, Paige worked at Ravenswood’s Kaiser Aluminum plant and they settled about two miles outside Cottageville and 40 miles south of Parkersburg.

Good things come in threes for Hellen: 3 daughters, three granddaughters, 3 great-grandchildren.

Hellen was 1 of 5 children.

Tina Marshall’s mom passes away

Mary Compton Faber, mother of Monongah’s Tina Faber Marshall, passed away Wednesday, January 31.

Tina has been married to Joe Marshall for nearly two decades.

Tina is a Doddridge High graduate.

Tina studied criminal justice at Fairmont State and lived in Williamstown, New Jersey with parents Lyn McAllister McIntire and Patrick before her Doddridge High days.

Fabers who graduated from Monongah High include:

Victoria Faber, Class of 1960.

Dave Faber, Class of 1965.

Mary’s obituary:

Mary Madeline Faber, age 89, formerly of Barrackville, WV passed away on Wednesday, January 31, 2019 at the Fairmont Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center. She was born March 3, 1929 at Charleston, WV, daughter of the late Floyd Compton and Wilmot Keeney Compton and step-mother Amelia Compton

She is survived by 3 children, Cindy and Kenny Knight of Metz, Joe and Tina Marshall of Monongah, and John Paul and Verlinda Faber of Fairmont; 5 grandchildren, Anissa and Dave Neubauer, Jared and Segrid Knight, Justin Marshall, Dylan Marshall and Danny Ford; 3 great-grandchildren, Elliena Knight, Khloe Neubauer and Trace Ford; a sister, Anne Rameriz of Buchannon; several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, Mary was preceded in death by her 2 husbands, Joseph Marshall and Paul Faber; one daughter, Judy Ford; 2 brothers, Walter Cline and Floyd Compton; and a grandson, Nicky Griffin.

Mary enjoyed spending time with her family. She retired from Fairmont State University with 18 years of service in the dining hall.

There will be no public visitation or funeral services. Private interment for family will take place at Mt. Zion in Fairmont at the convenience of the family. On-line condolences may be left for the family at www.mastersfuneralhomewv.com .