Fortner daughter passes away at age of 96

Ireta Jean Fortner Levine, whose brother Harold C. “Bud” Fortner, Jr. is Class of 1967, passed away Wednesday, October 30 in Spartansburg, South Carolina.

She was born in Monongah to Harold Campbell Fortner, Sr., who ran the pool hall across from Monongah High in the same building as Carlot’s Grille, and Winifred Grace Fleming Fortner, whose Fleming family settled in Marion County centuries ago.

Bud Fortner passed away in 1999. Bud’s widow, Bernice Evangeline Fortner, passed away in 2017.

We had played hookey from Monongah High and went across the street (yes!) to the Fortner pool hall in the same building as the Carlot Grille. It didn't take long for Monongah High principal Paul Michael to show up and take us back to school. We weren't very smart at that age.

Ireta’s obituary:

Ireta Jean Fortner Levine, 94, of Spartanburg, SC, died Wednesday, October 30, 2019, at Spartanburg Medical Center.

 Born February 16, 1925, in Monongah, WV, she was the daughter of the late Harold Campbell Fortner Sr. and Winifred Grace Fleming Fortner and widow of Max Levine. She and Max were married for more than 40 years. She was the last surviving member of her immediate family and a descendant of the Fleming family who settled Marion County West Virginia.

 

A graduate of West Virginia Business College, Mrs. Levine was the former owner/operator of Price’s Ladies Clothing Store in downtown Fairmont for over 40 years. She was a longtime Fairmont resident and made her home with her daughter’s family in Spartanburg, SC for the last 28 years.

Survivors include her daughter, Dr. Beth E. Levine-Ringel and husband, Dr. Robert A. Ringel of the home; grandchildren, Aaron M. Ringel of Charleston, SC, Joseph A. Ringel and Jonathan I. Ringel of the home; and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. In addition to her parents and husband, she was predeceased by a son, Nathan E. Levine; sister, Laura Lee Fortner; and brothers, James Fortner, Harold C. “Bud” Fortner Jr. and Jack G. Fortner.

A graveside service will be conducted at 1:00 PM Friday, November 1, 2019, in Beverly Hills Memorial Gardens, 1290 Fairmont Rd., Morgantown, WV 26501, by Mr. Benny Allison.

An online guest register is available at www.floydmortuary.com

Arrangements in West Virginia are being handled by Domico Funeral Home.

No matter how hard God tried he couldn’t make a better couple than Ann DeMary Eates and Joe Eates, both Class of 1945, who celebrated their 69^th wedding anniversary.

Ann’s  parents were Anthony and Lucy Damico DeMary.

 

Ann's siblings include Jimmy DeMary, Virginia DeMary Rossi  and Anthony “Plumber” DeMary, Jr., all deceased.

Joe's siblings include Mike Eates, Dominick Eates, Class of 1946, who married the late Mary Larry Eates from Carolina; Nick Eates, Class of 1935; Mary Eates, Angie Eates all deceased; and Tony Eates, in my Class of 1950, who lives in Fairmont with wife Lucy Cann Eates.

Ann and Joe live at the bottom of Bridge Street hill. 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.

Virginia DeMary Rossi and Christine “Tina” Tartell Arnett, both Class of 1953, were born on the same day – April 24, 1935 -- and died two hours apart on the same day – August 20, 1982 -- and were best friends for life. At Monongah High, they were Student Council representatives together for their senior class in 1953.

 

Tina was the maid of honor at Virginia’s wedding to James Rossi. David Tartell was a pallbearer at Michael DeMary’s funeral in 2007. Tina was Paula Rossi Wiley’s godmother.

 

Virginia DeMary Rossi is buried in Mt. Calvary Cemetery on Park Avenue in Monongah. Nearby are the side-by-side graves of Lee and Josephine Tartell, Tina’s parents, and Lucy and Anthony DeMary, Virginia’s father’s brother.

As for Ann and Joe, St. Peter already has their angel wings and special halos prepared for them in Heaven.

Vincent Colosino passes away

Vincent Michael Colosino, son of Felix Colosino and Bonnie Colosino, passed away Friday, October 25 in Boca Raton, Florida.

Vincent Michael Colosino

His brothers are Matthew Colosino, another Felix Colosino and Bart Colosino.

Vince was president of Gulf Performance Parts in Pompano Beach, Florida, among four companies he founded in 21 years.

The late Louis Colosino, Class of 1945, was a brother of Vince’s father. Their parents were Felix and Constance Colosino.

Felix and Connie's other children were Minnie Colosino Travers, who married Rollie Travers; Carmellia Colosino Mosher; Fred Colosino, who married Betty; Dan Colosino, who married Regina; Joanna Colosino Williams, who married Hank Williams; Virginia Colosino Wright, who marred Fred Wright; and Mike Colosino, who married Alfretta.

Colosino and Colisino, despite the different spellings, sometimes are related if they lived in Monongah.

Daniel Colosino, Class of 1935, wound up in Baltimore, Maryland. Freddie Jane Colosino Villers is Class of 1964.

Beverly Morgan Colisino is Class of 1964. Patsy Colisino, Jr. is Class of 1975.

Felix Colosino, Jr., as we called him, Class of 1947, was a fantastic table tennis player who put so much spin on the ball that no matter what you did it wouldn’t land back on the table.

Alfretta Blocker, Class of 1947, married a Colosino.

Michael Colosino was Class of 1946.

Vince’s obituary:

Vincent Michael Colosino

July 19, 1959 ~ October 25, 2019 (age 60)

 

The family of Vincent Michael Colosino with heavy hearts regrets to inform all of his passing after fighting a courageous battle with cancer.

 

“Vinnie” grew up in Kenner, Louisiana as the third of four sons. He enjoyed many years of fun and adventures with his brothers and neighborhood friends at Westgate Country Club. Vinnie loved to live life on the water or in his cars and was always looking for a good adventure. He was an avid boater, race car driver and a master Porsche technician, receiving many awards and much recognition during his career. He had a gentle soul and was full of life, always ready for a good New Orleans-style party and food. His love of crawfish spread all the way to South Florida when he moved to Pompano Beach in the 1980’s to open Gulf Performance Center, specializing in Porches. He was an honest, loyal and compassionate man, who always worked hard and will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved him.

 

He leaves behind his committed partner Kathy Sampere-Gorman and children, Mariah and Matthew Gorman. He is survived by his parents, Felix and Bonnie Colosino, his brothers, Matthew Colosino (Donna), Felix Colosino (Lori), Bart Colosino, nephews and nieces including Matthew Howard Colosino (Julie), Jeff Colosino (Natalie), Robbie Colosino (Laura), Thomas Colosino (Megan), Daniel Colosino, Kyle Colosino, Francesca Colosino, extended family and countless friends in Louisiana, Florida, and all over the country.

 

Services honoring his life will be held in both Florida and New Orleans. Services in Florida will be on Tuesday October 29, 2019 at Glick Family Funeral Home 3600 N Federal Hwy. Boca Raton Florida 33431 

Carol Kendzior Van Meter, Class of 1963, and David Van Meter, Class of 1962, celebrated their 54^th wedding anniversary Wednesday, October 23.

They have lived in Monongah forever.

Carol’s brother was the legendary Monongah softball coach Gene Kendzior.

 

One of the players on the 1960 Marion County championship team coached by Gene was Sherry Van Meter, Class of 1965, who had her leg in a cast after sliding into third base.  

Sherry married Dorsey Edward Nicholson, who passed away in 2009. Dorsey was an artist for NASCAR auto racing and Ohio State. He worked 30 years for General Motors.

My cousin, Irene Fazio Preolitti, also was on that team.

Walter Adam and Virginia Maxine Shaver Kendzior were the parents of Carol, Gene and Kim Kendzior.

I’ll let Kim provide additional information:

“Carol and David had 3 kids. The oldest one, Cindy Kay, passed of breast cancer but lived in Monongah prior to her death.

“Jeffery David lived in Monongah but recently moved to Fairmont and Tracy Jean lives in Barrackville. All are married.”

Gene Kendzior married Sheila Stotler Kendzior, who passed away in 2013. Their daughter, Jennifer Kendzior, moved from  Bloomington, Indiana back to Fairmont with Jason Wright.

Helen Thomas Carpenter passes away

Helen Thomas Carpenter, widow of Lonnie H. Carpenter, passed away Thursday, October 24. Helen was born in Rivesville but moved to Thoburn with Lonnie.

Helen Thomas Carpenter

They have a son also named Lonnie Carpenter. Mary Carpenter Evans, Class of 1970, is married to Lonnie’s brother, William Carpenter, Class of 1975. William’s parents were Bill Carpenter and Delores Martin Carpenter, Class of 1950, both deceased. Bill’s other siblings are James Carpenter and Nancy Carpenter Tharp, Clinton “Buck” Tharp’s wife, all deceased.

In addition to his parents, William J. Carpenter, who passed in 2014, was predeceased by his wife Iris Delores Martin Carpenter; two brothers, Lonnie Carpenter, James Carpenter and his wife Nancy Carpenter; one sister, Nancy Carpenter Tharp and her husband, Buck Tharp.

The Class of 1975 Bill Carpenter is survived by three children, Doris Carpenter Rogers, Class of 1971, and husband Scott of Winfield, Will Carpenter of Monongah and Amy Carpenter of Pleasant Valley.

Helen’s sisters, Julia Thomas and Margaret Thomas Fleming, predeceased her.

There are so many Carpenters, by birth or by marriage, who are Monongah High graduates so I hope I kept them all straight. Such as:

Debra Urish Carpenter, Class of 1969.

Genevieve Elutrio Carpenter, Class of 1945.

Hellen Snider Carpenter, in my Class of 1950.

James Carpenter, Class of 1970.

Helen T. Carpenter’s obituary:

Helen T. Carpenter, 91, of Thoburn, passed away peacefully at her home with her family by her side on October 24, 2019. She was born October 15, 1928 in Rivesville, WV, the daughter of the late Andrew and Margaret Thomas.

 

She was a beloved mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Helen was a school teacher for 50 years, most of those as a second-grade teacher at Thoburn and Monongah Elementary. She was also a lifetime member of the Eastern Stars.

 

Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Lonnie H. Carpenter in 1976 and her two sisters, Julia Thomas and Margaret Fleming.

 

She is survived by four children, Lonnie E. Carpenter and his wife Brenda, Mary Evans and her husband William, Sally Mannarino and her husband Ronald, and Thomas Carpenter and his wife Rose; seven grandchildren, Lonnie C. Carpenter and his wife Paula, Jennifer Haldeman, Erin Gorman and her husband David, Ashley Painter and her husband Luke, Linsey Evans, Chelci Dell and her husband James, and Alexandra Carpenter; and five great grandchildren, Steven Carpenter, Gregory Carpenter, Jeremy Haldeman, Conner Gorman, and Cooper Gorman.

 

The family would like to give special thanks to Sandy Wildman, Helen’s dear friend and caregiver.

 

The family will receive friends and family at Domico Funeral Home, 414 Gaston Avenue in Fairmont, on Sunday, October 27, 2019 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. The funeral service will be at the funeral home on Monday, October 28, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Karl Streyle officiating. Interment will follow at Beverly Hills Memorial Gardens in Westover. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.domicofh.com .

Tom Colanero, Class of 1968, and Julie Khuri Colanero are celebrating their 36^th wedding anniversary in Florida.

Tom posted:

“Celebrating 36 years of blissful marriage to the love of my life at Sandbar Grille on Amelia Island, Florida. Thanks for putting up with me, Julie.”

While in Florida, Tom helped cousin Joyce Knight celebrate her birthday.

Tom is a chemical engineer and new product manager at Pennakem. Tom and Julie both are graduates of West Virginia Tech although Julie enrolled four years after Tom did.

They live in Memphis, Tennessee.

Son Chris Colanero lives in Nashville, Tennessee and is a pharmacist at St. Thomas Hospital.

Julie’s father, Mose Khuri, and Tom’s dad are deceased. So is Tom’s brother, Phil Colanero, Jr., Class of 1963.

Tom played both offense and defense for the Monongah High team that won the 1966 Mason-Dixon football championship.

At Monongah High Tom was in the Honor Society, attended Boys State, in the junior class play, a starter on the MHS basketball team, on the track team and on the golf team.

Tom’s sister, Paulette Lynn Colanero O’Connor, Class of 1966, was on legendary Coach Gene Kendzior’s 1960 Monongah girls softball team that won the Marion County title.

ESPN video captures Nick Saban perfectly

ESPN did a fantastic job in a short video of capsulizing Nick Saban’s life and mindset.

Nick Saban

Brother, as everyone in Marion County calls him, had Nick, Sr. as a role model. His father demanded excellence and commanded respect.

Brother’s dad coached the Idamay Black Diamonds baseball team, made brother wash cars at his father’s service station.

Brother quarterbacked Monongah High to the 1968 state high school title in West Virginia, with the late Kerry Marbury as his running back. When Kerry got sick, Brother was the first one to call and help, Kerry said.

Brother has never forgotten the lessons taught by his father. It propelled Brother to six national college football championships, one at LSU and five at Alabama.

Go to  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvRWN24Cntc&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR1P23dj_AtKTEScQJ-9KUiDRR_3bin_dn7RwlaMCFbgFTOsGL-8_znBZoc

To watch and enjoy the video.

 

There’s also an excellent video interview at the Saban lake house (OK, mansion).

Go to

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7iUKOgL8qw

if you want to watch that video, too.

For another video about Brother, when he's not happy, go to

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UPwdpw9oMw

 

 

Joe Martin in care center



Joe Martin and Arlene Kitchin Martin

Joe Martin, Class of 1959, has been moved to Gulf Shore Care Center in Pinellas Park, Florida.

His wife, Arlene Kitchin Martin, a Nova Scotia, Canada native, passed along the information.

Joe, a professional photographer, and Arlene, a professional artist, regularly showed up at the gathering of Monongah High alumni in Sarasota at the home of Bill Meredith, Class of 1957, and wife Roleta, a Clarksburg Washington Irving graduate and WI get-togethers organizer. And in Punta Gorda and elsewhere.

If you want to send a card the address is

 

Gulf Shore Care Center

6767 86^th Avenue North

Pinellas Park, FL 33782

The Gulf Shore Care Center phone number is (800) 385-2527.

Anthony Pulice, Jr., Class of 1945, passed away Sunday, October 13.

His widow is Barbara Jean Shaffer Pulice. They were married 39 years.

He grew up in Worthington. His nephew, Jim Pulice, Class of 1969, was principal of Monongah Middle School.

Anthony and Barbara’s daughter, Toni Pulice Pill, is a Fairmont West and Fairmont State graduate.

Anthony, Jr. and Saverio Pulice, Class of 1942, of Elkton, Maryland lost their sister, Genevieve “Jennie” Pulice, Class of 1936, in 2012. 

Jennie was predeceased by brother James William “Bill” Pulice, Class of 1948, who died in 2001.

Bill’s wife, Geraldine “Jerry” Pulice, passed away in 2011.

Frank, Jr. was president of the MHS Alumni Association 1981-82 and on the Board of Directors from 1983 through 1986. For 35 years he was one of Fairmont General Hospital's major supporters.

His obituary:

Anthony Pulice, Jr. 91, of Fairmont passed away Sunday October 13, 2019 at J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown.

 

He was born on November 10, 1927 in Monongah, son of the late Antonio and Raffaela Marchio Pulice.

 

Throughout Anthony’s career he had worked several places which included Fairmont Wall Plaster from 1945-1947, in 1986 he retired from Federal Civil Service and WVARNG Retired Reserve, and from 1987 to 1995 he had worked for the State of West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources. He then worked from 1996 to 2007 at Fairmont General Hospital as the Medicaid Liaison.

Anthony had 42 years and eight months of military service. He served in the U.S. Army from 1946 to 1947 in Korea, from 1948 to 1964 in the WV Army Nation Guard 249^th Army Band Administrative Supply Tech and from 1965 to 1986 as First Sergeant 201^st Field Artillery. He was recalled to Operation Desert Storm in 1991.

 

In 2005 at the age of 78 he received a degree of Associate of Science in Health Care Management from Ashworth College.

 

He was a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church now Life UMC, The American Legion Post 0017 and was a master Mason and was a member of Acacia Lodge 157 A.F. & A.M. and 32^nd Degree Scottish Rite.

 

Anthony enjoyed camping at Big Bear Lake with family, bus trips with Barb and was an avid sports fan.

 

Anthony is survived by his wife Barbara Jean Shaffer Pulice, children Toni (Rick) Pill, Judi (Michael) Kraley, Jesse Pulice and Mark (Jamie) Pulice. He is also survived by his grandchildren R.K. Pill, Angela (Doug) Meissner, Mariah (Tony) Cunningham, Christopher (Ali) Gross, Anna, Gavin and Cody Pulice and great grandchildren Auston, Sophia, Piper Meissner, Lilly Cunningham, Aidan and Evelyn Gross.

 

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by one son Larry Paul Pulice, five sisters Genevieve Pulice, Rosie DeMaria, Mary Hornsby, Sophia Pulice and Katie Frazier and three brothers Saverio Pulice, John Pulice and James William Pulice.

 

Friends may call at Ross Funeral Home 801 Fairmont Avenue Fairmont on Thursday from Noon to 9:00 P.M. and on Friday from 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. Funeral Services will follow at 1:00 P.M. at the funeral home with Reverend Larry Buckland officiating. Interment will follow at Shinnston Memorial Cemetery in Shinnston.

Full Military Honors will be conducted at the cemetery.

 

Graveside Masonic Rites will be conducted at the cemetery by the Acacia Lodge #157 A.F & A.M.

 

Condolences may be sent to www.rossfh.com .

Andrew Fluharty, Class of 1948, who grew up in Worthington, passed away a few months ago.

I got the very belated word from Jim McDaniel, Class of 1960, who lives in Rehobothbeach, Delaware. He was informed by Andrew’s nephew, Barry McIntyre.

Andrew’s sister and Barry’s mother, Marjorie Fluharty Robinson, passed away in Lakeland, Florida in February 2019. Barry was her caretaker for years. Marjorie was 93.

Margie was preceded in death by her daughter, Linda L. Stone. Son Barry McIntire, Margie’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren all live in Lakeland, as Margie did for 45 years.

Majorie and Jim’s sister, Mary Jane, Class of 1942, were best friends.

Andrew was in the Monongah High band.

Class of 1948 was, well, great. As a sophomore, I looked up to them.  

Homer Delovich of Monongah and son Dewey Delovich finished high in the father/son West Virginia state amateur golf tournament. Homer all but owned the Everson Green Hills club championship. Dewey later won the Green Hills crown.

Homer passed away in 2000. He is buried in Monongah’s Mohammedan Cemetery. He married Anne Tarley Delovich, Class of 1955.

John Matkovich of Swisher Hill lives in Palm Harbor, Florida with wife Dolores Sweede Matkovich, Class of 1953. John and Homer were stars on Monongah High’s football teams. Both were good golfers, too.

John fondly recalls walking the halls of the former Monongah High building with his 1948 classmates for their 50^th anniversary reunion in 1998.

The Lions halfbacks were Pete Condo and Chester Vozniak of Monongah.

Also on the team was Louis DePond of Monongah, the punter, who became a dentist for decades in the Midwest before his passing.

Jimmy Jacobin of Monongah, another football player, lives in Bethesma, Maryland.

Mickey Demus of Worthington also played football for Monongah High. He had to. He was a Demus. Brothers Nick, Jim and Mickey Demus all played football for Monongah High.

There was Rose Demus, Class of 1939; Joan Demus, Class of 1941;  Rose Demus Argiro, Class of 1941, who married Larry Argiro, Class of 1948; Theresa Demus, Class of 1950; Jim Demus, Class of 1954; Ramona Rose Demus, Class of 1971, and Nick Demus III, Class of 1973.

John Mazza of Everson was an excellent infielder for the Monongah High baseball team.

Mary Jo Forte of Monongah, daughter of Monongah drugstore king Patsy Forte, was an excellent pianist who accompanied Leatrice Yokay Greaser, Class of 1950, when they had their own show on Fairmont radio station WMMN.

Edward Debalski of Monongah became a Marine war hero in Korea.

June Paxton of Carolina played softball under legendary Mannington High football coach Cassy Ryan and then bedazzled the crowd as a majorette for Monongah High.

Later, June golfed regularly at Everson’s Green Hills.

June’s sisters are the late Mary Jean Paxton Ryan, Class of 1946, and Lois Paxton Dufour, Class of 1944.

Marylee Hertzog Gwinn, another former Monongah majorette, lives in Rockville, Maryland. She married E.J.  Gwinn. Her father ran the Hertzog Drug Store in Worthington.

Suzanne Barr Loss, yet another Monongah High majorette from Worthington, married Arnold “J.B.” Loss, Class of 1947. Both are deceased.

Suzi was a daughter of the famous Dr. James Barr who handled the births of nearly every Worthington baby. They were called the Barr Babies.

Suzi’s sister, fiesty Jeannette Barr Baczuk, Class of 1940, lives in Ashland, Ohio.

Yet another Monongah High majorette was Jackie Godby of Monongah. Jackie’s brother, the late Lawrence “Sonny” Godby, was in my 1950 class. Their parents had a house next to our “baseball field,” which was between U.S. 19 and the garages and alley behind the Thomas Street homes.

 

Because left field was so close to U.S. 19, any “ball” (a rock inside a sock covered with miner’s electrician tape) hit onto it was an automatic out, to prevent any of us from running onto the road and getting squashed by passing traffic.

 

We learned to hit to right field.

Otis Shaver of Monongah, the primary organizer of Class of 1948 reunions, lives on Old Monongah Road. His siblings are Jim Shaver, Class of 1954, who resides at Old Monongah Road when he's not visiting his wife's native Peru, and their sister, the Rev. Elizabeth Ann “Betty” Shaver Wycoff, who lives on the Shaver Farm on Old Monongah Road.

Benn Morgan was a retired music teacher and organist/choir director of the Old Durham Church in Maryland before he passed away in Callaway, Maryland in 2016.

George Koski, Class of 1962, passed away Saturday, October 12. His widow is Penny Kay Koski. Both retired as long-time schoolteachers.

His sisters, Loretta Jane Koski, Class of 1962, and Ramona Jean Koski, Class of 1963, live in Fairmont.

George was a retired industrial arts teacher in Marion, Harrison and Brooke counties. Penny is a Shinnston High and Fairmont State graduate and a retired teacher.  

Homer “Sonny” Tichenor, Class of 1960, who passed away in 2015, was Penny’s brother-in-law. His father was among 78 Farmington Number 9 miners killed in an explosion in the 1960s.

Ramona Koski and Ervin Hardway represented Monongah High’s junior class at the 1962 Know Your Government Day in Charleston.

Jane Koski was one of the primary organizers of a reunion in Worthington by former Hutchinson Grade School students in 2015, 48 years after the eight-room school, built in 1918, closed in 1967.

There’s a Mark Koski, Class of 1978.

George’s obituary:

George “Sonny” R. Koski, 75, of Fairmont, passed away Saturday, October 12, 2019.  He was born May 02, 1944 in Hutchinson, WV, son of the late Steve and Julia Koski.

Sonny was a retired industrial arts teacher, teaching in Brooke, Harrison and Marion county schools for 48 years.  He was member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Fairmont and the Knights of Columbus.  Sonny was an avid hunter and fisherman. 

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Penny Koski; three sons, Stephen Koski and wife Renee of Atlanta, GA, Eddie Koski and wife Gina of Fairmont, and Jeff Koski and companion Carolina Llano of Scottsdale, AZ; two sisters, Ramona Jean Koski and Loretta Jane Koski of Fairmont; and four grandchildren, Hayley, Gabriella, Thomas, and Gianna Koski.

The family will receive friends at Domico Funeral Home, 414 Gaston Ave. in Fairmont on Tuesday, October 15, 2019 from 11:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.  A Vigil Rite will be held on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. in the funeral home.  The Catholic Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 16, 2019 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church with Father Jojan Joseph as celebrant.  Interment will follow at the Shinnston Memorial Cemetery in Shinnston.  Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.domicofh.com

Susan Staron Sanders, Class of 1971, on the Monongah Town Council and the driving force behind the Monongah Christmas street lights, posted:

“Well here we are. Am I excited omg yes. Here are the 5 new lights that will be added to our wonderful little town this year. I'm over the moon with happiness. Thank you all.”

The 5 new lights will bring the total to 31 in The Charge of the Lights Brigade town.

Susan’s campaign began in 2015 after White Hall donated 7 Christmas street lights that it was replacing to Monongah.

By now residents of other planets will think Monongah’s Christmas street lights are the sun in a galaxy far, far away.