50 YEARS OF MARRIAGE FOR ORRVILLE WRIGHT AND RUTH LEPLEY WRIGHT

Orrville Wright, Class of 1969, pastor of Boothsville Baptist Church, and his wife Ruth Lepley Wright celebrated their 50^th wedding anniversary.

Previously, Orrville was pastor at First Baptist Church of Grafton.

Boothsville Baptist Church is at 26 Rock Union Road off Middletown Road and between U.S. 250 and I-79.

 

Bebekah Renae is their daughter, mother of Abby Getz, married to T.J. Getz. Abby and T.J. are musicians and vocalists, too. Abby sang the National Anthem at the West Virginia Girls State Softball Tournament.

 

Ruth is a whiz at whipping up birthday or anniversary cakes, too. Orrville’s not too shabby playing a guitar and singing to the glory of God either. 

ELWOOD TOLL PASSES AWAY

 Elwood Toll, Class of 1951, passed away Saturday, June 4 at his Francis Mine Community home. I can’t believe it took me 3 weeks to find out about it, as popular as Elwood was.

His brother, Clarence William Toll, Class of 1957, passed away in 2020.

Their parents were Joseph Francis and Hazel Jane (Selby) Toll. 

Clarence married Opal Mae Long Toll. Elwood’s other siblings are Wanda Carpenter, Mary Frances Hamilton, Katherine Mitchell, Margaret Toll, James Toll, Joseph Toll and Homer Toll.

Fairmont State graduate Elwood’s back was broken in a 2013 auto accident on U.S. 19 in Enterprise that killed his friend, long-time farmer Paul McCoy.

I saw Elwood in 2010 when he got together with his Class of 1951 graduates and spouses at Muriales Restaurant in Fairmont. He was with Arlene Marteney Decker Edgell, Class of 1951; Arlene’s husband, Okey Edgell, Class of 1944; and Kathryn Slamen, Class of 1951.

It was always a joy to get together with Elwood.

Elwood once regularly had restaurant breakfast get-togethers with Paul McCoy, who married Jeanne, and Jack Chandler and Pete Shreve. Paul McCoy’s siblings were Leonard McCoy, Louise McCoy Arnett and Mac McCoy.

Elwood and I both were born in November, Elwood on the 13th and me on the 5th.

Elwood’s obituary:

Elwood Clay Toll, 90, of the Francis Mine Community, passed away Saturday, June 4, 2022 at his residence. He was born November 13, 1931 to the late Joseph Toll “Fransis” and Hazel Selby.

Elwood is survived by his wife, Mary Lou Toll, whom he would have celebrated 64 years of marriage with on June 22, 2022. He’s also survived by his son James Williams Toll of Lamberts Run; daughters Sarah Davis (Criss) of Enterprise, Deborah V. Musil (Michael) of Philippi, Connie L. Bailey (Rod) of Buckhannon; grandchildren Criss Davis II (Meredith) of Grafton, Shawn Davis (Katie) of Fairmont, Melissa Peele (Geoff) of Shinnston, Patrick Stalnaker of Clarksburg,  Alex and Gia Musil of Philippi, Heather King of Fairmont, Dillon Stalnaker of Philippi, James Joseph Toll (Chelsia) of Clarksburg; great-grandchildren Summer, Dakota, Zoey, Betty, Catherine, Christopher, Kylee and Keylee, Arabella, Kinsley and Kingston, Grayson, Easton, and Sydney, Piper, two great-great-grandchildren; sister Wanda Carpenter; special niece Marlene Connor; and several nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by sister Mary Frances, brother Clarence Toll; granddaughter Tara Toll.

He retired from the Pepsi Cola Co., was a member of the VFW, and a previous member of the Everson Baptist Church. Elwood served in the Air Force, has a Korean Service Medal, loved to spend time with his family and drinking coffee at Casey’s with his special friend Gibby Abbruzzino every morning.

Friends will be received at Harmer Funeral Home on Wednesday, June 8, 2022 from 2:00PM to 8:00PM.

Military Honors  will be held at the West Virginia National Cemetery on Thursday June 9, 2022 at 11:00AM.

The family would like to thank the VA and Hospice nurses for the special care given to him.

Online memories and condolences may be shared at www.harmerfuneralhome.com

ALIVE OR DEAD? ARNOLD MORGAN, ANNA MYRTLE CURREN SUTTON, BERNICE GRANDSTAFF MARANVILLE, KATHARINE TOOTHMAN CRIM?

 

Class of 1950 members alive or dead? If you know, contact me

I know that 33 of my Class of 1950 classmates are deceased.

There are 12 others in that class who may still be alive.

I’ve contacted recently Tony Eates, Don Halpenny, Frank Franze, Mary Ann Puffenbarger Moore, Pat Urban Utz and Leatrice Yokay Greaser so I know they are alive.

And confirmed via her sister that Reva McDougal Ash is still alive in Marietta, Ohio.

So that leaves Arnold Morgan of Palatka, Florida, Anna Myrtle Currence Sutton, Bernice Grandstaff Maranville and Katharine Toothman Crim as the only FOUR Class of 1950 members that I can’t confirm whether they are alive or deceased.

Can anyone tell me definitely if Arnold, Anna, Bernice and Katharine are alive (with contact phone or address, if possible) or deceased?

I would appreciate it greatly for the Monongah High Alumni blog article that I plan to publish as an update on the Class of 1950.

The 33 definitely deceased are:

Barbara Jean Baczuk Franklin

Mary Bienkoski Domico

William Birdsell

Kathleen Blagg Goldstein

Walter Brzuzy

Deloris Butcher Beals

Martha Jean Carpenter

Jim Commodore

Rose Commodore Cain

Anthony DeMary, Jr.

Theresa Demus

Geraldine Fullen Loss 

Richard Garrett

Barbara Glover Rombola

Lawrence Godby, Jr.

Lucille Herron Anderson

Bob Kasper

Pat Kiehl Williams 

Agnes Larry DiLaura

Joe Manzo

Iris Martin Carpenter

Ann Manuel Richardson

Virginia Manuel Eddy

Patricia Meredith Wills

Tom Orsini

Frank Pulice, Jr. (didn’t graduate with us but later got GED diploma and claims 1950 as his graduation year)

Bill Pringle

Paul Rankin

Nancy Robinson Saunders

Hellen Snider Carpenter

Harold Spragg

Jim Starcher

Lyman Wadsworth

Jim Wimer

 

Thank you.

John Olesky, Class of 1950

jo4wvu@neo.rr.com

STAN CAMEON GETS LIFETIME INSURANCE HONOR

 

Stan Cameon, 1981 North Marion graduate after 2 years at Monongah High before the 1979 closure to merge with North Marion, won Eries Insurance 2022 Branch Sales Award for Life.

 

Stan is owner/operator of Stan Cameon Insurance and an All-State agent.

 

Stan’s wife, Cheri Slamen Cameon, 1980 North Marion graduate, also from Monongah. They were married in 1989.

 

Stan’s parents are Pete Cameon, Class of 1958, and Connie Cameon. He is a nephew of Nathalee Cameon Oliverio, Class of 1948, who lives in East Chicago, Indiana; Linda Cameon Mezzanotte, Class of 1966; Bill Cameon, Class of 1960; Virginia Cameon Mezzanotte, Class of 1953; Pete Cameon, Class of 1958; and Albert Cameon, Class of 1947.

 

Stan credits everyone else in his post:

 

“I am extremely proud to be honored at Erie Insurance’s 2022 ABM as the winner of the Branch Sales Award for Life insurance. Our agency couldn’t do it without the support of District Sales Manager Suzanne Bitonti and Erie VP and Branch manager Billy Aliff.
But we couldn’t do it at all, if it wasn’t for a great group of customers that we take care of like family!”

TOWN OF MONONGAH PLANS FOR JULY 4TH EVENTS

 The Town of Monongah will celebrate 4^th of July with a FREE barbeque!

Fireworks at the ball field (10 p.m.), wrestling show (3-5 p.m.) and a Marshall Lowry (6-9 p.m.) concert included among the events.

There’s be a dunk booth and games.

Johnboy Palmer

Monongah will be hosting our 4th of July celebration this year on Sunday, July 3rd. Stop on by for a great time with friends and family! In addition to our fireworks display, this year we’re excited to add a wrestling show and concert! Don’t forget - the BBQ is free!

ALAN MOLLOHAN, THE SON, PASSES AWAY

 

Alan Andrew Mollohan, son of Allan B. Mollohan, passes away

Alan Mollohan, who once was a student at Sts. Peter and Paul School in Monongah, passed away Friday, January 14 in Blacksburg, Virginia. He was a resident of Winchester, Virginia.

His parents were Alan B. Mollohan, former Congressman from West Virginia, and Barbara Whiting Mollohan. Grandson of Robert H. Mollohan (1910-1999) who served 9 terms in the U.S. Congress.

Alan’s siblings are Robert, Andrew, Karl and Mary Kathryn.

Allen’s obituary:

Alan Andrew Mollohan departed this earthly life on Friday, January 14, 2022, at the age of 44, at the LewisGale  Hospital, in Blacksburg, Virginia, following a series of strokes, surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Washington, DC, in the Sibley Hospital, on June 16, 1977, son of Alan B. Mollohan and Barbara Whiting Mollohan.

Alan is survived by: his parents, Alan and Barbara; his younger siblings, Robert, Andrew, and wife, Rachel; Karl, and wife, Pauline; and Mary Kathryn; by his nieces, Eleanor and Malia, by his nephews, Bob, Killian, Karl and Patrick Alan; by his aunt, Mary Bland Whiting Strickland; and his uncle, Robert Holt Mollohan.

Alan was preceded in death by his aunt, Kathryn Mollohan Nelson; his maternal grandparents, Andrew Edmunson Whiting and Barbara Dowd Whiting; and his paternal grandparents, Robert H. Mollohan and Helen Holt Mollohan.

Alan lived in Winchester, VA. He loved spending time in the outdoors, and in his younger years did a lot of camping, hunting, fishing, hiking and snow skiing. He spent many happy days in Canaan Valley, WV, skiing in the winter and working in the garden and yard in the spring and summer. He also had a passion for music and attended many concerts. Alan was very social, listened carefully to others and had a magnetic personality. He made friends easily, and was loyal, generous, and nonjudgmental. 

Alan’s wish for cremation has been honored.  A funeral Mass will be held at the St. James Catholic Church, 49 Crosswinds Drive, Charles Town, WV 25414, on Saturday, June 25^th, beginning at 10:00 AM, with Father Timothy Grassi as the Celebrant. The Mass will be followed by a luncheon to which all are invited. Inurnment will take place that afternoon at 6:30 PM, in the Mount Hebron Cemetery, in Canaan Valley.

 

LIONS WHO WERE JUNE BRIDES DECADES AGO

 

Robert Morris, Class of 1964, and Paulette Parks, high school unknown, who live in Idamay, will be celebrating their 51^st wedding anniversary on Sunday, June 12.

Paulette’s parents were Wyatt, WV native Edgar Parks and Lexi Jean Pitman Parks, both deceased. Paulette was recognized for her donation to the Regional Medical Care Health Systems.

Robert once was a Consol Energy master electrician. He studied business economics at Fairmont State. He still lives in Idamay, as he did when he attended Monongah High.

Four other Monongah Alumni also have wedding anniversaries in June but only Patti DeMary Evans, Class of 1972, and Brian Evans, Class of 1969, are both Lions.

The others wound up with Fairmont East Bee, Fairmont West Polar Bear and Fairview High Indian.

If you or your spouse, or both, are Monongah High Alumni, still both ALIVE, and want to include YOUR wedding anniversary in the monthly articles:

Provide both full names via the John Olesky Facebook post or email me at  jo4wvu@neo.rr.com  . Graduation years and high schools for both of you. Wedding date (month, day and year).

And your name will show up every month in the wedding anniversary articles, just as they do in the monthly birthdays article.

Here’s what I have so far from going through previous Monongah High Alumni blog articles. I know the list should be a lot longer but I can’t do it without Lions providing me with the information.

JUNE

June 1, 1974

Patti DeMary Evans, Class of 1972, and Brian Evans, Class of 1969.

June 6, 2009

Rhonda Riley Wilson, Class of 1975, and Steve Wilson, Fairmont East Class of 1974.

June 12, 1971

Robert Morris, Class of 1964, and Paulette Parks.

 

June 22, 1974

Ron Manzo, Class of 1969, 1971 Fairview High graduate Janice Manzo.

June 17, 1961

Sara Sue Bice, Class of 1958, and Jerry Sowers, Class of 1957.

JULY

July 8, 1961

Tom Shelosky, Class of 1958, and Phyllis Shelosky.

July 16, 1966

Rosemary Raymond Pagliaro, Class of 1958, and Carmen Pagliaro.  

July 19, 1974

Marcia Michalski Westfall, Class of 1974, and Dave Westfall, Class of 1972.

 

July 26, 1975

Scott Rogers, Class of 1973, and Doris Carpenter Rogers, Class of 1971.

 

July 27, 1963

Nancy Shupp Rogers and James Rogers, both Class of 1960.

 

 

AUGUST

August 10, 1974

Debbie Prunty Poluck and Louis Poluck, both Class of 1973

 

August 10, 1974

Cathy and Pete Basagic, Class of 1972.

Cathy graduation year?

August 15, 1969

Belinda Morgan Sheppard, Class of 1969, and George Sheppard, who got his 1969 Fairmont West diploma while he was in the Marine Corps, which he joined at age 17.

August 24, 1968

Linda Lopez Gandy, Class of 1965, and Jim Gandy, Class of 1964.

 

 

 

SEPTEMBER

September 14, year?

Bev Morgan Colisino and Harry James Colisino, Class years?

 

 

NOVEMBER

November 3, 1979.

Barbara Shelosky, Class of 1968, and Eric Willis, graduate of Asbury Park High in New Jersey.

 

November 29, 1980

Robert “Rick” Brooks, Class of 1974, and 1980 North Marion graduate Cindy Corder.

 JANUARY

January 25, 1978

Nan Cunningham, Class of 1978, and Joe Raddish, Class of 1976.

DECEMBER

December 6, 1974

Sheila K. Mobley McCutcheon and Dorsey A. McCutcheon, Jr., both Class of 1974.

 

MARCH

March 11, 2022

Lorraine Snider Hulderman and Raymond “Bugs” Hulderman, Class of 1962.

March 21, 1975

Marsha Minnear Christopher, Class of 1972, and David Christopher, Class of 1973.

 

APRIL

April 14, 1972

Joann Shumate Chipps, Class of 1971, and Tom Chipps, Class of 1969.

 

MAY

May 15, 1965

Linda Lou Nottingham Willis, Class of 1964, and Dave L. Willis, Class of 1961.

CATCHING UP WITH NATHALEEN CAMEON OLIVERIO

 

Nathaleen Cameon Oliverio, Class of 1948, who lives in East Chicago, Indiana, is the Welcome Ambassador at Brookdale Murray seniors complex.

She is the widow of Sam Oliverio.

Nat has been living in Brookdale Murray since 2019.

She has 3 children, 6 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

Nat also crochets scarves for the residents. She says: “You must do what you like. Get a job you enjoy because it makes life so much easier.”

 

Nat said that her favorite job before retirement was working in the deli and we're told she did such a good job that there are still customers that ask about her!

 

Comments from Brookdale Murray residents about Nat:

”Such a kind and creative lady!”

“Love our Nat. She is so much fun to talk to.”

“Love this lady to pieces. Sweet lady.”

“We love our Ms. Nat and so blessed to have her as a part of our Brookdale Murray family!”

Brookdale has nearly 700 seniors living complexes in 41 states including a Brookdale Montrose, Brookdale Bath and Brookdale Barberton.

There’s a Jane Stone bench at Brookdale Montrose, formerly Chambrel, where Jane and husband Paul Stone, parents of author Paula Stone Tucker, once lived.

How did Nathaleen wind up in Indiana?

“I had three sons and I didn’t want them going into the coal mines,” Nat told me. “I had heard the whistle blowing and seen miners carried out of the mines, injured, and I just didn’t want that for them.”

 

So Nat and husband Sam Oliverio went to Indiana more than 60 years ago to make a new life away from the dangerous coal mines.

The sons are Dominick, Lowell and Tom. Dominick became a psychologist who worked in federal prisons. Tom became an Illinois State Trooper captain. Lowell became a police officer for Lowell, Indiana.

 

Nat's siblings are Linda Cameon Mezzanotte, Class of 1966; Bill Cameon, Class of 1960; Virginia Cameon Mezzanotte, Class of 1953; Pete Cameon, Class of 1958; and Albert Cameon, Class of 1947; and the late Arthur, Joe and Rudy Cameon.

 

They are the children of Clyde and Maggie Cameon.