Marvelous music maven Beatrice Mangino passes away

Beatrice Mangino, who loved and taught music for nearly all of her 97 years, passed away Friday, September 7.

I remember Bea from my childhood as the beautiful, dark-haired daughter of Phil Mangino, whose fleet of trucks delivered coal to Monongah homes and Monongah High sports teams to their road games, and Teresa Prezioso Mangino.

In 1963 Bea wrote “Why Italians Love Good Music” in the Music Educators Journal that capsulized her embracement of music.

Amazon sold her 1964 “Practical knowledge of music symbols” article.

Bea’s sister, Mary, was 2 years younger and another sister, Josephine, Class of 1944, was 5 years younger.

Bea was a music teacher in Monongah schools, chairman of the Bloomfield High School music department, professor of music at WVU and at Michigan State University (for 60 years!).

Bill Meredith, Class of 1957, who lives in Sarasota, Florida and Pataskala (Buckeye Lake), Ohio with wife Roleta, had a fascinating Facebook post:

“Roleta and I had lunch on Friday, September 7, near our home in Pataskala, Ohio, with two friends, who were passing through the area on their way to Lake Floyd in West Virginia. One of them, Joe, was from California and the other, June, was from Michigan. June mentioned that she was a Michigan State fan and looked forward to seeing the Spartans play Arizona State on Saturday night.

“After lunch, we returned home and I couldn’t get June’s comment about Michigan State out of my mind. I remembered that my music teacher from grade school, Beatrice Mangino, taught at MSU and I wondered if she was still living in Lansing, Michigan. So I Googled her name and found several hits, all of which indicated that she was still living at 93 years of age.

“This morning, in going through my old hometown newspaper (the Fairmont Times), I was shocked to find the obituary for Beatrice Mangino, my former music teacher. She passed away Friday, September 7. I’m sure we all have had something like this happen, but it still made me wonder why. It was not actually a premonition, but it was very strange.

“Rest in Peace, Miss Mangino.”

Bea’s obituary:

Beatrice "Bea" Mangino

January 11, 1921 - September 07, 2018

Beatrice "Bea" Mangino, 97, of Monongah, passed away on Friday (Sept. 7, 2018). She was born Jan. 11, 1921 in Monongah, daughter of the late Philip Mangino and Teresa Prezioso Mangino.

Bea retired as a professor of music at Michigan State University after 60 years. She was formerly employed as a professor of music at West Virginia University and at Marion County Schools.

Bea is survived by her sister, Josephine Westfall; her nephew, Philip Westfall and fiancée Susan; great nieces and nephews, Trista Kremer and her children Savannah, Mykala, and Justin, Eric Pulice and wife Jenny and their son Jacob, and Ryan and his wife Mina and their children Milo and Summer; and nephew by marriage, James Pulice.

In addition to her parents, Bea is preceded in death by her sister Mary Mangino; and her niece Donna Pulice.

Special thanks to all of her friends in Lansing before returning to West Virginia and to St. Barbara's Nursing Home for all of their love and care.

The family will receive friends from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 11 at Domico Funeral Home, 414 Gaston Avenue in Fairmont. The funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday in the funeral home with Father Joseph Konikattil and Deacon David Lester officiating. A private, family interment will follow at Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Fairmont. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.domicofh.com  .

Obituary for Virginia Sparks Yerkovich

Virginia Sparks Yerkovich, Class of 1949, passed away Thursday, March 9 in Morgantown.

Donna Yerkovich Fucello, Class of 1975, who also lives in Morgantown, is one of her surviving daughters.

Virginia Sparks Yerkovich

Virginia previously lived on Harter Hill in Worthington during her Monongah High days.

Her passing was reportedly previously on the blog, but without the obituary and other details.

Virginia L. Yerkovich, 86, of Morgantown formerly of Worthington, passed away Thursday, March 9, 2017 at Sundale Nursing Home in Morgantown.

Born in Richwood, WV on August 11, 1930, she was the only daughter of the late Harvey and Emma Gwinn Sparks. She was preceded in death by her husband of forty-eight years, Peter Yerkovich Jr.

She was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and is survived by her two daughters and sons-in-law: Kay Yerkovich Hoffmann Lazur (John) of Pittsburgh, PA and Donna J. Fucello (Anthony) of Morgantown, WV.  Virginia is also survived by her four grandchildren: Heidi A. Bowlin and her husband, Bill, of Pittsburgh, PA; Kristen D. Hoffmann of Miami, FL; Anthony R. Fucello II of Morgantown, WV and Brandon M. Fucello of Phoenix, AZ. She also has three great-grandchildren: Gianna, Adelena and Luciano Bowlin, all of Pittsburgh, PA. Virginia is survived by two sisters-in-law: Mary Ann Revels of Fruitland, FL and Olga Jean Lyons of Carlisle, PA and a brother-in-law, Andrew Yerkovich Sr. of Morgantown, WV and several cousins, nieces and nephews.

Virginia was a 1949 graduate of Monongah High School. She enjoyed time with her family and friends, reading, puzzles, bingo and gardening.

Friends and family may call at Ross Funeral Home, 801 Fairmont Avenue, Fairmont on Saturday, April 1st, 9:00-11:00 AM at the visitation with her family. A memorial service to celebrate her life will begin at 11:00 AM officiated by Fr. Walter Jagela followed by the interment of her ashes at Mt. Carmel Cemetery.

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

      Click on the blue https://get.google.com/albumarchive/115483244393507838338/album/AF1QipNUMtB8Fpa2DbrZzlwq0vy002Onw8hW0Fdr1KPN/AF1QipNUpeD3ZrJBdqSKHIv3S3GtV7SH91Qrrj-OGaus to see Virginia’s 1949 yearbook photo. I’m in Florida and couldn’t make a copy of the photo.

 

Worthington’s Virginia Yerkovich passes away

 

Virginia L. Yerkovich, 86, of Morgantown formerly of Worthington, passed away Thursday March 9, 2017, at Sundale Nursing Home in Morgantown.

Arrangements are incomplete at this time, and under the care of the Ross Funeral Home 801 Fairmont Avenue Fairmont.

Four States’ ‘Big Daddy’ Jones passes away

John “Big Daddy” Jones Jr. of Four States passed away Monday, Feb. 16.

His obituary:

John William Jones Jr. “Big John” or “Big Daddy,” 63, of Four States, went to be with the Lord Monday (Feb. 16, 2015) at Ruby Memorial Hospital while surrounded by his loved ones.

He was born on April 19, 1951, in Fairmont, son of the late John William Jones Sr. and Katherine Hayes-Jones. 

                 

John was the friend of a lifetime and loved by many. He enjoyed being around his friends and family; he especially enjoyed taking their money in poker. When not playing poker he could be found riding his four-wheeler and tractor and playing Pac-Man. He could also be found sitting on the porch working on anything and everything while listening to his stereo as loud as it would go.

He is survived by longtime partner, Dottie Lou Abner; three sons; four stepchildren who were like his own; and three half-sisters; John William Jones III of Four States; his children, Jonathan and Logan Jones; their mother, Crystal Keefover Jones; Charles Paul Jones of Carolina; Jason Harold Jones, his wife Kylie and their children, Madison and Paxton of Hutchinson; Jeff and Terri Abner of Vermillion Ohio; Stefanie and Cliff Winters of Osgood Indiana; Mike and Lyn Abner of Lorain Ohio; half-sisters, Chrissie and Aaron Reed of Brockton, Massachusetts, Vickie and Larry Fidler of Buckhannon, and Amarian Kay Tenney of Hixson, Tennessee.

John is also survived by his sweetie, Mable Ann McIntire and husband Bob of Bingamon; niece, Samantha Moore Hardings of Fairmont; 27 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews and close friends, Joe Romeo, Jimmy Jones, Jack Jones, Jimmy Scudere and Todd Hammond.

Services will be held with a viewing from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Thursday with the service immediately following at Masters Funeral Home in Mannington. Cremation will be final disposition.

The family asks that monetary donations be made in lieu of flowers to John Jones, P.O. Box 3, Four States, WV 26572.

Online condolences and donations can also be made at www.mastersfh.com .

Tamy Nicholson Royal’s mother-in-law passes away

Naomi Grace Avey of Fairmont, mother-in-law of Tammy Nicholson Royal, North Marion 1992 grad who lives in Monongah with husband Eric Royal, passed away Friday.

If you have memories of the Radcliff, Avey or Shears families, email John Olesky at jo4wvu@neo.rr.com and I’ll add them to this Monongah High Alumni blog.

Naomi’s obituary:

Naomi Grace Radcliff

Naomi Grace Radcliff, 57, of Fairmont passed away on Friday, October 31, 2014 at Ruby Memorial Hospital. She was born on January 31, 1957 a daughter of Brady and Shirley Shears Avey of Rivesville.

She was a member of Fairmont Free Methodist Church. She enjoyed the outdoors, bicycling, and gardening. She also enjoyed time with her family especially her granddaughter. She was known as the kind of person to help anyone out who was in need. 

She is survived by her son Eric Royal and his wife Tammy of Monongah; two brothers Dewayne Wilson of Maryland and Brian Bender of Maryland; four sisters Karen Cone of Florida, Cynthia Lafferty and her husband Richard of Clarksburg, Glenda Griffin and her husband Charles of Maryland and Sharon Bender and her boyfriend William Bright of Morgantown; her granddaughter Kelsea Royal and her fiancé Anthony Allen; and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial Donations may be made to Carpenter and Ford Funeral Home to offset funeral cost for the Radcliff family. 

Friends may call at the Carpenter and Ford Funeral Home, 209 Merchant Street, Fairmont on Monday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
A Funeral Service will be held at the funeral home on Monday, November 3, 2014 with Pastor Carl Radcliff officiating. Burial will follow at Grandview Memorial Gardens.

Condolences may be left for the family at www.carpenterandford.com   

Goldie Ammons Martin passes away

Goldie Jean Ammons Martin, Class of 1957, who grew up in Worthington, passed away Thursday in her Bingamon home.

She was an office assistant during her time at Monongah High.

If you have memories of the Ammons or Martin families, email John Olesky at jo4wvu@neo.rr.com and I’ll add them to this Monongah High Alumni blog.

Goldie’s obituary:

Goldie Jean Ammons Martin
(December 14, 1939 - October 23, 2014)

Goldie Jean Martin, 74, of Bingamon, died Thursday, October 23, 2014 at her residence with her family by her side. She was born December 14, 1939 in Fayette County, the daughter of the late William Lane Ammons and Thelma Angeline Valentine Ammons.

Goldie was once employed by Control Systems and Electronic Control in Fairmont and was also a caregiver for the elderly. She enjoyed reading, doing puzzles, going to the mountains, eating out, mowing, working with her flowers, and being with her family. She also attended Charity Baptist Church.

She is survived by her husband, Joseph Eugene “Gene” Martin, whom she married February 1, 1958, four daughters; Myra Ann Loss, Leesa Bradley, Kellie Whitecotton, and Terri Weekly and husband, Ronnie, all of Bingamon, seven grandchildren; Danielle Creak, Amy McNeese, Billie Shearer, Mandy Rose, Brandi Whitaker, Chad Fisher, and Cheyenne Pill, seven great grandchildren; Evan Wildman, Dalton McNeese, Ashlyn Wildman, Bralyn and Austin Whitaker, Matthew Cole Willig, and Brady Wadsworth, one sister; Linda Seymour of Arizona, step brothers; Tommy, Larry, Clyde, Barry, and Herbie Frye.

In addition to her parents, Goldie was preceded in death by a daughter; Deana Creak, a grandson; Blake Rose, and her stepmother, Bernice Ammons.

Friends may call at the Hutson Funeral Home at 500 E. Main St. in Mannington from 5-8 p.m. on Monday, November 3, 2014 where a memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. with Pastor Dan Adkins officiating. 

The family would like to give a special thank you to the nurses at Mon General, Dr. Wolfe, Cheryl Smith, and a special home health nurse, Glenna Shock. Online condolences may be accessed at www.hutsonfuneralhomes.com