Obituaries — January 27, 2010

Francis James DiVita

Francis James DiVita, 80, of Montgomery, died Jan. 24, 2010.

Born Sept. 9, 1929, in Smithers, he was the son of the late Benny and Josephine Maruca DiVita.

He was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Montgomery and a charter member of the Knights of Columbus. He was a graduate of Montgomery High School and West Virginia Institute of Technology and was a former schoolteacher and band director.

Mr. DiVita was the owner of Montgomery Motors, a veteran of the United State Air Force and former mayor of the city of Montgomery. He was retired from the West Virginia Public Service Commission.

Surviving: wife, Wanda DiVita; children, Beverly Skinner and her husband, Joseph, of Cary, N.C., Cheryl Belcher of Charleston, S.C., Jane Sonnett and her husband, William, of Marietta, Ga., James D. DiVita and his wife, Penny, of Shrewsbury, Francis C. DiVita and his wife, Dawn, of Erwin, Ky., Dana Shears and his wife, Patti, of Cary, N.C., and Suzette Shears Deaton and her husband, Jeff, of Morehead City, N.C.; brothers, Gene DiVita of Houston, Texas, Edward DiVita of Santa Barbara, Calif., Bobby DiVita of Michigan, Philip DiVita of Charleston and Richard DiVita of Scott Depot; sister, Phyllis Jane Woody of Omaha, Neb.; 18 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Mass of Christian burial will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Montgomery, with Father John Rice as celebrant. Entombment will follow in Montgomery Memorial Park, London.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church Capital Building Fund, Box 65, Montgomery, WV 25136.

Expressions of sympathy may be sent at www.odellfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements by O’Dell Funeral Home, Montgomery.



Eugene L. Fizer

Eugene L. “Gene” Fizer, 91, formerly of Charlton Heights, died peacefully on Jan. 19, 2010, at St. Mary’s Nursing Center, Inc., in Leonardtown, Md.

Born in Winifrede, he was the son of the late Lewis Fizer and Essie Estelle Livesay Fizer. He also was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Lucille V. Pennington Fizer, and a brother, Roy Fizer.

Prior to moving to Maryland he was a member of the Campbell Memorial Baptist Church.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, having been a POW. He received the Purple Heart and the World War II Victory Metal.

Mr. Fizer was a member of the Key West VFW, where he spent many winters with his son on Sugarloaf Key, Fla.

He was a former member of UMWA and a retired coal miner. He was a member of the Coal Valley Lodge #74 AF & AM of Montgomery where he had received his 50-year pin.

Surviving: his daughter, Karen Schuler; son-in-law, Jim of Charlotte, N.C.; step-grandchildren, Capt. Jeffrey Schuler, USAF, and his wife, Johna, Bethany Schuler and fiancé Bryan Fawcett; son, Randy Fizer and partner Paul Hause of Sugarloaf, Fla.; his loving granddaughter, Traci Fizer Guice and her husband, Chuck; great-grandchildren, Kyle, Bailey, and Taylor, whom he had the joy of living with for the past four years; his brother, James Fizer of Cannelton; and a host of family and friends.

Service was Jan. 23 at Campbell Memorial Baptist Church in Smithers with Rev. Chester Bird officiating. Burial followed in Montgomery Memorial Park, London.

Memorial contributions can be sent in Gene’s memory to the medical account of his great-nephew, Zachary Scruggs, c/o Shirley Moore, Box 187, Hansford, WV 25103.

Expressions of sympathy can be sent to www.odellfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements by O’Dell Funeral Home, Montgomery.



Carl J. Jenkins

Carl J. Jenkins, 71, of Ashburn, Va., a beloved brother, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, died Jan. 21, 2010, in Arlington, Va. after a short illness.

Born Aug. 8, 1938, at Gauley Bridge, he was the son of the late Benford Jenkins of Gauley Bridge and White Sulphur Springs; and was also preceded in death by a sister, Mary Darnell of Northern, Va.; his beloved mother, Nora Jenkins of White Sulphur Springs, only 21 before his death, and his precious jewel and wife, Dianna Jenkins in 1980.

Mr. Jenkins lived most of his life in Fayette County and was employed by Allied Coal Company as a truck driver before relocating to the northern Virginia area.

Surviving: daughters, Stephanie O’Dell and husband Jeryl of Ashburn, Va., and Carla Cruickshank and husband Alan of Fairfax, Va.; granddaughters, Dianna Jeglum and Andrea O’Dell, both of Ashburn, Va.; a great-granddaughter, Victoria Grace Jeglum of Ashburn, Va.; sisters, Margaret Ann Teubert of Lewisburg and Linda Lou Jenkins of White Sulphur Springs; and brother, Robert R. Jenkins of Annandale, Va.

Service was Jan. 23 in the Longanacre Funeral Home Chapel, Fairlea, with Pastor Don Smith of the Grace Bible Church, Asbury, officiating. He was laid beside his wife, Diana Jenkins, at Restlawn Memorial Gardens, Victor.

Arrangements by Longanacre Funeral Home, Fairlea.



Jackson ‘J.T.’ Jennings Jr.

Jackson Theodore “J.T.” Jennings Jr., 81, of Summersville, died Jan. 19, 2010.

Born Jan. 31, 1928, at Cunard, he was the son of Mary Gertrude Epperly Jennings, of Fayetteville, and the late Jackson Theodore Jennings Sr. He also was preceded in death by his daughter, Debra M. Ganek on Sept. 28, 2002; brothers, Lawrence J. Jennings, Joseph A. Jennings, and Paul D. Jennings; sisters, Ellen M. Rahall and Nancy P. Ashcraft; and his grandson, James Cline.

He was the husband of Freda Maxine Hudnall Jennings, the love of his life whom he married in Chicago, Ill., on Sept. 1, 1950.

Mr. Jennings was a former U.S. Air Force Sergeant, serving in post-World War II Japan for two years.

He was a retired tool-die-caster for AM International in Mt. Prospect, Ill.

Surviving, in addition to his wife, Freda, and his mother, Mary G. Epperly Jennings: sons, Charles K. Jennings, Jackson T. Jennings III, and Joseph L. Jennings, of Illinois; his daughter, Regina L. Small of Wisconsin; brothers, Ted J. Jennings and Billy R. Jennings; sister, Polly J. Hoffman; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were Jan. 23 at Dodd-Payne-Hess Funeral Home, Fayetteville, with Rev. Robert “Doc” Michaels officiating. Burial followed at Huse Memorial Park, Fayetteville, with military rites conducted by American Legion Post 149, Fayetteville.

Memorials may be made in Mr. Jennings’ memory to American Diabetes Association, 644 Linn Street-Suite 304; Cincinnati, OH 45203 or call 888-342-2383.

Online condolences and other information available at www.doddpaynehessfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements by Dodd-Payne-Hess Funeral Home, Fayetteville.



Lonnie Edward Marshall

Lonnie Edward Marshall, 61, of St. Albans, formerly of the Cabin Creek area, died Jan. 22, 2010.

Born Oct. 27, 1948, he was the son of the late Lonnie and Constance Hope Marshall. He also was preceded in death by his sister, Diana Haugen, and brothers, Daniel, Frank and Ray Marshall.

Mr. Marshall was retired from the Department of Corrections at the Charleston Work Center.

Surviving: wife, Carol Marshall; daughters, Cynthia Layton and her husband, Adam, of Chelyan, and Sherry Parsons and her husband, Patrick, of Sissionsville; sons, Jody Kidd and his wife, Mary, of South Charleston, and Frank Kidd and his wife, Cindy, of Culloden; brothers, David Marshall of Chelyan and Mark Marshall of Arizona; sisters, Becky White and her husband, Gene, of Holly Grove, Myra Barbour and her husband, Brian, of Marmet, Ruth Shamblin of Charleston and Nina Randall of St. Clairsville, Ohio; mother-in-law, Mary Hively of St. Albans; 15 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.

Service was Jan. 24 at O’Dell Funeral Home, Montgomery, with officiating. Burial followed in Tyler Mountain Memorial Gardens at Cross Lanes.

Expressions of sympathy can be sent at www.odellfunealhome.com.

Arrangements by O’Dell Funeral Home, Montgomery.



Opal L. Norton

Opal L. Norton, 95, formerly of Pratt, died Jan. 23, 2010, at her residence in Briarcliffe Acres.

Born April 1, 1914, in Mount Hope, she was the daughter of the late Samuel Franklin and Eva Hess Legg. Her husband of 67 years, Nile Edward Norton, predeceased her on Feb. 28, 2000. She also was preceded in death by her daughter and son-in-law, Ann H. and Roger O. Ross; her sister, Oretta Withrow; and a great-grandson, Ian Chek.

Mrs. Norton earned a B.S. degree in elementary education at Morris Harvey College in Charleston, and a Master’s degree in elementary education at West Virginia University in Morgantown. She was a member of the Alpha Delta Kappa Sorority and was a retired teacher, having taught in the Kanawha County School System for 36 years.

She was a member of Ocean Drive Presbyterian Church and she was a 50-year member of Montgomery Methodist Church in Montgomery. Opal was an avid quilter and made many beautiful quilts. She was also a gifted artist. Painting was her passion and she tried to paint some each day and, until her recent illness, she attended monthly art classes as a member of the Coastal Carolina Decorative Painters.

She enjoyed reading American history novels, traveling and collecting antiques. She helped establish the historic district in Pratt while living there.

Opal will be remembered for her good nature and independence. Her life was an inspiration to many people, most especially her family.

Surviving: her daughters, Jane Kennedy and husband Bob, and Eleanor Sue Knight and husband Jim, all of Briarcliffe Acres; grandchildren, Robert Kennedy of Little River, S.C., Scott Kennedy and wife Hope of Safety Harbor, Fla., Lori Chek and husband Daniel of Fuquay-Varina, N.C., Mary Grisson and husband Dave of Denver, Colo., Andrew Knight and wife Julie of Albuquerque, N.M., Deborah Altamirano of Tucson, Ariz., Diane Roberson and husband Glen of La Fayette, Ind., and Delores Dellenbach and husband Wally of Delphi, Ind.; great-grandchildren, Lauren and Alec Altamirano, Danielle, Ethan and Nicholas Chek, and Aidan and Savanna Kennedy; sister, Olive Jane Smallwood of Tallahassee, Fla.; and nephews, Steve and Mark Smallwood and Bob Withrow.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 28 at the Ocean Drive Presbyterian Church in North Myrtle Beach, S.C., with Dr. Lewis Johnson and Rev. Bo Yates officiating. Burial will follow in Ocean Woods Memorial Cemetery in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27, at McMillan-Small Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to Agape Hospice, 223 Laurel Street Conway, SC 29526 or to Ocean Drive Presbyterian Church, 410-6th Ave. South, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582.

An online guest book is available at www.msfh.net.

Arrangements by McMillan-Small Funeral Home.



Iva June Persinger

Iva June Persinger, 79, of Dunbar, died Jan. 19, 2010, at Thomas Memorial Hospital, South Charleston.

Born Sept. 2, 1930, in Fayette County, she was a daughter of the late Delbert and Iona Donnely Cameron. She also was also preceded in death by her husband, Douglas Lonnie Persinger Sr.

Surviving: sister, Karla M. Hood of Charleston, S.C.; children, Virginia F. Benson, Paula J. Dickens, Kimberly K. Eckert, Douglas L. Persinger Jr., Mollie M. Fringer, Kenny R. Persinger and Bridget L. Price; 22 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren.

Services were Jan. 23 at the Davis Creek Church of the Nazarene, Davis Creek, with the Rev. Dr. John Anderson officiating.

Arrangements by Armstrong Funeral Home in Whitesville.



Raymond Preston Vandall

Raymond Preston Vandall, 91, of Shrewsbury, died Jan. 22, 2010, at home.

Born Oct. 7, 1918, at Boomer, he was the son of the late Thurmond and Ella Henderson Vandall. He also was also preceded in death by his wife of 66 wonderful years, June Marie Chapman Vandall; his devoted granddaughter, Jillian DiVita; and his brother, T.R. Vandall.

Preston grew up in Mahan, and graduated from Kinston High School in 1937. He married his high school sweetheart, June, on Oct. 15, 1940, and enjoyed 66 wonderful years until her death on Dec. 23, 2006.

Both were saved in 1941 at the Community Church in Mahan and lived the rest of their life raising four children and serving the Lord in many ways. He was a member of the Handley Church of the Nazarene where he taught Sunday school. Currently he was a member of the Belle Church of the Nazarene.

Mr. Vandall was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Navy and he was owner and operator of Fayette Dental Lab in Montgomery until his retirement.

Surviving: daughters, Cheryl Felman and her husband in South Bend, Ind., Pamela Gardner of Shrewsbury and Penny DiVita and her husband, James, of Shrewsbury; sons, Raymond P. “Van” Vandall Jr. and his wife, Sandy, of Southern Pines, N.C.; brother, Billy Joe Vandall of Ravenswood; sister, Ruby Scofield and her husband, Loyd, of Bedford, Ohio; 12 grandchildren and 8 grandchildrren.

Service was Jan. 25 at O’Dell Funeral Home, Montgomery, with Pastor Mark Green and Rev. Charles Williams officiating. Entombment followed in Kanawha Valley Memorial Gardens at Glasgow.

Contributions may be made to Hospice Care, 1606 Kanawha Blvd. W, Charleston, WV 25312-2536.

Arrangements by O’Dell Funeral Home, Montgomery.