John Frank Luzader of Bridgeport, West Virginia died on November 16, 2016.Mr. Luzader was born on February 19, 1922 in Barbour County, West Virginia to Carey Frank and Reverend Lois Ruth (Radabaugh) Luzader. His father was a businessman in Grafton and his mother was one of the first seminary ordained women of the Evangelical United Brethren church and one of the first seminary ordained women in West Virginia. Enlisting in 1942 John served in the European Theater of the War seeing action at No...

Betty Y. Gawthrop, 89, of Bridgeport, passed away on Sunday morning, November 13, 2016, at the United Hospital Center in Bridgeport, WV. She was born on April 23, 1927, in Philippi, WV, a daughter of the late Sullivan Yocco and Mary Patsey Yocco Sims. She was preceded in death by her husband of 33 years, Asa D. Gawthrop, who passed away on July 18, 1980. She is survived by her daughter, Karen Miller of Sierra Vista, AZ, and her son, Asa R. Gawthrop of Bridgeport; one sister, Pat Costley of ...

Elby Diamond, Jr. of Bridgeport, WV, passed away peacefully on Friday, November 11, 2016 at his residence. He was born in Wayne County, West Virginia on August 1, 1923, a son of the late Elby and Carolyn Wellman Diamond. He was married to Norma Pauline Ferguson Diamond on May 11, 1946. She preceded him in death on October 27, 2012. Elby is survived by one daughter, Jane D. Simmerman and her husband, Frank E. Simmerman, Jr. of Bridgeport, one grandson, Frank E. (Trey) Simmerman, III and ...

Willa “Naomi” (Wolfe) Ripley, 85, of Newburg, WV, died on Monday, November 7, 2016, at her home. Naomi was born October 30, 1931, in Newburg, a daughter of the late Cecil Wolfe and Jesse M. (Boggs) Wolfe Maxwell. She was a graduate of Newburg High School then attended Springfield School of Nursing. She worked as an LPN for over 30 years in the state of Maryland. Naomi was a member of Shays Chapel Methodist Church and Springfield Hospital Auxiliary. Naomi was described by many as a true ...

Roberta B. (Savage) Owens, 73, of Tunnelton, WV, died on Saturday, November 5, 2016, at Rosewood Nursing Home in Grafton. Roberta was born August 10, 1943, in Lancaster, OH, a daughter of the late Robert Frankel and Frances B. (Molisee) Savage. She retired from Mon General Hospital in 2000, after working there as a MDC Tech. She was a member of the Audubon Society and enjoyed gardening, feeding animals and activities involving the various Humane Societies. She is survived by her son...

Hannah Marie Sovastion, 24, of Morgantown, died on Thursday, October 20, 2016. Hannah was born September 26, 1992, in Monongalia County, a daughter of Rick J. and Annette Marie (Cannon) Sovastion. She was a 2011 graduate of Morgantown High School and became a Nail Technician after attending the Morgantown Beauty College. Hannah was employed as a care giver with Valley Mental Health and dearly loved her clients. During high school she had a contract with the John Casablanca Modeling & Ac...

George Edward Trader,91 of Jensen Beach, Fl., formerly of Grafton, passed away October 16, 2016, He was born July 17, 1925 in Grafton, son of the late Raymond Clyde and Edna Mae Larew Trader. George is survived by his wife, Ida Mae Keener Trader. Was a Veteran of the US. ARMY, serving in World War ll 1943-1945 tail gunner in a B-24 Liberator bomber. He was a graduate of GHS. Class 1943, graduated from Fairmont State with a Bachelor of Arts in education in 1952, he taught shop, coach...

Charles Oliver “Little Bill” McNear 62 of Kingwood, WV went home to be with Jesus on Wednesday, October 5, 2016, due to a Four-Wheeler Accident. He was born on May 19, 1954 in Preston and was a son of the late Charles Franklin and Sarah Elizabeth (Simpson) McNear. Charles worked as a tree trimmer for Asplundh for over 35 years. He retired in 2012 when he was diagnosed with lymphoma cancer, which he has battled the past four years. He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends al...

Peter Jackson McDiffitt, 79, of Kingwood, WV, died on Tuesday, September 27, 2016, at Ruby Memorial Hospital. Peter was born September 20, 1937, in Big Run, WV, a son of the late Peter Virgil and Ida Mable (Willey) McDiffitt. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He was a 1958 graduate of Pine Grove Valley High School. After retiring as a custodian for 30 years for the Preston County Board of Education in 1997, Peter started working for the Kingwood Library in 1998 until the day of his pas...

Mary Cecelia Borgman of Borgman, WV, passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 25, 2016, at her home built by her father, where she was born and lived throughout her life. She was 107 years old. She was born November 10, 1908, to Francis William and Cecelia (Korte) Borgman. Mary was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church where she taught catechism, trained altar boys, and was a member of the St. Joseph’s Altar Sodality. She was the church organist for more than 30 years. After the clos...