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James Victor Hanna II (May 11, 1963 - December 1, 2024)
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of James (Jim/Jamie) Victor Hanna II, on December 1, 2024, at the age of 61, after a short battle with metastatic melanoma. Jamie was born in Huntington, West Virginia on May 11, 1963, to James V. Hanna and Constance (Michel) Hanna.
Jamie graduated from Huntington High School in 1981, where he served as drum major for the band in his senior year. While attending high school, Jamie worked at Jim’s Steak and Spaghetti house, a position that he later proudly noted enabled him to eat dinner twice – once there and once at home. Jamie developed an interest in architecture in his teens and was accepted to the College of Architecture + Design at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Jamie graduated with his Bachelor of Architecture from UT in 1986, becoming both an intern architect and a proud Tennessee Volunteer.
Jamie began his architecture career in the Atlanta area, gaining the required intern experience to earn his AIA accreditation. In May of 1992 Jamie was hired by what was then Nichols Carter Grant Architects, later becoming NCG Architects. Jamie enjoyed seventeen years of employment with NCG, ten of which were spent as a Member of the Board of Directors. Jamie was the Business Development Principal of the firm, and pursued work throughout the Southeast and the United Arab Emirates. These years were some of Jamie’s happiest, as he pursued his love of the profession with peers he respected and enjoyed. NCG’s primary client base was resorts, which forced Jamie’s departure from the firm with the 2008/2009 recession. Jamie continued his career in the years following with T.Y. Lin International, Gensler, May Architecture and The Preston Partnership, contributing to those firm’s marketing efforts and staff development, as well as gaining multiple professional relationships which he treasured. Jamie’s real passion through these years, however, and one that blossomed in February of this year, was as director of his own firm, Hanna Design Alliance. Jamie pursued and won two significant projects during this time and had also successfully begun the Expert Witness arm of his company, making a consulting visit for a case just eleven days prior to the discovery of tumors in his lungs.
Jamie also told anyone who asked that it was his architecture profession that allowed for the meeting of his wife of 29 and one-half years, Laura Leah Moore. Jamie and Laura met during a project meeting for a Marriott timeshare on Hilton Head Island, where she was the structural engineer. According to each of them, they were both immediately bewitched, but neither thought the other was interested. Luckily the stars aligned, and they were married on May 7th, 1995. Jamie later became a father to sons Auguste Dennett Hanna and Sterling Patrick Hanna, a fact that he proudly shared with everyone he encountered. He was an adoring father and husband and would drop anything on his work plate to offer support to his family.
In addition to loving his family, Jamie adored his dogs. Laura reluctantly permitted their first dog into the family as a puppy at the beginning of their marriage, beginning their tradition of using names vetoed for their children to be bestowed on their pets. Jamie whole-heartedly loved Dakota (Jamie vetoed this for their first son’s name), Sundae (pre-named at rescue), Marshall (Laura vetoed this for their second son’s name) and Molly (pre-named at rescue).
His father predeceased him in death. Jim is survived by his mother, his wife, his two sons, sisters Cynthia Hanna Brown and Susan Hanna Fantom and their spouses (David Brown and Joseph Fantom), his sister-in-law Cynthia Lynn Moore, his brother-in-law and wife, Christopher Richard Moore and Barbara Butler Moore, his mother-in-law Sandra Lee Dennett, nieces and nephews Hanna Fantom, Michel Fantom, Elizabeth Brown, Grace Moore, Emmalynn Moore and Nicola Moore.
“Jamie” or “Jim” was a kind man whose warmth was evident to everyone who met him. He is at peace and will live forever in the hearts of the family that has always loved him.
Services will be held at the Chapel on Sycamore on Sunday, December 15th at 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Melanoma Research Foundation.
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of James (Jim/Jamie) Victor Hanna II, on December 1, 2024, at the age of 61, after a short battle with metastatic melanoma. Jamie was born in Huntington, West Virginia on May 11, 1963, to James V. Hanna and Constance (Michel) Hanna.
Jamie graduated from Huntington High School in 1981, where he served as drum major for the band in his senior year. While attending high school, Jamie worked at Jim’s Steak and Spaghetti house, a position that he later proudly noted enabled him to eat dinner twice – once there and once at home. Jamie developed an interest in architecture in his teens and was accepted to the College of Architecture + Design at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Jamie graduated with his Bachelor of Architecture from UT in 1986, becoming both an intern architect and a proud Tennessee Volunteer.
Jamie began his architecture career in the Atlanta area, gaining the required intern experience to earn his AIA accreditation. In May of 1992 Jamie was hired by what was then Nichols Carter Grant Architects, later becoming NCG Architects. Jamie enjoyed seventeen years of employment with NCG, ten of which were spent as a Member of the Board of Directors. Jamie was the Business Development Principal of the firm, and pursued work throughout the Southeast and the United Arab Emirates. These years were some of Jamie’s happiest, as he pursued his love of the profession with peers he respected and enjoyed. NCG’s primary client base was resorts, which forced Jamie’s departure from the firm with the 2008/2009 recession. Jamie continued his career in the years following with T.Y. Lin International, Gensler, May Architecture and The Preston Partnership, contributing to those firm’s marketing efforts and staff development, as well as gaining multiple professional relationships which he treasured. Jamie’s real passion through these years, however, and one that blossomed in February of this year, was as director of his own firm, Hanna Design Alliance. Jamie pursued and won two significant projects during this time and had also successfully begun the Expert Witness arm of his company, making a consulting visit for a case just eleven days prior to the discovery of tumors in his lungs.
Jamie also told anyone who asked that it was his architecture profession that allowed for the meeting of his wife of 29 and one-half years, Laura Leah Moore. Jamie and Laura met during a project meeting for a Marriott timeshare on Hilton Head Island, where she was the structural engineer. According to each of them, they were both immediately bewitched, but neither thought the other was interested. Luckily the stars aligned, and they were married on May 7th, 1995. Jamie later became a father to sons Auguste Dennett Hanna and Sterling Patrick Hanna, a fact that he proudly shared with everyone he encountered. He was an adoring father and husband and would drop anything on his work plate to offer support to his family.
In addition to loving his family, Jamie adored his dogs. Laura reluctantly permitted their first dog into the family as a puppy at the beginning of their marriage, beginning their tradition of using names vetoed for their children to be bestowed on their pets. Jamie whole-heartedly loved Dakota (Jamie vetoed this for their first son’s name), Sundae (pre-named at rescue), Marshall (Laura vetoed this for their second son’s name) and Molly (pre-named at rescue).
His father predeceased him in death. Jim is survived by his mother, his wife, his two sons, sisters Cynthia Hanna Brown and Susan Hanna Fantom and their spouses (David Brown and Joseph Fantom), his sister-in-law Cynthia Lynn Moore, his brother-in-law and wife, Christopher Richard Moore and Barbara Butler Moore, his mother-in-law Sandra Lee Dennett, nieces and nephews Hanna Fantom, Michel Fantom, Elizabeth Brown, Grace Moore, Emmalynn Moore and Nicola Moore.
“Jamie” or “Jim” was a kind man whose warmth was evident to everyone who met him. He is at peace and will live forever in the hearts of the family that has always loved him.
Services will be held at the Chapel on Sycamore on Sunday, December 15th at 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Melanoma Research Foundation.
We are saddened by the passing on November 28, 2024 of Mikhael Elia Anbar in Kfeir. He is the husband of Nabila Bassit Anbar. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. May his memory be eternal!
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Farris Kassab
September 3, 2024
We are saddened to announce the passing of Farris Kassab of Kfeir affectionately known to many as uncle Abu Salim. Although still living in Kfeir, Farris has many relatives in the USA, including our own Kfeirian Reunion President Becky Rahal Anderson. Our condolences go out to the Kassab family as well to his greater extended family. May his memory be eternal, and may he rest in peace.We are saddened to announce the passing of Farris Kassab of Kfeir affectionately known to many as uncle Abu Salim. Although still living in Kfeir, Farris has many relatives in the USA, including our own Kfeirian Reunion President Becky Rahal Anderson. Our condolences go out to the Kassab family as well to his greater extended family. May his memory be eternal, and may he rest in peace.
September 3, 2024
We are saddened to announce the passing of Farris Kassab of Kfeir affectionately known to many as uncle Abu Salim. Although still living in Kfeir, Farris has many relatives in the USA, including our own Kfeirian Reunion President Becky Rahal Anderson. Our condolences go out to the Kassab family as well to his greater extended family. May his memory be eternal, and may he rest in peace.We are saddened to announce the passing of Farris Kassab of Kfeir affectionately known to many as uncle Abu Salim. Although still living in Kfeir, Farris has many relatives in the USA, including our own Kfeirian Reunion President Becky Rahal Anderson. Our condolences go out to the Kassab family as well to his greater extended family. May his memory be eternal, and may he rest in peace.
George Tawfiq Saad - August 26, 2024, Beirut, Lebanon
Our heartfelt condolences go out to the Saad family for the passing of George Saad, father of Charles Saad and Sandra Saad ElHajj, brother of Edward Saad and longtime board member and Past President Julian Saad. Please keep the Saad family in your prayers and may his memory be eternal.
Our heartfelt condolences go out to the Saad family for the passing of George Saad, father of Charles Saad and Sandra Saad ElHajj, brother of Edward Saad and longtime board member and Past President Julian Saad. Please keep the Saad family in your prayers and may his memory be eternal.
Gloria Jane Nasser Barnett Hulme, (July 5, 1944 - August 7, 2024)
A funeral service will be held for her at Trinity Episcopal Church, 520 11th St., Huntington, WV 25701, on Friday, August 16, 2024, at 10:00 am. Interment at Woodmere Memorial Park will take place immediately afterward. A memorial service and reception in Gloria’s honor will be held the week of September 15th at Christ Episcopal Church, 120 E. Edenton St., Raleigh NC. Details of the Raleigh service with be forthcoming.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Trinity Episcopal Church, Huntington, WV, or to Christ Episcopal Church, Raleigh, NC.
Gloria was the oldest of three children and was born in Huntington, West Virginia on July 5, 1944, where she and her siblings grew up. Her parents, Toufeek and Margie Nasser immigrated from the Middle East after World War I and lived the American dream, teaching their children to appreciate their Arab heritage and love the life in America which they felt privileged to earn and enjoy through their work and perseverance. Her father was an entrepreneur and started a business which became one of the region’s most elegant and renowned multi-level department stores. Growing up, Gloria and her siblings frequently spent time with their extended family including aunts, uncles and cousins who visited frequently and shared a close connection through a heritage that originated in what they nostalgically referred to as “The Old Country” which included Syria and Lebanon.
Gloria graduated from Huntington High School and subsequently the University of Kentucky (BS, Education; 1966). She started her career in teaching at middle schools in Cleveland, OH. During this time, she married her first husband, and they had two children: her son Alexander Bradley Barnett and daughter Nicole Michelle Barnett, whom she loved dearly. They settled in Nashville, TN, where Nicole was born, but when she became a single mother, Gloria decided to relocate closer to her siblings and so she moved her family (Alex, Nicki, and their dog, Snoopy) to Raleigh, NC. Later, in Raleigh she fell in love with and married her current husband, Stephen Hulme. Stephen and Gloria lived in west Raleigh and were members of Christ Episcopal Church for 35 years and shared many common interests including history, literature, music, the arts, sailing, travel, and commitment to family and a network of close friends.
Gloria was devoted to her family and children. She frequently took her Nicole and Alex to visit her parents, siblings, and cousins in Huntington for holidays and summer breaks, and often attended the annual Kfierian family reunions where their extended family would travel from across the U.S. and around the world to gather each year. Gloria was also active and committed to nurturing culture and experiences for her children. She put together regular family outings for herself, Alex and Nicki ranging from symphony performances to rock concerts to college basketball games to sailing lessons to beach and fishing trips at the NC coast. She also balanced her continued professional endeavors including part-time substitute teaching in Raleigh Public Schools for many years.
Gloria’s passion for the arts came through in a broad array of interests she developed over her lifetime. She loved art of all types and developed an affinity for renaissance and baroque Italian art. She traveled to Italy with her sister Shirley, and later with her husband Steve to view the great works in Rome and Assisi, and following her travels, she and Steve immersed in Italian language lessons together. Gloria also loved viewing the paintings and sculptures of the great masters, visiting galleries across the U.S. including New York, Philadelphia, and Washington DC with her sister Shirley and daughter Nicki. Her passion for art and talent as a teacher made her one of the North Carolina Museum of Art’s most sought-after and well-known docents, and she led public walking tours of the NCMA collection for 36 years. Upon her retirement from the docents in 2015, she was humbled to receive an award from the State of North Carolina at a commemorative ceremony held in her honor. She also took up photography and was active with her camera for over 25 years capturing landscapes, portraits, nature scenes, and architecture. She displayed her prints in competitions and even offered some at the shows for public purchase, and she also served as the volunteer photographer for her children’s high school performances.
Gardening and cultivating flowers were one of Gloria’s deepest areas of interest and passion. At one time she maintained over 50 orchids in her in-home ‘growing room’ and later branched into a broad variety of roses. She cultivated and designed beautiful, extensive, rose gardens throughout her yard and shared her love of flowers and color with all who passed by. She was also an active member of the Southern Garden History Society for many years.
Gloria was a life-long learner and her interests in gaining new skills and knowledge spanned multiple areas. She was an avid tennis player for over 2 decades, playing in leagues at the Raleigh Racquet Club and passing the love of sport on to her two children. When the opportunity arose to learn skiing in the Smoky Mountains of NC, she found time on occasion to hit the slopes and learn how to carve turns. Gloria, with Steve’s encouragement, also developed her capabilities as a boater, attending a sailing academy in the inner banks of NC to learn how to pilot and navigate sailboats. She and Steve loved traveling to the coast, sailing the intercoastal waterways, and staying at Matthews Point where the 37’ sailboat they owned was moored.
She also maintained a connection with learning through an ongoing study of undergraduate and graduate courses at the local universities, and took many courses at North Carolina State in Art History and English Literature throughout her 40’s and 50’s. After completing what amounted to a full set of pre-requisites and pursuing a concentration in English, she received a second bachelor’s degree from the NC State English Department, cum laude, in 2004. Gloria was also introduced to the Raleigh Woman’s Club by her sister in-law Candy’s family and was an active member for 41 years.
Gloria leaves a legacy with her children. Nicole is a graduate of East Carolina University and has a career as a designer with Miller-Knoll and has designed health care facilities in the US, Dubai, and across the Middle East. Alex graduated from UNC Chapel Hill (BA) and the University of Washington (MBA), lives with his wife and two children in Seattle and serves as a global head of business development with Amazon.
Gloria was preceded in death by her mother, Margie Catherine Zouhary Nasser and her father, Toufeek Abu Nasser.
Gloria’s memory will always be honored by her husband, Stephen, of Raleigh NC; her daughter, Nicole Barnett, of Norristown, PA; her son and daughter-in-law, Alexander and Barrett Barnett; her grandchildren, Miles Barnett and Averil Barnett, of Seattle, WA. She is the beloved sister of Shirley Nasser, of Henrico, VA and her brother and sister-in-law, Raymond and Candy Nasser, of Midlothian, VA. Their children are Kathryn Nasser of Durham, NC and Jeffrey Nasser of Richmond, VA.
“Well done, thou good and faithful servant: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord” (Matthew 25:23).
Service arrangements provided by both Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 Saint Mary's St., Raleigh, NC, and Klingel-Carpenter Mortuary, 328 6th Avenue, Huntington, WV 25701.
A funeral service will be held for her at Trinity Episcopal Church, 520 11th St., Huntington, WV 25701, on Friday, August 16, 2024, at 10:00 am. Interment at Woodmere Memorial Park will take place immediately afterward. A memorial service and reception in Gloria’s honor will be held the week of September 15th at Christ Episcopal Church, 120 E. Edenton St., Raleigh NC. Details of the Raleigh service with be forthcoming.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Trinity Episcopal Church, Huntington, WV, or to Christ Episcopal Church, Raleigh, NC.
Gloria was the oldest of three children and was born in Huntington, West Virginia on July 5, 1944, where she and her siblings grew up. Her parents, Toufeek and Margie Nasser immigrated from the Middle East after World War I and lived the American dream, teaching their children to appreciate their Arab heritage and love the life in America which they felt privileged to earn and enjoy through their work and perseverance. Her father was an entrepreneur and started a business which became one of the region’s most elegant and renowned multi-level department stores. Growing up, Gloria and her siblings frequently spent time with their extended family including aunts, uncles and cousins who visited frequently and shared a close connection through a heritage that originated in what they nostalgically referred to as “The Old Country” which included Syria and Lebanon.
Gloria graduated from Huntington High School and subsequently the University of Kentucky (BS, Education; 1966). She started her career in teaching at middle schools in Cleveland, OH. During this time, she married her first husband, and they had two children: her son Alexander Bradley Barnett and daughter Nicole Michelle Barnett, whom she loved dearly. They settled in Nashville, TN, where Nicole was born, but when she became a single mother, Gloria decided to relocate closer to her siblings and so she moved her family (Alex, Nicki, and their dog, Snoopy) to Raleigh, NC. Later, in Raleigh she fell in love with and married her current husband, Stephen Hulme. Stephen and Gloria lived in west Raleigh and were members of Christ Episcopal Church for 35 years and shared many common interests including history, literature, music, the arts, sailing, travel, and commitment to family and a network of close friends.
Gloria was devoted to her family and children. She frequently took her Nicole and Alex to visit her parents, siblings, and cousins in Huntington for holidays and summer breaks, and often attended the annual Kfierian family reunions where their extended family would travel from across the U.S. and around the world to gather each year. Gloria was also active and committed to nurturing culture and experiences for her children. She put together regular family outings for herself, Alex and Nicki ranging from symphony performances to rock concerts to college basketball games to sailing lessons to beach and fishing trips at the NC coast. She also balanced her continued professional endeavors including part-time substitute teaching in Raleigh Public Schools for many years.
Gloria’s passion for the arts came through in a broad array of interests she developed over her lifetime. She loved art of all types and developed an affinity for renaissance and baroque Italian art. She traveled to Italy with her sister Shirley, and later with her husband Steve to view the great works in Rome and Assisi, and following her travels, she and Steve immersed in Italian language lessons together. Gloria also loved viewing the paintings and sculptures of the great masters, visiting galleries across the U.S. including New York, Philadelphia, and Washington DC with her sister Shirley and daughter Nicki. Her passion for art and talent as a teacher made her one of the North Carolina Museum of Art’s most sought-after and well-known docents, and she led public walking tours of the NCMA collection for 36 years. Upon her retirement from the docents in 2015, she was humbled to receive an award from the State of North Carolina at a commemorative ceremony held in her honor. She also took up photography and was active with her camera for over 25 years capturing landscapes, portraits, nature scenes, and architecture. She displayed her prints in competitions and even offered some at the shows for public purchase, and she also served as the volunteer photographer for her children’s high school performances.
Gardening and cultivating flowers were one of Gloria’s deepest areas of interest and passion. At one time she maintained over 50 orchids in her in-home ‘growing room’ and later branched into a broad variety of roses. She cultivated and designed beautiful, extensive, rose gardens throughout her yard and shared her love of flowers and color with all who passed by. She was also an active member of the Southern Garden History Society for many years.
Gloria was a life-long learner and her interests in gaining new skills and knowledge spanned multiple areas. She was an avid tennis player for over 2 decades, playing in leagues at the Raleigh Racquet Club and passing the love of sport on to her two children. When the opportunity arose to learn skiing in the Smoky Mountains of NC, she found time on occasion to hit the slopes and learn how to carve turns. Gloria, with Steve’s encouragement, also developed her capabilities as a boater, attending a sailing academy in the inner banks of NC to learn how to pilot and navigate sailboats. She and Steve loved traveling to the coast, sailing the intercoastal waterways, and staying at Matthews Point where the 37’ sailboat they owned was moored.
She also maintained a connection with learning through an ongoing study of undergraduate and graduate courses at the local universities, and took many courses at North Carolina State in Art History and English Literature throughout her 40’s and 50’s. After completing what amounted to a full set of pre-requisites and pursuing a concentration in English, she received a second bachelor’s degree from the NC State English Department, cum laude, in 2004. Gloria was also introduced to the Raleigh Woman’s Club by her sister in-law Candy’s family and was an active member for 41 years.
Gloria leaves a legacy with her children. Nicole is a graduate of East Carolina University and has a career as a designer with Miller-Knoll and has designed health care facilities in the US, Dubai, and across the Middle East. Alex graduated from UNC Chapel Hill (BA) and the University of Washington (MBA), lives with his wife and two children in Seattle and serves as a global head of business development with Amazon.
Gloria was preceded in death by her mother, Margie Catherine Zouhary Nasser and her father, Toufeek Abu Nasser.
Gloria’s memory will always be honored by her husband, Stephen, of Raleigh NC; her daughter, Nicole Barnett, of Norristown, PA; her son and daughter-in-law, Alexander and Barrett Barnett; her grandchildren, Miles Barnett and Averil Barnett, of Seattle, WA. She is the beloved sister of Shirley Nasser, of Henrico, VA and her brother and sister-in-law, Raymond and Candy Nasser, of Midlothian, VA. Their children are Kathryn Nasser of Durham, NC and Jeffrey Nasser of Richmond, VA.
“Well done, thou good and faithful servant: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord” (Matthew 25:23).
Service arrangements provided by both Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 Saint Mary's St., Raleigh, NC, and Klingel-Carpenter Mortuary, 328 6th Avenue, Huntington, WV 25701.
Charles "Chuck" Ervin Fischer, (July 16, 1943 - July 6, 2024)
It is with heavy hearts that I announce the passing of Charles “Chuck” Fischer, age 80, on 06 July 2024. Beloved father, grandfather, and cherished friend, Chuck left an indelible mark on everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.
Born on 16 July 1943, Chuck led a life full of adventure, love, and dedication. He proudly served his country in the United States Navy, where he exemplified the values of honor, courage, and commitment. His service was a testament to his unwavering sense of duty.
After his military service, Chuck pursued his passion for the culinary arts, eventually becoming an Executive Chef at Walt Disney World. In this role, he brought joy and delight to countless guests, creating unforgettable dining experiences that added magic to their visits. His culinary expertise, creativity, and leadership were admired by his colleagues and patrons alike.
Chuck was married to his loving wife of 49 years, Lila, who preceded him in death. Their love and devotion to each other were evident to all who knew them, and their partnership was a cornerstone of his life.
However, Chuck's greatest legacy lies in his role as a father and grandfather. To his son and grandchildren, he was the embodiment of love, wisdom, and unwavering support. His guidance, warmth, and boundless generosity enriched their lives in countless ways. He was not just a father and grandfather; he was a mentor, a friend, and a constant source of inspiration.
Chuck is survived by his son Charlie, two grandchildren, Anna and Matthew, and a host of other relatives and friends who will forever cherish his memory. His life was a testament to the power of love, hard work, and dedication, and his legacy will continue to inspire all who knew him.
The Funeral will be held 19 July 2024 at Southern Funeral Care, 10510 Riverview Dr, Riverview, FL 33578. 1100-1200 Visitation with the service at 1200. Interment will follow at Bloomingdale Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, a cause close to the family's heart.
Rest in peace, Dad. Your love, kindness, and remarkable spirit will live on in our hearts forever.
It is with heavy hearts that I announce the passing of Charles “Chuck” Fischer, age 80, on 06 July 2024. Beloved father, grandfather, and cherished friend, Chuck left an indelible mark on everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.
Born on 16 July 1943, Chuck led a life full of adventure, love, and dedication. He proudly served his country in the United States Navy, where he exemplified the values of honor, courage, and commitment. His service was a testament to his unwavering sense of duty.
After his military service, Chuck pursued his passion for the culinary arts, eventually becoming an Executive Chef at Walt Disney World. In this role, he brought joy and delight to countless guests, creating unforgettable dining experiences that added magic to their visits. His culinary expertise, creativity, and leadership were admired by his colleagues and patrons alike.
Chuck was married to his loving wife of 49 years, Lila, who preceded him in death. Their love and devotion to each other were evident to all who knew them, and their partnership was a cornerstone of his life.
However, Chuck's greatest legacy lies in his role as a father and grandfather. To his son and grandchildren, he was the embodiment of love, wisdom, and unwavering support. His guidance, warmth, and boundless generosity enriched their lives in countless ways. He was not just a father and grandfather; he was a mentor, a friend, and a constant source of inspiration.
Chuck is survived by his son Charlie, two grandchildren, Anna and Matthew, and a host of other relatives and friends who will forever cherish his memory. His life was a testament to the power of love, hard work, and dedication, and his legacy will continue to inspire all who knew him.
The Funeral will be held 19 July 2024 at Southern Funeral Care, 10510 Riverview Dr, Riverview, FL 33578. 1100-1200 Visitation with the service at 1200. Interment will follow at Bloomingdale Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, a cause close to the family's heart.
Rest in peace, Dad. Your love, kindness, and remarkable spirit will live on in our hearts forever.
Donald “Don” Aborizk, (August 14, 1937 - April 21, 2024) a U.S Veteran of Tampa died on Sunday, April 21, 2024 at home with his family by his side. Don was born in Huntington, WV to Abraham and Mary Aborizk. He was a long-time member of Idlewild Baptist Church. He was loved by all of his family and friends. He never met a stranger. A strong amazing father and One Extremely Cool Grandpa. He was in the Army National Guard Special Forces in West Virginia and Florida. From 1959 to 1963. He retired from Publix after 20 years. He then, worked in Maintenance. He was a 9 gallon blood donor.
He is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 57 years, Barbara, daughter, Dawnelle Rodriguez; son in law, Tim Stevens; and two grandsons, Andy and Kenny Aborizk. He is survived by three children, Joe of Tampa, Rhonda Stevens of Tampa and Rob (Angela) of Zephyrhills, 12 Grandchildren and 7 Great Grandchildren.
The family will receive friends on Monday, April 29th, from 11:00 a.m. until service time at 12:00 p.m. at Idlewild Baptist Church 18333 Exciting Idlewild Blvd, Lutz, FL 33548. The interment and committal service will take place at Chapel Hill Gardens, Dade City. Arrangements under the direction of Hodges Funeral Home.
To send a flower arrangement or to plant trees in memory of Donald "Don" Aborizk, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.
He is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 57 years, Barbara, daughter, Dawnelle Rodriguez; son in law, Tim Stevens; and two grandsons, Andy and Kenny Aborizk. He is survived by three children, Joe of Tampa, Rhonda Stevens of Tampa and Rob (Angela) of Zephyrhills, 12 Grandchildren and 7 Great Grandchildren.
The family will receive friends on Monday, April 29th, from 11:00 a.m. until service time at 12:00 p.m. at Idlewild Baptist Church 18333 Exciting Idlewild Blvd, Lutz, FL 33548. The interment and committal service will take place at Chapel Hill Gardens, Dade City. Arrangements under the direction of Hodges Funeral Home.
To send a flower arrangement or to plant trees in memory of Donald "Don" Aborizk, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.
Bernard Joseph Weber, Sr. (August 13, 1935 – March 29, 2024)
Our beloved handsome, loving husband, devoted father of three wonderful children who he was extremely proud of, and our hero, Bernard Joseph Weber Sr., 88 years old, of Las Vegas, Nevada passed away of a massive heart attack at his Las Vegas, Nevada home with his wife, Delores (Dee) by his side on Friday, March 29, 2024.
Bernard (Bernie) Joseph Weber Sr. was born on August 13, 1935, at the Huckleberry Branch Homestead near the Muscatatuck River, North Vernon, Indiana to Frank L. and Barbara S. (Kline) Weber.
In 1953, he graduated from Columbus High School in Columbus, Indiana; Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 1960. He was involved with the Commerce Club and the Newman Club while attending Ball State University. He graduated with a Master of Arts degree in Business Management at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1963.
He enlisted in the Army during the Korean War from January 13, 1954 – December 20, 1955, and was stationed in Guam. He was an Army Corporal Specialist 2 of the Air Command of the 822nd Engineering Aviation Battalion. He oversaw building the runways for the American planes to land. He was awarded the National Defense Service Ribbon, and the Army Good Conduct Ribbon for his service. He was thrilled to go with other Las Vegas, Nevada Korean War veterans on an Honor Flight to Washington D.C. a few years ago.
On June 1, 1957, he married the love of his life, Delores (Dee) June Kamees after knowing each other since they were teenagers. They were married in a Catholic High Mass ceremony at the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Huntington, West Virginia. The wedding party celebration lasted for 3 days. They honeymooned at Gatlin, Tennessee, and the Appalachian Mountains in West Virginia.
They lived in many places including Muncie, Indiana; Columbus, Indiana; Indianapolis, Indiana; Goleta, California; Thousand Oaks, California; and Las Vegas, Nevada.
Bernie held many jobs while he was young. He was a car salesman at the Oldsmobile Dealership in Columbus, Indiana; a salesman/delivery person for the Canada Dry Corporation; public relations administrator for P.R. Mallory Corporation and an Electronics Corporation in Avon, Indiana; a real estate broker for the State of Indiana and Century 21 Realtors in Thousand Oaks, California; Director of Administration for the largest law firms in Indiana, Florida, and California. He was most proud of having his own businesses as he was the founder and owner of both Professional Purchasing Consultants and Professional Indexes and Files in Newbury Park, California. He was the first to have 100% recycled index tabs used in legal cases for their exhibits at all the law firms in the U.S. These businesses were extremely successful as he had major corporations purchasing from him. These corporations also included the World Wildlife Foundation and many others.
Bernie was very active in many organizations including a Life Member of the Knights of Columbus, Benevolent & Protective Order of the Elks, American Legion, and the Korean War Veterans Associations. But what he was most proud of was being the Founding President of the Indianapolis, Indiana Chapter, Regional Vice President, and National Board of Director for the Association of Legal Administrators. He was the President of the Lynn Ranch North Homeowners Association, Thousand Oaks, California; YMCA, Tribe Chief for Indian Guides, Thousand Oaks, California; Cub Scout Master, Santa Barbara, California; and Sunset Heights Civic Association Director, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Bernie also served as the Indiana Volunteer Director for the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. He raised tons of money by putting on a huge Radiothon in Indianapolis, Indiana. Marlo Thomas, the daughter of Danny Thomas, founder of the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee made an appearance by awarding Bernie with the Man of the Year Award. He raised more money than anyone else had at that time. Bernie also organized and put on another fundraiser for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. It was called the “Pigs and Freaks” football game where the local police and local young people played. He was the first to start this fundraiser idea as many other states including Michigan continued the tradition of what Bernie started in the late 1960’s. He received a plaque and a trophy (football helmet worn by one of the players from the game).
Bernie had two passions. He loved traveling with his wonderful, loving wife, Delores of 66 years. They were avid cruisers going on over 26 cruises on various ship lines seeing many countries and touring a ton of historical places. He also loved various types of fishing including deep sea, fly, and regular fishing. He went to Mexico, Alaska, Canada, and Hawaii to fish in these cool waters enjoying his catch. His favorite was fresh bass, northern pike, and salmon. When he was much younger, he loved to go squirrel, deer, and rabbit hunting with his family. He loved dogs as he had a bull terrier named Mike when he was just 2 or 3 years old. Mike was his pal. Later in life he got a toy Manchester terrier, named Tina for his daughter, Debbie as her companion growing up. He also enjoyed bulldogs but got a Chihuahua named Tiny Tina because she only weighed 3 pounds. She was enjoyed by all the family. When he was younger, he was an active tennis player and played golf. In high school, he played football and loved it.
He is preceded in death by his father, Frank Louis, and his mother, Barbara Sophie Kline Weber. He is also preceded in death by his three sisters, Helen Marie Weber Schonfeld, Rushville, Indiana, Bernice Weber Newmister, Columbus, Indiana, Frank Louis Weber Jr., North Vernon, Indiana and Rose Weber, North Vernon, Indiana. He had many other relatives and friends which he preceded in death.
Bernie is survived by his wife, Delores (Dee) June Kamees Weber, his three children, Deborah (Debbie) Ann Weber Fleshman (husband Terry Fleshman), Noblesville, Indiana; Bernard Joseph (BJ) Weber II (wife Susan Marie Alexander Weber), Truro, Iowa and Wes Albert Weber (wife Kristi Lee Sprague Weber), Mooresville, Indiana. He is also survived by 11 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren along with many nieces, nephews and cousins.
He will always be remembered for his wonderfully friendly demeanor with a great sense of humor. He was always loving, caring, generous and fair. He was very hard working and a dedicated husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, uncle, nephew, and friend. He never knew a stranger. He was determined to make a name for himself, which he did, and make his life for his family so much better than what he had when he was growing up in rural southern Indiana. His favorite saying was “It is the Weber Luck”.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that those who would like to express their sorrow of Bernie, please make donations in Bernard’s name to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN.
He has requested no funeral service or memorial service.
Memorial Information - the family of Bernard Joseph Weber, Sr. is requesting all stories, memories and any photos as there is no limit to your submission about Bernie during his lifetime to be sent to Bernie's daughter, Debbie Fleshman. She will be putting a "Memory Book" together since there won't be a funeral or a celebration of life ceremony. Please send all information to:
Deborah Weber-Fleshman
ladynpink5558@aol.com
Our beloved handsome, loving husband, devoted father of three wonderful children who he was extremely proud of, and our hero, Bernard Joseph Weber Sr., 88 years old, of Las Vegas, Nevada passed away of a massive heart attack at his Las Vegas, Nevada home with his wife, Delores (Dee) by his side on Friday, March 29, 2024.
Bernard (Bernie) Joseph Weber Sr. was born on August 13, 1935, at the Huckleberry Branch Homestead near the Muscatatuck River, North Vernon, Indiana to Frank L. and Barbara S. (Kline) Weber.
In 1953, he graduated from Columbus High School in Columbus, Indiana; Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 1960. He was involved with the Commerce Club and the Newman Club while attending Ball State University. He graduated with a Master of Arts degree in Business Management at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1963.
He enlisted in the Army during the Korean War from January 13, 1954 – December 20, 1955, and was stationed in Guam. He was an Army Corporal Specialist 2 of the Air Command of the 822nd Engineering Aviation Battalion. He oversaw building the runways for the American planes to land. He was awarded the National Defense Service Ribbon, and the Army Good Conduct Ribbon for his service. He was thrilled to go with other Las Vegas, Nevada Korean War veterans on an Honor Flight to Washington D.C. a few years ago.
On June 1, 1957, he married the love of his life, Delores (Dee) June Kamees after knowing each other since they were teenagers. They were married in a Catholic High Mass ceremony at the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Huntington, West Virginia. The wedding party celebration lasted for 3 days. They honeymooned at Gatlin, Tennessee, and the Appalachian Mountains in West Virginia.
They lived in many places including Muncie, Indiana; Columbus, Indiana; Indianapolis, Indiana; Goleta, California; Thousand Oaks, California; and Las Vegas, Nevada.
Bernie held many jobs while he was young. He was a car salesman at the Oldsmobile Dealership in Columbus, Indiana; a salesman/delivery person for the Canada Dry Corporation; public relations administrator for P.R. Mallory Corporation and an Electronics Corporation in Avon, Indiana; a real estate broker for the State of Indiana and Century 21 Realtors in Thousand Oaks, California; Director of Administration for the largest law firms in Indiana, Florida, and California. He was most proud of having his own businesses as he was the founder and owner of both Professional Purchasing Consultants and Professional Indexes and Files in Newbury Park, California. He was the first to have 100% recycled index tabs used in legal cases for their exhibits at all the law firms in the U.S. These businesses were extremely successful as he had major corporations purchasing from him. These corporations also included the World Wildlife Foundation and many others.
Bernie was very active in many organizations including a Life Member of the Knights of Columbus, Benevolent & Protective Order of the Elks, American Legion, and the Korean War Veterans Associations. But what he was most proud of was being the Founding President of the Indianapolis, Indiana Chapter, Regional Vice President, and National Board of Director for the Association of Legal Administrators. He was the President of the Lynn Ranch North Homeowners Association, Thousand Oaks, California; YMCA, Tribe Chief for Indian Guides, Thousand Oaks, California; Cub Scout Master, Santa Barbara, California; and Sunset Heights Civic Association Director, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Bernie also served as the Indiana Volunteer Director for the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. He raised tons of money by putting on a huge Radiothon in Indianapolis, Indiana. Marlo Thomas, the daughter of Danny Thomas, founder of the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee made an appearance by awarding Bernie with the Man of the Year Award. He raised more money than anyone else had at that time. Bernie also organized and put on another fundraiser for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. It was called the “Pigs and Freaks” football game where the local police and local young people played. He was the first to start this fundraiser idea as many other states including Michigan continued the tradition of what Bernie started in the late 1960’s. He received a plaque and a trophy (football helmet worn by one of the players from the game).
Bernie had two passions. He loved traveling with his wonderful, loving wife, Delores of 66 years. They were avid cruisers going on over 26 cruises on various ship lines seeing many countries and touring a ton of historical places. He also loved various types of fishing including deep sea, fly, and regular fishing. He went to Mexico, Alaska, Canada, and Hawaii to fish in these cool waters enjoying his catch. His favorite was fresh bass, northern pike, and salmon. When he was much younger, he loved to go squirrel, deer, and rabbit hunting with his family. He loved dogs as he had a bull terrier named Mike when he was just 2 or 3 years old. Mike was his pal. Later in life he got a toy Manchester terrier, named Tina for his daughter, Debbie as her companion growing up. He also enjoyed bulldogs but got a Chihuahua named Tiny Tina because she only weighed 3 pounds. She was enjoyed by all the family. When he was younger, he was an active tennis player and played golf. In high school, he played football and loved it.
He is preceded in death by his father, Frank Louis, and his mother, Barbara Sophie Kline Weber. He is also preceded in death by his three sisters, Helen Marie Weber Schonfeld, Rushville, Indiana, Bernice Weber Newmister, Columbus, Indiana, Frank Louis Weber Jr., North Vernon, Indiana and Rose Weber, North Vernon, Indiana. He had many other relatives and friends which he preceded in death.
Bernie is survived by his wife, Delores (Dee) June Kamees Weber, his three children, Deborah (Debbie) Ann Weber Fleshman (husband Terry Fleshman), Noblesville, Indiana; Bernard Joseph (BJ) Weber II (wife Susan Marie Alexander Weber), Truro, Iowa and Wes Albert Weber (wife Kristi Lee Sprague Weber), Mooresville, Indiana. He is also survived by 11 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren along with many nieces, nephews and cousins.
He will always be remembered for his wonderfully friendly demeanor with a great sense of humor. He was always loving, caring, generous and fair. He was very hard working and a dedicated husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, uncle, nephew, and friend. He never knew a stranger. He was determined to make a name for himself, which he did, and make his life for his family so much better than what he had when he was growing up in rural southern Indiana. His favorite saying was “It is the Weber Luck”.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that those who would like to express their sorrow of Bernie, please make donations in Bernard’s name to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN.
He has requested no funeral service or memorial service.
Memorial Information - the family of Bernard Joseph Weber, Sr. is requesting all stories, memories and any photos as there is no limit to your submission about Bernie during his lifetime to be sent to Bernie's daughter, Debbie Fleshman. She will be putting a "Memory Book" together since there won't be a funeral or a celebration of life ceremony. Please send all information to:
Deborah Weber-Fleshman
ladynpink5558@aol.com
Alan B. Edinger won his victory over death and entered the presence of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ at 11:55 AM Thursday, February 22nd. His earthly life ended the way he lived it – with quiet dignity, courage and in total peace. “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:55-57)
Alan was first and foremost a servant of Christ which he did daily and often through his vocation as a self-employed IT scientist. He loved studying the Word of God and spent hours preparing for Bible studies that he led. As a nouthetic counselor at Grace Polaris Church he used the Bible to “lovingly confront people out of deep concern in order to help them make those changes that God requires.” He made a godly difference in many lives by spending countless hours serving and discipling in the congregations of Grace Brethren Polaris, Upper Arlington Grace Brethren and Beth Messiah.
Alan had an uncompromising biblical worldview. He was not ashamed to stand up for the truth of God’s word and to live it out. At times that was costly from a worldly perspective but that did not matter to Alan.
There was not a computer, network, cell phone or other technical device that Alan could not fix. He was a master of anything mechanical, electrical, or technical. Most of his knowledge was gained through hours of self-study versus formal education. His intellectual genius combined with his reliance on God’s Word and the Holy Spirit for guidance resulted in a giftedness that was rare and an invaluable asset to the companies and people he served.
Alan graduated from North High School and attended The Ohio State University where he proudly served as a ROTC candidate in the U.S. Air Force. He was a patriot who loved the United States of America.
Alan was preceded in death by his beloved mother, Selma Bassett Edinger, father Jim Edinger, and maternal grandmother Rahija Saad Bassett, his “Sitti.” Rahija was born in Kfeir, Lebanon near Mt. Hermon where Jesus’s temptation by Satan may have occurred. He sat at the feet of his “Sitti” as a child and learned the Bible from her like Timothy learned from his grandmother and mother. “I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.” (2 Timothy 1:5).
Alan is survived by brother Matthew (Rita) Bassiet, nephew Armando, special Uncle and Aunt George and Mary Edinger of Bishop, GA, aunts Lorraine, Nora and Karen, Uncle Abe, and numerous cousins. Special friend and brother in Christ, Isaac Webb, and many other brothers and sisters in the family of God provided love, prayers and support to Alan in his final months. Finally, he leaves behind his sister in Christ, business partner, confidant, best friend and recently made fiancé Maari Adams who grieves his loss but rejoices in his graduation to heaven now free from the pain and suffering that a recent stroke caused him. “And now, dear brothers, I want you to know what happens to a Christian when he dies so that when it happens, you will not be full of sorrow, as those are who have no hope.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13 Living Bible)
A private interment service officiated by Pastor Wayne Booth of Genoa Church will be held Thursday February 29th at the Mausoleum in Union Cemetery, Columbus, Ohio. A Celebration of Life service will be held later. Visit the Rutherford Funeral Homes website (https://www.rutherfordfuneralhomes.com) for updated information on the date.
Memorial contributions in the name of Alan B. Edinger may be made to Genoa Church, 7562 Lewis Center Rd, Westerville, OH 43082. (He had recently joined Genoa Church.)
To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Alan Blair Edinger please visit our Sympathy Store.
Alan was first and foremost a servant of Christ which he did daily and often through his vocation as a self-employed IT scientist. He loved studying the Word of God and spent hours preparing for Bible studies that he led. As a nouthetic counselor at Grace Polaris Church he used the Bible to “lovingly confront people out of deep concern in order to help them make those changes that God requires.” He made a godly difference in many lives by spending countless hours serving and discipling in the congregations of Grace Brethren Polaris, Upper Arlington Grace Brethren and Beth Messiah.
Alan had an uncompromising biblical worldview. He was not ashamed to stand up for the truth of God’s word and to live it out. At times that was costly from a worldly perspective but that did not matter to Alan.
There was not a computer, network, cell phone or other technical device that Alan could not fix. He was a master of anything mechanical, electrical, or technical. Most of his knowledge was gained through hours of self-study versus formal education. His intellectual genius combined with his reliance on God’s Word and the Holy Spirit for guidance resulted in a giftedness that was rare and an invaluable asset to the companies and people he served.
Alan graduated from North High School and attended The Ohio State University where he proudly served as a ROTC candidate in the U.S. Air Force. He was a patriot who loved the United States of America.
Alan was preceded in death by his beloved mother, Selma Bassett Edinger, father Jim Edinger, and maternal grandmother Rahija Saad Bassett, his “Sitti.” Rahija was born in Kfeir, Lebanon near Mt. Hermon where Jesus’s temptation by Satan may have occurred. He sat at the feet of his “Sitti” as a child and learned the Bible from her like Timothy learned from his grandmother and mother. “I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.” (2 Timothy 1:5).
Alan is survived by brother Matthew (Rita) Bassiet, nephew Armando, special Uncle and Aunt George and Mary Edinger of Bishop, GA, aunts Lorraine, Nora and Karen, Uncle Abe, and numerous cousins. Special friend and brother in Christ, Isaac Webb, and many other brothers and sisters in the family of God provided love, prayers and support to Alan in his final months. Finally, he leaves behind his sister in Christ, business partner, confidant, best friend and recently made fiancé Maari Adams who grieves his loss but rejoices in his graduation to heaven now free from the pain and suffering that a recent stroke caused him. “And now, dear brothers, I want you to know what happens to a Christian when he dies so that when it happens, you will not be full of sorrow, as those are who have no hope.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13 Living Bible)
A private interment service officiated by Pastor Wayne Booth of Genoa Church will be held Thursday February 29th at the Mausoleum in Union Cemetery, Columbus, Ohio. A Celebration of Life service will be held later. Visit the Rutherford Funeral Homes website (https://www.rutherfordfuneralhomes.com) for updated information on the date.
Memorial contributions in the name of Alan B. Edinger may be made to Genoa Church, 7562 Lewis Center Rd, Westerville, OH 43082. (He had recently joined Genoa Church.)
To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Alan Blair Edinger please visit our Sympathy Store.
Lawrence "Larry" Michael George, 88, of Beckley, WV passed away peacefully Thursday, February 22, 2024 surrounded by his loving family, after a brief and sudden illness.
Larry is survived by his beloved daughter Beverly George Mamone of Beckley, grandson and best friend Tony Culicerto, his wife Angela and their sons Alex and Evan of Charlotte, NC; granddaughter Talia Mamone Pollok, her husband Spencer and their son Maxwell of Lynchburg, VA, grandson, Robert "Casey" Nasby of Beckley, granddaughter, Courtney Nasby of Wheeling, WV, and Patricia Weeks George, mother of his children and dear friend. Larry was predeceased by his cherished wife Carole Warren, daughter, Lynn George Nasby, mother, Adele George, father George D. George and brother, George George. Larry is also survived by Carole Warren's children, Danette and Danny and was preceded in death by Carole's daughter, Lynn.
Larry was born to George D. and Adele George on March 8th, 1935. Sadly, George D. passed away of a sudden heart attack at the young age of 25. Larry, his brother George, and mother Adele joined her parents, Mary and Daib George in their Lilly Street home for the remainder of their childhood. Larry attended Woodrow Wilson High School and briefly attended Marshall University. He returned to Beckley to work alongside his family in their thriving, downtown Beckley business, The Beckley Department Store. The business, started by Daib George in 1915, grew to become one of Beckley's premier clothiers known for high-quality merchandise and impeccable customer service. In 1936, Beckley Department Store evolved into the luxury women's clothing boutique, George's Fashions. Larry, along with his daughters, uncles, and cousins, ran this business and faithfully served the Beckley community for over 80 years.
After George's Fashions closed its doors in 2000, Larry went on to use his charm and talent for outstanding customer service to help his wife, Carole, run her family's business, Warrenizing Cleaners of Beckley and Beaver. In addition to running the business, Larry and Carole enjoyed traveling and cooking together for friends and family. But most importantly being present for and involved in the lives of their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Nothing was more important to Larry than the health and well-being of his family of which he was so proud.
Larry was a devoted member of the St. Nicholas Orthodox Church of Beckley, WV. This spiritual community provided joy, friendship, belonging, and guidance for the majority of Larry's life. It was also a wonderful place for Larry to share his culinary talent for and love of Lebanese cuisine for all churchgoers to enjoy.
Larry will be remembered by all who knew him as a true gentleman who was uncommonly kind, generous with his time and resources, a devout man of faith, a loyal friend but, most importantly, a selfless and loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.
Our family is grateful for the support of the Beckley community, the people of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, and the CCU nursing staff at Raleigh General Hospital for your loving care of Larry.
The funeral will be Thursday, February 29th at 11:00 am in the St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church, 211 South Heber St., Beckley. The burial will follow in the George family plot at Sunset Memorial Park. Larry will lie in repose on Wednesday evening from 6 to 8:00 pm in St. Nicholas, where his family will be receiving friends. The Trisagion prayer service will be held at 7:30 pm.
Melton Mortuary and Cremation Center is honored with privilege to serve the family of Lawrence "Larry" Michael George.
Larry is survived by his beloved daughter Beverly George Mamone of Beckley, grandson and best friend Tony Culicerto, his wife Angela and their sons Alex and Evan of Charlotte, NC; granddaughter Talia Mamone Pollok, her husband Spencer and their son Maxwell of Lynchburg, VA, grandson, Robert "Casey" Nasby of Beckley, granddaughter, Courtney Nasby of Wheeling, WV, and Patricia Weeks George, mother of his children and dear friend. Larry was predeceased by his cherished wife Carole Warren, daughter, Lynn George Nasby, mother, Adele George, father George D. George and brother, George George. Larry is also survived by Carole Warren's children, Danette and Danny and was preceded in death by Carole's daughter, Lynn.
Larry was born to George D. and Adele George on March 8th, 1935. Sadly, George D. passed away of a sudden heart attack at the young age of 25. Larry, his brother George, and mother Adele joined her parents, Mary and Daib George in their Lilly Street home for the remainder of their childhood. Larry attended Woodrow Wilson High School and briefly attended Marshall University. He returned to Beckley to work alongside his family in their thriving, downtown Beckley business, The Beckley Department Store. The business, started by Daib George in 1915, grew to become one of Beckley's premier clothiers known for high-quality merchandise and impeccable customer service. In 1936, Beckley Department Store evolved into the luxury women's clothing boutique, George's Fashions. Larry, along with his daughters, uncles, and cousins, ran this business and faithfully served the Beckley community for over 80 years.
After George's Fashions closed its doors in 2000, Larry went on to use his charm and talent for outstanding customer service to help his wife, Carole, run her family's business, Warrenizing Cleaners of Beckley and Beaver. In addition to running the business, Larry and Carole enjoyed traveling and cooking together for friends and family. But most importantly being present for and involved in the lives of their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Nothing was more important to Larry than the health and well-being of his family of which he was so proud.
Larry was a devoted member of the St. Nicholas Orthodox Church of Beckley, WV. This spiritual community provided joy, friendship, belonging, and guidance for the majority of Larry's life. It was also a wonderful place for Larry to share his culinary talent for and love of Lebanese cuisine for all churchgoers to enjoy.
Larry will be remembered by all who knew him as a true gentleman who was uncommonly kind, generous with his time and resources, a devout man of faith, a loyal friend but, most importantly, a selfless and loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.
Our family is grateful for the support of the Beckley community, the people of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, and the CCU nursing staff at Raleigh General Hospital for your loving care of Larry.
The funeral will be Thursday, February 29th at 11:00 am in the St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church, 211 South Heber St., Beckley. The burial will follow in the George family plot at Sunset Memorial Park. Larry will lie in repose on Wednesday evening from 6 to 8:00 pm in St. Nicholas, where his family will be receiving friends. The Trisagion prayer service will be held at 7:30 pm.
Melton Mortuary and Cremation Center is honored with privilege to serve the family of Lawrence "Larry" Michael George.
Joann Sahley Shaheen, 93, of Charleston, WV passed away at home after a long illness on February 21, 2024, just shy of her birthday on March 1, 1930. She was a secretary for Columbia Gas Company for several years and was active in large part as president of her family business, Sahley Realty. Joann was married to her husband, Harry Shaheen for 13 years and lived in Canton, Ohio before returning home to Charleston, WV following his death. Joann was a devout Christian and belonged to St. George Orthodox Cathedral. She was a member of St George, now St. Katherine's, Ladies Guild and her favorite charitable organization, the Shums Il Bir Club. She had a number of cherished hobbies surrounding church, family and friends, which included entertaining with her excellent cooking, telling stories of her wonderful memories, quick wit and making people laugh. In addition, she enjoyed crocheting, knitting, home making, rock collecting and playing golf. Preceding in death was her husband, Harry Shaheen, her parents, Mary and Halem Sahley, brothers Namer, George (Patricia) and Albert Sahley and niece, Mari Jo Sahley. She is survived by her sisters-in-laws, Josephine and Charlotte Sahley, nieces, Jennifer Conrad, Mari Kathryn Dawson, Lisa Sutton, and nephews, Christopher (Lydia) and Jason Sahley and several great nieces and nephews.
She spent her last few years at home under the loving care of Sharon Erby and Mildred Thornhill, along with her cousin, Katherine Eid. Funeral services will be 11AM on Saturday, February 24, 2024 at St. George Orthodox Cathedral with Father John Dixon and Very Rev Father Olof Scott officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Park, South Charleston. Visitation will be on Friday, February 23, 2024, from 6-8:00PM at St. George Cathedral with Trisagion Prayers to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to St. George Orthodox Cathedral, PO Box 2044 Charleston, WV 25327. The family will accept online condolences at cpjfuneralhome.com. Cunningham Parker-Johnson funeral home is serving the Sahley Shaheen family.
She spent her last few years at home under the loving care of Sharon Erby and Mildred Thornhill, along with her cousin, Katherine Eid. Funeral services will be 11AM on Saturday, February 24, 2024 at St. George Orthodox Cathedral with Father John Dixon and Very Rev Father Olof Scott officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Park, South Charleston. Visitation will be on Friday, February 23, 2024, from 6-8:00PM at St. George Cathedral with Trisagion Prayers to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to St. George Orthodox Cathedral, PO Box 2044 Charleston, WV 25327. The family will accept online condolences at cpjfuneralhome.com. Cunningham Parker-Johnson funeral home is serving the Sahley Shaheen family.
Archpriest George S. Corey, 87, who had once served as vicar general of the Antiochian Archdiocese, editor of The WORD Magazine, and dean of St. Nicholas Cathedral in Brooklyn, N.Y. reposed in the Lord Jesus Christ on Tuesday, August 22, 2023.
Fr. George was born December 19, 1935, in Charleston, W.V. He graduated from Charleston High School in 1954. Later, he graduated from Morris Harvey College (now, The University of Charleston) where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology-psychology. He then received a Master of Divinity degree and a Doctor of Ministry degree from St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary.
As a priest, Fr. George served St. Michael Church in Louisville, Ky. (1962-1966); St. George Church (now Cathedral) in Pittsburgh, Penn. (1967-1977); St. George Church in West Roxbury, Mass. (1977-1986); St. George Cathedral in Coral Gables, Fla. (1986); and St. Nicholas Cathedral in Brooklyn, N.Y. (1987-1997), where he retired from active ministry.
Fr. George participated in the unification of the Antiochian Archdioceses of New York and Toledo in 1975. He also participated in the canonization of St. Raphael Hawaweeny of Brooklyn.
He served as spiritual advisor over a period of years for Teen SOYO and the Fellowship of St. John the Divine (now Young Adult Ministry) and helped draft the constitution of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Women of North America. For Fr. George's efforts, he was awarded the Holy Cross of Mount Lebanon by the Archdiocese of Zahle, Baalbek and Dependencies in Lebanon; and he was awarded the Antonian Gold Medal of Merit from the Archdiocese of North America.
Fr. George was preceded in death by his parents, Schakabe "Mutt" and Lena Thabet Corey of blessed memory. He is survived by his sons George (Ana Lucia), David (Megan), Michael (Grisel) and Jonathan (Brijette); and his grandchildren Matthew, Augusten, Jude, Marc and Michael and Livia. He is also survived by his siblings Dolores Bsharah, Barbara Farha and Lawrence (Lorraine) Corey.
Services will be held at St. George Cathedral of Charleston, W.V.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Fr. George's memory can be made to St. George Cathedral, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, or to a charity of your choice.
His Eminence Metropolitan Saba and the hierarchs, clergy and laity of the Antiochian Archdiocese extend their love and sympathies to the family and friends of Fr. George. May his memory be eternal!
Fr. George was born December 19, 1935, in Charleston, W.V. He graduated from Charleston High School in 1954. Later, he graduated from Morris Harvey College (now, The University of Charleston) where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology-psychology. He then received a Master of Divinity degree and a Doctor of Ministry degree from St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary.
As a priest, Fr. George served St. Michael Church in Louisville, Ky. (1962-1966); St. George Church (now Cathedral) in Pittsburgh, Penn. (1967-1977); St. George Church in West Roxbury, Mass. (1977-1986); St. George Cathedral in Coral Gables, Fla. (1986); and St. Nicholas Cathedral in Brooklyn, N.Y. (1987-1997), where he retired from active ministry.
Fr. George participated in the unification of the Antiochian Archdioceses of New York and Toledo in 1975. He also participated in the canonization of St. Raphael Hawaweeny of Brooklyn.
He served as spiritual advisor over a period of years for Teen SOYO and the Fellowship of St. John the Divine (now Young Adult Ministry) and helped draft the constitution of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Women of North America. For Fr. George's efforts, he was awarded the Holy Cross of Mount Lebanon by the Archdiocese of Zahle, Baalbek and Dependencies in Lebanon; and he was awarded the Antonian Gold Medal of Merit from the Archdiocese of North America.
Fr. George was preceded in death by his parents, Schakabe "Mutt" and Lena Thabet Corey of blessed memory. He is survived by his sons George (Ana Lucia), David (Megan), Michael (Grisel) and Jonathan (Brijette); and his grandchildren Matthew, Augusten, Jude, Marc and Michael and Livia. He is also survived by his siblings Dolores Bsharah, Barbara Farha and Lawrence (Lorraine) Corey.
Services will be held at St. George Cathedral of Charleston, W.V.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Fr. George's memory can be made to St. George Cathedral, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, or to a charity of your choice.
His Eminence Metropolitan Saba and the hierarchs, clergy and laity of the Antiochian Archdiocese extend their love and sympathies to the family and friends of Fr. George. May his memory be eternal!
Dr. Charles Abraham, 80 of Huntington, W.Va., passed away Thursday, April 13, 2023, in the Emogene Dolin Jones Hospice House. Charles was born on June 7, 1942, in Oak Hill, West Virginia, to the late Isaac and Salome Abraham. He was preceded in death by his brother, Dr. Fred Abraham. Charles is survived by his wife of 39 years, Teresa Morris Abraham; his two sons, Charles Jr. of Huntington, and Dr. Christopher (Jennifer) of Columbia, S.C.; his daughter, Dr. Katherine of Anderson, S.C.; and his brother, Dr. Nazem Abraham of Huntington.
Charles graduated from Williamson High School, West Virginia University for both undergraduate and medical school, and received an MBA from Marshall University. He served as a Captain in the US Army and was a practicing physician in Huntington, W.Va., for over 45 years.
Charles was an active member of Holy Spirit Orthodox Church, served on the board of the Boys and Girls Club of Huntington, was a member of the American Legion, and a Kentucky Colonel. He was a devoted husband, doting father, and loving brother and uncle. Charles was an avid West Virginia University and Steelers football fan, loved meeting his friends around town and at the YMCA, delighted when sipping an Old Fashioned on a friend's front porch, and especially dancing with his bride to Matt Monro in the kitchen.
Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Monday, April 17, 2023, by Father John Dixon at the Holy Spirit Antiochian Orthodox Church. Visitation will be 10 to 11 a.m. prior to the service. Interment will follow in Woodmere Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Holy Spirit Orthodox Church, 1 Woodhaven Drive, Huntington, WV 25701. Klingel-Carpenter Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Family guestbook at www.klingelcarpenter.com.
Charles graduated from Williamson High School, West Virginia University for both undergraduate and medical school, and received an MBA from Marshall University. He served as a Captain in the US Army and was a practicing physician in Huntington, W.Va., for over 45 years.
Charles was an active member of Holy Spirit Orthodox Church, served on the board of the Boys and Girls Club of Huntington, was a member of the American Legion, and a Kentucky Colonel. He was a devoted husband, doting father, and loving brother and uncle. Charles was an avid West Virginia University and Steelers football fan, loved meeting his friends around town and at the YMCA, delighted when sipping an Old Fashioned on a friend's front porch, and especially dancing with his bride to Matt Monro in the kitchen.
Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Monday, April 17, 2023, by Father John Dixon at the Holy Spirit Antiochian Orthodox Church. Visitation will be 10 to 11 a.m. prior to the service. Interment will follow in Woodmere Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Holy Spirit Orthodox Church, 1 Woodhaven Drive, Huntington, WV 25701. Klingel-Carpenter Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Family guestbook at www.klingelcarpenter.com.
James Abourezk, the First Arab American Senator, who has passed away at the age of 92.
He was born on February 24, 1931 at home in Wood, South Dakota and died on February 24, 2023 at home in Sioux Falls, SD.
James Abourezk a Democrat from South Dakota, founded the freedom to act on principle in the House and Senate by choosing not to seek re-election.
In 1977 during his single terms in the House and Senate, he fought on behalf of Palestinians and Native Americans.
James Abourezk, who was elected by South Dakotans as the first Arab American senator, and who used his prominence to support the causes of Palestinians and Native Americans while also pushing for friendlier relations with Cuba and Iran, died on Friday, February 24 his 92nd birthday, at his home in Sioux Falls, S.D.
His daughter Alya James Abourezk confirmed the death.
Mr. Abourezk (pronounced AB-ur-esk) was a double novelty for a senator. He was a left winger from a generally conservative rural state and a politician who gave up the chance for re-election to focus on pursuing the political objectives he believed in, rather than those supported by his party, his constituents or even, in some cases, most Americans.
In 1970, when Mr. Abourezk won a race for South Dakota’s second district seat in the House, the state’s newly elected governor was a fellow Democrat, Richard F. Kneip, and its other senator was the progressive standard-bearer George McGovern. Mr. Abourezk’s victory came as a surprise nevertheless: A Democrat had not occupied that House seat since the era of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s dominance in the 1930s.
He was elected to the Senate in 1972. After he stepped down, Larry Pressler, a Republican, succeeded him and served for nearly 20 years.
Mr. Abourezk attributed his success to his reputation as “more populist than liberal or leftist, a brand of politician that resonates with people from South Dakota,” he told The Capital Journal, a South Dakota newspaper, in 2013. “One comment I constantly heard from people was that, ‘I don’t agree much with Abourezk, but by God, he’s honest.’”
After leaving the Senate, he served as counsel for the Iranian Embassy and founded the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee.
His biggest achievements as a senator concerned support for Native Americans. He proposed the establishment of the American Indian Policy Review Commission, which studied legislative possibilities to address problems in that community.
The laws that resulted included the 1975 Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, which granted tribes more autonomy in administering government programs, and the 1978 Indian Child Welfare Act, which established controls on the adoption of Indigenous children by white families.
That measure continues to draw praise, even from tribal representatives and legal advocates who say it did not go far enough.
On some issues, Mr. Abourezk was content to oppose most other senators — or even the entire rest of the chamber. In 1977, he was a lone dissenter in an 85-to-1 vote on an amendment concerning child pornography. He questioned the legality of a ban on selling or distributing material that might not be considered obscene.
The same year, he organized an almost comically unusual good-will trip to Cuba for a delegation of South Dakota college basketball players to compete against the Cuban national team.
“Sports is noncontroversial, and this should do a lot for normalization of relations,” Mr. Abourezk told The New York Times in Havana. “It’s fitting South Dakota should be involved because we’re famous for pioneers of all kinds.”
Traveling from 25-degree Sioux Falls to 85-degree Havana and being served frozen daiquiris upon arrival, the South Dakotans reacted to the trip with wonderment. “I’ve never even seen the sea before,” Bob Ashley, a 6‐foot‐10 center from the Sioux tribe, told The Times.
Mr. Abourezk brought his dissident sensibility most vocally to issues involving the Middle East, particularly the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In a 1975 article for The Times, he argued, “No settlement can come about and no peace can endure unless the Palestinians have been settled in a homeland of their own.”
The next year provided another occasion for him to vote against the rest of the Senate. The issue was a measure to cut off foreign aid to nations that harbored international terrorists. Mr. Abourezk said that the amendment was aimed at Arab terrorists but had no provisions for what he termed terrorist acts by the Israeli military.
Some opposed his appearance at a 1977 Democratic dinner in Denver on the grounds that he was too critical of Israel. He replied, “Just as we have seen U.S. Presidents wrap themselves in the American flag in efforts to stifle criticism of their policies, so do we see a foreign country wrapping itself in its state religion, so that criticism of the state or its policies is perceived as a form of racism.”
After leaving the Senate, he became “Iran’s Man in Washington,” as The Times labeled him in 1979, serving as counsel for the Iranian Embassy and seeking to recoup money that the Islamic Republic said had been stolen by the Shah. He also founded the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, which drew attention to prejudicial treatment of Arabs by the government and in everyday life.
James George Abourezk was born on Feb. 24, 1931, in Wood, S.D. He grew up there and in Mission, two tiny towns that were on the Rosebud Indian Reservation of southern South Dakota. His father, Charles, had moved to the United States from Lebanon as a peddler in 1898 and managed to open general stores in Wood and Mission. His mother, Lena (Mickel) Abourezk, a Lebanese Greek Orthodox immigrant like her husband, ran the family store in Wood, while Charles managed the one in Mission.
Mr. Abourezk served for four years in the Navy. He got a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, and in 1966 he earned a law degree from the University of South Dakota School of Law.
Before entering politics, Mr. Abourezk worked as a farmhand, wholesale grocery salesman, car salesman, bartender and bar owner. He became passionate about politics after a family doctor lent him copies of I.F. Stone’s Weekly, The Nation and The New Republic.
Mr. Abourezk’s marriages to Mary Ann Houlton and Margaret Bethea ended in divorce. He married Sanaa Dieb in 1991. She survives him, along with Alya, their daughter; two sons, Charlie and Paul, and a daughter, Nikki Pipe On Head, from his first marriage; a stepdaughter, Chesley Machado; more than 30 grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.
Mr. Abourezk’s wife runs Sanaa’s Gourmet Mediterranean, a restaurant in Sioux Falls that The Times credited in 2014 with kicking off “an epicurean trend” in the city. In 2019, when he was 89, The Aberdeen News reported that Mr. Abourezk enjoyed holding court at the restaurant, telling stories of his colorful life and sharing his views on politics.
He suggested to The Capital Journal a way to ensure more independent-minded legislators such as himself: term limits.
“If a member of Congress is not worried about getting re-elected, he or she will more often than not vote in the public interest rather than in his or her own electoral interest, which is now what happens,” he said.
He was born on February 24, 1931 at home in Wood, South Dakota and died on February 24, 2023 at home in Sioux Falls, SD.
James Abourezk a Democrat from South Dakota, founded the freedom to act on principle in the House and Senate by choosing not to seek re-election.
In 1977 during his single terms in the House and Senate, he fought on behalf of Palestinians and Native Americans.
James Abourezk, who was elected by South Dakotans as the first Arab American senator, and who used his prominence to support the causes of Palestinians and Native Americans while also pushing for friendlier relations with Cuba and Iran, died on Friday, February 24 his 92nd birthday, at his home in Sioux Falls, S.D.
His daughter Alya James Abourezk confirmed the death.
Mr. Abourezk (pronounced AB-ur-esk) was a double novelty for a senator. He was a left winger from a generally conservative rural state and a politician who gave up the chance for re-election to focus on pursuing the political objectives he believed in, rather than those supported by his party, his constituents or even, in some cases, most Americans.
In 1970, when Mr. Abourezk won a race for South Dakota’s second district seat in the House, the state’s newly elected governor was a fellow Democrat, Richard F. Kneip, and its other senator was the progressive standard-bearer George McGovern. Mr. Abourezk’s victory came as a surprise nevertheless: A Democrat had not occupied that House seat since the era of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s dominance in the 1930s.
He was elected to the Senate in 1972. After he stepped down, Larry Pressler, a Republican, succeeded him and served for nearly 20 years.
Mr. Abourezk attributed his success to his reputation as “more populist than liberal or leftist, a brand of politician that resonates with people from South Dakota,” he told The Capital Journal, a South Dakota newspaper, in 2013. “One comment I constantly heard from people was that, ‘I don’t agree much with Abourezk, but by God, he’s honest.’”
After leaving the Senate, he served as counsel for the Iranian Embassy and founded the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee.
His biggest achievements as a senator concerned support for Native Americans. He proposed the establishment of the American Indian Policy Review Commission, which studied legislative possibilities to address problems in that community.
The laws that resulted included the 1975 Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, which granted tribes more autonomy in administering government programs, and the 1978 Indian Child Welfare Act, which established controls on the adoption of Indigenous children by white families.
That measure continues to draw praise, even from tribal representatives and legal advocates who say it did not go far enough.
On some issues, Mr. Abourezk was content to oppose most other senators — or even the entire rest of the chamber. In 1977, he was a lone dissenter in an 85-to-1 vote on an amendment concerning child pornography. He questioned the legality of a ban on selling or distributing material that might not be considered obscene.
The same year, he organized an almost comically unusual good-will trip to Cuba for a delegation of South Dakota college basketball players to compete against the Cuban national team.
“Sports is noncontroversial, and this should do a lot for normalization of relations,” Mr. Abourezk told The New York Times in Havana. “It’s fitting South Dakota should be involved because we’re famous for pioneers of all kinds.”
Traveling from 25-degree Sioux Falls to 85-degree Havana and being served frozen daiquiris upon arrival, the South Dakotans reacted to the trip with wonderment. “I’ve never even seen the sea before,” Bob Ashley, a 6‐foot‐10 center from the Sioux tribe, told The Times.
Mr. Abourezk brought his dissident sensibility most vocally to issues involving the Middle East, particularly the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In a 1975 article for The Times, he argued, “No settlement can come about and no peace can endure unless the Palestinians have been settled in a homeland of their own.”
The next year provided another occasion for him to vote against the rest of the Senate. The issue was a measure to cut off foreign aid to nations that harbored international terrorists. Mr. Abourezk said that the amendment was aimed at Arab terrorists but had no provisions for what he termed terrorist acts by the Israeli military.
Some opposed his appearance at a 1977 Democratic dinner in Denver on the grounds that he was too critical of Israel. He replied, “Just as we have seen U.S. Presidents wrap themselves in the American flag in efforts to stifle criticism of their policies, so do we see a foreign country wrapping itself in its state religion, so that criticism of the state or its policies is perceived as a form of racism.”
After leaving the Senate, he became “Iran’s Man in Washington,” as The Times labeled him in 1979, serving as counsel for the Iranian Embassy and seeking to recoup money that the Islamic Republic said had been stolen by the Shah. He also founded the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, which drew attention to prejudicial treatment of Arabs by the government and in everyday life.
James George Abourezk was born on Feb. 24, 1931, in Wood, S.D. He grew up there and in Mission, two tiny towns that were on the Rosebud Indian Reservation of southern South Dakota. His father, Charles, had moved to the United States from Lebanon as a peddler in 1898 and managed to open general stores in Wood and Mission. His mother, Lena (Mickel) Abourezk, a Lebanese Greek Orthodox immigrant like her husband, ran the family store in Wood, while Charles managed the one in Mission.
Mr. Abourezk served for four years in the Navy. He got a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, and in 1966 he earned a law degree from the University of South Dakota School of Law.
Before entering politics, Mr. Abourezk worked as a farmhand, wholesale grocery salesman, car salesman, bartender and bar owner. He became passionate about politics after a family doctor lent him copies of I.F. Stone’s Weekly, The Nation and The New Republic.
Mr. Abourezk’s marriages to Mary Ann Houlton and Margaret Bethea ended in divorce. He married Sanaa Dieb in 1991. She survives him, along with Alya, their daughter; two sons, Charlie and Paul, and a daughter, Nikki Pipe On Head, from his first marriage; a stepdaughter, Chesley Machado; more than 30 grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.
Mr. Abourezk’s wife runs Sanaa’s Gourmet Mediterranean, a restaurant in Sioux Falls that The Times credited in 2014 with kicking off “an epicurean trend” in the city. In 2019, when he was 89, The Aberdeen News reported that Mr. Abourezk enjoyed holding court at the restaurant, telling stories of his colorful life and sharing his views on politics.
He suggested to The Capital Journal a way to ensure more independent-minded legislators such as himself: term limits.
“If a member of Congress is not worried about getting re-elected, he or she will more often than not vote in the public interest rather than in his or her own electoral interest, which is now what happens,” he said.
Jason Leslie Fleshman
July 29, 1989 - January 30, 2023
Jason Leslie Fleshman, 33, of Las Vegas, NV died Monday, January 30, 2023, unexpectedly in Las Vegas, NV.
Jason was born on July 29, 1989, in Las Vegas, NV, the son of Terry and Deborah (Weber-Davenport) Fleshman of Noblesville, IN. Jason graduated from Cimarron-Memorial High School in 2008, in Las Vegas, NV. He studied at the College of Southern Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, majoring in General Studies. But his dream was to be a chef someday. He always wanted to meet Paula Deen, the famous chef as she was his idol.
Jason didn’t know a stranger and was a friend to everyone he met. He had a huge heart and would give his shirt off his back to you. He loved every shade of green and his dream one day was to have his own green PT Cruiser. He was an animal lover who especially loved his dogs, Bud, and Snowball during his childhood.
He was very active and had many fun adventures in the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts of America. He was able to go on many scouting camping trips which included BSA Camp Geronimo in Payson, AZ in 2007, Camp Cherry Valley BSA Camp in Catalina Island, CA in 2008, and many times to Kimball Scout Reservation at Mt. Potosi BSA Camp, Las Vegas, NV. He also became a staff member and a kitchen helper at Mt Potosi BSA Camp over the entire summer in 2010. He attended BSA Mountain Man Rendezvous at Moapa Valley Indian Scout Reservation, Moapa, NV many times. Jason received his BSA Venturing Silver Award (the highest award in Venturing), BSA Order of the Arrow and Brotherhood Awards along with his Eagle Scout Rank in 2011 showing his leadership skills, restoring an area by planting over 500 bushes for the local habitat at the Springs Preserve in Las Vegas, NV. He and his younger brother, David were top salesmen for 5 years selling the most BSA Scout Expo Tickets both winning various awards and recognitions with BSA Troop 562 in Las Vegas, NV. He also earned over 75 BSA merit badges!
He loved going swimming every chance he got no matter what the temperature was outside. He loved his music, any genres. He was a great singer, dancer, and actor. He hoped to be a professional singer and actor one day. He loved to work out with weights. He especially loved being outside with nature and being at the park.
Jason was quite young when he and the family became members of the First Christian Church Disciples of Christ, Las Vegas, NV. Then he and the family became members of the Mountain View Presbyterian Church in Las Vegas, NV in 2000 to current. He was a very active member in all the children’s activities including singing for many years in the children’s choir. In fact, one year he played King Herod, the Great in the story about Jesus in the annual Christmas play. He also participated and later volunteered in the annual Vacation Bible School. He went with the church group to Calvin Crest Christian summer camp in Oakhurst, CA, and Planet Wisdom in San Diego, CA from 2015 - 2017. He received the sacraments of baptism twice. Once with his younger brother, David at our home church, Mt. View Presbyterian Church, Las Vegas, NV with Pastor Vernon Towne, and once with their grandfather, George Leslie Fleshman, Elder of the First Christian Church Disciples of Christ in La Grande, OR, when they both were in elementary school. Jason and David both received confirmation of their faith in God when they were 12 years old. Jason also worked the church fundraiser with his brother, David, and his mother, Deborah, at the NASCAR Motor Speedway, in Las Vegas, NV. He also enjoyed participating in the Family Promise week at church. This was a very special time for him.
Jason is survived by his mother and father, Deborah, and Terry Fleshman (Noblesville, IN); stepsisters, Shawna O’Callahan (Las Vegas, NV) and Leslie Ann Darling (Beaumont, CA); brothers, David Fleshman (Noblesville, IN) and Nathan Fleshman-O’Callahan (Las Vegas, NV); sisters, Debrianna Fleshman (Las Vegas, NV) and Megan Fleshman-O’Callahan (Las Vegas, NV). He is also survived by his maternal grandparents, Bernard, and Delores (Kamees) Weber (Las Vegas, NV); his paternal grandmother, Dorothy (Swart) Fleshman (La Grande, OR). He is survived by his uncles and aunts, B.J. and Sue (Alexander) Weber (Truro, IA), Wes and Kristi (Sprague) Weber (Mooresville, IN), Paul (Craig Fleshman) and Rachel (Marilyn Skipper-Fleshman) Revere (OR) & Randy and Marilyn (Murphy) Fleshman (Scio, OR). Along with his former adopted father, James Davenport (Las Vegas, NV). He is further survived by step-nieces, step-nephews, many, many cousins, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, George Fleshman (La Grande, OR).
There will be no funeral or memorial services. Memorials can be given to the Mountain View Presbyterian Church for “Family Promise” in Jason’s name. Condolences may be expressed to the family to the following information:
The Fleshman Family
12221 Belfry Drive, Noblesville, IN 46060
Ladynpink5558@aol.com
Donations given in Jason Fleshman’s name to:
Mountain View Presbyterian Church
8601 Del Webb Boulevard, Las Vegas, NV 89134
1-702-341-7800
MVPC@mviewpc.org
July 29, 1989 - January 30, 2023
Jason Leslie Fleshman, 33, of Las Vegas, NV died Monday, January 30, 2023, unexpectedly in Las Vegas, NV.
Jason was born on July 29, 1989, in Las Vegas, NV, the son of Terry and Deborah (Weber-Davenport) Fleshman of Noblesville, IN. Jason graduated from Cimarron-Memorial High School in 2008, in Las Vegas, NV. He studied at the College of Southern Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, majoring in General Studies. But his dream was to be a chef someday. He always wanted to meet Paula Deen, the famous chef as she was his idol.
Jason didn’t know a stranger and was a friend to everyone he met. He had a huge heart and would give his shirt off his back to you. He loved every shade of green and his dream one day was to have his own green PT Cruiser. He was an animal lover who especially loved his dogs, Bud, and Snowball during his childhood.
He was very active and had many fun adventures in the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts of America. He was able to go on many scouting camping trips which included BSA Camp Geronimo in Payson, AZ in 2007, Camp Cherry Valley BSA Camp in Catalina Island, CA in 2008, and many times to Kimball Scout Reservation at Mt. Potosi BSA Camp, Las Vegas, NV. He also became a staff member and a kitchen helper at Mt Potosi BSA Camp over the entire summer in 2010. He attended BSA Mountain Man Rendezvous at Moapa Valley Indian Scout Reservation, Moapa, NV many times. Jason received his BSA Venturing Silver Award (the highest award in Venturing), BSA Order of the Arrow and Brotherhood Awards along with his Eagle Scout Rank in 2011 showing his leadership skills, restoring an area by planting over 500 bushes for the local habitat at the Springs Preserve in Las Vegas, NV. He and his younger brother, David were top salesmen for 5 years selling the most BSA Scout Expo Tickets both winning various awards and recognitions with BSA Troop 562 in Las Vegas, NV. He also earned over 75 BSA merit badges!
He loved going swimming every chance he got no matter what the temperature was outside. He loved his music, any genres. He was a great singer, dancer, and actor. He hoped to be a professional singer and actor one day. He loved to work out with weights. He especially loved being outside with nature and being at the park.
Jason was quite young when he and the family became members of the First Christian Church Disciples of Christ, Las Vegas, NV. Then he and the family became members of the Mountain View Presbyterian Church in Las Vegas, NV in 2000 to current. He was a very active member in all the children’s activities including singing for many years in the children’s choir. In fact, one year he played King Herod, the Great in the story about Jesus in the annual Christmas play. He also participated and later volunteered in the annual Vacation Bible School. He went with the church group to Calvin Crest Christian summer camp in Oakhurst, CA, and Planet Wisdom in San Diego, CA from 2015 - 2017. He received the sacraments of baptism twice. Once with his younger brother, David at our home church, Mt. View Presbyterian Church, Las Vegas, NV with Pastor Vernon Towne, and once with their grandfather, George Leslie Fleshman, Elder of the First Christian Church Disciples of Christ in La Grande, OR, when they both were in elementary school. Jason and David both received confirmation of their faith in God when they were 12 years old. Jason also worked the church fundraiser with his brother, David, and his mother, Deborah, at the NASCAR Motor Speedway, in Las Vegas, NV. He also enjoyed participating in the Family Promise week at church. This was a very special time for him.
Jason is survived by his mother and father, Deborah, and Terry Fleshman (Noblesville, IN); stepsisters, Shawna O’Callahan (Las Vegas, NV) and Leslie Ann Darling (Beaumont, CA); brothers, David Fleshman (Noblesville, IN) and Nathan Fleshman-O’Callahan (Las Vegas, NV); sisters, Debrianna Fleshman (Las Vegas, NV) and Megan Fleshman-O’Callahan (Las Vegas, NV). He is also survived by his maternal grandparents, Bernard, and Delores (Kamees) Weber (Las Vegas, NV); his paternal grandmother, Dorothy (Swart) Fleshman (La Grande, OR). He is survived by his uncles and aunts, B.J. and Sue (Alexander) Weber (Truro, IA), Wes and Kristi (Sprague) Weber (Mooresville, IN), Paul (Craig Fleshman) and Rachel (Marilyn Skipper-Fleshman) Revere (OR) & Randy and Marilyn (Murphy) Fleshman (Scio, OR). Along with his former adopted father, James Davenport (Las Vegas, NV). He is further survived by step-nieces, step-nephews, many, many cousins, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, George Fleshman (La Grande, OR).
There will be no funeral or memorial services. Memorials can be given to the Mountain View Presbyterian Church for “Family Promise” in Jason’s name. Condolences may be expressed to the family to the following information:
The Fleshman Family
12221 Belfry Drive, Noblesville, IN 46060
Ladynpink5558@aol.com
Donations given in Jason Fleshman’s name to:
Mountain View Presbyterian Church
8601 Del Webb Boulevard, Las Vegas, NV 89134
1-702-341-7800
MVPC@mviewpc.org
E. Jean Ramey Herrmann, passed away on January 19, 2023, at the Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community where she has resided since 2016. Jean fought a long, courageous battle with Multiple Sclerosis for over 40 years.
Jean was born on October 5, 1942 to the late Ramez and Madeline Ramey, in Beckley, WV.
She graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1960, and she received an Associate Degree in Business from Beckley College in 1962. Jean then pursued a degree in Physical Education at Marshall University but was drawn to the allure of the restaurant business and set out on her own in Washington, D.C. She was hired by Marriott Corporation as a waitress at the first ever Marriott Hotel to be built. She progressed through the ranks to become a beverage director, a restaurant manager, specialty restaurant manager and finally esteemed task force for around the world. After her tenure with Marriott, Jean accepted a position at the prominent Thomas Circle Holiday Inn in Washington, D.C. From there, Jean moved on to become a restaurant director for the Hecth Company in Virginia. In 1985, she and her husband moved to Harrisonburg, VA where they opened the Mosby’s Mill Seafood Restaurant. In 1990, they closed the restaurant and Jean retired after working in the profession for over 28 years. In her retirement, she volunteered for Meals on Wheels, the local food bank, and offered free financial advice and tax preparation for those in need.
Jean enjoyed cruises, traveling abroad, fine dining, and shopping for friends and family. She cherished her beloved pets, Jake, Bernie, Chelsea, Cherrie, and Chuckie.
Jean is preceded in death by sisters, Elaine Bowers and Ruth Jamra.
Those left to cherish her memory are her loving husband and best friend, Steve Herrmann, her sister, Kathy Zaferatos (Jerry) her nieces and nephews, Sherry (Rich) Scott, Tonya Jamra, Deitra (John) Hickey, Shannon (Tim) Dittlinger, Laura (Mark) Wisniewski, Dino (Kerri) Zaferatos, Kristy Zaferatos, Amy (Justin) Fairchild, 11 great nieces and nephews, treasured cousins and the loving staff at The Burkholder House at VMRC who cared for Jean over the past 6 years.
Visitation for Jean will be from 10 AM until 11 AM on Monday, January 23, 2023 at Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church at 211 South Heber Street in Beckley, WV. Her funeral service will begin at 11 AM with the Very Reverend Father Samuel Haddad commencing. Internment will follow at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens in Prosperity.
Pallbearers will be friends and family.
In lieu of flowers, donations of sympathy may be made to Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church or the Good Samaritan Fund for the Virginia Mennonite Retirement Center at 1491 Virginia Avenue, Harrisonburg, VA 22802.
Private online condolences and other expressions of sympathy may be directed to the family via our guestbook at www.roseandquesenberry.net.
Jean was born on October 5, 1942 to the late Ramez and Madeline Ramey, in Beckley, WV.
She graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1960, and she received an Associate Degree in Business from Beckley College in 1962. Jean then pursued a degree in Physical Education at Marshall University but was drawn to the allure of the restaurant business and set out on her own in Washington, D.C. She was hired by Marriott Corporation as a waitress at the first ever Marriott Hotel to be built. She progressed through the ranks to become a beverage director, a restaurant manager, specialty restaurant manager and finally esteemed task force for around the world. After her tenure with Marriott, Jean accepted a position at the prominent Thomas Circle Holiday Inn in Washington, D.C. From there, Jean moved on to become a restaurant director for the Hecth Company in Virginia. In 1985, she and her husband moved to Harrisonburg, VA where they opened the Mosby’s Mill Seafood Restaurant. In 1990, they closed the restaurant and Jean retired after working in the profession for over 28 years. In her retirement, she volunteered for Meals on Wheels, the local food bank, and offered free financial advice and tax preparation for those in need.
Jean enjoyed cruises, traveling abroad, fine dining, and shopping for friends and family. She cherished her beloved pets, Jake, Bernie, Chelsea, Cherrie, and Chuckie.
Jean is preceded in death by sisters, Elaine Bowers and Ruth Jamra.
Those left to cherish her memory are her loving husband and best friend, Steve Herrmann, her sister, Kathy Zaferatos (Jerry) her nieces and nephews, Sherry (Rich) Scott, Tonya Jamra, Deitra (John) Hickey, Shannon (Tim) Dittlinger, Laura (Mark) Wisniewski, Dino (Kerri) Zaferatos, Kristy Zaferatos, Amy (Justin) Fairchild, 11 great nieces and nephews, treasured cousins and the loving staff at The Burkholder House at VMRC who cared for Jean over the past 6 years.
Visitation for Jean will be from 10 AM until 11 AM on Monday, January 23, 2023 at Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church at 211 South Heber Street in Beckley, WV. Her funeral service will begin at 11 AM with the Very Reverend Father Samuel Haddad commencing. Internment will follow at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens in Prosperity.
Pallbearers will be friends and family.
In lieu of flowers, donations of sympathy may be made to Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church or the Good Samaritan Fund for the Virginia Mennonite Retirement Center at 1491 Virginia Avenue, Harrisonburg, VA 22802.
Private online condolences and other expressions of sympathy may be directed to the family via our guestbook at www.roseandquesenberry.net.
George Thabit, retired Toledo police officer, died Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023 at Oakleaf Village Assisted Living Community, where he had resided the past two years. He was 94.
Ask anyone about George and the first response almost always was the same: He’s a good guy. If you were choosing a life group, you’d want George on your team. He was humble, a man of integrity and 100% devoted to his family. George didn’t say a lot but his actions – charitable and otherwise – spoke volumes about his character.
George was born July 17, 1928, the son of Abraham and Nora Thabit. His parents had immigrated in the early 1900s to the U.S. from Lebanon and Syria. He grew up on Erie Street in North Toledo, which was known at the time as “Little Syria.” He always spoke of those days with fondness as the Thabit home was frequently filled with his many relatives and friends who enjoyed the Middle Eastern foods prepared by his mother.
After graduating in 1947 from Woodward High School, where he played tackle on the football team, George was hired at the former Willys-Overland Motor Co. In 1950 he was drafted into the U.S. Army, serving two years in the Korean War, where he was a member of the Army’s heavy mortar unit and awarded a Bronze Star. Upon his discharge, he returned to his job at Willys where, over the years, six other close family members were employed.
In 1956, George joined the Toledo Police Department. He started as a foot patrolman and, eventually, rose to the rank of sergeant. Later in his career, he became the department’s secretary of police. After 30 years of service, George retired in 1986.
On July 2, 1954, George married Betty Hartley and they were blessed with 44 years of marriage. They had three children, Susan, Carol and Douglas. Betty died of cancer in 1999. In 2004, George was remarried to Nancy Zientara.
George was a lifelong member of St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church, where he and his family were actively involved. Other memberships included the Fraternal Order of Police, American Legion Toledo Police Post 512 and Toledo Police Command Officers Association.
One of George’s most cherished experiences was his journey to Washington, D.C. in 2013 as part of the Honor Flight. There, he visited the Korean War Memorial.
George was an avid boater and fisherman. He experienced tremendous joy fishing for walleye and perch on Lake Erie with his family, especially his grandchildren.
In addition to his parents and first wife, George was preceded in death by his brother, James, and sister, Catherine Thabit.
Surviving are wife, Nancy; daughters, Susan and Carol Thabit; son, Douglas [Lisa] Thabit; grandchildren, Anthony, Emily and Christopher Haddad; Ashley Thabit [Andrew Dean] and Sarah Thabit; and great-grandson, Luke Shay.
Visitation will be Monday, Jan. 16, 2023, from 3 to 7 p.m. at Walker Funeral Home, 5155 Sylvania Ave. (west of Corey Rd.), Toledo, where a Trisagion service will be at 7 p.m. Funeral services will be Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023, at 11 a.m. at St. Elias, 4940 Harroun Rd., Sylvania, where visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. V. Rev. Archpriest Ayman Kfouf will be officiating. U.S Army honors and burial will follow at Toledo Memorial Park.
Donations in George’s memory can be made to the St. Elias Endowment Fund or Toledo Police Patrolman’s Association Charities Foundation.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of George, please visit our floral store.
Ask anyone about George and the first response almost always was the same: He’s a good guy. If you were choosing a life group, you’d want George on your team. He was humble, a man of integrity and 100% devoted to his family. George didn’t say a lot but his actions – charitable and otherwise – spoke volumes about his character.
George was born July 17, 1928, the son of Abraham and Nora Thabit. His parents had immigrated in the early 1900s to the U.S. from Lebanon and Syria. He grew up on Erie Street in North Toledo, which was known at the time as “Little Syria.” He always spoke of those days with fondness as the Thabit home was frequently filled with his many relatives and friends who enjoyed the Middle Eastern foods prepared by his mother.
After graduating in 1947 from Woodward High School, where he played tackle on the football team, George was hired at the former Willys-Overland Motor Co. In 1950 he was drafted into the U.S. Army, serving two years in the Korean War, where he was a member of the Army’s heavy mortar unit and awarded a Bronze Star. Upon his discharge, he returned to his job at Willys where, over the years, six other close family members were employed.
In 1956, George joined the Toledo Police Department. He started as a foot patrolman and, eventually, rose to the rank of sergeant. Later in his career, he became the department’s secretary of police. After 30 years of service, George retired in 1986.
On July 2, 1954, George married Betty Hartley and they were blessed with 44 years of marriage. They had three children, Susan, Carol and Douglas. Betty died of cancer in 1999. In 2004, George was remarried to Nancy Zientara.
George was a lifelong member of St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church, where he and his family were actively involved. Other memberships included the Fraternal Order of Police, American Legion Toledo Police Post 512 and Toledo Police Command Officers Association.
One of George’s most cherished experiences was his journey to Washington, D.C. in 2013 as part of the Honor Flight. There, he visited the Korean War Memorial.
George was an avid boater and fisherman. He experienced tremendous joy fishing for walleye and perch on Lake Erie with his family, especially his grandchildren.
In addition to his parents and first wife, George was preceded in death by his brother, James, and sister, Catherine Thabit.
Surviving are wife, Nancy; daughters, Susan and Carol Thabit; son, Douglas [Lisa] Thabit; grandchildren, Anthony, Emily and Christopher Haddad; Ashley Thabit [Andrew Dean] and Sarah Thabit; and great-grandson, Luke Shay.
Visitation will be Monday, Jan. 16, 2023, from 3 to 7 p.m. at Walker Funeral Home, 5155 Sylvania Ave. (west of Corey Rd.), Toledo, where a Trisagion service will be at 7 p.m. Funeral services will be Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023, at 11 a.m. at St. Elias, 4940 Harroun Rd., Sylvania, where visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. V. Rev. Archpriest Ayman Kfouf will be officiating. U.S Army honors and burial will follow at Toledo Memorial Park.
Donations in George’s memory can be made to the St. Elias Endowment Fund or Toledo Police Patrolman’s Association Charities Foundation.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of George, please visit our floral store.
Daniel Saad - December 2, 2022, Kfeir, Lebanon
Our heartfelt condolences are with the Saad family with the passing of Daniel Saad in Kfeir. Daniel is the father of Robert Saad and Jean Saad and brother of our Past President and long time board member Julian Saad. May his memory be eternal and may he rest in peace! Allah yerhamou!
Our heartfelt condolences are with the Saad family with the passing of Daniel Saad in Kfeir. Daniel is the father of Robert Saad and Jean Saad and brother of our Past President and long time board member Julian Saad. May his memory be eternal and may he rest in peace! Allah yerhamou!
Alfred Essa Salamy, age 90, of Pettus, West Virginia passed away Wednesday, November 16, 2022 at home. He was born on September 30, 1932 in Charleston, West Virginia to Louis and Aileen [Zegeer] Salamy, the first of two sons. As the son of a Lebanese immigrant, Alfred was proud of his heritage and traveled with his family to Beirut, Lebanon in 1950 as a teenager. He would later recount the many exotic locations and amazing sites he experienced while visiting Lebanon and Egypt, including the Great Pyramids of Giza. Alfred attended Whitesville Elementary and later the prestigious Greenbrier Military School in Lewisburg, WV, class of 1950. During these years, he also proudly attained the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest youth award in the Boy Scout Division of the BSA, an honor only 4 percent of members ever achieve. He attended college at West Virginia University (WVU) in Morgantown in the early 1950s where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering with an emphasis in radar systems. After graduating WVU, he joined the United States Navy in 1956 where he served in the rank of 2nd Lieutenant [LTJG] and was stationed on the USS DuPont (DD-941) during the Korean conflict, crossing the equator on several occasions during peaceful times. Following an honorable discharge from the US Navy in 1959, Alfred began working for Syracuse University Research Corporation (SRC) and then General Electric in Syracuse, NY as a radar engineer specialist in 1961.
While in Syracuse, NY, he was introduced by friends to his future wife, Beverly, a registered nurse, whom he married in December 1962, sharing their lives for almost 40 years until Beverly’s passing in 2002. He and Beverly had three children while making their home in Syracuse: Debra [Paul Scholz] of Silver Spring, MD; David [Shelby Auippa] of Marion, TX; and Karen [Douglas Au] of Santa Cruz, CA. In 1976, Alfred and family moved back to his hometown of Whitesville, WV to be closer to his parents and to work with the family’s furniture business. He would later become the operational manager of Dixie Furniture after the passing of his father in 1996.
Alfred was a well-known resident and business owner in the Whitesville, Boone County, and Raleigh County, WV areas for the last 46 years. He served on the Board of Trustees for the Whitesville State Bank since 1997; served as the Director spearheading the development and construction of the Mountain Terrace 35-unit Senior Apartment facility in Whitesville; and he worked tirelessly and with great enthusiasm on the “Turn This Town Around” revitalization effort for his beloved Whitesville -- which the town won in 2014. Alfred was known for his amazing “steel-trap-like” memory and was extremely interested in family ancestry (his and others), often proudly introducing 2nd and 3rd cousins that did not know they were related in and around the town of Whitesville. He was a strong advocate for the Raleigh County public school system, especially during the years his children attended, and almost never missed a meeting (despite the 40+ minute drive to Beckley each way) to voice his opinions or concerns at every county Board of Education meeting. Over the last 40 years, he belonged to the Whitesville Presbyterian Church and attended often with his wife and family where he served as a Deacon. He was also a proud member of the FreeMasons / Masonic Lodge #168 and the Lion’s Club in Whitesville.
Alfred is predeceased by his wife, Beverly [Cowan] Salamy, his parents, Louis and Aileen Salamy, and his brother Raymond. He is survived by his three children: Debbie and her husband Paul, David and his wife Shelby, and Karen and her husband Douglas; his five grandchildren: Stephanie Scholz, Audrey Scholz, Devon Scholz, Emerson Au, and Layton Salamy; sister-in-law, Joyce Salamy and family, nephew Fr. Christopher Salamy, and niece Michelle Moujaes; his niece Kimberly Boyington and nephew Timothy George Pash IV; and the many other cousins, grand-nephews and grand-nieces in West Virginia, across the United States, and abroad.
There will be a visitation for those who wish to say their final farewell to Alfred on Saturday, November 26, 2022 at the Armstrong Funeral Home in Whitesville from 1 to 4 p.m. His family will hold a graveside service in mid-January 2023 so that all will be able to attend following the holidays. In lieu of flowers for the visitation, please consider a donation to Alfred’s favorite charities in his name: The American Cancer Society, the Kfeirian Reunion Scholarship Program, kfeir.com/scholarship-recipients.html, or to the Town of Whitesville for community revitalization efforts www.taxexemptworld.com/organizations/whitesville_wv_25209.asp.
While in Syracuse, NY, he was introduced by friends to his future wife, Beverly, a registered nurse, whom he married in December 1962, sharing their lives for almost 40 years until Beverly’s passing in 2002. He and Beverly had three children while making their home in Syracuse: Debra [Paul Scholz] of Silver Spring, MD; David [Shelby Auippa] of Marion, TX; and Karen [Douglas Au] of Santa Cruz, CA. In 1976, Alfred and family moved back to his hometown of Whitesville, WV to be closer to his parents and to work with the family’s furniture business. He would later become the operational manager of Dixie Furniture after the passing of his father in 1996.
Alfred was a well-known resident and business owner in the Whitesville, Boone County, and Raleigh County, WV areas for the last 46 years. He served on the Board of Trustees for the Whitesville State Bank since 1997; served as the Director spearheading the development and construction of the Mountain Terrace 35-unit Senior Apartment facility in Whitesville; and he worked tirelessly and with great enthusiasm on the “Turn This Town Around” revitalization effort for his beloved Whitesville -- which the town won in 2014. Alfred was known for his amazing “steel-trap-like” memory and was extremely interested in family ancestry (his and others), often proudly introducing 2nd and 3rd cousins that did not know they were related in and around the town of Whitesville. He was a strong advocate for the Raleigh County public school system, especially during the years his children attended, and almost never missed a meeting (despite the 40+ minute drive to Beckley each way) to voice his opinions or concerns at every county Board of Education meeting. Over the last 40 years, he belonged to the Whitesville Presbyterian Church and attended often with his wife and family where he served as a Deacon. He was also a proud member of the FreeMasons / Masonic Lodge #168 and the Lion’s Club in Whitesville.
Alfred is predeceased by his wife, Beverly [Cowan] Salamy, his parents, Louis and Aileen Salamy, and his brother Raymond. He is survived by his three children: Debbie and her husband Paul, David and his wife Shelby, and Karen and her husband Douglas; his five grandchildren: Stephanie Scholz, Audrey Scholz, Devon Scholz, Emerson Au, and Layton Salamy; sister-in-law, Joyce Salamy and family, nephew Fr. Christopher Salamy, and niece Michelle Moujaes; his niece Kimberly Boyington and nephew Timothy George Pash IV; and the many other cousins, grand-nephews and grand-nieces in West Virginia, across the United States, and abroad.
There will be a visitation for those who wish to say their final farewell to Alfred on Saturday, November 26, 2022 at the Armstrong Funeral Home in Whitesville from 1 to 4 p.m. His family will hold a graveside service in mid-January 2023 so that all will be able to attend following the holidays. In lieu of flowers for the visitation, please consider a donation to Alfred’s favorite charities in his name: The American Cancer Society, the Kfeirian Reunion Scholarship Program, kfeir.com/scholarship-recipients.html, or to the Town of Whitesville for community revitalization efforts www.taxexemptworld.com/organizations/whitesville_wv_25209.asp.
Camille Anna Thorne, originally from Huntington, WV went to be with her Lord on August 9, 2022. She was the daughter of the late Campbell Joseph Hage and Martha Hage of Huntington, WV.
Survivors include her loving husband, Rex Eugene Thorne of Point Pleasant, WV and their daughters, Sarah, Anna Maria and Rachel. She loved her children dearly, her grandchildren; Cael and Joy Sullivan, Lydia Grady and Abigail Hatfield as well as her son-in-laws Shane Hatfield and Daniel Sullivan. She loved her many cousins, nephews and nieces.
She was preceded in death by her brother, the Reverend Arthur Hage of Hurricane, WV, and then survived by her sisters and brothers and their families, the Reverend Father George Hage of Winston Salem, NC, Shelley Hage, Leslie Lucas and Helen Freeman of Huntington, WV, and Peter Hage of Lawrenceville, GA.
Camille was a ballet dancer and appreciated the fine arts in her youth. She served in her father’s restaurant, Cam’s Ham in Huntington, WV at a young age and then she attended Marshall University for her undergraduate degree and then received her master’s degree in teaching from West Virginia University. She later worked for Gallipolis City Schools District teaching the language of French at Gallia Academy High School for 32 years. She loved the faculty and staff of Gallia Academy High School, her students, her church family at First Baptist Church of Gallipolis, Ohio and First Church of God in Point Pleasant, WV. She was kind hearted and did her best in everything she did. She loved to tell her family, friends and neighbors about Jesus and salvation. She enjoyed making dinner and desserts for her family and friends and loved to tell stories about her family to her friends, grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
At the end of her life, she wrote a book, “A Shattered Nightmare” a book chronicling God’s miracles throughout her life. Should individuals want a copy, an email can be sent to carnival54@yahoo.com.
Respecting her wishes, a private ceremony will be conducted. Camille will be buried at Harmony Church Cemetery in Southside, WV. Flowers can be sent to Crow-Hussell Funeral Home 1701 Jefferson Blvd Point Pleasant, WV 25550.
Survivors include her loving husband, Rex Eugene Thorne of Point Pleasant, WV and their daughters, Sarah, Anna Maria and Rachel. She loved her children dearly, her grandchildren; Cael and Joy Sullivan, Lydia Grady and Abigail Hatfield as well as her son-in-laws Shane Hatfield and Daniel Sullivan. She loved her many cousins, nephews and nieces.
She was preceded in death by her brother, the Reverend Arthur Hage of Hurricane, WV, and then survived by her sisters and brothers and their families, the Reverend Father George Hage of Winston Salem, NC, Shelley Hage, Leslie Lucas and Helen Freeman of Huntington, WV, and Peter Hage of Lawrenceville, GA.
Camille was a ballet dancer and appreciated the fine arts in her youth. She served in her father’s restaurant, Cam’s Ham in Huntington, WV at a young age and then she attended Marshall University for her undergraduate degree and then received her master’s degree in teaching from West Virginia University. She later worked for Gallipolis City Schools District teaching the language of French at Gallia Academy High School for 32 years. She loved the faculty and staff of Gallia Academy High School, her students, her church family at First Baptist Church of Gallipolis, Ohio and First Church of God in Point Pleasant, WV. She was kind hearted and did her best in everything she did. She loved to tell her family, friends and neighbors about Jesus and salvation. She enjoyed making dinner and desserts for her family and friends and loved to tell stories about her family to her friends, grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
At the end of her life, she wrote a book, “A Shattered Nightmare” a book chronicling God’s miracles throughout her life. Should individuals want a copy, an email can be sent to carnival54@yahoo.com.
Respecting her wishes, a private ceremony will be conducted. Camille will be buried at Harmony Church Cemetery in Southside, WV. Flowers can be sent to Crow-Hussell Funeral Home 1701 Jefferson Blvd Point Pleasant, WV 25550.
Charles (“Charlie”) John Thabet, of South Charleston, WV, passed away on June 29, 2022, in Arlington, VA, with his family by his side after 93 years of a life well lived and loved.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Layla (Nassar) Thabet; daughters Mydina Thabet of Arlington, VA, and Samira Thabet of New York, NY; son Charles (“Phil”) Thabet and wife, Jennifer Thabet of Alexandria, VA, and grandsons Carter and Colton. He also leaves behind sisters Rose Christian of South Charleston, WV, and Carolyn Sadd of Encino, CA, as well as many other beloved relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents Toufic and Rasmia Thabet of South Charleston, WV; sisters Linda Mickel, Clemence Bassett, Naomi McCarron; brother Edward Thabet; and so many others who are dearly missed.
Charlie was born in 1929 in Kfeir, Lebanon. As his mother was American born and of Lebanese descent – his parents left the Cedars of Lebanon behind when Charlie was age three for a better life in West Virginia where the trees and mountains felt like home. There, he attended South Charleston High School but left to enlist in the US Army where he was stationed in Anchorage, AK, around the start of the Korean War. After three years, he was honorably discharged and returned home where he helped his family operate Thabet’s Grill of South Charleston for more than 25 years. He later worked at FMC and then The Diamond, Stone & Thomas, and Kaufmann’s/Macy’s for many years where he loved putting a smile on people’s faces as he was known for his friendliness, tall tales, humor and laughing at his own corny jokes.
Charlie was a member of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Christian Cathedral and was a proud altar server for 30 years. He loved his heritage and supported the Kfeirian Reunion Foundation – descendants of Kfeir that give back to their community and who are celebrating the organization’s 90th year this Fall.
A very special thanks to his home health caregivers that lovingly took care of Charlie over the last year and became family.
Family and friends may visit on Thursday, July 7 from 1-2 pm with a service to honor his life beginning at 2 pm at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Christian Cathedral. Charlie’s nephew, Rev. Michael Bassett, will officiate with the Very Rev. Olof Scott assisting. Following the service, Charlie will be buried at Sunset Memorial Park, South Charleston, WV.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. George Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral, 190 Court Street, P.O. Box 2044, Charleston, WV 25327; the Kfeirian Reunion Foundation, 10609 Smith Point Way, Glen Allen, VA 23060; or the Alzheimer’s Association.
Memories of Charlie may be shared by visiting www.snodgrassfuneral.com and selecting the obituary name. Snodgrass Funeral Home of South Charleston is handling the arrangements.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Layla (Nassar) Thabet; daughters Mydina Thabet of Arlington, VA, and Samira Thabet of New York, NY; son Charles (“Phil”) Thabet and wife, Jennifer Thabet of Alexandria, VA, and grandsons Carter and Colton. He also leaves behind sisters Rose Christian of South Charleston, WV, and Carolyn Sadd of Encino, CA, as well as many other beloved relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents Toufic and Rasmia Thabet of South Charleston, WV; sisters Linda Mickel, Clemence Bassett, Naomi McCarron; brother Edward Thabet; and so many others who are dearly missed.
Charlie was born in 1929 in Kfeir, Lebanon. As his mother was American born and of Lebanese descent – his parents left the Cedars of Lebanon behind when Charlie was age three for a better life in West Virginia where the trees and mountains felt like home. There, he attended South Charleston High School but left to enlist in the US Army where he was stationed in Anchorage, AK, around the start of the Korean War. After three years, he was honorably discharged and returned home where he helped his family operate Thabet’s Grill of South Charleston for more than 25 years. He later worked at FMC and then The Diamond, Stone & Thomas, and Kaufmann’s/Macy’s for many years where he loved putting a smile on people’s faces as he was known for his friendliness, tall tales, humor and laughing at his own corny jokes.
Charlie was a member of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Christian Cathedral and was a proud altar server for 30 years. He loved his heritage and supported the Kfeirian Reunion Foundation – descendants of Kfeir that give back to their community and who are celebrating the organization’s 90th year this Fall.
A very special thanks to his home health caregivers that lovingly took care of Charlie over the last year and became family.
Family and friends may visit on Thursday, July 7 from 1-2 pm with a service to honor his life beginning at 2 pm at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Christian Cathedral. Charlie’s nephew, Rev. Michael Bassett, will officiate with the Very Rev. Olof Scott assisting. Following the service, Charlie will be buried at Sunset Memorial Park, South Charleston, WV.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. George Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral, 190 Court Street, P.O. Box 2044, Charleston, WV 25327; the Kfeirian Reunion Foundation, 10609 Smith Point Way, Glen Allen, VA 23060; or the Alzheimer’s Association.
Memories of Charlie may be shared by visiting www.snodgrassfuneral.com and selecting the obituary name. Snodgrass Funeral Home of South Charleston is handling the arrangements.
Rajeh Khoury was born in Kfeir, Hasbia district in Lebanon and raised in it, a great intellectual from a great school, he wrote in many issues, and he published them, characterizing with great courage in his political writing and has been subjected to many different criticisms around it.
Rajeh Al-Khori managed to reach a large number of Lebanese audience, and he is one of the figures that have stood out greatly in the state of Lebanon, especially in the field of journalism, he possesses many experiences that have enabled him to reach a prestigious and important position.
Training the knight of the press to rest...
Goodbye Golden Generation
Our condolences to his family and loved ones. Rajeh passed away in June 2022.
Rajeh Al-Khori managed to reach a large number of Lebanese audience, and he is one of the figures that have stood out greatly in the state of Lebanon, especially in the field of journalism, he possesses many experiences that have enabled him to reach a prestigious and important position.
Training the knight of the press to rest...
Goodbye Golden Generation
Our condolences to his family and loved ones. Rajeh passed away in June 2022.
Raymond Abraham, 94, of Huntington, W.Va., died Wednesday, April 27, 2022, at the Village at Riverview. Funeral service will be conducted 2 p.m. Sunday, May 1, 2022, at Chapman’s Mortuary, Huntington, with Pastor Suzanne Ellis officiating. Entombment will be in Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens. Ray was born March 3, 1928, in Williamson, W.Va., a son of the late Mike and Amy Aborizk Abraham. He was a proud graduate of Williamson High School’s Class of 1945. He moved his family to Huntington in 1960 to work for Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. In 1965, he started working for Cabinet Supplier/Chandlers Plywood Products. He retired from Chandlers as their Office Manager at the age of 81. Ray has served as a member of the East Huntington Kiwanis Club since 1967. During his years of service, he was President, he was a member of numerous committees and also served as a WV District Lieutenant Governor. He was awarded the Kiwanis International George F. Hixson Fellowship for his outstanding service to his community. Ray was also instrumental in the success of the East Huntington Kiwanis Club Pancake Festival for 50 years. He was top ticket seller many times. Ray was so proud when he was presented a Golden Spatula from his club for flipping over 100,000 pancakes. He was equally proud of his Lebanese heritage and instilled love and devotion to family to his children. His father, Mike, was a founding member of the Kfeirian Reunion Foundation, and Ray attended many Kfeirian reunions over the years. He was a member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Mary Louise Abraham, his son, Michael E. Abraham, five sisters, Ida, Lucille, Volentine and Madeline Abraham and Emily Haddad, four brothers, Tommy, Edward, Philip and Jack Abraham. Survivors include one daughter and son-in-law, Linda Raye and Bob Thomas of Huntington; four grandchildren, Kerri Thomas of Huntington, Kristi (Ray) Henson of Proctorville, Ohio, Kimberly Thomas of Huntington and Michael Raymond Abraham of Clearwater, Fla.; five great-grandchildren, Jasiah Thomas, Ray, Caroline and Bennett Henson and Kensli Thomas; a daughter-in-law, Nora Abraham of Jacksonville, Fla.; nieces and nephews, Amy Cook, Mary Haddad, Leah Weber, Glenn Beck, Rhonda Pruden, Kelly Sorah and John Abraham; and a special friend, Evelyn Carrico. Many thanks to his caregivers, Patricia and Crystal, at his home. Special gratitude and appreciation for the entire staff at the Village of Riverview, who were so kind, caring and supportive during his last months. Visitation will be from 1 until 2 p.m. Sunday, May 1, 2022, at Chapman’s Mortuary. Pallbearers will be Michael Raymond Abraham, Ray Henson, Jasiah Thomas, Wayne Duncan, David Chandler and Chuck McCreery. Online condolences may be sent to www.chapmans-mortuary.com. Donations to the Kfeirian Reunion Foundation in care of Denise Mickel Russell, Kfeirian Reunion Foundation Treasurer, 10609 Smith Point Way, Glen Allen, VA 23060, would be appreciated.
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Ernest McCarus, professor emeritus of Arabic and Kurdish languages and linguistics, died April 5, 2022 at age 99. He was born Sept. 10, 1922, in Charleston, West Virginia, where he completed his early education.
McCarus came to the University of Michigan in 1940 and received his Bachelor of Arts degree (with distinction) in Japanese in 1945. Following active-duty service in the U.S. Army, he returned to U-M in 1948 and received his Master of Arts in Spanish in 1949. He joined the Department of Near Eastern Studies in 1952 as an instructor of Arabic. After obtaining his Ph.D. in 1956, he became an assistant professor, was promoted to associate professor in 1960 and full professor in 1967.
During his academic service, McCarus was chair of the Department of Near Eastern Studies from 1969-77, director of the Center for Arabic Studies Abroad from 1974-83, and director of the Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies from 1983-92.
McCarus served U-M as one of its most dedicated teachers and scholars. He played a vital role in the development and expansion of the Arabic program in the Department of Near Eastern Studies from its modest beginning to one of the best programs in the nation, offering B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Arabic linguistics, medieval and modern Arabic literature, as well as M.A. degrees in teaching Arabic as a foreign language and Arabic for professional purposes. He also was instrumental in the American Association of Teachers of Arabic efforts to change the methodology of teaching Arabic from the traditional grammar-translation approach to the modern communicative-proficiency approach.
McCarus was an internationally well-known true teacher, scholar and author. He worked professionally and tirelessly, providing extraordinary invaluable contributions, including several books, Arabic textbooks and articles, to the field of Arabic and Kurdish languages and linguistics through several grants from federal agencies.
He was highly respected by his former students, colleagues and acquaintances for his commitment to teaching, deep concern for the welfare of his students and the university community at large and, most importantly, his unassuming and humble personality and modest lifestyle. He was the symbol of the values of decency, of rationality, of honesty and nobility, and peace.
His scholarship and wise judgement were recognized and repeatedly sought out for consultation and evaluation of Arabic and Middle Eastern studies programs. Among his many awards, the American Association of Teachers of Arabic recognized him for his contributions and commitment to the Arabic teaching profession with a “Lifetime Achievement Award.”
McCarus belonged to several professional organizations and associations, including the Modern Language Association, the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, Middle East Studies Association, and the American Research Center in Egypt. He also served as editor of Al-Arabiyya journal, Language Learning and The Middle East Annual, and as manuscript reader for International Journal of Middle Eastern Studies and Foreign Language Annals. The quality and significance of his services have resulted in national and international recognition for himself and U-M.
McCarus always projected an uplifting spirit and looked at the sunny side of everything. His optimism and gentle love will continue to live in our hearts and memories.
He is survived by his wife, Adele; his son, Peter; his daughter, Carol, and son-in-law, Louis Rector. Also surviving are his grandchildren, Matthew and John, and his sister, Norma. A memorial celebration will be announced later.
— Submitted by Raji Rammuny
McCarus came to the University of Michigan in 1940 and received his Bachelor of Arts degree (with distinction) in Japanese in 1945. Following active-duty service in the U.S. Army, he returned to U-M in 1948 and received his Master of Arts in Spanish in 1949. He joined the Department of Near Eastern Studies in 1952 as an instructor of Arabic. After obtaining his Ph.D. in 1956, he became an assistant professor, was promoted to associate professor in 1960 and full professor in 1967.
During his academic service, McCarus was chair of the Department of Near Eastern Studies from 1969-77, director of the Center for Arabic Studies Abroad from 1974-83, and director of the Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies from 1983-92.
McCarus served U-M as one of its most dedicated teachers and scholars. He played a vital role in the development and expansion of the Arabic program in the Department of Near Eastern Studies from its modest beginning to one of the best programs in the nation, offering B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Arabic linguistics, medieval and modern Arabic literature, as well as M.A. degrees in teaching Arabic as a foreign language and Arabic for professional purposes. He also was instrumental in the American Association of Teachers of Arabic efforts to change the methodology of teaching Arabic from the traditional grammar-translation approach to the modern communicative-proficiency approach.
McCarus was an internationally well-known true teacher, scholar and author. He worked professionally and tirelessly, providing extraordinary invaluable contributions, including several books, Arabic textbooks and articles, to the field of Arabic and Kurdish languages and linguistics through several grants from federal agencies.
He was highly respected by his former students, colleagues and acquaintances for his commitment to teaching, deep concern for the welfare of his students and the university community at large and, most importantly, his unassuming and humble personality and modest lifestyle. He was the symbol of the values of decency, of rationality, of honesty and nobility, and peace.
His scholarship and wise judgement were recognized and repeatedly sought out for consultation and evaluation of Arabic and Middle Eastern studies programs. Among his many awards, the American Association of Teachers of Arabic recognized him for his contributions and commitment to the Arabic teaching profession with a “Lifetime Achievement Award.”
McCarus belonged to several professional organizations and associations, including the Modern Language Association, the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, Middle East Studies Association, and the American Research Center in Egypt. He also served as editor of Al-Arabiyya journal, Language Learning and The Middle East Annual, and as manuscript reader for International Journal of Middle Eastern Studies and Foreign Language Annals. The quality and significance of his services have resulted in national and international recognition for himself and U-M.
McCarus always projected an uplifting spirit and looked at the sunny side of everything. His optimism and gentle love will continue to live in our hearts and memories.
He is survived by his wife, Adele; his son, Peter; his daughter, Carol, and son-in-law, Louis Rector. Also surviving are his grandchildren, Matthew and John, and his sister, Norma. A memorial celebration will be announced later.
— Submitted by Raji Rammuny
Fred Paul Mickel, 91, of Williamson, WV, passed away on March 3, 2022 at the Pikeville Medical Center in Pikeville, KY. Affectionately called, Freddie, by family and friends, his passing was very peaceful, and he had expressed his desire to go home to his Jesus.
Born July 4, 1930, in Williamson, WV, Fred was the son of the late Abe Radwin Mickel and Nahie Facoury Mickel, both were descendants of Kfeir, Lebanon, settling in Williamson where Abe established a confectionary store on Second Avenue in 1925 and named it “The Sweet Shop.” Abe’s brother, Nimer, also had a business on Third Avenue and it was called “The Sugar Bowl.” The Sweet Shop had the first popcorn machine in Williamson. At the time, Williamson had three movie theaters, Cinderella, Mingo and Lyric. As people went to the movies, Abe started popping corn and it could be smelled all over Second Avenue.
In addition to his parents Fred was preceded in death by his brothers, Mitchell Mickel and his wife, Linda Mickel and Alex Mickel and his wife, Nadine Mickel, a sister, Gloria Mickel Bevins and her husband, Robert “Bob” Bevins and a nephew, David Mickel. Popular among his classmates and peers, Fred was a 1949 graduate of Williamson High School. He went on to attend Marshall University, but his education was interrupted by the Korean War and he left school to serve in the United States Army as a sergeant with the 64th tank battalion, 3rd division. At the conclusion of his honorable military service he returned to Marshall University to continue his studies and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business.
In 1957 Fred took over the operation of the Sweet Shop and the name of the store eventually changed to “Mickel’s.” The disastrous flood of 1977 inundated the store building with twelve feet of water. The store, which was a restaurant and bookstore by this time, was destroyed. In returning to business, the restaurant was not replaced, and the store mainly sold books, magazines and tobacco. Once again, Fred was always at the store, from opening to closing. He thoroughly enjoyed greeting customers, many of whom came to the store daily and became like family. Mickel’s remained one of Williamson’s most beloved and favorite establishments among locals. The store was very popular among area youth as a meeting place and place to pick up snacks and spend some time with friends while on lunch or after dismissal from school in the afternoon. Fred was very good to the young people who came into the store; however, he didn’t put up with any nonsense, and everyone knew it. It was a safe and friendly environment and many kids spent Saturday afternoon at the store selecting comic books. A beloved era in the history of downtown Williamson, memories of the store now bring to mind the smell of French fries, hamburgers and hot ham and cheese sandwiches, fountain Coke’s, books, magazines, tobacco and the best candy counter around. After operating the store for more than four decades, Fred made the decision to retire in 1999 and the store closed. The memories, however live on.
In addition to the daily operation of the store, Fred was very active in the community and busy with a variety of church and civic activities. He was a lifetime member of Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church where he served as junior warden and oversaw the care and maintenance needs of the facility. He also served as a crucifer. He was a founding member of the Williamson High School Reunion Committee and he was very involved in orchestrating plans for several all-class reunions, the largest of which had more than 1,000 graduates in attendance. Fred loved assisting with the organizing, hosting and attending all the activities and events. He especially enjoyed seeing and spending time with former classmates. He was a member of The Loyal Order of Moose, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Masonic Lodge O’Brien #101 Grand Lodge of West Virginia AF&AM, Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, York Rite of Freemasonry, Beni Kedem Temple, serving as the local president for a term and he was also a member of the Post #49 American Legion.
Fred had several pastimes that he enjoyed which included listening to music, especially jazz and instrumental music. He was an avid fan of the Sam Kenton Band and he was also a big fan of Johnny Cash and Frank Sinatra. He was an avid reader. Novels and newspapers were among his favorite reading materials. He absolutely loved to drive and travel. His grandson loved trains, so they often got into the car and found a train to drive along with.
In the later years of his life, Fred’s greatest pleasure was to spend time with his family. There was no greater love than the love he had for his wife and his family. He adored his grandchildren and he was fortunate to be able to follow and attend his grandson’s athletic events. He never missed a ballgame, at home or on the road, he was always there to support and cheer them on. He equally cheered them on in their academic endeavors. He truly glowed with pride. He was very proud of the achievements of his daughters and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Fred was such an icon in the City of Williamson. He enjoyed his life as it unfolded, and while he suffered through the devastation and rebuilding of his business, after the 1977 flood, he remained a steadfast presence in the business community. He had a heart of gold and he was always willing to give of his time and resources. He made an impression on everyone who met him with his kind disposition, ready smile and distinct laughter. He looked for and found the best in others no matter the situation. Men like Fred are too few and far between these days. He was truly one-of-a-kind and while his passing leaves those who knew him saddened, he also leaves a personal legacy of wonderful memories not only to his family, but to the community in which he lived, spent his life and contributed so very much. Long after his passing, he will be thought of and remembered with deep and abiding love and affection.
The family wishes to express their deepest appreciation to the following providers for the professional, compassion and incredibly loving care and attention they each provided to Fred. The love, kindness and care he received from each agency made these later years of his life so much more pleasant, enjoyable and manageable than they might have been otherwise. We thank Dr. Ashen Ali Butt, MD, and staff, James Stanley, NP, STAT and Appalachian First Response Ambulance Services, Williamson Fire Department, Coalfield CAP for the delicious daily meals, Dignity Hospice Home Health and the Veteran’s Administration for the wonderful and compassionate care Fred received along with all the equipment that was so valuable to him in assisting with his mobility.
Fred is survived by his loving and devoted wife whom he adored, Sarah Elizabeth Stacy Mickel, three beautiful daughters, Debra L. Nassar of Williamson, WV, Paula Mickel of South Carolina and Tonya and her husband, Julius Hatcher of Williamson, his beloved grandchildren, Rebecca Dean Sims of Kennesaw, GA, Justin Dean of Charleston, WV, Julius Alexander Hatcher IV of Williamson, WV and Josiah Abraham Hatcher also of Williamson, WV; two great-grandchildren, Jalen Loughry and Emma Loughry; four very special and loving nieces, Sherry (John) Parrish, Sandy (Kim) Ruder and Denise (Ron) Russell, and Sharmon Mickel, nephews, Kevin (Tammy) Bevins and Thomas (Carol) Bevins, along with several great-nieces and nephews, a very close cousin and lifetime friend, Raymond Abraham, longtime and very dear friends, Carlene (Larry, deceased) Nunley, and Janeine Hatfield-Wilson. Also surviving are Fred’s home health providers who over time became like family, Elizabeth, Bethany, Robin and Tammi.
Visitation is from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm, Friday, March 11, 2022 at Weaver Mortuary in West Williamson.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 am on Saturday, March 12, 2022 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 411 Prichard Street, Williamson, WV 25661. Reverend Nick England will officiate.
Interment is in the Mountain View Memory Gardens at Maher, WV where military honors will be presented by the Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 141, Belfry, KY.
Pallbearers include Kevin Bevins, Thomas Bevins, Julius Hatcher, Julius Alexander Hatcher, IV, Josiah Hatcher, Yossi Hayon and Ron Russell.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests that memorial contribution in Fred’s memory be made to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 411 Prichard Street Williamson, WV 25661.
You may express online condolences at www.weavermourtuaryinc.com.
Weaver Mortuary of West Williamson is serving the Mickel family.
Born July 4, 1930, in Williamson, WV, Fred was the son of the late Abe Radwin Mickel and Nahie Facoury Mickel, both were descendants of Kfeir, Lebanon, settling in Williamson where Abe established a confectionary store on Second Avenue in 1925 and named it “The Sweet Shop.” Abe’s brother, Nimer, also had a business on Third Avenue and it was called “The Sugar Bowl.” The Sweet Shop had the first popcorn machine in Williamson. At the time, Williamson had three movie theaters, Cinderella, Mingo and Lyric. As people went to the movies, Abe started popping corn and it could be smelled all over Second Avenue.
In addition to his parents Fred was preceded in death by his brothers, Mitchell Mickel and his wife, Linda Mickel and Alex Mickel and his wife, Nadine Mickel, a sister, Gloria Mickel Bevins and her husband, Robert “Bob” Bevins and a nephew, David Mickel. Popular among his classmates and peers, Fred was a 1949 graduate of Williamson High School. He went on to attend Marshall University, but his education was interrupted by the Korean War and he left school to serve in the United States Army as a sergeant with the 64th tank battalion, 3rd division. At the conclusion of his honorable military service he returned to Marshall University to continue his studies and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business.
In 1957 Fred took over the operation of the Sweet Shop and the name of the store eventually changed to “Mickel’s.” The disastrous flood of 1977 inundated the store building with twelve feet of water. The store, which was a restaurant and bookstore by this time, was destroyed. In returning to business, the restaurant was not replaced, and the store mainly sold books, magazines and tobacco. Once again, Fred was always at the store, from opening to closing. He thoroughly enjoyed greeting customers, many of whom came to the store daily and became like family. Mickel’s remained one of Williamson’s most beloved and favorite establishments among locals. The store was very popular among area youth as a meeting place and place to pick up snacks and spend some time with friends while on lunch or after dismissal from school in the afternoon. Fred was very good to the young people who came into the store; however, he didn’t put up with any nonsense, and everyone knew it. It was a safe and friendly environment and many kids spent Saturday afternoon at the store selecting comic books. A beloved era in the history of downtown Williamson, memories of the store now bring to mind the smell of French fries, hamburgers and hot ham and cheese sandwiches, fountain Coke’s, books, magazines, tobacco and the best candy counter around. After operating the store for more than four decades, Fred made the decision to retire in 1999 and the store closed. The memories, however live on.
In addition to the daily operation of the store, Fred was very active in the community and busy with a variety of church and civic activities. He was a lifetime member of Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church where he served as junior warden and oversaw the care and maintenance needs of the facility. He also served as a crucifer. He was a founding member of the Williamson High School Reunion Committee and he was very involved in orchestrating plans for several all-class reunions, the largest of which had more than 1,000 graduates in attendance. Fred loved assisting with the organizing, hosting and attending all the activities and events. He especially enjoyed seeing and spending time with former classmates. He was a member of The Loyal Order of Moose, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Masonic Lodge O’Brien #101 Grand Lodge of West Virginia AF&AM, Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, York Rite of Freemasonry, Beni Kedem Temple, serving as the local president for a term and he was also a member of the Post #49 American Legion.
Fred had several pastimes that he enjoyed which included listening to music, especially jazz and instrumental music. He was an avid fan of the Sam Kenton Band and he was also a big fan of Johnny Cash and Frank Sinatra. He was an avid reader. Novels and newspapers were among his favorite reading materials. He absolutely loved to drive and travel. His grandson loved trains, so they often got into the car and found a train to drive along with.
In the later years of his life, Fred’s greatest pleasure was to spend time with his family. There was no greater love than the love he had for his wife and his family. He adored his grandchildren and he was fortunate to be able to follow and attend his grandson’s athletic events. He never missed a ballgame, at home or on the road, he was always there to support and cheer them on. He equally cheered them on in their academic endeavors. He truly glowed with pride. He was very proud of the achievements of his daughters and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Fred was such an icon in the City of Williamson. He enjoyed his life as it unfolded, and while he suffered through the devastation and rebuilding of his business, after the 1977 flood, he remained a steadfast presence in the business community. He had a heart of gold and he was always willing to give of his time and resources. He made an impression on everyone who met him with his kind disposition, ready smile and distinct laughter. He looked for and found the best in others no matter the situation. Men like Fred are too few and far between these days. He was truly one-of-a-kind and while his passing leaves those who knew him saddened, he also leaves a personal legacy of wonderful memories not only to his family, but to the community in which he lived, spent his life and contributed so very much. Long after his passing, he will be thought of and remembered with deep and abiding love and affection.
The family wishes to express their deepest appreciation to the following providers for the professional, compassion and incredibly loving care and attention they each provided to Fred. The love, kindness and care he received from each agency made these later years of his life so much more pleasant, enjoyable and manageable than they might have been otherwise. We thank Dr. Ashen Ali Butt, MD, and staff, James Stanley, NP, STAT and Appalachian First Response Ambulance Services, Williamson Fire Department, Coalfield CAP for the delicious daily meals, Dignity Hospice Home Health and the Veteran’s Administration for the wonderful and compassionate care Fred received along with all the equipment that was so valuable to him in assisting with his mobility.
Fred is survived by his loving and devoted wife whom he adored, Sarah Elizabeth Stacy Mickel, three beautiful daughters, Debra L. Nassar of Williamson, WV, Paula Mickel of South Carolina and Tonya and her husband, Julius Hatcher of Williamson, his beloved grandchildren, Rebecca Dean Sims of Kennesaw, GA, Justin Dean of Charleston, WV, Julius Alexander Hatcher IV of Williamson, WV and Josiah Abraham Hatcher also of Williamson, WV; two great-grandchildren, Jalen Loughry and Emma Loughry; four very special and loving nieces, Sherry (John) Parrish, Sandy (Kim) Ruder and Denise (Ron) Russell, and Sharmon Mickel, nephews, Kevin (Tammy) Bevins and Thomas (Carol) Bevins, along with several great-nieces and nephews, a very close cousin and lifetime friend, Raymond Abraham, longtime and very dear friends, Carlene (Larry, deceased) Nunley, and Janeine Hatfield-Wilson. Also surviving are Fred’s home health providers who over time became like family, Elizabeth, Bethany, Robin and Tammi.
Visitation is from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm, Friday, March 11, 2022 at Weaver Mortuary in West Williamson.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 am on Saturday, March 12, 2022 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 411 Prichard Street, Williamson, WV 25661. Reverend Nick England will officiate.
Interment is in the Mountain View Memory Gardens at Maher, WV where military honors will be presented by the Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 141, Belfry, KY.
Pallbearers include Kevin Bevins, Thomas Bevins, Julius Hatcher, Julius Alexander Hatcher, IV, Josiah Hatcher, Yossi Hayon and Ron Russell.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests that memorial contribution in Fred’s memory be made to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 411 Prichard Street Williamson, WV 25661.
You may express online condolences at www.weavermourtuaryinc.com.
Weaver Mortuary of West Williamson is serving the Mickel family.
Father Nehme Khalil Abu Rahal, the priest from St. George Orthodox Church in the Village of Kfeir passed away on January 28, 2002. His funeral is scheduled for January 30. Gone, but not forgotten, may his memory be eternal.
Richard George Joseph died peacefully January 26, 2022 at Otterbein Sunset House, Toledo, where he had been a resident for 15 months. He was 95.
Richard lived a full, rich life with an intense focus on his family, church, many friends, and varied interests. He was a great believer in maintaining order and upholding protocol – that following the rules made you a better person – which he practiced most of his adult life. Generations of youth at his beloved St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Church, where he was a constant fixture and served as head usher for more than 60 years, would thank Richard later in life for his unyielding guidance.
Rarely would Richard turn up at an event of any kind not wearing a suit and tie; it was his trademark. This was not formal dress to him, but rather a way to show respect to others – that people mattered to him. And his dress code became an integral part of his warm, gregarious and gracious personality.
As a life-long Toledo resident, he had deep roots in the community. Richard was quick to smile, with a twinkle in his eye and a kind word to all he met. He was friendly, compassionate, and personable, gaining a large number of diverse friends, who appreciated his kindness and held him in high esteem.
Of utmost importance to Richard were honesty, respect, dignity and compassion, which served as guiding principles. He had a strong desire to help those less fortunate; he practiced and advocated service to homeless shelters in Toledo, in particular St. Paul’s Community Center.
Richard was born Aug. 3, 1926, in Toledo to George and Edma (Jamra) Joseph, Lebanese immigrants. His heritage was a source of great pride throughout his life. He grew up in North Toledo, the youngest of seven children. Richard graduated from Woodward High School in 1944. After graduation he enlisted in the U.S. Army and honorably served in World War II.
On Jan. 11, 1964, Richard married Shirley A. Rusnak in Pittsburgh, Pa. Richard and Shirley, who celebrated 58 years of marriage this month, raised two sons, Chris/Rick and Tarek.
In his 80s, Richard was blessed with the arrival of three grandsons, who brought him immense joy. Nothing made him happier than time spent with them, while hearing them lovingly call him “Jiddee.”
At an early age, he began developing his sales and social skills while working with his father in the family business, George Joseph Grocery, on the corner of Monroe and Superior Streets in downtown Toledo.
This experience served him well as he made a career out of marketing and sales, first working in advertising for Ohio Bell Telephone Co. in the 1950s, and then other sales positions until he became sales manager for Browning Ferris Industries, where he worked more than 25 years before retiring.
Richard was the last surviving member of Kappa Chi, a fraternity of brothers, cousins and close friends of Lebanese/Syrian descent from North Toledo. Founded in 1938, Kappa Chi members met twice monthly for 60 years and formed a bond of brotherhood that was a wonder to observe.
One of Richard’s most cherished pastimes was dining with friends and family over his favorite Lebanese dishes at The Beirut or Byblos, a tradition he carried on for many years.
Richard was a great promoter of opera in the community. He loved his cats, and enjoyed photography, nature, music and collecting antiques, especially glass - serving as president of the Glass Collectors Club of Toledo. In his youth he loved to ice skate and roller skate and was so proficient at ballroom dancing that he became an instructor at Arthur Murray Dance Studio in downtown Toledo.
Richard was preceded in death by siblings Nazema Jamra, Asaf Joseph, Carl Joseph, Evaughn Michael, Albert Joseph and Madeline Shamy.
Surviving is his wife, Shirley; sons, Tarek [Christine] and Chris/Rick Joseph; grandchildren, Elias, Samir and Alexander Joseph; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be Sunday, Jan. 30, from 3-8 p.m. at St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Church, 4940 Harroun Rd., Sylvania, where a Trisagion prayer service will be held at 7 p.m. Funeral services will be Monday, Jan. 31, at 11 a.m. at St. Elias Church with Very Rev. Archpriest Ayman Kfouf officiating.
Burial will follow in Toledo Memorial Park with a military honors ceremony performed by representatives of the U.S. Army. The funeral service will be shown live on St. Elias’s Facebook page as well the Trisagion prayer service Sunday at 7 p.m.
The family respectfully asks that all visitors to the church wear masks and practice social distancing. Due to COVID, a mercy meal in Richard’s honor will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Richard’s name may be made to St. Elias Church, 4940 Harroun Rd., Sylvania, OH 43560.
Rose Saad Farley, 81, died Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021, in Tennessee, from a non-Covid brief illness.
Beloved by all who knew her, Rose will be missed forever.
She was a woman of great faith, devoted to the Lord and to the service of her church. She loved her three daughters unconditionally and supported them through all their endeavors.
She was born in 1939, in Pikeville, the daughter of the late Clara Sword Saad and Jasper Saad.
She was preceded in death by her siblings, Lucille Smith, John “Bip” Saad, Paul, Pauline and Aletha.
She is survived by her three daughters, A. Claire Farley, of Georgia, Jenny Farley Kwong, son-in-law, Kevin, and grandson, Kai, of Pennsylvania, and Dana Chavis and son-in-law, Mike; step-grandchildren, AnnaLevi, PFC Walker, Zoe and Canaan; and many nieces and nephews.
Throughout her life, Rose worked as an English teacher, a court reporter and as court clerk and case manager to The Honorable Thomas E. Baynes and to the Honorable Alexander L. Paskay, federal judges in the United States Bankruptcy Court in Tampa, Florida. She was most proud of her work as Pike County (Kentucky) Fiscal Court Clerk for 19 years before retiring.
Rose was a frequent guest host for her sister, Lucille Smith’s daily radio show called, “The Personal Touch” on WPKE in Pikeville. She was also a guest columnist for the Appalachian News-Express. She was valedictorian of her high school, and despite having received several offers of scholarships to Ivy League schools, she was proud to graduate as valedictorian from Pikeville College.
Rose was a member of Pikeville United Methodist Church and First United Methodist Church in Frankfort, where she worked as church secretary, taught Sunday school and led Bible study. She never went anywhere without her Bible, which was so worn from reading and from her extensive notes in the margins that pages were falling out of it.
Mama Rose, as many of her daughters’ friends called her, was a mother to everyone, always offering a listening ear and kind advice with a great laugh. Her creativity inspired her family. She made costumes for plays and painted doll furniture with Pennsylvania Dutch designs. She crocheted beautiful afghans and baby clothes for gifts to friends. She played piano duets with Dana. Before her children could read, she drew paw prints on “notes” from the Easter bunny and pictures of food on grocery lists so they could help her shop.
Rose loved the Lord and looked forward to being in heaven, but she often told her daughters her spirit would be with them always and she would watch over them.
A memorial service is expected to be held at First United Methodist Church in Pikeville, in the coming months, when it is safe to gather. Arrangements are under the direction of the Jennings and Ayers Funeral Home and Cremation
Beloved by all who knew her, Rose will be missed forever.
She was a woman of great faith, devoted to the Lord and to the service of her church. She loved her three daughters unconditionally and supported them through all their endeavors.
She was born in 1939, in Pikeville, the daughter of the late Clara Sword Saad and Jasper Saad.
She was preceded in death by her siblings, Lucille Smith, John “Bip” Saad, Paul, Pauline and Aletha.
She is survived by her three daughters, A. Claire Farley, of Georgia, Jenny Farley Kwong, son-in-law, Kevin, and grandson, Kai, of Pennsylvania, and Dana Chavis and son-in-law, Mike; step-grandchildren, AnnaLevi, PFC Walker, Zoe and Canaan; and many nieces and nephews.
Throughout her life, Rose worked as an English teacher, a court reporter and as court clerk and case manager to The Honorable Thomas E. Baynes and to the Honorable Alexander L. Paskay, federal judges in the United States Bankruptcy Court in Tampa, Florida. She was most proud of her work as Pike County (Kentucky) Fiscal Court Clerk for 19 years before retiring.
Rose was a frequent guest host for her sister, Lucille Smith’s daily radio show called, “The Personal Touch” on WPKE in Pikeville. She was also a guest columnist for the Appalachian News-Express. She was valedictorian of her high school, and despite having received several offers of scholarships to Ivy League schools, she was proud to graduate as valedictorian from Pikeville College.
Rose was a member of Pikeville United Methodist Church and First United Methodist Church in Frankfort, where she worked as church secretary, taught Sunday school and led Bible study. She never went anywhere without her Bible, which was so worn from reading and from her extensive notes in the margins that pages were falling out of it.
Mama Rose, as many of her daughters’ friends called her, was a mother to everyone, always offering a listening ear and kind advice with a great laugh. Her creativity inspired her family. She made costumes for plays and painted doll furniture with Pennsylvania Dutch designs. She crocheted beautiful afghans and baby clothes for gifts to friends. She played piano duets with Dana. Before her children could read, she drew paw prints on “notes” from the Easter bunny and pictures of food on grocery lists so they could help her shop.
Rose loved the Lord and looked forward to being in heaven, but she often told her daughters her spirit would be with them always and she would watch over them.
A memorial service is expected to be held at First United Methodist Church in Pikeville, in the coming months, when it is safe to gather. Arrangements are under the direction of the Jennings and Ayers Funeral Home and Cremation
January 10, 2022 - Our prayers and condolences go out to the Saad family on the passing of Montaha Malek, daughter of Daniel Saad and niece of longtime board member and past Kfeirian Reunion Foundation President Julian Saad. May she Rest is Peace. Montaha lived in Beirut, Lebanon. The funeral was held on January 11, 2022 at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Rashaya Al-wadi, Lebanon (north of Kfeir).
Dr. Lorraine Rahija Rebecca Bassett Scott 93, born January 1, 1929 in Williamson, West Virginia, the fifth daughter of Abraham Joseph Bassett and Rahija Abou Jamra Saad, natives of El-Kfeir, Hasbaiya, Lebanon, passed away January 4, 2022 in Helena, Montana of natural causes.
Lorraine was preceded in death by her husband William Allen Scott, both parents, and four sisters—Gladys Shumla (Richard Parlette), Selma Mae (James Edinger), Wadad Ethyl (James Bofysil), and Alice Tamam (John Rutherdale). She is survived by her brother Abe J Bassett (Sharon Kinnaird), two sons, (Paul [Valerie Soe] and Clay Scott) and two grand-daughters, Rose and Ivy Scott, and numerous nieces and nephews and grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
A 1946 graduate of Williamson High School, she entered Berea College in September of that year, and married William Allen Scott of Hardy, Kentucky on June 8, 1947. She entered the University of Kentucky in September, 1947, completing two years of study before her father asked the couple to come to Columbus, Ohio, to help him operate his tavern. Following her father’s death in March 1949, Lorraine and Bill moved to California.
While working full time, she resumed her studies at San Jose State University earning a Bachelor’s degree in Art and Art History in 1968, a Master’s degree in 1976. She pursued a Doctor of Education degree at the University of the Pacific, completing it in 1986, and becoming a high school principal.
Lorraine was an adventurous and curious soul. She was a world traveler whose travels took her to Lebanon and Palestine among many other places. She loved her Lebanese heritage and was an excellent cook of Arabic food. It was with great pleasure when she could attend the annual Kfeirian Reunion and the services of the Eastern Orthodox Church.
She is missed.
Lorraine was preceded in death by her husband William Allen Scott, both parents, and four sisters—Gladys Shumla (Richard Parlette), Selma Mae (James Edinger), Wadad Ethyl (James Bofysil), and Alice Tamam (John Rutherdale). She is survived by her brother Abe J Bassett (Sharon Kinnaird), two sons, (Paul [Valerie Soe] and Clay Scott) and two grand-daughters, Rose and Ivy Scott, and numerous nieces and nephews and grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
A 1946 graduate of Williamson High School, she entered Berea College in September of that year, and married William Allen Scott of Hardy, Kentucky on June 8, 1947. She entered the University of Kentucky in September, 1947, completing two years of study before her father asked the couple to come to Columbus, Ohio, to help him operate his tavern. Following her father’s death in March 1949, Lorraine and Bill moved to California.
While working full time, she resumed her studies at San Jose State University earning a Bachelor’s degree in Art and Art History in 1968, a Master’s degree in 1976. She pursued a Doctor of Education degree at the University of the Pacific, completing it in 1986, and becoming a high school principal.
Lorraine was an adventurous and curious soul. She was a world traveler whose travels took her to Lebanon and Palestine among many other places. She loved her Lebanese heritage and was an excellent cook of Arabic food. It was with great pleasure when she could attend the annual Kfeirian Reunion and the services of the Eastern Orthodox Church.
She is missed.
With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of our beloved queen, mother, sister, grandmother (Siti), great-grandmother - Eva McKarris, 90, who went to be with her Lord and Saviour on January 3, 2022. Eva was born August 16, 1931 in Kfeir, Lebanon to the late Toufic and Mountaha Saad. Loving mother to her children, Nahela (John) Kobrossy, Salina (Joseph) Moussa, George (Faten) McKarris and Sam (Elizabeth) McKarris. She will be sadly missed by her grandchildren, Bernadette, Daniel (Christina), Gabriel, Maggie, John, Norman, Alyssa, Natalie, Paul, Pierre and Patrick, and by her great-grandchildren, Sophia, Katrina, Gabriella and Joseph. She is survived by her brothers: Georges, Daniel, Julian, and Edward Saad and their families. Eva will, also, be dearly missed by her nieces and nephews all over the world, A special thank you to Dr. Sandra Joseph (niece) for her continued support, guidance and love throughout Eva's difficult time. Rejoicing her arrival in Heaven, in addition to her parents, are husband, Norman McKarris, sister Naime Joseph, brother Ayoub Saad, sister-in-law Rosette Saad, nieces Sarah Saad and Venice Saad. Eva was a devoted Christian and loved the church dearly. She travelled the world and enjoyed every day of her life to the fullest. Eva had a special impact on every person she met; her generosity, love, and care for every person in her life will never be forgotten. Her heart of gold will always live in ours - "God bless you, Honey". Due to COVID-19 restrictions, to attend the visitation and service for Eva, personal face coverings are required and relatives and friends must register (RSVP) at www.erbgood.com or by calling the funeral home. Visitation will be held at the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King St. S., Waterloo on Friday, January 7, 2022 from 4-8 p.m. Trisagion prayers will be at 7:00 p.m. The funeral service will be held in the chapel of the funeral home on Saturday, January 8 at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Parkview Cemetery, Waterloo. Condolences for the family and donations to Mar Elias Eastern Orthodox Church of Ontario (http://donate.marelias.ca) may be arranged by contacting the funeral home at www.erbgood.com or 519-745-8445.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16)
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16)
In Loving Memory of Jeanette Cantees McCoy
Jeanette Cantees McCoy, 95, of South Williamson, KY, passed away peacefully on November 9, 2021, at the Pikeville Medical Center in Pikeville, KY.
Born September 3, 1926, in Williamson, WV, she was a daughter of the late George Cantees and Anna Simon Cantees.
In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, Paul McCoy, a beloved son, Rodney D. McCoy, a sister, Adeba Cantees and six brothers, Sam, Tom, Cullen, Kamel, Harry and Johnny Cantees.
Jeanette’s father, George, along with his brothers, Joseph and Abraham Cantees, came to the United States from Kfeir, Lebanon in 1899. George had recently married his bride, Anna Simon, and hearing news of prosperity in America, George and his brothers came to the United States to seek a prosperous future. George and Anna traveled by ship to Ellis Island and from there they journeyed to Welch, WV. George started a mercantile business in Welch. The business was destroyed by fire in 1911. George and Anna then moved their family to Williamson where he later established Cantees Confectionary. The Cantees family became widely prominent in the Tug Valley as other members of the family later opened and operated several businesses within the City of Williamson.
Jeanette was the youngest of George and Anna’s eight children. She was educated in the Mingo County school system, graduating from Williamson in 1944. She married the love of her life and high school sweetheart, Paul McCoy, on September 23, 1951. They became the loving parents of three children, Cheryl, Rodney and Christy. Jeanette was busy raising the children and caring for her home while Paul worked as a mine superintendent. Jeanette was also very active in church and social circles. She was a lifelong member of Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church where she was a member of the Episcopal Church Women and she had been a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Calista Boyd Chapter #104, since March 17, 1947. Over the past several years the annual Williamson Wildwood Garden Club Tea had become a highlight on Jeanette’s spring social calendar.
Jeanette was very active throughout her life. She absolutely loved and enjoyed being with and among people. Anyone who knew her, knew of her love of sports. Her love of sports began when she started dating and supporting her high school sweetheart, Paul, who was an outstanding athlete at Belfry High School. Paul received a scholarship to play football at the University of Kentucky but stayed only ten days. Jeanette said, “He couldn’t stand the thought of me dating anyone else, so he came home.” She was an avid University of Kentucky basketball fan, attending every game that she possibly could. She was a fixture at all Williamson High School basketball games until Williamson, Matewan and Burch High School’s consolidated in 2012 forming Mingo Central High School. Jeanette then faithfully attended the Mingo Miners games with her daughter, Christy and her lifelong friend and South Williamson neighbor, the late June Blevins. Jeanette had also supported her son, Rodney, a standout athlete at Williamson High School and her grandchildren and great-grandchildren who have participated or are participating in various athletics in their schools.
Jeanette had so many interests in life. She absolutely loved caring for her home and kept it immaculate. She was an excellent cook and loved nothing more than gathering family and friends at her table.
Jeanette was an avid shopper with an impeccable sense of style and fashion. She loved shopping at Chico’s where she could find the most gorgeous leopard prints. Always very particular about her appearance, she kept her hair and nails in perfect condition, seeing her hairdresser, Elaine Freeman, and her manicurist at her favorite nail salon on a weekly basis. She loved being chauffeured on long car rides and eating out on Friday night. She loved traveling with her family, and she was always ready for the next trip or vacation.
Jeanette’s family was her life and she was unendingly proud of her children, her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren. Her family brought much love, fulfillment and joy to her life and her family showered her with love.
Jeanette lived a very long, full and happy life. Her father’s dream of prosperity and providing a good life for his wife and children became a reality. Jeanette will be lovingly remembered for her zest for life, her endless energy, and the tremendous show of strength she displayed over the past two years as her health slowly declined. While her passing leaves a tremendous hole in the hearts of her family and friends, she will be lovingly remembered and cherished always.
Jeanette is survived by her daughters, Cheryl and her husband, James David Slater of Pikeville, KY and Christy McCoy of South Williamson, KY, her grandchildren, Chad Slater and his wife, Dani Slater of Ashland, KY, Paul David Slater and his wife, Valerie Slater of Pikeville, KY, Rodney D. McCoy, II and his wife, Jamie McCoy of Forest Hills, KY, and Dustin McCoy of South Williamson, KY, her great-grandchildren, Cade Slater, Cassidy Slater, Megan Slater, Grant Slater, Lincoln Slater, Jett Slater, Lillee McCoy and Renlee McCoy. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews, extended family members and friends, including her longtime friend and former neighbor, Bricey Cline.
Visitation is from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm, Sunday evening, November 14, 2021, at Weaver Mortuary in West Williamson. Funeral services will be conducted at noon on Monday, November 15, 2021, at Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church with Father Nick England officiating. Interment is in the Mountain View Memory Gardens at Huddy, KY.
Grandsons, nephews, Jack Bevins, James Catron and Ethan Webb will serve as active pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are Carl Tussey, Dee Gentile and Mark Cline.
In keeping with Covid-19 safety precautions, masks must be worn inside the mortuary and at the church. Weaver Mortuary of West Williamson is serving the McCoy family.
Rodney Dean McCoy, 67, of South Williamson, KY, passed away on Sunday, October 17, 2021, at the Pikeville Medical Center in Pikeville, KY.
Born July 14, 1954, in Williamson, WV he was the beloved son of Jeanette Cantees McCoy of South Williamson, KY and the late Paul Herschel McCoy.
Rod was a 1972 graduate of Williamson High School and a 1974 graduate of Pikeville College. He enjoyed a career in the coal mining industry that spanned 30 years prior to his retirement from Massey Energy and he was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.
Rod was a standout high school athlete. He played basketball at Pikeville College for two seasons under Coach Wayne Martin. He was honored as a 2003 inductee in the Williamson High School Athletic Hall of Fame in recognition of his athleticism and sportsmanship. Honors highlighted in his induction include: All State Second Team Football – 1972, All State Second Team Baseball – 1972, Big All State Third Team basketball – 1972, All Area First Team Football – 1972, All Area First Team Basketball – 1972, All Area First Team Baseball – 1972, AAA All State Honorable Mention Basketball - 1972, All Area Honorable Mention Football and Baseball – 1971, Captain Football, Baseball and Basketball – 1972, Letterman Football, Basketball and Baseball 1970-1972, Bennett Bias Award Recipient 1972, Phil Goodwill Award Recipient 1972 and Letterman in Basketball and Baseball while a student at Pikeville College, Pikeville, KY.
While it is easy to recognize and admire Rod’s athleticism, it was those who were the closest to him who knew what a truly wonderful son, brother, father, uncle, cousin and friend Rod truly was. An only son, Rod was deeply loved by his parents Paul and Jeanette, they were very proud of his accomplishments and especially proud of the father that he was to his own sons, “Little Rod” and later in life, “Dusty.” Rod was a little brother to his sister, Cheryl, and a big brother to his sister, Christy. The three of them were as close as brother and sisters could be. They enjoyed one another’s company immensely, and there was simply no way to contain the fun and laughter when they were all three together. Throughout their lives, each looked out for one another and they were always there for one another, whatever the occasion or whatever the situation might be, they pulled together.
From the time Rod entered school, he was popular among his peers and genuinely loved by everyone who came to know him. He had more friends than anyone could possibly count. Many of his friends from the early years of his life remained close to him throughout his life. Rod’s quick sense of humor, witticism and his ability to give-and-take were legendary. He absolutely enjoyed teasing, ribbing and bantering. Nothing pleased him more than pranking and seeing his subject fall for the prank, especially on April Fool’s Day. His laughter was infectious; no one could ever possibly keep a straight face while in his presence, even when slightly irritated by his good-willed teasing, pranks and ribbing.
While Rod was fortunate to have a host of friends, it was in his fine sons that he truly reveled. He was so proud of his boys and the young men that they both are. He was also a very proud and adoring grandfather. His granddaughters, Lillee and Renlee were his perfect blessings. He was so very proud of his family.
Rod was an avid Kentucky Wildcats fan, and he loved the game of golf. He also loved spending time at the lake where he enjoyed the water and the beauty of nature.
Rod will long be remembered by his family and friends as a one-of-a-kind, singular individual who seemed larger than life. There was a light that glowed from Rod. He just seemed to be that person who could light up a room naturally, without effort, and in any situation. While we don’t fully understand just what it is that draws people to a person like Rod, we all feel very fortunate that there are people like him in the world. We feel blessed to have met and to have known him along life’s way. While Rod’s health over the past several years kept him from enjoying life in the way he had in earlier years, he is not overshadowed in any way by illness. He will always be remembered as young-at-heart, handsome, athletic, robust, strong, tanned and charming. His sockless feet in a favorite pair of penny loafers and a crisp white shirt with sleeves rolled up are as much his trademark as his pearlescent smile and charismatic personality. His memory will live in the hearts and minds of everyone who had the good fortune of knowing him and sharing their lives with him.
In addition to his mother, Jeanette, Rod leaves to cherish his memory he sons, Rodney Dean McCoy, II and his wife, Jamie Justice McCoy of Forest Hills, KY and Dustin McCoy, of the home, two sisters, Cheryl and her husband, James David Slater of Pikeville, KY and Christy McCoy of South Williamson, KY, two granddaughters, Lillee McCoy and Renlee McCoy, two nephews, Chad Slater and his wife, Dani Slater and Paul David Slater and his wife, Valerie Slater, six great nieces and nephews, Cade, Cassidy, Megan, Grant, Lincoln and Jett Slater along with a host of cousins, extended family members and friends.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm, Thursday evening, October 21, 2021, at Weaver Mortuary in West Williamson. Please wear a mask while inside the mortuary.
The funeral service will be conducted by Father Nick England at 11:00 am on Friday, October 22, 2021, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 411 Prichard Street, Williamson, WV. A mask must be worn in order to enter the church, and it must remain in place at all times while inside the church. Everyone is ask to kindly social distance as much as possible while inside the church as well.
Interment is in the Mountain View Memory Gardens at Huddy, KY.
Active pallbearers include Steve Cantees, Dominic “Dee” Gentile, Jimmy Kent Kerr, Dustin McCoy, Rodney D. McCoy, II, Cade Slater, Chad Slater, Grant Slater, James David Slater and Paul David Slater. Honorary pallbearer include Doug Adkins, Mike Deskins, Hercel Hensley, David Norris and all of Rodney’s female friends.
In lieu of flowers the family respectfully requests that memorial contributions in Rod’s memory be made to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 411 Prichard Street, Williamson, WV 25661.
Weaver Mortuary of West Williamson is serving the McCoy family.
Emily Temayne Haddad (Abraham), age 91, (January 27, 1930 - October 7, 2021) beloved wife for 42 years to the late George A Haddad (1999). Loving mother of Amy (Gerry) Cook, Mary Haddad, & Leah (Chris Seidelman) Weber. Cherished grandmother of Martha A. Cook and Sarah M. Cook. Dearest great-grandmother of Daniel. Dear sister of Raymond Abraham of Huntington, WV, and preceded in death by 4 sisters and 4 brothers. Fond aunt of many nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Service is scheduled for:
Saturday, November 13th, 2021 at
The Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration
12219 S 86th Avenue
Palos Park, IL 60464
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Heartforlebanon.org. Express your thoughts and condolences at colonialchapel.com 708-532-5400.
A Memorial Service is scheduled for:
Saturday, November 13th, 2021 at
The Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration
12219 S 86th Avenue
Palos Park, IL 60464
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Heartforlebanon.org. Express your thoughts and condolences at colonialchapel.com 708-532-5400.
Lorna Mary Tawil (1937 - 2021) Beloved wife of the late Soloman A. "Sam" Tawil. Dear mother of Shemla (Wayne) MacIsaac, Farris - dec. (Lauralee) Tawil, Todd (Nancy) Tawil, Darren (Amber) Tawil and Michael Tawil; grandmother of Jordan (Bailey), Marshall-dec., Vannessa, Kayleigh (Emily), Joleesa (Travis), Joshua (Bailey), Coady (Fallon), MacKenzie (Mitch), Tia, Tanshia (Andrew), and Naiomee and Lucas; 2 great-grandchildren, Seraphine and Zaveid; and sisters-in-law Souheila Tweel, Rose, Bertha and June Bruce. Predeceased by her parents Harold and Loretta (nee Bridges) Bruce and brothers Donald, Blair and Byron Bruce.
Lorna’s wake will be held at the Hennessey Cutcliffe Charlottetown Funeral Home on Saturday, August 28 from 11:45a.m. - 12:45 p.m. With COVID-19 restrictions in place, visitation will be in cohorts of 50 at a time. The Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, August 28 following the visitation at 1 p.m. in the funeral home chapel. Interment later in St. Peter’s Anglican Cemetery, Charlottetown. If so desired, Donations to the PEI Humane Society or the Reach Foundation would be appreciated. Online condolences may be made at www.islandowned.ca
Lorna’s wake will be held at the Hennessey Cutcliffe Charlottetown Funeral Home on Saturday, August 28 from 11:45a.m. - 12:45 p.m. With COVID-19 restrictions in place, visitation will be in cohorts of 50 at a time. The Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, August 28 following the visitation at 1 p.m. in the funeral home chapel. Interment later in St. Peter’s Anglican Cemetery, Charlottetown. If so desired, Donations to the PEI Humane Society or the Reach Foundation would be appreciated. Online condolences may be made at www.islandowned.ca
Michael Eugene Abraham, 66, of Saint Johns, Fla., born July 29, 1955, accepted God’s invitation to come home on August 13, 2021, for a really true homecoming. I was born in Williamson, W.Va., growing up in Huntington, W.Va. I hope over my lifetime, I’ve been able to leave a legacy of devotion, joy, courage and inspiration of my faith in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be a positive example for my family and friends. I leave behind my bride, Nora, who committed herself to my total care during this battle against cancer with true love and compassion, fighting for me every day with my son, Michael. Michael is my pride and joy and who ultimately has made me a better man; my father, Raymond, who has shown me by his own life how to be a man, father and friend; my sister, Linda Raye Abraham Thomas, who has always been there for me and never hesitated to be by my side whenever possible; Bob Thomas, my brother-in-law, who has embraced me as a true brother and treated my family as his own, and my nieces, Kerri, Kristi (Ray) and Kimberly, whose love for me was always there, and grand-nephews and -nieces, Jasiah, Ray, Carolyn, Bennett and Kensli. I’m preceded in death by my mother, Mary, who left us way too soon, leaving a void that never completely healed, but left a legacy of love and wonderful memories, special Aunts Ida, Volen, Lucille (Lou) and Madeline (Matt), all of Williamson. I was a proud graduate of Huntington East High School’s great Class of 1973, then moving on and graduating from Marshall University, where I was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon, forming many lifelong and beautiful friendships. As time moved on, there was the true realization, being a member of West Virginia Gamma wasn’t about college, it’s about a Sig Ep brotherhood that is life everlasting. Despite my love of flowers, in lieu of flowers, I’m asking that generous donations be given to Kfeirian Reunion Foundation in care of Denise Mickel Russell, Kfeirian Reunion Foundation Treasurer, 10609 Smith Point Way, Glen Allen, VA 23060. My family would like to thank the beautiful people of their home church, Switzerland Community Church. Their love, generosity and acts of genuine kindness have been a true eyewitness to the love of Christ. Also, my medical team at The Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville campus, Dr. Yugie Zhao and her medical team Sasha, Courtney and Britney. Katey Wert, who became a family friend and guiding hand and the Mayo Internal Medicine Dept., Melissa Jordan, Kelsey Banyash-Foor and Lily Evans ministered to my body and soul. A celebration of my wonderful life will be held 1 p.m. Saturday, September 4, 2021, at Chapman’s Mortuary in Huntington, W.Va., where my Sig Ep Big Brother Scott Luther will give the eulogy and lifelong dear friend Greg Bowles will provide music selections. Another high school friend, Darrell Clark, retired pastor, will officiate. Blessings and gratitude to everyone! Service will be livestreamed on Chapman’s Mortuary’s Facebook page (ChapmansMortuaryandCrematory).Chapman’s Mortuary, Huntington, is assisting the family. Online condolences may be sent to www.chapmans-mortuary.com.
Sam G. Rahall born November 21, 1918 in Beckley, West Virginia passed away July 7, 2021. He was a loving father, husband and brother. Sam moved to St. Petersburg in the 1950s and brought Tampa Bay's first network television to the area with his brothers, Farris and Joe. He owned radio and television stations around the country and became a stalwart supporter of education and the arts in St. Petersburg for the rest of his life. He had a wonderful sense of humor and made friends with total strangers wherever he travelled, including the corner store. He is survived by his wife, Lorraine (Demi) Rahall; and a bunch of children, along with a gaggle of grandchildren. He was loved by everyone and he loved them all back. He spent his life growing and learning, always striving to be a better person. He never thought it was too late to find adventure and meaning in something new. He will be missed greatly.
Catherine "Cathy" (Bassett) Verbosky June 21, 1955 - May 31, 2021
Catherine "Cathy" (Bassett) Verbosky passed away on May 31, 2021 at St Vincent's Hospital following complications from a stroke. She died peacefully surrounded by her husband, Bill, and loving family. She was 65.
Cathy was born in Adrian, Michigan on June 21, 1955 to Farris and Clemence Bassett. She grew up in Blissfield, Michigan and graduated from Blissfield High School in 1973. Cathy and Bill were together for 20 years and married for 16 years. Cathy retired from the Meijer store in Rossford in October of last year. She, and her husband Bill, own Billy V's Bar in Rossford.
Cathy was an avid Michigan Wolverine fan all her life and enjoyed Michigan hockey, girls' softball, men's basketball and men's football. "She always had a ritual before each Wolverine football game of dressing in her Michigan clothes and shoes" said her husband, Bill. If she passed anyone that was wearing Michigan garb, she would always say "Go Blue!". Ironically, Bill is a true Buckeye fan and they always joked as to who was on the wrong side of the sport.
Cathy had a strong passion for crafting. She painted plaques, made lighthouses out of clay pots and painted all sorts of wooden items, generally in Michigan or Ohio State colors. Bill would lament that she sold them too cheaply. But she just loved to paint and have her crafts give joy to others. Cathy loved her children, Patrick and Danielle, and grandson, Breydon, and had hoped to spend more time with them since retiring.
Cathy was preceded in death by her parents; and brother-in-law, Stanley Brooks. She is survived by her loving husband, Bill; daughter, Danielle Heban; son, Patrick Borucki; grandson, Breydon Siler; sister, Cynthia Brooks; brother, Michael (Pam) Bassett; aunts, Rosie Christian and Carolyn Sadd; and uncle, Charlie (Layla) Thabet; sisters-in-law, Mary Kay (Mike) Scott, Susan (Gary) Yoder; brother in law, Jim (Karen) Verbosky; and mother-in-law, Steffie Verbosky; nephews, Chris Bassett, Jon Bassett, Nikolas Verbosky, Patrick (Alison) Yoder, Ben Yoder and Michael Scott; nieces, Kristina Yoder, Maria Scott, and Abby Verbosky; along with many cousins.
Among the many friends she leaves behind are; Debbie, Tina, Michelle, Laura, Sandy, the girls at Billy V's Bar and friends from Meijer. The family would especially like to thank the wonderful staff at St. Vincent Hospital for all of their support and care during Cathy's stay. Cathy wanted to donate her organs but was unable to, due to a previous breast cancer surgery. Visitation will be on Sunday, June 6, from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Sujkowski Walker Funeral Home in Rossford. Visitation will continue at All Saints Catholic Church in Rossford, on Monday, June 7, at 9:00 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be at Ft. Meigs Cemetery in Perrysburg.
Catherine "Cathy" (Bassett) Verbosky passed away on May 31, 2021 at St Vincent's Hospital following complications from a stroke. She died peacefully surrounded by her husband, Bill, and loving family. She was 65.
Cathy was born in Adrian, Michigan on June 21, 1955 to Farris and Clemence Bassett. She grew up in Blissfield, Michigan and graduated from Blissfield High School in 1973. Cathy and Bill were together for 20 years and married for 16 years. Cathy retired from the Meijer store in Rossford in October of last year. She, and her husband Bill, own Billy V's Bar in Rossford.
Cathy was an avid Michigan Wolverine fan all her life and enjoyed Michigan hockey, girls' softball, men's basketball and men's football. "She always had a ritual before each Wolverine football game of dressing in her Michigan clothes and shoes" said her husband, Bill. If she passed anyone that was wearing Michigan garb, she would always say "Go Blue!". Ironically, Bill is a true Buckeye fan and they always joked as to who was on the wrong side of the sport.
Cathy had a strong passion for crafting. She painted plaques, made lighthouses out of clay pots and painted all sorts of wooden items, generally in Michigan or Ohio State colors. Bill would lament that she sold them too cheaply. But she just loved to paint and have her crafts give joy to others. Cathy loved her children, Patrick and Danielle, and grandson, Breydon, and had hoped to spend more time with them since retiring.
Cathy was preceded in death by her parents; and brother-in-law, Stanley Brooks. She is survived by her loving husband, Bill; daughter, Danielle Heban; son, Patrick Borucki; grandson, Breydon Siler; sister, Cynthia Brooks; brother, Michael (Pam) Bassett; aunts, Rosie Christian and Carolyn Sadd; and uncle, Charlie (Layla) Thabet; sisters-in-law, Mary Kay (Mike) Scott, Susan (Gary) Yoder; brother in law, Jim (Karen) Verbosky; and mother-in-law, Steffie Verbosky; nephews, Chris Bassett, Jon Bassett, Nikolas Verbosky, Patrick (Alison) Yoder, Ben Yoder and Michael Scott; nieces, Kristina Yoder, Maria Scott, and Abby Verbosky; along with many cousins.
Among the many friends she leaves behind are; Debbie, Tina, Michelle, Laura, Sandy, the girls at Billy V's Bar and friends from Meijer. The family would especially like to thank the wonderful staff at St. Vincent Hospital for all of their support and care during Cathy's stay. Cathy wanted to donate her organs but was unable to, due to a previous breast cancer surgery. Visitation will be on Sunday, June 6, from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Sujkowski Walker Funeral Home in Rossford. Visitation will continue at All Saints Catholic Church in Rossford, on Monday, June 7, at 9:00 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be at Ft. Meigs Cemetery in Perrysburg.
Robert (Bob) W. Thabit, Esquire passed away on March 8, 2021 in La Jolla, California. Robert was born on September 26, 1924 to Shukrie and Abdallah (Albert) Thabit in Brooklyn, New York the youngest of their four children. His siblings and both his parents pre-deceased him. He was married to Afifeh Vivian Diab for over 48 years. She passed away in 1998. He is survived by his two children Allen and Mona.
Robert served in the US Army Air Forces from 1943 to 1946. He graduated with a B.A. from Brooklyn College in 1949. He received his LLB in 1952 and his LLM in International Law in 1953 from NYU Law School.
He worked for the US State Department at the American Consulate in Beirut Lebanon from 1955 to 1957. He worked for Aramco on the Trans Arabian Pipeline in Saudi Arabia from 1957 to 1959.
After his return from the Middle East he became legal advisor to over 14 Arab and African member countries to the United Nations including Kuwait, Libya, Qatar, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Somalia, Mauritania and Saudi Arabia. In the 1960's he spearheaded the identification and purchase of the expansive property for the future Islamic Cultural Center of New York on E 96th St and Third Ave. in Manhattan. He was the legal advisor to the Islamic Cultural Center of New York and Arab Student Aid International.
Robert was the co-founder and past president of both the American Aid for Arab Refugees and the National Association of Arab Americans. In his capacity as Secretary of the NAAA he was part of the delegation that met with President Gerald Ford in 1975 to press for a peaceful resolution to the Middle East conflict through more equitable treatment of the Palestinian people.
He was a founding board member and general counsel of the Saint Nicholas Home in Brooklyn, member of the American Bar Association, New York Bar Association, American Foreign Law Association and the Middle East Institute.
He, along with Khalil Matar, co-authored the book "Lockerbie and Libya: A Study in International Relations" published in 2004.
In 1992 Robert was honored by the International Progress Organization with the Golden Honorary Medal. In 2006 he was honored by the Salaam Club of New York as their Man of the Year.
Throughout his years in New York, he was selfless in his dedication, care and compassion, helping any and all who asked.
The viewing will be held at the McLaughlin Funeral Home in Brooklyn from 2-5 PM and 7-9 PM on Tuesday March 16. The funeral mass will be held at Saint Mary's Antiochian Orthodox Church at 10:00 AM on March 17th. Interment will take place at Greenwood Cemetery's Hillside Mausoleum III. In lieu of flowers please make donations to the charity of your choice.
Robert served in the US Army Air Forces from 1943 to 1946. He graduated with a B.A. from Brooklyn College in 1949. He received his LLB in 1952 and his LLM in International Law in 1953 from NYU Law School.
He worked for the US State Department at the American Consulate in Beirut Lebanon from 1955 to 1957. He worked for Aramco on the Trans Arabian Pipeline in Saudi Arabia from 1957 to 1959.
After his return from the Middle East he became legal advisor to over 14 Arab and African member countries to the United Nations including Kuwait, Libya, Qatar, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Somalia, Mauritania and Saudi Arabia. In the 1960's he spearheaded the identification and purchase of the expansive property for the future Islamic Cultural Center of New York on E 96th St and Third Ave. in Manhattan. He was the legal advisor to the Islamic Cultural Center of New York and Arab Student Aid International.
Robert was the co-founder and past president of both the American Aid for Arab Refugees and the National Association of Arab Americans. In his capacity as Secretary of the NAAA he was part of the delegation that met with President Gerald Ford in 1975 to press for a peaceful resolution to the Middle East conflict through more equitable treatment of the Palestinian people.
He was a founding board member and general counsel of the Saint Nicholas Home in Brooklyn, member of the American Bar Association, New York Bar Association, American Foreign Law Association and the Middle East Institute.
He, along with Khalil Matar, co-authored the book "Lockerbie and Libya: A Study in International Relations" published in 2004.
In 1992 Robert was honored by the International Progress Organization with the Golden Honorary Medal. In 2006 he was honored by the Salaam Club of New York as their Man of the Year.
Throughout his years in New York, he was selfless in his dedication, care and compassion, helping any and all who asked.
The viewing will be held at the McLaughlin Funeral Home in Brooklyn from 2-5 PM and 7-9 PM on Tuesday March 16. The funeral mass will be held at Saint Mary's Antiochian Orthodox Church at 10:00 AM on March 17th. Interment will take place at Greenwood Cemetery's Hillside Mausoleum III. In lieu of flowers please make donations to the charity of your choice.
William David Tweel
LANCASTER, SOUTH CAROLINAJanuary 5, 1941-February 27, 2021
William Tweel, 81 passed away on Saturday, February 27,2021.
The family of William Tweel has entrusted arrangements to the Cremation Society of Charlotte.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of William Tweel please visit our Tribute Store.
LANCASTER, SOUTH CAROLINAJanuary 5, 1941-February 27, 2021
William Tweel, 81 passed away on Saturday, February 27,2021.
The family of William Tweel has entrusted arrangements to the Cremation Society of Charlotte.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of William Tweel please visit our Tribute Store.
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Naime Toufic Saad Joseph, 88, more affectionately known as Mama J, went to dance with the Angels in Heaven on February 12, 2021, 9:56 p.m. at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Huntington, WV due to prolonged sequelae of a massive heart attack. She survived a plethora of complications that only the strongest could have weathered. Mom was born November 22, 1932, in Kfeir, Lebanon, to the late Toufic Saad and Mountaha Mackarios Saad. She spent her childhood working in the garden picking olives and tending sheep. Her childhood dream of coming to America was fulfilled when, at age 16, she came to New York City to be a nanny for her cousin’s family who worked in the United Nations. Two years later, during a visit to Toledo, Ohio, Sam Joseph, a WWII veteran from Kfeir, married her on November 25, 1951, moving her to Huntington where she lived the remainder of her life.
Mom quickly integrated into the Lebanese-American community and embraced living in America with a great appreciation of the values upon which this country was built. She proudly became a United States citizen May 1, 1959, despite struggling to teach herself the English language. While Sam instilled integrity and work ethic into his children, Mom infected us with the qualities of empathy and unconditional love.
She became enmeshed in the activities of her family, including her siblings, nieces and nephews, Marshall sports and her beloved Holy Spirit Orthodox Church, where she taught Sunday School and was known as a super submarine sandwich maker. She was “Mama Bones” to her son’s friends, and would be known to leave an occasional surprise snack for that pioneer class of Marshall Med School. Mom never knew a stranger and made friends wherever she went, the grocery, the mall, the post office, spreading her goodness around, often handing out angel pins. She embraced life with passion and never turned down an opportunity to burn up the dance floor. While Mom adored her children and grandchildren, she was “everybody’s mother,” and gifted with a listening ear, she mentored many with her faith and love of Jesus Christ.
Her favorite sayings, “Naime-isms” (as her niece Rebecca called them), included “Remember, God is in control,” “This is not my real home; my real home is with Jesus,” “Let every breath praise the Lord,” and saying so many times, even the granddogs could say it, “Lord have mercy!”
Rejoicing her arrival in Heaven, in addition to her parents, Toufic and Mountaha, are husband, Sam, the baby she never got to hold, Michael Edward, son-in-law, Chris Asmus, brother, Ayoub Saad, niece, Venice Saad, niece, Sarah Saad, her second mother, Nazik Hanna, sister-in-law, Rosette Saad, brother-in-law, Norman Mckarris, and granddogs, Cesar, Duke, Marco, Thunder and Yogi.
Left to cherish her memory and carry on her example of faith are son, John Joseph, his wife Krissy and their sons Nick and Mike of Georgia, daughter, Diana Asmus and her son CJ Asmus of South Carolina, sister-in-law, Rose Saad of Huntington and family, brother, George Saad and family of Beirut and Canada, brother, Daniel Saad and family of Kfeir, sister, Eva Mckarris of Canada with her beloved children and their families, Naheel, Sally, George and Sam, brother, Edward Saad and family, niece, Donna Joseph of Columbus, and very precious brother and sister-in-law, whom Mom loved dearly, Julian and Jihad Saad (and her mother, Miriam) of Huntington and their children Rebecca, Abraham and Christina and their respective beautiful families, her “other son,” David Rahal, her “other brother,” George and wife Gloria Hanna, her “other sister,” Rhoda Hodge and daughter Sharon, and last, but not at all least, daughter, sandra and granddogs Arlo, MUs and Mario.
She also leaves a multitude of friends and godchildren, among them Carol and Jim, Kathy, Lexa, Lila, Martha, Matt, Andrea, Nick, the Bolus family, Father John and Loukia, and the many, many others whose lives she touched. Special thanks to Dr. Elizabeth Saunders, who cared for her in the hospital. And gratitude and appreciation, more than words can express, to the caring staff at Wyngate Barboursville who meticulously cared for Mom and where her outgoing personality outshone the dementia that robbed her of so much. As one of the staff said, “Thank you for sharing your Mom with us.”
As much as Mom loved flowers, she loved even more her church, feeding the poor and caring for animals. Suggested donations can be made in her memory to Holy Spirit Orthodox Church, the Huntington City Mission, Cridlin Food Pantry, Kfeirian Reunion Foundation, Cabell-Wayne Animal Shelter or ASAP (Advocates Saving Adoptable Pets).
Due to this dreadful pandemic, visitation by drive-by will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, February 23, 2021, at Holy Spirit Orthodox Church, entering the parking lot at Woodhaven Drive and exiting at the southbound end. Funeral service for the family at the church at 1 p.m. will be livestreamed via Holy Spirit Antiochian Orthodox Church Facebook page or at www.holyspiritwv.org. Burial at 2:15 p.m. at Spring Hill Cemetery for friends and family observing CDC guidelines of mandatory masking and social distancing. While we all want to hug, and Mom loved giving hugs, we totally understand the need for distancing during this pandemic, so condolences can also be made via Klingel-Carpenter Mortuary, who is handling arrangements, via family guestbook at www.klingelcarpenter.com.
Pallbearers will be John Joseph, CJ Asmus, Mike Joseph, Nick Joseph, Abraham Saad, Toufic Saad, David Rahal, Sidney Tweel and Mark Hosey. Honorary Pallbearers will be Julian Saad, George Hanna and Richard Tweel.
We are blessed to have had Naime, Mama J, Mom, Amtoo (auntie), Sitty (grandmother) as a mother, grandmother, sister and aunt who taught us about faith and love, who let Jesus’ light shine through her and through those sparkling eyes. Her wish would be that we would all keep the faith until we meet again. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is laid upon for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day — and not only to me, but to all who crave His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
Mom, you are terribly missed, but I know you are HAPPILY DANCING with the ANGELS around the THRONE. Love forever.❤
Mom quickly integrated into the Lebanese-American community and embraced living in America with a great appreciation of the values upon which this country was built. She proudly became a United States citizen May 1, 1959, despite struggling to teach herself the English language. While Sam instilled integrity and work ethic into his children, Mom infected us with the qualities of empathy and unconditional love.
She became enmeshed in the activities of her family, including her siblings, nieces and nephews, Marshall sports and her beloved Holy Spirit Orthodox Church, where she taught Sunday School and was known as a super submarine sandwich maker. She was “Mama Bones” to her son’s friends, and would be known to leave an occasional surprise snack for that pioneer class of Marshall Med School. Mom never knew a stranger and made friends wherever she went, the grocery, the mall, the post office, spreading her goodness around, often handing out angel pins. She embraced life with passion and never turned down an opportunity to burn up the dance floor. While Mom adored her children and grandchildren, she was “everybody’s mother,” and gifted with a listening ear, she mentored many with her faith and love of Jesus Christ.
Her favorite sayings, “Naime-isms” (as her niece Rebecca called them), included “Remember, God is in control,” “This is not my real home; my real home is with Jesus,” “Let every breath praise the Lord,” and saying so many times, even the granddogs could say it, “Lord have mercy!”
Rejoicing her arrival in Heaven, in addition to her parents, Toufic and Mountaha, are husband, Sam, the baby she never got to hold, Michael Edward, son-in-law, Chris Asmus, brother, Ayoub Saad, niece, Venice Saad, niece, Sarah Saad, her second mother, Nazik Hanna, sister-in-law, Rosette Saad, brother-in-law, Norman Mckarris, and granddogs, Cesar, Duke, Marco, Thunder and Yogi.
Left to cherish her memory and carry on her example of faith are son, John Joseph, his wife Krissy and their sons Nick and Mike of Georgia, daughter, Diana Asmus and her son CJ Asmus of South Carolina, sister-in-law, Rose Saad of Huntington and family, brother, George Saad and family of Beirut and Canada, brother, Daniel Saad and family of Kfeir, sister, Eva Mckarris of Canada with her beloved children and their families, Naheel, Sally, George and Sam, brother, Edward Saad and family, niece, Donna Joseph of Columbus, and very precious brother and sister-in-law, whom Mom loved dearly, Julian and Jihad Saad (and her mother, Miriam) of Huntington and their children Rebecca, Abraham and Christina and their respective beautiful families, her “other son,” David Rahal, her “other brother,” George and wife Gloria Hanna, her “other sister,” Rhoda Hodge and daughter Sharon, and last, but not at all least, daughter, sandra and granddogs Arlo, MUs and Mario.
She also leaves a multitude of friends and godchildren, among them Carol and Jim, Kathy, Lexa, Lila, Martha, Matt, Andrea, Nick, the Bolus family, Father John and Loukia, and the many, many others whose lives she touched. Special thanks to Dr. Elizabeth Saunders, who cared for her in the hospital. And gratitude and appreciation, more than words can express, to the caring staff at Wyngate Barboursville who meticulously cared for Mom and where her outgoing personality outshone the dementia that robbed her of so much. As one of the staff said, “Thank you for sharing your Mom with us.”
As much as Mom loved flowers, she loved even more her church, feeding the poor and caring for animals. Suggested donations can be made in her memory to Holy Spirit Orthodox Church, the Huntington City Mission, Cridlin Food Pantry, Kfeirian Reunion Foundation, Cabell-Wayne Animal Shelter or ASAP (Advocates Saving Adoptable Pets).
Due to this dreadful pandemic, visitation by drive-by will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, February 23, 2021, at Holy Spirit Orthodox Church, entering the parking lot at Woodhaven Drive and exiting at the southbound end. Funeral service for the family at the church at 1 p.m. will be livestreamed via Holy Spirit Antiochian Orthodox Church Facebook page or at www.holyspiritwv.org. Burial at 2:15 p.m. at Spring Hill Cemetery for friends and family observing CDC guidelines of mandatory masking and social distancing. While we all want to hug, and Mom loved giving hugs, we totally understand the need for distancing during this pandemic, so condolences can also be made via Klingel-Carpenter Mortuary, who is handling arrangements, via family guestbook at www.klingelcarpenter.com.
Pallbearers will be John Joseph, CJ Asmus, Mike Joseph, Nick Joseph, Abraham Saad, Toufic Saad, David Rahal, Sidney Tweel and Mark Hosey. Honorary Pallbearers will be Julian Saad, George Hanna and Richard Tweel.
We are blessed to have had Naime, Mama J, Mom, Amtoo (auntie), Sitty (grandmother) as a mother, grandmother, sister and aunt who taught us about faith and love, who let Jesus’ light shine through her and through those sparkling eyes. Her wish would be that we would all keep the faith until we meet again. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is laid upon for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day — and not only to me, but to all who crave His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
Mom, you are terribly missed, but I know you are HAPPILY DANCING with the ANGELS around the THRONE. Love forever.❤
Bill Dixon, age 70 of Spring Hill, TN and formerly of Versailles, KY went to be with the Lord on January 20, 2021.
Bill was born in Williamson, WV to the late Henry Dixon and Catherine Cantees Dixon. Bill was the kindest soul. He never met a stranger. His sense of humor and positive outlook on life made every day bright. Bill was an avid golfer and guitar player. Music was his true passion.
He was a loving and devoted husband, father, brother and friend and he will be deeply missed by all who knew him. Bill leaves behind his loving wife of 38 years, Susie Dixon; daughter, Meredith Dixon; brother, Gary Dixon; brother-in-law, James “Jimmy” Kinder.
A socially distanced memorial visitation will be held from 1-3pm on Sunday, January 24, 2021 at Spring Hill Memorial Funeral Home in Spring Hill, TN. Masks will be required.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Bill’s honor to the ARH Foundation in support of the mission that Bill was committed to for 35 years. Contributions can be sent to 2260 Executive Dr, Lexington, KY 40505 or can be made online at www.arhfoundation.org Spring Hill Memorial Park, Funeral Home and Creation Services.
Bill was born in Williamson, WV to the late Henry Dixon and Catherine Cantees Dixon. Bill was the kindest soul. He never met a stranger. His sense of humor and positive outlook on life made every day bright. Bill was an avid golfer and guitar player. Music was his true passion.
He was a loving and devoted husband, father, brother and friend and he will be deeply missed by all who knew him. Bill leaves behind his loving wife of 38 years, Susie Dixon; daughter, Meredith Dixon; brother, Gary Dixon; brother-in-law, James “Jimmy” Kinder.
A socially distanced memorial visitation will be held from 1-3pm on Sunday, January 24, 2021 at Spring Hill Memorial Funeral Home in Spring Hill, TN. Masks will be required.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Bill’s honor to the ARH Foundation in support of the mission that Bill was committed to for 35 years. Contributions can be sent to 2260 Executive Dr, Lexington, KY 40505 or can be made online at www.arhfoundation.org Spring Hill Memorial Park, Funeral Home and Creation Services.
Rosemary Aborizk Guthrie of Woodbridge, Virginia passed away unexpectedly on January 19th after a brief illness. Born and raised in Huntington, West Virginia she later resided in St. Petersburg, Florida for 27 years and in Woodbridge, Virginia since March of 2013 to be close to family. She was a life member of VFW Post 1503 Auxiliary in Dale City, VA.
Rose or Rosie as most of her friends and family called her lived and worked in West Virginia until the age of 46. She worked in various positions including dental assistant, clerical work and church secretary at Pea Ridge Baptist for many years. Rose relocated to Florida to be close to her sister after her Mother passed and was employed there as an office worker and later as a care giver for many years. When her sister passed she relocated to Woodbridge Virginia in 2013 to be close to her daughter Kelli and her family.
In West Virginia she loved dancing the night away at VFW Post 9738 in Guyandotte. She enjoyed spending the holidays with her Tweel family, gardening and visiting the beach in Florida. She was always adorned with pieces from her nearly unrivaled jewelry collection. Her passions and interests also included decorating and organizing as well as learning to operate and navigate the internet and social media on her Tablet at the age of 74 to stay connected to family and friends. More than anything she adored the time she spent with her two grandsons, Tommy and Justin.
In Virginia Rose resided at Potomac Woods Senior Living community where she lived very contently with many friends, including Julie, Janice and Bonnie; whom she loved and shared a special friendship with. She leaves a void in all the lives that she touched and will be missed greatly and remembered fondly.
Rose was preceded in death by her Mother, Hazel Tweel Aborizk, Father, Nicholas Aborizk and her only sister Norma Hamberger. Rose is survived by her daughter Kelli Thompson Levitt and her husband Thomas M. Levitt II of Woodbridge and her two grandsons, Thomas M. Levitt III of Richmond and Justin J. Levitt of Woodbridge as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews all with a special place in her heart. The little tiny lady with the very big heart!!
Rose or Rosie as most of her friends and family called her lived and worked in West Virginia until the age of 46. She worked in various positions including dental assistant, clerical work and church secretary at Pea Ridge Baptist for many years. Rose relocated to Florida to be close to her sister after her Mother passed and was employed there as an office worker and later as a care giver for many years. When her sister passed she relocated to Woodbridge Virginia in 2013 to be close to her daughter Kelli and her family.
In West Virginia she loved dancing the night away at VFW Post 9738 in Guyandotte. She enjoyed spending the holidays with her Tweel family, gardening and visiting the beach in Florida. She was always adorned with pieces from her nearly unrivaled jewelry collection. Her passions and interests also included decorating and organizing as well as learning to operate and navigate the internet and social media on her Tablet at the age of 74 to stay connected to family and friends. More than anything she adored the time she spent with her two grandsons, Tommy and Justin.
In Virginia Rose resided at Potomac Woods Senior Living community where she lived very contently with many friends, including Julie, Janice and Bonnie; whom she loved and shared a special friendship with. She leaves a void in all the lives that she touched and will be missed greatly and remembered fondly.
Rose was preceded in death by her Mother, Hazel Tweel Aborizk, Father, Nicholas Aborizk and her only sister Norma Hamberger. Rose is survived by her daughter Kelli Thompson Levitt and her husband Thomas M. Levitt II of Woodbridge and her two grandsons, Thomas M. Levitt III of Richmond and Justin J. Levitt of Woodbridge as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews all with a special place in her heart. The little tiny lady with the very big heart!!
Rose Saad Farley, age 81, died on January 13, 2021 in Tennessee from a non-Covid brief illness. Beloved by all who knew her, Rose will be missed forever. She was a woman of great faith, devoted to the Lord and to the service of her church. She loved her three daughters unconditionally and supported them through all their endeavors.
Born in 1939 in Pikeville, Kentucky, Rose was the daughter of the late Clara Sword Saad and Jasper Saad. She was preceded in death by her siblings, Lucille Smith, John “Bip” Saad, Paul, Pauline and Aletha.
Rose is survived by her three daughters, A. Claire Farley of Georgia, Jenny Farley Kwong, son-in-law Kevin and grandson Kai of Pennsylvania, Dana Chavis and son-in-law Mike and step grandchildren AnnaLevi, PFC Walker, Zoe and Canaan as well as many nieces and nephews.
Throughout her life, Rose worked as an English teacher, a court reporter and as court clerk and case manager to The Honorable Thomas E. Baynes and to the Honorable Alexander L. Paskay, federal judges in the United States Bankruptcy Court in Tampa, Florida. She was most proud of her work as Pike County (Kentucky) Fiscal Court Clerk for 19 years before retiring.
Rose was a frequent guest host for her sister, Lucille Smith’s daily radio show called The Personal Touch on WPKE in Pikeville, Kentucky. She was also a guest columnist for The Appalachian News-Express. She was valedictorian of her high school, and despite having received several offers of scholarships to Ivy League schools, she was proud to graduate as valedictorian from Pikeville College.
Rose was a member of Pikeville United Methodist Church and First United Methodist Church in Frankfort, Kentucky where she worked as church secretary, taught Sunday school and led Bible study. She never went anywhere without her Bible, which was so worn from reading and from her extensive notes in the margins that pages were falling out of it.
Mama Rose, as many of her daughters’ friends called her, was a mother to everyone, always offering a listening ear and kind advice with a great laugh. Her creativity inspired her family. She made costumes for plays and painted doll furniture with Pennsylvania Dutch designs. She crocheted beautiful afghans and baby clothes for gifts to friends. She played piano duets with Dana. Before her children could read, she drew paw prints on “notes” from the Easter bunny and pictures of food on grocery lists so they could help her shop.
Rose loved the Lord and looked forward to being in heaven, but she often told her daughters her spirit would be with them always and she would watch over them.
A memorial service is expected to be held at Pikeville United Methodist Church in Pikeville, Kentucky in the coming months when it is safe to gather.
Born in 1939 in Pikeville, Kentucky, Rose was the daughter of the late Clara Sword Saad and Jasper Saad. She was preceded in death by her siblings, Lucille Smith, John “Bip” Saad, Paul, Pauline and Aletha.
Rose is survived by her three daughters, A. Claire Farley of Georgia, Jenny Farley Kwong, son-in-law Kevin and grandson Kai of Pennsylvania, Dana Chavis and son-in-law Mike and step grandchildren AnnaLevi, PFC Walker, Zoe and Canaan as well as many nieces and nephews.
Throughout her life, Rose worked as an English teacher, a court reporter and as court clerk and case manager to The Honorable Thomas E. Baynes and to the Honorable Alexander L. Paskay, federal judges in the United States Bankruptcy Court in Tampa, Florida. She was most proud of her work as Pike County (Kentucky) Fiscal Court Clerk for 19 years before retiring.
Rose was a frequent guest host for her sister, Lucille Smith’s daily radio show called The Personal Touch on WPKE in Pikeville, Kentucky. She was also a guest columnist for The Appalachian News-Express. She was valedictorian of her high school, and despite having received several offers of scholarships to Ivy League schools, she was proud to graduate as valedictorian from Pikeville College.
Rose was a member of Pikeville United Methodist Church and First United Methodist Church in Frankfort, Kentucky where she worked as church secretary, taught Sunday school and led Bible study. She never went anywhere without her Bible, which was so worn from reading and from her extensive notes in the margins that pages were falling out of it.
Mama Rose, as many of her daughters’ friends called her, was a mother to everyone, always offering a listening ear and kind advice with a great laugh. Her creativity inspired her family. She made costumes for plays and painted doll furniture with Pennsylvania Dutch designs. She crocheted beautiful afghans and baby clothes for gifts to friends. She played piano duets with Dana. Before her children could read, she drew paw prints on “notes” from the Easter bunny and pictures of food on grocery lists so they could help her shop.
Rose loved the Lord and looked forward to being in heaven, but she often told her daughters her spirit would be with them always and she would watch over them.
A memorial service is expected to be held at Pikeville United Methodist Church in Pikeville, Kentucky in the coming months when it is safe to gather.
Selma M. Rahall Andrews passed from this earth early on Sunday, September 27, 2020 after battling severe health problems. She was 86 years old. She was born on November 6, 1933 in Beckley, WV to Samuel and Amelia (Kerbawy) Rahall. She was a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School.
She worked for the State of West Virginia Job Services for 33 years before retiring. After getting bored with retirement, she went back to school and graduated from The Registry of the American Medical Technologists as a Certified Phlebotomy Technician. Selma was a member of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church for many, many years where she was a member of the choir, the Women’s Auxiliary and Women of the Holy Myrrhbears. She baked and served baklawa to many thousands. Selma was a faithful member of the church that was known and loved by all.
She is survived by her daughters Lisa and Laura Andrews, her sister Mary Elizabeth (Rahall) Bassett; her niece Lila Ellison, grand-nieces Laren and Kelly Ellison and great grand-niece Holli Kameron; niece Sarah Bassett, grand-niece Diana Mederos, and grand-nephew Michael Mederos; brother-in-Law Mark (Verna) Andrews and Sister-in Law Ethel (Wendell) Meador.
Services will be officiated by Very Revered Father Samuel Haddad, St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, 211 South Heber Street, Beckley. The viewing from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm on Tuesday, September 29, at the church. Please wear masks/facial covering and practice normal social distancing. At 8:15pm the Trisagion Prayers of Mercy will be offered. A graveside service will be held for Friends and Family on Wednesday, September 30, 2020 at 2:15 pm at Sunset Memorial Park, 1925 Harper Road, Beckley, WV. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any gifts or donations be made to St. Nicholas Orthodox Church.
She worked for the State of West Virginia Job Services for 33 years before retiring. After getting bored with retirement, she went back to school and graduated from The Registry of the American Medical Technologists as a Certified Phlebotomy Technician. Selma was a member of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church for many, many years where she was a member of the choir, the Women’s Auxiliary and Women of the Holy Myrrhbears. She baked and served baklawa to many thousands. Selma was a faithful member of the church that was known and loved by all.
She is survived by her daughters Lisa and Laura Andrews, her sister Mary Elizabeth (Rahall) Bassett; her niece Lila Ellison, grand-nieces Laren and Kelly Ellison and great grand-niece Holli Kameron; niece Sarah Bassett, grand-niece Diana Mederos, and grand-nephew Michael Mederos; brother-in-Law Mark (Verna) Andrews and Sister-in Law Ethel (Wendell) Meador.
Services will be officiated by Very Revered Father Samuel Haddad, St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, 211 South Heber Street, Beckley. The viewing from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm on Tuesday, September 29, at the church. Please wear masks/facial covering and practice normal social distancing. At 8:15pm the Trisagion Prayers of Mercy will be offered. A graveside service will be held for Friends and Family on Wednesday, September 30, 2020 at 2:15 pm at Sunset Memorial Park, 1925 Harper Road, Beckley, WV. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any gifts or donations be made to St. Nicholas Orthodox Church.
Margaret Sahley George, 96, of Beckley WV, died September 26, 2020 following a long illness.
Born January 10, 1924 in Charleston, WV. She was the daughter of the late Joseph and Nebuha (Nellie) Sahley. She was preceded in death by her brothers George Sahley & Dr. Raymond Sahley.
Margaret was a graduate of Charleston High School. She attended Morris Harvey College and Charleston School of Commerce where she studied accounting. She worked at Carnegie Illinois Steel Corporation as an accounting supervisor.
Margaret was an active member of St. Stephens Episcopal Church where she served on the Episcopal Church Women's group and volunteered for numerous ministries. She was also active in Beckley Senior Friends.
Margaret is survived by her husband, Louis D. George, and three children, Sharon George (David Payne), Louis George (Anne), Greg George (Carol), and sister Evelyn Cassis (George, deceased). Margaret has five grandchildren, Alex, Sammi, Robby, Kelsey and Brent George, along with numerous nieces and nephews.
Due to COVID-19 limitations and concern for the safety of Margaret's friends and family, Reverend Mother Susan Claytor will conduct a private memorial service at St. Stephens Episcopal Church. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Park in South Charleston, WV.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions may be made to St. Stephens Episcopal Church, 200 Virginia St, Beckley, WV 25801, or Beckley Area Foundation, 129 Main St., Suite 301, Beckley, WV 25801.
Online condolences may be left at Melton Mortuary. Published on September 28, 2020
Charlotte Georgette Lechlak, née Sadd, 76, passed away May 12, 2020 at home in Cornelius, N.C. with her family at her side.
Charlotte was the loving mother of three daughters; the grandmother ("Sittee") of seven grandchildren; and the widow of Larry Lechlak, for whom she was married to for 52 years.
She was born in Toledo, Ohio in 1943 as the only daughter to George Sadd and Naheele Sadd, née Zakem, and sister to older brothers Adeeb and Jameel. Her parents were both of Lebanese descent, having emigrated from the same mountainside village of Kfeir, Lebanon. Her father immigrated to Toledo and her mother immigrated to Prince Edward Island (Canada) before they later met, married and started a family in Toledo. George ran the family-owned corner store and butcher shop, where Hollywood stars Danny Thomas and Jamie Farr once were regulars while growing up with her brothers in the same North End immigrant community.
Charlotte graduated from Rogers High School in Toledo and briefly attended the University of Toledo where she met Larry Lechlak and later married in 1962. While raising her three daughters, Charlotte operated an ice cream shop in East Toledo and was an active church member of the Saint George Antiochian Orthodox Christian Cathedral.
Once her daughters were of adult age, Charlotte and her husband moved to Los Angeles, CA to join other members of her family that previously relocated from Toledo. There, they owned and operated a commercial print shop for over two decades before retiring and moving near Charlotte, N.C. to live on the shores of Lake Norman with their daughter Laura and her family. There she became active with St. Luke Greek Orthodox Church in Mooresville, N.C., where she was the driving force behind their annual Greek Pastry Sale fundraiser for their local chapter of Philoptochos, a national organization for women age 18 and older that supports ministries and non-profits in the local community.
In addition, Charlotte was a long-time member and current Board of Trustee of the Kfeirian Reunion Foundation, a national organization that brought together descendants of Kfeir, Lebanon to celebrate their cultural heritage and award collegiate scholarships. Last year, Charlotte fulfilled a life-long dream to visit Lebanon and see the home her grandfather built in Kfeir, where her father was born.
Charlotte is deeply missed by her daughters Anne (Mark) Wambold of Toledo, Ohio, Laura (Steven) Pegram of Cornelius, N.C., and Amy Lechlak of Cornelius, N.C.; and grandchildren, Jocelyn (Randy), Melanie (Andrew), Zachary, Nicholas, Samia, Maxwell, and Breya. She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Naheele Sadd; brothers Adeeb Sadd and Jameel Sadd, and husband Larry Lechlak.
She will also be fondly remembered by many others. Charlotte's love and generosity went far beyond blood lines. If you were fortunate enough to know her, you were family to her in every sense.
Charlotte will lay to rest next to her husband at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Cemetery (8330 Lewis Ave., Temperance, MI 48182) near Toledo. Those wishing to pay last respects may join the family on Friday, May 15 for gravesite visitation from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m., followed by a short gravesite service. A "Celebration of Charlotte's Life" gathering will be announced on a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests for contributions to be made to St. Luke Greek Orthodox Church (Attn: Charlotte Lechlak Memorial Fund) and mailed to P.O. Box 1513, Mooresville, NC 28115.
Charlotte was the loving mother of three daughters; the grandmother ("Sittee") of seven grandchildren; and the widow of Larry Lechlak, for whom she was married to for 52 years.
She was born in Toledo, Ohio in 1943 as the only daughter to George Sadd and Naheele Sadd, née Zakem, and sister to older brothers Adeeb and Jameel. Her parents were both of Lebanese descent, having emigrated from the same mountainside village of Kfeir, Lebanon. Her father immigrated to Toledo and her mother immigrated to Prince Edward Island (Canada) before they later met, married and started a family in Toledo. George ran the family-owned corner store and butcher shop, where Hollywood stars Danny Thomas and Jamie Farr once were regulars while growing up with her brothers in the same North End immigrant community.
Charlotte graduated from Rogers High School in Toledo and briefly attended the University of Toledo where she met Larry Lechlak and later married in 1962. While raising her three daughters, Charlotte operated an ice cream shop in East Toledo and was an active church member of the Saint George Antiochian Orthodox Christian Cathedral.
Once her daughters were of adult age, Charlotte and her husband moved to Los Angeles, CA to join other members of her family that previously relocated from Toledo. There, they owned and operated a commercial print shop for over two decades before retiring and moving near Charlotte, N.C. to live on the shores of Lake Norman with their daughter Laura and her family. There she became active with St. Luke Greek Orthodox Church in Mooresville, N.C., where she was the driving force behind their annual Greek Pastry Sale fundraiser for their local chapter of Philoptochos, a national organization for women age 18 and older that supports ministries and non-profits in the local community.
In addition, Charlotte was a long-time member and current Board of Trustee of the Kfeirian Reunion Foundation, a national organization that brought together descendants of Kfeir, Lebanon to celebrate their cultural heritage and award collegiate scholarships. Last year, Charlotte fulfilled a life-long dream to visit Lebanon and see the home her grandfather built in Kfeir, where her father was born.
Charlotte is deeply missed by her daughters Anne (Mark) Wambold of Toledo, Ohio, Laura (Steven) Pegram of Cornelius, N.C., and Amy Lechlak of Cornelius, N.C.; and grandchildren, Jocelyn (Randy), Melanie (Andrew), Zachary, Nicholas, Samia, Maxwell, and Breya. She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Naheele Sadd; brothers Adeeb Sadd and Jameel Sadd, and husband Larry Lechlak.
She will also be fondly remembered by many others. Charlotte's love and generosity went far beyond blood lines. If you were fortunate enough to know her, you were family to her in every sense.
Charlotte will lay to rest next to her husband at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Cemetery (8330 Lewis Ave., Temperance, MI 48182) near Toledo. Those wishing to pay last respects may join the family on Friday, May 15 for gravesite visitation from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m., followed by a short gravesite service. A "Celebration of Charlotte's Life" gathering will be announced on a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests for contributions to be made to St. Luke Greek Orthodox Church (Attn: Charlotte Lechlak Memorial Fund) and mailed to P.O. Box 1513, Mooresville, NC 28115.
Captain Ernie Lowen, 98, passed peacefully on April 11, 2020 in his home in Fairfax, Virginia. He had a distinguished career in the US Navy, which spanned three major wars- World War II, Korea and Vietnam. He was appointed by Congressman Joe L. Smith to take the physical and mental examination to the US Naval Academy, Annapolis from Charleston, West Virginia. He graduated with the class of 1946, which graduated in 1945 to participate in WWII. He caught up with his first ship, USS Indiana BB-58, returning from a strike off Okinawa in the Pacific Ocean and was assigned duty in the Turret One, 3-16 inch guns. This battleship later entered Tokyo Bay to participate in the signing of the surrender by Japan, during which he led a group in the night searching for enemy swimmers. Later he attended a course in Destroyer Anti-Aircraft Gunnery at Camp Catlin, Oahu, Hawaii.
After inactivating USS Indiana (BB 58) in Seattle, he was assigned to an aircraft carrier, USS Sicily (CVE 118). During the West Berlin crisis transported fighter aircraft to the Raf Base in Scotland for the eventual purpose of escorting the logistic aircraft supporting West Berlin to reduce harassment by the Russians. Attended the Navy Electronics School at Treasure Island, CA. Taught at Georgia Tech in nrotc, gunnery and navigation, as associate professor of Naval Reserve Officer Training. As Commanding Officer Skohegan (PCE-843), commended by Comone for the rescue of four seamen at sea who were swept overboard from USS Cross, a destroyer escort. He was later Commander Mine Division 41 and Commanding Officer, US Naval Facility, Shelburne, Nova Scotia, Canada, tracking unfriendly submarines. As Commanding Officer of an amphibious ship, participated in the opening of the Saint Lawrence Seaway in 1958 with Amphibious Squadron Eight (Operation Inland Sea) with President Eisenhour and Queen Elizabeth of the United Kingdom in attendance.
Commanded USS Powell (DD686) in Vietnam on Taiwan patrol and shore bombardment. On returning to San Diego from Kaoshung, Taiwan during a full power trial with flag ship in company, the starboard shaft parted steaming alone and hoping to find temporary help in Midway Island was unsuccessful and continued on to Pearl Harbor on the one shaft, where the shaft was secured and ultimately replaced in San Diego. His ship, Powell, was recommended for the Arleigh Burke Trophy (most improved destroyer in the pacific fleet). He was later Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations in Commander Cruiser-Destroyer Flotilla under Admiral Zumwalt. He participated in two tours of rotation in the Vietnam War, after which he was toured in the organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He retired from the US Navy in July 1975. During the years after his navy career, he worked in consulting and later for Raytheon Service Company.
He graduated from the US Naval Academy in June 1945, having attended Morris Harvey College (now Charleston University, Charleston, WV) and West Virginia University. In addition to commendations for Operation Inland Sea and rescuing seaman, he was awarded Meritorius Service medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Navy Occupation medal (Asia), Joint Service Commendation medal, American Theatre, Vietnam Service (2 Star), Secretary of Defense Badge,
Victory (WWII) Vietnam Campaign medal, Joint Chiefs of Staff Badge, National Defense (Bronze Star), Armed Forces Expeditionary medal, RVN Meritorious Unit Citation (Civil Action), RVN Cross of Gallentry, Pacific, Pacific Theatre. He was a member of the Charleston High School, Charleston, WV football team, 1939 State Champions. He was active in tennis, having managed and played in the Mantua (Fairfax) Program. He is predeceased by his loving wife, Sibyl Jean MacPherson Lowen and is survived by his three children, Pamela Osti (Mario) of Annandale, VA, Catherine Pearce (James) of Machias, ME, James Lowen (Edyta) of Nashville, TN and three grandchildren; Gabriel, Colin and Maia.
A funeral service with Full Military Honors will be held on Wednesday, October 7, 2020 at Ft. Myer Chapel at 9:00am with interment to follow at Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Church of the Good Shepherd, 9350 Braddock Road, Fairfax, Va 22032.
After inactivating USS Indiana (BB 58) in Seattle, he was assigned to an aircraft carrier, USS Sicily (CVE 118). During the West Berlin crisis transported fighter aircraft to the Raf Base in Scotland for the eventual purpose of escorting the logistic aircraft supporting West Berlin to reduce harassment by the Russians. Attended the Navy Electronics School at Treasure Island, CA. Taught at Georgia Tech in nrotc, gunnery and navigation, as associate professor of Naval Reserve Officer Training. As Commanding Officer Skohegan (PCE-843), commended by Comone for the rescue of four seamen at sea who were swept overboard from USS Cross, a destroyer escort. He was later Commander Mine Division 41 and Commanding Officer, US Naval Facility, Shelburne, Nova Scotia, Canada, tracking unfriendly submarines. As Commanding Officer of an amphibious ship, participated in the opening of the Saint Lawrence Seaway in 1958 with Amphibious Squadron Eight (Operation Inland Sea) with President Eisenhour and Queen Elizabeth of the United Kingdom in attendance.
Commanded USS Powell (DD686) in Vietnam on Taiwan patrol and shore bombardment. On returning to San Diego from Kaoshung, Taiwan during a full power trial with flag ship in company, the starboard shaft parted steaming alone and hoping to find temporary help in Midway Island was unsuccessful and continued on to Pearl Harbor on the one shaft, where the shaft was secured and ultimately replaced in San Diego. His ship, Powell, was recommended for the Arleigh Burke Trophy (most improved destroyer in the pacific fleet). He was later Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations in Commander Cruiser-Destroyer Flotilla under Admiral Zumwalt. He participated in two tours of rotation in the Vietnam War, after which he was toured in the organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He retired from the US Navy in July 1975. During the years after his navy career, he worked in consulting and later for Raytheon Service Company.
He graduated from the US Naval Academy in June 1945, having attended Morris Harvey College (now Charleston University, Charleston, WV) and West Virginia University. In addition to commendations for Operation Inland Sea and rescuing seaman, he was awarded Meritorius Service medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Navy Occupation medal (Asia), Joint Service Commendation medal, American Theatre, Vietnam Service (2 Star), Secretary of Defense Badge,
Victory (WWII) Vietnam Campaign medal, Joint Chiefs of Staff Badge, National Defense (Bronze Star), Armed Forces Expeditionary medal, RVN Meritorious Unit Citation (Civil Action), RVN Cross of Gallentry, Pacific, Pacific Theatre. He was a member of the Charleston High School, Charleston, WV football team, 1939 State Champions. He was active in tennis, having managed and played in the Mantua (Fairfax) Program. He is predeceased by his loving wife, Sibyl Jean MacPherson Lowen and is survived by his three children, Pamela Osti (Mario) of Annandale, VA, Catherine Pearce (James) of Machias, ME, James Lowen (Edyta) of Nashville, TN and three grandchildren; Gabriel, Colin and Maia.
A funeral service with Full Military Honors will be held on Wednesday, October 7, 2020 at Ft. Myer Chapel at 9:00am with interment to follow at Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Church of the Good Shepherd, 9350 Braddock Road, Fairfax, Va 22032.
Madelyn A Van Meter
June 21, 1948 --- March 31, 2020
A resident of Glendale, Ca for fifty-two years, passed away suddenly, on the last day of March 2020. She had struggled with diabetes for several years. Born to Nahia [Ann] and Saber Lowen in Charleston, West Virgina. Madelyn graduated 1966, from Morristown High School, located in TN. In 1967, she earned her degree in interior design, from Bauder College, located in Atlanta, GA. She was a sister, wife, homemaker, small business owner, property manager and caregiver. The title she most cherished, was mother, and grandmother, to her two sons and three grandsons. She is survived, by her husband, Joseph, for forty-seven years. Her sons, David M. of Glendale, Ca, James E. and his wife Katalin and three grandsons Henry, age 11, Francis, age 8, Garrett, age 5, of Peachtree Corners, GA. Also, she was survived by her sister, Janice and her husband Hugh Barger of Nolensville, TN. Brother, Raymon Davis, and his wife Hope, of Greenville, SC. Sadly, we must delay a celebration of life, for my dear wife, because of the pandemic. This celebration will be announced at a safer and appropriate date.
June 21, 1948 --- March 31, 2020
A resident of Glendale, Ca for fifty-two years, passed away suddenly, on the last day of March 2020. She had struggled with diabetes for several years. Born to Nahia [Ann] and Saber Lowen in Charleston, West Virgina. Madelyn graduated 1966, from Morristown High School, located in TN. In 1967, she earned her degree in interior design, from Bauder College, located in Atlanta, GA. She was a sister, wife, homemaker, small business owner, property manager and caregiver. The title she most cherished, was mother, and grandmother, to her two sons and three grandsons. She is survived, by her husband, Joseph, for forty-seven years. Her sons, David M. of Glendale, Ca, James E. and his wife Katalin and three grandsons Henry, age 11, Francis, age 8, Garrett, age 5, of Peachtree Corners, GA. Also, she was survived by her sister, Janice and her husband Hugh Barger of Nolensville, TN. Brother, Raymon Davis, and his wife Hope, of Greenville, SC. Sadly, we must delay a celebration of life, for my dear wife, because of the pandemic. This celebration will be announced at a safer and appropriate date.
NAJETTE BETER SAOUAN DELANEY passed away peacefully on February 9, 2020, in Columbus, Ohio. Born in Huntington, W.Va., she is the daughter of Mike Beter Saouan and Angel Beter Saouan. She is survived by her husband of 43 years, Thomas Kevin Delaney, and dear children, Dr. Bridget Feldmann, Theresa Hughes and Michael Delaney, and grandchildren, Christopher, Kevin and Daniel Feldmann and Lydia and Liam Hughes. She is also survived by her dear and loving brother and sister, Michael Saouan and Janina Michael, both of Huntington, W.Va. Najette is a graduate of Marshall University. She worked in clinical laboratories, was a devoted homemaker, a lector at church and a member of local groups of a parliamentary association. Funeral Mass will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, February 15, 2020, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Huntington, W.Va., with Monsignor Dean Borgmeyer, Celebrant. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. at the church connection space before Mass. Rite of committal and burial will follow Mass at Spring Hill Cemetery.
Jeanette Marie (Jamra) Habib died on Monday, January 20, 2020, in Toledo at the age of 105. She was born on October 29, 1914, in Montpelier, OH, to Albert, Sr. and Elizabeth (Kerbawy) Jamra. Jeanette was the oldest of their three children and the only daughter.
Jeanette was a lifelong Ohioan, having graduated from Scott High School in the Class of 1932 and attended The University of Toledo. On September 4, 1936, Jeanette eloped with the love of her life, Theodore (Ted) Habib, and raised their three children in Toledo. Her husband, Ted; son, Stuart and brother, Jamille Jamra, preceded Jeanette in death.
Jeanette had a passion for health and wellness that she practiced throughout her long life with good nutrition, daily walks, golfing and bowling. She also loved to travel and never lost her wonder for far-away places. Closer to home, Jeanette and Ted were regular attendees at the Masters Tournament at Augusta National for many years where they would split up to follow their respective favorites -- Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. As an accomplished pianist, Jeanette shared her talent and taught many Toledoans how to play. Jeanette was also a devoted parishioner of Trinity Episcopal Church where she worshipped regularly for many years and was a member of the Altar Guild.
Jeanette is survived by: her brother, Albert (Eve) Jamra, Jr.; two of her three children: Susan (Richard) Elias and Jeffrey Habib; her grandchildren: Julie McNaughton, Stephanie Klinck, Katherine Williams, Nina Borders, John Habib, and Lisa Millewich; her 8 great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
Memorial funeral services to honor Jeanette's life will be held on Tuesday, February 11, 2020, at 11:00 a.m. in the sanctuary of Trinity Episcopal Church located at 316 Adams Street, Toledo, OH 43604. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorial tributes be made to Trinity Episcopal Church.
Jeanette was a lifelong Ohioan, having graduated from Scott High School in the Class of 1932 and attended The University of Toledo. On September 4, 1936, Jeanette eloped with the love of her life, Theodore (Ted) Habib, and raised their three children in Toledo. Her husband, Ted; son, Stuart and brother, Jamille Jamra, preceded Jeanette in death.
Jeanette had a passion for health and wellness that she practiced throughout her long life with good nutrition, daily walks, golfing and bowling. She also loved to travel and never lost her wonder for far-away places. Closer to home, Jeanette and Ted were regular attendees at the Masters Tournament at Augusta National for many years where they would split up to follow their respective favorites -- Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. As an accomplished pianist, Jeanette shared her talent and taught many Toledoans how to play. Jeanette was also a devoted parishioner of Trinity Episcopal Church where she worshipped regularly for many years and was a member of the Altar Guild.
Jeanette is survived by: her brother, Albert (Eve) Jamra, Jr.; two of her three children: Susan (Richard) Elias and Jeffrey Habib; her grandchildren: Julie McNaughton, Stephanie Klinck, Katherine Williams, Nina Borders, John Habib, and Lisa Millewich; her 8 great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
Memorial funeral services to honor Jeanette's life will be held on Tuesday, February 11, 2020, at 11:00 a.m. in the sanctuary of Trinity Episcopal Church located at 316 Adams Street, Toledo, OH 43604. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorial tributes be made to Trinity Episcopal Church.
Nader Jorges Fakhoury passed away on October 5th, 2019 in Beirut, Lebanon. He studied General Education at the Lebanese University and was a professor and Head Master until he retired.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Jorges and Zakia Fakhoury, his brothers, Saad Fakhoury and Thabet Fakhoury of Brazil, and Murad Fakhoury of Beirut, Lebanon.
Nader is survived by his wife, Nahia, his sisters, Rhoda Hodge of Huntington, WV, Safa El Ghiz of Beirut, Lebanon and Hend Tweel of Kfeir, Lebanon, and many nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Jorges and Zakia Fakhoury, his brothers, Saad Fakhoury and Thabet Fakhoury of Brazil, and Murad Fakhoury of Beirut, Lebanon.
Nader is survived by his wife, Nahia, his sisters, Rhoda Hodge of Huntington, WV, Safa El Ghiz of Beirut, Lebanon and Hend Tweel of Kfeir, Lebanon, and many nieces and nephews.
Joseph S. Bassett, M.D., a longtime prominent Metro Detroit Cardiovascular Surgeon, died on August 21, 2019 in Royal Oak, Michigan. He is survived by his loving wife, Anna (nee Mancini), his nephew, David Mancini and many, many wonderful friends and cherished colleagues.
From 1954-1955, he attended Adrian College and from 1955-1957 studied at the University of Michigan to satisfy his pre-medical education requirements. Joe was accepted to the Wayne State University, School of Medicine and graduated with honors on June 22, 1961. That same year, he began his year long internship at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Ann Arbor. A six-year residency followed at Wayne State University Affiliated Hospitals, beginning with General Surgery and moving into Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery. Starting in January of 1969, Dr. Bassett was named as a Clinical Instructor in the Department of Surgery at Wayne State’s School of Medicine. He held that position for 3 ½ years before he became the Clinical Assistant Professor within the program for 10 years. Until the time of his death, he served as Clinical Associate Professor for 38 years.
Dr. Bassett cared for thousands of patients over his 50 plus year career in several different hospital systems. He held positions as an active and courtesy staff member in the Cardiothoracic Surgery Department with Providence Hospital, Southfield, Harper University Hospital, Detroit, St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Hospital, Pontiac and Oakwood Hospital, Dearborn. Additionally, Dr. Bassett was part of the Cardiovascular Surgery Department at Beaumont Hospitals in Troy and Royal Oak, including as Chief of Staff of the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery at the Royal Oak campus from 1983-2007. He remained on staff after being given the distinction of emeritus.
Organizations he was a part of included Academy of Surgery of Detroit, American College of Cardiology, American College of Surgeons, American Heart Association, American Heart Association Midwest Affiliate, Anthony Wayne Society, Detroit Surgical Association, Michigan Chapter-American College of Surgeons, Michigan Society of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgeons, Michigan State Medical Society, Oakland Count Medical Society, Society of Thoracic Surgeons and Wayne State Surgical Society.
Over his successful career, he held the following offices:
1973-1974 Junior Councilor; Detroit Surgical Association
1979-1980 Junior Councilor: Detroit Surgical Association
1979-1981 Councilor; Southeastern Michigan Surgical Society
1981-1982 Delegate; Wayne County Medical Society
1983-2004 President & Founder, Southeastern Michigan Cardiac Surgeons
1985-1986 Senior Councilor; Detroit Surgical Association
1988-1989 Secretary; Detroit Heart Club
1989-1990 Vice President; Detroit Heart Club
1990-1991 President; Detroit Heart Club
1990-1993 Contributing Editor, “The Cardiac Chronicle”
8/91-1995 District 6 Councilor; Michigan Chapter, American College of Cardiology
1994-present President; Wayne State University Cardiothoracic Surgical Alumni Association
2001-2003 President Elect, Michigan Society of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgeons
2003-2005 President, Michigan Society of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgeons
2005-2007 Past President, Michigan Society of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgeons
2007-2013 Senior Councilor, Michigan Society of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons
& Committees he was a vital part of:
1984-1986 Wayne Co. Medical Society, Coronary Artery Bypass Project, Technical Advisory Panel
1992 Michigan Department of Public Health, Open Heart Surgery Advisory Committee
1990-2008 Cardiology Quality Assessment Committee, Wm. Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak
1992-1998 Greater Detroit Area Health Council, Coronary Artery Disease Project, Technical Advisory Panel
1993-1999 Southeastern Michigan Regional Heart Consortium, Clinical Advisory Group
1998-1999 Chairman, Metro Detroit Heart Ball, Dodrill Award Committee, American Heart Association
2001-2002 Medical Partners Committee, Detroit Heart Ball, American Heart Association
2000-2002 Dodrill Award Committee, American Heart Association
2004-2006 Michigan Department of Public Health, Consultant to CON Committee
Locally & nationally Dr. Bassett was recognized as a ‘Top-Doc’ for cardiac surgery and listed in America’s Top Doctors and Best Doctors in America. In 1998, he was bestowed with the Forest Dewey Dodrill Award for Excellence for Lifetime Achievement and Service to the Heart Cause, American Heart Association. Furthermore, he lent his expertise and knowledge in his field by contributing to countless publications and directing many seminars on the subject of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery.
Joe was a Life member of Oakland Hills Country Club and a devotee of Michigan Wolverines football, the Detroit Tigers, Lions, Red Wings and Pistons.
The world has lost a loving husband, a dedicated and caring physician, a pioneer in modern medicine, a wonderful and trusted colleague and a true friend to all who knew him. He will be missed.
Family will receive friends, Monday, August 26, 2019 from 4-8PM at A.J. Desmond & Sons (Vasu, Rodgers & Connell Chapel), 32515 Woodward. Funeral Mass Tuesday, August 27, 2019 at 11AM @ St. Hugo of the Hills Stone Chapel, 2215 Opdyke Road, Bloomfield Hills. Memorial tributes to Wayne State University, School of Medicine, 540 E. Canfield Ave., Detroit, MI 48201
From 1954-1955, he attended Adrian College and from 1955-1957 studied at the University of Michigan to satisfy his pre-medical education requirements. Joe was accepted to the Wayne State University, School of Medicine and graduated with honors on June 22, 1961. That same year, he began his year long internship at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Ann Arbor. A six-year residency followed at Wayne State University Affiliated Hospitals, beginning with General Surgery and moving into Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery. Starting in January of 1969, Dr. Bassett was named as a Clinical Instructor in the Department of Surgery at Wayne State’s School of Medicine. He held that position for 3 ½ years before he became the Clinical Assistant Professor within the program for 10 years. Until the time of his death, he served as Clinical Associate Professor for 38 years.
Dr. Bassett cared for thousands of patients over his 50 plus year career in several different hospital systems. He held positions as an active and courtesy staff member in the Cardiothoracic Surgery Department with Providence Hospital, Southfield, Harper University Hospital, Detroit, St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Hospital, Pontiac and Oakwood Hospital, Dearborn. Additionally, Dr. Bassett was part of the Cardiovascular Surgery Department at Beaumont Hospitals in Troy and Royal Oak, including as Chief of Staff of the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery at the Royal Oak campus from 1983-2007. He remained on staff after being given the distinction of emeritus.
Organizations he was a part of included Academy of Surgery of Detroit, American College of Cardiology, American College of Surgeons, American Heart Association, American Heart Association Midwest Affiliate, Anthony Wayne Society, Detroit Surgical Association, Michigan Chapter-American College of Surgeons, Michigan Society of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgeons, Michigan State Medical Society, Oakland Count Medical Society, Society of Thoracic Surgeons and Wayne State Surgical Society.
Over his successful career, he held the following offices:
1973-1974 Junior Councilor; Detroit Surgical Association
1979-1980 Junior Councilor: Detroit Surgical Association
1979-1981 Councilor; Southeastern Michigan Surgical Society
1981-1982 Delegate; Wayne County Medical Society
1983-2004 President & Founder, Southeastern Michigan Cardiac Surgeons
1985-1986 Senior Councilor; Detroit Surgical Association
1988-1989 Secretary; Detroit Heart Club
1989-1990 Vice President; Detroit Heart Club
1990-1991 President; Detroit Heart Club
1990-1993 Contributing Editor, “The Cardiac Chronicle”
8/91-1995 District 6 Councilor; Michigan Chapter, American College of Cardiology
1994-present President; Wayne State University Cardiothoracic Surgical Alumni Association
2001-2003 President Elect, Michigan Society of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgeons
2003-2005 President, Michigan Society of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgeons
2005-2007 Past President, Michigan Society of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgeons
2007-2013 Senior Councilor, Michigan Society of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons
& Committees he was a vital part of:
1984-1986 Wayne Co. Medical Society, Coronary Artery Bypass Project, Technical Advisory Panel
1992 Michigan Department of Public Health, Open Heart Surgery Advisory Committee
1990-2008 Cardiology Quality Assessment Committee, Wm. Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak
1992-1998 Greater Detroit Area Health Council, Coronary Artery Disease Project, Technical Advisory Panel
1993-1999 Southeastern Michigan Regional Heart Consortium, Clinical Advisory Group
1998-1999 Chairman, Metro Detroit Heart Ball, Dodrill Award Committee, American Heart Association
2001-2002 Medical Partners Committee, Detroit Heart Ball, American Heart Association
2000-2002 Dodrill Award Committee, American Heart Association
2004-2006 Michigan Department of Public Health, Consultant to CON Committee
Locally & nationally Dr. Bassett was recognized as a ‘Top-Doc’ for cardiac surgery and listed in America’s Top Doctors and Best Doctors in America. In 1998, he was bestowed with the Forest Dewey Dodrill Award for Excellence for Lifetime Achievement and Service to the Heart Cause, American Heart Association. Furthermore, he lent his expertise and knowledge in his field by contributing to countless publications and directing many seminars on the subject of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery.
Joe was a Life member of Oakland Hills Country Club and a devotee of Michigan Wolverines football, the Detroit Tigers, Lions, Red Wings and Pistons.
The world has lost a loving husband, a dedicated and caring physician, a pioneer in modern medicine, a wonderful and trusted colleague and a true friend to all who knew him. He will be missed.
Family will receive friends, Monday, August 26, 2019 from 4-8PM at A.J. Desmond & Sons (Vasu, Rodgers & Connell Chapel), 32515 Woodward. Funeral Mass Tuesday, August 27, 2019 at 11AM @ St. Hugo of the Hills Stone Chapel, 2215 Opdyke Road, Bloomfield Hills. Memorial tributes to Wayne State University, School of Medicine, 540 E. Canfield Ave., Detroit, MI 48201
George Abraham Cassis departed this life on July 22, 2019 at the age of 83. The angels came and said “Come with us to a better place to meet your Savior where there will be no more suffering.” He was preceded in death by his parents Edna and Nader Cassis, brother Charlie Cassis and sister Carmen Higgins.
George was a lifelong resident of Charleston, WV and was a member of St. George Orthodox Cathedral. He attended Charleston High School and Capitol Business College. He was employed with Alberta Culver Co. and from there worked for Hecks, Inc. as a District Manager with 36 years of service until their closing. He then invested in partnership for the Liquor Mart from where he retired and decided to work part-time at University of Charleston. He dearly loved the interaction with the students who continued to keep in touch after he was forced to leave due to multiple surgeries.
George loved singing and performed in Light Opera Guild shows as well as in weddings. He had a great love for the St. George Orthodox Cathedral choir and sang in the choir from teenage years until recently. His favorite past-time was watching all sports on TV.
The family wishes to thank his very good friends Mike Jarrouj, Essa Howard and John Haddy for their constant care, love, and attentiveness at all times during his past years of surgeries and illness. Their love and devotion was non-stop.
George is survived by his loving wife Evelyn of 57 years, son Dr. Jeffrey George Cassis of Washington, D.C. (loving companion Rebecca Rorke), Brian Matthew Cassis (Julia) and the “apple of his eye” granddaughter Caroline Mae Cassis whom he loved deeply and was so proud of her music accomplishments.
Funeral service to honor George’s life will be held at St. George Orthodox Cathedral on Sat. July 27th at 11 AM (visitation at 10am) officiated by the Very Rev. Fr. Olof Scott, Dean Emeritus. The family will also receive visitors on Friday July 26th from 6 to 8 PM. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to American Lung Association at www.Lung.org or St. George Orthodox Cathedral, Court and Lee St., Charleston, WV 25301. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Snodgrass Funeral Home, South Charleston, WV. Memories may be shared by visiting SnodgrassFuneral.com.
George was a lifelong resident of Charleston, WV and was a member of St. George Orthodox Cathedral. He attended Charleston High School and Capitol Business College. He was employed with Alberta Culver Co. and from there worked for Hecks, Inc. as a District Manager with 36 years of service until their closing. He then invested in partnership for the Liquor Mart from where he retired and decided to work part-time at University of Charleston. He dearly loved the interaction with the students who continued to keep in touch after he was forced to leave due to multiple surgeries.
George loved singing and performed in Light Opera Guild shows as well as in weddings. He had a great love for the St. George Orthodox Cathedral choir and sang in the choir from teenage years until recently. His favorite past-time was watching all sports on TV.
The family wishes to thank his very good friends Mike Jarrouj, Essa Howard and John Haddy for their constant care, love, and attentiveness at all times during his past years of surgeries and illness. Their love and devotion was non-stop.
George is survived by his loving wife Evelyn of 57 years, son Dr. Jeffrey George Cassis of Washington, D.C. (loving companion Rebecca Rorke), Brian Matthew Cassis (Julia) and the “apple of his eye” granddaughter Caroline Mae Cassis whom he loved deeply and was so proud of her music accomplishments.
Funeral service to honor George’s life will be held at St. George Orthodox Cathedral on Sat. July 27th at 11 AM (visitation at 10am) officiated by the Very Rev. Fr. Olof Scott, Dean Emeritus. The family will also receive visitors on Friday July 26th from 6 to 8 PM. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to American Lung Association at www.Lung.org or St. George Orthodox Cathedral, Court and Lee St., Charleston, WV 25301. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Snodgrass Funeral Home, South Charleston, WV. Memories may be shared by visiting SnodgrassFuneral.com.
Jeanette Bolus passed away peacefully on May 3, 2019, at the Emogene Dolin Jones Hospice House, surrounded by her beloved family. Visitation will be Monday, May 6, 2019, at 10 a.m., with the funeral service at 11 a.m., both at St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 701 11th Avenue, Huntington, WV 25701. Burial will follow at Spring Hill Cemetery, followed by a Mercy Dinner at Holy Spirit Antiochian Orthodox Church, 1 Woodhaven Drive, Huntington, WV 25701. She was born April 8, 1925, in Kfeir, Lebanon. She immigrated with her family to Huntington in 1939 where she lived until her death. She led a very active and full life. Jeanette worked with her brother at their store, the 10th Street Market, for many years where she met and befriended numerous neighborhood residents. Subsequently she worked at the Cabell County Public Library in the Reference Department for 20 years. Jeanette's priorities in life were her family, her friends and her church where she devoted many selfless hours over the years. She was a member of St. George's Greek Orthodox Church where she was a part of the ladies' Philoptochos, and also attended Holy Spirit Antiochian Orthodox Church where she was a founding member. She was very proud of her heritage and participated in the activities of the Kfeirian Reunion Foundation. Her parents, Samuel and Naime Bolus, and her siblings, Nellie (Bolus) Tweel, Joseph Bolus, Ida Bolus and John (Catherine) Bolus, all predeceased her. Left behind to mourn her loss and celebrate her beautiful life are her beloved nephews and nieces who were blessed to have her as their aunt, Richard Tweel of Huntington, Dan (Joely) Tweel of Columbus, Ohio, Nadia (Michael) Bolus El-Hage of Potomac, Md., Denise Bolus of Bethesda, Md., John (Andrea) Bolus of Reston, Va., Michael (Kristin) Bolus of La Crescenta, Calif.; her grandniece, five grandnephews, and many close friends and relatives. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to either St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 701 11th Avenue, Huntington, WV 25701, or Holy Spirit Antiochian Orthodox Church, 1 Woodhaven Drive, Huntington, WV 25701. Family guestbook at www.klingelcarpenter.com.
Published in The Herald-Dispatch on May 5, 2019
Published in The Herald-Dispatch on May 5, 2019
Rebecca Ann (Zegeer) Gouge, 63, of Clayton, N.Y., passed away Sunday, February 24, 2019, at Samaritan Medical Center in Watertown, N.Y., after a long illness. Born in Charleston, W.Va., January 13, 1956, she was the daughter of Harry Soloman and Mary Frances (McCarus) Zegeer. Rebecca graduated from Charleston High School and continued her education at WVU where she received her degree in Psychology. She then began working as a Preschool Teacher and also served as an Intake Coordinator at a children's home.
Rebecca met Kary L. Gouge in Charleston, W.Va. The couple married and became residents of Clayton, N.Y., in 1985. Rebecca spent years developing programs in Jefferson county and was influential in the hospitality and tourism industry for 1000 Islands. Rebecca and Kary are most known for opening the first video rental store in Jefferson County in 1985, which served 21 locations.
Rebecca will be remembered as a free spirit who was always ready to help a neighbor. She was a "seeker of possibilities" and embraced the belief that "Life is Eternal." Rebecca was preceded in death by her husband, Kary Gouge (1998) and her parents. She is survived by her brothers, John, Paul and Richard and their families.
Rebecca met Kary L. Gouge in Charleston, W.Va. The couple married and became residents of Clayton, N.Y., in 1985. Rebecca spent years developing programs in Jefferson county and was influential in the hospitality and tourism industry for 1000 Islands. Rebecca and Kary are most known for opening the first video rental store in Jefferson County in 1985, which served 21 locations.
Rebecca will be remembered as a free spirit who was always ready to help a neighbor. She was a "seeker of possibilities" and embraced the belief that "Life is Eternal." Rebecca was preceded in death by her husband, Kary Gouge (1998) and her parents. She is survived by her brothers, John, Paul and Richard and their families.
Jan Rutherdale, beloved to friends and family alike, died of heart failure on February 23, 2019. She has left us much too soon. Jan was born in 1956 in Los Altos, California, to Alice and Jack Rutherdale. Along with her twin brother, Jay, she was the youngest of five siblings. After graduating high school in three years, Jan went off to college at Oberlin (Ohio) and then law school at Hastings College of Law (San Francisco). She married her high school sweetheart, Jeff Bush, in 1978. In 1982, they moved to Juneau where Jan began a successful career as a public attorney, working as an Alaska Supreme Court clerk, Assistant Public Defender, and Assistant Attorney General. She spent most of her 30-year career as a tireless advocate for Alaska's most vulnerable children. When she retired in 2013, she continued to serve children in neglected and abusive situations by working as a court-appointed CINA mediator. After retirement, Jan also served on several non-profit boards, including the Juneau Family Birth Center, Inian Islands Institute, and SEAL Trust.
Her daughters, Megan and Isabel, were the loves of her life. She encouraged them to be successful and live life to the fullest, and she was the ultimate role model - intelligent, effervescent, fearless, and kind. Her energy was boundless and contagious, and her interests were almost limitless. Her motto in life was "just say yes" to any opportunity or adventure, and she truly lived that - backpacking up ridges after dinner, skiing remote slopes and downtown sidewalks, kayaking all day and still making an evening concert. She loved to travel and saw much of the world. But mostly, she enjoyed spending time with her daughters, family, and friends.
Jan's bright smile will be remembered by all who knew her. Jan is survived by her daughters Megan Moody (Justin) and Isabel Bush, sisters Nancy Griffith (Tom) and Martha de la Soujeole (Axel), brother Jay Rutherdale (Sydney), step-mother Anne Rutherdale (Karl), partner Fred Shields, and numerous nieces, nephews, and others.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in her name to SEAL Trust, Inian Islands Institute, or the new JACC. A celebration of life will be held April 4th at Centennial Hall at 3pm. Published in The Juneau Empire from Feb. 28 to Mar. 28, 2019
Her daughters, Megan and Isabel, were the loves of her life. She encouraged them to be successful and live life to the fullest, and she was the ultimate role model - intelligent, effervescent, fearless, and kind. Her energy was boundless and contagious, and her interests were almost limitless. Her motto in life was "just say yes" to any opportunity or adventure, and she truly lived that - backpacking up ridges after dinner, skiing remote slopes and downtown sidewalks, kayaking all day and still making an evening concert. She loved to travel and saw much of the world. But mostly, she enjoyed spending time with her daughters, family, and friends.
Jan's bright smile will be remembered by all who knew her. Jan is survived by her daughters Megan Moody (Justin) and Isabel Bush, sisters Nancy Griffith (Tom) and Martha de la Soujeole (Axel), brother Jay Rutherdale (Sydney), step-mother Anne Rutherdale (Karl), partner Fred Shields, and numerous nieces, nephews, and others.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in her name to SEAL Trust, Inian Islands Institute, or the new JACC. A celebration of life will be held April 4th at Centennial Hall at 3pm. Published in The Juneau Empire from Feb. 28 to Mar. 28, 2019
Ayoub Fares Rahall, 85, of Huntington passed away peacefully on January 20th, 2019 at the Emogene Dolin Hospice House in Huntington.
Ayoub was the son of the late Fares and Zahia Rahall of Lebanon. He was preceded in death by his late wife, Elaine Bassett Rahall of Huntington, his sister, Niamee Rahall Fakoury and brother, George Rahall of Lebanon.
Ayoub immigrated to Huntington from Lebanon in 1961. He worked for his then in-laws at Bassett Food Market. After Bassett Food Market was sold in 1977, he worked as an independent plumber and electrician until he took a job with Dr. Joseph Touma, Sr. as his maintenance supervisor until 2017. Ayoub was a member of the Huntington Lodge #53 AF & AM and his dearly loved Holy Spirit Orthodox Church in Huntington, WV.
Ayoub is survived by his loving wife, Mary Emily Rahall of Huntington; his brother, Joseph Rahall of Lebanon; his sister, Mary Rahall Ishac of Lebanon; his daughters, Rebecca Rahall Anderson (Troy) and Susan Kimberly Rahall both of Raleigh, NC; his step-children Lisa Ann (Mark) Caldwell of Huntington, Brian Keith (Carrie) Combs of San Antonio TX, Teresa Dawn Combs of Huntington and Mark and Mike Caldwell of Huntington; his grandchildren, Brent and Tristan Anderson, Tyler, Christopher, Mark and Mike Caldwell, Trent Cornwell, Alaina Hoyt and Kylie and Callen Combs; his step-great-grandchildren, Maycie Caldwell and Payton Caldwell and many beloved cousins, nieces, nephews and dear friends, including his cousins Julian (Jihad) Saad and their special children and grandchildren, and Mary Ann (Jack) Dolen.
Services will be held 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, January 23, 2019 at Holy Spirit Orthodox Church by The Very Reverend John Dixon. Interment will follow in Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens, Huntington. Friends may call Tuesday from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. at the church where the Trisagion will be said at 6:30 p.m. Expressions of sympathy may be made to Holy Spirit Orthodox Church. Klingel-Carpenter Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Geraldine T. (Bassett) Deschenes, 72, of Windham, NH, passed peacefully on December 26, 2018, surrounded by her family.
“Gerrie” to her friends, “Sitto” to her grandchildren, she suffered from physical ailments for many years, some since birth, yet never let them hold her back from achieving much. Born in Methuen, MA on January 19, 1946, she was the only child of the late Michael Bassett, a Lebanese immigrant and owner of Michael J. Bassett Hardware in Lawrence, and the late Salma Bassett of Lawrence, MA. From her parents she learned the importance of faith, family, and hard work, values she passed on to her children.
Educated at Tenney High School in Methuen (Class of 1963) and Chandler School for Women in Boston. She worked in medical transcription, notably at Lawrence General and Holy Family Hospitals. She and her husband had two jobs each while their son and daughter were younger, so that they could provide their children with a solid upbringing and good education. After her children were older, she started her own medical transcription company, employing several women in multiple doctor’s offices throughout the Merrimack Valley.
In addition to her dedication to her family, she had a special devotion to the Virgin Mary; even though wheelchair bound for the past decade, she made certain to attend Dormition (Assumption) services every August 15th. She was active at St. George Orthodox Church in Lawrence, serving as church school teacher and superintendent, youth advisor, and helping with parish events. Although an only child, she had several close friends whom she considered sisters, and she delighted in hearing stories about their children and grandchildren.
Gerrie is survived by her beloved husband Real Deschenes of Windham, NH, her son Michael Deschenes and his wife Mary-Ellen of Tyngsboro, MA, and her daughter Danielle MacDonald and her husband Keith of Windham, NH. She was also the proud grandmother to Madison, Zachary, Olivia, Benjamin, and Alexandra, all of whom were a light in her life. Gerrie is also survived by many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Expressions of sympathy may be shared with Gerrie’s family from 9 – 10:45 AM on Saturday, December 29, 2018 at St. George Orthodox Church, 8 Lowell Street, Lawrence, MA. Friends and family are cordially invited to attend. A funeral service will begin promptly at 11 AM at the church. Interment to follow at the United Lebanese Cemetery, 50 Corbett Road, Andover, MA. In lieu of flowers, to honor Gerrie's wishes, please consider a donation to the Larry Erban Scholarship Fund, St. George Orthodox Church, 8 Lowell Street, Lawrence, MA 01840. To leave an online condolence, please visit www.pollardfuneralhome.com. The Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home is proud to serve the Deschenes family.
“Gerrie” to her friends, “Sitto” to her grandchildren, she suffered from physical ailments for many years, some since birth, yet never let them hold her back from achieving much. Born in Methuen, MA on January 19, 1946, she was the only child of the late Michael Bassett, a Lebanese immigrant and owner of Michael J. Bassett Hardware in Lawrence, and the late Salma Bassett of Lawrence, MA. From her parents she learned the importance of faith, family, and hard work, values she passed on to her children.
Educated at Tenney High School in Methuen (Class of 1963) and Chandler School for Women in Boston. She worked in medical transcription, notably at Lawrence General and Holy Family Hospitals. She and her husband had two jobs each while their son and daughter were younger, so that they could provide their children with a solid upbringing and good education. After her children were older, she started her own medical transcription company, employing several women in multiple doctor’s offices throughout the Merrimack Valley.
In addition to her dedication to her family, she had a special devotion to the Virgin Mary; even though wheelchair bound for the past decade, she made certain to attend Dormition (Assumption) services every August 15th. She was active at St. George Orthodox Church in Lawrence, serving as church school teacher and superintendent, youth advisor, and helping with parish events. Although an only child, she had several close friends whom she considered sisters, and she delighted in hearing stories about their children and grandchildren.
Gerrie is survived by her beloved husband Real Deschenes of Windham, NH, her son Michael Deschenes and his wife Mary-Ellen of Tyngsboro, MA, and her daughter Danielle MacDonald and her husband Keith of Windham, NH. She was also the proud grandmother to Madison, Zachary, Olivia, Benjamin, and Alexandra, all of whom were a light in her life. Gerrie is also survived by many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Expressions of sympathy may be shared with Gerrie’s family from 9 – 10:45 AM on Saturday, December 29, 2018 at St. George Orthodox Church, 8 Lowell Street, Lawrence, MA. Friends and family are cordially invited to attend. A funeral service will begin promptly at 11 AM at the church. Interment to follow at the United Lebanese Cemetery, 50 Corbett Road, Andover, MA. In lieu of flowers, to honor Gerrie's wishes, please consider a donation to the Larry Erban Scholarship Fund, St. George Orthodox Church, 8 Lowell Street, Lawrence, MA 01840. To leave an online condolence, please visit www.pollardfuneralhome.com. The Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home is proud to serve the Deschenes family.
George Habib Kawaja, 94, of Lexington, Ky, passed away Dec 8, 2018, with his family at his bedside. Born in Kfeir, Lebanon, he emigrated to this country in his early twenties. He and his wife Yvonne made their home in Hazard, Ky, where they owned George's Shoe Store. They also owned Radwan's Shoe Store in Pikeville and George's Shoes in Lexington. George did strong work and fully enjoyed the fruits of his labor. He spent countless hours in his bountiful gardens, and he cherished his days boating on Buckhorn Lake and cruising the waterways of the Florida inter-coastal. When he wasn't in his garden, boat, or stores, he was traveling to far-flung corners of the world, feeding his insatiable curiosity and curing his ever-present travel bug. He lived a rich and full life. George was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Yvonne Radwan Kawaja, and his daughter, Sharridan Gigi Kawaja Greer, as well as his two brothers and two sisters. He leaves to cherish his memory his son George Roger Kawaja (Becky), his daughter Loretta Kawaja, granddaughter Alison Kawaja, grandson Perry Lee Greer III (Kylee), great-grandchildren Katie Kawaja, Charlotte Greer and George Perry Greer. Private graveside services were held at Lexington Cemetery with Father Tom Galloway, St. Andrew Orthodox Church.
Published in Lexington Herald-Leader on Dec. 14, 2018
Published in Lexington Herald-Leader on Dec. 14, 2018
Mary Alice Rahall, 93, of Beckley, passed away Sunday, September 30, 2018. Born August 2, 1925 in Beckley, she was the daughter of the late Asaff and Jamelia Rahall. Mrs. Rahall was a member of Judea Shrine #13 Order of the White Shrine of Jerusalem, Order of the Eastern Star Bethlehem Chapter #71, Order of St. Ignatius of Antioch. She was the American Mothers, Inc. 1986 Mother of the Year.
She is survived by her children, Nick Joe Rahall, II and wife Melinda of Beckley, Victoria Lynn Hassler and husband Paul of Denver, NC, Tanya Alice Rahall of Washington, D.C.; grandchildren, Rebecca Ashley Parker (Michael) of Wilmington, NC; Nick Joe Rahall, III of Beckley; Suzanne Nicole Rahall of Portsmouth, VA, Kristen Alice Hassler of London, U.K., Valerie Lynn Sahadi (Matt) of Jersey City, NJ, Jami Anne Daliege (Justin) of Gaithersburg, MD, Andrea Marie Hassler of Colorado Springs, CO, Karina Rahall of Houston, TX, Monica Rahall of Findlay, OH; 3 great-grandchildren and special friends Ruth Bragg and Beth Bland.
In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by husbands Nick Joe Rahall, George Murad and by son, Edward George Rahall and his wife Lynn.
Services will be 1 p.m. Friday, October 5, 2018 at Cross Point Church of God, 110 Crescent Rd. with Rev. Cameron Harkness of Beckley Presbyterian Church officiating. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Park. Friends may visit with the family from 6-8 p.m. Thursday at Calfee Funeral Home with Trisagion Prayers of Mercy at 7:45 p.m. with Father Samuel Haddad of St. Nicholas Orthodox Parish officiating. The family would like to give a special thanks to Hospice of Southern WV.
The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to Beckley Presbyterian Church, 203 S. Kanawha St., Beckley, WV 25801, St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, P.O. Box 5026, Beckley, WV 25801 or Beckley Area Foundation, 129 Main St., Ste. 301, Beckley, WV 25801 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Arrangements by Calfee Funeral Home, Beckley.
She is survived by her children, Nick Joe Rahall, II and wife Melinda of Beckley, Victoria Lynn Hassler and husband Paul of Denver, NC, Tanya Alice Rahall of Washington, D.C.; grandchildren, Rebecca Ashley Parker (Michael) of Wilmington, NC; Nick Joe Rahall, III of Beckley; Suzanne Nicole Rahall of Portsmouth, VA, Kristen Alice Hassler of London, U.K., Valerie Lynn Sahadi (Matt) of Jersey City, NJ, Jami Anne Daliege (Justin) of Gaithersburg, MD, Andrea Marie Hassler of Colorado Springs, CO, Karina Rahall of Houston, TX, Monica Rahall of Findlay, OH; 3 great-grandchildren and special friends Ruth Bragg and Beth Bland.
In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by husbands Nick Joe Rahall, George Murad and by son, Edward George Rahall and his wife Lynn.
Services will be 1 p.m. Friday, October 5, 2018 at Cross Point Church of God, 110 Crescent Rd. with Rev. Cameron Harkness of Beckley Presbyterian Church officiating. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Park. Friends may visit with the family from 6-8 p.m. Thursday at Calfee Funeral Home with Trisagion Prayers of Mercy at 7:45 p.m. with Father Samuel Haddad of St. Nicholas Orthodox Parish officiating. The family would like to give a special thanks to Hospice of Southern WV.
The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to Beckley Presbyterian Church, 203 S. Kanawha St., Beckley, WV 25801, St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, P.O. Box 5026, Beckley, WV 25801 or Beckley Area Foundation, 129 Main St., Ste. 301, Beckley, WV 25801 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Arrangements by Calfee Funeral Home, Beckley.
Richard Clarence Thabet
BIRTH 24 Jun 1933
DEATH 22 Sep 2018 (aged 85)
BURIALNational Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific
Honolulu, Honolulu County, Hawaii, USA
PLOTSECTION CT13E ROW 300 SITE 356
MEMORIAL ID193379816
BIRTH 24 Jun 1933
DEATH 22 Sep 2018 (aged 85)
BURIALNational Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific
Honolulu, Honolulu County, Hawaii, USA
PLOTSECTION CT13E ROW 300 SITE 356
MEMORIAL ID193379816
HILLSDALE – Beverly A. Kerbawy, age 82 of Allen, formerly of Blissfield and Moshierville passed away Saturday, August 18, 2018, at Hillsdale County Medical Care Facility. She was born November 19, 1935, in Adrian, Michigan, the only child of the late Harold and Genivieve (Gardner) Kerbawy.
After graduating from Blissfield High School in 1953, she attended Michigan State University, Siena Heights University and University of Toledo. She was devoted to teaching special needs students at the Jackson County Intermediate School District for many years. Beverly later became an antique entrepreneur, owning and operating several antique businesses in Moshierville and Allen, Michigan. She was a faithful fan of the Detroit Lions starting in the 50’s when they were under the leadership of her uncle, Nick Kerbawy.
Beverly is survived by her step-children: Bill Blakley, Susan Blakley Losey, Cynthia Blakley Siemer, and Sandra Blakley Pfeffer; numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, cousins and close friends. Funeral services will take place at 1 p.m., Tuesday, August 21, 2018 at Wagley Funeral Home, Tagsold Chapel in Blissfield with Father Paul Albert officiating. Visitation will be the hour prior to the service from noon until 1pm. Burial will follow the service at Pleasant View Cemetery.
Beverly deeply appreciated the caring acceptance she received from the people of Allen, Michigan, especially the Allen Fire Department. She was thankful for the staff at Hillsdale County Medical Care Facility who treated her like a Queen. Instead of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Allen Fire Department. Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.WagleyFuneralHomes.com.
After graduating from Blissfield High School in 1953, she attended Michigan State University, Siena Heights University and University of Toledo. She was devoted to teaching special needs students at the Jackson County Intermediate School District for many years. Beverly later became an antique entrepreneur, owning and operating several antique businesses in Moshierville and Allen, Michigan. She was a faithful fan of the Detroit Lions starting in the 50’s when they were under the leadership of her uncle, Nick Kerbawy.
Beverly is survived by her step-children: Bill Blakley, Susan Blakley Losey, Cynthia Blakley Siemer, and Sandra Blakley Pfeffer; numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, cousins and close friends. Funeral services will take place at 1 p.m., Tuesday, August 21, 2018 at Wagley Funeral Home, Tagsold Chapel in Blissfield with Father Paul Albert officiating. Visitation will be the hour prior to the service from noon until 1pm. Burial will follow the service at Pleasant View Cemetery.
Beverly deeply appreciated the caring acceptance she received from the people of Allen, Michigan, especially the Allen Fire Department. She was thankful for the staff at Hillsdale County Medical Care Facility who treated her like a Queen. Instead of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Allen Fire Department. Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.WagleyFuneralHomes.com.
Jeanette Bassett Basham, 84, of Huntington WV died peacefully on Monday, June 11, 2018. Jeanette was born on July 21, 1933, the daughter of the late Kallel and Emily Bassett. She was preceded in death by her sister, Elaine Bassett Rahal.
She is survived by her 2 nieces, Rebecca Rahal Anderson (Troy) and Susie Rahal of Raleigh NC and 2 great-nephews, Brent Phillip Anderson and Tristan Samuel Anderson of Raleigh NC, former brother-in-law, Ayoub Rahal (Mary) of Huntington, WV and several cousins and dear friends.
Jeanette graduated from Huntington High School and Marshall University of which she was a cheerleader at both. She was a member of Sigma Kappa Sorority. Her career was spent as an Executive Assistant for CSX Railroad. She was a member of Holy Spirit Orthodox Church.
Jeanette loved her family and enjoyed playing bridge with her friends. In the past two years she enjoyed playing bingo and participating in the various activities with the residents and staff at Wyngate Senior Living in Barboursville, WV. A funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Thursday, June 14, 2018 by Father John Dixon at Holy Spirit Orthodox Church with visitation from 1 to 2 p.m. prior to the service. Entombment will follow in Forest Lawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Holy Spirit Orthodox Church, 1 Woodhaven Drive, Huntington WV 25701 or Hospice of Huntington.
She is survived by her 2 nieces, Rebecca Rahal Anderson (Troy) and Susie Rahal of Raleigh NC and 2 great-nephews, Brent Phillip Anderson and Tristan Samuel Anderson of Raleigh NC, former brother-in-law, Ayoub Rahal (Mary) of Huntington, WV and several cousins and dear friends.
Jeanette graduated from Huntington High School and Marshall University of which she was a cheerleader at both. She was a member of Sigma Kappa Sorority. Her career was spent as an Executive Assistant for CSX Railroad. She was a member of Holy Spirit Orthodox Church.
Jeanette loved her family and enjoyed playing bridge with her friends. In the past two years she enjoyed playing bingo and participating in the various activities with the residents and staff at Wyngate Senior Living in Barboursville, WV. A funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Thursday, June 14, 2018 by Father John Dixon at Holy Spirit Orthodox Church with visitation from 1 to 2 p.m. prior to the service. Entombment will follow in Forest Lawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Holy Spirit Orthodox Church, 1 Woodhaven Drive, Huntington WV 25701 or Hospice of Huntington.
Julienne M. Newey passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 6, 2018, at Hospice in Jacksonville, Florida.
Julienne was born on February 5th in Beckley, West Virginia, to Nick Rahall and Daley Fackuri Rahall. She graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School and continued to attend Beckley College and St. Petersburg Jr. College. Julienne and Sam met on Memorial Day, 1953 in Pittsburgh, PA. They were married the following year, 1954 in St., Petersburg, FL. They enjoyed a full happy loving marriage traveling to Europe, China, Russia, the Middle East, her parents' homeland, Kfeir Lebanon, some other countries and parts of the U.S.A. She was a loving wife, mother, a comforting generous aunt with a beautiful smile, laugh, a close dear friend to many friends, relatives, and local and national churches. She was a very smart successful businesswoman.
Julienne was instrumental in the co-founding of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church in Jacksonville, Florida. She was Dame Commander of the National Order of St. Ignatius of Antioch, of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of New York and all North America. She was active in the Gateway Women's Club, Salaam Club of Jacksonville, the Lebanese-American Club of Jacksonville and Kfeirian Lebanon descendants reunion. She was a loving aunt, great aunt and great-great aunt to 11 nephews, 6 nieces, 18 great nieces, 9 great nephews, 7 great-great nephews and 7 great-great nieces.
Julienne was preceded in death by her father Nicholas Rahall, her mother Daley Rahall, step-mother Wadia Rahall, brothers Joe Rahall, Deem Rahall, Farris Rahall, and sister Josephine McCarus.
Julienne is survived by her devout husband of 64 years Samuel, her loving daughter Pam Newey, brother Sam G. Rahall St. Petersburg, FL, and brother-in-law Simon R, Newey, NYC.
Services: Visitation will be from 6 – 8 pm on Sunday, June 10, 2018 with the Trisagion at 7 pm at St. George Antiochian Eastern Orthodox Church, (904) 448-1855, 6300 Bowden Road Jacksonville, FL 32216. The funeral service will be on Monday, June 11 at 10 am with The Very Reverend Father Kamal Al-Rahil of St George Antiochian Eastern Orthodox Church officiating there. Burial will take place at Fairview Memorial Cemetery, Northlake, Illinois. Arrangements are being handled by Corey-Kerlin Funeral Home, 940 Cesery Blvd, Jacksonville, Fl. (904) 744-8422 and Drake Funeral Home, Chicago, IL.
The family would like to express our thanks to the wonderful help and care given by a nursing home, a hospice center, and the Mayo Clinic and Hospital of Jacksonville, FL.
In lieu Flowers: Friends may make memorial contributions to St. George Church building fund, 6300 Bowden Road, Jacksonville, FL 32216.Please Sign the Guestbook @ Jacksonville.com
Published in the Florida Times-Union from June 8 to June 11, 2018
Julienne was born on February 5th in Beckley, West Virginia, to Nick Rahall and Daley Fackuri Rahall. She graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School and continued to attend Beckley College and St. Petersburg Jr. College. Julienne and Sam met on Memorial Day, 1953 in Pittsburgh, PA. They were married the following year, 1954 in St., Petersburg, FL. They enjoyed a full happy loving marriage traveling to Europe, China, Russia, the Middle East, her parents' homeland, Kfeir Lebanon, some other countries and parts of the U.S.A. She was a loving wife, mother, a comforting generous aunt with a beautiful smile, laugh, a close dear friend to many friends, relatives, and local and national churches. She was a very smart successful businesswoman.
Julienne was instrumental in the co-founding of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church in Jacksonville, Florida. She was Dame Commander of the National Order of St. Ignatius of Antioch, of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of New York and all North America. She was active in the Gateway Women's Club, Salaam Club of Jacksonville, the Lebanese-American Club of Jacksonville and Kfeirian Lebanon descendants reunion. She was a loving aunt, great aunt and great-great aunt to 11 nephews, 6 nieces, 18 great nieces, 9 great nephews, 7 great-great nephews and 7 great-great nieces.
Julienne was preceded in death by her father Nicholas Rahall, her mother Daley Rahall, step-mother Wadia Rahall, brothers Joe Rahall, Deem Rahall, Farris Rahall, and sister Josephine McCarus.
Julienne is survived by her devout husband of 64 years Samuel, her loving daughter Pam Newey, brother Sam G. Rahall St. Petersburg, FL, and brother-in-law Simon R, Newey, NYC.
Services: Visitation will be from 6 – 8 pm on Sunday, June 10, 2018 with the Trisagion at 7 pm at St. George Antiochian Eastern Orthodox Church, (904) 448-1855, 6300 Bowden Road Jacksonville, FL 32216. The funeral service will be on Monday, June 11 at 10 am with The Very Reverend Father Kamal Al-Rahil of St George Antiochian Eastern Orthodox Church officiating there. Burial will take place at Fairview Memorial Cemetery, Northlake, Illinois. Arrangements are being handled by Corey-Kerlin Funeral Home, 940 Cesery Blvd, Jacksonville, Fl. (904) 744-8422 and Drake Funeral Home, Chicago, IL.
The family would like to express our thanks to the wonderful help and care given by a nursing home, a hospice center, and the Mayo Clinic and Hospital of Jacksonville, FL.
In lieu Flowers: Friends may make memorial contributions to St. George Church building fund, 6300 Bowden Road, Jacksonville, FL 32216.Please Sign the Guestbook @ Jacksonville.com
Published in the Florida Times-Union from June 8 to June 11, 2018
Livia A. Rahall, age 92 of Ellwood City, PA formerly of Bellevue, passed away on Thursday, December 28, 2017 in Northview Estates Nursing Home. She was born February 9, 1925, in Pecs, Hungary a daughter of the late Augusta and Gizella Kregecz. Livia emigrated from Hungary through Ellis Island in 1932 with her mother and brother and settled in Ben Avon, PA where she was reunited with her father. After graduating from High School, she took several secretarial positions in Pittsburgh and New York City. She was an avid reader, painter, sculptor, potter and enjoyed all types of crafts. During WWII, Livia worked for Dravo Corp. and won their "Pin-Up" girl competition. Receiving marriage offers from around the world, no one could compete with George, her husband of 54 years. Married in 1946, she devoted her life to the raising of their four sons. Livia's devotion to her family was second only to her devotion to her savior Jesus Christ. After accepting Christ at a Katherine Kuhlman revival in Pittsburgh, her life's testimony resulted in the salvation of her immediate and extended family, as well as countless others. Today, for Livia, Christ's promise of eternal life is realized. Livia was preceded in death by her husband George, son Stephen, brother Augie Kregecz, and brother-in-laws Joe Rahall, Raymond Hawarny, and Louis Rahall. She is survived by three sons; Kenneth (Mary Ellen) of West View, PA, Dr. Lawrence (Lucy) of Ellwood City, PA, and CAPT (ret) Ronald (Mary Etta) Rahall of Yorktown, VA; six grandchildren and four great grandchildren. She is also survived by sisters-in-law, Alice Rahall of Beckley, WV; Elaine Rahall of Fayetteville, WV; Deloris Hawarny of Scott Depot, WV; and Joann Kregecz of Jeannette, PA; as well as many nephews and nieces. Friends will be received Tuesday from 2-4 & 6-8pm in the H.P. Brandt Funeral Home, Inc., 1032 Perry Hwy, Ross Twp., 412-364-4444, where a funeral service will be held on Wednesday at 10:30am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Livia's memory to the Allison Park Church, 2326 Duncan Ave, Allison Park, PA 15101. To offer condolences, please visit www.brandtfuneralhome.com
Yvonne Susan Lowen Gigliotti died December 20, 2017, at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak. She was 70 years old. Yvonne was born November 28, 1947, in Charleston, West Virginia. Yvonne was a member of St. George’s Ladies Society and the Assistance League of Southeast Michigan. She enjoyed cooking, needlepoint, and playing Mahjongg, but especially enjoyed shopping for her granddaughters. Yvonne is survived by her beloved husband of 43 years, Anthony, her son, Paul (Leigh Anne) Gigliotti, and her granddaughters, Makenna and Sophia. She is also survived by her sisters, Mary Lowen and Deanna Spitzer. Yvonne was preceded in death by her sisters, Dolores Wigglesworth and Gloria Lowen. Visitation will take place at Lynch & Sons Funeral Home, 1368 N. Crooks Road (between 14-15 Mile Roads), Friday, December 22nd, 3-8pm. Prayers at 7pm. A Funeral Service will be held at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, 2160 E. Maple Road, Troy, Saturday, December 23rd, at 11am. Friends may visit at church beginning at 10am.
Memorials appreciated to St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105-9959.
Note: Yvonne attended the 84th and 85th reunion with her sisters Mary and Deanna.
Memorials appreciated to St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105-9959.
Note: Yvonne attended the 84th and 85th reunion with her sisters Mary and Deanna.
Mary Catherine Thabet (Donley) Husson December 6, 2017. Dearest mother of Kevin (Monica) Donley, Colleen Donley, James (Ivana) Donley, and Richard (Carolyn) Donley. Loving grandma of Ryan, Emily, Sydney, Allison, Shannon, Duncan, Dylan, Brandon, Kenzie, and Samantha. Dear sister of John, Beverly, Lois, Betty, Dwight, the late Jo Ann, and the late Karen. Family will receive friends Sunday 2-8 pm with Rosary at 5 pm at Stanley Turowski Funeral Home, 25509 W. Warren, Dearborn Heights. Instate Monday 9:30 am at St. Alphonsus Church until time of Mass at 10:00 am. Mary was a Captain in the Army Nurse Corps Reserves, Catholic War Veterans Post 1540, Member of the American Legion Post 173, and Chaplain of the Dearborn Allied War Veterans. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Right to Life-LIFESPAN, Capuchin Soup Kitchen, and Detroit Rescue Mission.
Note: Mary attended the 85th reunion in Charleston, WV.
Note: Mary attended the 85th reunion in Charleston, WV.
Rosalie Russo George, 92, of Huntington, died Friday, October 27, 2017, at Midland Meadows. Calling hours will be held Monday at Klingel-Carpenter Mortuary from 4 to 8 p.m. Funeral liturgy will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, October 31, 2017, at St. Joseph Church. Interment will follow in Spring Hill Cemetery, Huntington. The grandsons will serve as pallbearers. She was born December 11, 1924, in Fairmont, W.Va., a daughter of the late John Russo and the late Nellie Russo Linsenmeyer. She graduated from the College of Mount St. Joseph, Cincinnati, with a degree in medical technology. After graduation she worked at the VA Hospital in Huntington and retired from the Cabell County Assessor's Office. She was the oldest of five children and loved her role as the older sister. She also had two stepsisters and a stepbrother. She was married to Edmund "Mooney" George for 49 years, which were filled with fun, travel and great family experiences. Nothing gave her more joy than being with her family and having fun with her children, grandchildren, sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews, in-laws and out-laws. She was an avid and successful bridge player. A true beach bum, she particularly enjoyed time at Jekyll Island and Hilton Head with her family. She was a strong supporter of the Huntington YMCA, donating countless hours volunteering, supporting her kids in the swimming and basketball programs, serving on the board and working tirelessly for many years on the annual campaign drives. She volunteered for numerous organizations including the Huntington Museum, Catholic Daughters and St. Joseph Church, all of which she was a member. She was a constant presence for over 50 years at St. Joe basketball games and Marshall basketball and football games. She was also preceded in death by two brothers, Michael and Jimmy Joe Russo; a sister, Jenny Lou Linsenmeyer; two stepsisters, Dorothy Nenni and Nancy Aluise; and a stepbrother, Jim Linsenmeyer. She is survived by four sons, Alan (wife Cathy) of Hilton Head Island, S.C.; Greg (wife Liz) of Edgewood, Ky.; Mark (wife Samantha) of Huntington; Cris (wife Kittie) of Louisville, Ky.; one daughter, Barbara Ricks (husband Al) of Canfield, Ohio; thirteen grandchildren, Katie Mancini, Alan George Jr., Anna George, Michael, Brian, Kevin and Jordan Ricks, Elizabeth and Nick George, Davis, Conner and Allie George and Ramey George; six great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Huntington YMCA or St. Joseph Church School Fund. Family guestbook at www.klingelcarpenter.com. Published in The Herald-Dispatch on Oct. 29, 2017
Clemence Thabet Bassett
Blissfield – Clemence “Cle” Bassett, age 91 of Blissfield, passed away Tuesday, September 19, 2017, at home with her family.
She was born March 4, 1926, in Kfeir, Lebanon to Toufic and Rasmia (Lowen) Thabet. Clemence graduated from South Charleston High School in 1944. She married Farris Bassett on October 15, 1946, and they celebrated over 50 years together before his death.
Cle worked as a secretary during the 2nd Great War, and also enjoyed working locally for Dr. Richard Burns and Richland Furs of Blissfield. She was a member of St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Church in Sylvania, Ohio. Cle was involved with the St. Elias Ladies Society, was a lifetime member of the American Legion Auxillary Post 325 and the Eastern Star. She was a wonderful homemaker and enjoyed knitting, crafts, crocheting, reading, listening to music, being outdoors doing yard work and gardening, and being involved with church activities. Cle loved to cook and made delicious Lebanese dishes.
Clemence is survived by her children: Cynthia Brooks of Blissfield, Rev. Protodeacon Michael (Pamela) Bassett of Owosso, and Catherine (William) Verbosky of Rossford, Ohio; grandchildren: Christopher, Jonathan, Danielle (Chris) and Patrick; great-grandchildren: Breydon and Avery; and siblings: Rose Christian, Charles (Layla) Thabet and Carolyn Sadd; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters: Naomi McCarron, Linda Mickel, and brother Edward (Daphne) Thabet.
Visitation will be held at St. Elias Church 4940 Harroun Road in Sylvania, Ohio, on Thursday, September 21st from 3-7 PM with Trisagion Prayers at 7 PM. Visitation will also be held at Wagley Funeral Home Tagsold Chapel on Friday, September 22nd beginning at noon with funeral service at 2:00 PM presided by the Very Rev. Father Ayman Kfouf. Burial will follow at Pleasant View Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Elias Church. Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.WagleyFuneralHomes.com.
The pictures below are of an icon that memorial contributions from Cle's funeral went to assist in completing this icon at St. Elias in Sylvania, OH. The icon was dedicated on Sunday, December 11, 2017.
Blissfield – Clemence “Cle” Bassett, age 91 of Blissfield, passed away Tuesday, September 19, 2017, at home with her family.
She was born March 4, 1926, in Kfeir, Lebanon to Toufic and Rasmia (Lowen) Thabet. Clemence graduated from South Charleston High School in 1944. She married Farris Bassett on October 15, 1946, and they celebrated over 50 years together before his death.
Cle worked as a secretary during the 2nd Great War, and also enjoyed working locally for Dr. Richard Burns and Richland Furs of Blissfield. She was a member of St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Church in Sylvania, Ohio. Cle was involved with the St. Elias Ladies Society, was a lifetime member of the American Legion Auxillary Post 325 and the Eastern Star. She was a wonderful homemaker and enjoyed knitting, crafts, crocheting, reading, listening to music, being outdoors doing yard work and gardening, and being involved with church activities. Cle loved to cook and made delicious Lebanese dishes.
Clemence is survived by her children: Cynthia Brooks of Blissfield, Rev. Protodeacon Michael (Pamela) Bassett of Owosso, and Catherine (William) Verbosky of Rossford, Ohio; grandchildren: Christopher, Jonathan, Danielle (Chris) and Patrick; great-grandchildren: Breydon and Avery; and siblings: Rose Christian, Charles (Layla) Thabet and Carolyn Sadd; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters: Naomi McCarron, Linda Mickel, and brother Edward (Daphne) Thabet.
Visitation will be held at St. Elias Church 4940 Harroun Road in Sylvania, Ohio, on Thursday, September 21st from 3-7 PM with Trisagion Prayers at 7 PM. Visitation will also be held at Wagley Funeral Home Tagsold Chapel on Friday, September 22nd beginning at noon with funeral service at 2:00 PM presided by the Very Rev. Father Ayman Kfouf. Burial will follow at Pleasant View Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Elias Church. Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.WagleyFuneralHomes.com.
The pictures below are of an icon that memorial contributions from Cle's funeral went to assist in completing this icon at St. Elias in Sylvania, OH. The icon was dedicated on Sunday, December 11, 2017.
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Angele Beter Saouan, 91, widow of Mike Beter Saouan, passed away Sunday, August 27, 2017. She was born July 20, 1926, in Salima, Lebanon. She was the daughter of the late Kattar and Shafica Kassab. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers and a sister. Angele met and married Mike when he went to visit his mother in Lebanon after immigrating to the United States. She came to Huntington in 1947. In 1958, she obtained her U.S. Citizenship after completing the Citizenship Training Study Course in government. She loved and respected her adopted country.
Angele was a professional typist in three languages. She worked for a camp of the British Army stationed in Beirut, Lebanon, during World War II. Angele helped her husband with the operation of a grill and sandwich shop in Huntington. She was Broker owner of Angele Saouan Realty, a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and numerous organizations. She is survived by the love of her life, three children, Najette Delaney (Kevin) of Columbus, Michael Saouan of Huntington and Janina Michael (Greg) of Huntington; three grandchildren, Dr. Bridget Feldmann (Chad) of St. Louis, Theresa Hughes (Eric) of Cincinnati and Michael Delaney of Columbus. She is also survived by five great-grandchildren, Lydia and Liam Hughes, and Christopher, Kevin and Daniel Feldmann; and many nieces and nephews in the United States and in Lebanon. Funeral Mass will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday, August 31, 2017, by Father Dean Borgmeyer and Monsignor Lawrence Luciana at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Spring Hill Cemetery. Date of Birth : July 20 1926
Angele was a professional typist in three languages. She worked for a camp of the British Army stationed in Beirut, Lebanon, during World War II. Angele helped her husband with the operation of a grill and sandwich shop in Huntington. She was Broker owner of Angele Saouan Realty, a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and numerous organizations. She is survived by the love of her life, three children, Najette Delaney (Kevin) of Columbus, Michael Saouan of Huntington and Janina Michael (Greg) of Huntington; three grandchildren, Dr. Bridget Feldmann (Chad) of St. Louis, Theresa Hughes (Eric) of Cincinnati and Michael Delaney of Columbus. She is also survived by five great-grandchildren, Lydia and Liam Hughes, and Christopher, Kevin and Daniel Feldmann; and many nieces and nephews in the United States and in Lebanon. Funeral Mass will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday, August 31, 2017, by Father Dean Borgmeyer and Monsignor Lawrence Luciana at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Spring Hill Cemetery. Date of Birth : July 20 1926
Jack E. Abraham
WINTER GARDEN, Fla. — Jack E. Abraham, 94, passed away on May 21, 2017 in Winter Garden, Fla. He passed away peacefully with his son John at his side. He was born in Williamson, W.Va. and served in the infantry in World War II, stationed in France. He worked for the Internal Revenue Service for 30 years and went on to run a janitorial service and open his own private tax consulting business. He and his wife Anne retired to Florida from Asheville, NC.
Jack is survived by his son John Abraham and daughter-in-law Wendy Abraham from Ocoee, Fla., his granddaughter Casey Abraham from Denver, CO, his sister Emily Haddad from Illinois, his brother Raymond Abraham and niece Linda Thomas from Huntington, W.Va. and nephew Mike Abraham from Jacksonville, Fla. A private celebration of life is planned for family and friends in the coming months.
WINTER GARDEN, Fla. — Jack E. Abraham, 94, passed away on May 21, 2017 in Winter Garden, Fla. He passed away peacefully with his son John at his side. He was born in Williamson, W.Va. and served in the infantry in World War II, stationed in France. He worked for the Internal Revenue Service for 30 years and went on to run a janitorial service and open his own private tax consulting business. He and his wife Anne retired to Florida from Asheville, NC.
Jack is survived by his son John Abraham and daughter-in-law Wendy Abraham from Ocoee, Fla., his granddaughter Casey Abraham from Denver, CO, his sister Emily Haddad from Illinois, his brother Raymond Abraham and niece Linda Thomas from Huntington, W.Va. and nephew Mike Abraham from Jacksonville, Fla. A private celebration of life is planned for family and friends in the coming months.
Louis Asaff Rahall
March 27, 1930 - March 26, 2017
Rahall passed away March 26 at home in Fayetteville, WV, surrounded by his loved ones.
He was born March 27, 1930 in Beckley, WV, to the late Asaff and Jamelia Thabet Rahall. Louis was married to Elaine Husson April 24, 1955, in Charleston, WV, at the Saint George Orthodox Cathedral, where he was a member. He was a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School, earned his undergraduate degree at Bowling Green College, and earned his masters degree at Wayne State University. He served in the U.S. Army and was a member of the American Legion Post 149 in Fayetteville. He was the last surviving founding member of the Fayetteville Lions Club, and was given the Leonard Jarrett and Melvin Jones Fellowship awards by his fellow Lions. He served as president of the Fayette County National Bank Holding Company and was a past president of the Kfeirian Reunion. Louis and his wife Elaine owned the Ben Franklin store, which they opened together in 1955 shortly after their marriage.
Louis was preceded in death by his brother George and son Louis, Jr. He is survived by his wife of almost 62 years, Elaine, sister-in-law Livia Rahall, sister Alice Rahall, sister Deloris Hawarny, daughter Eva Cassis (Bruce), son David (Jackie), son Michael (Donna), son Greg (Mary), nine grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren, and numerous Godchildren.
Above all, Louis was devoted to his family, immediate and extended. He had a wealth of friends, loved a good party and had a great sense of humor. He will be always be remembered and cherished by all who knew him.
Visitation will be Wednesday, March 29 at Blue Ridge Funeral Home in Beckley from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. with Trisagion prayers starting at 7:30 PM. Visitation will also be Thursday, March 30 at St. George Orthodox Cathedral, Charleston from 9:30 a.m followed by the funeral service starting at 11:00 am to be officiated by Rev. Fr. Christopher Eid. Entombment will be at 1:30 PM at Huse Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Fayetteville.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the St. George Orthodox Cathedral, 201 Court St, Charleston, WV 25301.
March 27, 1930 - March 26, 2017
Rahall passed away March 26 at home in Fayetteville, WV, surrounded by his loved ones.
He was born March 27, 1930 in Beckley, WV, to the late Asaff and Jamelia Thabet Rahall. Louis was married to Elaine Husson April 24, 1955, in Charleston, WV, at the Saint George Orthodox Cathedral, where he was a member. He was a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School, earned his undergraduate degree at Bowling Green College, and earned his masters degree at Wayne State University. He served in the U.S. Army and was a member of the American Legion Post 149 in Fayetteville. He was the last surviving founding member of the Fayetteville Lions Club, and was given the Leonard Jarrett and Melvin Jones Fellowship awards by his fellow Lions. He served as president of the Fayette County National Bank Holding Company and was a past president of the Kfeirian Reunion. Louis and his wife Elaine owned the Ben Franklin store, which they opened together in 1955 shortly after their marriage.
Louis was preceded in death by his brother George and son Louis, Jr. He is survived by his wife of almost 62 years, Elaine, sister-in-law Livia Rahall, sister Alice Rahall, sister Deloris Hawarny, daughter Eva Cassis (Bruce), son David (Jackie), son Michael (Donna), son Greg (Mary), nine grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren, and numerous Godchildren.
Above all, Louis was devoted to his family, immediate and extended. He had a wealth of friends, loved a good party and had a great sense of humor. He will be always be remembered and cherished by all who knew him.
Visitation will be Wednesday, March 29 at Blue Ridge Funeral Home in Beckley from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. with Trisagion prayers starting at 7:30 PM. Visitation will also be Thursday, March 30 at St. George Orthodox Cathedral, Charleston from 9:30 a.m followed by the funeral service starting at 11:00 am to be officiated by Rev. Fr. Christopher Eid. Entombment will be at 1:30 PM at Huse Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Fayetteville.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the St. George Orthodox Cathedral, 201 Court St, Charleston, WV 25301.
Millard Price Jr., 93, of Huntington, widower of Betty Jo Hagley Price, passed away Thursday, March 16, 2017, at the Emogene Dolin Jones Hospice House. Funeral service will be conducted 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 21, 2017, at First Church of the Nazarene, 321 30th Street, with Dallas Moore officiating. Burial with military rites conducted by Veterans Honor Guard Post 16 will be in White Chapel Memorial Gardens, Barboursville, with Pastor Marc Price officiating. He was born February 21, 1924, in Cabell County, a son of the late Millard Price Sr. and Della Adkins Price. He was also preceded in death by two brothers, Willard Price and Pat Price; and three sisters, Ethel Roach, Nora Hargis and Edna Nichols. Millard was a US Army Veteran of WW II, owned and operated the Rainbow Grill, and retired from the VA Medical Center in Huntington as locksmith and carpenter. He was a devoted member of the First Church of the Nazarene since 1980 where he volunteered his time and talents to help build the church's fellowship building. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and spent most of his free time helping others. He was an avid storyteller and had a strong work ethic and ties to the community.
Survivors include one daughter and son-in-law, Gloria and George Hanna of Huntington, three grandchildren, Bruce Hanna of Charleston, S.C., Greg Hanna of Huntington and Stephanie Adili and husband Bashir Adili of Mt. Pleasant, S.C., five great-grandchildren, Quentin, Nathan, Reagan Hanna, Milan and Beckham Adili; two sisters and a brother-in-law, Leah and Andrew Parsons of Gallipolis, Ohio, and Mae Jeffrey of Chesapeake, Va.; two brothers and a sister-in-law, Norris Price and Ralph "Bill" and Leta Price, all of Gallipolis, Ohio; and several special nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Emogene Dolin Jones Hospice House, 3100 Staunton Road, Huntington, WV 25702 or to the First Church of the Nazarene. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Monday at Chapman's Mortuary, Huntington. Online condolences may be sent to www.chapmans-mortuary.com.
Published in The Herald-Dispatch on Mar. 19, 2017- See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/herald-dispatch/obituary.aspx?pid=184577598#sthash.JoWzEi7n.dpuf
Survivors include one daughter and son-in-law, Gloria and George Hanna of Huntington, three grandchildren, Bruce Hanna of Charleston, S.C., Greg Hanna of Huntington and Stephanie Adili and husband Bashir Adili of Mt. Pleasant, S.C., five great-grandchildren, Quentin, Nathan, Reagan Hanna, Milan and Beckham Adili; two sisters and a brother-in-law, Leah and Andrew Parsons of Gallipolis, Ohio, and Mae Jeffrey of Chesapeake, Va.; two brothers and a sister-in-law, Norris Price and Ralph "Bill" and Leta Price, all of Gallipolis, Ohio; and several special nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Emogene Dolin Jones Hospice House, 3100 Staunton Road, Huntington, WV 25702 or to the First Church of the Nazarene. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Monday at Chapman's Mortuary, Huntington. Online condolences may be sent to www.chapmans-mortuary.com.
Published in The Herald-Dispatch on Mar. 19, 2017- See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/herald-dispatch/obituary.aspx?pid=184577598#sthash.JoWzEi7n.dpuf
Virginia Lee Thabit died March 15, 2017, in her home after a short illness with her beloved family by her side. She was 92. Virginia was born in Toledo on January 29, 1925, the fourth of six children of Edward and Edna Tanber, who emigrated to the U.S. from Lebanon in the early 1900s. She was a 1944 graduate of Scott High School. Following graduation, Virginia worked at The Community Chest - forerunner to The United Way - and much later as a bookkeeper at B&W Auto Paint. On October 25, 1958, she married James Thabit. Virginia's principal occupation was a homemaker. In that career she thrived. She and her husband raised three children, Karen, Brian and Michael. Virginia was happiest when her family was present, especially after cooking some of their favorite meals, such as stuffed squash and grape leaves.
Virginia had a genuine kindness that was reflected in her warm smile, in her care and concern for others, and in her great faith. She was a curious woman who loved to ask questions. But, her curiosity was sincere; she wanted to know how you were doing and what was new. Aside from her family, the center of Virginia's world was St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church, of which she was a lifelong member. Aside from attending every Sunday with her family, she was a former president of the Ladies Society and for many years chaired the Society's annual Holiday Bazaar as well as the twice-yearly bake sales. She was meticulous in her planning and had keen organizing skills. Virginia always searched for deals, often buying items months in advance of the bazaar if a bargain was to be had. The goal, of course, was to make money for her church. But she also loved the fellowship fostered among the women who worked by her side.
Virginia was preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Edna Tanber; husband, James Thabit; brothers, George and Edward, Jr. Tanber; sisters, Delores Najarian and Jeanette Saliba; sisters-in-law, Betty and Catherine Thabit. Surviving are sons, Brian (Bernadette) and Michael Thabit; daughter, Karen (Scott) Lawrence; grandchildren, Brooke (Andy), Brandon and Bailey Thabit; and Zachary and Valerie Lawrence; great-grandchildren, Emma Daugherty and Luna Dawes; sister, Shirley DeVictor; brother-in-law, George Thabit, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be Sunday, March 19 from 3-8 p.m. at St. Elias Church, 4940 Harroun Rd., Sylvania, where a Trisagion service will be at 7 p.m. Visitation also will be at 10 a.m. Monday, March 20, at St. Elias where funeral services will be at 11 a.m. with V. Rev. Archpriest Ayman Kfouf officiating. Burial will be at Toledo Memorial Park. The family asks that contributions be to the St. Elias Endowment Fund. Special thanks to John Lauth for your love, help, and friendship you showed her, she loved you; and Terry, Bambi and Jean of Great Lakes Hospice for your love and support. Condolences may be shared with the family at walkerfuneralhomes.com - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/toledoblade/obituary.aspx?n=virginia-lee-thabit&pid=184565923#sthash.HAUJ0TAo.p89ytm2K.dpufAs published in The Blade
Published in Toledo Blade from Mar. 18 to Mar. 19, 2017
Virginia had a genuine kindness that was reflected in her warm smile, in her care and concern for others, and in her great faith. She was a curious woman who loved to ask questions. But, her curiosity was sincere; she wanted to know how you were doing and what was new. Aside from her family, the center of Virginia's world was St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church, of which she was a lifelong member. Aside from attending every Sunday with her family, she was a former president of the Ladies Society and for many years chaired the Society's annual Holiday Bazaar as well as the twice-yearly bake sales. She was meticulous in her planning and had keen organizing skills. Virginia always searched for deals, often buying items months in advance of the bazaar if a bargain was to be had. The goal, of course, was to make money for her church. But she also loved the fellowship fostered among the women who worked by her side.
Virginia was preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Edna Tanber; husband, James Thabit; brothers, George and Edward, Jr. Tanber; sisters, Delores Najarian and Jeanette Saliba; sisters-in-law, Betty and Catherine Thabit. Surviving are sons, Brian (Bernadette) and Michael Thabit; daughter, Karen (Scott) Lawrence; grandchildren, Brooke (Andy), Brandon and Bailey Thabit; and Zachary and Valerie Lawrence; great-grandchildren, Emma Daugherty and Luna Dawes; sister, Shirley DeVictor; brother-in-law, George Thabit, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be Sunday, March 19 from 3-8 p.m. at St. Elias Church, 4940 Harroun Rd., Sylvania, where a Trisagion service will be at 7 p.m. Visitation also will be at 10 a.m. Monday, March 20, at St. Elias where funeral services will be at 11 a.m. with V. Rev. Archpriest Ayman Kfouf officiating. Burial will be at Toledo Memorial Park. The family asks that contributions be to the St. Elias Endowment Fund. Special thanks to John Lauth for your love, help, and friendship you showed her, she loved you; and Terry, Bambi and Jean of Great Lakes Hospice for your love and support. Condolences may be shared with the family at walkerfuneralhomes.com - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/toledoblade/obituary.aspx?n=virginia-lee-thabit&pid=184565923#sthash.HAUJ0TAo.p89ytm2K.dpufAs published in The Blade
Published in Toledo Blade from Mar. 18 to Mar. 19, 2017
Lila Mickel Fischer, 80, of Brandon, passed away on Wednesday, January 18, 2017. A Native of Charleston, WV, she had resided here for 4 years coming from Orlando, FL. She was a member of St. George Orthodox Church, Orlando, FL and is survived by her husband, Chuck, son, Charlie (Melanie) Fischer and 2 grandchildren.Funeral services will be held 11:00 A.M. Saturday, January 28, 2017, at St. George Orthodox Church, 24 N. Rosalind Ave, Orlando, FL 32801, with the family receiving friends one hour prior to services. A reception to follow at the church. Interment will follow at 4:00 P.M. at Bloomingdale Cemetery, Valrico, FL.
In lieu of flowers, her beloved husband Chuck has requested that you send memorial donations to the Kfeiran Reunion Foundation in honor of the reunion that Lila loved so dearly. Send the memorials to:
Kferian Reunion Foundation
10609 Smith Point Way
Glen Allen, VA 23060.
In lieu of flowers, her beloved husband Chuck has requested that you send memorial donations to the Kfeiran Reunion Foundation in honor of the reunion that Lila loved so dearly. Send the memorials to:
Kferian Reunion Foundation
10609 Smith Point Way
Glen Allen, VA 23060.
Sally Rahall Tweel, 99, of Huntington, WV died on the 21st day of September, 2016 at her home. She was born July 16, 1917, the daughter of Mike and Malakie Rahall. Sally’s mother died shortly thereafter, and her father returned to Lebanon to find a new wife and mother for his children. He married Edna Nasser, who raised Sally in Beckley, WV, along with her siblings, George Rahall, Naheeh Rahall (Bassett), Naseeb Rahall, Philip Rahall and Lorene Rahall (David), all who predeceased Sally. Sally was a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School where she was a cheerleader and played basketball. In 1939, she married James A. (Jim) Tweel and moved to Huntington, WV. Sally was actively involved with Jim in the formative years of Jim’s Grill, now Jim’s Steak & Spaghetti House. Once her three children were born in the 1940’s, Sally became a dedicated homemaker and was involved in all aspects of her children’s activities at Miller Elementary, Cammack Jr. High and Huntington High School. In addition, over the years she served on numerous civic boards: The American Cancer Society, Hospice of Huntington, Musical Arts Guild, The Huntington Symphony Orchestra, Pediatric Clinic, as well as volunteering for Contact and Reach to Recovery. She was also a very active and faithful member of the Fifth Avenue Baptist Church. Sally was preceded in death by her husband, Jim, and son-in-law William D. Carder. She is survived by her children, Jimmie Tweel Carder, Larry (Cheryl) Tweel and Ron (Lynda) Tweel. She is also survived by nine grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren. She is further survived by many nieces and nephews who have been loyal and faithful in their devotion to their Aunt Sally. The family would especially like to thank Mom’s caregivers, Juanita, Evie, Debbie, Donna, Yanet and Darcy (Hospice nurse) as well as many faithful and loyal friends, who have made her last years so enjoyable. Services will be held Tuesday 11:00 a.m. at Fifth Avenue Baptist Church with a celebration of Sally’s life immediately following at Guyan Golf and Country Club. Friends may call Monday 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Klingel-Carpenter Mortuary. A private graveside for the family will be held Tuesday morning prior to services at the church. Those wishing to honor Sally are encouraged to make a donation to Hospice of Huntington, The Fifth Avenue Baptist Church, or the charity of your choice. Family Guestbook at www.klingelcarpenter.com
Peggy Tweel, of Powell, OH passed away peacefully at the Kobacker House on 8/6/2016. Her final days were spent surrounded by her family-laughing, reminiscing, and expressing love. Peggy was born in Kentucky on 3/12/1940 and spent most of her adult life in Columbus, OH and Hilton Head Island, SC. Peggy's friends and family knew her as someone who was loyal, generous, kind, smart, and witty. She was a strong advocate for the rights of all sentient beings and practiced a vegan lifestyle for over 20 years. Over the course of her life she provided a loving home for numerous homeless animals. She is preceded in death by her beloved dogs Pixie, Zach, Jenna, Jordan, and Megan and by her beloved cats Madison, Miraya, Ashley, Katie, Danielle, and Timmy. She is also preceded in death by her brother, James Gary Barnett. Peggy is survived by her former husband, Dan Tweel and his wife Joely; brother, Rick (Betsy) Kelley; sister-in-law, Susan Bush; nephew, Jeremy (Katelyn) Kelley; nieces, Erin (Robert) James and Jamie Wildridge; great- nieces, Penny James and Avery Kelley; great nephews, Cedar and Gideon James; and her family cats Abie and Jasmine.
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Albert Sahley 80 of Charleston passed away July 16, 2016. Albert was a graduate of Charleston High School and attended WVU and Morris Harvey College (now University of Charleston). He was a well-known Radio Broadcasting personality who woke up the Charleston area every morning. Albert loved his family, his church and was a very proud Charlestonian. He was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2006. Preceding him in death were his parents Mary and Halem Sahley and his brother George Sahley. Survivors include his wife, Charlotte Sahley of Charleston; daughter, Lisa Sutton of South Charleston and grandson, Hunter Moles of South Charleston; brother, Namer Sahley and wife Josephine of Charleston; sister, Joann Shaley Shaheen of Charleston and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Funeral Services will be 11:00 AM Wednesday July 20, 2016 at Saint George Cathedral with Rev. Father Christopher Eid officiating. Interment will follow in Sunset Memorial Park, South Charleston. Visitation with the family will be Tuesday July 19, from 6 to 8 PM with Trisagion Prayer Service to follow. In Lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to St. George Orthodox Cathedral, P.O. Box 2044, Charleston, WV 25327 or Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association, 1248 Greenbrier Street, Charleston, WV 25311. The family will accept online condolences at: cpjfuneralhome.com
Cunningham-Parker-Johnson Funeral Home is serving the Sahley family.
Charleston broadcaster Sahley remembered for his personality
From the Charleston Gazette Mail on July 19, 2016
written by Rick Steelhammer
Kanawha Valley radio personality Albert “Big Al” Sahley once told an interviewer he was aware as a teenager that entertaining was his calling, but he had no idea at the time that his pursuit of that calling would result in a career in broadcasting. The Charleston native and 43-year veteran of the Kanawha Valley’s radio scene, who died Saturday at age 80, stumbled into his career by accident. After attending West Virginia University and Morris Harvey College (now the University of Charleston) and failing to find a desirable career path to follow, Sahley found himself working at his father’s Spring Hill grill when an ad salesman for an area radio station stopped in. On impulse, Sahley asked the salesman if he could arrange an interview for an announcer’s position, since “I sound a lot better than that guy I’m listening to now,” he said in a 1999 “Innerview” with the Gazette’s Sandy Wells. Sahley got the interview, but the station manager didn’t give him the job. However, a DJ who reviewed the interview tape liked what he heard, and when he transferred to another station, suggested that its manager give Sahley a call. Soon, he began working an eight-hour Sunday shift at WTIP for $1 an hour. From that first radio job in 1956, Sahley parlayed his humor, impressionist skills and willingness to take on new challenges to build a career that included work as a disc jockey, talk show host, play-by-play sports announcer and emcee, followed by briefer careers in municipal politics and real estate development.
While most of Sahley’s radio career took place in the Kanawha Valley, mainly at stations WKLC and WCHS, he hosted a morning show for a Miami, Florida, station in the early 1960s that lasted until the station’s format changed from Top-40 to Big Band, and management replaced all on-air personalities. Sahley’s morning show was given to Larry King, the future host of “Larry King Live” on CNN. Sahley returned to Charleston, hosted “Charleston at Night” on WCHS, and branched into television, first as Bozo the Clown at WCHS-TV, and later as Fat Drac, the vampire-costumed host of “Friday Night Dead,” a weekly horror movie program on WVAH-TV and a play on NBC’s then-new “Saturday Night Live.”
In the early 1990s, Charleston Mayor Mike Roark appointed Sahley to serve as the city’s parking director, and in 1996, he was asked by the Kanawha County Republican organization to run against Democrat Phyllis Gatson, who was unopposed, for the county assessor’s post. He lost that race, left the field of radio, and turned his attention to developing real estate in the Teays Valley area with his brother.
In 2006, Sahley was in the first group of inductees to be honored in the West Virginia Broadcasting Hall of Fame. “He was a great guy and a real character and definitely the star of the station,” said Charlie Cooper, who worked with Sahley for many years at WKAZ. “He was a dream to write character voices for,” said Cooper’s wife, P.K. Khoury, who also worked with Sahley at WKAZ. “He could do anything — Austrian psychiatrist, the Mad Hatter, and of course his signature voices: Fat Albert and a drag queen who wore pink peau de soie pumps. He was one of the only announcers at that time who commanded a separate talent fee for his voices to be used on a client’s spots. No fee, no Al Sahley.”
Khoury, who like Sahley is a Lebanese-American, said the announcer put his fluent Arabic language skills to use when appropriate. Since WKAZ was located atop the former Heart O Town Hotel, Sahley was known to spend his breaks “relaxing in the hotel lobby’s big, comfortable chairs,” Khoury said. On one such occasion, Sahley overheard a group of Middle Easterners gathered at the front desk, where they were expressing their displeasure “with everything about their visit — the rooms, the food and the service,” she said. “Sahley listened for a while and then as he strolled past them on his way toward the restaurant, he casually told them, in Arabic, that they should be ashamed of themselves for saying such unpleasant things and making life difficult for the good people of his home town. He relished the shocked looks on their faces, and not one of the visitors contradicted his rebuke.”
Khoury, then single and a Washington, D.C., transplant in a new town, said Sahley made an effort to make her feel at home. “Albert included me in his Lebanese family holidays. I ate Christmas dinner with him and his brothers and sister more than once,” she said. She described her former colleague as “quick-witted, full of mischief and a true radio talent. Al Sahley was not always easy to work with, but working with him was like working with no other jock I’ve ever known. … He was larger than life, in person and on the air.”
Funeral Services will be 11:00 AM Wednesday July 20, 2016 at Saint George Cathedral with Rev. Father Christopher Eid officiating. Interment will follow in Sunset Memorial Park, South Charleston. Visitation with the family will be Tuesday July 19, from 6 to 8 PM with Trisagion Prayer Service to follow. In Lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to St. George Orthodox Cathedral, P.O. Box 2044, Charleston, WV 25327 or Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association, 1248 Greenbrier Street, Charleston, WV 25311. The family will accept online condolences at: cpjfuneralhome.com
Cunningham-Parker-Johnson Funeral Home is serving the Sahley family.
Charleston broadcaster Sahley remembered for his personality
From the Charleston Gazette Mail on July 19, 2016
written by Rick Steelhammer
Kanawha Valley radio personality Albert “Big Al” Sahley once told an interviewer he was aware as a teenager that entertaining was his calling, but he had no idea at the time that his pursuit of that calling would result in a career in broadcasting. The Charleston native and 43-year veteran of the Kanawha Valley’s radio scene, who died Saturday at age 80, stumbled into his career by accident. After attending West Virginia University and Morris Harvey College (now the University of Charleston) and failing to find a desirable career path to follow, Sahley found himself working at his father’s Spring Hill grill when an ad salesman for an area radio station stopped in. On impulse, Sahley asked the salesman if he could arrange an interview for an announcer’s position, since “I sound a lot better than that guy I’m listening to now,” he said in a 1999 “Innerview” with the Gazette’s Sandy Wells. Sahley got the interview, but the station manager didn’t give him the job. However, a DJ who reviewed the interview tape liked what he heard, and when he transferred to another station, suggested that its manager give Sahley a call. Soon, he began working an eight-hour Sunday shift at WTIP for $1 an hour. From that first radio job in 1956, Sahley parlayed his humor, impressionist skills and willingness to take on new challenges to build a career that included work as a disc jockey, talk show host, play-by-play sports announcer and emcee, followed by briefer careers in municipal politics and real estate development.
While most of Sahley’s radio career took place in the Kanawha Valley, mainly at stations WKLC and WCHS, he hosted a morning show for a Miami, Florida, station in the early 1960s that lasted until the station’s format changed from Top-40 to Big Band, and management replaced all on-air personalities. Sahley’s morning show was given to Larry King, the future host of “Larry King Live” on CNN. Sahley returned to Charleston, hosted “Charleston at Night” on WCHS, and branched into television, first as Bozo the Clown at WCHS-TV, and later as Fat Drac, the vampire-costumed host of “Friday Night Dead,” a weekly horror movie program on WVAH-TV and a play on NBC’s then-new “Saturday Night Live.”
In the early 1990s, Charleston Mayor Mike Roark appointed Sahley to serve as the city’s parking director, and in 1996, he was asked by the Kanawha County Republican organization to run against Democrat Phyllis Gatson, who was unopposed, for the county assessor’s post. He lost that race, left the field of radio, and turned his attention to developing real estate in the Teays Valley area with his brother.
In 2006, Sahley was in the first group of inductees to be honored in the West Virginia Broadcasting Hall of Fame. “He was a great guy and a real character and definitely the star of the station,” said Charlie Cooper, who worked with Sahley for many years at WKAZ. “He was a dream to write character voices for,” said Cooper’s wife, P.K. Khoury, who also worked with Sahley at WKAZ. “He could do anything — Austrian psychiatrist, the Mad Hatter, and of course his signature voices: Fat Albert and a drag queen who wore pink peau de soie pumps. He was one of the only announcers at that time who commanded a separate talent fee for his voices to be used on a client’s spots. No fee, no Al Sahley.”
Khoury, who like Sahley is a Lebanese-American, said the announcer put his fluent Arabic language skills to use when appropriate. Since WKAZ was located atop the former Heart O Town Hotel, Sahley was known to spend his breaks “relaxing in the hotel lobby’s big, comfortable chairs,” Khoury said. On one such occasion, Sahley overheard a group of Middle Easterners gathered at the front desk, where they were expressing their displeasure “with everything about their visit — the rooms, the food and the service,” she said. “Sahley listened for a while and then as he strolled past them on his way toward the restaurant, he casually told them, in Arabic, that they should be ashamed of themselves for saying such unpleasant things and making life difficult for the good people of his home town. He relished the shocked looks on their faces, and not one of the visitors contradicted his rebuke.”
Khoury, then single and a Washington, D.C., transplant in a new town, said Sahley made an effort to make her feel at home. “Albert included me in his Lebanese family holidays. I ate Christmas dinner with him and his brothers and sister more than once,” she said. She described her former colleague as “quick-witted, full of mischief and a true radio talent. Al Sahley was not always easy to work with, but working with him was like working with no other jock I’ve ever known. … He was larger than life, in person and on the air.”
Betty Jo Hagley Price, 87 years old, of Huntington, WV quietly passed away in her home on Sunday, May 22, 2016 surrounded by her family. Funeral services were held on Thursday, May 26, 2016 at 11:00 am at the First Church of the Nazarene, officiated by Dallas Moore, with burial immediately following at White Chapel Memorial Gardens in Barboursville, WV. Betty was born September 8, 1928 in Huntington, WV a daughter of the late Henry (Vent) and Hallie Jefferson Hagley. Betty was a vibrant and loving woman who was a devout Christian and member of the First Church of The Nazarene for 36 years. She had a love for life and lived every day with a servant's heart for her family and church community.
She is survived by her husband of 72 years, Millard Price, one daughter and son-in-law, Gloria and George Hanna of Huntington, WV, and three grandchildren, Bruce Hanna of Charleston, SC, Greg Hanna of Huntington, WV, and Stephanie Adili and her husband, Bashir Adili, of Mt. Pleasant, SC. She also has five great grandchildren - Quentin, Nathan, and Reagan Hanna and Milan and Beckham Adili. Additional survivors include her sister and brother-in-law, Rose and Carl Cooper of Gallipolis, OH and her brother and sister-in-law, Rudolph and Margaret Hagley of Lesage, WV and several very special nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by three brothers, Raymond and Hurshel Hagley and Hobert Jefferson and by three sisters, Aretta Knight, Lillian Hardesty, and Electa Spurlock. Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.chapmans-mortuary.com.
She is survived by her husband of 72 years, Millard Price, one daughter and son-in-law, Gloria and George Hanna of Huntington, WV, and three grandchildren, Bruce Hanna of Charleston, SC, Greg Hanna of Huntington, WV, and Stephanie Adili and her husband, Bashir Adili, of Mt. Pleasant, SC. She also has five great grandchildren - Quentin, Nathan, and Reagan Hanna and Milan and Beckham Adili. Additional survivors include her sister and brother-in-law, Rose and Carl Cooper of Gallipolis, OH and her brother and sister-in-law, Rudolph and Margaret Hagley of Lesage, WV and several very special nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by three brothers, Raymond and Hurshel Hagley and Hobert Jefferson and by three sisters, Aretta Knight, Lillian Hardesty, and Electa Spurlock. Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.chapmans-mortuary.com.
Dorothy "Dottie" Eileen Skaff, 82, of Morgantown (formerly of Miami, FL), passed away Monday, May 16, 2016 at her residence with her family by her side. Mrs. Skaff was born in Beckley on July 11, 1933, the daughter of the late Fayez Ramey and the late Helen (Abourezk) Ramey. She is also preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Orlando L. Skaff, who passed away in 1998.
She was a member of the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in Morgantown and St. George Orthodox Church in Miami. She was a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley and obtains her B.S. Degree from West Virginia University and received an Internship in Dietetics from St. Luke's Hospital in Cleveland, OH and did bookkeeping and office work for her husband's dental office. She was a member of the PEO Ladies Society in Morgantown, Ft. Lauderdale, and Miami. She was a member of a bridge group, Newcomers Club in Morgantown and was a Literacy Volunteer in Miami and Morgantown. Being an arts advocate, she also belonged to Arts Monongahela.
She is survived by her children, Dr. Mark Ramey Skaff, Dr. David Louis Skaff and his wife Katyna from Miami, Tina Eileen Skaff of Morgantown, and Michelle Renee Skaff Biafora and her husband Rick Anthony Biafora of Morgantown; two sisters, Lena "Bunny" Ramey Barrett and spouse Larry Barrett of Gainesville, VA and Vicki Ramey of Atlanta, GA; grandchildren, Lena Renee Biafora, Richard Anthony Biafora II, Joseph Nicholas Biafora of Morgantown, David Lewis Skaff II, and Emma Nicole Skaff of Miami, FL. In addition to her parents and husband, she is also preceded in death by one sister, Sally Ann Ramey.
The family would like to thank the wonderful nurses and aides at Amedisys Hospice as well as Tonya Fluharty, Gladys Kuria, Elisa Leatherman, and Delta Bissett for their strong compassion and exceptional loving care for Dottie. Friends and family will be received at Assumptions Greek Orthodox Church, 447 Spruce St., Morgantown, on Saturday, May 21st from 10 AM until the time of the funeral service at 12:00 Noon with Father David Shaw. Entombment on Friday, May 27th at 11:00 A.M. at Hollywood Memorial Gardens Cemetery and Mausoleum. The Rev. Father Fouad Saba from St. George Antiochian Cathedral, Coral Gables will officiate. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. "A Mercy Meal" will follow at the home of David and Katyna Skaff, 5123 Lakewood Drive, Cooper City, Florida 33330. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Christian Help of Morgantown, 219 Walnut Street, Morgantown, WV 26505 or the WVU Cancer Institute Soup for the Soul Fund.
She was a member of the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in Morgantown and St. George Orthodox Church in Miami. She was a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley and obtains her B.S. Degree from West Virginia University and received an Internship in Dietetics from St. Luke's Hospital in Cleveland, OH and did bookkeeping and office work for her husband's dental office. She was a member of the PEO Ladies Society in Morgantown, Ft. Lauderdale, and Miami. She was a member of a bridge group, Newcomers Club in Morgantown and was a Literacy Volunteer in Miami and Morgantown. Being an arts advocate, she also belonged to Arts Monongahela.
She is survived by her children, Dr. Mark Ramey Skaff, Dr. David Louis Skaff and his wife Katyna from Miami, Tina Eileen Skaff of Morgantown, and Michelle Renee Skaff Biafora and her husband Rick Anthony Biafora of Morgantown; two sisters, Lena "Bunny" Ramey Barrett and spouse Larry Barrett of Gainesville, VA and Vicki Ramey of Atlanta, GA; grandchildren, Lena Renee Biafora, Richard Anthony Biafora II, Joseph Nicholas Biafora of Morgantown, David Lewis Skaff II, and Emma Nicole Skaff of Miami, FL. In addition to her parents and husband, she is also preceded in death by one sister, Sally Ann Ramey.
The family would like to thank the wonderful nurses and aides at Amedisys Hospice as well as Tonya Fluharty, Gladys Kuria, Elisa Leatherman, and Delta Bissett for their strong compassion and exceptional loving care for Dottie. Friends and family will be received at Assumptions Greek Orthodox Church, 447 Spruce St., Morgantown, on Saturday, May 21st from 10 AM until the time of the funeral service at 12:00 Noon with Father David Shaw. Entombment on Friday, May 27th at 11:00 A.M. at Hollywood Memorial Gardens Cemetery and Mausoleum. The Rev. Father Fouad Saba from St. George Antiochian Cathedral, Coral Gables will officiate. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. "A Mercy Meal" will follow at the home of David and Katyna Skaff, 5123 Lakewood Drive, Cooper City, Florida 33330. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Christian Help of Morgantown, 219 Walnut Street, Morgantown, WV 26505 or the WVU Cancer Institute Soup for the Soul Fund.
Dawnelle Rodriguez, 60, of Tampa passed away on May 7, 2016. Preceded in death by her mother; Barbara Aborizk. Left to cherish her memory is her loving husband of 42 years, Abelardo Rodriguez: Children, Allen (Tiffany) of Odessa, Kristi (Michael) of Tampa, Danny (Melissa) of North Carolina. Grandchildren: Arionna, Anthony, Bella, Caleb and Gavin. Father, Don Aborizk of Tampa, Brothers Joe (Christine) of Tampa, Rob (Angie) of Zephyrhills. Sister Rhonda (Tim) of Tampa. Visitation will take place Tuesday, 5/10/2016 at 2:15pm followed by service at 2:45pm at Garden of Memories Funeral Home 4207 E. Lake Avenue Tampa, FL 33610. Entombment will be at Garden of Memories Cemetery.
Evelyn Corey died Wednesday April 27, 2016, 6:48 p.m., God created another free bird at Hospice Of Northwest Ohio, Perrysburg. Evelyn S. Corey, 81 of Rossford, Ohio was released from a long battle with COPD from second hand smoke. Born in Kfeir, Hasbaya, Lebanon January 21, 1935, to Salim Sahely and Saba Shahinah. Evelyn had to quit school in the 6th grade to help take care of her family. She immigrated to Canada in 1957 to be with her sister Sheffika until she went to the States where in 1958 she married Tufe A. Corey in Toledo, Ohio and raised 5 children. Mom was a vibrant, strong, colorful person. She was outspoken and strongly opinionated and anyone who knew her, knew she was a die hard non-Republican. No Bushes or Trumps in her love list! She loved to learn and was a fan of Dr. Oz, The History Channel, Discovery and PBS. She kept up with politics, world news and events and loved to discuss what was going on in the world. Though Mom had little formal education, she had lots of life wisdom she shared with the many people she met as owner and operator of Dempsey's Cafe in the old North end, then known as Little Syria. She inherited the bar in 1973 when her husband died. Never having been in a bar before, she didn't know what a bottle of liquor was but quickly learned how to be a business woman. She had many friends over the years who came to Dempsey's to laugh, sing, cry, talk politics and be mothered by Ma. She treated her customers as family and helped many people. She'd feed a stranger, give someone gas money and lend an ear to anyone in need. New Year's Eve was always a special night at Dempsey's with a large spread and party to thank everyone for their patronage throughout the year. At holidays, she'd send dinners to neighborhood friends who were without family nearby. Highly motivated, she at one time owned 36 rental units, which she had bought one at a time.
Mom liked the simple things in life. The Farmer's Market downtown and shopping at Meijer's were her favorite Saturday past times and her family will remember her as the best Lebanese cook ever. No one could make better grape leaves. Holidays were always special. Nothing pleased Mom more than having a house full with family and friends, especially grandchildren for a large dinner. This meant it was hashwee time-time for Mom's special turkey stuffing of lamb, rice and pine nuts.
After Mom's heart attack and triple bypass in 2010, she began passing of the torch and teaching her son Albert and daughters Mary and Ann to make the holiday dinner. And yes, there was a right way to stir the ground lamb or gel the fresh cranberries. Mom had a very forgiving heart and never held a grudge and insisted that we didn't either. Her house and table were open to all, and many considered her a “second mom.” She wouldn't hesitate to tell them if they were screwing up, to quit smoking cigarettes, drinking too much or any other habit that might be self-destructive. If she lectured you, you knew she cared.
Mom loved lilacs, hyacinths and carrot cake. It didn't matter whose birthday it was-Ma would say, “Everyone likes carrot cake!” Some of Mom's favorite sayings were, “We can't live Forever.” and “Learn from my mistakes.” If something was wrong “It's okay, it's okay” to comfort us. Evelyn was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Tufe and her 6 siblings. She is survived by brother, Issa; her children, Deborah (Russell Carmony), Mildred, Mary (Mike Goodman), Ann (Chris Kiehl), Albert(Sandra Mather); grandchildren, Daniel Corey-Goodman, Derek Corey-Goodman, Spencer Kiehl, Trevor Kiehl and Daniel J. Taylor, and many nieces and nephews.
As published in The TOLEDO Blade
Mom liked the simple things in life. The Farmer's Market downtown and shopping at Meijer's were her favorite Saturday past times and her family will remember her as the best Lebanese cook ever. No one could make better grape leaves. Holidays were always special. Nothing pleased Mom more than having a house full with family and friends, especially grandchildren for a large dinner. This meant it was hashwee time-time for Mom's special turkey stuffing of lamb, rice and pine nuts.
After Mom's heart attack and triple bypass in 2010, she began passing of the torch and teaching her son Albert and daughters Mary and Ann to make the holiday dinner. And yes, there was a right way to stir the ground lamb or gel the fresh cranberries. Mom had a very forgiving heart and never held a grudge and insisted that we didn't either. Her house and table were open to all, and many considered her a “second mom.” She wouldn't hesitate to tell them if they were screwing up, to quit smoking cigarettes, drinking too much or any other habit that might be self-destructive. If she lectured you, you knew she cared.
Mom loved lilacs, hyacinths and carrot cake. It didn't matter whose birthday it was-Ma would say, “Everyone likes carrot cake!” Some of Mom's favorite sayings were, “We can't live Forever.” and “Learn from my mistakes.” If something was wrong “It's okay, it's okay” to comfort us. Evelyn was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Tufe and her 6 siblings. She is survived by brother, Issa; her children, Deborah (Russell Carmony), Mildred, Mary (Mike Goodman), Ann (Chris Kiehl), Albert(Sandra Mather); grandchildren, Daniel Corey-Goodman, Derek Corey-Goodman, Spencer Kiehl, Trevor Kiehl and Daniel J. Taylor, and many nieces and nephews.
As published in The TOLEDO Blade
Emily Janna of Toledo, OH left this world and entered eternal rest on April 25, 2016. She was born Emily Khoury, on March 25, 1928, in El-Kfeir, Lebanon, and immigrated to Toledo in 1948. She was married to Sied W. Janna, and they had 3 children. They jointly owned “Janna's Market” on W. Bancroft. Emily worked for Balduf Bakeries for 15 years after closing the market. She was a loyal member of the Bakery and Confectionery Union.
She was a very social person, adored her family, and enjoyed playing cards with all. She was an exquisite gardener, both vegetables and flowers. She was an early riser and spent many hours in the kitchen cooking wonderful foods for friends and family. Her beautiful home was a place of laughter and hospitality. She was preceded in death by her husband of 32 years, Sied, in 1980. She is survived by her three children, William (Marla) Janna of Memphis, TN, Margaret (Roger) Passuello of Toledo and Teresa (Mike) Horgan of Seattle, WA. She has 4 grandchildren, Sied (Michelle) Janna, Lisa (Brett) Spiker, Anthony Passuello, Lauren (Chuck) Husum and one great-grandson, Nile Spiker. Special also is her best friend and “sister,” Monzar Khoury, and the entire Khoury family, including her godsons, Tony Khoury and the late Samir Khoury.
As published in The Toledo Blade
She was a very social person, adored her family, and enjoyed playing cards with all. She was an exquisite gardener, both vegetables and flowers. She was an early riser and spent many hours in the kitchen cooking wonderful foods for friends and family. Her beautiful home was a place of laughter and hospitality. She was preceded in death by her husband of 32 years, Sied, in 1980. She is survived by her three children, William (Marla) Janna of Memphis, TN, Margaret (Roger) Passuello of Toledo and Teresa (Mike) Horgan of Seattle, WA. She has 4 grandchildren, Sied (Michelle) Janna, Lisa (Brett) Spiker, Anthony Passuello, Lauren (Chuck) Husum and one great-grandson, Nile Spiker. Special also is her best friend and “sister,” Monzar Khoury, and the entire Khoury family, including her godsons, Tony Khoury and the late Samir Khoury.
As published in The Toledo Blade
George Sahley, age 86, of Ft. Mitchell died March 3, 2016 at St. Elizabeth Hospice, Edgewood, KY. He was a printer for the Cincinnati Enquirer. George was a Kentucky Colonel and a member of VFW. He was a WWII Army veteran. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Ella Mae Sahley (nee Thompson). Loving father of Susan (Terry) Averdick of Villa Hills; loving companion Joyce Rouse of Ft. Mitchell for 17 years; loving step father of step-son, James Stephens of Cape Coral, FL; Beloved brother of Margaret George of Beckley, WV; Evelyn Cassis of Charleston, WV and Raymond Sahley of Plantation, FL; Loving grandfather of Tyler Averdick of St. Augustine, FL and Tara Averdick of Ludlow and loving great-grandfather of Logan, Ryder, and Bhodi Averdick all of St. Augustine, FL.
Jo Ann Thabet, (December 22, 1938 - February 6, 2016) longtime resident of San Antonio, passed away after a short battle with pancreatic and liver cancer at the age of 77. She is preceded in death by her parents, Jim Thabet and Virginia Thabet, one sister, Karen Chasar, and four infant brothers. She is survived by her sisters, Mary Husson, Beverly (Charlie) Ward, Lois Branco, Betty Thabet, brothers John (Barbara) Thabet and Dwight (Elizabeth) Thabet, 14 nieces and nephews, 23 great nieces and nephews and one great-great nephew.
Jo Ann served in the United States Army, receiving a National Defense Service Medal. She worked as a Nurse at Fort Sam Houston during the Viet Nam War. She loved football and was an avid fan of God's Team, the Dallas Cowboys.
Funeral Mass will be at 10:30am on Saturday, March 5th, 2016, at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, 1602 Thousand Oaks Drive, San Antonio, Texas, followed by a luncheon. Private interment will be at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery at a later date. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/sanantonio/obituary.aspx?pid=177874409#sthash.AsjGGjIj.dpuf
Mary Anne Mickel, 78, of Huntington, passed away Sunday, December 6, 2015, at the Heritage Center, Huntington. She was born July 11, 1937, in Princeton, W.Va., a daughter of the late William Edward and Edna Smith Oney. She retired as a school teacher in the Chesapeake (Ohio) School System in 1992, with 33 years of service. Then she substituted in Cabell County (W.Va.) for a number of years. School teaching was her passion. She was a member of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 34 years, Eddie Mickel; her brother William Edward Oney II; and her significant other for 15 years Dale Loy. Survivors include a son Chris Mickel of Huntington; a daughter Susan Mickel of Matthews, North Carolina; a host of nieces and nephews; and two very devoted friends, Linda Adkins and Barbara Brown. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Reger Funeral Home, Huntington. Burial will be in Spring Hill Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the charity of one's choice . Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.regerfh.com.
Published in The Herald-Dispatch on Dec. 9, 2015
Published in The Herald-Dispatch on Dec. 9, 2015
Catherine "Cathy" Thabit died Saturday, October 24, 2015, after a brief illness at Mercy St. Anne Hospital, Toledo. She was 85. She was, simply, an extraordinary woman. Polio crippled her body at 23 but not her spirit or faith. She lived a full life 100% on her terms. She was tenacious and fiercely independent, but spiritual and compassionate. She was a stylish dresser who kept a meticulous home that was always brightly decorated for every holiday season. Her greatest joy was hosting her many nieces and nephews and other family members. Catherine had a keen and lively mind and an incredible memory, especially for her family history. Despite frequent pain and ailments related to her polio, she rarely complained and was more interested in the well-being of others.
Catherine was born in Toledo on May 16, 1930, to Abraham and Nora Sabback Thabit, immigrants from Kfeir, Lebanon and Damascas, Syria, respectively. She graduated from Woodward High School in 1948. She worked as a clerk typist for the former Doehler-Jarvis from 1948-53 and from 1960-87 as an administrative assistant for the city of Toledo's Community Development Department. Catherine was a lifelong member of St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church where she was a member of the Ladies Society.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, James Thabit, and her sister-in-law, Betty Thabit. Surviving are her brother, George (Nancy) Thabit and sister-in-law, Virginia (James) Thabit. Also surviving are nieces, Susan Thabit and Carol Thabit, and Karen (Scott) Lawrence; nephews, Brian (Bernadette) Thabit, Douglas (Lisa) Thabit and Michael Thabit; great-nephews, Anthony and Christopher Haddad, Zachary Lawrence and Brandon Thabit; great-nieces, Emily Haddad, Valerie Lawrence, Ashley (Cody) Young, Brooke Thabit, Bailey Thabit and Sarah Thabit; great-great-nephew, Luke Michael Shay; great-great-nieces, Emma Marie Daugherty and Luna Dawes; godchildren, Susan, Carol and Doug Thabit, Sandra (Hunt) Saunders and Robyn (Thomas) Anderson, and adopted goddaughter, Kathy Hunt. Catherine wanted to recognize her "special" cousins, Gene, Michael, Kathy, Sandy and the late Sarah Hunt, Phyllis (Paul) Craver and George (Kathleen) Sabback; all her Mall friends; her caregiver, Rayetta Williams, and her daily phone pal, Bailey Thabit.
Visitation will be Wednesday, October 28, from 2-8 p.m. at St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church, 4940 Harroun Rd., Sylvania, where a Trisagion Prayer service will be held at 7 p.m., and Thurs-day, October 29, from 10-11 a.m. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. October 29 at the church with V. Rev. Arch-priest Ayman Kfouf officiating. Contributions may go to the church or a charity of the donor's choice . Walker Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. Online condolences may be shared at: walkerfuneralhomes.com
Catherine was born in Toledo on May 16, 1930, to Abraham and Nora Sabback Thabit, immigrants from Kfeir, Lebanon and Damascas, Syria, respectively. She graduated from Woodward High School in 1948. She worked as a clerk typist for the former Doehler-Jarvis from 1948-53 and from 1960-87 as an administrative assistant for the city of Toledo's Community Development Department. Catherine was a lifelong member of St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church where she was a member of the Ladies Society.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, James Thabit, and her sister-in-law, Betty Thabit. Surviving are her brother, George (Nancy) Thabit and sister-in-law, Virginia (James) Thabit. Also surviving are nieces, Susan Thabit and Carol Thabit, and Karen (Scott) Lawrence; nephews, Brian (Bernadette) Thabit, Douglas (Lisa) Thabit and Michael Thabit; great-nephews, Anthony and Christopher Haddad, Zachary Lawrence and Brandon Thabit; great-nieces, Emily Haddad, Valerie Lawrence, Ashley (Cody) Young, Brooke Thabit, Bailey Thabit and Sarah Thabit; great-great-nephew, Luke Michael Shay; great-great-nieces, Emma Marie Daugherty and Luna Dawes; godchildren, Susan, Carol and Doug Thabit, Sandra (Hunt) Saunders and Robyn (Thomas) Anderson, and adopted goddaughter, Kathy Hunt. Catherine wanted to recognize her "special" cousins, Gene, Michael, Kathy, Sandy and the late Sarah Hunt, Phyllis (Paul) Craver and George (Kathleen) Sabback; all her Mall friends; her caregiver, Rayetta Williams, and her daily phone pal, Bailey Thabit.
Visitation will be Wednesday, October 28, from 2-8 p.m. at St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church, 4940 Harroun Rd., Sylvania, where a Trisagion Prayer service will be held at 7 p.m., and Thurs-day, October 29, from 10-11 a.m. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. October 29 at the church with V. Rev. Arch-priest Ayman Kfouf officiating. Contributions may go to the church or a charity of the donor's choice . Walker Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. Online condolences may be shared at: walkerfuneralhomes.com
Catherine Mary Bolus
On Wednesday, October 14, 2015 of Bethesda, MD, beloved wife of the late Col. John Bolus, loving mother of Nadia El-Hage (Michael), Denise Bolus, John Bolus (Andrea), and Michael Bolus (Kristin), sister of George Hamaty and the late Nicholas Hamaty, sister-in-law of Joyce, Lois, and Jeanette, grandmother of Omar, Alexis, Jonathan, Christian, Andre, and Jean-Paul. The family will receive friends at Saints Peter and Paul Antiochian Orthodox Church 10620 River Road, Potomac, MD 20854 on Sunday, October 18, 2015 from 3 p.m. until the time of funeral service at 6 pm. Meal of mercy following the funeral service. Burial services and interment will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in memory of Mrs. Catherine Mary Bolus to Saints Peter and Paul Antiochian Orthodox Church or to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Arrangements by Philip D. Rinaldi Funeral Service, Silver Spring, MD.
On Wednesday, October 14, 2015 of Bethesda, MD, beloved wife of the late Col. John Bolus, loving mother of Nadia El-Hage (Michael), Denise Bolus, John Bolus (Andrea), and Michael Bolus (Kristin), sister of George Hamaty and the late Nicholas Hamaty, sister-in-law of Joyce, Lois, and Jeanette, grandmother of Omar, Alexis, Jonathan, Christian, Andre, and Jean-Paul. The family will receive friends at Saints Peter and Paul Antiochian Orthodox Church 10620 River Road, Potomac, MD 20854 on Sunday, October 18, 2015 from 3 p.m. until the time of funeral service at 6 pm. Meal of mercy following the funeral service. Burial services and interment will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in memory of Mrs. Catherine Mary Bolus to Saints Peter and Paul Antiochian Orthodox Church or to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Arrangements by Philip D. Rinaldi Funeral Service, Silver Spring, MD.
Dr. Fawzi Nicolas AbuJamra, 80, beloved husband, father, grandfather, passed into the arms of our Lord on July 21, 2015. Fawzi was born in Kfeir, a tiny village in South Lebanon on November 26, 1934, to the late Nicolas and Kater AbuJamra. He exceeded the odds for a village boy and became a renowned plastic surgeon trained at the Mayo Clinic with outstanding careers first in Beirut, Lebanon and after emigrating to the U.S., practiced plastic surgery in Green Bay, Wisconsin from 1987 to 2005. He loved plastic surgery with all his heart and his patients loved him dearly. The lives he helped save and impacted are too many to count. Fawzi married the love of his life, Leila Stephan AbuJamra in 1969 and remained faithfully and happily married to her for 46 years. He came to faith in Jesus Christ in the early 80's and walked humbly and steadfastly before his God.
Fawzi is survived and is already deeply missed by his wife, Leila,and his four children and spouses, Nick and Patricia AbuJamra, Lina AbuJamra, Ramzi AbuJamra, Diana (AbuJamra) and Rafi Sahakian, as well as 6 beautiful grandchildren who brought such deep joy to Fawzi every single day, Maya, Leya, Micah, Benjamin, Fawzi, and Samuel. Fawzi is also survived by his 4 siblings who meant the world to him, Leila, Issam, Abla, and Mansour. Fawzi was the leader of his family in every imaginable way and will leave a void in our hearts forever, though we take great joy in the knowledge that we will be reunited with him in Heaven someday.
Family and friends may call at Ryan Funeral Home, 305 North Tenth Street, De Pere from 4:00 to 7:00 pm on Friday July 24, 2015. Visitation will continue at from 9:00 to 11:00 am on Saturday at the New Hope Presbyterian Church, 2401 Deckner Avenue, Green Bay. Funeral service will be held at 11:00 am Saturday at the church with Pastor Jim Ferguson officiating. Procession to the Woodlawn Cemetery will follow the service. Please visit www.ryanfh.com to send online condolences to the AbuJamra family.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established.
Fawzi is survived and is already deeply missed by his wife, Leila,and his four children and spouses, Nick and Patricia AbuJamra, Lina AbuJamra, Ramzi AbuJamra, Diana (AbuJamra) and Rafi Sahakian, as well as 6 beautiful grandchildren who brought such deep joy to Fawzi every single day, Maya, Leya, Micah, Benjamin, Fawzi, and Samuel. Fawzi is also survived by his 4 siblings who meant the world to him, Leila, Issam, Abla, and Mansour. Fawzi was the leader of his family in every imaginable way and will leave a void in our hearts forever, though we take great joy in the knowledge that we will be reunited with him in Heaven someday.
Family and friends may call at Ryan Funeral Home, 305 North Tenth Street, De Pere from 4:00 to 7:00 pm on Friday July 24, 2015. Visitation will continue at from 9:00 to 11:00 am on Saturday at the New Hope Presbyterian Church, 2401 Deckner Avenue, Green Bay. Funeral service will be held at 11:00 am Saturday at the church with Pastor Jim Ferguson officiating. Procession to the Woodlawn Cemetery will follow the service. Please visit www.ryanfh.com to send online condolences to the AbuJamra family.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established.
Harry Solomon Zegeer June 30, 2015, Charleston Daily Mail - Harry Solomon Zegeer, 89, of Charleston, passed away Sunday, June 28, 2015 at Eastbrook Nursing Home, Charleston. He was the retired owner and founder of Zegeer Hardware, where he worked alongside his wife, Mary "Frances," for over 30 years. Harry was a lifelong resident of Charleston and a member of St. George Orthodox Cathedral. He attended Roosevelt Junior High School and was a graduate of Charleston High School. After high school, Harry assisted the war effort, working at Kanawha Manufacturing, where he turned battleship gun barrels on the lathe. He then went to work in Whitesville, at the Salamy-Zegeer grocers, before returning home eventually to Charleston to found the original Zegeer Hardware in 1948.
Harry was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Mary "Frances" McCarus Zegeer, and was the last of eight children in his family, being preceded by four sisters, Alice, Aileen, Evelyn and Loreese, and three brothers, Ernest, Victor and David. He is survived by his three sons, Dr. John (Sharon) Zegeer, Paul Zegeer and Richard (Julie) Zegeer, all of Charleston; one daughter, Rebecca Ann Zegeer of New York; and four loving grandchildren, Elias, Andrew, Devon and Joshua. Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Thursday, July 2, at St. George Orthodox Cathedral with the Very Rev. Father Olof Scott and the Rev. Father Stephen J. De Young Jr. officiating. Burial will follow in Spring Hill Cemetery, Charleston.Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday evening at Barlow Bonsall Funeral Home, Charleston with Trisagion Prayers at 7:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations may be made in Harry's memory to St. George Orthodox Cathedral, P.O. Box 2044, Charleston, WV 25327.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.barlowbonsall.com. Barlow Bonsall Funeral Home has been entrusted to handle the arrangements.
Harry was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Mary "Frances" McCarus Zegeer, and was the last of eight children in his family, being preceded by four sisters, Alice, Aileen, Evelyn and Loreese, and three brothers, Ernest, Victor and David. He is survived by his three sons, Dr. John (Sharon) Zegeer, Paul Zegeer and Richard (Julie) Zegeer, all of Charleston; one daughter, Rebecca Ann Zegeer of New York; and four loving grandchildren, Elias, Andrew, Devon and Joshua. Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Thursday, July 2, at St. George Orthodox Cathedral with the Very Rev. Father Olof Scott and the Rev. Father Stephen J. De Young Jr. officiating. Burial will follow in Spring Hill Cemetery, Charleston.Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday evening at Barlow Bonsall Funeral Home, Charleston with Trisagion Prayers at 7:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations may be made in Harry's memory to St. George Orthodox Cathedral, P.O. Box 2044, Charleston, WV 25327.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.barlowbonsall.com. Barlow Bonsall Funeral Home has been entrusted to handle the arrangements.
George Bassitt, age 86 of Hamilton, OH passed away on Monday June 29, 2015 at Hospice of Hamilton. He was born on May 27, 1929 in Whitesville, West Virginia, the son of the late Adeeb and Helen (McCallister) Bassitt. On April 26, 1950 George married Nell Ruth McDowell. George was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Benjamin Franklin Lodge #719 F&AM, Scottish Rites, York Rites and Eastern Star, Washington Chapter. He worked as a chemical operator for Fernald retiring after 37 years of service.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Nell Ruth Bassitt; three children, Christy (Robert) Kirlin; George (Marcy) Bassitt, Jr. and Debi Bassitt; five grandchildren, Julie Bassitt, Chuck Kirlin, Amy (Tom) Freeman, Kelsey Edgecomb and Christopher Wynn; 7 great grandchildren and many other family and friends. He was also preceded in death by his three siblings, Bill, Eddie and Margaret Bassitt.
Visitation will be on Monday July 6, 2015 from 6pm to 8pm at the Webb Noonan Kidd Funeral Home, with Masonic services starting at 7:45pm. Funeral Ceremony will held at 11am on Tuesday July 7, 2015 at the funeral home with Pastor Mark D. Finfrock officiating. Burial will follow at Millville Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be made in his memory to the Shriners Hospital 3229 Burnet Avenue Cincinnati, Ohio 45229.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Nell Ruth Bassitt; three children, Christy (Robert) Kirlin; George (Marcy) Bassitt, Jr. and Debi Bassitt; five grandchildren, Julie Bassitt, Chuck Kirlin, Amy (Tom) Freeman, Kelsey Edgecomb and Christopher Wynn; 7 great grandchildren and many other family and friends. He was also preceded in death by his three siblings, Bill, Eddie and Margaret Bassitt.
Visitation will be on Monday July 6, 2015 from 6pm to 8pm at the Webb Noonan Kidd Funeral Home, with Masonic services starting at 7:45pm. Funeral Ceremony will held at 11am on Tuesday July 7, 2015 at the funeral home with Pastor Mark D. Finfrock officiating. Burial will follow at Millville Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be made in his memory to the Shriners Hospital 3229 Burnet Avenue Cincinnati, Ohio 45229.
George H. Sahley, 80, of Charleston, West Virginia, passed away peacefully, after a short illness, at CAMC General Hospital on Sunday, May 30,2015. George was born on May 31, 1934 to the late Halem and Mary Husson Sahley.He was aretired merchant and owner of Sahley’s Stop-N-Shop in Spring Hill. George was a lifelong resident of Charleston, a member of St. George Orthodox Cathedral and the Order of Jacques De Molay. He was a1952 graduate of Charleston High School, attended WVU and Morris Harvey and was a U.S. Army veteran, serving in Japan in 1955.
He issurvived by his wife, Patricia Robinson Sahley; daughter, Mary Katherine(Dwayne) Dawson; sons, Christopher (Lydia) Sahley and Jason Alexander Sahley,all of Austin, TX; sister, Joann Sahley Shaheen; brothers, Namer (Josephine) Sahleyand Albert (Charlotte) Sahley, all of Charleston; and 3 grandchildren,Christian, Taylor Ameera and Amber Sahley. The family wishes to recognize George’s sister, Joann; sister-in-law, Charlotte and Roger Legg for all the care given to George. The family will receive visitors from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday, June 2, 2015 at St.George Orthodox Cathedral, Lee and Court Streets, Charleston, West Virginia. Trisagion prayers will be held at 7:30 p.m. Funeral services to honor George’s life will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, June 3, 2015 at St. George Orthodox Cathedral, Charleston, West Virginia with the V.Rev.Fr. OlofScott, Rev. Fr. Christopher Eid, and Fr. Stephen DeYoung officiating. Burial will immediately follow at Sunset Memorial Park, South Charleston, West Virginia. In lieu offlowers, donations may be made in George’s honor to: St. George Orthodox Cathedral Foundation, P.O. Box 2044, Charleston, West Virginia 25327.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.barlowbonsall.com. Barlow Bonsall Funeral Home, Charleston, West Virginia, has been entrusted with the arrangements.
He issurvived by his wife, Patricia Robinson Sahley; daughter, Mary Katherine(Dwayne) Dawson; sons, Christopher (Lydia) Sahley and Jason Alexander Sahley,all of Austin, TX; sister, Joann Sahley Shaheen; brothers, Namer (Josephine) Sahleyand Albert (Charlotte) Sahley, all of Charleston; and 3 grandchildren,Christian, Taylor Ameera and Amber Sahley. The family wishes to recognize George’s sister, Joann; sister-in-law, Charlotte and Roger Legg for all the care given to George. The family will receive visitors from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday, June 2, 2015 at St.George Orthodox Cathedral, Lee and Court Streets, Charleston, West Virginia. Trisagion prayers will be held at 7:30 p.m. Funeral services to honor George’s life will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, June 3, 2015 at St. George Orthodox Cathedral, Charleston, West Virginia with the V.Rev.Fr. OlofScott, Rev. Fr. Christopher Eid, and Fr. Stephen DeYoung officiating. Burial will immediately follow at Sunset Memorial Park, South Charleston, West Virginia. In lieu offlowers, donations may be made in George’s honor to: St. George Orthodox Cathedral Foundation, P.O. Box 2044, Charleston, West Virginia 25327.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.barlowbonsall.com. Barlow Bonsall Funeral Home, Charleston, West Virginia, has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Tracie Ann Christian Rose MATTHEWS - On May 13, 2015, Tracie Ann Christian Rose won her courageous battle with pancreatic cancer and died surrounded by her family to be raised with Christ. Tracie was born on August 21, 1954 in South Charleston, WV to Rose Thabet Christian and the late Donald Clay Christian. Tracie graduated from South Charleston High School and then from the Nursing Department of Morris Harvey College in 1974; a week later Tracie married her high school sweetheart, Stuart Rose, on May 18. Theirs was a marriage filled with love and joy for 41 years, and blessed beyond measure by the births of Diane, Daniel and Rachel following their move in 1979 to Matthews, NC. Tracie worked as an operating room nurse for thirty years, and she was known by her colleagues as a compassionate and dedicated nurse, and as a caring friend. In 2010, Tracie answered a call to ministry, was licensed as a Local Pastor and was appointed to serve as Assistant Pastor at First United Methodist Church in Charlotte, NC. At First Church, Pastor Tracie led the Pastoral Care ministries, bringing to many the assurances of faith, comfort and healing as she proclaimed the Good News boldly and inclusively. Tracie was preceded in death by her father, Donald Clay Christian; she is survived by her mother Rose Thabet Christian. She is also survived by her husband Stuart and their children Diane Rose, Daniel and wife Neely Rose, and Rachel Rose. Granddaughter Mallory gave her granna more joy than words can describe. Tracie is also survived by her sister, Dona Hall, brothers Clay Christian and Brian Christian, and by many nieces, nephews and cousins. As daughter, wife, mother, nurse, pastor, friend - Tracie lived a courageous and passionate life, guided by the words of her favorite scripture, Micah 6:8 " seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God." Tracie believed that every person she met was a unique creation of God and a new opportunity to share the love of Christ. Acknowledging her own brokenness, Tracie accepted everyone as they are, where they are, and who they are with unconditional love and respect. Tracie believed that her life was filled with God's grace and she tried to share that grace as often as she could. In recent months, the love that Tracie shared with so many came flooding back to her from her "First Family", her friends and from "Team Tracie." Your words and affirmations lifted our spirits so many times. The Rose family is deeply grateful to the heroes, angels and geniuses who cared for Tracie and us all along her journey. Your skill and compassion provided much needed comfort and peace. You blessed our lives - may God bless you as you care for those who need you. A service to celebrate the life of Rev. Tracie Christian Rose will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, May 18, at First United Methodist Church, Charlotte; Rev. Jonathan Coppedge-Henley and Rev. Dr. Charles Wilson will officiate. The family will receive friends at the church following the service. Those who would like to may contribute to a keepsake recording of memories and messages in celebration of Tracie's life. You are invited to call "Life on Record" at 1-800-606-0697 and enter the password 14998 when prompted and you'll hear instructions on how to record your message. The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Tracie's memory to First United Methodist Church, Charlotte; to Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (http://purplestride.kintera.org/charlotte/teamtracie), to Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region, or to the ministry or charity of your choosing. The sanctuary flowers are given to the glory of God and in honor of our "First Family" by the Rose family. Your love, prayers, flowers, food, cards and presence gave Tracie and us more comfort and support than words can ever express. You have blessed us mightily. We love you. Heritage Funeral Home is serving the Rose family. Online condolences may be expressed at www.heritagecares.com. Published in Charlotte Observer on May 15, 2015
Mary Rezcallah passed peacefully into eternal life on April 22, 2015, while surrounded and embraced by her children and grandchildren. Mary has joined her loving husband, Toufik Rezcallah, and now together they rest with the righteous. Mary was born in Kfeir Hasbaya, Lebanon to Wadih Abou Rahhal and Nellie Thabit. Mary was one of eleven children and was raised in beautiful southern Lebanon in the foothills of Mount Hermon. Mary received her education in Kfeir and was raised up in the Orthodox Christian tradition. She was a loyal and faithful member of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church, her entire 88 years on this earth.
As a young woman, her family received a visitor, a son of their village who had emigrated to the USA years earlier. Toufik requested Mary's hand and they were joined in holy matrimony. They traveled months by ship to come to Toledo, Ohio to forge a life together. They brought four precious children into this world: George,Linda, Sandy and Nancy. After 23 years of marriage, Toufik departed this life andMary dedicated herself entirely to her family and her church. With her youngest child Nancy, only 4 years old, Mary embarked on her successful 45 year career as a single mother. With young Nancy by her side, Mary saw to the education and marriage of her three eldest children. Mary raised her children with a mind towards education, namely Christian education, as members of St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Church.
"Sitty Mary" was known for her love, kindness, gentle nature and perhaps most of all, her hospitality. Her home was always open for family and friends who were on the receiving end of her gracious hospitality. Mary employed large, lavish Sunday dinners to keep her family close and we were fortunate to share these with her for many years. Gatherings at Sitty Mary's home lasted into the night with many friends and relatives coming by to enjoy a hearty meal and good fellowship. Many recall that Mary would have an impromptu gourmet feast set out on the table for them within minutes of entering her home. Mary always had candy in her purse for her grandchildren.
Mary was a do-it-yourself woman, and she did everything well. She was a superb mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, aunt and great-aunt. She and Toufik owned and managed properties that they worked on themselves, something Mary carried on by herself long after her husband passed away. She received and hosted her siblings when they emigrated from Lebanon. Mary cultivated an extraordinary garden complete with everything from mint and zaatar to apricot and plum trees. She taught us how to garden, cook Lebanese cuisine, can vegetables, bake Qurban, paint, crochet, knit, and make apricot jam. The ornate ceiling plaster designs in her home were done by her own hand. Sitty Mary enjoyed Byzantine liturgical music. Her strong work ethic was an example to all of us.
Mary was a faithful member of the St. Elias Ladies Society and worked tirelessly to support her church. Her fervor for giving and service to the church was transferred to her family members, who have carried it with them around the nation. Mary baked the Qurban (Holy Bread) for St. Elias for nearly 35 years, and for this received TheCertificate of Meritorious Service from His Eminence Metropolitan Archbishop Philip Saliba on May 12, 1985.
Mary is survived by her four children, son, George (Nouha); daughters, Linda (Mitchell) Swentzel, Sandy Stark and Nancy; 6 grandchildren, Anthony (Myrna), Vanessa, Alexander (Farah), Sarah (David), Joshua, and Holly; three great-grandchildren, Mary, Anna, and George; as well as many devoted nieces and nephews. Mary was preceded in passage to eternal life by her loving husband, Toufik, and her ten siblings.
Visitation will be held at St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Church (4940 Harroun Road, Sylvania, OH) on Sunday, April 26, 2015, from 4:00-9:00 p.m., with Trisagion Prayers at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue Monday, April 27th from 10-11 a.m., followed by the Paschal Funeral Service at 11:00 a.m. at St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Church, followed by interment at Forest Cemetery. Donations may be made in Mary's memory to St. Elias Orthodox Church.
As a young woman, her family received a visitor, a son of their village who had emigrated to the USA years earlier. Toufik requested Mary's hand and they were joined in holy matrimony. They traveled months by ship to come to Toledo, Ohio to forge a life together. They brought four precious children into this world: George,Linda, Sandy and Nancy. After 23 years of marriage, Toufik departed this life andMary dedicated herself entirely to her family and her church. With her youngest child Nancy, only 4 years old, Mary embarked on her successful 45 year career as a single mother. With young Nancy by her side, Mary saw to the education and marriage of her three eldest children. Mary raised her children with a mind towards education, namely Christian education, as members of St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Church.
"Sitty Mary" was known for her love, kindness, gentle nature and perhaps most of all, her hospitality. Her home was always open for family and friends who were on the receiving end of her gracious hospitality. Mary employed large, lavish Sunday dinners to keep her family close and we were fortunate to share these with her for many years. Gatherings at Sitty Mary's home lasted into the night with many friends and relatives coming by to enjoy a hearty meal and good fellowship. Many recall that Mary would have an impromptu gourmet feast set out on the table for them within minutes of entering her home. Mary always had candy in her purse for her grandchildren.
Mary was a do-it-yourself woman, and she did everything well. She was a superb mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, aunt and great-aunt. She and Toufik owned and managed properties that they worked on themselves, something Mary carried on by herself long after her husband passed away. She received and hosted her siblings when they emigrated from Lebanon. Mary cultivated an extraordinary garden complete with everything from mint and zaatar to apricot and plum trees. She taught us how to garden, cook Lebanese cuisine, can vegetables, bake Qurban, paint, crochet, knit, and make apricot jam. The ornate ceiling plaster designs in her home were done by her own hand. Sitty Mary enjoyed Byzantine liturgical music. Her strong work ethic was an example to all of us.
Mary was a faithful member of the St. Elias Ladies Society and worked tirelessly to support her church. Her fervor for giving and service to the church was transferred to her family members, who have carried it with them around the nation. Mary baked the Qurban (Holy Bread) for St. Elias for nearly 35 years, and for this received TheCertificate of Meritorious Service from His Eminence Metropolitan Archbishop Philip Saliba on May 12, 1985.
Mary is survived by her four children, son, George (Nouha); daughters, Linda (Mitchell) Swentzel, Sandy Stark and Nancy; 6 grandchildren, Anthony (Myrna), Vanessa, Alexander (Farah), Sarah (David), Joshua, and Holly; three great-grandchildren, Mary, Anna, and George; as well as many devoted nieces and nephews. Mary was preceded in passage to eternal life by her loving husband, Toufik, and her ten siblings.
Visitation will be held at St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Church (4940 Harroun Road, Sylvania, OH) on Sunday, April 26, 2015, from 4:00-9:00 p.m., with Trisagion Prayers at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue Monday, April 27th from 10-11 a.m., followed by the Paschal Funeral Service at 11:00 a.m. at St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Church, followed by interment at Forest Cemetery. Donations may be made in Mary's memory to St. Elias Orthodox Church.
Gloria Thabit Swydan
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Longtime Richmond Valley resident Gloria Swydan, 93, a retired special education paraprofessional who is remembered as warm and welcoming, died Saturday in Oakton, Va., where she had resided for six months.
Born and raised Gloria Thabit in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, she graduated from Shore Road High School in her native borough. She later attended Keuka College in the Finger Lakes region of New York and Staten Island Community College, Sunnyside. She and Andrew Swydan wed in 1952, and moved to Richmond Valley in 1958. Mrs. Swydan worked as a special education paraprofessional at PS 37 in Great Kills for more than 20 years. She retired at age 70. She was a member of the senior center at Mount Loretto in Pleasant Plains. Mrs. Swydan was proud of her Lebanese heritage, and enjoyed baking Lebanese pastries for those she loved. She began roller-skating in high school and continued as an adult, skating well into her 80s, family said.
Welcoming and hospitable, Mrs. Swydan loved entertaining at her historic Tottenville home, one of the oldest in the community, and her house was always filled with family and friends. She worshiped at Bethel United Methodist Church in Tottenville. While living in Brooklyn, she was a parishioner of St. Mary's Antiochan Orthodox Christian Church. Andrew, her husband of 49 years, died in 2001. Surviving are her daughters, Miriam Swydan-Erickson and Victoria Swydan-Serecin, and four grandchildren.
The funeral service will be Wednesday at 10 a.m. in Bethel United Methodist Church. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Arrangements are being handled by the Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home, also Tottenville.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Longtime Richmond Valley resident Gloria Swydan, 93, a retired special education paraprofessional who is remembered as warm and welcoming, died Saturday in Oakton, Va., where she had resided for six months.
Born and raised Gloria Thabit in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, she graduated from Shore Road High School in her native borough. She later attended Keuka College in the Finger Lakes region of New York and Staten Island Community College, Sunnyside. She and Andrew Swydan wed in 1952, and moved to Richmond Valley in 1958. Mrs. Swydan worked as a special education paraprofessional at PS 37 in Great Kills for more than 20 years. She retired at age 70. She was a member of the senior center at Mount Loretto in Pleasant Plains. Mrs. Swydan was proud of her Lebanese heritage, and enjoyed baking Lebanese pastries for those she loved. She began roller-skating in high school and continued as an adult, skating well into her 80s, family said.
Welcoming and hospitable, Mrs. Swydan loved entertaining at her historic Tottenville home, one of the oldest in the community, and her house was always filled with family and friends. She worshiped at Bethel United Methodist Church in Tottenville. While living in Brooklyn, she was a parishioner of St. Mary's Antiochan Orthodox Christian Church. Andrew, her husband of 49 years, died in 2001. Surviving are her daughters, Miriam Swydan-Erickson and Victoria Swydan-Serecin, and four grandchildren.
The funeral service will be Wednesday at 10 a.m. in Bethel United Methodist Church. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Arrangements are being handled by the Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home, also Tottenville.
Harry A. Cantees
May 29, 1916 - Jan. 8, 2015
Harry A. Cantees, 98, of Venice, FL, husband of Fern M. Cantees (Eldrige), passed peacefully on January 8, 2015. He was born May 29, 1916 in Williamson, West Virginia. He later relocated with his family to Groveport, Ohio and worked and retired from Columbus Coated Fabrics. Harry was a World War II Veteran, Sgt, in the US Army Air Force (AAF). Harry and Fern were married on Christmas Day in 1952. He was always young at heart, mind, and spirit, generous with a smile and joke. He is survived by his loving wife, Fern; children, Michael Deskins (Michelle), Dee Anna Grimm (Steve), Kathy Robinson (Jerry) and Stephen Cantees (Janet); grandchildren, Craig Deskins, Jason Deskins, Eric Grimm, Tara Culp, Stephanie Cantees, Lyndsey Cantees; his younger sister, Jeanette McCoy; as well as, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends including the neighbors, paw-park pals, and Facebook friends -most of which he consistently beat playing 'Words with Friends.'
Harry was preceded in death by his grandson, Shawn Robinson; parents, George and Anna Cantees; brothers, Sam, Tom, Johnny, Kamal, Cullen, and sister, Adeba Cantees. Visitation will be held from 4 to 6 PM, Monday, January 12th and the funeral will be held on Tuesday, January 13th at 12:00 noon at the Kays-Ponger and Uselton Funeral Home, located at 1935 South Tamiami Trail, Venice, FL 34293. A graveside service will immediately follow at Gulf-Pines Memorial Park, 2401 Englewood Road, Englewood, FL 34223.
We ask in lieu of flowers donations be sent to the International Rett Syndrome Foundation (rettsyndrome.org) in memory of Harry Cantees for Stephanie Cantees or the Wounded Warrior Project (woundedwarriorproject.org) in the memory of WWII Veteran- Harry Cantees. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/heraldtribune/obituary.aspx?pid=173811176#sthash.MoGl386g.dpuf
May 29, 1916 - Jan. 8, 2015
Harry A. Cantees, 98, of Venice, FL, husband of Fern M. Cantees (Eldrige), passed peacefully on January 8, 2015. He was born May 29, 1916 in Williamson, West Virginia. He later relocated with his family to Groveport, Ohio and worked and retired from Columbus Coated Fabrics. Harry was a World War II Veteran, Sgt, in the US Army Air Force (AAF). Harry and Fern were married on Christmas Day in 1952. He was always young at heart, mind, and spirit, generous with a smile and joke. He is survived by his loving wife, Fern; children, Michael Deskins (Michelle), Dee Anna Grimm (Steve), Kathy Robinson (Jerry) and Stephen Cantees (Janet); grandchildren, Craig Deskins, Jason Deskins, Eric Grimm, Tara Culp, Stephanie Cantees, Lyndsey Cantees; his younger sister, Jeanette McCoy; as well as, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends including the neighbors, paw-park pals, and Facebook friends -most of which he consistently beat playing 'Words with Friends.'
Harry was preceded in death by his grandson, Shawn Robinson; parents, George and Anna Cantees; brothers, Sam, Tom, Johnny, Kamal, Cullen, and sister, Adeba Cantees. Visitation will be held from 4 to 6 PM, Monday, January 12th and the funeral will be held on Tuesday, January 13th at 12:00 noon at the Kays-Ponger and Uselton Funeral Home, located at 1935 South Tamiami Trail, Venice, FL 34293. A graveside service will immediately follow at Gulf-Pines Memorial Park, 2401 Englewood Road, Englewood, FL 34223.
We ask in lieu of flowers donations be sent to the International Rett Syndrome Foundation (rettsyndrome.org) in memory of Harry Cantees for Stephanie Cantees or the Wounded Warrior Project (woundedwarriorproject.org) in the memory of WWII Veteran- Harry Cantees. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/heraldtribune/obituary.aspx?pid=173811176#sthash.MoGl386g.dpuf
Gloria Mickel Bevins 87, of Williamson, West Virginia and Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, died October 30, 2014, at her residence in Murrells Inlet. She was born in Williamson, West Virginia, February 25, 1927 to Nahia and Abe Mickel. She graduated from Williamson High School in 1945. She was a homemaker, beloved member of her community and an active member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Williamson. She was a member of the Elizabeth Chapter of the Eastern Star.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert A. Bevins in 2009, and two brothers Alex Mickel and Mitchell Mickel. Surviving are two sons, Kevin M. Bevins and his wife Tammy of Summerville, South Carolina and Thomas P. Bevins and Carol Rahter of Pawleys Island, South Carolina, a brother, Fred Mickel of Williamson, West Virginia, 9 grandchildren, Rachel Bevins Linczak, Brooks Bevins, Austin Bevins, Emma Bevins, Carly Bevins, Allison Bevins, Connor Bevins, and Faith Bevins of Summerville, South Carolina and Lauren Bevins Cahill of John's Island, South Carolina, one great-grandchild Mona Rose Cahill of John's Island, South Carolina and her caretaker and friend Portia Baker of Murrells Inlet, South Carolina.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert A. Bevins in 2009, and two brothers Alex Mickel and Mitchell Mickel. Surviving are two sons, Kevin M. Bevins and his wife Tammy of Summerville, South Carolina and Thomas P. Bevins and Carol Rahter of Pawleys Island, South Carolina, a brother, Fred Mickel of Williamson, West Virginia, 9 grandchildren, Rachel Bevins Linczak, Brooks Bevins, Austin Bevins, Emma Bevins, Carly Bevins, Allison Bevins, Connor Bevins, and Faith Bevins of Summerville, South Carolina and Lauren Bevins Cahill of John's Island, South Carolina, one great-grandchild Mona Rose Cahill of John's Island, South Carolina and her caretaker and friend Portia Baker of Murrells Inlet, South Carolina.
Lawrence Lechlak
Lawrence Lewis Lechlak, died peacefully October 25, 2014, in Huntersville, NC at age 72, due to health complications caused from a stroke. -
Born June 21, 1942, to Wilma Hardy and Leonard Lechlak and raised in Toledo, Ohio, Larry graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1960, married Charlotte Sadd in 1964, raised three daughters and worked as a tool and die engineer at Toledo's Jeep plant for 13 years. He and Charlotte later moved to Los Angeles, CA where they owned and operated a successful commercial printing business for 22 years before retiring and relocating to North Carolina to be near family.
Besides his grandchildren, one of his greatest enjoyments was singing with the Los Angeles-based choir, Angel City Chorale for 14 years. He performed in many concerts including backup for Stevie Wonder, Michael Buble, Melissa Etheridge, and sang at notable venues such as the Kodak Theatre and Walt Disney Hall.
He is survived by Charlotte, his loving wife of 50 years; daughters, Anne (Mark) Wambold, Laura (Steve) Pegram, and Amy Lechlak; eight grandchildren, Jocelyn Rogers, Melanie, Zachary, and Nicholas Wambold, Samia and Maxwell Pegram, Breya Lechlak, and Kaitlyn Ward; sisters, Marlene McFarland, Lynn Waganfeald, Susan Fandrey, Dawn Ulrich, and brother, Kurt Lechlak. Larry was preceded in death by his brother, Mark Lechlak.
Visitation will be from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Sunday, November 2, 2014 at Urbanski's Bedford Funeral Chapel, 8300 Lewis Avenue, Temperance, MI. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated Monday, November 3, 2014, at 11 a.m. in Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church, 8330 Lewis Avenue, Temperance where there will be visiting in the Narthex after 10 a.m. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are welcome and should be made to Angel City Chorale, c/o Sue Fink, 3413 Craigview Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90066.
Lawrence Lewis Lechlak, died peacefully October 25, 2014, in Huntersville, NC at age 72, due to health complications caused from a stroke. -
Born June 21, 1942, to Wilma Hardy and Leonard Lechlak and raised in Toledo, Ohio, Larry graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1960, married Charlotte Sadd in 1964, raised three daughters and worked as a tool and die engineer at Toledo's Jeep plant for 13 years. He and Charlotte later moved to Los Angeles, CA where they owned and operated a successful commercial printing business for 22 years before retiring and relocating to North Carolina to be near family.
Besides his grandchildren, one of his greatest enjoyments was singing with the Los Angeles-based choir, Angel City Chorale for 14 years. He performed in many concerts including backup for Stevie Wonder, Michael Buble, Melissa Etheridge, and sang at notable venues such as the Kodak Theatre and Walt Disney Hall.
He is survived by Charlotte, his loving wife of 50 years; daughters, Anne (Mark) Wambold, Laura (Steve) Pegram, and Amy Lechlak; eight grandchildren, Jocelyn Rogers, Melanie, Zachary, and Nicholas Wambold, Samia and Maxwell Pegram, Breya Lechlak, and Kaitlyn Ward; sisters, Marlene McFarland, Lynn Waganfeald, Susan Fandrey, Dawn Ulrich, and brother, Kurt Lechlak. Larry was preceded in death by his brother, Mark Lechlak.
Visitation will be from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Sunday, November 2, 2014 at Urbanski's Bedford Funeral Chapel, 8300 Lewis Avenue, Temperance, MI. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated Monday, November 3, 2014, at 11 a.m. in Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church, 8330 Lewis Avenue, Temperance where there will be visiting in the Narthex after 10 a.m. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are welcome and should be made to Angel City Chorale, c/o Sue Fink, 3413 Craigview Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90066.
Ramez McCarus Sr. was laid to rest in his hometown of Charleston, WV on Saturday, November 1, 2014 at the South Charleston Sunset Memorial Park. Ramez McCarus was the most gentle of men. He was a frequent attender at the Kfeirian Reunion. Music was one of his passions and even earlier this year he performed in four different bands. He will be greatly missed by his family.
Ramez A. McCarus Sr., 89, of Baltimore, Md., fell asleep in the Lord on Oct. 22, 2014. He was born in Charleston, graduated from Charleston High School, attended the University of Michigan and moved to Maryland in 1992.
He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Navy during the Atlantic and Pacific Theaters, D-Day invasion, the invasion of Toulon in southern France and the invasion of Okinawa. He personally knocked down kamikazes from the Destroyer USS Jeffers 621.
After returning home from the war, he worked with his father and mother at the McCarus Grill, which opened in 1915. Upon his father's passing, Ramez took over the restaurant. After two decades, he named it the "Arcadia," and kept it running until 1989.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 37 years, Dolores Y. McCarus; parents, Naseef M. and Della S. McCarus; one sister, Mary Frances Zegeer; and two brothers, Mitchell N. and Edward N. McCarus.
He is survived by four children, Cheryl Lynn McCarus, CO, Ramez A. McCarus Jr., David C. McCarus, MD and wife, Joyce, and Steven D. McCarus, MD and wife, Tamberly Ford McCarus, MD, of Orlando, Fla.; sister, Norma Harris, and brother, Ernest N. McCarus, of Ann Arbor, Mich.; and six grandchildren, Nicole McCarus Deford, Esq. and husband, Phineas McAdoo Deford, David C. McCarus Jr., Monet D. McCarus, Matthew C. McCarus, Steven D. McCarus Jr. and John F. McCarus.
Ramez A. McCarus Sr., 89, of Baltimore, Md., fell asleep in the Lord on Oct. 22, 2014. He was born in Charleston, graduated from Charleston High School, attended the University of Michigan and moved to Maryland in 1992.
He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Navy during the Atlantic and Pacific Theaters, D-Day invasion, the invasion of Toulon in southern France and the invasion of Okinawa. He personally knocked down kamikazes from the Destroyer USS Jeffers 621.
After returning home from the war, he worked with his father and mother at the McCarus Grill, which opened in 1915. Upon his father's passing, Ramez took over the restaurant. After two decades, he named it the "Arcadia," and kept it running until 1989.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 37 years, Dolores Y. McCarus; parents, Naseef M. and Della S. McCarus; one sister, Mary Frances Zegeer; and two brothers, Mitchell N. and Edward N. McCarus.
He is survived by four children, Cheryl Lynn McCarus, CO, Ramez A. McCarus Jr., David C. McCarus, MD and wife, Joyce, and Steven D. McCarus, MD and wife, Tamberly Ford McCarus, MD, of Orlando, Fla.; sister, Norma Harris, and brother, Ernest N. McCarus, of Ann Arbor, Mich.; and six grandchildren, Nicole McCarus Deford, Esq. and husband, Phineas McAdoo Deford, David C. McCarus Jr., Monet D. McCarus, Matthew C. McCarus, Steven D. McCarus Jr. and John F. McCarus.
Mark Randall Elrod, 59, of Lexington, widower of Mary Ann Kawaja Elrod, died Monday, September 29, 2014, at his residence. He was the son of Betty Lewis Elrod, Lexington, the late Richard Lee Elrod and grandson of Ted and Garnett Elrod and James and Margaret Lewis. He was a former registered nurse at the V.A. Besides his mother, survivors include two brothers, Brian Lee Elrod, Lexington and Richard Brent Elrod, and his partner, JT Martin, Washington, DC; niece, Madeline Elrod; nephew, Collin Elrod; his dogs, Draco and Brindle and a host of other family members. A memorial calling will be at the Ahava Center for Spiritual Living, 168 Burt Road, Lexington, KY, from 4 until 6pm Friday with a celebration service from 6 to 7pm.
Helen Louise Hensley George 86, of Huntington, passed away on Friday, March 28, 2014 at St. Mary's Medical Center. She was born on November 24, 1927 in Cabell County, a daughter of the late Delbert Curtis and Louise Bias Hensley. She is survived by her daughter, Paula George Tompkins of Sausalito, Calif.; brother, R. Jack Hensley of Huntington; nieces, Kay Wilmoth and her daughter Sarah Campbell and Jean Copley and her sons Mathew and Jeromy Copley. Helen was a member of the Beverly Hills United Methodist Church, where she was active in the choir, the Huntington Musical Arts Guild, the Marshall University Choral Union, and a 40 year member of the Women's Club of Huntington. She was employed for 53 years at Hensley's Beauty Salon in Huntington as a hair stylist. At the age of 20 Helen pursed a successful modeling career in New York City and appeared on The Perry Como Show. She returned to Huntington, married and in June 1952 gave birth to her daughter Paula, the light of her life. Helen loved sports, especially Marshall Basketball. She enjoyed gardening, floral design, sewing, and was a locally accomplished soloist. A memorial service to honor Helen's life will be held on Wednesday, April 2, 2014 at 7 p.m. at Beard Mortuary, Huntington, with Pastor William Haynes officiating. Friends may call from 6 p.m. until time of the service at the mortuary. Online condolences may be conveyed to the family at www.beardmortuary.com. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Beverly Hills Methodist Church in Huntington or the American Cancer Society.
Betty Jo Cantees Kawaja LEXINGTON, Ky. — Betty Jo Cantees Kawaja, wife of Louis Kawaja of 46 years, passed away Sat., Dec. 7, 2013, at St. Joseph Hospital. Born May 27, 1947, in Williamson, she was a daughter of the late Abe and Hazel Dawhare Cantees. She was preceded in death by a brother, Ron Cantees. She was a wonderful wife, mom, and grandmother. Betty worked many years at Dawahare's as an assistant manager and manager at the Gardenside and Fayette Mall stores.
Additional survivors include two sons, A.L. Kawaja III and Joe Kawaja, both of Lexington; daughter, Jessica (Todd) Bergin of Irvine, Calif.; four grandchildren, Ben and Emma Kate Kawaja and Maddie and Parker Bergin; brother, Joe Cantees of Altamonte Springs, Fla.; sister, Mary Lou (Sam) Clymer of Melbourne, Fla.; brother-in-law, Colin Berry; four nieces, Kathy Thacker, Christy Coffman, Courtney Fowler and Tricia Rogers; three nephews, Sam Clymer IV, and Justin and Derrick Cantees; four great-nieces, Falon Kiser, Paige Thacker, Selma Coffman, and Emily Cantees; three great-nephews, Trey Coffman, Everett Fowler and Jackson Cantees; special friend and caregiver, Penny Houlihan; as well as Dr. Michael Horn and the staff at the John D. Cronin Cancer Center and Karen Mulholland, the 6th floor nursing staff, and other healthcare personnel for giving her excellent care; and Dr. Danny Corales and his staff. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Wed., Dec. 11, at Kerr Brothers Funeral Home of Harrodsburg Rd. by Jimmy Davis. Burial will follow in Lexington Cemetery.
Casket bearers will be Mark Dawahare, Justin Cantees, Serur Dawahare, Eddie Dawhare, Charles Eubanks, Jim Versaw, Reid Coffman, and Darryl Keener. Honorary bearers will be Colin Berry, Joe Dawahare, Dee Dawahare, Martin Dawahare, A.F. Dawahare, Jimmy Maggard, Billy Dixon, Dan Houlihan, Sam Clymer III and Ralph Coggin. Visitation will be from 5-8:30 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Lexington Clinic Foundation for the John D. Cronin Cancer Center, 350 Elaine Dr., Ste. 100, Lexington, KY, 40504, amcda@lexingtonclinicfoundation.org or the St. Joseph Hospital Foundation, One St. Joseph Dr., Lexington, KY 40502.
Additional survivors include two sons, A.L. Kawaja III and Joe Kawaja, both of Lexington; daughter, Jessica (Todd) Bergin of Irvine, Calif.; four grandchildren, Ben and Emma Kate Kawaja and Maddie and Parker Bergin; brother, Joe Cantees of Altamonte Springs, Fla.; sister, Mary Lou (Sam) Clymer of Melbourne, Fla.; brother-in-law, Colin Berry; four nieces, Kathy Thacker, Christy Coffman, Courtney Fowler and Tricia Rogers; three nephews, Sam Clymer IV, and Justin and Derrick Cantees; four great-nieces, Falon Kiser, Paige Thacker, Selma Coffman, and Emily Cantees; three great-nephews, Trey Coffman, Everett Fowler and Jackson Cantees; special friend and caregiver, Penny Houlihan; as well as Dr. Michael Horn and the staff at the John D. Cronin Cancer Center and Karen Mulholland, the 6th floor nursing staff, and other healthcare personnel for giving her excellent care; and Dr. Danny Corales and his staff. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Wed., Dec. 11, at Kerr Brothers Funeral Home of Harrodsburg Rd. by Jimmy Davis. Burial will follow in Lexington Cemetery.
Casket bearers will be Mark Dawahare, Justin Cantees, Serur Dawahare, Eddie Dawhare, Charles Eubanks, Jim Versaw, Reid Coffman, and Darryl Keener. Honorary bearers will be Colin Berry, Joe Dawahare, Dee Dawahare, Martin Dawahare, A.F. Dawahare, Jimmy Maggard, Billy Dixon, Dan Houlihan, Sam Clymer III and Ralph Coggin. Visitation will be from 5-8:30 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Lexington Clinic Foundation for the John D. Cronin Cancer Center, 350 Elaine Dr., Ste. 100, Lexington, KY, 40504, amcda@lexingtonclinicfoundation.org or the St. Joseph Hospital Foundation, One St. Joseph Dr., Lexington, KY 40502.
Rev. Esber N. Tweel, 72, passed away Dec. 4 after pneumonia ended his 15-year battle with Polymyositis. God granted his wish and took him home. Esber was preceded in death by his parents, Naif and Margaret Tweel. He is survived by his wife, Carol Lynn; son, Brian; daughter, Monica; son, Brent (Mandy); six grandchildren, Elizabeth, David, Alexander, Abigail, Wyatt and Thatcher; and his brother, Victor Tweel. Esber was born in Huntington, graduated from Marshall with a BS in engineering, and then later at Virginia Seminary with a Master's of Divinity. He started his ministry in Romney, W.Va., at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church before moving to Charleston in 1974 as priest of The Church of the Good Shepherd in Kanawha City. It was here that he embraced and served his congregation for 30-plus years. During this time he developed a day care at the church that touched the lives of multiple generations, and developed tours of the Holy Land and the Middle East in hopes of bringing about awareness, tolerance and, most of all, peace. In addition to his dedication to family, community and parishioners, Esber will always be remembered for his love of martial arts, weight lifting, racquetball and riding his bike to visit families throughout Kanawha City and at the hospital. His drive to remain fit and active extended beyond the confines of his disease, which allowed those at Nautilus to become a second family that he cherished and exercised with up until the week before his passing. Although he never met a stranger, his family will always remember the support and companionship that he received by a close circle of friends that visited him every Saturday in recent years. His grandchildren will always remember their Jiddi for his treasure hunts, rides on his wheelchair and his pearls of wisdom. We also would be remiss if we did not thank Joe Rodgers, his caregiver whose banter always uplifted his spirit. Esber will be honored at a memorial service at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, at St. John's Episcopal Church with The Rev. Jim Lewis, The Rev. Dr. Jennie Gould and The Rev. Kent Higgins officiating. A memorial gathering will be held at The Church of the Good Shepherd following the service. Instead of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Manna Meal or Hospice.
Sylvia Mary Abourezk Sophiea, age 91, fell asleep in the Lord Thursday, November 21, 2013, in Berkeley, California. The funeral took place on November 26th in El Cerrito, CA. Sylvia, daughter of Elias Abourezk and Rose Samra, was born April 20, 1922, in Gregory, South Dakota. After her father's early death, she was raised in Flint, Michigan, by her mother and stepfather, Anton Gantos. She married Frank Sophiea on November 25, 1945 and cherished 53 wonderful years with him. Sylvia was highly respected and influential in the Flint community and beyond, serving tirelessly for 80 years as a community leader, activist, and organizer. She was a faithful member of St. George Orthodox Church serving as the Choir Director for 30 years, member of the Parish Council, office secretary, and so much more. She was a member of the Arab-American Heritage Council, a volunteer for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and board member of the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. As a social worker/immigration specialist and finally executive director of the International Institute in Flint, she had a huge impact on the quality of life for immigrants of Flint and the neighboring communities. After Frank fell asleep, she spent her final earthly years in Berkeley, California. She was a remarkable woman who loved her family, church, community, and music. She is survived by her children: Dale (Elania); Sylvia Elain (Doug) Reeves; Cynthia (Jeff Rodman); Michele (Pat) Newsham; grandchildren, Nico, Katherine, Rebecca, Jessica, Eiren, Karolyn; great-grandchildren, Sadie, Leit, Oliver, Frances; niece, Sylvia Gantous. She leaves behind many cherished friends and cousins. Memorial contributions may be made to St. George Orthodox Church. A Memorial Service and Lunch honoring Sylvia will take place at St. George Orthodox Church, 5191 Lennon Road, Flint, MI on Sunday, January 12, 2014 beginning with Divine Liturgy at 10am.
Lorena May Aborizk Copley, age 89, widow of App F. Copley, of Charleston, WV., formerly of Chesapeake, OH., was joyfully called into Heaven on Friday, October 11, 2013. She was born June 22, 1924, in Huntington, WV., the daughter of the late Abraham K. and Mary Mariage Aborizk.
She was retired from WSAZ-TV as National Sales Operation Manager for 12 years. She was past president of the Benevolent Society, and she was a member of the South Point Chapter #404 OES. She was always active in chairing her class reunions from Huntington High School. She was a loving mother and grandmother, with so many talents, such as sewing, crocheting, cooking and decorating cakes for socials and weddings. In 2011, she took up the hobby of creating jewelry and loved giving them away to friends and family. She was a member of Beverly Hills United Methodist Church and the John Wesley Sunday School Class since 1961. She was also preceded in death by two sons, baby Turner and Robert D. Turner, one brother, Benny N. Aborizk, her grandson, Michael T. Clark, a son-in-law, Rodney D. Butcher.
Surviving are two loving daughters, Sandra J. Aiello of Frederick Md., and Nancy J. Clark of Charleston, WV., with whom she resided since 2009, a brother, Donald J. Aborizk of Tampa, FL., six grandchildren., four great-grandchildren, many special friends. Funeral service at Klingel-Carpenter Mortuary, Huntington, WV. Interment at Spring Hill Cemetery, Huntington, WV.
She was retired from WSAZ-TV as National Sales Operation Manager for 12 years. She was past president of the Benevolent Society, and she was a member of the South Point Chapter #404 OES. She was always active in chairing her class reunions from Huntington High School. She was a loving mother and grandmother, with so many talents, such as sewing, crocheting, cooking and decorating cakes for socials and weddings. In 2011, she took up the hobby of creating jewelry and loved giving them away to friends and family. She was a member of Beverly Hills United Methodist Church and the John Wesley Sunday School Class since 1961. She was also preceded in death by two sons, baby Turner and Robert D. Turner, one brother, Benny N. Aborizk, her grandson, Michael T. Clark, a son-in-law, Rodney D. Butcher.
Surviving are two loving daughters, Sandra J. Aiello of Frederick Md., and Nancy J. Clark of Charleston, WV., with whom she resided since 2009, a brother, Donald J. Aborizk of Tampa, FL., six grandchildren., four great-grandchildren, many special friends. Funeral service at Klingel-Carpenter Mortuary, Huntington, WV. Interment at Spring Hill Cemetery, Huntington, WV.
David George Asser, 65, died Saturday September 28, 2013 at St. Mary's Hospital in St. Louis after a brief illness.
Marshall Duer Woods On Tuesday, July 30, 2013, Marshall Duer Woods of Gaithersburg, MD. Beloved husband of Vivian Steffan Woods; brother of the late Patricia Woods Cooke. Born on July 14, 1930 in New Kensington, Pennsylvania. He received his BA degree in secondary education and his masters degree from the University of Pittsburgh. He is a former member of the U.S. Armed Forces serving in both the United States and Germany. Joined Woodward and Lothrop Department Store, Washington, DC in 1956 and held various positions in personnel, delivery and purchasing departments and retired in 1988. Interment at Arlington National Cemetery will be at a later date.
Mary Ann Kawaja Elrod, 62, of Lexington, KY wife of Mark Elrod, died Thursday, June 20, 2013. She was the daughter of the late Haleem and Alice Cury Kawaja.
George N. Hodge, 71, of Cape Coral, FL formerly of Huntington, WV passed away April 21, 2013.
Shakir A. Rahhal Age 80, died Thursday, February 28th at home following a brief illness. He leaves his wife of 40 years, Nazira (Rizk) Rahhal; his sons Mark, Ellis (Kat) and Joseph (Jennifer) Rahhal; and his daughters Kathy and Cindy (David) along with six grandchildren and many close friends. Born in El Kefir, Lebanon, he immigrated to Ohio in 1951 to attend Ohio State University where he graduated from with a degree in engineering. He relocated to Seattle and then to Rialto for 35 years, finally retiring to Temecula where he lived his remaining fifteen years. He began his working career as an electrical engineer at Boeing Aircraft in Seattle. He relocated to Southern California where he worked in engineering at both Kaiser Steel and California Steel. During his tenure there he also returned to school, eventually earning a master's degree in electrical engineering at the University of Redlands. Mr. Rahhal had a passion for the outdoors, touring much of the United States and enjoying the essence of what the nation had to offer. He especially loved the southern deserts of the west, where he owned several beautiful and remote properties. He was an avid fisherman in his later years, and especially loved the alpine lakes of the Sierras and eastern San Diego county. He had an enormous talent and understanding of gardening and managed to live primarily upon what he himself would grow. A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 9th at 4:30pm at England Family Mortuary at 27135 Madison Ave in Temecula. Published by The Press-Enterprise on Mar. 6, 2013.
Slide show in memory of Shakir Rahhal
Slide show in memory of Shakir Rahhal
Philip E. Michael, 71, of Charleston, WV fell asleep with the Lord on February 21, 2013. Phillip is survived by his wife and childhood sweetheart, Georgiana.
Nabih A. Nassar, age 83, of Toledo, OH passed onto eternal life on Saturday February 16, 2013. He was born March 8, 1929, in Al-Kfeir, South Lebanon. He came to Toledo to finish his education and to be with his brother Hafiz A. Nassar and sister-in-law Julia A. Nassar. He attended the University of Toledo and received his Masters Degree in Business Administration. He went to Libya to work for an oil company. After 4 years in Libya he decided to come back to the U.S. and work for the Armour Co. He traveled the world working for Armour. He then decided to be with his brother in business in Toledo and owned the Bassett Nut Company until 1985. Nabih was very intelligent and lived a happy life with his friends and family.
Nabih is survived by his nephews and nieces, Fouad and Samir Nassar, Layla Thabet, Nabih Fahoury, Samia Fallouh and their families. Many nephews and nieces and their families in Lebanon and Syria.Visitation will be held on Monday February 18, 2013, from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Walker Funeral Home 5155 Sylvania Ave (west of Corey Rd). The Trisagion prayers will be at 7:30 p.m. Monday. Funeral services will be Tuesday February 19, 2013, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Church 4940 Harroun Rd. Sylvania, OH 43560. The interment will follow at Toledo Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers the family ask that memorials be given to St. Elias Church. The family would like to thank Vicki's Home Care and her staff for a job well done.
Nabih is survived by his nephews and nieces, Fouad and Samir Nassar, Layla Thabet, Nabih Fahoury, Samia Fallouh and their families. Many nephews and nieces and their families in Lebanon and Syria.Visitation will be held on Monday February 18, 2013, from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Walker Funeral Home 5155 Sylvania Ave (west of Corey Rd). The Trisagion prayers will be at 7:30 p.m. Monday. Funeral services will be Tuesday February 19, 2013, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Church 4940 Harroun Rd. Sylvania, OH 43560. The interment will follow at Toledo Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers the family ask that memorials be given to St. Elias Church. The family would like to thank Vicki's Home Care and her staff for a job well done.
Stanley Brooks, 69,of Blissfield, MI, passed away on Friday, February 8, 2013. Stanley was the husband of Cynthia Bassett Brooks and the son-in-law of Clemence Thabet Bassett.
Ronald "Ron" Cantees, 57, of Lexington, KY died Sunday, November 18, 2012.
Selma Bassett Edinger, age 96, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, September 23, 2012. Retired from Hockaden & Assoc. Secretary of the Kfeirian Foundation. Member of the Lebanese/Syrian Club of Columbus. Graduated from Berea College and received her Masters from The Ohio State University. Long time member of the Red Barons and the Eastern Star. Survived by sons, Matthew (Rita) Bassiet and Alan Edinger and Maari Adams; grandson, Armando Bassiet; sister, Lorraine Scott; brother, Abraham (Sharon) Bassett, Jr.; many nieces, nephews and cousins. Preceded in death by parents and three sisters. Friends may call Wednesday 4-7 p.m. at the EGAN-RYAN FUNERAL HOME, 403 E. BROAD ST. and Thursday from 10-11 a.m. at St. Catharine Church, 500 S. Gould Rd., where the Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday at 11 a.m. Burial Union Cemetery. Visit www.egan-ryan.com for condolences.
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Jameel George Sadd, of Norcross GA, passed away peacefully in his sleep on September 19, 2012. He is survived by his children and spouses, Tammy and Marshall Scott, Phil and Stephanie Sadd, Randy and Mary Elizabeth Sadd, and Greg and Cheryl Sadd; grandchildren Jacob, Luke, Caleb, Hanna, Nathan, Sarah, Grace, and Leylah Sadd; sister and brother-in-law Charlotte and Larry Lechlak; and many nieces and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Naheele Sadd and brother, Adeeb Sadd. He was born on September 28, 1935 in Toledo OH, was a 1st Lieutenant in the Army during 1957-1959, and achieved a college degree in sales. The family will receive friends on Monday, September 24 from 4:00pm-8:00pm and the funeral will be Tuesday, September 25 at 11:00am with a one-hour visitation before the funeral and interment to follow at Arlington Memorial Park. The visitation and funeral will both be at St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Church.
Michael Todd Clark, 32, of Charleston, WV passed away July 19, 2012, His parents are Nancy J. Clark and Thomas P. Clark; grandmother, Lorena M. Copley.
Joseph M. Bassett, age 79, a well known and respected area businessman died June 6, 2012, in his Sylvania home surrounded by his loving family. He was born to Joseph and Rose Bassett in Toledo, OH. He was an Army veteran who served honorably during the Korean War. Joe along with his wife Pat, owned and operated Bassett's Health Food Stores from 1969 to the present. Joe was trained and certified in several fields including Polarity, Iridology, Massage Therapy, Reiki, Applied Kinesiology, Nemenhah Medicine Man, and Nutritional Education. Joe was also a Certified Instructor in Touch for Health, Iridology and Massage Therapy. He became a Naturopathic Medical Doctor (NMD), and a Doctor of Machanotherapy (DM). He was a founding member of the National Institute of Nutritional Education, President of the Mid American Health Assoc., Chairman of Citizens for Health and a National Health Freedom Board Member. Joe was a talk show host on WSPD for many years with his program "Nutritionally Speaking." He also published numerous articles and taught many classes and seminars. Joseph Bassett was a pioneer, championing the rights for health freedoms. One of his biggest accomplishments was to co-author DSHEA with Senators Hatch and Harkin in 1994. This bill has continued to protect health freedom at the highest level. Without this bill we would all be unable to purchase vitamins, mineral, supplements, herbs, etc without a prescription. Without the passage of this bill we would have fallen under the auspices of Codex and our country would be a different place. Joe attended Devilbiss High School, The Ohio State University and the University of Toledo. He was an outstanding wrestler in high school and college and an accomplished ballroom dancer. Joe enjoyed playing tennis, badminton, bridge, golf and attending the opera. He was a great friend and competitor to all who knew him. He is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Patricia Bassett (Martin); children, Joseph, Jr., Charmaine Bassett Trimm (Mark) and Sabrina Early (Jeff); brother, James Bassett; seven grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Gerald Bassett. Visitation will be held Sunday, June 10, 2012, from 2:00 to 9:00 p.m. with the service at 7 p.m. at Walker Funeral Home, 5155 W. Sylvania Ave., Toledo, OH. 419-841-2422. Private burial is at Ottawa Hills Memorial Park.
Published in The Toledo Blade from June 8 to June 9, 2012.
Published in The Toledo Blade from June 8 to June 9, 2012.
Eli Abbas Bassett, Jr., 83, formerly of Huntington, WV died Saturday, August 20,2011 in Frankfurt,Germany after a brief illness. He was born on April 22, 1928 in Welch, WV the son of the late Eli and Najla Bassett. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his brothers; Clement and Luther Bassett.
Eli graduated from West Virginia University with a bachelor and masters degree. He also received his JD from Yale Law School and a Masters in Law from New York University. He was a veteran of the US Army having served in the Korean War. He was a retired University of Maryland (European Division) professor who will be remembered by colleagues and students for his dedication, keen wit and zest for life. Eli's family are grateful for his admirable qualities of compassion, kindness and simplicity.
Eli is survived by two nieces and their families.
Colleague Bill Keller: Eli will be remembered as a wonderful colleague who was really dedicated to the University of Maryland. I always enjoyed teaching at the same location with him in the Frankfurt area. I Will miss his humor which was always present, even when I visited him at the Sonnenhof assisted living facility in May. My deepest condolences to his family. October 22, 2011.
Colleague Stephen Richards: Bassett, we will never forget you here in Germany! Your sense of humor, total lack of reverence for the powers that be, and sheer relish for life will be a shining example to us for years to come.
Eli graduated from West Virginia University with a bachelor and masters degree. He also received his JD from Yale Law School and a Masters in Law from New York University. He was a veteran of the US Army having served in the Korean War. He was a retired University of Maryland (European Division) professor who will be remembered by colleagues and students for his dedication, keen wit and zest for life. Eli's family are grateful for his admirable qualities of compassion, kindness and simplicity.
Eli is survived by two nieces and their families.
Colleague Bill Keller: Eli will be remembered as a wonderful colleague who was really dedicated to the University of Maryland. I always enjoyed teaching at the same location with him in the Frankfurt area. I Will miss his humor which was always present, even when I visited him at the Sonnenhof assisted living facility in May. My deepest condolences to his family. October 22, 2011.
Colleague Stephen Richards: Bassett, we will never forget you here in Germany! Your sense of humor, total lack of reverence for the powers that be, and sheer relish for life will be a shining example to us for years to come.
Alexander John Mickel, 87, of Richmond, touched by God, experienced a peaceful death on May 17, 2011. Loving all he knew, he was the son of Abe and Nahia Mickel; brother of Mitchell Mickel, Gloria Mickel Bevins and Fred Mickel; husband of Nadine Lackey Mickel; father of Sherry Mickel Parrish, Sandy Mickel Ruder and David Mickel; grandfather of Jessica Ruder, Grant Ruder and Shannon Parrish; father-in-law of Kim Ruder and John Parrish; and uncle of John Messere, Sharman Mickel, Denise Mickel Russell, Kevin Bevins, Thomas Bevins, Deborah Mickel Nasser, Pam Mickel, and Tanya Hatcher. Born and reared in Williamson, W.Va., served the Army in WWII, attended Marshall University. Alex was an active member and vestryman of The Church of the Epiphany, Shriners' International and Masonic Lodge of W.Va. Prior to retirement, he worked at local firms and department stores. Funeral services will be held at The Church of the Epiphany on Saturday, May 21, 2011 at 11 a.m. Rev. Mary Brennan Thorpe presiding. Family will receive guests at 10 a.m. and a reception will follow in the Church Fellowship Hall. Private interment at Arlington National Cemetery will occur later. In lieu of flowers, honor him with contributions to The Church of the Epiphany www.epiphanyepiscopal.com, 804-266-2503, 8000 Hermitage Rd., Richmond, Va. 23228. This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Dr. Diann Dee Michael, 63, passed on Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011. Born and raised in Charleston, WV, Dr. Michael received a B.A. from Marshall Univ, Ph.D. in Psychology from the Univ of Akron, & Diplme des tudes Approfondies in Art History at the Sorbonne, Paris, France. She taught at Nova University the last 17 years, and had a private practice as a Clinical Psychologist in Ft Lauderdale. She was a longstanding member of the Florida Psychological Association. Diann was very proud of her Lebanese heritage; she was an outstanding cook and hostess. She was a writer, and an artist of all kinds. She is survived by her daughter, Gianna Michael (Khaled Mourra) of Beirut, Lebanon. A viewing and service will be held on Tuesday, March 8 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Barbara Falowski Funeral Home, 300 SW 6th St., Ft Lauderdale 33315. In lieu of flowers, please call to make Memorial Fund donations at Child & Family Psychologists, 954-587-7520, btwn 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Nadine Lackey Mickel, 80, of Richmond, died peacefully in the presence of her family at Hospice of Virginia on September 28, 2010. She is survived by her loving husband of 62 years, Alex J. Mickel; daughters, Sherry M. Parrish and Sandy M. Ruder. She was predeceased by her son, David R. Mickel. She is also survived by her caring grandchildren, Jessica Ruder, Grant Ruder and Shannon Parrish; and sons-in-law, Kim Ruder and John Parrish; nephew, John Messere and family; sister-in-law, Gloria Bevins; brother-in-law, Fred Mickel and their families. Born in Cedar Grove, West Virginia, she was the daughter of Anna and Joseph Lackey and the sister of Paul Lackey and Dorothea Messere. Nadine was an active member and church hostess at The Church of the Epiphany. She began her work life as a social welfare worker in West Virginia. In Richmond, she worked for local firms, department stores and a restaurant. She co-owned, with Lee Poates, a highly regarded local catering company, "A Touch of Elegance." Funeral services will be at The Church of the Epiphany on Saturday, October 2, 2010 at 11 a.m., with Rev. Mary Brennan Thorpe officiating. In lieu of flowers, honor her with contributions to this church (266-2503), 8000 Hermitage Rd., Richmond, Va. 23228. This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
John Jae Cantees, 88, of South Charleston, passed away on August 24, 2010.
John was a 1941 graduate of Williamson High School and attended the University of Kentucky and graduated from Marshall University. He proudly served his country in the US Army Air Force during World War II. He retired from Blue Cross/Blue Shield after 30+ years of service and was an active member of several service and social organizations. John married the love of his life, Cleta Belle Cantees on April 19, 1950. They remained devoted to each other for over 60 years, each passing within days of each other.
He was loved and respected by his family and friends. John was well known by all for his keen sense of humor. He enjoyed playing card games with his family and friends as well as dancing with his wife, Cleta.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Cleta Belle Cantees; parents, George and Anna Cantees; brothers, Sam Cantees, Tom Cantees, Kamel Cantees and Cullen Cantees; sister, Adeba Cantees.
John is survived by his son, George Everette Cantees of Charleston; daughters, Debra Lynn Walters (Ron) of Cross Lanes and Janet Charis Cantees of South Charleston; step-daughter, Kathrine Burgio (Anthony) of Brook Park , OH; grandchildren, Samantha, Nena, Celeste, John, Ronald, Christopher, Jason, Joseph, Joanne and Michael; great-grandchildren, Ethan, Josey, Bella, Hannah, Aubrey, Dominic and Gianna; brother, Harry Cantees; sister, Jeanette McCoy; as well as a number of nieces and nephews and a host of friends.
A Service to Honor the Life of John Jae Cantees will be held at 11:00am, Friday, August 27, 2010, at Snodgrass Funeral Home, South Charleston with Pastor Dana Holter officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Park, South Charleston.
John was a 1941 graduate of Williamson High School and attended the University of Kentucky and graduated from Marshall University. He proudly served his country in the US Army Air Force during World War II. He retired from Blue Cross/Blue Shield after 30+ years of service and was an active member of several service and social organizations. John married the love of his life, Cleta Belle Cantees on April 19, 1950. They remained devoted to each other for over 60 years, each passing within days of each other.
He was loved and respected by his family and friends. John was well known by all for his keen sense of humor. He enjoyed playing card games with his family and friends as well as dancing with his wife, Cleta.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Cleta Belle Cantees; parents, George and Anna Cantees; brothers, Sam Cantees, Tom Cantees, Kamel Cantees and Cullen Cantees; sister, Adeba Cantees.
John is survived by his son, George Everette Cantees of Charleston; daughters, Debra Lynn Walters (Ron) of Cross Lanes and Janet Charis Cantees of South Charleston; step-daughter, Kathrine Burgio (Anthony) of Brook Park , OH; grandchildren, Samantha, Nena, Celeste, John, Ronald, Christopher, Jason, Joseph, Joanne and Michael; great-grandchildren, Ethan, Josey, Bella, Hannah, Aubrey, Dominic and Gianna; brother, Harry Cantees; sister, Jeanette McCoy; as well as a number of nieces and nephews and a host of friends.
A Service to Honor the Life of John Jae Cantees will be held at 11:00am, Friday, August 27, 2010, at Snodgrass Funeral Home, South Charleston with Pastor Dana Holter officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Park, South Charleston.
Linda Thabet Mickel, 85, of South Charleston passed away in Glen Allen, Va., at her daughter's home on Thursday, August 19, 2010. Born in Kfeir, Lebanon, she was the first daughter of Toufic and Rasmia Thabet of South Charleston. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lt. Col. Mitchell M. Mickel, retired.
She is survived by two daughters, Sharman Mickel of Charleston and Denise Russell and husband, Ronald Russell, of Glen Allen, Va.; grandchildren, Melaina and Garrett Russell; sisters, Clemence Bassett of Blissfield, Mich., Rose Christian of South Charleston and Carolyn Sadd of Encino, Calif.; brother, Charles Thabet of South Charleston; and many other relatives.
She was a member of St. George Orthodox Cathedral. She was also a member of the Retired Military Officers Association of West Virginia. Family and friends may visit from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, August 22, at Snodgrass Funeral Home, with a Trisagion prayer service at 7:30 p.m. A service to honor the life of Linda will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at St. George Orthodox Cathedral, Charleston, with the Rev. Father Stephen de Young officiating. Linda will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., where Mitchell was laid to rest in March 2008.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. George Orthodox Cathedral, P.O. Box 2044, Charleston, WV 25327, or the Kfeirian Reunion Scholarship Foundation, 25 Hillendale Drive, Huntington, WV 25705, in her memory.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by going to www.snodgrassfuneral.comand selecting the obituary icon. Snodgrass Funeral Home, South Charleston, is in charge of arrangements.
She is survived by two daughters, Sharman Mickel of Charleston and Denise Russell and husband, Ronald Russell, of Glen Allen, Va.; grandchildren, Melaina and Garrett Russell; sisters, Clemence Bassett of Blissfield, Mich., Rose Christian of South Charleston and Carolyn Sadd of Encino, Calif.; brother, Charles Thabet of South Charleston; and many other relatives.
She was a member of St. George Orthodox Cathedral. She was also a member of the Retired Military Officers Association of West Virginia. Family and friends may visit from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, August 22, at Snodgrass Funeral Home, with a Trisagion prayer service at 7:30 p.m. A service to honor the life of Linda will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at St. George Orthodox Cathedral, Charleston, with the Rev. Father Stephen de Young officiating. Linda will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., where Mitchell was laid to rest in March 2008.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. George Orthodox Cathedral, P.O. Box 2044, Charleston, WV 25327, or the Kfeirian Reunion Scholarship Foundation, 25 Hillendale Drive, Huntington, WV 25705, in her memory.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by going to www.snodgrassfuneral.comand selecting the obituary icon. Snodgrass Funeral Home, South Charleston, is in charge of arrangements.
Cleta Belle Cantees, 79, of South Charleston, passed away on August 8, 2010, at home.
She was a member of Benevolent Society of Huntington, WV as well as a member of All Saints Episcopal Church, South Charleston. She was an avid reader and enjoyed weekly bridge games with her husband and neighbors. She was preceded in death by her parents William Everette and Cosby Halett Fulmer.
Cleta is survived by her husband, John Jae Cantees, who was as devoted to her as she was to him. They were inseparable and shared an intense loyalty and love for 60 years. She is also survived by her daughter, Kathrine Burgio (Anthony) of Brook Park , OH; son, George Everette Cantees of Charleston; daughter, Debra Lynn Walters (Ron) of Cross Lanes; daughter, Janet Charis Cantees of South Charleston; grandchildren, Samantha, Nena, Celeste, John, Ronald, Christopher, Jason, Joseph, Joanne and Michael; great-grandchildren, Ethan, Josey, Bella, Hannah , Aubrey, Dominic and Gianna; sisters, Jean and Lois; as well as several nieces and nephews and a host of friends.
A Service to Honor the Life of Cleta Belle Cantees will be held at 2:00pm, Wednesday, August 11, 2010, at Snodgrass Funeral Home, South Charleston with Pastor Richard Mahan officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Park, South Charleston.
She was a member of Benevolent Society of Huntington, WV as well as a member of All Saints Episcopal Church, South Charleston. She was an avid reader and enjoyed weekly bridge games with her husband and neighbors. She was preceded in death by her parents William Everette and Cosby Halett Fulmer.
Cleta is survived by her husband, John Jae Cantees, who was as devoted to her as she was to him. They were inseparable and shared an intense loyalty and love for 60 years. She is also survived by her daughter, Kathrine Burgio (Anthony) of Brook Park , OH; son, George Everette Cantees of Charleston; daughter, Debra Lynn Walters (Ron) of Cross Lanes; daughter, Janet Charis Cantees of South Charleston; grandchildren, Samantha, Nena, Celeste, John, Ronald, Christopher, Jason, Joseph, Joanne and Michael; great-grandchildren, Ethan, Josey, Bella, Hannah , Aubrey, Dominic and Gianna; sisters, Jean and Lois; as well as several nieces and nephews and a host of friends.
A Service to Honor the Life of Cleta Belle Cantees will be held at 2:00pm, Wednesday, August 11, 2010, at Snodgrass Funeral Home, South Charleston with Pastor Richard Mahan officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Park, South Charleston.
Betty T. Risk, 84, co-founder of a signature Kanawha City fashion retailing business and a leading member of the greater Charleston-area business community, classically-trained vocalist, dramatist and friend of the arts, who cherished and supported her family with rare and magical passion, died peacefully in her home on Saturday, July 10, 2010, surrounded by her family and loved ones. A 63-year resident of Charleston, Betty's earliest years, and her bedrock values of faith, family and hard work, were nurtured in Bluefield, where her father owned a business. Educated at Bluefield's Beaver High School, her musical talents led her to the famed Westminster Choir College in Princeton, N.J., where she received her training in voice and music theory. Betty returned to Charleston to marry Philip E. Risk after his wartime Army service. Soon, the young couple established their fashion store, Risk's, which became their life's work. After Phil's death in 1982, Betty continued to manage the business until 1989, concluding 36 years of continuous operation. With its distinctive headquarters store in Kanawha City and a later branch in Charleston Town Center, Risk's was an outlet for Betty's creative talents for buying, merchandising and marketing created a distinctive impact in the local retailing community. Building on Risk's core values of highest quality, superior customer service and innovation, Betty contributed many distinctive store features, which created a unique profile for the business. These included her use of fashion shows that anticipated every leading fashion trend, the Plaza de Moda "shops within a store" concept, her adoption into her stores of European design and beauty concepts such as the Orlane Institut de Beaute, a comprehensive day-spa, and the re-creation of the soothing Court of Lions fountain inside the Kanawha City store, which embodied the paradise-on-earth theme that Betty and Phil discovered on an early trip to the famed Alhambra, the Moorish palace in southern Spain. All of these set the pace for women's fashion retailing throughout three decades in Charleston. Her own impeccable sense of style was a testament to her talent, which she joyfully extended by beautifully dressing her many customers, friends and family members. But more than her business, her family was her touchstone, her greatest accomplishment and the most-cherished outlet for her inspiration, love and the sharing of her many gifts of faith, character, love and laughter. Preceded in death by her beloved parents, Rose and Mitchell Thabet; husband, Philip, after 35 years of marriage; and cherished sister, Virginia "Gini" T. Habeeb, she is survived by daughters, Deborah Risk Tobin of Efrat, Israel, Catherine Risk Linder of Lexington, Ky., and Leila K. Risk of Washington, D.C.; seven grandchildren, Elisheva Tobin, Shayna Tobin Gavriely, Aaron Tobin, Ilana Tobin, Philip Linder, Grant Linder and Charlie Linder; and sons-in-law, Michael Tobin and Rolf Linder. Beloved family members she leaves behind include, locally, Agnes Risk Cassis, Steve and Lisa Cassis and family, Larry and Carol Cassis, and Marian Ghiz and family, including Betty's goddaughter, Sarah Ghiz Korwin, and, elsewhere in the U.S., Alice Risk Hajjar, Barbara Hajjar, Carol Payson, Susan Blackburn, Michael Hajjar, David Hajjar, Lisa Cassis Lodder, Barbara Thabet Norman, and all their families. Betty brought her theatrical sparkle and love of music into all her endeavors, sharing these gifts with generations of family, friends and members of the Charleston community. In her early performance career, Betty toured widely with the renowned Westminster Choir and was privileged to perform under the baton of musical greats, including Leonard Bernstein and Eugene Ormandy. In Charleston, she was a longtime choir member and soloist with the Chancel Choir at First Presbyterian Church, and contralto soloist with The Charleston Symphony Orchestra. An accomplished amateur actress, Betty was an early member of the Charleston Light Opera Guild and Kanawha Players. Some of her memorable leading roles included Dolly Levi in Hello Dolly, Eleanor of Aquitaine in The Lion in Winter and Ouiser Boudreaux in Steel Magnolias. Committed always to community service, Betty shared her artistic and business experience widely, serving on the boards of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, City National Bank, Sunrise Museum, and the National Museum for Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C. She was also a member and deeply involved in the activities of the Clay Center Collector's Club, First Presbyterian Church of Charleston, and Edgewood Country Club. A lifelong interest in the people and cultures of the world took Betty, Phil and her close family members and friends on extensive travels in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. A tireless traveler also in support of her far-flung family, "GranBetty" or "GrandMama" was ready at a moment's notice to drive or fly anywhere, at any time, to nurse a grandchild to health, join a family romp at the beach, or support her daughters and sons-in-law momentarily exhausted by their child-rearing duties. Never more at home than when surrounded by family members, in the center of a party, particularly one of her own making, showering her family with her love, or supporting an artistic friend or cause, Betty brought her "sparkle"-her love, her drive, her dramatic sensibilities-to everyone and everything she touched. She will be deeply missed. The family thanks Bonnie Harper and her family, as well as Louise Hambleton and her family for their many years of loyal service and friendship; and Elizabeth Jackson, Gloria Fields, Denise Stewart, Samantha Nichols, Angel Nichols and HospiceCare of Charleston for their expert and loving care in Betty's waning days. All are welcome to a celebration of life service at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 14, 2010, at First Presbyterian Church, Charleston, with Dr. James Roberts officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Park, South Charleston.
Esma Mary Kays passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, at Atlantic Baptist Nursing Home on Tuesday, September 23, 2008, age 87. Esma was born in El-kfeir, Lebanon, one of seven daughters, to Helweh (Rahall) and Abraham Khoury and was educated at a French convent in Beirut. In 1939, she married Saied (Sam) Kays (formerly of El-kfeir), owner/operator of S.N. Kays Grocery, Charlottetown, and moved here on July 1, 1939, living at 89 Pownal Street until recently. Esma is survived by her three daughters: Hazel (Woodley), Doreen Kays and Diane Kays, all of Charlottetown; granddaughter, Susan Woodley (David Veniot) and great-grandson, Griffyn Sam of Ottawa; and former son-in-law, James Woodley of Halifax. Also survived by sisters, Nahie Khoury of Beirut and Georgette Nasser of Indianapolis, Indiana; niece, Sandra Nasser, Indianapolis; nephews, Shafic (Wadad) Rahme and Karim (Rowedia) El-Marji, all of Ottawa; nephew, Louis (Wanda) Coury, Sarasota, Florida; and numerous other nieces, nephews and relatives throughout Canada, the U.S., Lebanon and the Middle East. She was predeceased by her loving husband, Saied (Sam) in 1977; her parents; sisters, Mantaha, Hanniya, Rumza, Matile and stepbrother, Mousa, all of Lebanon; and her beloved poodle, Kiki. Esma was considered the matriarch of the Island's Lebanese community, and a “mother ” to many, being the last surviving member of the early immigrants to arrive in Charlottetown during the first half of the 20th century. She was proud of her heritage and homeland, but was also a passionate Islander and Canadian. Esma was an active member of St. Peter’s Anglican Cathedral and its women’s groups over the years. Also, a long-time member of the P.E.I. Hospital's Junior Ladies Aid, and later a member of the QEH Ladies Auxiliary. Following the death of her husband, she travelled far and wide, visiting her children, which she thoroughly enjoyed. But her favorite pastime the past 30 years was tending her beautiful flower gardens, which received several Communities in Bloom awards. Her creativity, energy, unique sense of style and physical beauty were reflected in everything that touched her heart and hand. On March 30, 2007, Esma suffered a massive stroke and remained in hospital until August when she became a resident at the Atlantic Baptist Nursing Home, where she received excellent care until her death. Above all, she was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother (Sittie) and friend, who will be forever missed. Resting at MacLean Funeral Home Swan Chapel. Funeral Monday from St. Peter’s Cathedral at 12 p.m. Interment in St. Peter’s Anglican Cemetery. Family flowers only. If so desired, memorials to St. Peter's Anglican Cemetery would be appreciated. Visiting hours Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Online condolences may be made at www.macleanfh.com.
Lt. Col. Mitchell M. Mickel, 85, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 29, 2008, after a long illness. He was born March 25, 1922, in Kfeir, Lebanon. He is the first son of the late Abe and Nahia Mickel of Williamson.
He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Linda Thabet Mickel; daughter, Sharman Mickel of Charleston; and daughter, Denise M. Russell, son-in-law, Ronald Russell, and grandchildren, Melaina Russell and Garrett Russell, all of Richmond, Va. He is also survived by his brothers, Alex Mickel of Richmond, Virginia, and Fred Mickel; sister, Gloria Bevins of Williamson; and many other relatives.
He proudly served his country in the U.S. Army in Anzio, Italy, during World War II, where he received a Purple Heart. Mitchell graduated from Williamson High School and received a bachelor of science degree in economics from West Virginia University. He received his commission to the U.S. Air Force and retired in 1970 as a lieutenant colonel after 26 years of military service. After retirement from the Air Force, Mitchell worked for the Internal Revenue Service and later worked for the Office of Personnel Management. He was a member of St. George Orthodox Cathedral, the U.S. Veterans Officers Club, the American Legion, Beni Kedem Temple, Scottish Rite of Freemasonry and the National Retired Federal Employees.
Mitchell will be buried with military honors in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., on his birthday, March 25, 2008.
A Tribute to Mitchell Mickel
As many of you know, Mitchell Mickel served on the Kfeirian Reunion Foundation Board of Directors for many years. He served as treasurer and chairman and then as secretary for the scholarship program for quite some time. We owe a debt of gratitude to Mitchell for his dedication, service and commitment to the Kfeirian Reunion. On behalf of the Board of Directors, may we extend our sincere sympathy to his wife Linda and the family. May God grant Mitchell peace and may his memory be eternal.
He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Linda Thabet Mickel; daughter, Sharman Mickel of Charleston; and daughter, Denise M. Russell, son-in-law, Ronald Russell, and grandchildren, Melaina Russell and Garrett Russell, all of Richmond, Va. He is also survived by his brothers, Alex Mickel of Richmond, Virginia, and Fred Mickel; sister, Gloria Bevins of Williamson; and many other relatives.
He proudly served his country in the U.S. Army in Anzio, Italy, during World War II, where he received a Purple Heart. Mitchell graduated from Williamson High School and received a bachelor of science degree in economics from West Virginia University. He received his commission to the U.S. Air Force and retired in 1970 as a lieutenant colonel after 26 years of military service. After retirement from the Air Force, Mitchell worked for the Internal Revenue Service and later worked for the Office of Personnel Management. He was a member of St. George Orthodox Cathedral, the U.S. Veterans Officers Club, the American Legion, Beni Kedem Temple, Scottish Rite of Freemasonry and the National Retired Federal Employees.
Mitchell will be buried with military honors in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., on his birthday, March 25, 2008.
A Tribute to Mitchell Mickel
As many of you know, Mitchell Mickel served on the Kfeirian Reunion Foundation Board of Directors for many years. He served as treasurer and chairman and then as secretary for the scholarship program for quite some time. We owe a debt of gratitude to Mitchell for his dedication, service and commitment to the Kfeirian Reunion. On behalf of the Board of Directors, may we extend our sincere sympathy to his wife Linda and the family. May God grant Mitchell peace and may his memory be eternal.
Lucille Saad Smith
August 13, 1917-November 6, 2007
Lucille Saad Smith, born August 13, 1917 in Pikeville, Kentucky to Jasper Ispiridon Saad and Clara Coda Sword, the second of six children, was undoubtedly at her death, the most famous and beloved person in Eastern Kentucky.
The family of Jasper and Clara consisted of four girls and two boys, but unfortunately, two of the girls passed away in their youth. Surviving children were John Ispiridon, a US Army officer, Paul Andrew, an attorney, and sister Margaret Rose. Lucille was a 1936 graduate of Williamson High School, but otherwise a lifelong resident of Pikeville where her fame developed and was natured. The story below, published in the Appalachian News-Express of Pikeville, depicts the qualities admired by friends and family.
“Goodbye Miss Lucy”
Beloved broadcaster, and columnist had a ‘personal touch’
PIKEVILLE—Her voice paved the way for a “personal approach” to radio broadcasting that spanned more than four decades.
That voice now calls heaven home.
Lucille Saad Smith, 90, the host of “The Personal Touch” radio program on WPKE 1240 AM and the stations of East Kentucky Broadcasting, passed away on Nov. 6.
Walter E. May, who serves as chairman of the board at East Kentucky Broadcasting, described Smith as “clearly the best-known person in Pike County.”
“Lucy was a smart, sassy, and assertive woman who cared for everyone she met,” May said.
Her radio show, which debuted on 1240 AM (WPKE) in 1964, gave residents a chance to personally connect with its host. Smith offered residents the opportunity to call into her show, providing statewide standards.
Following this, she had a 20-plus-year career with the U.S. Postal Service from 1967-1990. She rose through the ranks. Upon her retirement, she was postmaster at the main post office in Pikeville which serves as a distribution center for both Pike and Floyd counties. She was the first woman to ever hold that position on a permanent basis.
“Pike County has lost a dear friend and beloved icon. Lucille S. Smith was a legendary Pike Countian whose storied career in public service, broadcasting, and as the author of her long-running weekly newspaper column spanned generations and withstood the test of time,” said Wayne T. Rutherford, Pike County judge-executive. “A county she loved deeply and who loved her deeply will sorely miss this irreplaceable lady.”
Smith was the first female to be admitted membership to the Pike County Kiwanis Club on July 7, 1987. However, she had attended the club’s meetings for more than 40 years. In 2005, she was given the club’s “Citizen of the Year” award. The award was presented by the club’s second female member, Barbara Justice Smith, who joined the club with Smith.
The Pike County Chamber of Commerce recognized Smith the next year, as she was bestowed the 2006 Lon B. and Evelyn Rogers Lifetime Achievement Award.
Smith was a society editor of the Pike County News (predecessor of the News-Express).
“I met Lucille 45 years ago when I was a member of the Pikeville Junior Woman’s Club,” said Nancy Goss, Everyday Living editor for the News-Express. “She was our sponsor and we loved her.
“Through her ‘Personal Touch’ column, which I’ve typed for the past 25 years, Lucille and I became good friends,” Goss continued. “I will miss her, and her column more than words can say.”
She was very active with the Pike County Woman’s Club, and the Democrat Woman’s Club, and served on the boards of directors for the Chamber, the Pikeville Area YMCA, Pikeville Concert Association, and Ray of Hope Foundation.
“I’ve known Lucille for 28 years and she was one of the best friends I ever had,” said Margaret Arnett, president of the Pikeville Woman’s Club. “She was always there for me—she was a support person I could go to.”
Arnett said Smith had served in every office of the woman’s club and was always a very active participant in the many organizations she was affiliated with.
“She was a very dignified lady who had a great sense of humor,” Arnett said. “We are all going to miss her.”
Smith was also named the Woman’s Club “Girl of the Year” and the Beta Sigma Phi’s “Outstanding Woman of Pike County.” In 2000, she was ranked among “Pike County’s 100 Most Significant People” published by News-Express. The Kentucky Broadcasting Association also lauded her with a lifetime achievement award.
Rutherford said, “God has called home one of the best reflections of the true spirit of Pike County we have ever known.”
August 13, 1917-November 6, 2007
Lucille Saad Smith, born August 13, 1917 in Pikeville, Kentucky to Jasper Ispiridon Saad and Clara Coda Sword, the second of six children, was undoubtedly at her death, the most famous and beloved person in Eastern Kentucky.
The family of Jasper and Clara consisted of four girls and two boys, but unfortunately, two of the girls passed away in their youth. Surviving children were John Ispiridon, a US Army officer, Paul Andrew, an attorney, and sister Margaret Rose. Lucille was a 1936 graduate of Williamson High School, but otherwise a lifelong resident of Pikeville where her fame developed and was natured. The story below, published in the Appalachian News-Express of Pikeville, depicts the qualities admired by friends and family.
“Goodbye Miss Lucy”
Beloved broadcaster, and columnist had a ‘personal touch’
PIKEVILLE—Her voice paved the way for a “personal approach” to radio broadcasting that spanned more than four decades.
That voice now calls heaven home.
Lucille Saad Smith, 90, the host of “The Personal Touch” radio program on WPKE 1240 AM and the stations of East Kentucky Broadcasting, passed away on Nov. 6.
Walter E. May, who serves as chairman of the board at East Kentucky Broadcasting, described Smith as “clearly the best-known person in Pike County.”
“Lucy was a smart, sassy, and assertive woman who cared for everyone she met,” May said.
Her radio show, which debuted on 1240 AM (WPKE) in 1964, gave residents a chance to personally connect with its host. Smith offered residents the opportunity to call into her show, providing statewide standards.
Following this, she had a 20-plus-year career with the U.S. Postal Service from 1967-1990. She rose through the ranks. Upon her retirement, she was postmaster at the main post office in Pikeville which serves as a distribution center for both Pike and Floyd counties. She was the first woman to ever hold that position on a permanent basis.
“Pike County has lost a dear friend and beloved icon. Lucille S. Smith was a legendary Pike Countian whose storied career in public service, broadcasting, and as the author of her long-running weekly newspaper column spanned generations and withstood the test of time,” said Wayne T. Rutherford, Pike County judge-executive. “A county she loved deeply and who loved her deeply will sorely miss this irreplaceable lady.”
Smith was the first female to be admitted membership to the Pike County Kiwanis Club on July 7, 1987. However, she had attended the club’s meetings for more than 40 years. In 2005, she was given the club’s “Citizen of the Year” award. The award was presented by the club’s second female member, Barbara Justice Smith, who joined the club with Smith.
The Pike County Chamber of Commerce recognized Smith the next year, as she was bestowed the 2006 Lon B. and Evelyn Rogers Lifetime Achievement Award.
Smith was a society editor of the Pike County News (predecessor of the News-Express).
“I met Lucille 45 years ago when I was a member of the Pikeville Junior Woman’s Club,” said Nancy Goss, Everyday Living editor for the News-Express. “She was our sponsor and we loved her.
“Through her ‘Personal Touch’ column, which I’ve typed for the past 25 years, Lucille and I became good friends,” Goss continued. “I will miss her, and her column more than words can say.”
She was very active with the Pike County Woman’s Club, and the Democrat Woman’s Club, and served on the boards of directors for the Chamber, the Pikeville Area YMCA, Pikeville Concert Association, and Ray of Hope Foundation.
“I’ve known Lucille for 28 years and she was one of the best friends I ever had,” said Margaret Arnett, president of the Pikeville Woman’s Club. “She was always there for me—she was a support person I could go to.”
Arnett said Smith had served in every office of the woman’s club and was always a very active participant in the many organizations she was affiliated with.
“She was a very dignified lady who had a great sense of humor,” Arnett said. “We are all going to miss her.”
Smith was also named the Woman’s Club “Girl of the Year” and the Beta Sigma Phi’s “Outstanding Woman of Pike County.” In 2000, she was ranked among “Pike County’s 100 Most Significant People” published by News-Express. The Kentucky Broadcasting Association also lauded her with a lifetime achievement award.
Rutherford said, “God has called home one of the best reflections of the true spirit of Pike County we have ever known.”
Nancy Hodge Kenney passed away on May 26, 2007. Nancy was born in Beirut, Lebanon on April 28th 1957. She grew up in Huntington, West Virginia and graduated from Huntington High School in 1975. She attended the University of Kentucky from 1975 to 1979 and graduated with a BS/RN. Her nursing career included work in surgery, dialysis and clinical instruction. Nancy was a devoted wife and mother and served as an active volunteer within the Walton School System. She was loved and admired by all who met her and touched her life. She is preceded in death by her father Tufe Michael Hodge, and is survived by her mother, Rhoda G. Hodge of Huntington, WV. She is survived by the following relatives from Huntington WV: Her sister Norma Thompson, and husband Douglas and nephews Ryan and Evan Thompson; her sister Sharon Hodge, her sister Lora Nicholas and husband David. She is survived by the following relatives from Charleston, WV: Her sister Nadia Hardy, husband David and her niece and nephew Kristen and Scott Hardy. She is also survived by numerous aunts, uncles and cousins in Lebanon. A funeral Service will be held Thursday morning May 31, 2007 at 11 o'clock in the Chapel at H.M. Patterson & Son Canton Hill. A Memorial Service will also be held in Huntington WV on Saturday June 2, 2007 at 10:00 AM at the Holy Spirit Orthodox Church, 1 Woodhaven Drive. The family will receive friends and celebrate Nancy's life Wednesday evening from 6 until 8 PM at H.M. Patterson & Son, 1157 Old Canton Rd. Marietta, GA 30068.
Nahia Ann Stradley, age 74, of Sevierville, daughter of Nellie and Wadih Abou Rahall of Kfeir, Lebanon, went home to be with the Lord on Friday November 25, 2005. She was preceded in death by two sisters and one brother.
Ann was retired from Electro-Voice and was a member of Evergreen Presbyterian Church (PCA). She was an accomplished crafter and seamstress and loved flower and vegetable gardening.
Survivors: Loving Husband of 14 years: G. Richard (Dick) Stradley Daughters: Mrs. Madelyn Van Meter (Joseph) of Glendale, CA Mrs. Janice Barger (Hugh) of Ooltewah Son: Raymon Davis (Hope) of Greenville, SC Sisters: Emmoline Jamra of Columbus, OH Mary Rezcallah of Toledo, OH Brothers: Shakir Rahall of Temecula, CA Karam Rahall of Beirut, Lebanon Halim Rahall of Beirut, Lebanon Grandchildren: David Van Meter of CA James Van Meter (Katalin) of CA Andrew Barger (Stacy) of Nashville, TN Laura Barger of NY Stephen Davis of Greenville, SC Step-children: Richard Stradley (Christi) of Cody, WY David Stradley of Huntsville, AL Nancy Dennis of Sevierville, TN 6 step-grandchildren 14 great grandchildren 2 great-great grandchildren
Funeral service 4:30 PM Sunday at Evergreen Presbyterian Church with Pastor Brad Bradford officiating. Interment 11 AM Monday in Hamblen Memory Gardens in Morristown. The family will receive friends 2:30-4:30 PM Sunday at Evergreen Presbyterian Church. \
Pall Bearers will be: Andy Barger, Stephen Davis, Andy Dennis, Stephen Dennis, Brian Christian, and Brian Shane Christian. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Evergreen Presbyterian Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 4575, Sevierville, TN. 37864. Arrangements by Atchley Funeral Home Sevierville. (www.atchleyfuneralhome.com).
Ann was retired from Electro-Voice and was a member of Evergreen Presbyterian Church (PCA). She was an accomplished crafter and seamstress and loved flower and vegetable gardening.
Survivors: Loving Husband of 14 years: G. Richard (Dick) Stradley Daughters: Mrs. Madelyn Van Meter (Joseph) of Glendale, CA Mrs. Janice Barger (Hugh) of Ooltewah Son: Raymon Davis (Hope) of Greenville, SC Sisters: Emmoline Jamra of Columbus, OH Mary Rezcallah of Toledo, OH Brothers: Shakir Rahall of Temecula, CA Karam Rahall of Beirut, Lebanon Halim Rahall of Beirut, Lebanon Grandchildren: David Van Meter of CA James Van Meter (Katalin) of CA Andrew Barger (Stacy) of Nashville, TN Laura Barger of NY Stephen Davis of Greenville, SC Step-children: Richard Stradley (Christi) of Cody, WY David Stradley of Huntsville, AL Nancy Dennis of Sevierville, TN 6 step-grandchildren 14 great grandchildren 2 great-great grandchildren
Funeral service 4:30 PM Sunday at Evergreen Presbyterian Church with Pastor Brad Bradford officiating. Interment 11 AM Monday in Hamblen Memory Gardens in Morristown. The family will receive friends 2:30-4:30 PM Sunday at Evergreen Presbyterian Church. \
Pall Bearers will be: Andy Barger, Stephen Davis, Andy Dennis, Stephen Dennis, Brian Christian, and Brian Shane Christian. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Evergreen Presbyterian Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 4575, Sevierville, TN. 37864. Arrangements by Atchley Funeral Home Sevierville. (www.atchleyfuneralhome.com).
Walter Thabit, 83, Dies; Leader in Activism in City Planning
By Jennifer Bayot
April 4, 2005
Walter Thabit, a leader among city planners in pressing cities to build low-cost housing and encourage diversity in blighted areas, a movement now known as advocacy planning, died on March 15, 2005 at his home in Manhattan, NY. He was 83.
The cause was complications of Barrett's esophagus, in which esophageal cells change because of irritation, said his son Nikolai.
Mr. Thabit approached urban planning as an activist. Projects should benefit a site's residents, he argued, not politicians or developers.
Working as a consultant and offering his technical skills, Mr. Thabit helped members of more than a dozen communities in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania create their own development plans in response to city redevelopment proposals that threatened to displace many residents.
For example, when New York City's Committee on Slum Clearance set its sights on Cooper Square on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, neighborhood residents turned to Mr. Thabit for help in drawing up a plan that they succeeded in persuading the city to adopt in 1970.
More than 60 percent of the apartments that have since been built or renovated under the plan are low-income units, according to the Cooper Square Committee.
In 1964, Mr. Thabit founded Planners for Equal Opportunity, a progressive group with 600 members. It was succeeded in 1975 by the Planners Network.
Mr. Thabit was born in Brooklyn on Dec. 20, 1921. He received a bachelor's degree in design from Brooklyn College and master's degrees in sociology from the New School and in city planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
After working as a planning analyst in New York, he was director of the master plan section in Baltimore's Department of City Planning from 1954 to 1958. He then worked as a planning consultant.
In the late 1960's he was New York City's planner for East New York, Brooklyn, and he later described the area's challenges in his book "How East New York Became a Ghetto" (New York University Press, 2003).
From 1976 to 1980, he was senior planner for New York's Landmarks Preservation Commission, and from 1980 to 1988, he was an associate city planner in the city's Department of Transportation.
Mr. Thabit's marriage to the former Frances Thargay ended in divorce. He is survived, in addition to his son Nikolai, of Brooklyn, by his companion, Frances Goldin; two other sons, Paavo, of Gardiner, N.Y., and Darius, of Cambridge, Mass.; a daughter, Alia, of West Burke, Vt.; a brother, Robert, of Brooklyn; a sister, Ethel Boorady, of Dunedin, Fla.; and two grandchildren.
Gladys Shumla Bassett Parlette
April 22, 1915 –April 3, 2002
Gladys Shumla Bassett Parlette, age 86, left this life on April 3, 2002, following several years of declining health. Member of the Eastern Star, the American Lebanese Syrian Club of Columbus, and the Kfeirian Reunion.
Born in Madison, West Virginia, April 22, 1915, her formative years were spent in Williamson, West Virginia, where she graduated from high school before attending Radford College, Roanoke, Virginia. She taught grade school in Williamson for a few years, before taking a defense-related job in Norfolk, Virginia for two years during World War II. Returning to Williamson, she assisted her father in the family-owned business, moving to Columbus in 1945. There, Gladys assisted in running The Town Tavern on Long Street. After a brief two years in California, she began working for the State of Ohio in Columbus, retiring in 1985.
She is preceded in death by father Abraham Joseph Bassett, mother Rahija Saad Bassett, sister Wadad Bassett Bofysil. She is survived by son Mitchell Parlette; granddaughters Susanna Parlette, Alicia Parlette of Lancaster; sisters Selma Bassett Edinger of Columbus, Alice Bassett Rutherdale and Lorraine Bassett Scott of California; brother Abe J. Bassett of Beavercreek; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Gladys was all cheerful and optimistic and like her mother never complained of other people. If she was ever hurt or offended she kept it to herself.
Gladys, with her sparkling eyes and appealing laughter, will be missed by her family and her many friends. Memorial contributions may be made to Kfeirian Scholarship Fund, 25 Hillendale Drive, Huntington, WV 25705.
April 22, 1915 –April 3, 2002
Gladys Shumla Bassett Parlette, age 86, left this life on April 3, 2002, following several years of declining health. Member of the Eastern Star, the American Lebanese Syrian Club of Columbus, and the Kfeirian Reunion.
Born in Madison, West Virginia, April 22, 1915, her formative years were spent in Williamson, West Virginia, where she graduated from high school before attending Radford College, Roanoke, Virginia. She taught grade school in Williamson for a few years, before taking a defense-related job in Norfolk, Virginia for two years during World War II. Returning to Williamson, she assisted her father in the family-owned business, moving to Columbus in 1945. There, Gladys assisted in running The Town Tavern on Long Street. After a brief two years in California, she began working for the State of Ohio in Columbus, retiring in 1985.
She is preceded in death by father Abraham Joseph Bassett, mother Rahija Saad Bassett, sister Wadad Bassett Bofysil. She is survived by son Mitchell Parlette; granddaughters Susanna Parlette, Alicia Parlette of Lancaster; sisters Selma Bassett Edinger of Columbus, Alice Bassett Rutherdale and Lorraine Bassett Scott of California; brother Abe J. Bassett of Beavercreek; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Gladys was all cheerful and optimistic and like her mother never complained of other people. If she was ever hurt or offended she kept it to herself.
Gladys, with her sparkling eyes and appealing laughter, will be missed by her family and her many friends. Memorial contributions may be made to Kfeirian Scholarship Fund, 25 Hillendale Drive, Huntington, WV 25705.
Farris Bassett
November 14, 1920 - January 25, 2000 |
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Olga Thabet, Born August 27, 1901 - Died May 5, 1992
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Wadia Mary Bassett
June 30, 1888 – September 1, 1988
Wadia Mary Bassett was born in Damascus im 1888 and died in Oak Harbor, Ohio, in 1988 at the age of 100. She was married to Nahmy Bassett and was the mother of Abe N. (1907), Mary Lillian (1918), Katherine Anna (1921), and Evelyn Miriam (1923).
‘Woman of the Century’
Oak Harbor resident, 88
Ray Sperber, County Editor
She has never been named Woman of the Year, but to her family and her countless friends, Mrs. Mary Bassett, 122 N. Locust St., Oak Harbor, is Woman of the Century.
Eighty-eight years young, Mrs. Bassett still keeps her home immaculate, does her own cooking and baking, and still finds time to crochet and do other handwork. Arthritis has forced her to give up knitting, and may have slowed her steps, but she’s as charming as ever.
Woman of the Century? Who else has these qualifications:
While the Mary Bassett story began in Damascus, locally her saga began in 1913 when she arrived in Toledo as a homesick immigrant girl. She stayed with a Syrian family there and worked in a fur factory to pay her own way.
After their marriage, newlyweds Mr. and Mrs. Bassett, along with Abe and Elsie, returned to Oak Harbor and reopened the Bassett store. They sold candles and fruits at first, but when State Route 2 came through Oak Harbor, a complete grocery and meat store was developed. The Bassett family lived in quarters above the store until 1925 when they moved into the house Mrs. Bassett presently occupies.
When Nahmy Bassett died in January 1930, his widow and son, Abe, took over the operation of the store and built the large store at 136-38 W. Water St., where Bassetts continued until the building was sold in 1963 to the late Nick Stevens. The present Bassett IGA Market had its grand opening in August 1964 in its location further west on Water Street.
Elsie (Mrs. Stanley Shamro) now lives in Detroit, and Joe now lives with his mother in her Oak Harbor home. Mary (Mrs. Donald Ferry) and Evelyn (Mrs. Mitch DeWood) both reside in Las Vegas. Kathryn (Mrs. Nicholas Vara) lives in Sandusky and Richard lives in Oak Harbor. Mrs. Bassett has fourteen grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
A year ago, she was thrilled to have as guests her nephew and his wife from Damascus, and their son, who now lives in Canada. It was the first time she had seen her nephew.
She also recalls when the Oak Harbor Armory was built in 1918, soldiers came from Camp Perry and bands played in the building.
Mrs. Bassett, who sews without a pattern, also opened a dressmaker business in her home after her husband died and made most of the clothing for her children. She had started doing the needlework as a 6-year-old child in Damascus. No English was taught in Syrian schools, but she had to take Russian language lessons. She spent most of her time in school, perfecting her artistry with embroidery, knitting and crocheting.
It takes 12 skeins of yarn to complete one of her 5 ½ by 8 ½ feet Afghans, and Mrs. Bassett recently completed her 75th for a grandson. She made a special Afghan for Rosemary Thomas after she and Danny had served as godparents for Michael, son of Evelyn and Mitch DeWood.
When Oak Harbor Fair was held in the Oak Harbor Town Hall, Mrs. Bassett won numerous blue ribbons with her needlecraft. She is especially proud of a crocheted bedspread she made years ago. It usually was displayed in a prominent position on the Town Hall walls during the fair.
Oak Harbor was a "horse and buggy” town when the Bassetts first arrived, and sleighs were the mode of transportation during the winter. She and her family often would ride the interurban to and from Toledo.
Former Oak Harbor constable Frank Palmer, the grandfather of the National Bank of Oak Harbor’s Tom Palmer, had a livery stable where today Vern Miller’s Chevrolet-Olds is located. The Palmers lived across the street in the building now housing James Hetrick’s Insurance firm.
Mrs. Bassett remembers that her uncle came from Canada to visit, that he rented a car from Frank Palmer (the first in Oak Harbor) and took the entire Bassett family on a ride to the beaches along the lake and to tour Camp Perry.
Mary Bassett isn’t only the matriarch of the Bassett family; she is an institution in herself. She is truly the Woman of the Century.
June 30, 1888 – September 1, 1988
Wadia Mary Bassett was born in Damascus im 1888 and died in Oak Harbor, Ohio, in 1988 at the age of 100. She was married to Nahmy Bassett and was the mother of Abe N. (1907), Mary Lillian (1918), Katherine Anna (1921), and Evelyn Miriam (1923).
‘Woman of the Century’
Oak Harbor resident, 88
Ray Sperber, County Editor
She has never been named Woman of the Year, but to her family and her countless friends, Mrs. Mary Bassett, 122 N. Locust St., Oak Harbor, is Woman of the Century.
Eighty-eight years young, Mrs. Bassett still keeps her home immaculate, does her own cooking and baking, and still finds time to crochet and do other handwork. Arthritis has forced her to give up knitting, and may have slowed her steps, but she’s as charming as ever.
Woman of the Century? Who else has these qualifications:
- She was so determined to come to America that she saved the pennies and nickels she had made doing needlework in her home country of Damascus, Syria, and paid for her own boat passage across the Atlantic.
- She raised five children of her own, plus two older children of her husband and his first wife.
- She worked 64 years in the Bassett grocery stores, often from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m., taking time out to rush upstairs to prepare meals, get the children ready for school, do the housework and to sew much of their clothing.
- As she could not speak a word of English when she arrived in Oak Harbor as a bride, on Dec. 6, 1914, her husband, the late Nahmy Bassett, made her work beside him in the grocery store and there she slowly and painfully picked up her knowledge of English.
- She has made 75 Afghans, those colorful and cozy blankets or shawls which add beauty to the home, including one made as a gift to Rosemary (Mrs. Danny) Thomas. She complains that arthritis now slows her down so much that it takes three weeks to complete an Afghan, where formerly she could do that intricate work in two weeks.
- She is a Modern Mom, who loves to fly, and has made numerous airplane flights to Las Vegas to visit her daughters, Mary and Evelyn, and their families. On her last visit there, Mrs. Bassett became ill and had to stay 10 months. Now she’s content to stay in her own home and brave our winters.
- She believes that a family should entertain in the home and when her children were in high school, she insisted that they take their boyfriends and girlfriends to entertain them in the Bassett home while she and her husband worked in the store.
While the Mary Bassett story began in Damascus, locally her saga began in 1913 when she arrived in Toledo as a homesick immigrant girl. She stayed with a Syrian family there and worked in a fur factory to pay her own way.
After their marriage, newlyweds Mr. and Mrs. Bassett, along with Abe and Elsie, returned to Oak Harbor and reopened the Bassett store. They sold candles and fruits at first, but when State Route 2 came through Oak Harbor, a complete grocery and meat store was developed. The Bassett family lived in quarters above the store until 1925 when they moved into the house Mrs. Bassett presently occupies.
When Nahmy Bassett died in January 1930, his widow and son, Abe, took over the operation of the store and built the large store at 136-38 W. Water St., where Bassetts continued until the building was sold in 1963 to the late Nick Stevens. The present Bassett IGA Market had its grand opening in August 1964 in its location further west on Water Street.
Elsie (Mrs. Stanley Shamro) now lives in Detroit, and Joe now lives with his mother in her Oak Harbor home. Mary (Mrs. Donald Ferry) and Evelyn (Mrs. Mitch DeWood) both reside in Las Vegas. Kathryn (Mrs. Nicholas Vara) lives in Sandusky and Richard lives in Oak Harbor. Mrs. Bassett has fourteen grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
A year ago, she was thrilled to have as guests her nephew and his wife from Damascus, and their son, who now lives in Canada. It was the first time she had seen her nephew.
She also recalls when the Oak Harbor Armory was built in 1918, soldiers came from Camp Perry and bands played in the building.
Mrs. Bassett, who sews without a pattern, also opened a dressmaker business in her home after her husband died and made most of the clothing for her children. She had started doing the needlework as a 6-year-old child in Damascus. No English was taught in Syrian schools, but she had to take Russian language lessons. She spent most of her time in school, perfecting her artistry with embroidery, knitting and crocheting.
It takes 12 skeins of yarn to complete one of her 5 ½ by 8 ½ feet Afghans, and Mrs. Bassett recently completed her 75th for a grandson. She made a special Afghan for Rosemary Thomas after she and Danny had served as godparents for Michael, son of Evelyn and Mitch DeWood.
When Oak Harbor Fair was held in the Oak Harbor Town Hall, Mrs. Bassett won numerous blue ribbons with her needlecraft. She is especially proud of a crocheted bedspread she made years ago. It usually was displayed in a prominent position on the Town Hall walls during the fair.
Oak Harbor was a "horse and buggy” town when the Bassetts first arrived, and sleighs were the mode of transportation during the winter. She and her family often would ride the interurban to and from Toledo.
Former Oak Harbor constable Frank Palmer, the grandfather of the National Bank of Oak Harbor’s Tom Palmer, had a livery stable where today Vern Miller’s Chevrolet-Olds is located. The Palmers lived across the street in the building now housing James Hetrick’s Insurance firm.
Mrs. Bassett remembers that her uncle came from Canada to visit, that he rented a car from Frank Palmer (the first in Oak Harbor) and took the entire Bassett family on a ride to the beaches along the lake and to tour Camp Perry.
Mary Bassett isn’t only the matriarch of the Bassett family; she is an institution in herself. She is truly the Woman of the Century.
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Jasper Isperidon Saad
June 1, 1997 – January 14, 1978
Pikeville, Kentucky—J.I. Saad, a well-known photographer, and pioneer movie house operator of Williamson, West Virginia, and Pikeville, Kentucky died Saturday at the age of 90. The death occurred on January 14, 1978, at 10:55 am in Pikeville Methodist Hospital following a brief illness.
Saad operated early movie theaters in Pikeville and Williamson shortly after the turn of the century. In 1912, he opened IMP Theater in Williamson and continued its operation until 1926 when he built the Weddington Theater in Pikeville, operating it until 1929. The newer movie house burned down after begin ignited by a burning house across the street.
He was prominently known in Williamson for many years as a photographer, maintaining the Saad Studio on Third Avenue, opposite City Hall, and adjacent to the Bassett Confectionary store. He also operated a photographer’s studio in Pikeville for many years, traveling throughout the area to make photographs in individual homes.
Born in Lebanon, on June 12, 1887, he was the son of the late Assef and Numnum Abou Jamra Saad. He attended Beirut University and the Photographic Institute of Chicago. He was a member of the Greek Orthodox Church.
Survivors include his wife, Clara Sword Saad, whom he married on February 14, 1914; two sons, John I. Saad of Santa Barbara, California, and Paul A. Saad of Tampa, Florida; two daughters, Mrs. Lucille S. Smith, Pikeville postmaster, and Mrs. Rose S. Farley of Frankfort, Kentucky; two sisters, Rahija [Abe J. Bassett of Columbus, Ohio,] and Della (Nasseph McCarus of Charleston, West Virginia;) eleven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were scheduled at St. David Episcopal Church, with burial in the Sword Cemetery at Island Creek.
June 1, 1997 – January 14, 1978
Pikeville, Kentucky—J.I. Saad, a well-known photographer, and pioneer movie house operator of Williamson, West Virginia, and Pikeville, Kentucky died Saturday at the age of 90. The death occurred on January 14, 1978, at 10:55 am in Pikeville Methodist Hospital following a brief illness.
Saad operated early movie theaters in Pikeville and Williamson shortly after the turn of the century. In 1912, he opened IMP Theater in Williamson and continued its operation until 1926 when he built the Weddington Theater in Pikeville, operating it until 1929. The newer movie house burned down after begin ignited by a burning house across the street.
He was prominently known in Williamson for many years as a photographer, maintaining the Saad Studio on Third Avenue, opposite City Hall, and adjacent to the Bassett Confectionary store. He also operated a photographer’s studio in Pikeville for many years, traveling throughout the area to make photographs in individual homes.
Born in Lebanon, on June 12, 1887, he was the son of the late Assef and Numnum Abou Jamra Saad. He attended Beirut University and the Photographic Institute of Chicago. He was a member of the Greek Orthodox Church.
Survivors include his wife, Clara Sword Saad, whom he married on February 14, 1914; two sons, John I. Saad of Santa Barbara, California, and Paul A. Saad of Tampa, Florida; two daughters, Mrs. Lucille S. Smith, Pikeville postmaster, and Mrs. Rose S. Farley of Frankfort, Kentucky; two sisters, Rahija [Abe J. Bassett of Columbus, Ohio,] and Della (Nasseph McCarus of Charleston, West Virginia;) eleven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were scheduled at St. David Episcopal Church, with burial in the Sword Cemetery at Island Creek.
Ernest J. Thabet
George Kerbawy
George Kerbawy is the uncle of Abe J. Bassett and husband to Abe's mother's sister, Maheba.
Moses H. Bassett
June 16, 1880—November 13, 1964
NAPOLEON—Moses H. Bassett, 83, died in Heller Memorial Hospital Thursday afternoon. He had retired in 1950 after operating a variety store in Napoleon for 27 years.
Mr. Bassett was a member of the First Presbyterian Church; a life member of the Scottish Rite, Toledo; a former member of the Knights Templar, Defiance; former member of the Zenobia Shrine, Toledo, Blue Lodge 256, Napoleon, and local chapter of Free and Accepted Masons.
Surviving are his wife, Hassibe; three sons, Edward of Napoleon and his wife Ethyl Matteson; Dewey of Dayton and his wife Hope Mershon; and Victor of Falls Church, VA; and two grandchildren, Debbie Owen and David.
Moses was born in Kfeir, Hasbaiya, Lebanon, teaching school briefly before immigrating to the United States. He landed at Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1903, and took a train to Detroit where he passed into the United States at the age of 23. His US contact was his brother Elias (Eli) Bassiet of Welch, West Virginia. He became a naturalized citizen in 1910, just days before marrying Hicebee Bassett on January 11, 1910, in Toledo, Ohio.
His first occupation was that of a peddler, but because of his intelligence, a wholesaler provided him with a horse and wagon, permitting him to service a much wider area in northern Ohio than those who worked on foot. His first known store operation was in Chillicothe, Ohio collaborating with Abraham Bassett, brother of Hicebee. He established a Five and Dime store in Napolean, Ohio in 1923 operating it it successfully for 27 years.
Moses was well respected in his community and among his many friends and acquaintances of Kfeir and deeply admired by his nephew and nieces.
June 16, 1880—November 13, 1964
NAPOLEON—Moses H. Bassett, 83, died in Heller Memorial Hospital Thursday afternoon. He had retired in 1950 after operating a variety store in Napoleon for 27 years.
Mr. Bassett was a member of the First Presbyterian Church; a life member of the Scottish Rite, Toledo; a former member of the Knights Templar, Defiance; former member of the Zenobia Shrine, Toledo, Blue Lodge 256, Napoleon, and local chapter of Free and Accepted Masons.
Surviving are his wife, Hassibe; three sons, Edward of Napoleon and his wife Ethyl Matteson; Dewey of Dayton and his wife Hope Mershon; and Victor of Falls Church, VA; and two grandchildren, Debbie Owen and David.
Moses was born in Kfeir, Hasbaiya, Lebanon, teaching school briefly before immigrating to the United States. He landed at Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1903, and took a train to Detroit where he passed into the United States at the age of 23. His US contact was his brother Elias (Eli) Bassiet of Welch, West Virginia. He became a naturalized citizen in 1910, just days before marrying Hicebee Bassett on January 11, 1910, in Toledo, Ohio.
His first occupation was that of a peddler, but because of his intelligence, a wholesaler provided him with a horse and wagon, permitting him to service a much wider area in northern Ohio than those who worked on foot. His first known store operation was in Chillicothe, Ohio collaborating with Abraham Bassett, brother of Hicebee. He established a Five and Dime store in Napolean, Ohio in 1923 operating it it successfully for 27 years.
Moses was well respected in his community and among his many friends and acquaintances of Kfeir and deeply admired by his nephew and nieces.
John Thabet
Abraham Joseph Bassett, Sr., age 63, residence 2015 Tremont-Rd. Monday, April 28, 1949, passed away at home.
Beloved husband of Rahija and father of Misses Gladys, Selma and Wadad, Abraham Joseph Bassett, Jr., Mrs. William Allen Scott (Lorraine); a daughter, Mrs. John W. Rutherdale, Jr., (Alice) of California; mother, Mrs. Joseph Bassett; 1 brother, Sam “Bassett, both of Blissfield, Mich.; 1 brother Frank of Detroit; 1 sister, Mrs. M. H. Bassett (Hicebee) of Napoleon, Ohio, 2 grandchildren all of California
Proprietor of Towne Tavern, 31 W Long St. Member of Upper Arlington Civic Association, Columbus Chamber of Commerce, Beni-Kedem Shrine, Charleston, W. Va., the O’Brien of Williamson, W. Va. Where he was a food merchant for 26 years.
Friends received at the residence after 6 p.m. Tuesday, Funeral service Thursday, 2:30 p.m., Trinity Episcopal Church. Rev. Robert W. Fay officiating. Interment in charge of John Quint & Sons Funeral Home. Family requests the omission of flowers.
(Williamson, W.Va. papers)
Rahija Bassett wrote in her diary on the occasion the death of her husband.
March 28, 1949
My dear husband Ibrahim,
He became sick at 12 o'clock Sunday morning in great distress, and after an hour he was seized by paralysis and was unable to speak at all. We and the doctor were at his side the whole time, while he was in bed in our room at home. After three o'clock he was no longer aware of anything, and he expired at four-thirty in the afternoon.
Sunday and Monday, he stayed in the house, and a lot of flowers came, and telephone calls, and letters, and there were a lot of people—Americans and Syrians. His services were dignified, and the day of the burial was sunny.
God rest your soul my darling Ibrahim, you who loved so much your wife Rahija, and your children, and your family, and God, and the world.
Beloved husband of Rahija and father of Misses Gladys, Selma and Wadad, Abraham Joseph Bassett, Jr., Mrs. William Allen Scott (Lorraine); a daughter, Mrs. John W. Rutherdale, Jr., (Alice) of California; mother, Mrs. Joseph Bassett; 1 brother, Sam “Bassett, both of Blissfield, Mich.; 1 brother Frank of Detroit; 1 sister, Mrs. M. H. Bassett (Hicebee) of Napoleon, Ohio, 2 grandchildren all of California
Proprietor of Towne Tavern, 31 W Long St. Member of Upper Arlington Civic Association, Columbus Chamber of Commerce, Beni-Kedem Shrine, Charleston, W. Va., the O’Brien of Williamson, W. Va. Where he was a food merchant for 26 years.
Friends received at the residence after 6 p.m. Tuesday, Funeral service Thursday, 2:30 p.m., Trinity Episcopal Church. Rev. Robert W. Fay officiating. Interment in charge of John Quint & Sons Funeral Home. Family requests the omission of flowers.
(Williamson, W.Va. papers)
Rahija Bassett wrote in her diary on the occasion the death of her husband.
March 28, 1949
My dear husband Ibrahim,
He became sick at 12 o'clock Sunday morning in great distress, and after an hour he was seized by paralysis and was unable to speak at all. We and the doctor were at his side the whole time, while he was in bed in our room at home. After three o'clock he was no longer aware of anything, and he expired at four-thirty in the afternoon.
Sunday and Monday, he stayed in the house, and a lot of flowers came, and telephone calls, and letters, and there were a lot of people—Americans and Syrians. His services were dignified, and the day of the burial was sunny.
God rest your soul my darling Ibrahim, you who loved so much your wife Rahija, and your children, and your family, and God, and the world.
Moses Kaleel Thabit
Date of death - May 18, 1938
Date of death - May 18, 1938
