IVY VON YOAK
Ivy Von Yoak, 95, of Grantsville, died Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018.
He was the son of the late Ira Paul and Fannie Morris Yoak. He was a long-time businessman and co-owner of Grantsville Appliance, Inc., for 40 years, Yoak Gas Co., and Dairy Products, Inc. He and his wife co-owned and operated Yoak Insurance Agency for 25 years. He was the oldest member of Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church, where he taught Sunday School and served as choir director for many years. He was a singer and performed from an early age with Yoak Quartet, which included his sister Betty and brothers Harold and Don.
He was a member and officer in the Order of Eastern Star, Grantsville Chapter #73, and a 38-year member of W.Va. State Eastern Star Choir, in which he was often a featured soloist. He sang “Battle Hymn of the Republic” for the Bicentennial International Eastern Star Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, before 16,000 people. He has also performed in England, the Caribbean, and throughout the southeast. He learned to read music through the solfeggio system of shaped notes. He taught singing schools throughout West Virginia and in Florida.
He was a 32nd degree Mason with Eureka Lodge #40, Grantsville, and served in every office many times, and as Master for many years during his 74-year membership. As president of Calhoun Development Corp., he worked to bring business opportunities into Calhoun County, such as Rubber Fabricators, Inc., and Sav-A-Tool. He was instrumental in buying land for Calhoun County Park. He served as secretary of the board of directors for Calhoun General Hospital.
Surviving are his wife of 76 years, Freda Radabaugh Yoak; two daughters, Karen Yoak Lewis of Winston-Salem, N.C., and Sharon Yoak Turner of Martinsburg; four grandchildren, Jodi Hume of Baltimore, Md., Britney Rosenberger of Fairmont, Matthew Lewis of Decatur, Ga., and Jonathan Lewis of Arlington, Tex.; and nine great-grandchildren, Turner Von and Kaja Grace Hume of Baltimore, Isaac Daniel and Ayla Von Rosenberger of Fairmont, Thomas Kirk and Madlon Hawley Lewis of Decatur, and Savannah Rain, Lydia Caroline and Ivy Rae Lewis, all of Arlington.
He was preceded in death by five brothers, Glendon, Paul, Morris, Harold and Don, and three sisters, Mildred, Oleta and Betty.
Services were held at Pleasant Hill U.M. Church, with Rev. Rick Metheney and Rev. Carroll McCauley officiating. Burial was in Pleasant Hill U.M. Church Cemetery.
HELEN HAMILTON
Helen L. Hamilton, 90, long-time resident of Grantsville, died Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018, in the memory care cottage of Spring Arbor of Fredericksburg, Va.
She was the daughter of the late Dallas R. and Gene Hope Kight. They lived in White Pine, until displaced by the flood of 1943. She graduated from Calhoun County High School and was later involved in organizing all-class reunions. She married local attorney Victor Hamilton and was active in many civic and church activities.
Surviving are one daughter, Janet Coberly and husband Theodore of Spotsylvania, Va.; one daughter-in-law, Pamela Hamilton of Huntington; two grandchildren, Carolyn Coberly of Charlottesville, Va., and Theodore H. Coberly of Clayton, N.C.; and two great-grandchildren, Katherine and Theodore J. of Clayton.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Victor Hamilton; one sister, Janet R. “Peggy” Kight; and her two sons, Victor III and Roger.
Services were scheduled Wednesday, 11 a.m., at Knotts Memorial United Methodist Church, Grantsville, with Pastor Rick Metheney officiating, and burial in Bethlehem Cemetery, near Grantsville. Visitation was scheduled Wednesday, 10 to 11 a.m., at the church. Online condolences may be expressed at www.stumpfuneralhomes.com. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to Knotts Memorial United Methodist Church or American Red Cross.
WADE HUBERT CARPENTER
Wade Hubert Carpenter, 90, of Exchange, died Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018, at his residence.
He was born in Orma, the son of the late Alpha B. Carpenter, Sr., and Susie Rebecca White Carpenter.
Surviving are three daughters, Susan Smith of Cocoa, Fla., Linda Wright of Fredericksburg, Va., and Marilyn Carpenter of Elizabethtown, Ky.; one brother, Alpha B. Carpenter, Jr.; 10 grandchildren; several great-, great-great-, and great-great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Ruth Evelyn Schultz Carpenter; second wife, Genevieve Mankins Carpenter; third wife, Donna Jean Shaver Carpenter; two sons, James Carpenter and Charles Carpenter; three brothers, Cecil Carpenter, Arnold Brooks Carpenter and Stanley Carpenter; and two sisters, Beatrice Butler and Leslie Roberts.
Services were held at Leavitt Funeral Home, Parkersburg.
SONJA DRAKE
Sonja Drake, 69, of Orrville, Ohio, died Monday, Dec. 17, 2018, at Lifecare Hospice, Wooster, Ohio.
She was born in Oka, the daughter of Woodrow and Dorma McClain. She and her husband Karell started a co-partnership tree company, K&S Tree Service, that was successful in business in the Stark, Summit, Holmes, and Wayne County, Ohio, areas for over 25 years.
Surviving are her husband, Karell Drake, whom she married on May 27, 1967; four brothers, Jimmy McClain, Delano McClain, Ralph McClain and David McClain; three sisters, Wanda Hornback, Lois Smith and Evaleen Foster; one daughter, Amanda Belanger and husband James; one son, Christopher Drake and wife April; three grandchildren, Christopher Drake, Rebecca Drake and Sara Belanger; and step-grandchildren, Christopher and David Wilson.
She was preceded in death by one son, Steven Lee Drake.
Services will be held Thursday, 11 a.m., at Taylor Funeral Home, Spencer, with Rev. Philip Linger officiating. Burial will be in Elana (Zion Hill) Cemetery. Visitation was scheduled Wednesday, 6 to 8 p.m., at the funeral home. Condolences may be expressed at www.taylorfuneralhomeinc.com.
NORMA JEANNE CAIN LONG
Norma Jeanne Cain Long, 84, of Romney, died Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018, at her home.
She was born in Big Bend, the oldest child of Thomas B. and Agnes Gillespie Cain. She was a 1952 graduate of Calhoun County High School and attended Potomac State College, Keyser. After college, she worked at the West Virginia Capitol for Denzel Gainer. She moved to Romney in 1957 with her husband and was a teacher at West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind, a legal secretary for the law office of Bill Loy and the law office of Bill Oates. She worked at the Hampshire County circuit clerk’s office with circuit clerks Bob Powell and Wayne Hott, and in the office of W.Va. Family Law master Charles Parsons until her retirement. She was a member of Hampshire County Democrats, Jaycettes, Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, GF Women’s Club, Hampshire County Historical Society, and First United Methodist Church, Romney.
Surviving are three daughters, Laura Dawn Ruble of Romney, Lisa Rochelle Long of Shepherdstown and Davin Joan Parsons and husband Matthew of Largo, Fla.; seven grandchildren, David Louis Ruble of Elkins, Zachary William Ruble of Romney, Ellis Cain Baker of Tacoma, Wash., Madison Turner Baker of Seattle, Wash., and Burzie C. Baker IV, Marley Anders Parsons and Samuel Sargent Parsons, all of Largo; and one great-grandson, Zavid Loyal Ruble of Romney.
She was preceded in death by her husband, William David Long; one brother, Thomas G. Cain; and one sister, Beverly Joan Cain Bunch.
Norma has donated her body to medical research at West Virginia University. Memorial service will be held Saturday, Dec. 29, 11 a.m., at First United Methodist Church, Romney, with Mark V. James officiating. Visitation will be held Saturday, Dec. 29, 10 to 11 a.m., at the church, with a luncheon to follow. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Hospice of the Panhandle, 330 Hospice Lane, Kearneysville, WV 25430, W.Va. Public Broadcasting (wvpublic.org), or a charity of your choice.
