Wirt County Journal September 18, 2002 Obituaries George Bland George Lawrence Bland, 93, of Grantsville, died Sept. 12, 2002, in Minnie Hamilton Health Care Center, Grantsville, following a long illness. He was born March 9, 1909, in Calhoun County. He was a retired construction worker and farmer and was a accomplished gardener. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Lillian Ilene Fowler Bland; three sons and their wives, Donald Nelson and Virginia Bland of Libby, MT., James L. and Jeanie Bland of Elizabeth and David and Sharon Bland of Pasadena, MD; eight, grandchildren and four great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, A.J. Bland and Laura Johnson Bland; three brothers and two sisters. Services were held Monday, Sept. 16, at 1 p.m. at the Stump Funeral Home with the Rev. Robert Nicholas officiating. Burial is in Mount Zion Cemetery in Mount Zion. Gladys M. Hays Gladys M. Hays, 78, of Elizabeth, passed away Friday morning, Sept. 13, 2002, at her residence following a brief illness. Mrs. Hays was born Oct. 22, 1923 in Wirt County, a daughter of the late Jesse and Gertha Cline Barton. She had been a 39 year resident of the Akron, Ohio area and moved to Wirt County in 1989. While in Akron, she was a supervisor at Ekus Textile for more than 34 years. She was a member of the 14th Ave. Gospel Mission in Parkersburg. She will be missed by her husband of 57 years, George Hays; three brothers, Pearl Barton and Leon Barton both of Elizabeth and Denzil Barton of Mineral Wells; five sisters, Dora Cowan and Marjorie Ecker both of Akron, Marie Hardbarger and Rose Hardbarger both of Elizabeth and Beatrice Oliver of Parkersburg and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by one brother, Robert Barton and two sisters, Opal Hardbarger and Geneva Barton. Services were held Sunday, Sept. 15, at 2 p.m. at the Busch Funeral Home with the Rev. Dean Ash officiating. Burial is in Mount Moriah Cemetery in Wirt County. Elwood Johnson Elwood "Curley" Johnson, 85, of Elizabeth, died Sept 7, 2002, at Camden Clark Hospital. Mr. Johnson was born in Richwood and was the son of the late John and Virdie Bayles Johnson. He had attended Burnt Hill Church. He had worked for the Crucible Steel Co. Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Blanche Smith Johnson; four sons, Curtis "Butch" Johnson of Florida, Earl Johnson of Oklahoma, Richard Johnson of Elizabeth and Tommy Johnson of Arizona; one daughter, Judy Nelson of Florida; 13 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild; two brothers, Pete Johnson of Parkersburg and Kenneth "Buster" Johnson of East Liverpool, Ohio; four sisters, Gladys Digman and Daisy Adkins, both of East Liverpool, Ohio, Mildred Miracle of Williamstown and Louise Linkous of Wellsville, Ohio. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Cecil Earl Johnson and Thurl Edward Johnson. Services were held Wednesday, Sept. 11, at 1 p.m. at Leavitt Funeral Home with the Rev. Dave Johnson officiating. Burial is in the Beulah Hill Cemetery near Elizabeth. David W. Schoolcraft David W. Schoolcraft, 57, of Tucson, Ariz., went to be with his Lord Sept. 10, 2002, after a brave battle with cancer. He was born in Wood County to Lillian G. Valentine Schoolcraft of Columbiana, O., and the late Harvey E. Schoolcraft. He was a 1963 graduate of Parkersburg High School, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, a retired employee of Bell Telephone Co. of Tucson, an avid hunter and fisherman and loved the time spent with family and friends. Survivors include his wife of 33 years, Elizabeth A. Miller Schoolcraft; one son Russell; one daughter, Debbie, all of Tucson; three sisters, Donna Bell and her husband, Sam, of Columbiana, Bonnie Grim and her husband Bill of Leetonia, O., and Judith Matheny and her husband, Jim of Elizabeth; Bonnie Grim and Judith Matheny; an uncle and aunt Sam and Betty Valentine of Elizabeth; an aunt Mildred Valentine of Elizabeth; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. A memorial service was held Saturday, Sept. 14, at 3 p.m. at Matheny Pomroy Funeral Home in Elizabeth with the Rev. W. Delmas Stutler officiating.