Wirt County Journal May 15, 2002 Obituaries John "Paul" Strickling John "Paul" Strickling, 84, died Friday, May 3, 2002, at Mifflin (O.) Care Center. Mr. Strickling was born Oct. 25, 1917, in Elizabeth, the son of the late John William and Nora (Dent) Strickling. He received his Master of Education degree at Ohio University in Athens, before going to Mansfield in 1955 where he taught social studios for Mansfield City Schools until his retirement in 1976. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Wirt County and Mayflower Congregational Church. He enjoyed hunting and fishing. He is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Edwin and Kathy Strickling of Cincinnati and John and Pat Strickling of Gahanna, O.; one daughter and son-in-law, Ramona and Ronald Applegate of Mansfield; one sister and brother-in-law, Lois and Charles Whitehair of Elizabeth; 10 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Wilma Evelyn Strickling; and two sisters, Virginia (Tom) Thelma Edwards and Vivian Coltrider. Services were held Monday at 2 p.m. at Finefrock-Williams Funeral Home with the Rev. Gary Wilson officiating. Burial followed at Mansfield Memorial Park. Memorial contributions may be made to Mayflower Congregational Nursery Fund, 548 N. McElroy Road Mansfield, OH 44905. Sharon Wheaton Sharon Ann Wheaton, 46, of Buchtel, O., died May 10, 2002, in Columbus, O. She was born Oct. 25, 1955, in Parkersburg, a daughter of Wilma Jean Farren Ledsom of Elizabeth and the late Arthur Wheaton. She was an art teacher at an Alternative School System in Bastrop, Texas. She received her B.A. in art education from Ohio University. She is survived by three daughters, Michelle Starchier of Kernersville, N.C., Angela (Jeremy) Shockey of Shade, O., and Rachael Echard of Reynoldsburg, O.; one grandson, Zachery Starcher of Kernersville; two granddaughters, Katrina Shockey and Isabella Shockey of Shade; two sisters, Ida Mae (Keith) Joy of Elizabeth and Mary Twilley of Murray City, O.; three brothers, Bryan Wheaton of Athens.O., David Wheaton of Murray City and Mark Wheaton of Columbus; one special friend, Rodney Galentine of Buchtel; and one brother-in-law, Donald Smith of Columbus. She was preceded in death by one sister, Carol Smith. Services were held Monday, May 13, at 11 a.m. at Jagers and Sons Funeral Home in Athens with the Rev. David Cogar officiating. Burial is in the Torch Cemetery. Ada Davis Williams Ada "Jean" Davis Williams, 81, formerly of Parkersburg, passed away May 11, 2002, at Harmar Place of Marietta. She was born March 21, 1921, in Wirt County, a daughter of the late Thorton and Mary M. Snyder Patterson. Jean was retired from A.W. Cox Department Store and was a member of Seventh Street United Methodist Church. Surviving is one son, Francis "Pete" Davis of Deerwalk; one nephew, Edward "Mike" Newlon of Marietta; two grandchildren; two great-granddaughters; two sisters-in-law, Edith Patterson of Beach City, O., and Delores Patterson of Elizabeth; and several nieces and nephews. Beside her parents, she was preceded in death by husband, Paul Williams and husband Jesse M. Davis; and several brothers and sisters. Services were held Monday, May 13, at 10 a.m. at Lambert-Tatman Funeral Home with Pastor Bernard Vandergrift officiating. Interment followed in Mount Olivet Cemetery. The family requests memorial contributions be made to Seventh Street United Methodist Church, Parkersburg.