Charles Cummings

Oct. 4, 1934-June 25, 2013

Charles Edward Cummings, 78, of Wheelersburg, passed away on Tuesday, June 25, 2013, at SOMC Hospice in Portsmouth. He was born on Oct. 4, 1934, in Huntington, W.Va., to the late Ewell Edwin and Exenia Adkins Cummings. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a niece, Holly Konoza.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in speech and drama in the Teachers College of Marshall University and his master’s in education at Morehead State University. He taught at Duval (W.Va.) High School, Rock Hill High School, and at Paul Blazer High School and Ashland Community College in Ashland, Ky. He was a veteran of the Korean Conflict.

He was well known in the Kentucky/Ohio/West Virginia Tri-State region for his work in theatre. In a career that spanned nearly 60 years, he participated as an actor or director in more than 100 plays. His early work included a leading role in “You Can’t Take It with You” at Huntington East High School. Subsequently, he worked in Huntington in productions at Marshall University, at the Abbott Theater with the Community Players, and with the Musical Arts Guild.

In Ashland he was a founding member of the Performing Arts Guild (Ashland Theatre Guild) and also worked with the Ashland Community College Theater. In Portsmouth, he worked with the Little Theater, Shawnee State University Theater, the Southern Ohio Museum, and the Southern Ohio Light Opera (SOLO). He performed in Sturbridge, Mass., in summer stock at the Merry-Go-Round Theatre. He received the BPOE “Elk of the Year” Award from the Kentucky Elks Association for his staging of the Ashland Elks’ Anniversary Celebration in 1976. In his last role he played the legendary Branch Rickey in a one-man show, Jerry Holt’s “Rickey,” which he performed in local venues and also for several seasons on the RiverBarge’s River Explorer cruises. Favorite roles were Tom in “The Glass Menagerie,” Biff in “Death of a Salesman,” Chief in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” and Ali Hakim in “Oklahoma.” Among his favorite plays to direct were Neil Simon’s “The Odd Couple,” male and female versions.

He is survived by his loving wife, Mary Elizabeth Bowling Cummings; a son, Kelly Paul Cummings of Marietta; a granddaughter, Madison Margaret Cummings of Charlotte, N.C.; a brother, Darwin D. (Kathryn) Cummings of North Wales, Pa.; nieces, Cathy (Timothy) Damico of North Wales and Deborah Boorse of Allentown, Pa.; and a number of grand-nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday at Steen Funeral Home-13th Street Chapel at 4 p.m. Family will receive friends from 2 p.m. until service time. The family requests that in lieu of flowers contributions be made to local Hospices.

Online condolences may be made to www.steenfuneralhome.com.

 

Janet Matney

March 1, 1943-June 26, 2013

Janet Rose Matney, 70 of Ironton, went to be with her Lord, Wednesday, June 26, 2013, at the Community Hospice Care Center in Ashland, Ky. The Ironton native was born March 1, 1943, the daughter of the late Armand Pete and Pauline Faye Stewart Thomas. She was also preceded in death by her husband of 48 years, Ralph Eugene Matney, who passed away April 15, 2013.

Mrs. Matney was a 1961 graduate of Coal Grove High School and a former clerk for Wolohan Lumber Company and Revco Pharmacy. She was a member of the Midland Missionary Baptist Church in Haverhill, Ohio.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a sister, Sharon Kay Scott.

She is survived by daughter and son-in-law, Senah Matney Christian and her husband Ron of Hanging Rock; son and daughter-in-law, Seth Matney and his wife Nancy of Ironton; son and daughter-in-law, Sean Matney and his wife Denise of Coal Grove; four grandchildren, Codi Matney of Coal Grove, Adiley Matney of Grayson, Ky.,  Sethanie Matney of Ironton and Dova Christian of Hanging Rock.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Phillips Funeral Home with Brother Rex Smith officiating. Burial will follow in Community Cemetery and visitation will be Saturday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at the funeral home. To offer condolences to the family, please visit www.phillipsfuneralhome.net.

 

Susanne Douglas

Susanne Ratcliff Bandy Douglas, 59, died Wednesday, June 26, 2013, at St. Mary’s Medical Center, Huntington, W.Va. A celebration of life service will be Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m. at Hall Funeral Home, Proctorville.  Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.timeformemory.com/hall.

 

Glennis Haws

Glennis O. Haws, 71, of South Point, died Thursday, June 27, 2013, at the Emogene Dolen Jones Hospice House in Huntington, W.Va. Arrangements are incomplete at Slack and Wallace Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements which are incomplete.

 

Garnet Mealey

Garnet M. Mealey, 83, of Proctorville, died Wednesday, June 26, 2013, at St. Mary’s Medical Center. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Hall Funeral Home. Burial will be in Hillcrest Cemetery. Visitation is from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.timeformemory.com/hall.

 

John Williams

John Williams, 52, of Ironton, died Thursday, June 27, 2013, at St. Mary’s Medical Center. He was the husband of Loretta Williams, who survives. Arrangements are pending at Phillips Funeral Home.