PARKERSBURG — Among the notable deaths in the region in 2019 were former mayors, police chiefs, monster hunters and community leaders who left their mark on the Mid-Ohio Valley.

Amos Glenn Henson, 93, Vienna, died Dec. 24. Henson, who quit school to join the Marines, served in World War II from 1944 to 1946 in the European Theater. He received a mechanical engineering degree after the war, serving as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserves during school, and worked for DuPont for 35 years. Henson was active on the Vienna Recreation and Improvement Association, was a Little League and hockey coach and was the city of Vienna’s representative on the Mid-Ohio Valley Transit Authority.

Jean Isabel Bush, 93 Mineral Wells, died Dec. 24. She was postmaster at Big Springs for 35 years.

David Crawford Clovis, 86, Clarksburg, died on Dec. 23. An attorney and Parkersburg native, he served on the board of directors of the West Virginia University Foundation and was a Director Emeritus.

Donald Lee Twyman, 84, of Vienna died Dec. 23. A veteran of the U.S. Navy, he was active with the YMCA and was a vice president of Williamstown Bank.

Kent Jorgeson, 78, Parkersburg, died Dec. 20. A professional musician and instructor, he was a director of the Parkersburg High School marching band.

Joyce Evelyn Winter Mills, 85, died on Dec. 20. She was a long-time teacher in Parkersburg, Marietta and Beckley where she co-founded First Place, a nationally recognized award-winning after-school program for at-risk students at Central Elementary School. She helped start the Helping Hands Resource Center and the Backpack Beginnings ministry at her church in Beckley, was president of the West Virginia Baptist Convention and was president of Delta Kappa Gamma, a society for women teachers.

John Richard Tice, 72, of St. Marys died Dec. 16, 2019. A St. Marys High School football standout, in 2013 he became Trapper on Destination America’s “Mountain Monsters” where for nearly 60 episodes he helped search for mysterious and unexplained creatures. He also brought the first herd of Texas Longhorn cattle into West Virginia and raised a UKC National Championship Show beagle.

Dorothy M. Zimmer, 85, of Marietta died Dec. 17. She was the food service manager at Marietta Memorial Hospital and at the former Camden Clark Memorial Hospital.

Robert L. Weber, 80, Camp Hill, Pa., died on Dec. 15. A native of Marietta who ran for mayor in 1972, Weber was the youngest manager at age 20 for the Kresge’s Corp. chain of department stores. He was a professional musician who served in the U.S. Army Band, opened a music store in Marietta, co-founded Channel 65 Sports and Uni Enterprises and was an announcer at Silver Springs Speedway and Camp Hill Lions football games.

Dorsel Ray Adkins, 67, Cottageville, died on Dec. 7. He was a past grand chaplain of the West Virginia Grand Chapter of Eastern Star and a grand representative to Idaho.

Ray Archer, 83, of Washington, W.Va. died Nov. 8. He was owner-operator of Archer’s Plumbing and Heating.

Jeffery Alan Deem, 57, Ripley, died on Nov. 7. He graduated in 1980 from Williamstown High School and played football for the West Virginia University Mountaineers.

Jack Louis Iams, 90, Marietta, died Nov. 7. An architect in Columbus and Marietta for more than 44 years, among his projects were The Castle and riverfront condos.

Marie Pugh Cooper, 94, Vienna, died Nov. 6. She and her first husband opened Vienna Florist in 1955 and the Bridal Boutique in 1973 and expanded the businesses into St. Marys, Harrisville and Belpre.

Frederick G. Voshel, 78, Williamstown, died Oct. 30. He owned and operated Voshel’s Furniture and Auction Service.

Lawrence “Larry” Paul Steinel Jr., 82, of Marietta died on Oct. 29. Steinel, known as the Voice of Marietta, was involved in numerous community activities and was the announcer for sporting events at Marietta College and track meets organized by the Marietta Noon Lions Club. He was a Washington County Commissioner from 1997 to 2005 and owned a travel agency, Uniglobe Marietta Travel.

Richard Scott “Dick” Kiser, 80, of Parkersburg died on Sept. 15. An avid Parkersburg High School and West Virginia University fan, he retired from the Wood County Board of Education in 1999 and was the principal at Worthington Elementary School.

Mary “Mickey” Maxine Welch, 92, Parkersburg, died Aug. 27. Known for her philanthropy, she owned Welch Oil & Gas, Welch Music, Commercial Office Equipment and Classic Rope and was a business associate of Mister Bee Potato Chips. In 1987 she was awarded the Trailblazer W.E.A.L.T.H. award by the YWCA of Parkersburg and the Altrusa Club and was the first woman in West Virginia to drill an oil well.

Louise Fife Frye Wilson, 83, Marietta, died on Aug. 26. She retired as manager of the Lafayette Hotel.

Rod Hineman, 73, of Belpre died on Aug. 25. Hineman, a teacher in Belpre schools, served on the Washington County Career Center Board of Education, was secretary-treasurer of the Ohio Education Association from 1988 to 1984, a president of Belpre City Council and president of the Belpre Area Community Foundation.

Ronald V. “Ron” Stoops, 80, of Parkersburg died on Aug. 21. A retired administrator for the Wood County Schools, he and his wife, Kathryn, established the Ronald and Kathryn Stoops Fund for educational scholarships at the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation.

Francesco Scotto Rinaldi, 75, of Parkersburg died Aug. 4. He opened the Pizza Place at the Grand Central Mall in 1976 and later opened four more pizzerias in Parkersburg, Clarksburg and Myrtle Beach.

Patrick Doyle, 66, died on Aug. 18. The Parkersburg native who lived in Orlando, Fla., was a musician at Walt Disney World and the Grand Floridian Society Orchestra band leader. Recruited by Disney while he was a student at West Virginia University, he was the entertainment producer for NASCAR from 1997 to 2005.

Jo Ann Smith, 84, of Parkersburg died on Aug. 6. The wife of the late Mayor Al Smith, she was involved in the Parkersburg Fishing Derby since its inception.

Robert E. Lowe, 60, Elizabeth, died Aug. 3. Lowe was elected to the Wirt County Commission in 2004 and was the longest continuous-serving commissioner in Wirt County history. A graduate in music education at West Virginia University, he played the trombone in the WVU Marching Band.

Earl Preston King, 97, Parkersburg, died July 17. Active in the Boy Scouts of America, he was an exalted ruler of Parkersburg Elks Lodge 198 and was Elk of the year 1973.

Michael Robert “Bob” Hattman, 72, Parkersburg, died July 15. He was the principal at Parkersburg Catholic High School and Belpre High School before he retired.

Emerson R. Shimp, 75, of Marietta died June 24. He was a Washington County extension agent, developing one of the largest 4-H camping programs in Ohio. He retired from the extension service to become director of the Small Business Development Center at Marietta College.

Robert Bruce Berdine, 83, of Arnoldsburg died June 23. He taught school in Marietta and retired as a classroom teacher and school principal from the Calhoun County school system.

Jerry O. Boyce, 80, Marietta, died June 14. He was a retired firefighter for the Marietta Fire Department.

Lt. David Tennant, 42, Parkersburg, died June 13. He was a member of the Wood County Sheriff’s Department.

William Ward Bedilion Sr., 90, Little Hocking, died on June 13. He was a president of the Belpre Area Chamber of Commerce and served on Belpre City Council.

Joan Smoot Hushion, 90, Marietta, died June 4, 2019. Hushion was active in the community. She was past president of the Marietta Welfare League and the Betsey Mills Club Women’s Board, served on the Salvation Army board, the Marietta Facade Improvement Committee, the Marietta Tree Commission, the Marietta Community Foundation and the Smoot Theatre Board. Hushion volunteered with the Ohio River Sternwheel Festival, was a tour guide on the Marietta Tourist Trolley and a docent at the Campus Martius Museum. She was the Zonta Woman of the Year in 1986.

Elizabeth Beck, 93, Williamstown, died on May 26. She served on Williamstown City Council, was a member of the Republican Executive Committee, the Wet Lands Restoration Committee, the Election Board Committee and was president of the Williamstown Development Committee, among her other community organizations and projects.

Elsa Ekenstierna Thompson, 85, died May 25 in Marietta. The daughter of Swedish immigrants who met her husband, Bill, when his band needed a singer. Bird watching was among their interests and in 1978 created “Bird Watcher’s Digest.” She was a trustee at Marietta College, a founder of the Marietta Natural History Society and the Marietta Farmer’s Market, among community activities in which she was involved.

Lillian Yvonne Dulin, 84, Williamstown, died on May 24. She was a circuit clerk in Wirt County.

Benny Ray Horner, 81, Orrville, Ohio, died May 24. A graduate of Parkersburg High School in 1956, he was an all-state catcher on the state championship baseball team.

Harold Gene Enoch, 80, of Mineral Wells died May 21. He was owner/operator of Skeete Shaw Jewelry and Loan and was a fireman for the city of Parkersburg from 1964-1989.

Robert M. Bargeloh, 86, Parkersburg, died May 21. An accomplished bowler, he was an officer in the Parkersburg and West Virginia chapters of the United States Bowling Congress and is in the West Virginia and Parkersburg bowling Hall of Fames. Bargeloh also chaired and managed the Bowling Division of the West Virginia Special Olympics Winter Games for many years.

Marion M. (Petie) Metz, 95, Belpre, died on May 19. She was active with several organizations including the Belpre Historical Society, the GFWC Belpre Woman’s Club and helped raise funds to build the bandstand at Civitan Park. She was instrumental in the Holiday Lights show at Civitan Park where the first display is Petie’s Pond Monster.

Curtis Landis, 80, Sistersville, died May 17. He was a trooper with the West Virginia State Police.

Noel Wheaton, 89, formerly of Vienna, died on May 12 in Sun City, Fla. He was an incorporator of the Greenmont Racquet Club in 1970 in Vienna.

Kenneth Barry Mahone, 67, Parkersburg, died on May 7. He owned and operated Mahone Tire Service.

Catherine L. Beaty Nelson, 74, Parkersburg, died April 29. A speech teacher whose forensics team won numerous national awards, she was a fabric artist whose work was sold at the Parkersburg Art Center, the Wheeling Artisans Center, Cedar Lakes Arts and Craft Fair and Tamarac, and a partner in Riverside Artists and Creative Hands in Marietta.

Joan M. Barton, 61, Coal Run, Ohio, died April 28. A substitute school teacher, she was a paramedic and the first woman Boy Scout leader in Ohio.

Bill Hanlin, 88, St. Marys, died April 19. Hanlin became head football coach in 1957 at St. Marys High School, which in 1963 was undefeated and the defense did not allow a score in 10 straight games. Hanlin in 1966 became head football coach at Glenville State College, spending nine seasons there and leading the Pioneers to an undefeated regular season in 1973 and to the NAIAD Division II championship game. He was an assistant executive secretary of the West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission in 1975 and retired as executive secretary in 1988. A 2013 Hero of the Year from the Boys and Girls Club, Hanlin was inducted into the Mid-Ohio Valley Sports Hall of Fame and the Glenville State College Hall of Fame, and was the Glenville State College Alumnus of the year in 1997. The new stadium at St. Marys High School was named in his honor.

William Henry Thompson III, 57, Whipple, died on March 25. Thompson was an award-winning world-renown birder who loved to travel, speak and the Pittsburgh Pirates. His mother Elsa, father Bill Jr. and friend Bill Sheppard in 1978 created the world-known “Bird Watcher’s Digest.” Thompson, who joined “Bird Watcher’s Digest,” wrote books from home while editing and publishing the digest, including “The New Birder’s Guide to Birds of North America,” “Identify Yourself,” “Bird Homes and Habitats,” “Identifying and Feeding Birds,” “Bird Watching for Dummies” and “All Things Reconsidered: My Birding Adventures by Roger Tory Peterson,” which he edited. His blog“, Bill of the Birds,” was succeeded by the popular birding podcasts “This Birding Life” and “Out There With the Birds.” He and his brother Andy worked together at the digest and developed the best-selling “Backyard Booklet Series” with 16 books.

Jerry Allen Halverson, 83, North Fort Myers, Fla., died on March 24. He was the president, chief executive officer and director of Wesbanco in Parkersburg.

Helen G. Albright, 85, died on February 25. Albright was the second woman mayor of Parkersburg, serving as chief executive from 1990 to 1994. She previously was on city council including as council president and was a co-owner and treasurer of the Belpre Furniture Co.

William Henry “Bill” Ferguson, 69, of Parkersburg died on Feb. 24. Ferguson, who was the manager and gravedigger for Mt. Carmel Cemetery and other cemeteries in the Mid-Ohio Valley, was fire chief of the Blennerhassett Fire Department for 25.

Greta Faye Lochary, 81, died on Feb. 22. She was a founding member of the Wesley Township Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary.

Thomas L. Murdock, 66, Newport, died Feb. 19. He served as president of the Newport Youth Association.

Neva Ruby Rees, 97, Marietta, died, Sunday, Feb. 3 at Harmar Place in Marietta. During World War II, while her fiance was in the service, she worked in a defense plant and was among the last surviving Rosie the Riveters in the region.

William R. Rhodes, 78, Parkersburg, died Feb. 3. He was the police chief under Parkersburg Mayor Alvin K. Smith and served two terms as a magistrate in Wood County. Rhodes was the first police chief to serve in the new municipal building when it opened in 1979.

Margaret Willadene “Deanie” Daugherty, 81, of Canton, formerly of Ritchie County, died Feb. 1. She started teaching at age 19 in a one-room school in Brohard and in 1963 was a finalist for teacher of the year in West Virginia.

Arthur Lee Buell, 87, of Marietta died on Jan. 15. He taught at Marietta College where he was a professor of speech and communications. He was the academic dean at Wilmington College then became director of development for the National Benevolent Association, part of the Christian Church, then became its communications director.

Loretta Sullivan, Columbus, a Dominican Sister of Peace, died Jan. 17. She was director of religious education at St. Mary’s Parish, Marietta.

Hazel Louise Wherry, 90, of St. Marys died Jan. 14. A graduate of West Virginia University, she started her teaching career in a one-room school house in Arvilla.

Charles E. Templeton, 86, Belmont, died Jan. 13. He was a retired superintendent from the Pleasants County Parks and Recreation Commission.

Dr. Tom Barrett, 84, Belpre, died Jan, 12. He was a practicing veterinarian for more than 30 years, a charter member of the Belpre Rotary Club, a member of the Belpre Health Board, president of the Ohio Veterinary Medical Board and was co-founder of the Parkersburg Veterinary Emergency Clinic. Barrett also served on the Board of Directors of Washington State Community College in Marietta.

Earl Raymond Lucas, 79, Parkersburg, died Jan. 8. He was an assistant principal at Mineral Wells Elementary School and principal at McKinley Elementary School

Timothy A. “Tim” Swearingen, 67, Parkersburg, died Jan. 8. He was a Department of Highways superintendent in Wood County.

William Francis Duer, 93, of Chardon, Ohio, formerly of Marietta, died Jan. 6. He was a noted musician and instructor of music, an adjudicator and guest conductor of bands in Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Kentucky, a member of the Kappa Delta Pi education honorary and was a Martha Holden Jennings Scholar.

Gale Philip Taylor, 82, Parkersburg, Jan. 2. He and his family developed the Worthington Golf Club.

Charles Eugene Allman, 78, Vienna, died Dec. 30. Allman served on the board of the Vienna Public Library and was instrumental in building the library expansion.

Marsha Robrecht Ryen, 39, of Parkersburg died Dec. 29, 2018. She was the chief executive officer of the Robrecht Produce Co. in Parkersburg from 2009 until 2018.