Joseph John Bilotta, 85, of Montebello, Calif., died April 25, 1998, in Montebello.
He was born Jan. 9, 1913, in Clarksburg, a son of the late Sammy Bilotta and Rose Merandi Bilotta.
Surviving is his wife of 63 years, Flora Bitonti Bilotta.
Also surviving are one son, Joseph Louis, Cool, Calif.; four daughters, Rose Gorgone, Hacienda Heights, Calif., Ann Anderson, Westminster, Calif., Jenise Avedissian, Rowland Heights, Calif., and Denise LeSieur, Walnut, Calif.; 16 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
He was the last surviving member of his immediate family, having also been preceded in death by three sisters, Callie Petro, Eva Romano and Catherine Stump; three brothers, William, John "Buster" and Samuel Bilotta, and one half brother, Frank Petro.
Mr. Bilotta graduated from St. Mary's High School and worked at Clarksburg Publishing Company for 10 years, starting in 1930. He was an accomplished musician, playing bass and guitar for many years in several orchestras in the Clarksburg area.
He also served in the U.S. Navy during World War II with the 7th Fleet in the South Pacific for 18 months. On returning from the service he went to work for National Carbon Company in Anmoore, and also owned and operated Bilotta's General Store with his wife Flora, located in Industrial. They moved to Montebello in 1951, where he worked at the Los Angeles Examiner, from which he retired after 25 years of employment.
FLATWOODS -- George Layton Dyer Jr., 35, of Cleveland, Ohio, died Saturday, July 4, 1998, at his home following a sudden illness.
He was born May 24, 1963, in Sutton, a son of George L. Dyer, Cleveland, and Brenda Lee Nutter Garcia.
Also surviving are three daughters, Amber and Brenda Dyer, both of Sutton, and Elizabeth Dyer, Cleveland; three stepsons, David and Charles Crocket, Auburn, Ga., and Johnny Crocket, Sutton; one sister, Sharon Mackey, Marblehead, Ohio, and four brothers, Wally Dyer, North Wilkesboro, N.C., Doug Dyer, Steve Dyer and Gary Dyer, all of Cleveland.
He was also preceded in death by his grandparents, George and Jessie Dyer, Falls Mill, and Mr. and Mrs. William Nutter, Clarksburg.
RAVENSWOOD -- Thurmon Ellis, 77, of Ravenswood, died Monday, July 6, 1998, at Jackson General Hospital, Ripley.
He was born March 6, 1921, in Logan, a son of Levi Ellis and Maggie Godby.
His wife, Loraine Ellis, survives.
Also surviving are four sons, David and his wife, Ginger Ellis, Portland, Maine, Max and his wife, Linda Bland Ellis, Charles and his wife, Michele Ellis, all of Ravenswood, and Rex Ellis, Newport News, Va.; one daughter, Diana and her husband, Tom White, Newport News, and 14 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
He was also preceded in death by two sisters, Hazel Hart, Murray, Ky., and Mildred Ellis, Logan.
Mr. Ellis served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was a maintenance mechanic at KACC. He was a member of the local Ham Radio Club, the First United Methodist Church, Ravenswood, and an avid outdoorsman.
SPENCER -- Royce Ferrell, 81, of Weston, formerly of Spencer, died Monday, July 6, 1998, at Stonewall Jackson Hospital, Weston.
He was born Sept. 24, 1916, a son of the late Romie F. and Hattie Harris Ferrell.
His wife, Noreen Ferrell, preceded him in death in 1995.
Surviving are one daughter-in-law, Elizabeth "Libby" Ferrell, Weston; four sisters, Ina Ferrell Post, Martins Ferry, Ohio, Beulah Ferrell Smith and Genevieve Ferrell, both of Spencer, and Betty Ferrell Thompson, Phoenix, N.Y.; one brother, Romie Ferrell, Aiken, S.C.; two grandchildren, Shawn Alan Ferrell, Charlotte, N.C., and Joshua Aaron Ferrell, Weston, and one great-grandson.
He was also preceded in death by one son, James Alan "Jim" Ferrell and one sister, Goldie Ferrell Westfall.
Mr. Ferrell was a carpenter and Methodist.
GRAFTON -- Lewis E. Lynch, 73, of 828 Beech St., died Monday, July 6, 1998, at Monongalia General Hospital, Morgantown.
He was born Aug. 17, 1924, in Newark, Ohio, a son of the late Fred F. Lynch and Chloe West Lynch.
His wife, Dorothy Ashcraft Lynch, whom he married Oct. 12, 1945, survives.
Also surviving are one daughter and her husband, Rebecca "Beckey" Weigand and Paul M. Weigand and two grandsons, David and Stephen Weigand, all of Wheeling; one sister, Marvene Lynch, Fairmont; several nieces and nephews, and close friends, Lloyd "Mick" Elsey and his wife, Dora, Grafton.
He was also preceded in death by his stepmother, Cleo Mack and one brother, Chester G. Lynch.
Mr. Lynch was a retired train dispatcher for the B&O Railroad with over 40 years service. He enjoyed wood working and was an avid sign painter.
He was a member of the First Christian Church of Grafton, a 32nd degree mason with Grafton Lodge No. 15, AF&AM, the Scottish Rite of Free Masonary, S.J., Valley of Wheeling and the Order of Eastern Star Naomi Chapter 12, Grafton.
HINTON -- Janice Loraine Swats, 81, of Cape Coral, Fla., formerly of Hinton, died Friday, July 3, 1998, at Hope Hospice House, Ft. Myers, Fla., following an extended illness.
She was born March 24, 1917, in Hinton, a daughter of the late Emmett and Bess McNeer Hutchinson.
Her husband, John Herbert Swats, preceded her in death.
Surviving are two sons, William E. Swats, Cape Coral, and Robert H. Swats, Cincinnati, Ohio; one sister, Evelyn Goodwin, Roanoke, Va.; four grandchildren, five stepgrandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Swats was a homemaker and attended Central Baptist Church in Hinton.
Lillian Lucille Yeater, 71, of Catonsville, Md., formerly of Clarksburg, died Saturday, July 4, 1998, at her residence following an extended illness.
She was born July 5, 1926, in Clarksburg, a daughter of the late Dorsey L. Carter and Icel M. Rardin Carter.
Her husband, James P. Yeater, survives.
Also surviving are two daughters, Marilyn Lark Clapp and Lael Lucille Henry, both of Baltimore, Md.; one sister, Dorothy Elbon, Ft. Myers, Fla.; one granddaughter, Ashley Clapp Cardinale and two stepgrandchildren, Heather and Raymond Henry.
Mrs. Yeater had been employed as a medical technician for Metpath in Baltimore.
There will be no visitation. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Boring Cemetery, Davisson Run, with the Rev. Robert Merritt officiating.
In lieu of flowers it is requested that expressions of sympathy be memorial contributions to the Bethlehem Baptist Church, c/o Denzil Boggess, Route 1, Box 482, Clarksburg, W.Va. 26301.