Obituaries

Thelma P. Radcliff, age 100 of Troy, West Virginia, departed this life in the early morning hours of April 28, 2015, at the Genesis Health Care Center, Glenville, following an extended illness.

Born February 6, 1915 in Gilmer County, daughter of the late Guy and Dora Dennison Bonnett.

Mrs. Radcliff was a very talented lady. She attended Gilmer County Band Camp; senior citizen camp, church camp, 4-H camp where she taught many crafts. Thelma was a member of the Mt. Earnest Methodist Church and was superintendent for many years and was assistant chairman of the official board. She was awarded a pin showing she attended Mt. Earnest for 48 years without missing 6 Sundays in a year.

Thelma was a 4-H Leader for many years and received her pin and also her All-Star pin. Thelma was a graduate of Troy High School and was a cook there for 12 years. She then worked at the Weston State Hospital for 20 1/2 years and retired from there as head of occupational therapy.

In 1986 Thelma was chosen as Gilmer County Belle which she thoroughly enjoyed. She was a terrific seamstress, made dozens of quilts, cheerleading and band uniforms for her daughter. She also made her daughters and granddaughters wedding dresses and her niece’s (Patty Burkhammer) gown when she was Strawberry princess.

She owned her own ceramic shop where she taught many classes. In later years she attended Glenville State College taking an art class and a photography class and attended two adult education classes in Troy for typing. Thelma was a hard worker and enjoyed the outdoors the most. She was an avid hunter and fisherman all her life. She loved to travel and visited 49 of the 50 states along with Nova Scotia, Canada, Bahamas and Mexico. Anyone who knew Thelma knew that she always had a guitar in her hand and was ready to sing.

On August 29, 1937 , she was united in marriage to Stacy Radcliff, who preceded her in death in February of 1998.

Thelma leaves, 1 daughter, Regena Matheny and husband Joe of Troy, West Virginia, 2 granddaughters, Rise Morris and husband Tom of Troy, and Leisa Somerville and husband Larry of Newberne Road, 5 great-grandchildren: Stacy Morris (and Izzy Duvall); Devon Somerville (wife Liz); Bryant Somerville (wife Whitney); Chelsea Morris and Olivia Somerville; two great-great-grandsons: Deken Somerville and Penn Somerville.

Along with her husband and parents, Thelma was preceded in death by 5 siblings, Freda Abrams, Virgie Bonnett, Howard and Frank Bonnett, Lona Bonnett, and 1 infant sister, Frankie Bonnett.

Funeral Services will be conducted at the Ellyson Mortuary Inc., 2 Vanhorn Drive, Glenville , WV; 26351 at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 2,, 2015 with Chaplain Bryon Bukovesky officiating. Burial will follow in the Troy I.O.O.F. Cemetery, in Troy. Family and Friends will be received from 4-8 p.m. Friday evening May 1, at the mortuary.