HOWARD WEESE NETHKEN SR., age 86 years, a resident of Mabie, WV departed this life Sunday morning November 27, 2011 at his home in Mabie surrounded by his family.
He was born Monday, January 12, 1925 at Kedron, WV a son of the late Albert T. and Elsie G. Hornbeck Nethken. On February 22, 1947 at Elkins, WV he was married to the former Ila May Rowan, who survives. They had celebrated sixty-four years of marriage. Also surviving are one son, Howard Weese Nethken, Jr., Elkins; two daughters, Sandra Workman, Elkins; Kathy Daniels, Mabie; three sisters, Jane Helmick, Warren, OH; Rosie Bland, Brunswick, OH; Edith Osman, Charlotte, NC; six grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.
Preceding him in death are one son, Rodger Wayne Nethken; three brothers, Frank, Ralph D. and Benjamin H. Nethken and two sisters, Dove Calain and Jessie Logue.
He attended the schools of Upshur County and the Fairview School. He was a veteran of World War II, serving with the U. S. Army in the 125th Anti-aircraft Artillery Mobile Battalion at the Battle of the Bulge. He was a coal miner for the Three Fork Coal Company and Island Creek Coal Company, was a member of the H. W. Daniel’s Post # 29, American Legion, the Roaring Creek Post # 5583, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the United Mine Workers of America Local # 1444 at Thomas for over fifty years and the Rowan Memorial United Methodist Church. He was an avid outdoorsman, enjoyed horseshoes and gardening, especially raising strawberries and blueberries.
The family will receive friends at the Lohr & Barb Funeral Home of Elkins from 5 to 9 PM, Wednesday. On Thursday morning, December 1, 2011, Mr. Nethken will be moved to the Rowan Memorial United Methodist Church at Mabie, WV where friends may call from 12 Noon to 1:00 PM, the funeral hour. The Rev. Stella Faye Moyer will officiate and interment will follow at the Rowan Memorial Cemetery at Mabie, WV, where the H. W. Daniel’s Post # 29, American Legion and the Tygart’s Valley Post # 3647, Veterans of Foreign Wars will conduct full military honors. The family suggests that expressions of sympathy be in the form of contributions to Rowan Memorial United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 184, Mabie, WV 26278.
