ERVIN DWIGHT CHANNELL, age 92 years, a resident of Valley Head and more recently a resident of Marriottsville, MD, departed this life Thursday afternoon July 25, 2013 at the home of his daughter, Deborah at Marriottsville, MD. He had been in declining health.
He was born Monday, July 26, 1920 at Valley Head, WV a son of the late Ira Leonard and Bessie Barb Channell. He was twice married. First On June 5, 1948, he was married to the former Opal Bodkins, who preceded him in death, June 29, 1972. Second to Christina, who survives.
Surviving are three daughters, Joanie McCabe and husband Lee of Ellicot City, MD, Deborah McCullen and companion Laury of Marriottsville, MD, and Regina Forry and husband Nelson of Buckhannon, WV; one brother, Adolph Channell and wife Barbara of Beverly; one sister, Elsie Porter of Baltimore, MD.; six grandchildren, Laury, Jr., Nicole, Brian, Lauren, Dane and Delaina and eight great grandchildren.
Preceding him in death are one infant son; one infant brother; and four sisters, Edna O. Austin, Hattie Tacy Hanaford, Gracie Pingley Lowther and Armie Swecker and one grandson, Dane Michael Forry.
He attended the one room school at Valley Head. He was a Veteran of the United States Navy, serving during World War II. He was a coal miner for the Hickory Lick Coal Mine at Point Mountain. He worked for Martin Marietta Company as an electrician, building airplanes. He worked for Bethlehem Steel as an electrician for ship building. He was an avid outdoorsman and a noted fly fisherman, tying his own flies. He had an expertise for tree graphing; he enjoyed farming and was an avid reader.
The family will receive friends at the Lohr & Barb Funeral Home of Elkins from 5 to 8 PM, Sunday. Final Rites will be conducted at the funeral home chapel, Monday, July 29, 2013 at 1PM. The Rev. Jim Murphy will officiate and interment will follow at the Valley Head Cemetery at Valley Head, WV, where the U. S. Navy, the H. W. Daniel’s Post # 29, American Legion and the Tygarts Valley Post # 3647, Veterans of Foreign Wars will conduct full military honors.
