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William (Bill) Keeffe Baggott
88 passed away peacefully on March 29, surrounded by family. Graduating in three years from a five-year engineering program at WVU— paid for by his father's drinking club and the G.I. Bill, he served in the US Coast Guard Reserves at the rank of Lieutenant Commander. While attending George Washington Law School at night, he worked at the US Patent Office by day. Baggott worked for thirty years at DuPont, originally as an engineer but primarily as a lawyer. Conducting pro-bono work for the ACLU and as a public defender, he also served as the head of the Newark Housing Authority, fighting for equal housing for underserved communities. After retiring from DuPont at age 56, he went on to become a pilot, a novelist and historian, an avid genealogist, a professor of democracy in the Czech Republic after the fall of the USSR. He is survived by his wife of 64 years Glenda Smith Baggott, their four children Kathleen, William with spouse Patricia, Melanie Rehberg and spouse Scott, Julianna and spouse David Scott; thirteen grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
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Richard Leo Clingerman
80, of Rexford, NY, passed at his home on 9/10/23. Richard grew up in West Virginia [Morgan County] and was a graduate of West Virginia University's electrical engineering program. He worked for the General Electric Company his entire career spending 22 years working in Erie, PA in the rapid transit and locomotive division, and his remaining time with the turbine division in Schenectady, NY. Richard is survived by his wife of 62 years, Linda Oliver Clingerman. His children David Clingerman (Dave) of Pittsburgh, PA, Brian Clingerman of Woodbridge, VA, and Michele (Jim) Brown of Stillwater, NY, 8 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild, as well as his brother, Daniel Clingerman of Tomahawk, WV.
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Ronald Lynn Cutright
76, born in Buckhannon, passed away after a decades-long battle with cancer at his home in Morgantown on August 7. Cutright was a graduate of Glenville High School in 1966 then enlisted in the Air Force where he served his country as a Russian linguist during the Cold War. Following his years of service, Cutright attended WVU where he earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and two master’s degrees in mechanical and civil engineering. Ron worked with Union Carbide in Marietta, Ohio and Sistersville, then with the U.S. Department of Energy in Morgantown before moving with his family to Worms, Germany. There, he worked for the U.S. Department of Defense. In 1991, Ron resumed working for the U.S. Department of Energy in Morgantown until his retirement in 2013. Cutright is survived by his wife Jayne Feola, his children Kristen and Joshua and grandchildren; and his older brother, Kenneth Cutright.
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Jeffrey Carl Franklin
80, of Charleston, WV, passed away unexpectedly after a short illness on Sept. 6. Born in Clarksburg, WV, he graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1961 and earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from West Virginia University in 1966. His professional career spanned 38.5 years beginning in 1966 with the NY State Dept of Transportation and transitioned to the federal government with the US Army Corps of Engineers, the Military Traffic Management Command, and the US Dept. of Interior, retiring in 2004. He belonged to ASCE, NARFE, SAME and was a registered Professional Engineer. He was a longtime member of the Lions Club International and the Free Masons – York Rite. He is survived by his wife Vivien; daughter Deborah Linzmaier; daughter Jennifer Franklin-Knowles (John); daughter Anne-Marie Deitsch (Scott); son LTC(R) Jeffrey Carl Franklin III (Kriss); daughter Mary Ellen Franklin (Aaron); grandchildren Nicholas, Victoria, Sam, John David, Luke, Jason, Marie and brother John R Franklin (Margaret).
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Gary Robert Friggens
78, of Morgantown, died at his residence on July 26. He was born in Detroit on Sept. 12, 1945, a son of Francis G. and Jane (Pettit) Friggens. Receiving his BA degree in physics and mathematics from Albion College, Albion, Mich., in 1967, he then pursued graduate studies in physics and engineering at the University of Maryland and West Virginia University. He was employed by the U.S. Dept. of Energy and its predecessor agencies at the Morgantown Energy Technology Center (now National Energy Technology Laboratory) from 1969 to 1995. Following 11 years of retirement, he accepted a position with the Morgantown Public Library, working at the Aull Center for Local History and Genealogy Research from 2006 to 2017. He is survived by one son, Brian J. Friggens, of Morgantown; two grandchildren, Samantha P. and Abigail S. Friggens; a brother, Thomas G. Friggens (Mary), of Marquette, Mich.; and two nephews, Christopher (Debra) Friggens, of Grand Haven, Mich., and Michael Friggens, of Minneapolis.
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Mitchell Wayne Lockhart
40, passed away June 14, 2023 at his residence. He was a 2000 graduate of Wirt County High School, and a graduate of West Virginia University with a degree in Civil Engineering. He is survived by his wife Erika-Lynn (Davis) Lockhart: children Myranda Lockhart, Atlas Lockhart, Ashton Lockhart, Reagan McVey, Silas McVey and Jordan Davis; half-sister Brittany; grandmother Pauline Lockhart; aunts Lou Ann (Jeff) Thorn, Oleta Taylor, Jackie Tomblin, Nena Greathouse, and Gina Haney; uncles William Taylor and Bob Taylor.; cousins Justin Thorn, Nick Thorn.
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Curtis Gay James
88, passed away on August 25, 2024.He was a very loving husband, father, and grandfather who always put family first. Curt was born on October 23, 1935 to Harry and Mary Dorcas James in Robson, WV. He completed his Bachelors Degree in Engineering from West Virginia University Institute of Technology in 1959. He enjoyed a long career as a Mechanical Engineer/Plant Manager which took him and his family from West Viriginia to Ohio, Illinois, New York, and finally Tennessee in 1976. Here, he remained happily with his wife of 63 years, Mary (Susie) James and his loving family. He was a devout member of Concord United Methodist Church, leading and/or participating in many church groups and activities, such as United Methodist Men’s Ministry, Stephen’s Ministry, teaching Sunday School, and the UMM’s golf tournament to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity builds. He helped build thirteen Habitat for Humanity homes. He also enjoyed wood carving, hiking, and spending time with his wife, children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Curt is survived by his wife Susie, his three children, Mark James (Doris), Jeff James (Melinda), and Suzanne Fowler (JD); grandchildren Ashton Fowler, Reese Fowler, Wesley James (Alexis), and Ethan James (Cameron).
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Captain (RET.) Jon A. McBride
80, passed away after his battle with Alzheimer's Disease and cancer on Aug. 7. Born in Charleston, WV, he grew up in Beckley, where he attended Woodrow Wilson High School. McBride was attending WVU when a Navy recruiter came to the University, where he signed up immediately and graduated in 1971 with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School. McBride earned his wings as a naval aviator, and served in Fighter Squadrons, flying 64 combat missions. Throughout his aviation career, he piloted over 40 different types of military, civilian aircraft and NASA the Space Shuttle Challenger from October 5-13, 1984. After the Challenger accident in 1986, he was assigned under President Reagan to NASA Headquarters to serve as Assistant Administrator for Congressional Relations. He retired from NASA and the Navy in 1989 and continued to inspire the next generation of space explorers. As an astronaut "on duty" at the Kennedy Space Center Visitors Center he conducted visits to schools both in the United States and abroad including many visits to the Statler College K-12 outreach camps, he spoke to thousands of schoolchildren, encouraging them to "stay in school, keep away from drugs, and listen to your parents." McBride is survived by his sister, Margaret Lynn Eversole; daughter, Melissa DeGuibert and her husband Mike; his son, Jon McBride II and his wife Christie; his other daughter Lynn Miller and her husband Brad; his grandchildren, Collin Kerr, and wife Lydia; Austin Kerr and wife Keeley; Kendall Kerr, Catherine McBride, Megan Miller, Richard Miller, Bailey Miller; his great-grandsons Kieran and Kayson Kerr.
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Daryl Herman O'Dell
71 of Haddleton, Boone County passed away at his home on Friday, May 17, after an extended illness. Educated in Jackson County schools, O’Dell went to WVU where he earned a degree in civil engineering under the GI Bill. He was a veteran from the Air Force and had enlisted during the Vietnam War and later accepted a position in the engineering department of Hobart Mining from where he eventually retired. He is survived by wife, Debbie O'Dell (Frazier); brother-in-law, David (Karen) Frazier; sister, Linda (Craig) Morgan; cousins, Brenda (Tim) McKinney and Mike (Lorie) Humphrey; and two extra special nieces, Dr. Samantha Frazier and Dr. Sarah Frazier.
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Frederick Carl Sachs
88, died on Sunday, March 10, due to complications from a fall on Feb. 29. Soon after receiving a B.S. degree in aeronautical engineering from West Virginia University (class of 1958), he began a 35-year career with Boeing Vertol in Ridley Park, Pa., where he conducted fatigue tests and rose to the position of manager of the Engineering Test Laboratory. He is survived by three daughters: Nancy Grey, Gretchen Murphy and Christina Humphreys and two grandsons, Andrew Murphy and Reid Murphy.