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John Marshall Atkins
84, of Morgantown, passed away peacefully Wednesday, May 7, 2025, in Houston, Texas. He was born in 1941 in Charleston, to the late Harry and Ella Jean Atkins. He recalled first meeting his father in 1946 upon Chief Petty Officer Atkins’ return from the Pacific Theater of World War II. Atkins graduated from Charleston High School in Charleston, in 1959. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Marshall University in 1965, a Master of Arts in Mathematics from West Virginia University in 1967, a Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Pittsburgh in 1973, and a Master of Arts in Computer Science from WVU in 1980. Atkins’s career as a professor spanned nearly 40 years, first in Mathematics at Bethany College, then in Computer Science at West Virginia University. He frequently received awards as outstanding professor at both Bethany and WVU, and he was inducted into numerous honorary and technical societies. For many years, he served as the WVU Computer Science department’s Graduate Coordinator, and he was closely involved in WVU’s Honors Program. After retiring from WVU in 2010, he was named Professor Emeritus and was inducted into the WVU Distinguished Alumni Academy in 2015. Atkins complemented his teaching with real-world experience, consulting as a database design expert for corporate and government clients, including ManTech International, the state of West Virginia, NASA and the U.S. Departments of Defense and Energy. Atkins is survived by his son, Ben Atkins, daughter-in-law Amy, and grandson, Jack Atkins. In addition to Margaret and his parents, John was predeceased by his brother, Harry Rodney Atkins.
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Captain Joseph C. Cocalis
74, of Point Marion, Pa., died August 7, 2025, following a long battle with Parkinson Disease. Born September 23, 1950, in Elizabeth, N.J., a son of the late James and Eleanor (Hopkins) Cocalis. He graduated from the University of Texas, and received his Masters Degree in Engineering of Mines from West Virginia University. He served in the U.S. Army, and later was with the U.S. Public Health Service and detailed to the U.S. Coast Guard. He retired as a captain with the Public Health Service, and worked at and retired from NIOSH in Morgantown, where he was an industrial hygienist. He was active with the Friendship Hill Association; the Point Marion Rotary, where he was a Paul Harris Fellow and a member of the Paul Harris Society; the NCEES (National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying), where he helped to develop the professional exams; and with the Country Road Cyclists. Surviving are his wife, Cynthia L. Cocalis; two sons, Dwight (Stephany Moody) Sisk of Sykesville, Md., and Travis (Janelle Barnhart) of Chesapeake, Va.; his grandchildren, Noah, Kiley, Garrett and Peyton Sisk; two sisters, Susan Cocalis and Michelle Sharkin; two brothers, Guy Cocalis and Ralph Cocalis; his special great-grandchildren, Griyson, Kallie, Layla, Adelyn, Harper, Jenson, Raegan and Brier; and a number of cousins, nieces and nephews.
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Ronald Fred Kelly
73, of Bruceton Mills, WV, passed away on Thursday, September 25, 2025. He was born on July 18, 1952, in Morgantown and a proud graduate of the Bruceton High School Class of 1970. Ronald went on to earn his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from West Virginia University in December of 1974. He began his career with Kentucky Power Big Sandy Power Plant and then the Beechurst Power Plant, where he retired as Assistant Plant Manager, a role he deeply valued and enjoyed. Ronald was active in the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) and the NWTF (National Wildlife Turkey Federation). An avid outdoorsman, he loved hunting, but above all, he treasured time spent with his family. Ronald is survived by his daughter, Christy Tate and her husband, Jim; his three beloved grandchildren, Sydney “Siddie,” Spencer “Sixpence,” and Sawyer “Yeri”; his brother, Robert B. Kelly and wife Michele; and his niece, Rachel Kelly. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 48 years, Pamela “Pam” Geraldine Sigley Kelly, and their infant son, Ronald John Kelly.
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John Mark Pullen
passed away on July 6, 2025, after a two-month battle with sepsis. Known to family and colleagues simply as Mark, he was born in Morgantown, West Virginia, on September 19, 1947. Pullen earned his B.S. (1970) and M.S. (1972) in Engineering from West Virginia University, and later completed his Doctor of Science in Computer Engineering at George Washington University in 1981. After his graduation from WVU, he embarked on a distinguished 21-year career in the U.S. Army, focusing on computer research and systems development for the Department of Defense. He served as Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point (1983-85), and retired from the Army in 1993 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, having been awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal. Mark also contributed to national policy as an IEEE Congressional Fellow (1985-86), supporting legislation for computer security and technology standards. In 1991, he was named an IEEE Fellow “for technical leadership in computing systems and networking,” and in 1995, he received the IEEE Harry Diamond Memorial Award for his pioneering work in distributed simulation and command-and-control networks. Following his military retirement, Pullen joined the faculty at George Mason University, where he became Professor of Computer Science and Director of the C4I (Command, Control, Communications, Computing, and Intelligence) Center. His leadership helped the center grow tenfold in funding and reputation. He led innovative research in simulation interoperability, medical visualization, networked education, and coalition command systems, contributing to major NATO initiatives and U.S. Army projects. He also developed Network EducationWare, an open-source platform for synchronous online education, and used it to launch accessible graduate programs for students worldwide. Throughout his academic career, Mark combined rigorous scholarship with mentorship and a vision for technology’s potential to improve collaboration, education, and defense. Pullen is survived by his wife of 58 years, Cheryl Rebecca Calhoun Pullen of Shepherdstown, WV; his daughter, Jennifer (Rusty) Merritt of Pocomoke, MD; his son, Jonathan Pullen of Seattle, WA; and his grandson, Chihiro Pittson of Newark, DE. He is also lovingly remembered by his sister, Sharon (Aubrey W.) Pullen Turner; his brothers, David Brock (Rubye Elizabeth), and Bruce Allen (Elaine Burgess).
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Frances L. Van Scoy, Ph.D.
76, of Morgantown, passed away Monday, August 25, 2025. She was born November 18, 1948, in Mansfield, Ohio, the daughter of the late Fred Hubley Van Scoy and Catherine Frances Cox. She earned her B.S. in Mathematics from Michigan State University and her Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Virginia. She began her academic career at Old Dominion University before joining the faculty at West Virginia University in 1979, where she retired after 45 years from the Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering. In 2013, Van Scoy was inducted into the CSEE Academy of Distinguished Alumni. Her research and teaching spanned many fields, from software engineering to game development, and helped establish the MS in Software Engineering program at WVU. She also served as coordinator for Advanced Scientific Computing Initiatives under Governor Cecil H. Underwood, traveling internationally to advance technology and education. Van Scoy was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, the Mayflower Society, Col. Zackquill Morgan chapter of DAR, and the Daughters of 1812. She also enjoyed writing short stories as an amateur author and doing genealogy research. She is survived by her long-time companion, Frank Cox, of Morgantown; and several first cousins.