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Robert E. (Bob) Murray
80, of Bethesda, Ohio, passed away October 25, 2020. Murray graduated in mining engineering from the Ohio State University and Harvard Graduate School AMP Program. He was the founder, chairman, president, and chief executive officer of Murray Energy Corporation. During his over 60-year mining career, Murray received numerous safety, educational, engineering leadership, professional and philanthropic awards. He was well known for his philanthropic contributions to his communities, the Boy Scouts of America, The Salvation Army, his church and the WVU Department of Mining Engineering and Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration. Murray is survived by his wife of 58 years, Brenda L. Murray, and sons, Robert, Johnathan and Ryan, as well as eight grandchildren. -
Michael Geiger
64, a native of Grantsville, West Virginia, passed away on October 22, 2020. Geiger earned his degree in chemical engineering from the Statler College and was later employed at Kraton Polymers. A veteran of the U.S. Navy and the Army National Guard, Geiger was a huge WVU fan and enjoyed boating and camping. He is survived by his wife Beverly Thompson, his son Christopher Fleiger and several grandchildren. -
Robert Hahn
Robert Hahn, 81, of Washington, passed away on Thursday, October 22, 2020. A native of Wardensville, West Virginia, he earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the Statler College in 1960, where he was a Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity brother. Hahn was employed by Allegheny Ludlum’s research center in Natrona Heights as a metallurgist. He retired at age 65 and began working for SAE International as an aerospace editorial consultant writing specialty steel specifications. He is survived by his longtime companion, Marilyn McIlvaine, his three children, Elizabeth Hahn, Katherine Lesnik, and David Hahn, and his six grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews. -
Kelly Marie James Zummo
48, of Bridgeport, West Virginia, passed away on January 1, 2021. Zummo earned her bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering and master’s in mechanical engineering. She began her career with a short assignment at the NASA Langley Research Center in Virginia. Later, she returned to West Virginia as chief engineer at Pratt and Whitney Engine Services. Zummo was very active in the local community, attending numerous schools and education fairs, speaking to children about STEM education and careers in aerospace and aviation. She is survived by her two sons, Vincent Zummo and Dominic Zummo, her mother, Jill James, sisters, Melissa Kitzmiller, and husband Ron, and Marcia James. -
Russ Mechling
90, of Hopwood, Pennsylvania passed away on October 16. A native of Pittsburgh, Mechling graduated from West Virginia University in 1956 with a mining engineering degree. He began his career at the U.S. Steel as a mining engineer and worked during the historic Robena No. 3 disaster, spending three days aiding in rescue and recovery. He later joined his father at the Fayette Engineering Company in Uniontown, Pa in 1963, the business that was started by his grandfather in 1902. As an engineer, he worked with many municipalities, agencies, and private developers to advance Fayette County through local development. Mechling was awarded the Eberly Economic Development Award and was recognized by the Pennsylvania State Senate and House of Representatives for businesses contributing to the wellbeing of the community. He is survived by his six children, his stepchild, thirteen grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.