Thursday, August 12, 1948
The Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park has installed seesaws, swings and slides in the playground area which are greatly enjoyed by many visitors.
VanReenen Reunion
The VanReenen Reunion was held at Droop Mountain Park Sunday, August 8. Close to 100 people were present…
This was the second annual gathering of the descendants of Corneleus VanReen- en, who was born in Utrecht, Holland, September 15, 1832, and came to America at the age of 14. Being among the 300 whose parting in Holland for America was described in Pearl S. Buck’s book, “The Exile,” having been sent in care of friends and relatives, the Stulting family, by his father, who was waiting the graduation of an older son from military school before bringing the rest of his family to a free country. This was one year later and his son, Corneleus, was waiting anxiously in New York to meet his family from Holland. The happy meeting was soon shadowed by the news that his youngest sister had taken ill and died enroute and was buried at sea. This tragedy was seldom spoken of by Corneleus.
The family of Bernard VanReenen came to West Virginia and settled in Pocahontas county for a few years, then he decided to move farther west. His children went with him, except Corneleus and one sister, who remained here….
A reunion of this family was held in Iowa around the year 1800, which Corneleus and his wife attended.
COMING HOME
The body of Private First Class Basil C. Sharp was brought home on Tuesday. The funeral service will be held from the Marlinton Presbyterian Church Thursday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock. The minister will be Rev. John K. Fleming, of Hillsboro.
This young soldier died on December 23, 1944, from shell wounds received in the fighting on the head of the Rhine. At the time he was inducted into the service he was a member of the Hillsboro High School faculty.
Mr. Sharp is survived by his wife, Mrs. Jane Price Sharp, and their three children, Basil Price, John Calvin and Jane Rutledge.
He was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest G. Sharp, of Frost, who survive. His brothers are Rex, Blair and Lyle Sharp.
Private Clarence Blane Cloonan
On Friday, July 30, 1948, at two o’clock p.m. the funeral of Private Clarence Blane Cloonan was conducted with military honors and his body was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D. C.
Private Cloonan was born September 24, 1918, and was killed August 5, 1944; age 25 years, 11 months, 19 days. He was a member of the 355th Fighter Group, 8th Air Force, stationed near Cambridge, England…
He was a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Jason B. Cloonan, and is survived by six brothers, Mitchell, Stearl, Earl, Fred, Lloyd and Roy; and four sisters, Glenna Cloonan, Mrs. Eva Jane White, Mrs. Pinie Mitchell and Mrs. Grace Ray.
He was a member of Swago Methodist Church.
WEDDING
Miss Louise Smith, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Smith, of Marlinton, became the bride of Mr. Harry Lee Thomas, son of Mrs. Opal Thomas and the late Guy Thomas, of Buckeye, on Sunday, June 25th, at Lewisburg…
BIRTHS
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Don Rogers, of Huntersville, a daughter, Shirley Ann.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. George S. Sharp, of Marlinton, a son, Wade Summers.