Minerd.com Biography of Opha Cleophas and Bertha (Mayle) Kennedy of Barbour and Taylor Counties, WV

Opha Cleophas "Ophie" Kennedy was born on May 15, 1876 in the mountainous Webster community of Taylor County, WV, the son of Josiah and Ruth Ann (Minerd) Kennedy Sr.

Opha never learned how to read or write, and signed his name with an "X." He had black hair and black eyes, and was of medium height and build.

At the age of 24, Opha was united in the bonds of holy matrimony with 22-year-old Bertha "Bertie" Mayle (1876-1933), the daughter of Thomas and Mary Mayle. The wedding took place on Feb. 23, 1901, at the home of Rev. S.A. Cleavenger.

The Kennedys produced at least eight children -- among them were Dovie Lee Kennedy, Howard Cornelius Kennedy, Clavius Calvin Kennedy, Mary J. Rupar/Ruphard, James Bradley Kennedy, Magdalene "Opal" "Sweets" Mayle, Charles Kennedy and Ruth Ann Kennedy.

When the federal census was taken in 1910, Opha and Bertie resided in Barbour County, with Opha laboring as a coal miner. At the time they had been married for nine years and their four eldest children had been born. The census taker marked them as "mulatto."

Bertie Kennedy

In 1917, when Opha was age 41, he was required to register for the military draft during World War I. On his registration card, he marked that his employment was coal mining for Sterling Coal Company in Cecil. The draft board officer marked his race as white but also wrote, "Called Colored."

Grief cascaded over the family when daughter Ruth Ann (named for her grandmother and great-grandmother) died at age two on March 9, 1923. The cause of her death was "autointoxication" -- poisoning by toxic substances that were being produced within the body. The tender remains were laid to rest in Cecil, with Earnest Mayle of Galloway serving as informant for the official West Virginia certificate of death.

The census of 1920 shows the family continuing to live in Barbour County and Opha (mis-named "Okey") maintaining employment as a coal miner. Circa 1923, the Kennedys resided at Flemington, WV, where Opha apparently was employed at the Cambria Mines.

In 1930, census records show the family (surname misspelled "Canada") living in Barbour County with Opha and son Clavius working in local coal mines.

Sadly, at the age of 56, Bertie came down with a fatal case of tuberculosis in February 1933. Added to malnutrition and dehydration, she died the following month, on March 7, 1933.

The next year, in 1934, the widowed Opha made his home in Galloway, Barbour County. He has yet to be found on the federal census enumeration of 1940.

On Dec. 29, 1945, Opha married again, to Lena (Dalton) Mayle Vaughn (1899?-1968?), the daughter of Haymond Calvin and Harriet Amanda (Mayle) Dalton. Earl W. Slayton performed the nuptials. There was a 22-year difference in their ages.

Lena had been married twice before, to (?) Vaughn and Samuel Mayle (from whom she was divorced). She brought a son to the marriage, Fred Vaughn.

The United States Census of 1950 shows Opha and Lena together in the Court House District of Taylor County, with him having no occupation at the age of 73. In 1954 and 1963, they are known to have lived in Webster, Taylor County.

Opha suffered from hardening of the arteries and passed away from the illness on April 9, 1965, at the age of 88. He was laid to rest with his first wife Bertie and in-laws at Mt. View Cemetery. The Grafton Sentinel said he was survived by 41 grandchildren.

Some eight months after Opha's death, Lena married again, at the age of 67, to 85-year-old widower Charles Stewart Tacy (Nov. 9, 1881-1968). Their wedding took place on Jan. 11, 1967, in Randolph County, WV. He was a native of Huttonsville, Randolph County, whose first bride Bessie Pearl (Riggleman) Tacy had died in 1964. Their union was 13 months in duration. Living in Philippi, he died at the age of 86 on Feb. 23, 1968 His remains sleep for all time in Bluemont Cemetery in Grafton.

Lena's fate is not yet known, but evidence suggests that she also passed away in 1968 and is in eternal repose in West Hill Cemetery.

Daughter Dovie Lee Kennedy (1902-1977), sometimes misspelled as "Dovey" or "David," was born on Jan. 15, 1902, in Philippi.

On May 5, 1921, when she was age 18, Dovie married 19-year-old Ellis "Red" Kennedy (1900-1962), the son of Emma Kennedy. On their application for a marriage license, Dovie's father provided information and stated that the bride and groom were "fourth cousins." The wedding was performed by Rev. R.O. Phillips of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Philippi.

The Kennedys together produced a family of 10 children -- Armentha Kennedy, Harry Kennedy, Steward Lutell Kennedy, Barbara Jean Kennedy, James Ellis Kennedy, Roger Kennedy, Virginia Mayle, Madge "Judy" Newman, Shirley Mayle and Victoria Hinton.

Red was a longtime coal miner. Census enumeration records show that they made their home in 1930 in the Berryburg community of Route 2, in the Pleasant District near Flemington, with Ellis' mother in the household. At that time, the census-taker marked their race as "neg."

When the census again was made in 1940, the Kennedys remained in Berryburg, with Red's occupation listed as coal mine machineman. Their nephew Lawson Mayle dwelled under their roof in 1940.

At the age of 62, Red died at home on Oct. 6, 1962. Following a funeral at Berryburg's Apostolic Faith Jesus Christ Church, led by Rev. Hayward Menear, he was buried in Mt. View Cemetery. At the time, he and Dovie were survived by 13 grandchildren.

The widowed Dovie lived in Berryburg, Barbour County in 1965-1976. In 1976, she endured the heartbreak of the tragic death of her 21-year-old grandson, Vietnam War veteran Michael Lee Mayle, and was named in his newspaper obituary.

Daughter Armentha Kennedy (1923- ? ) was born in about 1923 and spent her childhood in Berryburg.

Son Harry Kennedy (1926- ? ) was born in about 1026. He lived at Route 2, Flemington circa 1962. He was deceased by 2008.

Son Steward Lutell Kennedy (1928-1999) was born on St. Patrick's Day, 1928. At the age of 22, in 1950, he was employed as a timberman in the local coal mine in Berryburg, logging 32 hours per week. He went on to serve as a private in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Steward was united in holy wedlock with Colleen Jones (1936-2017), daughter of Happy and Sadie (Male) Jones of Galloway, Barbour County. They lived in Philippi in the mid-1960s and had one known son -- Timothy M. Kennedy. Colleen also had these children -- Tina Hill, Toni Rose Leasure, Marshall Jones and Randall Jones. The family resided in Galloway, Barbour County circa 1962, and eventually moved to Canton, Stark County, OH. Steward died in Canton on Sept. 26, 1999. His remains were transported back to Grafton to sleep for the ages in Mt. View Cemetery. Colleen survived her husband by 17 years, remaining in Canton. She died there at home at the age of 80 on Jan. 3, 2017. Rev. L. Douglas Rowh officiated at the funeral service followed by burial in Evergreen Memorial Gardens. An obituary was printed in the Canton (OH) Repository.

Daughter Barbara Jean Kennedy (1929-2008) was born on Sept. 4, 1929 in Philippi. She wed LeRoy W. Schloeder (1928-2004), sometimes misspelled "Schoeler," and in all they were married for 33 years until his passing. The couple had one daughter, Eldora Lavdas. The Schloeders made their home in the early 1960s in Fairmont, Marion County, WV and later moved to Canton, Stark County, OH. Barbara was a member of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in Canton. Said a newspaper, she was a "person who put others first, especially her family. She looked forward to vacations and outings with friends and family." LeRoy passed away on April 14, 2004 in Canton. At the age of 79, Barbara died in Canton on Sept. 5, 2008. Brother Carl Baldwin officiated at her funeral service, followed by interment in West Lawn Cemetery in Canton.

Daughter Virginia A. Kennedy (1931-2008) was born on June 14, 1931 in Barbour County. She earned a living as a maid in 1950, unmarried at the age of 18. As a young woman, Virginia migrated to Canton, Stark County. On June 6, 1952, at the age of 21, she wed 20-year-old Boyd W. Mayle (1932-1982), son of Charles Earl and Lydia (Mayle) Mayle. Their wedding was held in Canton. Boyd joined the U.S. Air Force and served during the Korean War. The couple resided in Canton for decades and produced two sons -- Michael Lee Mayle and Patrick E. Mayle. Grief cascaded over the family at the self-inflicted death of their 21-year-old son, Vietnam War veteran Michael Lee Mayle, in 1976. Sadly, Boyd died on Sept. (or Dec.) 14, 1982, at age 50. Virginia lived on for another 26 years and was a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses North Church in Canton. Said the Canton Repository, she was a "self-employed domestic worker for several families in the Canton area for many years." She endured the untimely death of her son Michael. She died on Christmas Eve 2008, at the age of 77, in the Mercy Medical Center in Canton. Burial was in Evergreen Memorial Gardens.

Daughter Shirley Kennedy (1935- ? ) was born in about 1935. She entered into marriage with Wilford Mayle ( ? - ? ). They resided in Detroit in 1962.

Son James Ellis Kennedy (1937-1999) was born on June 21, 1937 near Philippi. He was married and had three children -- Sandra McGee, Tommy McGee and Donnie McGee. He was a longtime farm laborer and "worked on several area farms," said the Clarksburg Exponent. He lived in Flemington in 1962 and Berryburg in 1999. He contracted an "unexpected illness" and died in Aultman Hospital in Canton, at age 62, on Sept. 2, 1999. His remains were returned to Philippi for a funeral and burial in the Mt. View Cemetery.

Daughter Madge "Judy" Kennedy (1941-2018) was born on May 27, 1941 in Philippi. In about 1961, when she would have been age 20, she was joined in wedlock with Howard Newman (March 12, 1932-2019), son of Albert and Octavia (Collins) Newman. Their marriage endured for 57 years until the separation of death. She relocated to Canton where she and Howard made their home for decades. Their four offspring were Dena Mayle, Kimberly Mayle, Kristi Newman and Douglas Newman. Judy earned a living over the years as a self-employed housekeeper. Following a long illness, Judy was admitted to Aultman Hospital in Canton where she passed away at age 77 on July 11, 2018. An obituary noted that she was survived by four grandchildren. Following funeral services conducted by Rev. Ron Mayle, interment was in Evergreen Memorial Gardens. Howard only outlived his wife by seven-plus months. He died at home at the age of 86 on March 2, 2019. Rev. Ron Mayle again preached the funeral sermon.

Daughter Victoria L. "Vicky" Kennedy (1945-living) was born in about 1945. She made her home with her parents in Flemington in the early 1960s. She wed Wayne Hinton ( ? -living) and dwelled in Canton circa 2008-2018.

Son Roger D. Kennedy (1948- ? ) was born in about 1948. He grew to adulthood in Flemington. He wed Vicky (?) and in 2008 lived in Flemington.

Son Clavius Calvin "Tave" Kennedy (1905-1978) was born on Oct. 2, 1905, in Berryburg, Barbour County.

On July 5, 1930, at the age of 24, he entered into the rite of marriage with 17-year-old Berneda V. Croston (April 24, 1913- 2003), by the hand of Rev. Fred Decost. They were six years apart in age.

The couple together produced a brood of 10 children -- Eugene Kennedy, Isaac D. "Fluke" Kennedy, Calvin Clavius Kennedy Jr., Virginia Denison, Conal Lee Kennedy, Paul D. Kennedy, Patricia Hill, Opha "Sonny" Kennedy II, David Kennedy and Milda Kennedy.

In 1944, their son Paul is known to have been born in Clarksburg, WV. When the United States Census enumeration was made in 1950, the family dwelled in Lincoln Township in Marion County, WV, with Tave employed as a coal miner, and eight children in the household. At that time, they lived on East Run Road.

The Kennedys went on to reside in Canton, Stark County, OH in 1965; in Detroit, MI in 1968; and at 1581 Pekin Drive SE in East Canton, OH in 1978.

Tave was a longtime coal miner, belonging to the United Mine Workers of America, and was a member of the Crystal Park Wesleyan Methodist Church of Canton.

The Grafton Mountain Statesman said that Tave was survived by 21 grandchildren and two great- grandchildren.

She surrendered to the angel of death in Canton on May 7, 2003. Her remains were returned to her native West Virginia soil to be interred in West Hill Cemetery near Grafton.

Son Eugene L. Kennedy (1930-1979) was born in 1930. He was united in holy wedlock with Samantha "Nannie" Mayle (Aug. 26, 1922-1983). Their home in the early 1950s was in Grafton. Later, they relocated to East Canton. The couple bore three known sons, Donald Eugene Kennedy, Ronald Lee Kennedy and Garry L. Kennedy. Sadly, Eugene passed into eternity at the age of 48 or 49 in 1979. Samantha outlived her spouse by only four years. She died in Canton at the age of 60 in January 1983. Her remains were returned to West Virginia for interment beside Eugene's in West Hill Cemetery near Grafton.

Son Isaac D. "Fluke" Kennedy (1933-1988) was born on Sept. 11, 1933 in Barbour County. He served in the U.S. military during the Korean War. He moved to Canton, OH in about 1958, when he was 25, where he worked as a construction laborer and attended Crystal Park Wesley Methodist Church in Canton. His five children were Cynthia Barnett, Deborah Saenz, Becky Ward, Wendy Coal and Daniel Kennedy. They resided at 4945 Ravenna Avenue SE in East Canton. Isaac died at the age of 55 in 1988 in Timken Mercy Medical Center. He was buried in Sunset Hills Memory Gardens following a funeral led by Rev. Winfield Mayle.

Son Calvin Clavius Kennedy Jr. (1934-2007) was born on Dec. 20, 1934 at Galloway, Barbour County. He married Vivian Crites (1939- ? ), the daughter of Gaylord and Ada (Brannan) Crites of Arnettsville, Monongalia County, WV. Their wedding took place on March 10, 1956, with the newlyweds making their home in nearby Rivesville, Marion County. Four offspring born to the pair were Suzanne Mayle, Victoria Mayle, James Kennedy and Talmadge Kennedy. Circa 1978, the Kennedys resided in Canton, Stark County, OH and in 2007 in East Canton. He was employed by LTV Steel in Canton as a millwright, and retired from the company in 1988. The angel of death cleaved him away at the age of 72, in Canton's Aultman Hospital, on April 16, 2007. Jointly leading the funeral rites at Crystal Park Wesleyan Church were Rev. Winfield Mayle, Rev. Kenneth Dalton and Rev. Marvin "Jaack" Mayle. Interment was in Evergreen Memorial Gardens in Louisville, OH.

Daughter Virginia Kennedy (1937-2008) was born on Sept. 30, 1937 in Galloway, Barbour County. In May 1972, when she was 34 years of age, she was united in holy matrimony with John H. Denison ( ? - ? ). Virginia is the mother of Joyce Mayle. The family lived in Detroit in 1978 and Canton in 1988. Virginia earned a living over time as a home health nurse assistant. She retired from this work in 1982. The family attended Crystal Park Wesleyan Church in Canton. Their final home together was in Louisville, OH. As her health failed, she was admitted to the Great Trail Care Center in Minerva, OH, and at the age of 70, Virginia succumbed to the spectre of death on July 9, 2008. Her remains were transported back to Grafton for funeral services at West Hill Church with burial in the church cemetery. Her obituary was published in the Canton Repository.

Son Conal Lee "Conie"Kennedy (1940-2013) was born on July 23, 1940 in West Hill near Grafton, Taylor County. He wed Rosemary K. "Rose" Kreuz (May 10, 1938-2022), daughter of Rudolph and Emma (Heck) Kreuz. They together produced a trio of children -- Belinda Geiger, Anita Hedrick and Michael Kennedy. The family resided for many years in Canton and Massillon, OH, where Conal was employed in construction and later by H&H Auto Parts and Babcock & Wilcox. He also was a member of the American Sportsman's Club in East Canton and in his spare time enjoyed boating, fishing and hunting. Rosemary earned income for 38 years with the Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital. Conal died at the age of 73 on Aug. 29, 2013, bringing to a close their marital union of 51 years' duration. Burial was in North Lawn Cemetery in Canton, with Lance Lindenberger preaching at the funeral service. An obituary appeared in the Canton Repository. Rosemary outlived her spouse by nine years. Said an obituary, "Her care radiated outside of work as she devoted her entire life to her family. Rosemary had so much love to give to others and never met a stranger [and] enjoyed spending time with her family and catching up with friends. Rosemary also made sure no child was ever left alone and always kept her home open to the neighborhood. Her love, care, and devotion to others will be a lasting legacy..." Death enveloped her at the age of 84, in Canton, on Dec. 11, 2022.

Son Paul D. Kennedy (1944-2021) was born on April 15, 1944 in Clarksburg, WV. He entered into the bonds of marriage with Karen S. Mayle ( ? - ? ). The couple did not reproduce. They resided for decades in East Canton and Louisville, OH. Paul was employed as a welder over the years, working for several different companies. His final place of business was at Union Metal in Canton, from which he retired in about 2009. They held a membership in the New Covenant Church. Sadness cascaded over the family when Paul surrendered to the spectre of death on Dec. 30, 2021, at the age of 77, as a patient in Mercy Medical Center. Pastor Ron Mayle led the funeral service, with burial following in Evergreen Memorial Gardens.

Daughter Patricia Kennedy (1946- ? ) was born in about 1946. She was united in matrimony with (?) Hill ( ? - ? ). Patricia made her home in 1978 in Detroit and by 1988-2008 was in East Canton. Her companion in 2008 was Wilber Hopton. Patricia is known to have dwelled in 2021 in Louisville, OH.

Son Opha "Sonny" Kennedy II (1949- ? ) was born in about 1949. He was wed to Mary Kay (?). The couple made their home in Canton in the 1970s and Uniontown, OH in 2008. By 2021, they had migrated to Florida.

Son Howard "Cornelius" Kennedy (1904-1978) was born on Oct. 12, 1904 in Barbour County, WV.

Howard was married at the age of 17, but eight years later, in 1930, he was single and boarded in the home of his uncle and aunt, Howard Lee and Merriam (Tate) Kennedy in Zanesville, Muskingum County, OH. That year, he was employed as a puller in an ice plant, and the federal census taker marked him as "negro."

On Jan. 13, 1937, in Oakland, Garrett County, MD, the 29-year-old Howard was joined in the state of marriage with 17-year-old Mary Letheal Dalton (1917-1979) of Monongalia County, WV, said to have been the daughter of Jesse Dellet and Gertrude Rose (Mayle) Dalton. He stood 5 feet, 9 inches tall and weighed 145 lbs. in young manhood.

These known offspring were born to the couple -- Elwood "Cornelius" ("Peewee") Kennedy, Wilma "Yvonne" Wilburn, Warren Lee Kennedy, Carl Dayton Kennedy, Karen Paulette Haseleu and Roger Kennedy.

The Kennedys dwelled in the Grant District of Monongalia County in 1940, with Howard employed as a stone crusher with the Works Progress Administration. The WPA was one of the ways President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the federal government tried to overcome unemployment during the Great Depression. It is widely considered one of the Roosevelt's largest and most ambitious undertakings of his "New Deal" to get the nation back on sound economic footing. Over the years, the WPA hired millions of out-of-work individuals to build public works projects, such as roads, bridges, retaining walls and buildings.

Then in 1941, when he registered for the military draft on the eve of World War II, they dwelled in Astor, Taylor County, with Galloway as their mailing address. His employer at that time was Maryland Coal Company of Wendell, WV.

Mary only survived her spouse by 13 months. Death swept her away on Dec. 18, 1979.

Son Elwood Cornelius "Peewee" Kennedy (1936- ? ) was born in about 1936. He tied the knot with Mattie ( ? - ? ) . Circa 2022, he was still in the land of the living.

Daughter Wilma "Yvonne" Kennedy (1938-2022) -- nicknamed "Bashe" -- was born on April 10, 1938 in her parents' home in Flemington, Barbour County. Yvonne was joined in matrimony with Carl E. "Sid" Wilburn ( ? -1993). Three children were born to this union -- twins Kimberly Wilburn and Kay Wilburn and Michael Eugene Wilburn. Sadness blanketed the family when the twins both died as infants in 1960. Over the years, she was employed by the Colshire Pajama Factory. After the factory closed, she then earned income in the cafeteria of the West Virginia University Hospital. Sid died in 1993. Yvonne outlived him by almost three decades. Her final home was at Cheat Lake near Morgantown. She passed into the arms of the angels at the age of 84, as a resident of Stonerise in Morgantown, on Aug. 22, 2022. Rev. Steven Lightner led the funeral service. Her remains were placed beside here husband's at Zion Cemetery at Cheat Lake.

Son Warren Lee Kennedy (1939- ? ) was born in about 1939. He was joined in the rite of marriage with Lavern ( ? - ? ). He was still alive in 2022 when named in the obituary of his sister Wilma.

Son Carl Dayton "Red" or "Jim" Kennedy (1941-2020) was born on June 29, 1941 in Barbour County. He married Janet Nicholson (1952- ? ). Their union endured the ups and downs of 48 years together. Their duo of daughters were Sandra Orsborn and Cheryl Ramsey. Darl served in the U.S. Army and attained the rank of sergeant. They settled in Morgantown, where for 27 years he earned a living as a Montgomery Ward driver. They attended the Covenant Church in nearby Fairmont. Said an obituary, "He was the kind of guy who never met a stranger. He took great joy in meeting his group of friends for breakfast at Hardees. He also loved to travel and visit with others." Sadly, Carl died at home at the age of 79 on Oct. 15, 2020. His funeral was held at Nicholson Chapel, followed by burial in Nicholson Cemetery.

Daughter Karen Paulette Kennedy (1945-2018) was born on July 28, 1945 in Anmoore, Harrison County, WV. She wed James Haseleu ( ? - ? ). They produced three daughters together -- Pamela Haseleu, Kathleen Bradley and Tracy Bonnette. The Haseleu marriage ended in divorce. The angel of death cleaved Karen away at the age of 72 on July 17, 2018. Presiding at her funeral service was Bishop Joe Ray Friend. Her remains sleep for the ages in Nicholson Cemetery in Morgantown.

Son Roger Kennedy ( ? - ? ) was born in (?). He was united in wedlock with Erma Jean Hilling (1946-2024), daughter of Charles and Cora Hilling. Their union endured the ebbs and flows of a remarkable 58 years together. The Kennedys settled in Morgantown, WV and belonged to the Burns Chapel Church, where Erma Jean was active with the Ladies Auxiliary. Their trio of children were Lora Bailey, Roger Kennedy Jr. and David Kennedy. Grief blanketed the family when, at age 77, Erma Jean died on Oct. 13, 2024. She was survived by six grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. Pastors Lynda Masters and Donna Dalton jointly led the funeral service. Burial was at Nicholson Cemetery along Summers School Road. The family asked in a Morgantown Dominion Post obituary that any memorial contributions be made to the building fund at their church.

Daughter Mary Jeanette "Tootsie' Kennedy (1909-1995) was born on May 24, 1909 in Grafton, Taylor County, WV.

In the early 1930s, she married her next-door neighbor, Andrew Rupar (1885-1952). He was an immigrant from Austria or Yugoslavia, the son of Mary Rupar, and almost a quarter century older than his bride. His name also has been spelled "Ruphard" and "Rupart" in official records.

Barbour Democrat, 1995

They produced a brood of four children: Mary Ann Rupar, Robert Lee Rupar Sr., Frances Imperial and JoAnn Mayle. Sadly, daughter Mary Ann died of bronchial pneumonia at the age of one month, eight days on March 28, 1935. The infant was buried at Mt. View Cemetery.

Circa 1935-1950, the family lived in Galloway in the Pleasant District of Barbour County. Andrew generated income by operating coal cutting machinery in a local mine. The federal census-takers in both 1940 and 1950 marked his race as "W." but hers and the children's as "Neg."

Andrew had no occupation at the time of the 1950 federal census enumeration. At that time, Mary Jeanette's brother and wife, Charles and Eleanor Kennedy, lived under their roof, with Charles working in the local coal mine as a slate picker.

He died in Myers' Clinic of hardening of the arteries, heart disease, stomach cancer and chronic bronchitis at the age of 66 on March 26, 1952. He was laid to rest in Mt. View Cemetery. A search has been made for his obituary in the Philippi Republican newspaper microfilm collection at West Virginia University, but none has been found.

The widowed Mary maintained a residence in Galloway. She died on Oct. 17, 1995, at the age of 86, at the home of a nephew in the Berryburg community. Her obituary in the Barbour Democrat said she "was a homemaker and a member of the Galloway Center of the Barbour County Senior Citizens." She was survived by nine grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Rev. Winfield Mayle led her burial service. She rests for eternity beside her husband.

Son Robert Lee Rupar Sr. (1933-2008) was born on Sept. 26, 1933 in Philippi. He was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps in Korea and Vietnam. Later, he worked as an electrician for Sparks Medical Center in Fort Smith, AR. He married Thi Kieu Hoang (1940-2004), a native of Saigon, Vietnam. Thi Kieu had been married before and brought four children to the union: Pam Rupar-Lee, Lisa Nguyen, Dung Hoang and Tuan Hoang. They went on to have two children of their own: ZoAnn Hernandez and Robert Rupar Jr. They resided in Van Buren, AR and were Buddhists. The couple is believed to have separated. Thi Kieu died on Nov. 12, 2004 in Barling, Sebastian County, AR. Burial was in the Barling Cemetery, with an obituary printed in the Times Record. Robert survived her by four years. He died at the age of 74 on June 5, 2008. A memorial service was held at the U.S. National Cemetery at Fort Smith.

Daughter Frances Rupar (1936-1995) was born on Jan. 4, 1936 at Galloway, Barbour County. As a young woman she moved to Clarksburg, Harrison County, WV where she took up residence at 1 Bruce Street. At the age of 22, she wed 28-year-old Patsy Joseph Imperial (1929- ? ), son of Joe and Mary Teresa (Pandora) Imperial. Their nuptials took place in Clarksburg on Aug. 23, 1958, with Rev. Colombo F. Bandiera officiating at St. John's Roman Catholic Church. When Patsy was a student at St. Mary's High School, he played baseball on the 1947 team which captured the Little 10 Conference Championship. (He and the team were pictured in the April 8, 2013 edition of the Clarksburg Exponent Telegram.) Frances died on April 4, 1995, just six months before her mother. A search has been made for an obituary in the Clarksburg newspapers of the era at West Virginia University, but none are on file there for the pertinent date.

Daughter JoAnn Rupar (1937- ? ) was born in about 1937. Circa 1959, she was united in matrimony with Gorman F. Mayle (March 10, 1936-2021), son of Berkie and Myrtle (Norris) Mayle of Philippi. Their union endured the ups and downs of 62 years together. They established a residence in East Canton, OH. Three daughters in this family were Linda Drake, Dawn Butler and Lisa Entrikin. Gorman earned a living with the Ohio Laborers Union Local 1015 and the Cement Masons Union Local 109 of Akron. As time allowed, Gorman liked to garden and hunt. With his health in decline, Gorman was admitted to Altercare of Louisville, OH. There, he died at the age of 85 on Nov. 22, 2021. Burial was in Mapleton Cemetery.

Son James Bradley Kennedy (1911-1968) was born on June 19, 1910 in Barbour County, WV.

He married Adeline Josephine Dalton (1917-1964), the daughter of Floyd Dalton of Quiet Dell, WV.

The Kennedys had three children -- Franklin Kennedy, Loretta Jean Jenkins and Dorothy Elouise Iaquinta.

James was a longtime coal miner. He was an employee of Clinchfield Coal Company, Dola Mine No. 2, in the 1960s, and a member of the United Mine Workers of America. They were members of the Mt. Zion Methodist Church of Anmore.

Sadly, Adeline died at the age of 46 on Feb. 8, 1964, said the Grafton Sentinel, "in a Clarksburg hospital following a brief illness." Following her funeral at the Mt. Zion Methodist Church, led by Rev. Clyde Loar, she was buried in the church cemetery.

James was the informant for his father's death certificate in 1965. Circa 1968, he lived in Anmoore.

After being stricken with a sudden, acute coronary occlusion at the age of 57, James died in Buckhannon, Upshur County on May 1, 1968. According to his obituary printed in the Grafton Sentinel, James was survived by six grandchildren. He was laid to rest in Mt. Zion Cemetery in Anmoore, Harrison County.

Son Franklin C. "Frank" Kennedy (1936-2007) was born on Nov. 25, 1936 in Galloway, WV. He served in the U.S. Army in young manhood and settled in Canton, Stark County. On May 12, 1962, he entered into marriage with Barbara Lee ( ? - ? ). Their union endured for 45 years until cleaved apart by death. Two daughters borne by the couple were Karen L. Maley and Jill A. Kennedy. Franklin was employed for many years by Kaiser Aluminum, retiring in 1998 as an operations manager. In his free time he liked to golf and hunt. The family belonged to St. Louis Catholic Church in Louisville, OH, and he held memberships in the Knights of Columbus, Eagles Aerie, American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. As of 2007, their residence was in Louisville near Canton. Sadly, Franklin died at the age of 70 on June 21, 2007. His mass of Christian burial was sung in the family house of worship, led by Msgr. Ken Miller, with burial of the remains in the church cemetery. An obituary was published in the Canton Repository.

Granddaughter Karen L. Kennedy ( ? - ? ) wed Mike Maley ( ? - ? ). They put down roots in Louisville, OH and are the parents of Heather L. Maley, Heidi L. Maley and Hannah L. Maley.

Granddaughter Jill A. Kennedy ( ? - ? ) was in Louisville in 2007.

Daughter Loretta Jean Kennedy (1935-2021) was born on May 16, 1935 at Galloway, Barbour County. At the age of 19, on May 13, 1955, she wed 25-year-old Orvil Lee Jenkins (1929-2000), son of Van and Clara (Crites) Jenkins of Little Birch, Braxton County, WV. Rev. Russell W. Harvey officiated at the ceremony held in Clarksburg, Harrison County, WV. At the time of marriage, he lived at Sprague, Raleigh County, WV and she at Anmoore near Clarksburg. Together, the couple produced a family of two -- Sheila Roehrig and Richard Jenkins. The Jenkinses established a home in the Plum Borough section of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, PA and lived there in the 1960s. Tragedy visited the family in July 1966, when two motorcyclists were killed when colliding with Orvil's vehicle on Saltsburg Road in Plum. Orvil was hospitalized but recovered and lived for many more years. The couple appears to have divorced. On April 25, 1992, Loretta wed a second time to James L. Salsgiver ( ? - ? ), with their nuptials held in the Natrona section of Pittsburgh. He brought four stepchildren into the second union -- James "Buddy" Hiller, Jamie Salsgiver, Mandy Lothrop and Charles Morrison. Eventually they moved to Titusville, PA. Loretta belonged to the ladies auxiliary of the Titusville Veterans of Foreign Wars. She liked to cook, collect bells and roosters, and tend her flower beds. She died at the age of 85, in Titusville Area Hospital, on Feb. 5, 2021. She was survived by 21 grandchildren. Her cremains were placed at rest in a cemetery in Anmoore. In an obituary, the family said that " Loretta was a kind and giving person who would appreciate, in her memory, a paying forward deed for someone in need." Ex-husband Orvil died on Aug. 20, 2000 in Natrona Heights.

Daughter Dorothy Elouise Kennedy (1938-1984) was born on June 15, 1938 in Galloway, Barbour County. On Jan. 6, 1962, when she was 23 years of age, Dorothy married 24-year-old William Iaquinta Jr. (1937- ? ). He was the son of William and Loretta (Garcia) Iaquinta and a resident of Clarksburg, Harrison County, WV. Rev. Colombo F. Banderia, of St. John's Catholic Church of Clarksburg, led the nuptials. Whether or not they reproduced is unknown. The pair lived in Arlington, VA circa 1968. Sadly, Dorothy died on Feb. 5, 1984. Burial was in Greenwood Cemetery in Sharpsburg, near Pittsburgh. No obituary has been located in Pittsburgh area newspapers. The widowed William survived his bride by decades and in 2021 lived in Tarentum, PA.

Daughter Opal "Sweets" Kennedy (1916-2006 ) was born on April 17, 1916 or 1918 in Philippi.

On Aug. 23, 1934, and perhaps again on Oct. 7, 1934, when she was 18 years of age, Opal was united in matrimony with 25-year-old Lindsey "Linzy" Mayle (June 3, 1909-1971), the son of Eugene and Essie "Ocie/Ozie" Mayle of Grafton. The wedding took place at Philippi. At the time, Linzy lived in Flemington, while Opal resided in Galloway.

The Mayles together produced a brood of 11 children, of whom the identities of nine are known -- Roger Mayle, Dowl "Junior" Mayle, Freda "Sissy" (Mayle) Mayle, Carolyn Hill, Floyd "Tommy" Mayle, Michael Alan Mayle, Patricia Hill, Nancy Tippie, Albert Lynn Mayle and Kathy McKibben.

The federal census enumeration of 1940 shows the family in the Pleasant District of Barbour County. He earned a living that year as a truck driver. Their next-door neighbors were Floyd and Esther Dalton and Wardy and Anis Mayle.

Then in 1950, still in Pleasant, and living next-door to Opal's parents, Linzy continued to work in the local mines as a shuttle car operator.

Later, by 1957, they relocated to Ohio, settling in Chesterhill near McConnelsville, Morgan County, where Linzy's mother was living. Grief cascaded over the family at the death of two-year-old son Albert Lynn in Children's Hospital, Columbus, on March 6, 1957. The child's obituary in the Zanesville Times Recorder said he had "been a patient for one day." The remains were brought back to Chesterhill to sleep under the sod.

Sadly, Linzy died in Bethesda Hospital on Dec. 27, 1971 at the age of 62. His obituary was published in the Zanesville Times Recorder. He was survived by 13 grandchildren, his mother, brother Kirby of Chesterhill and sister Freda Shephens of Canton. Funeral services were conducted by Rev. Ralph Tate and Rev. Frank Peoples in the Chesterhill United Methodist Church.

Opal outlived him by 35 years. "She was an aide at Mark Rest Center for 20 years and belonged to the Cornerstone Church in McConnelsville," said the Zanesville (OH) Times Recorder.

Opal passed away at the age of 88 on June 16, 2006, at the Good Samaritan Medical Center in Zanesville. She was laid to rest in Chesterhill Cemetery in Chesterhill, with Pastor Steve Smith presiding at the services. At the time of her death, Opal and Linzy had produced 23 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren.

Son Dowl "Junior" Mayle (1935-2018) was born on May 6, 1935 in Philippi. At the age of 15, in 1950, he earned a living as janitor of a county school in or near Berryburg. He served in the U.S. Air Force as a young man, with a posting to Newburg, NY as of 1957. Later, he was employed by Malta Manufacturing. He was married and made a home in Chesterhill. He and his wife were the parents of Bruce Mayle, Joyce Mayle and Sherry Walker. Dowl passed away at the age of 83 in his son's residence in Chesterhill on Aug. 24, 2018. Interment was in Chesterhill Cemetery, with military honors provided at the service.

Daughter Freda Magdalene "Sissy" Mayle (1937-2000) was born on Jan. 15, 1937, in Philippi. As a young woman, she resided in Berryburg, Barbour County. On Jan. 6, 1955, at the age of 18, Freda married 24-year-old Camden Mayle (1930- ? ) of Moatsville, Barbour County. He was the son of Clelle and Vittie Mayle. Rev. Fred DeCost of the Olive Hill Church officiated at the ceremony held in Simpson, near Grafton, Taylor County. They relocated by 1957 to Canton, Stark County, OH, and bore these children -- Deborah Dalton, Denise Kennedy, Deanna L. Tavares and Dwayne C. Mayle. Freda died at the age of 63, on Oct. 6, 2000, following an extended illness," reported the Canton Repository. She was buried at Melscheimer Cemetery.

Amy Nichols with "Finding Your
Roots" host Henry Louis Gates Jr.

Daughter Carolyn Sue "Carol" Mayle (1939- ? ) was born in 1939 in the Pleasant District of Barbour County. She relocated to Chesterhill, OH during the 1950s with her parents. Circa 1958, when she was 19 years of age, Carolyn was joined in wedlock with 21-year-old Harley Leon "Bud" Hill ( ? - ? ), a son of Harley Hieskell and Gretta Frances (Mayle) Hill of Chesterhill and a grand nephew of Lucy Lorraine (Hill) Minerd. News of their marriage license was published in the Zanesville Times Recorder. The Hills made their residence in 1971-2006 in Chesterhill. In 2014, their granddaughter Amy Nichols was interviewed on the Public Broadcasting television series "Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr." which aired on Nov. 25, 2014. The interview with show host and Harvard history professor Gates took place in Philippi, while he was researching his own West Virginia genealogy and connections with the original American Mayle ancestor, Englishman Wilmore Male. As part of the show, Carolyn agreed to have her DNA used for an "ancestry composition" analysis which tells what percent of one's DNA comes from the 31 established populations worldwide. The test includes DNA received from all of one's ancestors on both sides of the family. Carolyn's analysis concluded that a vast majority of her DNA -- 81.2 percent -- is shared with Northern and Southern European populations, confirming her known German ancestry on the Minerd side of the clan.

Daughter Patricia "Patty" Mayle (1941- ? ) was born in about 1941. She grew up in or near Berryburg, Pleasant District, Barbour County. She entered ito marriage with Harry "Lee" Hill ( ? - ? ) -- also a son of Harley Hieskell and Gretta Frances (Mayle) Hill and a grand nephew of Lucy Lorraine (Hill) Minerd. Circa 1971-2012, the Hills lived in Chesterhill.

Roger and a date - Amy Nichols

Son Roger Lee Mayle (1945-1969) was born on Feb. 13, 1945 in Canton, Stark County, OH. He grew up in Chesterhill and also in his parents' home region of Barbour County, WV before returning to Ohio for good. He was a 1965 graduate of Marion High School in Chesterhill, Morgan County. Roger is known on Dec. 6, 1965 to have enlisted in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, where he was assigned to an artillery unit. His term lasted for two years, with him receiving his honorable discharge on Dec. 5, 1967. Later, after returning home , he earned a living as a construction worker. Roger made his dwelling-place along Route 1 in Chesterhill and held a membership in the Bethel Wesleyan Methodist Church. Tragically, on the fateful day of March 10, 1969, when he was 24 years of age, he was badly injured in a one-car accident on Route 50-A between Sharpsburg and Amesville, Athens County, OH. Reported the Athens Messenger, the "car left the road, hit an embankment and overturned. A passenger, Aaron Mayle, survived the crash." He was rushed to Marietta Memorial Hospital where he died later in the day. Burial of the remains was in Chesterhill Cemetery, with Rev. Ralph Tate and Rev. Frank Peoples co-officiating the funeral rites. His mother applied for an official military headstone to mark his final resting place.

Son Floyd E. "Tommy" Mayle (1947- ? ) was born in about 1947. His address was in Canton, OH in 1969 but was unknown to the family in 1971 at the death of his father. In 2006, at the death of his mother, he was in Chesterhill and may also have lived in Philippi.

Daughter Nancy J. Mayle (1949- ? ) was born in about 1949. She is the mother of Daniel Mayle. She first married a step-cousin, Monte Cook ( ? - ? ), son of Lloyd Harold "Buck" and Damsel Jewell (Ramsey) Cook of the family of John Henry and Emma (Mayle) Kennedy. The Cooks dwelled in Chesterhill. Their known offspring were Christopher L. Cook and Angie Cook. Later, by 2006, she wed John R. Tippie (Sept. 5, 1946-2019), a native of Athens, OH and the son of Hollis R. and Thelma (Hunter) Tippie. He is thought to have brought a stepdaughter into the second union, Johnna Denbow. The Tippies made their residence in McConnelsville. John was a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War. He was employed for 34 years as a laborer with Malta Windows. He also belonged to the Malta post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Beverly post of the American Legion and local aerie of the Eagles in Beverly. In his spare time, he liked to collect knives, fish, hunt and fashion walking sticks and canes. Said an obituary, "He was a true outdoorsman." Sadly, John died at the age of 72, as a patient at Genesis Hospital in Zanesville, on May 20, 2019. He was pictured in his obituary in the Zanesville Times Recorder. Pastor Steve Smith led the funeral, with burial in the sacred soil of Chesterhill Cemetery.

Son Michael Alan "Mike" Mayle ( ? - ? ) joined the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He was deployed to Vietnam by 1971. After his term of service ended, he established his dwelling-place in Canton, and was there in 2006.

Daughter Kathy Mayle ( ? - ? ) lived in McConnelsville, OH in 1971. She wed Jeff McKibben ( ? - ? ). They dwell in Lexington, TN.