Sprawling Westinghouse works in East Pittsburgh, where William was a crane operator at the time of World War I

Circa 1932, the Miners made their home in South Uniontown, and hosted a Christmas season visit by William's brother Espy, who made his home in Cleveland. The following November, when Espy and family again visited, William and Louise lived on Mullen Street in Uniontown. In May 1935, now living in East Connellsville, they attended a surprise 50th birthday party for Mae (Balsley) Fosbrink in South Uniontown, an event reported in the Connellsville Daily Courier.

Central Christian Church, Uniontown

Later that year, in October, they drove to Toledo, Ohio to visit Louise's brother William M. Balsley. During that trip, reported the Courier, they "also motored to Detroit.... While in Toledo they visited Fort Meigs, Turkey Foot and Fallen Timbers." In November 1935, Louise and her sister Mae hosted a multi-party dinner for their aged father in East Connellsville, who by coincidence of fate enjoyed a birthday within a few days of Louise's son Charles and grandson Charles, along with two other Balsley family members.

William is known to have been a pallbearer at the funeral of his uncle John Ross Miner in 1935. He and Louise resided on McClellantown Road in the 1940s, at Thompson Cross Roads in 1947 and later at 64 Lenox in Uniontown. They were members of the Central Christian Church of Uniontown.

The Miners relocated again to a home at 34 Wagner Road in North Union Township. Stricken with lung cancer, William was admitted to Presbyterian University Hospital in Pittsburgh. Five days later, he passed away on Jan. 25, 1958 at the age of 68.

Louise outlived him by five years. She moved into the home of her son Harold in Lorain, Cuyahoga County, OH. She died in Harold's home on Dec. 19, 1963, at the age of 76.

Her remains were returned to Connellsville to be placed into eternal rest beside her husband at Mt. Olive Cemetery in Bullskin Township. At the time, reported the Courier, she was survived by six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Son Charles Woodrow Miner (1913-1976) was born in 1913. When he was 18 years of age, he was united in holy matrimony with 15-year-old Mabel Kathryn (or "Catherine") Sickles (1916- ? ), daughter of Newton Sickles of Revere, a coal mining community near Uniontown. They eloped to Oakland, Garrett County, MD on July 31, 1931, with their nuptials taking place in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and with Rev. Dawson officiating. The news of their wedding was reported in the Connellsville Daily Courier. The couple went on to produce one son, Charles William Miner. The Miners dwelled in Uniontown circa August 1935, when they visited Charles' parents in East Connellsville for a week, an event which made the gossip columns of the Connellsville Daily Courier. When the federal census was enumerated in 1940, Mabel at age 23 headed a household in Uniontown with their six-year-old son, but Charles' whereabouts at that time are not yet known. Later, Charles relocated to New Jersey and was there in 1958. He passed away in 1976, at age 63, and is buried beside his brother William -- but otherwise alone -- in the Union Dale #3 Cemetery on Pittsburgh's North Side. Mabel's fate is not yet known.

• Grandson Charles William Miner (1934- ? ) was born in 1934. He wed Waltraud Marie Jurka ( ? - ? ), a native of Jagendork, Slovakia. The two sons born to this union were Charles William Miner Jr. and Howard Acklin Miner. Circa 1981, Charles William and family made their home in Fayetteville, NC. They are mentioned in Luther Grimm's Grim and Grimm families book.

Son William Espy Miner (1919-1986) was born on June 1, 1919 and was named in part after an uncle. He was an optician, with his practice based in Pittsburgh circa 1959. He married Margaret Hightower ( ? -1971) on Dec. 22, 1938, when he was age 19. The Miners went on to have three children -- Linda Virginia Pringle Johns, Josephine Kavanaugh Downs and William Clyde Miner. By 1941, the family had relocated to Birmingham, AL, and William is believed to have served in the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II. Later, they returned to their home region of Pittsburgh, residing at 160 Henderson Street and at 2520 Spring Garden Avenue on the North Side. William is remembered as being "hilarious" with a "crazy" sense of humor that runs in this branch of the family. Margaret passed away in Pittsburgh on April 21, 1971, with her obituary printed in the Pittsburgh Press. William survived her by 15 years. He died on March 6, 1986, at the age of 73, on Pittsburgh's North Side. Funeral services were held in the McDonald-Linn Funeral Home in Bellevue, with his obituary also published in the Press. He was buried between his wife and brother Charles in Union Dale #3 Cemetery on Pittsburgh's North Side, following a service led by Rev. Clayton Sheridan. Their grave markers were photographed by the founder of this website circa 1995.

• Granddaughter Linda Virginia Miner (1941-living) was born in 1941 in Birmingham, AL. She has been married twice. On June 20, 1959, when she was 18 years of age, she wedded her first spouse, Dennis Monroe "Buck" Pringle (1941-1999). He was the son of Dennis Monroe and Pauline (Titus) Pringle Sr. and a native of Weston, Lewis County, WV. Pittsburgh alderman William L. Luther officiated, with Linda's sister Josephine marrying Harvey Howard Kavanaugh the same day and by the same official. The Pringles resided in DuBois, PA and were together for nearly 40 year. They produced four children -- Kirk Pringle, Ron Pringle, David Pringle and Louise Ann Pringle. Sadly, their daughter Louise died in infancy. Dennis passed away at the age of 58 on March 3, 1999. Linda's second husband was widower Jack Lopez Johns (1933-2015), son of William Arthur and Mary Elizabeth (Walker) Johns of Myakka City, FL. He brought two children to the marriage -- Jack Johns and George Johns. Jack spent his career with the U.S. Air Force and saw duty during both the Korean War and Vietnam War. he also enjoyed gardening, golfing, fishing and hunting. They made their home in Forsyth, GA. Heartache enveloped the family on Sept. 8, 2010 when son Kirk passed away in Corning, NY. Jack passed into eternity on Oct. 29, 2015 in Forsythe. Funeral services were held at the North Macon Church of Christ in Macon, GA, with Ministers Harry Goff and Bill Bonner officiating. In an obituary published in The Telegraph, the family asked that donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project.

• Granddaughter Josephine Miner (1943- ? ) was born on April 1, 1943 in Uniontown. She was married thrice. At the age of 16, on June 20, 1959, she first wedded bricklayer Harvey Howard Kavanaugh (Dec. 28, 1937- ? ), son of Howard John and Hilda (Gordon) Kavanaugh and a native of San Francisco. Josephine's sister Linda was wedded to Dennis Monroe Pringle Jr. on the same day and by the same official. Josephine filed for divorced in 1965, with the news listed in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. By 1971, she had married again to William "Bill" Ruege (Jan. 24, 1933-1979), son of Charles Fred and Garnet E. (Buzard) Ruege. The couple resided on Pittsburgh's North Side, at 300 West Burgess Street in Perry Hilltop. They bore three known offspring -- James Allen Ruege, Kimberly Ann Ruege and Margaret Jo Painter. William earned a living as a steamfitter and belonged to the Steam Fitters Union. The couple appears to have separated, with William making his home on Hawkins Avenue. Sadly, William was admitted to Allegheny General Hospital where he died on March 12, 1979. Interment of the remains was in Allegheny County Memorial Park. His death notice was printed in the Pittsburgh Press and a more expansive obituary in the North Hills News Record. Later still, she was joined in matrimony with (?) Downs ( ? - ? ).

  Great-grandson James Allen Ruege ( ? - ? )

  Great-granddaughter Kimberly Ann Ruege ( ? - ? )

  Margaret and Thomas Painter and their family

  Great-granddaughter Margaret Jo Ruege is married to Rev. Thomas Painter. They have a family of three -- Thomas William Painter, Noah Thomas Painter and Autumn Bailey Painter. In adulthood, Margaret was diagnosed with two autoimmune diseases (Lupus and Multiple Sclerosis) along with severe arthritis, fibromyalgia, asthma, ACL deficient knees and allergies. She often was bedridden and in and out of her wheelchair for over 10 years. This drove Thomas into overwork and alcoholism. The couple immersed themselves in mycology (the scientific study of fungi), and when she began taking medicinal mushroom extracts known as Reishi and Chaga in June 2020, Margaret felt an instant divine healing. Within a month she was out of bed, freed from her wheelchair and hiking five to 10 miles a day everyday as her leg muscles strengthened and no longer were in pain. Her physician's laboratory testing showed perfect lievels of blood pressure, sugar, thyroid, liver, kidney function and inflammatory activity rate, with and no sign of lupus or MS. Said Thomas, "God revealed more and more to us as we continued to glorify Him and spread His message. The Lord has blessed us with a healing and deliverance ministry." Today the couple oversees activities in 22 states in the Northeast United States for Bob Larson, a radio and television evangelist who is pastor of Spiritual Freedom Church in Phoenix. They also operate a business known as "Foraged with Faith."

• Grandson William Clyde Miner ( ? - ? ) was living as of 1986.

Son Harold Donald Miner Sr. (1924-1998) was born on May 17, 1924 in Hopwood, Fayette County. At the age of 23, on June 29, 1947, he was united in the bonds of holy matrimony with 17-year-old Mary Lou Perkins (1929- ? ), daughter of coal miner William R. and Mary (Oros) Perkins of Uniontown. Together, they produced a family of two sons -- Harold Donald Miner Jr. and Douglas Alan Miner. Harold Sr. served with the U.S. Army in World War II, attached to the 6th Cavalry Reconnaisance Squadron. During the duration of the war, he was stationed in Rhineland, Ardennes and Central America. He is pictured in the book, Heroes All, a service album of soldiers from Uniontown and South Union Township. He lived in Lorain, near Cleveland, OH circa 1958-1963. After the death of Harold's father in 1958, Harold's widowed mother moved into their home in Lorain, and spent the balance of her life there. She died there the week before Christmas 1963. Circa 1981, the Miners resided at Amherst, Lorain County, OH, where Harold is believed to have been employed as a supervisor for retail shoe store businesses. He was a member of several Masons-related organizations and served a term as president of the Ohio Buckeye Club. The couple relocated to Central Florida in 1988 and settled in the town of Tavares, Lake County at the address of 3426 Manatee Road. They are known to have attended the Episcopal Church. Sadly, at the age of 74, Harold passed into eternity on Aug. 1, 1998. His remains were lowered into honored rest in Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Sumter County, and an obituary was published in the Orlando Sentinel. Mary Lou's fate is not yet known.

• Grandson Harold Donald Miner Jr. ( ? - ? ) was born in (?). In 1970, he married Noel Whyte ( ? - ? ), daughter of William and Margaret Alice (Kilpoatrick) Whyte of Lorain, OH. Circa 1998, they lived in Davie, Broward County, FL and in 2015 in Tavares, Lake County, FL.

• Grandson Douglas Alan Miner ( ? - ? ) was born in (?). He made a home in Tavares, FL in 1998.

~ Daughter Minnie (Miner) Parker ~

Daughter Minnie Miner (1889- ? ) was born in 1889. 

She married Gilbert Valentine Parker (1886-1964), the son of Benjamin and Margaret (Lambert) Parker of Tazewell, VA. They were wed in about 1905, when she was 16 and he was 21. He was tall, and of medium build, with grey eyes and dark brown hair. He received his middle name as a result of his birth on Valentine's Day 1886.

The Parkers bore at least eight children -- Orten D. Parker, Gestine Rosebell Johnson, Carlita V. Parker, Espy Leroy Parker Sr., Virgil Velorian Parker, Lloyd F. Parker, Everett E. Parker and Evelyn Venetta Napper (or Nappier) Harr.

In 1916, the family was in Wyoming County, WV, where daughter Gestine was born. By September 1918, when Gilbert registered for the military draft during World War I, he and Minnie made their home at 239 Charles Avenue in Morgantown. Gilbert was an electrician in a local coal mine, employed circa 1918 by Woodland Coal Company. They lived at Cass near Morgantown, Monongalia County, WV when the federal censuses were taken in 1920 and 1930. Gilbert also worked as a sawyer.

Minnie and Gilbert apparently divorced sometime after 1930.

Gilbert remarried again to Evelyn Buckland (1887-1978) of Terra Alta, Preston County. They resided on Crane Avenue in Terra Alta. Gilbert was a member of the Messenger Evangelical United Brethren Church and of the Moose lodge in Terra Alta.

He died at University Hospital in Morgantown of renal failure on July 6, 1964, at the age of 78. His obituary was published in the Morgantown Post. Burial was in Terra Alta Cemetery. Evelyn outlived him by 14 years. She passed away on Sept. 4, 1978. Their names are listed in Volume II of the 1997 book In Remembrance: Tombstone Readings of Preston County, West Virginia, authored by Janice Cale Sisler.

Minnie resided in Kingwood, Preston County, WV circa 1958, in Hutton, MD in 1960 and was back in West Virginia in 1968. Nothing more about her is known. 

Son Orten Dewey Parker (1911-1969) was born on Aug. 23, 1911. During World War II, he was a private in the U.S. Army. In 1964, he made his home in Pittsburgh. He died on Nov. 4, 1969 at the age of 58, with interment in Terra Alta Cemetery. No obituary has been found in a search of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. [Find-A-Grave]

Daughter Gestine Russell "Jessie" Parker (1916-1979?) was born in 1916 in Wyoming County, WV. At the age of 18, on Valentine's Day, 1934, she wed 21-year-old Noel Isaac Johnson ( ? - ? ), a native of Monongalia County, but living at Valley Point, Preston County, WV at the time. The ceremony was held at Albright, Preston County, by Rev. Lloyd Myers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Because she was underage, Gestine's parents had to provide their consent to the union. By 1964, she had remarried to (?) Kisner and resided in Pittsburgh. She may have died in Salem, Harrison County, WV in August 1979.

Daughter Carlita V. Parker (1920-1987) was born on Jan. 17, 1920. She was united in matrimony with (?) Savage and in 1959 lived in Pittsburgh. She died in Linesville, Crawford County, PA on Jan. 5, 1987. She rests in Linesville Cemetery, section Z, plot 103. [Find-A-Grave]

Son Espy Leroy Parker Sr. (1922-2004) was born on June 4, 1922 in Morgantown, Monongalia County, WV and named for his uncle Espy Leroy Miner. He had a grammar school education and made his home for decades in Terra Alta, Preston County. Espy in adulthood stood 5 feet, 7½ inches tall and weighed 140 lbs., with blue eyes and brown hair. He wedded Beulah R. Beatty (Feb. 3, 1929-1999). At the age of about 20, Espy was required to register for the military draft during World War II. He disclosed that he was employed at the time at a sawmill in the Whetsell Settlement near Terra Alta. On Aug. 15, 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Army at Fort Hayes near Columbus, OH, and served as a private during the conflict. After the war, Espy returned to Terra Alta. The couple's brood of offspring included Leroy Parker, Jack Parker, Alfred Parker, Russell Parker, Patricia Spearman, Diana Sisler, Rodney Parker, Mark Parker and Jerry Parker. Sadly, at the age of 81, Espy passed away in Morgantown on March 23, 2004. Interment of the remains was in Wesley Chapel Church Cemetery in Preston County.

• Grandson Espy Leroy Parker Jr. (1949-2020) was born on Oct. 12, 1949 in Terra Alta, Preston County. He was the father of Candice Parker and Cristi Parker. He made his home circa 2020 in Rowlesburg, WV. Sadly, he died at the age of 71 on Dec. 16, 2020. His obituary was published in the Preston County News & Journal.

Great-granddaughter Candice Parker made a home in 2020 in Gore, VA.

Great-granddaughter Cristi Parker dwelled circa 2020 in Oakland, MD.

• Grandson Jack Parker was in Terra Alta in 2020.

• Grandson Alfred Parker put down roots in Terra Alta.

• Grandson Russell Parker lived in Terra Alta.

• Granddaughter Patricia Louise Parker (1950-living) was born in Sept. 1950 in West Virginia. On July 13, 1973, in a civil ceremony held in Arlington, VA, she wedded 31-year-old Michael Jerry Spearman (July 1941- ? ). The son of James and Hazel Bell (Guyton) Spearman, he was a native of South Carolina and at the time was residing at Fort Myer in Arlington. Patricia's residence circa 2020 was in Bridgeport, Harrison County, WV.

• Granddaughter Diana Parker married (?) Sisler. She relocated to Winchester, VA.

• Grandson Rodney Parker was in Tunnelton, Preston County in 2020.

• Grandson Mark Parker made his home in 2020 in Terra Alta.

• Grandson Jerry Parker dwelled in Tunnelton, Preston County.

Son Virgil Velorian Parker (1923-1959) was born on Feb. 3, 1923 (or 1924). He served as a private in the U.S. Army during World War II. In 1959, he was unmarried and made his home in Hutton, MD, where he was employed as a tree surgeon. Tragedy struck on Aug. 6, 1959, while he was on a job in Parkersburg, Wood County, WV. He was electrocuted to death when his saw accidentally cut through an electrical line of 2,400 volts. He was buried in Terra Alta Cemetery. [Find-A-Grave]

Son Lloyd F. Parker (1924- ? ) was born in about 1924. He lived in Newburg, Preston County in the mid-1960s.

Son Everett E. Parker (1927- ? ) was born in about 1927. His residence in 1964 was Parkersburg, Wood County.

Daughter Evelyn Venetta Parker (1928-2008) was born on Aug. 23, 1928 in Morgantown, Monongalia County, WV. As a teenager, she dwelled near Terra Alta, Preston County. At the age of 18, Evelyn wed 23-year-old John Henry Napper (1922- ? ), son of Henry Franklin and Josephine (Shifflet) Napper. John was a native of Venton County, OH, and a resident of Millfield, Athens County, OH. They were married on June 12, 1945, at Kingwood, Preston County, by the hand of Rev. W.R. Eskew. Evelyn's father sent a written consent to the marriage, and her mother appeared in person at the county courthouse to grant her consent. In 1959, she made her residence in Parkersburg. By 1964, she had married (?) Harr and lived in Terra Alta. She died in Terra Alta on Aug. 3, 2008.

~ Daughter Lillie Belle (Miner) Nicholson McDowell Walters ~

Daughter Lillie Belle Miner (1893-1987) was born on Feb. 13, 1893 in Dunbar, Fayette County. She was married three known times.

Lillie was first married to Nelson A. Miles Nicholson ( ? - ? ), a native of Granite City, IL, on June 10, 1916. She was age 23 at the time of marriage, but the union did not last long, and they divorced.

Within just two years, she was united in wedlock with Arthur McDowell (1885-1947), a native of Chalk Hill, Fayette County.

Arthur had been married once before, to Susan Anna "Susie" Burke (July 6, 1888-1917), daughter of Andrew G.C. and Margaret (Pohlf) Burke. During the first marriage, the family had dwelled at the Herbert coal and coke works in Redstone Township, Fayette County, where Arthur plied his trade as a machinist. Tragically, Susie developed pulmonary tuberculosis followed by a gastric ulcer, and after 15 months of suffering, succumbed to death at the age of 28 on Feb. 6, 1917. Burial of her remains was in Chalk Hill Cemetery.

Thus the widowed Arthur brought several children to the second union, believed to have been Martha E. Cook, Arthur "Leroy" McDowell, Dorothy Fisher, Gladys Varndell, Thelma McDowell and Mildred Martin.

When Arthur registered for the military draft during World War I, in September 1918, he listed Lillie as his next of kin and stated they lived in house #8 in New Salem, Fayette County. He had blue eyes and light-colored hair.  

Lillie and Arthur produced a family of three more known children -- Joseph McDowell, Izora Louise Miller and Lillian Estella Solomon.

Arthur and Lillie resided for many years at Haddenville, Fayette County and were members of Chalk Hill Evangelical Lutheran Church.  In August 1928, they hosted a reunion of the McDowell-Miner family at their home. In reporting on the event, the Uniontown Morning Herald said that "So delightful a time was spent that all present agreed that a similar gathering should be held next year and that an effort should be made to interest an even larger number of relatives and friends.... There was no set program this year, the older folk spending the time talking over old times while the younger folk played games and romped in the orchard."

The family continued to attend the McDowell reunions during the 1930s and 1940.

When the federal census was taken in 1930, Lillie and Arthur and seven of their children lived in Haddenville. Also living under their roof that year were nine-year-old niece Thelma J. Rogers and 26-year-old brother Espy Leroy Miner. Arthur was employed as a saw mill laborer, while son Leroy, age 21, worked as a truck driver.

After Arthur's death, Lillie Belle relocated to Freidens, Somerset County. She later married Henry Walters ( ? - ? ) and moved to Akron, Summit County, OH. In 1968, at the death of her sister Meda Buttermore, Lillie made her home with Henry in New Castle.

She died at Brecksville, OH at age 94 on Aug. 12, 1987, and the remains were brought back for interment in the Chalk Hill Lutheran Cemetery. Her obituary was published in the Somerset (PA) Daily American, which said that she was survived by an astonishing 20 grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren and five great-great grandchildren.

Daughter Martha McDowell (1907- ? ) was born in about 1907. She married Wilbur Cook ( ? - ? ). Circa 1947, they resided in Kingston, NY and in 1956-1960 in Uniontown, with a residence on New Salem Road. In 1977, she was quoted in the Uniontown Morning Herald about helping a distant cousin from Long Beach, CA who was reunited with the family after watching the television mini-series Roots and making inquiries. Martha was deceased by 1987.

Son Arthur "Leroy" McDowell (1908-1983) was born on Jan. 30, 1909. He lived in Uniontown in young manhood. Circa August 1933, he attended the sixth annual McDowell Reunion, held at Shady Grove Park, and was elected to the social committee. Then in 1940, he was tapped as vice president. In May 1943, he and his wife attended a surprise birthday party for his aged uncle Grant U. Miner in Connellsville, with the news reported in the Uniontown Morning Herald. Leroy's home in 1956 was in Lake Worth, Palm Beach County, FL, at which time he spent a two-week vacation in Uniontown in the home of his sister Martha Cook. He remained in Lake Worth for years and, in 1972, returned to Uniontown to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with family. Leroy is believed to have succumbed to death at the age of 74 on March 21, 1983.

Daughter Dorothy Hess McDowell (1912-2003) was born on July 12, 1912 in Connellsville. On July 16, 1935, she married Ralph Edmund Fisher (1911-1996), a 24-year-old painter, and the son of Earl and Amanda (Barricklow) Fisher of Uniontown. Their wedding was held in Waynesboro, Franklin County, PA, performed by Rev. J.M. Rutherford. They had six known children, Joan Halbrook, Ralph E. "Junior" Fisher Jr., David Fisher and Amanda B. Fisher, and two who died in infancy. They lived in Lemont Furnace, near Uniontown. Dorothy was board treasurer of the Seventh Day Adventist Church of Uniontown and "enjoyed making quilts and blankets," said the Uniontown Herald Standard. Ralph was a devoted gardener and worked as a painter and wall paper hanger, and helped with maintenance chores at the church. He died on Dec. 30, 1996, at the age of 85, ending a marital union of 61 years. Dorothy outlived him by seven years. Tragedy rocked the family on May 29, 1999 when 17-year-old great-granddaughter Stacy Lyn Halbrook died in a vehicular accident in Berks County, PA. With her family at her side, she passed away at age 91 on Nov. 6, 2003. She was laid to rest at Christ Lutheran Church Cemetery in Chalk Hill. Surviving her at the time of her death were eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. 

• Granddaughter Dorothy "Joan" Fisher (1937-2021) was born on Feb. 5, 1937 in Uniontown, Fayette County. She married Charles E. "Chuck" Halbrook (1930-1985). Together, they produced a family of three children -- Charles "David" Halbrook, Brenda Walters and Judy Lough. Charles was employed as a machinist at Malsbury in Uniontown, and was a U.S. Army veteran. Active in the Seventh Day Adventist Church, he was a lay pastor of the Carmichaels church, and was an elder of the church in Uniontown. Joan held a lifelong membership in the Hilltop Adventist Church in Uniontown and served the congregation as a pianist. Charles died at the age of 55 on July 1, 1985, in Uniontown Hospital. He was laid to rest in Chalk Hill Lutheran Cemetery. Circa 1999 Joan made her home in Lemont Furnace and remained there over the balance of her years. She passed away at home on Feb. 3, 2021. An obituary said that Pastor Brandon Senior officiated the funeral, with burial in Christ Lutheran Cemetery in Chalk Hill, Fayette County.

Great-grandson Charles "David" Halbrook (1961-2021) was born on June 29, 1961. On Nov. 28, 1981, at the age of 20, he entered into marriage with Denise Holbert ( ? -living), daughter of Bill L. and Betty J. (Clevenger) Holbert. Their union endured the ups and downs of the span of 40 years. They were the parents of Stacy Halbrook, Marci J. Miller and David E. Halbrook. David was a longtime member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church and a 1979 alumnus of the Blue Mountain Academy in Hamburg, Berks County, PA. David secured employment at his alma mater as assistant dean of boys, head of maintenance and industrial arts/auto technology teacher, while Denise was assistant secretary there. The family lived in Hamburg in 1999. Tragedy descended upon the familyon the fateful day of May 29, 1999. Daughter Stacy, age 17, was killed while driving a van around a sharp curve on Mountain Road in Tolden Township, Berks County. The vehicle veered across the road and into a tree, rolling over and coming to rest in the middle of the road. Stacy and two others were pronounced dead at the scene, while her sister Marci, age 15, was life-flighted to Hershey Medical Center. The accident was reported in the Allentown Morning Call. The couple's home in more recent years was in New Ringgold, PA. After leaving the academy, he earned a living as a general contractor, painter and wallpaper-hanger as well as a truck driver for Brenntag, a German-owned regional chemical distributing company with operations in Reading, PA. He belonged to the Central Pennsylvania Teamsters and to the National Rifle Association. Sadly, David surrendered to the spirit of death on Dec. 6, 2021 as a patient at Geisigner St. Luke's Hospital. After an initial funeral service in Leesport, PA, his remains were transported for additional services in the Hilltop Seventh Day Adventist Church in Uniontown, PA. Interment followed in Christ Lutheran Cemetery in Chalk Hill, Fayette County. His obituary was published in the Uniontown Herald-Standard.

Great-granddaughter Brenda J. Halbrook appears to have been married twice. Her first spouse was (?) Walters. They were the parents of James Walters. By 2021, she had remarried to Todd Lough Sr. and made a home in Hopwood, PA.

Great-granddaughter Judy Halbrook ( ? -living) was born in (?). In June 1985, she was united in the bonds of marriage with Rodd L. Lough Sr. (Oct. 1, 1964-2017), son of Richard and Nancy (Oldland) Lough and stepson of Peggy Lough of Uniontown. Their union endured for 32 years. The only child borne of this marriage was Rodd Lough Jr. Rodd's occupation over the years was as a truck driver for a number of employers. In time he launched his own business and obtained emergency medical technician and paramedic training, and for 15 years worked for Fayette EMS and the emergency department of Uniontown Hospital. He founded PRL Transportation in 2015 and continued to work as a truck driver. He was a volunteer with the Hopwood Volunteer Fire Department and North Union Volunteer Fire Department. He also liked to hunt and spend time with his family. Sadly, Rodd suffered for years with cancer. He died at the age of 52 on Aug. 20, 2017. His funeral service was led by Pastor Yves Monnier, and interment of the remains was in Sylvan Heights Cemetery. As a widow, Judy has remained in Lemont Furnace.

Daughter Gladys McDowell (1913-2002) was born on Sept. 7, 1913 in New Salem, near Uniontown, Fayette County. She was joined in matrimony with a distant step-cousin, Christopher Daniel Varndell Jr. ( ? -1986), son of Christopher Daniel and Sarah Jane (Logston) Varndell Sr. of the family of Hiram Thomas and Hester Ann (Devan) Logston. Together, they bore a family of children -- Lillian Mae "Lillie" Dranzik, Christopher "Daniel" Varndell Jr., Arthur W. Varndell, Thomas E. Varndell and Mark W. Varndell. After the outbreak of World War II, Christopher joined the U.S. Army. The family made its postwar residence in Jeannette, Westmoreland County in 1959 and nearby Greensburg, PA in 1964. Christopher died at the age of 78, in Jeannette, on April 26, 1986. Gladys outlived her husband by 15 years. She passed into the arms of the angels as a resident of the St. Anne Home in Greensburg, PA on June 21, 2002. Burial of the remains was in Westmoreland County Memorial Park, with an obituary appearing in the Greensburg Tribune-Review.

• Granddaughter Lillian Mae "Lillie" Varndell (1942-1991) was born in 1942. She married James E. Dranzik ( ? - ? ). Two daughters born to this union were Audra Burbank and Sandy Dranzik. Grief enveloped the family when Lillie Mae contracted breast cancer and died in 1991. Her remains were lowered into repose in Westmoreland County Memorial Park.

Great-granddaughter Audra Dranzik was united in the bonds of wedlock with Steve Burbank. The couple did not reproduce. They dwell in Coatesville, PA.

Great-granddaughter Sandy Dranzik entered into marriage with (?). The pair together produced two children.

• Grandson Christopher "Daniel" Varndell III wed Patricia (?). Two daughters born into this family were Meghan "Meg" Varndell and Erin Colleen Varndell. Megan is the mother of three sons and Erin the mother of two daughters. Their home for years has been in Cincinnati.

• Grandson Arthur W. "Art" Varndell ( ? -2020) was united in matrimony with his high school sweetheart, Frances "Fran" ( ? -2021), daughter of Dorothy L. (Burch) Donoughe Simpson. They did not reproduce. The Varndells resided in Hannastown, Westmoreland County circa 2002 and Indiana, PA in 2015. Sadly, Arthur passed into eternity in August 2020. Frances followed him into eternity in May 2021.

• Grandson Thomas E. Varndell ( ? -living) was born in (?). He joined the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War and in the late 1960s was a military police officer in southern California. In 1969, in San Diego, CA, he was was joined in wedlock with Barbara Smolich ( ? -living). The couple dwelled in San Diego until 1973 and then put down roots in Irwin, Westmoreland County. In November 2003, they migrated to nearby Ligonier. The pair together bore two daughters -- Jennifer Lynn Cummings and Kristi Ann Barham.

Great-granddaughter Jennifer Lynn Varndell (1969-living) was born in 1969 in San Diego. She is married to David Cummings, an immigrant from England. They resided circa 2021 in Vancouver, Canada.

Great-granddaughter Kristi Ann Varndell (1974- ? ) was born in 1974. She was joined in wedlock with Michael Barham of Illinois. The couple makes a home in Whitefish, MT.

• Grandson Mark W. Varndell (1955-2015) was born on May 3, 1955 in Greensburg. He lived for years in Jeannette, Westmoreland County and was a longtime companion of Mary Huffman. He did not reproduce. Sadly, at the age of 59, he passed into eternity on April 1, 2015. His cremains were placed into eternal sleep in Westmoreland County Memorial Park, with the Greensburg Tribune-Review printing an obituary.

Daughter Mildred Ruby McDowell (1915- ? ) was born in 1915. On Sept. 12, 1942, in nuptials held in the First Baptist Church of Columbus, GA, she married Paul A. Martin ( ? - ? ), son of Jasper H. Martin of Flatwoods, Fayette County. Rev. F.S. Porter officiated, with a wedding dinner held afterward at the Ralston Hotel. The newlyweds' first home was in Columbus. They are known to have lived in Flatwoods in the mid-1940s -- in Kingwood, Preston County, WV in 1969-2002 -- and in Delaware in 2003. The Martins were the parents of Paula Susann Taylor.

• Granddaughter Paula Susann Martin ( ? - ? ) was born on (?). She received her bachelor of arts degree in home economics in 1969 from West Virginia University. On June 18, 1969, she was joined in wedlock with James Diven Taylor ( ? - ? ), son of Joseph E. Taylor of Morgantown, WV. Their wedding ceremony was held at the Kingwood Baptist Church. At the time, James was studying electrical engineering at WVU and employed as a draftsman with Galis Manufacturing Company in Fairmont, WV.

Son Joseph McDowell (1921-1988) was born on Oct. 2, 1921. He made a home in the family's dwelling in Haddenville. Circa 1987, he lived in Karthaus, Clearfield County, PA. He is believed to have died in Karthaus on Sept. 22, 1988.

Daughter Lillian Estella McDowell (1925-2018) was born in 1925 in Dunbar, Fayette County. When she was 17 years of age, in April 1942, she eloped to marry Ellis Paige Solomon (1923-2011), son of G.E. Solomon of Flatwoods, Fayette County. The couple tied the knot in the parsonage of a church in Cumberland, Allegany County, MD, where there was no waiting period for couples. Rev. A.K. Flora presided over the ceremony. Ellis earned a living at the time of marriage with employment at the National Tube Company in McKeesport, near Pittsburgh. The couple's marriage endured for an extraordinary 69 years. The offspring known to have been born to this union were Claudette Lee Solomon, Lillie Kathryn "Kathy" Overturf, Ellis Solomon, Jeffrey Solomon, Claudia Carrell, Mary Beth Lawson and Joan Solomon. During World War II, Ellis served in the U.S. Army in the role of gun instructor for B-29 bombers. The Solomons resided in 1947 in Lemont Furnace, near Uniontown, Fayette County. Ellis served in the U.S. Army during World War II and in April 1945 was stationed at Alamogordo, NM. Lillian and Ellis spent the majority of their married lives in Akron, Summit County, OH. There, he founded and ran his own business, Paige Equipment Corporation, from which he retired. They were members of Broadman Baptist Church, where he served as a Sunday School teacher and deacon. Lillian liked to quilt, walk, play the piano and bake fresh blackberry pies. Sadly, Ellis passed away on March 8, 2011, just two weeks before his 88th birthday. Funeral services were held at the family church, led by Pastor Chris McComb. His remains were transported back to his native Fayette County to be lowered into eternal repose in Bowman-Flatwoods Cemetery in Vanderbilt. An obituary was printed in the Akron Beacon Journal. Lillian outlived her spouse by seven years. At the age of 93, she passed away quietly on Feb. 15, 2018. She was survived by 14 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. Rev. John McIntyre preached her funeral sermon.

• Granddaughter Claudette Lee Solomon ( ? - ? ) was deceased by 2011.

• Granddaughter Lillie Kathryn "Kathy" Solomon (1943-1975) was born on Jan. 20, 1943. She married William Oren Overturf (1943- ? ). They lived at 101 South Market Street in Lodi, Medina County, OH. Sadly, she was badly injured in a vehicle accident near Wooster, OH and was pronounced dead on arrival at Wooster Community Hospital at the age of only 32 on Oct. 29, 1975. The Akron Beacon Journal reported that her automobile was "heading north on Ohio 57, [and] struck a car heading northeast on Ohio 585" which had run a stop sign. A notice of her death was printed in the Dubois (A) Courier-Express. She sleeps for all time in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Elk County, PA.

• Grandson Ellis Solomon married Dawn.

• Grandson Jeffrey Solomon wedded Ruth.

• Granddaughter Claudia Solomon was joined in wedlock with James Carrell.

• Granddaughter Mary Beth Solomon was united in marriage with Donald Lawson.

• Granddaughter Joan Solomon married Stephen Brothers.

Daughter Izora L. McDowell (1928-living) was born in 1928. She married Steward Miller (1918-1989), the son of William and Ada Pearl Miller. They resided in Connellsville and produced two children -- Dara Joan Loiselle and Russell Steward Miller. Circa 1987, she was in Friedens, Somerset County, PA and by 1989 had moved to Hancock, MD. Steward was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army, and a member of the Somerset Christian & Missionary Alliance Church. He was employed for many years as an agent with the Internal Revenue Service. He died at home in Hancock on Oct. 12, 1989 at the age of 70. His remains were returned to Pennsylvania for interment in Somerset County Memorial Park. Izora has remained in Hancock for many years.

• Granddaughter Dara Joan Miller ( ? - ? ) was born on (?). On June 12, 1971, in nuptials held in Somerset, Somerset County, she was joined in marriage with Stephen J. Loiselle ( ? - ? ). The marriage lasted for four years. Citing cruelty and indignities, she sued for divorce in December 1975. Her residence in 1976 was in Carbondale, Lackawanna County, PA. In November 1978, she began cohabitating with Matthew E. Kime ( ? - ? ) in Nicholson, near Scranton, Lackawanna County. Theirs' was considered a common law marriage. Dara sued for divorce in May 1989. Evidence suggests that in 1991, she was employed in Scranton by Midatlantic Design Associates.

• Grandson Russell Steward Miller (1953-living) was born on May 14, 1953. He was a graduate of the Shenandoah Conservatory of Music in Winchester, VA, where he majored in trumpet. Later, he obtained a master's degree in special educatino from Shippensburg University. On June 5, 1976, he was united in the bonds of wedlock with his first wife, Nancy Ellen Morgan ( ? - ? ), daughter of Paul G. Morgan of Middletown, MD. At the time of the first marriage, he was employed with Leary Educational Center in Cross Junction, VA. Then on Aug. 1, 1984, at the age of 31, he entered into marriage with 27-year-old Donna Kay Houpt (Oct. 25, 1956-living), a native of Hagerstown, MD and the daughter of Merle Luther and Genevieve Carolyn (Hofe) Houpt. Together, the couple bore two children -- Jennifer Dawn Webber and Bryce Russell Miller. Russell spent his career working with special-education students. Donna is an alumna of Shepherd University, where she earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education, and West Virginia University, where she secured her master's degree in education. She went on to a career teaching fourth and fifth grade classes. Today, the pair is retired and focuses their time as active musicians, with Donna on percussion, playing as the duo "Take Two Variety Band." Russ and Donna perform popular music from the Big Band era, country classics, 1950s & 60s rock 'n roll, and many original songs which he has written and copyrighted.

Great-granddaughter Jennifer Dawn Miller (1986-living) was born in 1986. She attained her masters in divinity degree from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC. She is is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church and and is pursuing her doctorate degree at Texas A&M University.            

Great-grandson Bryce Russell Miller (1991-living) was born in 1991. He was joined in matrimony with Nabin "Natalie" Leem ( ? -living). Bryce received a degree in general dentistry from the University of Maryland Dental School in Baltimore. He is also certified to perform Invisalign and dental implants. He currently practices dentistry at Annapolis Dental Suite in Annapolis, MD, which he co-owns. Nabin also is trained as a dentist but will become an orthodontist upon graduation in June 2021.

Alberta and Espy, in happier times

~ Son Espy Leroy Miner ~

Son Espy Leroy (or "Espey") Miner (1903-1960) was born on Dec. 12, 1903 in or near Greensburg, Westmoreland County, PA. 

He was only six years old when his mother died. He initially was sent to a Catholic orphanage in Greenville, PA. At some point he was taken in by his sister Lillie Belle McDowell and remained close to her his entire life. 

Espy earned a living as a young man by laboring a powderman's helper in coal mines in and around Uniontown. He was married twice -- his first wife, not yet identified by name, died in childbirth. Nothing more about her is known.

When the federal census was taken in 1930, Espy lived with his married sister Lillie Belle McDowell at Haddenville, Menallen Township, Fayette County. That year, he is shown to be a widower, and his employment as a road laborer. His whereabouts were unknown by his family just two years later, in 1932, the year when his father was fatally injured in a streetcar accident in Morgantown. Over the years, Espy is said to have been a high diver in Florida, a chauffeur, and dock worker and machine shop laborer in Cleveland. As a superintendent on the docks at Lake Erie, he helped unload automobiles shipped from Detroit, and great rolls of newsprint to be used by the Cleveland Plain Dealer. He later worked in a machine shop in Alliance, OH.

In Cleveland in 1932, at the age of 28, he wed his second wife, 18-year-old Alberta Juanita Brooks (1914-1990), the daughter of Ott and Minnie Brooks of Chicota, TX. They had three children -- Marlene Louise Richards Hogan, William Lee Miner and Carole Leetta Hubert. 

At the holidays in 1932, several months after the death of his father, reported the Uniontown Daily News Standard, Espy visited "for the Christmas season" with his brother William H. Miner in South Uniontown before returning home to Cleveland. Again the following November, Espy, Alberta and baby daughter Marlene motored from Cleveland to Uniontown for a visit with his brother William.

Espy endured great anxiety in about 1944 when a horrific fire in Cleveland swept through 20 to 30 city blocks. It was caused by the explosion of five large gas storage tanks near East 55th Street. With the Miner home just three blocks north, at 5456 Lake Court, Espy was consumed by fear of not knowing whether his wife and children were victims. He searched for them for four days, expecting the worst. With great relief, he found them alive and well, but it's said he never truly recovered from the experience.

Circa 1959, Espy and Alberta separated. He remained in Cleveland, while she moved to Monroe, Washington State. In July 1960, as his health was failing, he moved to a room in the home of his married sister Meda Buttermore in New Castle, Lawrence County, PA. Their address was 1824 Harlansburg Road.

Afflicted with cirrhosis of the liver, and having spent many years as a heavy smoker, the 57-year-old Espy attempted to take his own life by severing veins in both arms. Thirty hours later, he died in the New Castle Hospital on Aug. 16, 1960. In an obituary, the New Castle News reported that he was survived by five grandchildren. His remains were returned to Connellsville for interment in Hill Grove Cemetery, where his parents and grandparents also sleep for eternity. Word of his death was sent to Alberta in Washington, where she received the news three months later, in September.

After about a year as a widow, Alberta married again, to Lawrence Pattison ( ? - ? ). They enjoyed 28 years of marriage. 

Alberta died in Washington on Feb. 7, 1990. Her ashes were placed at Forest Grove Cemetery in Olympia, WA.

Son William Lee Miner ( ? - ? ) made his home in Alliance, OH in 1960.