Obituaries:

12-7-11

8-24-11

Bishop Emeritus Bernard W. Schmitt, the seventh bishop of the Roman Cath­olic Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, died August 16, 2011, at the age of 82 at Wheeling Hospital.He served as bishop for more than 15 years from 1989 to 2004.

He was born August 17, 1928, in Wheeling, the fourth of seven sons of the late Lawrence E. Schmitt and Eulalia R. Schiffer Schmitt. His concern for and dedication to Christ and Catholic education were developed at a young age. Following his gradu­ation from Corpus Christi School in Wheeling and Central Catholic High School in Wheeling, the young Bernard Schmitt dis­cerned God’s call to priest­hood and began his studies for the priesthood at St. Charles College in Catons­ville, Md. He later attended St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore. Later in life, he pursued a post-graduate de­gree in guidance and coun­seling at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.

He was ordained to the priesthood at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Wheeling May 28, 1955, by Bishop Thomas J. McDonnell. His first assignment as a priest was as associate pastor of the cathedral, while also serving as master of cere­monies to Archbishop John J. Swint. In 1963, he was appointed director of Voca­tions, director of the Prop­agation of the Faith and director of the Confrater­nity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) for the diocese.

In 1966, Father Schmitt was appointed rector of St. Joseph Preparatory Semi­nary in Parkersburg, where he served until being ap­pointed to his first pastor­ate at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in St. Albans. There, he was actively involved in the education and the formation of the students and families of St. Francis of Assisi Parish School. Father Schmitt was then appointed pastor of St. Mi­chael Parish in Wheeling in 1982. He continued his ac­tive involvement in Catho­lic school education at the elementary and secondary levels.

On May 31, 1988, Pope John Paul II appointed Father Schmitt as Auxil­iary Bishop of Wheeling-Charleston and Titular Bishop of Walla Walla. He was ordained to the episco­pacy August 1, 1988, and remained pastor of St. Mi­chael Parish in Wheeling. The following year, March 30, 1989, Pope John Paul II chose Bishop Schmitt to succeed Bishop Fran­cis B. Schulte as bishop of Wheeling-Charleston. On May 17, 1989, Bishop Schmitt was installed as the seventh bishop of Wheel­ing-Charleston. During his time as bishop of Wheel­ing-Charleston, Bishop Schmitt was appointed to the National Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Com­mittee on Priestly Life and Ministry, the Committee on Marriage and Family and the Catholic Campaign for Human Development Com­mittee.

On August 17, 2003, his 75th birthday, Bish­op Schmitt submitted his resignation as bishop of Wheeling-Charleston in ac­cord with canon law. Pope John Paul II accepted his resignation December 9, 2004. Bishop Schmitt was then elected as the dioc­esan administrator by the college of consultors. Bish­op Michael J. Bransfield was then appointed as the eighth bishop of Wheeling-Charleston. Bishop Schmitt continued to serve the dio­cese in his retirement, cel­ebrating confirmations, giving retreats and working with the Serra Club.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by four brothers, Reverend Eugene A. Schmitt, Law­rence J. Schmitt, Raymond J. Schmitt and Richard P. Schmitt. Surviving are two brothers, Henry G. Schmitt and his wife Virginia of St. Clairsville, Ohio, and Robert H. Schmitt, Sr., of Wheeling, numerous neph­ews, nieces, great nephews, great nieces and cousins.

Bishop Schmitt will lie in state at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Wheeling on Sat­urday from 1 to 6 p.m. and the family will be present from 4 to 6 p.m., on Sun­day from 12 Noon to 7 p.m. the family will be present from 12-2 and 5-7 p.m. A vigil service will be held at 7 p.m.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday at 10:30 a.m. at the Cathedral of St. Joseph with Most Rev. Michael J. Bransfield, bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, as celebrant. Entombment will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Wheel­ing.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Schmitt Family Charitable Fund, an endowment in the West Virginia Catholic Founda­tion which supports Catho­lic parishes, schools and charities closest to Bishop Schmitt and his broth­ers. Contributions may be sent to the Schmitt Family Charitable Fund, P.O. Box 230, Wheeling WV 26003 or made online at www.dwc.org.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.altmeyer.com Ar­rangements by Altmeyer Funeral Home, 1400 Eoff Street, Wheeling.

Burley Ralph Bragg, 82, of Ivydale entered into rest Monday, August 15, 2011 at Summersville Hospital.

Born May 11, 1929 in Clay County. He was the son of the late Fred and Gay Bragg. In addition to his parents he was also pre­ceded in death by his wife Laura Bragg.

Burley is survived by his daughter, Tara Bragg, step daughters, Anna But­ler, Elizabeth Duffield, step sons, Gary Douglas, William Douglas, sister, Ina Horner, cousins, Claric Cottrill, Carlos Cottrill ,18 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and 6 great-great-grandchildren.

A private service will be held.

On-line condolences may be sent to the family at www.carlwilsonfuneral­home.com Wilson-Shamb­lin-Smith Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Bragg family.

Helen Markle Belcher, 89, of Parkersburg, passed away Aug. 16, 2011 at Camden-Clark Medical Center-Memorial Campus.

She was born Mar. 31, 1922 in Maysel, WV, Clay County, daughter of the late Henry M. and Sarah Rhodes Markle. She was a Quality Control Inspector for Corning Glass Works where she retired after 39 years of service.

She is survived by her son, Rondell L. (Sheila K.) Belcher of Washing­ton, WV; daughter, Joan C. Smith of Parkersburg; four grandchildren, Laura and Brian Belcher, both of Parkersburg, Erica Belcher of Belpre, OH, and Shaun Belcher of Washington; and one great-grandchild, Daisy Cowdery of Belpre, OH.

In addition to her par­ents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Rus­sell and Roy Markle; one sister, Daisy Marie Markle; and her son-in-law, Phillip L. Smith.

Services were held at 3 p.m. on Friday, August 19 at Sunset Memorial Fu­neral Home, Parkersburg with Pastor Corey Forsyth officiating. Entombment was in Sunset Memory Gardens.

Visitation was Friday from 1-3 p.m. at the funeral home. Online condolences may be submitted to the family at www.sunsetpark­ersburg.com.

8-17-11

Garth Eugene Thomas, 94, of Dowling Park, Fla., passed away Sunday, Au­gust 7, 2011, at the Good Samaritan Center in Dowl­ing Park.

He was a native of Pro­cious, W.Va., moving to the Advent Christian Village in 1992 from Charleston, W.Va.

Garth was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, having served during WWII. He was a retired banker and in his spare time enjoyed building dulcimers. He was a member of Bixler Me­morial Advent Christian Church, Dowling Park.