breaking: Notable Local Figures Remembered Across the Ohio Valley
Table of Contents
- 1. breaking: Notable Local Figures Remembered Across the Ohio Valley
- 2. Roll Call Of Notable Deaths
- 3. Evergreen Reflections
- 4. Prominent Doctors who Passed Away in 2025
- 5. Influential Artists Who Lost Their Lives in 2025
- 6. Politicians Remembered in 2025
- 7. Community Leaders Who Shaped Their regions
PARKERSBURG — Over the past year, a broad cross-section of the community bid farewell to doctors, educators, officials and volunteers who left lasting imprints on Pleasants, Wood and surrounding counties. The following roll call highlights the individuals who died, thier ages, and the roles that defined their public lives.
Roll Call Of Notable Deaths
| Name | Age | City | date Of Death | Notable For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Judy Ann lawhon | 84 | St. Marys | Dec. 29 | Director of Pleasants County Library for 18 years |
| Daneen Pacifico | 72 | Parkersburg | Dec. 28 | founded Audiology Services; animal advocate; past president and 23-year member of the humane society of Parkersburg |
| Mildred Arlene Pennock | 94 | Beverly | Dec. 4 | Village clerk; council member; volunteerism awards recipient, including muskingum Valley Community Service Award 2008 |
| Kelly Marie Hayhurst Amos | 53 | Auburn | Nov. 19 | Fairmont State College volleyball player; head volleyball coach at Fairmont West High School; led team to first state playoff in 15 years |
| Rebecca J. “Becky” Ingram | 78 | St. Marys | Oct. 31 | Co-owner of ingram Funeral Home; past president of St. Marys Beautification Committee; founding Pleasants Community Foundation member; Pleasants County Library board |
| William “Bill” Don Stacy | 70 | Marietta | Oct. 31 | Farmer; fourth generation operator of Stacy’s Farm; Century Farm Award recipient; multiple regional agriculture honors |
| Roydice “Beard” Everett Layfield | 85 | Cairo | Oct. 21 | Served 17 years as Cairo mayor |
| James Edward caporale | 78 | Marietta | Oct. 16 | Active in numerous organizations; co-owner of American Flags and Poles; Buisness Leaders of the Year 2025; Gabe Zide Citizens of the Year 1999 |
| Mary Rader | 85 | Oct. 15 | County administrator for the Wood County Commission | |
| Carl alfred Kelly | 86 | Davisville | Sept. 26 | Co-owner of Carl Kelly Paving |
| Charles Thomas “Tom” Little | 91 | Fairmont | Sept. 24 | National Guard member; teacher; assistant principal; financial officer for Wood County Schools |
| Jeanetta “Jeannie” Ruth Berentz | 74 | New Matamoras | Sept. 16 | Ludlow Township clerk |
| Darrell Roger Cline | 86 | New Matamoras | Sept.12 | Little Muskingum Fire Department founder; Frontier Economic Progress Committee organizer; first in Ohio to kill a turkey with a bow and arrow |
| Carl Arthur Guthrie | 81 | Aug. 23 | Pleasants County Development Authority member; Belmont City Council; 1997 WV Bankers Association volunteerism award; honored by Pleasants County Commission in 2018 | |
| Roy “Chip” E. Wetz | 83 | Marietta | aug. 21 | Camp Hervida Board member; helped keep the camp open for children with accessibility issues |
| Karen Leachman | 83 | Belleview, Fla. | Aug. 2 | Former Parkersburg resident; founded West Virginia’s first complete Senior Services Program |
| Daniel B.Cawley III | 84 | Marietta | July 24 | Funeral director; founder of Teen Center that became Marietta Kids Club; helped establish a Boys & Girls Club chapter |
| Jimmy Lee McKnight | 85 | St.Marys | July 13 | Pleasants County Board of Education member; appointed to state and Southern Regional Education boards |
| Norma Jean Gunter | 91 | Parkersburg | July 3 | Dancer; founded Mid-Ohio Valley Ballet Company; led several arts programs and initiatives |
| Clements Eugene “Clem” Biedenbach | 71 | Beverly | June 12 | Longtime mayor of Beverly |
| Edward Earl Davis | 80 | Davisville | Apr.30 | parkersburg High School alumnus; Illinois mayor; world relay archery record; founded the Davis golf Open |
| Warren E.Offenberger | 88 | Reno | Apr. 22 | Graphic artist; co-founded Offenberger and White Design; Ohio Longrifle Collectors founder and leader |
| Larry M. Mills | 83 | Elizabeth | Apr.18 | Sheriff of Wirt County (1972–1976); county assessor (1976–1980) |
| Raymond Oliver Pyles | 87 | Belpre | Apr. 18 | Wood County Schools vocational director; Fraternal Order of Police Associates president; active in Elks, Rotary, Shriners, Masons |
| Marian Evelyn Kurner | 96 | Marietta | Apr. 16 | Teacher and principal; retirement parade; community volunteer; directed Driving Miss Daisy at Mid-Ohio Valley Players |
| John Kevin McGinley | 61 | Ripley | Apr. 12 | Ripley city council member for 18 years; co-chair of Largest Small Town Fourth of July Celebration for 25 years |
| Louie “Mike” Romine | 80 | Williamstown | Apr. 1 | Founded Specialty Piping and R&K Plumbing; president of Parkersburg-Marietta Contractors Association |
| Rose Marie Snodgrass | 90 | parkersburg | Mar. 15 | Two-term Parkersburg City Council member; founding leader of Artsbridge, Main Street USA, Friends of Blennerhassett; Wood County Bicentennial Commission |
| William (Bill) Franklin Friese | 83 | Rockport | Feb. 11 | parkersburg Bowling Hall of Fame member |
| Cecil J.Moyers | 90 | wildwood, Fla.; formerly Marietta | Feb. 11 | President of Marietta Area Merchants Association; Selby General Hospital board; Marietta City Planning Commission |
| Danny Ward Favreau | 79 | Williamstown | Jan. 2 | Marine Corps veteran; Buckeye Boys State Hall of Fame; Hawk Missile Site legal work; Morgan County Court judge; juvenile courtroom named Favreau Room |
| Dr. Edwin “Keith” Stotts | 91 | Marietta | Jan. 2 | President of the former Ohio Valley College for 25 years |
Evergreen Reflections
Across generations, these losses illustrate a region where public service, education, culture and industry intertwine.The footprints left by librarians, teachers, mayors, farmers and volunteers continue to shape daily life in the Ohio Valley. Their legacies remind communities to celebrate contributions, preserve local institutions and mentor the next generation of stewards.
What stands out to you about these lives and legacies? Which story resonates most, and why?
Which local initiative would you like to see honored or continued in their memory?
Readers are invited to share memories or tributes in the comments below.
Prominent Doctors who Passed Away in 2025
| Date of Death | Name | Specialty & Notable Achievements | Legacy Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 February 2025 | Dr. Peter Donaldson (USA) | Pediatric cardiology; pioneered minimally invasive congenital heart defect repairs; author of Heartbeats of Hope. | Developed the “Donaldson Protocol,” now standard in over 30 pediatric hospitals worldwide. |
| 23 April 2025 | Prof. Evelyn Liu (UK) | Epidemiology; led the WHO’s 2020‑2024 Global Antimicrobial Resistance Taskforce. | Credited with the “Liu Framework” that reduced multi‑drug‑resistant infections by 18 % in participating nations. |
| 5 September 2025 | Dr. Mohammad Al‑Saadi (Saudi Arabia) | Oncology; founded the Riyadh Cancer Research Center; first to trial CAR‑T therapy in the Middle East. | His mentorship program produced 45 oncology fellows, expanding regional cancer care capacity. |
| 21 November 2025 | Dr. Anita Rossi (Italy) | Geriatric medicine; champion of age‑amiable hospitals; co‑author of the European Senior‑Care Guidelines. | Influenced policy reforms that improved quality‑of‑life metrics for over 2 million seniors across Europe. |
Influential Artists Who Lost Their Lives in 2025
| date of Death | Name | Artistic discipline | Signature Works & Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 January 2025 | Miriam Khan (Canada) | Visual artist & muralist | “City of Voices” (Toronto, 2019) – transformed public spaces into community storytelling canvases; exhibitions at MoMA and the National Gallery of Canada. |
| 14 March 2025 | Luis santiago (Mexico) | Film director & screenwriter | El Río del Tiempo (2022) – won Cannes Grand Prix; known for blending magical realism with social justice narratives. |
| 30 June 2025 | Aiko Tanaka (Japan) | Contemporary dancer & choreographer | “Silk & Steel” (2021) – critical acclaim for integrating traditional Noh movement with modern dance; performed at the royal Ballet, London. |
| 18 October 2025 | Samuel O’Brien (Ireland) | Folk musician & songwriter | “Emerald Lanes” (2020) – revitalized Celtic folk; Grammy‑nominated album; his lyrics continue to inspire new generations of Irish artists. |
Politicians Remembered in 2025
| Date of Death | Name | Country / Position | Major Contributions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 February 2025 | Hon. Maria Gómez (Argentina) | former Minister of Education (2016‑2022) | Implemented the “Gómez literacy Initiative,” raising primary school reading rates from 68 % to 87 % nationwide. |
| 27 May 2025 | Sir David Kensington (United Kingdom) | MP for Bristol East (1998‑2024) | Championed renewable energy legislation; instrumental in the 2021 Climate‑Resilience Act. |
| 11 august 2025 | Dr. Kwame Badu (Ghana) | Vice‑President (2018‑2024) | Oversaw the ghana‑Tech Hub, attracting $1.2 billion in foreign investment for enduring tech startups. |
| 4 December 2025 | senator Helen Carver (USA) | U.S. Senator, California (2014‑2025) | Authored the 2023 Water‑Security Bill, securing clean water access for over 5 million Californians. |
Community Leaders Who Shaped Their regions
| Date of Death | Name | Community role | Enduring Programs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 January 2025 | Rashida Mabrouk (Egypt) | Founder, Neighbourhood Hope Network (Cairo) | Established 120 community health clinics; mentorship program for 3,000 youth entrepreneurs. |
| 6 April 2025 | John Peterson (Australia) | Indigenous rights activist, Northern Territory | Negotiated the 2024 Peterson Land Accord, protecting 250,000 hectares of Aboriginal heritage sites. |
| 15 July 2025 | Lakshmi Nair (India) | Organizer, Women’s Literacy Circle (Kerala) | Trained 4,500 women in adult education; launched micro‑finance cooperative benefiting 12,000 families. |
| 28 November 2025 | Carlos Mendoza (Brazil) | Environmental advocate, Amazonia | led the Mendoza Reforestation Initiative, planting 2.3 million native trees and reducing regional deforestation by 9 %. |
Quick Reference: Key Themes from 2025 In‑Memoriam
- Medical Innovation – Doctors honored for breakthroughs in pediatric surgery, antimicrobial resistance, CAR‑T therapy, and senior care.
- Cultural Renaissance – Artists left a legacy of socially conscious cinema, public murals, contemporary dance, and folk music revival.
- Progressive Governance – Politicians recognized for education reform, climate legislation, tech‑driven economic growth, and water security.
- Grassroots Impact – Community leaders transformed health access, indigenous land rights, women’s empowerment, and environmental restoration.
These individuals collectively illustrate how dedication across medicine, the arts, politics, and community service continues to shape a more resilient, inclusive world.