Dear Friends:

The 3rd Annual Gathering of the Virtual Genealogy Society seemed to be a great success. I hope everyone in attendance had as good a time as I did.

Before I launch into the details of the dinner, I will say that the pre-dinner festivities were very enjoyable. There were about 20 people at the dinner at the Bella Via on Friday night and about the same number at the breakfast at Young's the next morning. (Thanks to Vernon Anderson and Naomi Hupp for making the arrangements for these gatherings.)

Following breakfast on Saturday, most of us went to the Marshall County Historical Society Museum. The members had worked very hard to present displays of Marshall County history and it was very interesting and enlightening.

I had an opportunity to speak with Lonnie and Judy Kiger and learned for the first time that Judy had known my dad.

When I was in St. Marys earlier in the week, I had heard of the hobby of collecting gas engines. According to Lonnie and Judy, this is a MAJOR hobby - - and very interesting!

We ended up having extra people come to the dinner but it all worked out well and everyone in attendance received a favor (mug & pen) after all. I was all concerned about this - - but needlessly. There were 76 people in all.

James Dague was our M. C. again, after just returning home from a week at Boys' State. He did his usual outstanding job and his participation is greatly appreciated, particularly in view of his busy schedule.

Elizabeth Swiger was not in attendance but she did make lovely programs for each place at the tables. My sincere thanks to Elizabeth for taking the time to help me, despite the fact that she was dealing with a great deal of uncertainty regarding her husband's health.

The evening was dedicated to the memory of Jim Wiley, of Akron, Ohio, who died of a brain tumor this past May. Jim was the M. C. at the first dinner in 1999 and he spoke at the dinner last year. His death has left a tremendous void in my life and I know that many of you feel the same way.

To honor Jim, I had asked Carlisle Bowling to write a poem to be read at the dinner. Carlisle is a very talented writer and his beautiful poem was a heartfelt and moving tribute to a wonderful friend and fellow genealogist. Carlisle's poem is now posted on the "Jim Wiley Memorial Page."

The featured speaker was Paul Burig of Wheeling. His lecture, "The National Road ... The First Interstate Highway," was quite informative and included an abundance of information that was new to many in attendance. Eventually, Paul's speech will be added to the W.A.G.S. page, where his other lectures are currently posted. - - Thanks to Paul for a job well done!

It was my pleasure to meet Connie Lilley and Cathy Caldwell at the dinner but I regret that I didn't get to talk to them. They are the women who copied the names of the World War II servicemen from the walls of the Marshall County Courthouse. This was a project that was near and dear to my heart and I truly appreciate the hard work they did to get me the list to share with the world.

Along this same line, Joe Parriott, author and historian, spoke briefly about his latest project. He and others in Marshall County are compiling information for a new book about the Marshall County veterans of the 20th Century. (See Military Section) He is asking that people submit information. - - Of course, I have been asking for the same information to put online and I hope that the veterans can be honored in as many ways and places as possible.

It was very nice to see Hazel Spahr looking so healthy this year after being hospitalized in Glen Dale when she came last year.

Larry Heffner, associated with my Calhoun County page, came to the dinner with his wife, Loretta, and I thoroughly enjoyed being at their table. Larry is a big help to me and he also participates on many of the other GenWeb pages.

I have probably forgotten to mention something about the dinner but this is all I have to say for now. However, I must add that I was pleased to see Paul and Dorothy Garvin at the dinner. Dorothy had been a teacher of mine at Boggs Run School and I had not seen her for 45 years! I did have an opportunity to chat with them and then I saw them again the following Tuesday at the Wheeling Library. - - I am extremely sad to say that Paul died on June 26. I have no further details at this time but James Dague called me and told me the news. - - My deepest sympathy to Dorothy and her family.

On a more pleasant note, I visited Crystal and John Allen on Rt. 88. Their new home is spectacular and I was thrilled to get to see it.

I was busy every second and did my best to see everyone I wanted to see, including my Uncle John Clarke, Vera Jo Bauer and Jim Thornton. An exception is Diane Huyer... Maybe next time.

The day after the dinner, I went to Mass at St Francis Xavier in Moundsville with my nun-friend, Sr. Florian. The church was recently renovated and it is quite beautiful.

Perhaps we will have another dinner next year...

Thanks to all. I will post pictures as soon as Blaine Standiford and/or others send me some.

Linda

NAME	LOCATION
Linda Fluharty	Baton Rouge, LA
Sister Mary Florian Habowski	Coraopolis, PA
Jim & Florence Schaffer	Moundsville, WV
Carlisle Bowling	Flagler Beach, FL
Mary Staley	Martins Ferry, OH
Phyllis Slater	Wheeling, WV
Vernon Anderson	Triadelphia, WV
Ed & Gail Yoho	Moundsville, WV
Cheryl McCombs	McMechen, WV
Don Fordyce	FL
Carla Quigley Stone	Colliers, WV
Stan & Mary Novak	PA
Blaine Standiford	West Melbourne, FL
Red & Charlotte Hunter	Wellsburg, WV
V. Kay & Jack Mason	Cameron, WV
Lonnie & Judy Kiger	Moundsville, WV
Daniele Bougher	Wheeling, WV
Myrtle Duke	Charleroi, PA
Helen Shipe	Charleroi, PA
Hazel Spahr	Belle Vernon, PA
John & Libby Wallace	Huntington, WV
Henry & Naomi Hupp	Moundsville, WV
Scot M. Rogerson	Washington, DC
Evan Rogerson	Moundsville, WV
Clarice Stanley	Martins Ferry, OH
Mamie Legg	Moundsville, WV
Larry & Loretta Heffner	Lewisburg, WV
Connie Lilley	Moundsville, WV
Cathy Caldwell	Wheeling, WV
Ted & Gwen Hubbard	Brooke County, WV (?)
Paul & Virginia Burig	Wheeling, WV
Rae Baker	Moundsville, WV
Jim & June Campbell	Moundsville, WV
Dorothy Dakan Sedosky	Moundsville, WV
Phil & June Wheeler
Opal Smith
Phillip & Nila Chaddock	Moundsville, WV
Joel M. Robinson	Moundsville, WV
James Dague	Triadelphia, WV
Sharen Bowers	Ohio
Gary Chambers	Paden City, WV
Harry & Bobbi Steele	Indianapolis, IN
Shirley Allen
Barbara Suarez
Marvin Byard	Glen Dale, WV
Howard "Biggie" Byard
Sam Criswell	Galveston, TX
Sid & Shirley Gorby
Harold D. & Dorothy Jefferson
Frances Bonar
Bob & Joan McClelland
Paul & Dorothy Garvin	Marshall County
Judy Fugate	Wheeling, WV
Mr. & Mrs. Joe Parriott	Moundsville, WV
Nancy Roe	Glen Dale, WV
Charlie & DeAnn Riley	Tucson, AZ