By Paula Mitchell
Virginia Octavia Hively Propst was a fixture at the Sinnett Lane Grocery, a hub of the community, which was built by her husband, Dillon, and opened in 1948, with proprietors, Ruth and Kathy following. She was born Feb. 12, 1923, in Malta, Montana, the fourth of eight children to the late Loy Eston and Estella Wilhelmina Sibert Hively. She returned to the South Fork when she was five years old.
Virginia married Dillon Propst at the parsonage at Sinnett’s Lane with Rev. Kullman performing the ceremony. She graduated in 1941 from Franklin High School, and soon after she had Virginia Ruth and Eston Wayne. Her working career included the woolen mill in Cleveland, Ohio, a shirt factory making military uniforms for World War I, waitressing at the Star Motel Restaurant and making the store her top priority.
She had a green thumb, becoming an avid gardener, planting vegetables, fruits and dahlias, saving seed for the following year’s yield. Her cellar was always filled with canned goods. Well known for her baking skills, folks looked forward to her dumplings, pot pie, bread, buckwheat cakes, cruellers, and fried cheese to name a few of her delicacies.
Virginia was community oriented. She served as an emergency medical technician for the South Fork Rescue Squad and spending monthly time at Pendleton Manor to share fellowship in song and visitation. The Chrismons which adorn the St. John Christmas tree came to be due to her streamlining a production force which included her family, and church family. The quilt ministry, which continues to this day, came to be due to Virginia’s interest in organizing this activity. When she was unable to participate at church, the quilting activity continued in her home where she knotted even up to her late 90s. Church was a center point in her life and she was a very valued member of the St. John congregation. There were very few Sundays she missed attending and that would have been due to illness or other complications.
Virginia and Dillon loved to have a good time and laughter would often be accompanied with that. They very much enjoyed playing Rook into the late hours on a Saturday night. Family was a high priority in her life. She enjoyed keeping close contact with her relatives, and delighted with reunions and get-togethers.
Surviving her are three grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, (with their respective spouses) and two great-great-grandchildren, all of whom she was very proud.
Virginia would smile at the sound of the following song, which she loved:
“I’d stay in the garden with Him Tho’ the night around me be falling, but He bids me go; Thro’ the voice of woe His voice to me is calling. And He walks with me, and He talks with me, And He tells me I am His Own; and the joy we share as we tarry there, None other has ever known.”
Sympathy is extended to the family during this difficult time.
Life’s little instructions to make the day better include the following:
- No matter a persons’ age, it’s never okay to speak disrespectfully to one’s parents.
- Put the phone down.
- Shut the refrigerator door.
- Get regular checkups
- Be thankful for every meal.
Monday morning temperatures took a sharp dip to 38 degrees. Time to get the warm clothing out. Hummingbirds will be wending down to their southern home. Hold off cleaning their feeders to make sure they have actually left.
Quotes for the week are as follows:
“Catch a wave and you’re sitting on top of the world.” — the Beach Boys
“Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.” — Martin Luther
“I looked up my family tree and found out I was the sap.” — Rodney Dangerfield
“I never ran my train off the tracks, and I never lost a passenger.” — Harriet Tubman
“You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist.” — Indira Gandhi
Sitting by the porch swing is the place to hear the Talk of the Grove.
Rhonda and Helen Nash had a quiet celebration in honor of Rhonda’s birthday last week. The “main event” consisted of barbecued St. Louis-style ribs and one of Linda Rexrode’s peanut butter pies. It was a perfect celebration after a busy day of yardwork.
Helen and Rhonda Nash enjoyed a throng of visitors over Labor Day weekend as they hosted an Owens family gathering (Helen’s side of their family tree). Nashland was filled with hugs and laughter, the sounds of music, cornhole, Kan Jam, the delicious aromas of grilling, a “groaning board” of wonderful food, and the warmth of their new firepit. More than 30 family members came from West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina to celebrate some special time together.
Bill and Donna Arrington went to Morgantown to babysit their youngest grandsons and really enjoyed it. Evan and Ally went to the Mountaineer game.
Eddie Rader of Davis visited last Tuesday in the home of Willard and Judy Rader.
Eldon Puffenbarger is in Morgantown. He had surgery to repair a broken leg and ankle after suffering a fall last Wednesday evening.
Phil Downs received a good health report when visiting with his cardiologist, this week. He motored Saturday to Romney for a wedding, returning Sunday
This week’s clickety-clacks for the chin waggers are as follows:
- Alaska, Hawaii, Maine, and Vermont stand with bans on billboard advertising. The rule keeps their landscapes pristine, promotes safer roads, and preserves the scenic beauty that draws visitors from around the world.
- Pitcairn Island has a population of 50 people.
- Barbados boasts of 80 stunning white beaches.
- Iceland is the safest country in the world.
- St. Croix has flown seven different flags before being sold to the United States.
The remaining September birthdays include Lucinda Harper, ninth; Brittany Lehman, 16th; Sarah Hedrick, 17th; Bill Rexrode, 18th; Travis Beachler, 19th; Neva Rexrode, Jason Smith and Beth Moyers, 21st; Tammy Ruddle, 22nd; Woody Hoover, 23rd; Ruthalene May and Roy Roberson, 24th; Robin Evick, 25th; Charles Anderson, 26th; Jim Kile and Emily and K.J. Simmons, 27th; Debbie Sites and Justin Bowers, 28th; Tammy Lambert, Julia Homan, Ann Kiser and Chase Owens, 29th; and Morgan Hoover, Chuck Frame and Vickie Rawley, 30th.
Concerns are as follows: Mike Adams, Charles Anderson, Joan Ashley, Roger Ashley, Mercedes Aumann, Dave Basagic, Allen Beachler, “Bo” Boggs, Larry Byers, Joyce Calhoun, Marie Cole, Stanley Dahmer, Kim Davis, Jennifer Errett, Isaac Eye, Marie Eye, Mary Eye, Carl Gant, David Gillispie, Patsy Green, JC Hammer, Sharon Harr, Steve and Armanda Heavner, Hannah Hedrick, Jack and Starr Hedrick, the family of Morgan Hedrick, Chuck and Tracy Hiett, Jim Hiner, Evan Hise, Tim Hively, Edsel and Mary Ann Hogan, Julia Homan, the family of Bill Hoover, Delbert Olin Hoover, Keith Hoover, the family of Maxine Hoover, Debbie Horst, the Bill Huffman family, Bob and Cynthia Hurry, Mike and Lisa Jamison, Linda Jones, Richard Judy, Marsha Keller, Tara Kelley, Ruth Kile, Tom and Kim Kline, Tracie Knight, Laura Kropp, Melissa Lambert, Robert Lambert, Rex Landis, Donna Mallow, Paul Mallow, Roger and Skip Mallow, Audree Marsh, Anna Mauzy, Ed May, Gene and Joan McConnell, Gary McDonald, Neil McLaughlin, Rose Miller, Bruce Minor, Tom and Brandon Mitchell, the family of Thomas “Harvey” Jerry Mitchell, Barbara Moats, Gloria Moats, Jim Moats, Helen Nash, Aaron Nelson, Dwight Nelson, Ruth Nelson, Cheryle Paine, Terri Parker, Andy Pond, Wayne Price, Janice Propst, Alda Propst, Mike Propst, Sheldon Propst, the Virginia Propst family, Eldon “Butch” Puffenbarger, the family of Matthew Putz, Tom Rader, Willard Rader, Brandon Reel, Jason Rexrode, Jimmy Rexrode, Linda Fay Rexrode, Bernie Sasscer, Annie Simmons, Erin Simmons, Eva Simmons, Greg Simmons, Judy Simmons, Nelson Simmons, Tonya Simon, Robbie Sites, Mike Skiles, Ed and Carolyn Smith, Natalie Stephenson, Tina Stuben, Steve Stump, the family of Patrica Swecker, Linda and Larry Vandevander, Sandra Vandevander, Amy Vaus, Estelle and Don Wagner, Mary Louise Waldschlager, the family of Amby Waybright, Jr., Mike Waybright, Rene White, Sherry Wilfong, Judy Williams and Ann and Ed Wimer.
