Sugar Grove
By Paula Mitchell
Those who were fortunate enough to know John O. Propst would readily agree that he was competent in so many realms. He was very talented as a mechanical engineer, and this served him well during his life-time. He was able to address issues that required maintenance. John was also well read, enjoyed the History and Discovery channels, and in turn this allowed him to show forth his intelligence. At times he would play the “devil’s advocate” during the course of conversations, which could range from religion to medicine and anything in between. He could be quite resolute and unyielding at times about his opinions.
John was born Oct. 18, 1941, to the late Lucy and Rudolph Propst. He attended Brandywine Elementary School, and after graduating from Franklin High School, he joined the Army in July of 1961. A proud patriot allowed him to be knowledgeable in the American lifestyle and politics. The remainder of his life surrounded the mechanical aspect, to which he was gifted…a machinist in Virginia, Hott and Miller Construction, his own Brandywine garage, helping with constructing Route 66 in Virginia and Route 50 at Gore, Virginia, Pendleton County landfill, Public Service District Water Works at Brandywine (Falling Springs) and Smoke Hole, and finally the Mountain View Trailer Park at Brandywine.
He was affiliated with the Brandywine Fire Department, Sugar Grove Lions Club, Pendleton County Farm Bureau, and American Legion. John was very knowledgeable about family connections, and to this he was called upon to clarify questions pertaining to the subject on numerous occasions. He indulged in the local culture, assisting with butchering, farming, horses, and other ways of life.
In the early 1980s, John, Gene Boggs, and Hun Simmons made a notorious RV trip, motoring to the west. The company went as far as Washington state seeing touristy highlights to and fro. The trip took 29 days with 9,000 miles traveled.
John enjoyed sitting on his front porch to observe the hummingbirds, and the traffic going by. Horses which grazed behind his house also kept his hours entertained. Taking motorist jaunts around the county was always a treat for him.
Perhaps his most telling acclaim was that he was a cook. He manned many a barbecue pit for the firemen and Lions, white beans in a kettle for the Lions at Treasure Mountain Festival, meals for hunters, steaks for countless trail rides, food for the cattle buyers from Ohio, Democratic Rallies, and steaks for the Lions August family picnic. His steaks were notorious! He took great pride in the cooking of the steaks. No steak sauce was ever needed and would get highly insulted were one to ask for some!
John loved children and his sense of humor often shone through with them. His daughters, Natalie and Emily, delighted him, and gave him a sense of pride. Natalie and John took a road trip to Montana to visit Emily, and he so appreciated doing this. His latter years brought many doctor visits as he dealt with pain and other health issues.
To Natalie and Emily, sympathy is extended from the many friends and acquaintances, during this difficult time.
Lessons to enable one’s daily life to be the best include the following:
- Take a nap.
- Walk down a country road.
- Enjoying old photos in albums.
- Take time to speak to, and include, an older person in a social gathering.
- Surprise a neighbor with some baked goods.
A nice Saturday afternoon shower was welcomed by the Sugar Grove residents, with about 8 tenths falling at the writer’s home. In other sections, not too far off, 4.5 inches fell. When pondering the difference, the writer is wondering if they “pay the preacher well!” Several areas on the South Fork were without power and phones due to the Saturday storms. They have been restored since. Although much more is needed, residents will take whatever comes by the way. September’s full moon is the fullest of full moons for the year.
Quotes for the week are as follows:
“Smell the sea and feel the sky. Let your soul and spirit fly.” — Van Morrison
“The ache for home lives in all of us. The safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.” — Maya Angelou
“Opportunity does not knock; it presents itself when you beat down the door.” — Kyle Chandler
“I used to love September, but now it just rhymes with remember.” — Dominic Riccitello.
“September tries its best to have us forget summer.” — Bernard Williams.
Come sit on the porch where the friendship is free, to hear the “Talk of the Grove.”
Ronnie and Christine Bowers welcomed a great-granddaughter to the family. Magnolia Mae Mongold was born Aug. 4.
Kinsley Armstrong celebrated her birthday on Aug. 31.
The 73rd annual Noah Eckard Family Reunion was held Sunday at Oakdale Park in Bridgewater, Virginia. Families and friends enjoyed visiting, sharing memories, and delicious food.
This week’s clickety-clacks for the chin wagers are as follows:
- The Australian Aboriginal culture is the oldest on Earth.
- Polar bear’s skin is black.
- Cats have over one hundred vocal sounds, while dogs have about 10.
- West Virginia is bordered by 5 states — Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, and Kentucky.
- Out of all 12 months of the year, September is spelled with the most letters — nine letters of the ninth month.
September birthdays include Loretta Blankenship, first; Eldon ‘Butch’ Puffenbarger and Shirley Sisson, second; Trent Alt, third; Eleanor Simons and Ralph Parker, fifth; Sandy Smith and Mike Eye (Jack Mtn.), sixth; Dawn Frame, seventh; Kelly Sites and Allen Sisson, eighth; Shawn Bowers, Liz Summerville and Lorena Hoover, ninth; Cara Mitchell, 10th; Braxton Grogg, 11th; Mary Simpson, 12th; Laura George, Brenna Mitchell and Barbara Woodward, Tyler Kiser and Carrie Harman, 13th; and Brian Harper, 14th.
Concerns are as follows: Bob Adamson, Dyer Anderson, John Ashley, Roger Ashley, Mercedes Aumann, Richard Bennett, “Bo” Boggs, Marie Cole, Christian Dasher, Phil Downs, Benny Evick, Isaac Eye, Linda Eye, Marie Eye, Mary Eye, Carl Gant, David Gillespie, Lola Graham, Patsy Green, JC Hammer, Marlene Harman, Missy Harrison, Marvin Hartman, Steve and Armanda Heavner, Grace Hedrick, Jim Hiner, Evan Hise, Tim Hively, George Hevener, Edsel and Mary Ann Hogan, Virgil Homan, Jr., Adalbert Hoover, Keith Hoover, Myrtle Hoover, Debbie and Enos Horst, Lisa and Mike Jamison, Jessica Janney, Alice Johnson, Richard Judy, Marsha Keller, Tara Kelly, Kim Kline, Ginger Knight, Tracie Knight, Laura Kropp, Melissa Lambert, Robert Lambert, Ronnie Lambert, Rex Landis, Noah Mallow, Roger and Skip Mallow, Yvonne Marsh, Ed May, Gene McConnell, Gary McDonald, Neil McLaughlin, Rose Miller, Bruce Minor, Tom Mitchell, Barbara Moats, Gloria Moats, John Morford, Bill Mullenax, Helen Nash, Aaron Nelson, Ruth Nelson, Cheryl Paine, Andy Pond, Janice Propst, Eldon “Butch” Puffenbarger, Alda Propst, Janis Propst, the John O. Propst family, Mike Propst, Sheldon Propst, Tom Rader, Brandon Reel, Charles Rexrode, Jason Rexrode, Linda Fay Rexrode, Pam Rexrode, Dennis Riggleman, Mike Roberts, Donna Ruddle, Jenny Ruddle, Mary Sawyers, Brittany Shriver, Annie Simmons, Greg Simmons, Erin Simmons, Eva Simmons, Judy Simmons, Nelson Simmons, Robbie Sites, Mike Skiles, Tina Stuben, Steve Stump, Elizabeth Terry, Linda and Larry Vandevander, Sandra Vandevander, Amy Vaus, Judy Waggy, Estelle Wagner, Mary Wagner, Mary Louise Waldschlager, Rene White, Norman Wilfong, Judy Williams, Ann and Ed Wimer and Margaret Wimer.
