BARNESVILLE — Howard Ephraim Stratton, 94, of Flushing, died Thursday (Feb. 8, 2001) at Barnesville Hospital.

He was born Jan. 18, 1907, in Flushing, son of the late George W. and Melva Holloway Stratton.

He was a member of the Shortcreek Monthly Meeting Society of Friends of Harrisville; a life member of the Belmont County Farm Bureau; active in the Belmont Soil and Water Conservation District; a past member of the Reclamation Board of Review; and a farmer.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Mable Whinnery Stratton, and his second wife, Sarah Cooper Stratton; four brothers, Arthur, Stanley, William and Charles Stratton.

He leaves a son, Lewis (Wanda) Stratton of Flushing; three daughters, Mrs. Oliver (Clara) Iden of Bloomingburg, Mrs. J. Randall (Martha) Giffen of Bellaire and Mrs. C. Edward (Mary Ellen) Wall of Ypsilanti, Mich.; 19 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren.

Friends and family may call today from 3 to 7 p.m. at Kelly-Kemp-Braido Funeral Home in Barnesville. Services will be 11 a.m. Monday at the Friends Stillwater Meeting House in Barnesville.

Burial will be in Shortcreek Cemetery in Harrisville.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Walton Retirement Home, 1254 E. Main St., Barnesville, OH 43713.

Word had been received of the death of Earl G. Caunter, 84, of Kirtland, who died Wednesday (Feb. 7, 2001).

Mr. Caunter lived in Kimbolton for 24 years.

He leaves his wife of 58 years, Virginia Caunter; two children, Jeff Caunter and Gay Muzie; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

CUMBERLAND — Esther G. (Mineard) Johnston, 69, of Cumberland, died Wednesday (Feb. 7, 2001) at Red Carpet Health Care Center, Cambridge.

She was born Oct. 1, 1931, in Indiana, Pa., daughter of the late J.C. and Maize Mineard.

Mrs. Johnston was a retired Avon representative.

She leaves her husband, Robert “Swab” Johnston, whom she married July 20, 1966; six sons, Bill (Wanda) Bozarth, Lloyd “Sam” Bozarth, Kenneth (Cathy) Bozarth, Robert (Leesha) Johnston Jr. and Howard Johnston and close friend, Brenda; six daughters, Mrs. Robert (Bonnie) Wolfe, Rebecca Bailey, Mrs. Clarence (Vickie) Doudna, Mildred Bozarth Hall, her fiance´ Tim Kincaid, Mrs. Darren (Sarah) Bourst and Deborah Johnston and Evan McKenna; 30 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.

Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday and from 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday at Tom & Farus Funeral Home, Cumberland, with services to follow at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Leonard Burson officiating.

Burial will be in Cumberland Cemetery.

Ralph LeRoy Price, 85, of Lore City, died Friday (Feb. 9, 2001) at Summit Acres Nursing Home in Caldwell.

He was born Aug. 22, 1915, in Belmont County, a son of the late LeRoy Wilson and Lura (Reynolds) Price.

He was a retired farmer and attended church at Antrim Methodist Church. He served as a Madison Township trustee.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Eleanore F. Price, in 1993; a sister, Helen Price; and three brothers, Walter, Carl and Emmet Price leaves two daughters, Mrs. Lawrence (Elaine) Luyster of San Antonio, Texas, and Mrs. Adrian (Marie) Stanley of Marietta; two sons, Dale W. (Donna) Price of Louisiana and Richard (Phyllis) Price of Old Washington; two sisters, Josephine Rufo of Las Vegas and Hazel Fritz of Brewster; two brothers, Wayne Price of Navarre and Clarence Price of Portersville, Pa.; 14 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Friends and family may call 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Bundy-Law Funeral Home. Graveside service will be 1 p.m. Wednesday in Union Cemetery in Morristown.

ROARING SPRING, Pa. — G. Robert Metzger, 76, Roaring Spring, Pa., died Monday (Feb. 5, 2001) at his home.

Services were held Feb. 8 in Trinity United Methodsit Church, Roaring Spring.

He was born July 21, 1924, at Roaring Spring, son of the late William and S. Ethel (Snyder) Metzger. He married Ruth E. Shoenfelt June 7, 1946.

He was a 1943 graduate of Roaring Spring High School and a Navy veteran of World War II, serving on the USS Appalachian-AGC-1. He retired as a weightmaster for New Enterprise Stone and Lime Co. in 1988. He was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church and a former member of Calvary Methodist Church, Somerset, where he served on the trustee board and the administrative board; a member of Somerset Masonic Lodge 358 F&AM; and the Harrisburg Consistory.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, J. Melvin, and a sister, Pauline Scottoline.

He leaves his wife; a daughter Mrs. Rick (Lori Jo) Conklin of Clearfield, Pa.; a son, Dr. Kerry R. (Karen) Metzger, D.D.S., of New Philadelphia; four grandchildren; and a sister, Ethel Mae Wisler of Martinsburg, Pa.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Nason Hospital, Roaring Spring, PA 16673 or the American Heart Association.

BYESVILLE — Services will be 1 p.m. Monday at Black Family Funeral Home for Janice Valerie Bailey, 62, of Byesville, who died Thursday (Feb. 8, 2001) at her home.

The Rev. Tom Brown will officiate.

Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery.

Friends and family may call 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.She was born Oct. 13, 1928, in Lothair, Ky., daughter of the late Geter Pinson and Cora (Garrison) Pinson of Byesville. She married Raymond Bailey in December1959.

She was a state day care provider for eight years; former employee of the former Cambridge State Hospital and Southeastern Ohio Regional Medical Center; and a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of VFW Post 2901, Cambridge.

In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by a sister, Linda Pinson; and a brother, Lynn Pinson.

She leaves her mother and husband; two sons, Jeff Bailey of Byesville and Greg Bailey of Sissonville, W.Va.; two daughters, Kim Ingram and Linda Ingram, both of Byesville; a brother, Phillip G. Pinson of Elizabethtown, Ky; and nine grandchildren.

BARNESVILLE — Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Somerton Church of Christ for William E. “Bill” Truex, 74, of Jerusalem, who died Friday (Feb. 9, 2001) at Barnesville Hospital.

Evangelists Val Roxby and Kim McFarland will officiate.

Burial will be in Somerton Cemetery with military graveside services conducted by Belmont County Veterans Council.

Friends and family may call 1 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at Campbell-Plumly-Milburn Funeral Home in Barnesville. The body will lie in state Monday, Feb. 12 from 9 a.m. until time of services.

Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.

He was born Aug. 2, 1926, son of the late Euret Allen and Alice Lee (McFarling) Truex.

He was an elder of Somerton Church of Christ; retired carpenter and superintendent of highways for the Ohio Department of Transportation; member of Carpenters Local 2; an Army veteran of World War II, receiving the Purple Heart; and served on the Barnesville Exempted Village School Board for 10 years.

He leaves his wife, Alice (Groves) Truex; two sons, Bob Truex of Atlanta and Mark Truex of Salem; a daughter, Mrs. Riley (Louise) Suit of Denver, Colo.; two sisters, Mrs. Mansel (Marie) Shry of Barnesville and Mrs. John (Kathryn) Detling of Somerton; six grandchildren and three step-grandchildren.

SENECAVILLE — Marie (Crow) (Medley) Curtis, 83, of Pickerington, died Thursday (Feb. 8, 2001) at Pickerington Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

She was born June 22, 1917, daughter of Joseph W. Crow and Forest Meighen.

She was a former employee of Hamilton Beach.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, James Curtis; a brother, Joe Crow; a siste, Bonnie Potts; and a daughter, Carol Medley.

She leaves two sons, Albert (Nan) Medley of Reidsville, N.C., and John Medley of Gahanna; two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Friends and family may call 7 to 9 p.m. today at Meek-Black Funeral Home, where services will be 11 a.m. Monday with Rev. Ken Hyland officiating.

Burial will be in Senecaville Cemetery.

If desired, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Fairfield County.