Person Page - 3653

     Helen Maxine Starcher was buried at Molt C. Shafer Family Cemetery, Clendenin, Kanawha Co., West Virginia.⁵ She Helen Maxine Shafer, 83, of Clendenin, West Virginia passed away Monday May 2, 2022. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ira Starcher and Indiana Moore; sons, Jeff Shafer and Cedric Craft. She is survived by: daughter, Dallie Dennis; nieces and nephews, Eddie Craft, Carla Shirkey and Lisa Conn; daughter in law, Shelia Shafer; two grandsons, David and Lucas Dennis; one step granddaughter, Tracy Hager; and caregiver, Tammy Shafer. Burial in Molt C. Shafer Cemetery.⁵ She was born on December 27, 1939 at Procious, Clay Co., West Virginia.^2,3 As of September 6, 1959,her married name was Shafer.³ She married James Ord Shafer, son of Esper Crawford Shafer and Mary Myrtle Elmore, on September 6, 1959 at Roane Co., West Virginia.³ Helen Maxine Starcher and James Ord Shafer were divorced in September, 1980.² As of March 19, 1984,her married name was Salisbury.² Helen Maxine Starcher married William Scott Salisbury on March 19, 1984 at Giles Co., Virginia.² Helen Maxine Starcher died on May 2, 2022 at Kanawha Co., West Virginia, at age 82.⁵

     Harold David Yopp Jr. was buried at Sherwood Burial Park, 1045 Lynchburg Turnpike, Salem, Roanoke Co., Virginia.² He was born on April 24, 1964 at Virginia.¹ He married Patricia Diane Moore, daughter of John Ned Moore and Helen Marie Paxton, on August 3, 1981 at Roanoke, Virginia.¹ Harold David Yopp Jr. and Patricia Diane Moore were divorced on October 1, 1985.¹ Harold David Yopp Jr. died on June 26, 2016 at Virginia at age 52.² He Harold D. Yopp, 52, of Riner passed away Sunday, June 26, 2016. He was preceded in death by his father, Harold D. Yopp Sr. Left to cherish his memory are his mother and step-father, Martha and Buddy Obenchain; sister and husband, Lori and Wes Bishop; his niece and family, Amanda and Paul and Haden and Collin Murphy; ex-wife and family, Sharon Yopp, Peggy, Terra, Savannah and Lucius; and good friends, Russ Bush and Tinker Scarberry. Funeral Service will be held Thursday, June 30, 2016 at Fort Lewis Christian Church at 1 p.m. Visitation is one hour prior. Interment to follow in Sherwood Memorial Gardens. Mr. Yopp is entrusted to Valley Funeral and Cremation. on June 29, 2016.²

     Col. John Mottrom Col. John Mottrom (or Mattrom), a Cavalier immigrant often regarded as the founder or first English settler of the Northern Neck of Virginia, is believed to have been born in Cheshire, England, about 1610. By 1640, he settled at York, founded by Governor Sir John Harvey and located on the York River at the west side of Wormeley’s Creek, three miles away from latter-day Yorktown. At that time York and Chiskiack were the first two plantations on the York River. Mottrom used a shallop to trade with other plantations in Virginia and Maryland.

About 1645, Mottrom settled at Chicacoan (or Coan), the first English settlement on the Virginia side of the Potomac River at the confluence of the Coan and Potomac Rivers in what was soon to become Northumberland County, Virginia. His home there became a refuge for Protestants and some disenchanted Catholics across the Potomac River in Maryland who opposed the Roman Catholic government of Lord Baltimore.

For the first few years of the Chicacoan settlement, its residents enjoyed living tax-free and free from governmental control until authorities needed revenue to finance the Indian wars, which cause the House of Burgesses to pass an act levying taxes on Chicacoan residents in the form of tobacco payments. The residents were alarmed, and Mottrom became involved. John Mottrom was present at the State House at Jamestown Island (James City), the first colonial capital of Virginia, on November 20, 1645. It probably took several days to sail from Northumberland down the Potomac into the Bay and then up the James River to Jamestown. Here the Assembly acknowledged Mottrom as a Burgess from the Plantation of Northumberland. Shortly afterwards, Northumberland County was created, at which time Mottrom became its first Burgess, and he served again in 1652. Mottrom’s home at Coan was the first county seat. At Coan he established the first wharf and warehouse on the Northern Neck. Mottrom also served as Presiding Justice and Colonel of the Militia, making him the highest ranking military officer of the Northern Neck.

The land acquired by Col. John Mottrom on the Northern Neck and/or Middle Peninsula amounted to more than 8222 acres, largely for transporting over 100 settlers to the Colony of Virginia. These land grants included sites on the "Pyankatanke River," on Nomini Bay and the Potomac, on the Coan, at Doegs Island and vicnity, and on "Wicocomoco Creek." Mottrom’s "Coan Hall," which was the site of his large personal library, no longer survives. There is a Victorian cottage, built about 1870, near what is believed to have been the home site. It is on Route 630 near Claraville in Northumberland County.

Mottrom was known to be married twice and had three children. His first wife was the mother of his children Anne (who married Captain Richard Wright, then David Fox, then St. Leger Codd), John, Jr. (who married Hannah Fox and Ruth Griggs), and Frances (who married Nicholas Spencer, Acting Governor of the Colony of Virginia in 1683-84, and (second) Reverend John Bolton). Mottrom’s second wife was Ursula Bish Thompson, who after Mottrom’s death married (third) George Colclough. Two years after John Mottrom died about 1655 in Northumberland, his 1657 estate inventory was valued at 33896 pounds of tobacco.

Mottrom’s descendants have played a major role in the heritage of the Northern Neck and elsewhere. His grandson, Major Francis Wright, married a great-aunt of George Washington, and was one of the principal contributors to and vestryman of Westmoreland’s historic Yeocomico Episcopal Church in Cople Parish. Distinguished jurists Spencer Roane (1762-1822) and nephew Thomas Ritchie (1778-1854), natives of Tappahannock, Virginia, and namesakes of two West Virginia counties, were Mottrom descendants. Among others, Jamestowne Society Chesapeake Bay Company member and local historian/ author Charles Willard Hoskins Warner descends from Colonel John Mottrom, as did Westmoreland County educator James Dall Brown, Jr., late husband of member Virginia Felts Brown of Westmoreland, and second cousin of Bryan Godfrey’s paternal grandfather.

Sources include the following (for the biographical information above and for the lineage information below): “Mottrom—Wright—Spencer—Ariss—Buckner” in Volume V of Genealogies of Virginia Families From the William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine (published by Genealogical Publishing Company, Baltimore, Maryland in 1982); "Ayres-Dawson and Allied Families," by Henrietta Dawson Ayres Sheppard (1871-1960) of Hanover, Pennsylvania (published posthumously by The American Historical Company, Incorporated, 1961), and "The Stronghold: A Story of Historic Northern Neck of Virginia and Its People," by Miriam Haynie (published by The Dietz Press of Richmond, Virginia in 1959). Information on Mottrom and his activities is scattered throughout the early chapters of this narrative.¹ He was born circa 1610 at Cheshire, England.¹ He died circa 1655 at Coan, Northumberland Co., Virginia.¹

     Her Social Security Number was 227-52-1493.⁵ Loralye Diane "Lea" Skailes was born on May 30, 1938 at Glasgow, Valley Co., Montana.^5,4,6 As of March 15, 1956,her married name was Mountcastle.³ She married Charles Russell Mountcastle Sr., son of Russell Dearth Edward Mountcastle and Thelma Lucille Palmer, on March 15, 1956 at Marin Co., California.^7,2,3 Loralye Diane "Lea" Skailes died on March 15, 1998 at Roanoke, Virginia, at age 59.^1,5,2 She MOUNTCASTLE, Lorayle Diane, ("Lea"), 59, of Salem, passed away Sunday, March 15, 1998. She was a kind and patient mother, always willing to help children as a volunteer at Glenvar High School. She enjoyed camping on the weekends with her family. Lea could always be overheard at sporting events, encouraging her sons. She was preceded in death by her husband of 40 years, Charles R. Mountcastle. She will be greatly missed by her sons and daughters-in-law, Charles Russell, Steve Allen and Rita, Thomas Russell and Carolyn, Russell D. and Laura, Mark Lee and Wendalyn Mountcastle; grandchildren, Crystal, Deanna, Mark, Casey, Matthew, Renea, Rachel Mountcastle. on March 17, 1998.²

     Russell Derth Mountcastle was born on September 5, 1961 at Montgomery Co., Virginia.^1,3 He married Laura Leigh Coffey on July 10, 1988 at Roanoke, Virginia.¹ Russell Derth Mountcastle and Laura Leigh Coffey were divorced on June 8, 2001 at Roanoke Co., Virginia.⁵ Russell Derth Mountcastle married Debra Elaine Brown on January 14, 2002 at Salem, Roanoke Co., Virginia.¹ Russell Derth Mountcastle died on May 6, 2017 at Virginia at age 55.² He Russell D. Mountcastle, 55, of Salem, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, May 6, 2017. He was born in Montgomery County, a son of the late Charles and Loralye Mountcastle, and had been a Salem area resident all of his life. He was also preceded in death by grandparents, Russell and Thelma Mountcastle, and a brother, Charlie Mountcastle. He is survived by his loving wife, Debra Mountcastle; daughter, Casey Leigh Mountcastle; three brothers, Steve Mountcastle and his wife Rita, Tommy Mountcastle, and Mark Mountcastle and his wife Wendy. Russell is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends. on May 11, 2017.²

     Charles Russell Mountcastle Jr. was buried at Greenwood Cemetery, Eufaula, McIntosh Co., Oklahoma.^6,8 His Social Security Number was 228-02-3791.⁴ He was born on August 28, 1956 at San Rafael, Marin Co., California.^1,3,4,5,6,8 He married Vicky Wanette Warfe on April 18, 1975 at Salem, Roanoke Co., Virginia.¹ Charles Russell Mountcastle Jr. died on July 6, 2003 at Oklahoma at age 46.^4,5,6,9,8

     Carolyn Sue Thomas Carolyn Thomas Mountcastle, 55, of Roanoke, Va., passed away with her family by her side on Tuesday, January 8, 2019, after a long battle with cancer. Carolyn was preceded in death by her father, Jerry Thomas, and her precious Pug Bailey. She is survived by her mother Mary(Sue) Fritz, husband Ken, brother Larry, wife Jennifer Thomas. Her partner of many years Steven Wilchek, and three dear Pugs, Baxter, Jasmine, and Gracie. Many dear friends and family members. Carolyn was a member of Pug Rescue of North Carolina.³ She was born on November 5, 1963 at Roanoke, Virginia.^1,2 As of October 1, 1983,her married name was Mountcastle.¹ She married Thomas Russell "Tommy" Mountcastle, son of Charles Russell Mountcastle Sr. and Loralye Diane "Lea" Skailes, on October 1, 1983 at Salem, Roanoke Co., Virginia.¹ Carolyn Sue Thomas and Thomas Russell "Tommy" Mountcastle were divorced on April 7, 2009 at Roanoke Co., Virginia.⁴ Carolyn Sue Thomas died on January 8, 2019 at Roanoke, Virginia, at age 55.³

     Ralph Woodrow White was buried at Greenhills Memory Gardens, Claypool Hill, Tazewell Co., Virginia.⁴ His Social Security Number was 229-44-4336.⁵ He Mr. Ralph Woodrow (Woody) White, age 70, of Cedar Bluff, Va. passed away Saturday April 4, 2009 in a Richlands, Va. hospital. Born at Jewell Valley, Va. on Nov. 20, 1938 he was the son of the late Christopher C. (Lum) White and Sallie Dunn White. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by one infant sister, Diana Lynn White. Woody was educated in the Buchanan County Schools and Richlands High School and attended New River Valley Community College. He served in the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force and spent one year in Bermuda with the Navel Research Space Program Sea Lab Project. He was blessed with great intellect and people skills that allowed him to work in law enforcement, security, exterminating and design sales. At the time of his death though semi-retired, he was CEO of Bug Whackers RPC. He was of the Pentecostal faith and was an avid sportsman who loved hunting and fishing and was a faithful VT Hokie and Richlands Blue Tornado fan. He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Ruth Jayne Boyd White; special nephew and "Son of his Heart," Gabriel Forrest Hicks; one brother, Jay Flanner of Cedar Bluff, Va; three sisters, Nona Buskill, Shirley Carter and husband Les, and Angelia McCroy, all of the Dallas-Fort Worth area; several loving nieces and nephews also survive. Burial will follow in the Greenhills Memory Gardens Cemetery at Claypool Hill, Va. Nephews will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Edgar and Tonia Wicks, Darrell (Buck) Mitchell, Don Matney, John Kelly and Doug Kannady.⁴ He was born on November 20, 1938 at Jewell Valley, Buchanan Co., Virginia.^1,5,3,4 He married Barbara Ann Mountcastle, daughter of Russell Dearth Edward Mountcastle and Thelma Lucille Palmer, on September 18, 1965 at Roanoke, Virginia.¹ Ralph Woodrow White and Barbara Ann Mountcastle were divorced on August 14, 1967 at Buchanan Co., Virginia.⁶ Ralph Woodrow White died on April 4, 2009 at Richlands, Tazewell Co., Virginia, at age 70.^2,5,4

     His Social Security Number was 231-22-5474.³ Perry Carter Farmer Jr. was buried at Sunset Cemetery, 501 South Franklin Street, Christiansburg, Montgomery Co., Virginia.² He was born on January 16, 1926 at Virginia.^1,3,2 He died on September 30, 1984 at Salem, Roanoke Co., Virginia, at age 58.²

     William Earl Farmer was buried at Cedar Lawn Memorial Park, 5070 Cove Road N. W., Roanoke, Virginia.⁴ He was born on October 15, 1927 at Montgomery Co., Virginia.^2,3 He married Alice Sue Wood on July 15, 1940 at Floyd Co., Virginia.² William Earl Farmer died on February 26, 2021 at Virginia at age 93.⁴ He William E. "Bill" Farmer, 93, of Roanoke, Virginia, passed away peacefully at his daughter's home on Friday, February 26, 2021. He was retired from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) after 32 years and was a United States Air Force Veteran. Bill was preceded in death by the love of his life and his wife of 66 years, Alice "Sue" Farmer, and his son, William E. Farmer Jr. Left to cherish his memory are his daughter, Beverly Damewood (Scott); his son, Mike Farmer; daughters-in-law, Rita Farmer and Mia Farmer; grandchildren, William E. Farmer III (Jessie), Justin Farmer (Chris), Sarah Mays (Shawn), Adam Damewood, Lauren Farmer, and Michaela Brizendine (Dannie). Bill was a long-standing member of Summerdean Church of the Brethren. He volunteered at Snyder Nursing Home and considered it his second home full of friends. The family would like to thank the Virginia Veterans Care Center, Lewis Gale Medical Center Stroke Team, ER and MICU, Carilion Hospice nurses for all their love and support. A Graveside Service will be conducted at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, March 2, 2021, at Cedar Lawn Memorial Park with Pastor Allen Lenker officiating. on February 28, 2021.⁴

     Mary Chandler Farmer was born on April 21, 1932 at Christiansburg, Montgomery Co., Virginia.^1,2,3 As of November 29, 1952,her married name was Hite.² She married Robert Anderson Hite Jr. on November 29, 1952 at Floyd Co., Virginia.² Mary Chandler Farmer and Robert Anderson Hite Jr. were divorced on February 5, 1968 at Roanoke Co., Virginia.³ Mary Chandler Farmer married Roger Eugene Thompson on November 9, 1973 at Roanoke Co., Virginia.² As of November 9, 1973,her married name was Thompson.² Mary Chandler Farmer died on June 6, 1999 at age 67.¹