Marylou M. Hodges died at her home in Albuquerque on Saturday afternoon, March 18, 2023. She was 95.
Marylou M. Hodges
Marylou was born in Limeton, Virginia, on October 13, 1927. She was the only daughter of Violet Ora Manuel Mauck and Lester Franklin Mauck.
After attending grades one through seven in Limeton’s one-room schoolhouse, Marylou entered Warren County High School. There she sang in the Glee Club, belonged to the Hi-Y Club, served as Vice President of her junior class, served as Secretary of her senior class, and helped her class raise over $18,000 for a War Loan Drive. High school was a defining period in her life, and she stayed in close touch with numerous classmates and helped organize many class reunions.
After graduating from WCHS in 1945, Marylou obtained a position at Front Royal’s American Viscose Corporation plant. There she joined her father, who worked as a welder, and her brother, Lester Mauck Jr., who held the title, “Sheet Metal Man, Second Class.” Marylou worked as secretary to Plant Industrial Engineer Doug Smith.
The “Viscose,” as it was known, opened in 1940 in Front Royal and manufactured rayon fiber for fabric, rayon cord for automobile tires, and briefly, fiber for the aerospace industry. The company became the largest supplier of rayon in the United States. The Front Royal plant closed in 1989 after being cited for more than 2,000 environmental violations and was demolished in 1997.
While working at the Viscose, Marylou went on a double-blind date and met Front Royal’s new optometrist, Robert B. “Bob” Hodges. Marylou’s date was not with Bob but with his friend Richard DeVos, who went on to found Amway, a multi-billion-dollar marketing company that sells home-care products. Said Marylou, looking back on the date, “I liked Bob better.” She and Bob married in 1952, built a home in Belmont Subdivision, and enjoyed contributing to and participating in Front Royal life for decades to come.
At some point, Marylou left the Viscose and had the couple’s only child, Susan Laurel, in 1956. A few years later, she began volunteering with the Women’s Auxiliary of Warren Memorial Hospital, taking baby pictures with a Polaroid camera and selling them to parents for a modest fee.
Before long, she was serving on the Auxiliary Board, where she held positions as President, Secretary, and Treasurer. But most exciting for Marylou was her involvement in the Red Stocking Follies. This annual, professionally produced variety show was a collaboration between the Hospital Auxiliary and the Front Royal Lions Club. It raised thousands of dollars for hospital equipment and sight conservation projects undertaken by the Lions. Many Front Royal residents still remember the Follies’ Rockette-style kick-line, the corny jokes, and the great skits that made the shows a hit.
In the 2010s, Marylou was feted for serving 50 years in what is now The Auxiliary of Warren Memorial Hospital. She had other interests as well. She worked in the church office at Marlow Heights Baptist Church and volunteered for CCAP. She also bowled every Wednesday with the Women’s Coffee League and, with Bob, belonged to two bridge clubs and the Shenandoah Dance Club. Later, the two were members of the Front Royal Presbyterian Church. Marylou liked nothing better than chatting with old friends and making new ones because people gave her her greatest joy.
Marylou is survived by a daughter, Susan Hodges, and her wife, Kirsten Haake, both of Rio Rancho, NM. Marylou is also survived by a first cousin, Fay Voigt of Harrisonburg, VA, and numerous nieces and nephews on the Hodges side, who remained close to her even in her last years. Preceding her in death were her husband, Bob, and two brothers, Lester, and Jasper Mauck.
A service will be held on Thursday, March 30, at 10:30 a.m. at the Front Royal Presbyterian Church. A brief, family-only interment will follow at Panorama Memorial Gardens. Afterward, a luncheon will follow at the home of Lori and Gray Blanton, 234 Walnut Drive, Front Royal.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Auxiliary of Warren Memorial Hospital, 1000 Shenandoah Avenue, Front Royal.
Hargis “Junior” Webb Jr., 79, of Strasburg, Virginia, passed away at Winchester Medical Center on Monday, April 22, 2024.
Hargis “Junior” Webb Jr.
The funeral service will be held on Thursday, April 25, 2024, at 1 p.m. at Maddox Funeral Home, 105 West Main Street, Front Royal, with Sammy Campbell officiating. Burial will follow at Panorama Memorial Gardens.
Mr. Webb was born on May 3, 1944, in Pound, Virginia, to the late Hargis Sr. and Linda Mullins Webb. He was also preceded in death by his brother, Vernard “Ray” Webb; sister, Ruby Jean Webb Jones; and sister-in-law, Eloise “Donie” Webb.
Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Beatrice “Bea” Webb; two sons, Ronnie Webb (Loretta) and Mike Webb (Brenda); four brothers, Bill Webb, Ed Webb (Lesha), James Webb (Dale) and Bob Webb (Chris); sister, Jackie Garmer (Shawn); six grandchildren, Ashley Hamrick (Mike), Amy Webb, Michael Webb (Ashley), Ronnie Webb Jr., Mason Davis and Tori Shamblin; two great-grandchildren, Brentley Hamrick and Keelan Webb; sister-in-law, Ada Webb; brother-in-law, Charles Jones and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
Ty Park, 54, of Aldie, Virginia, passed away on Sunday, April 21, 2024, at Virginia Hospital Canter after a ten-year-long battle with cancer.
A graveside service will be held on Friday, April 26, 2024, at 2 p.m. at Prospect Hill Cemetery, 200 West Prospect Street, Front Royal, with Pastor Thomas Woodward officiating.
Mr. Park was born on September 10, 1969 in South Korea. He was an avid fisherman and enjoyed nature, camping, and traveling. He was a local Gas Station owner in Front Royal.
Survivors include his mother, Sue Jung Park; daughter, Autumn Park; three sisters, Christina Schwendinger, Victoria Park and Taylor Park and numerous other extended family members.
He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Yung Sun Park.
Dana Dell Shaffer, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at the age of 77.
Dana Dell Shaffer
Born September 16, 1946, in Savannah, Georgia, to Virginia and Osgood Shearouse, Dana moved to McLean, Virginia, as a teenager with her family, where she would later meet her husband, Elmer Shaffer. They started a family in 1973 and moved to Front Royal, Virginia, where she was a loving and guiding wife and devoted mother to her four children.
Dana gave all to her family and prided herself on getting the kids off to school on time with clean clothes and a good breakfast, or even just the smiles on her family’s faces when a family’s (or neighborhood’s) favorite recipe made it into the meal rotation!
Dana loved knitting and was always eager to share her creations with those she loved. She took pride in her canning skills and enjoyed her word search puzzles and watching her soaps in her spare time. Dana had a deep love for her church and singing on Sundays. Her love extended to everyone who knew her, and she will be remembered for her warm smile, loving personality, and mischievous giggle.
She is survived by her husband of 51 years, Elmer; her children, Charles Shaffer (Laura Maxey), Brian (Tina) Shaffer, Edith Shaffer, and William (Sara) Shaffer; two grandchildren, Duane Shaffer and Lisa Shaffer; siblings, Mary Bach and Charles (Linda) Shearouse; and last but not least, her family at Grace Bible Fellowship Church where she loved all so dearly.
The family will receive friends on Friday, April 26, from 6-8 p.m. at Maddox Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held at Maddox Funeral Home on Saturday, April 27, at 1:00 p.m., with Sammy Campbell officiating. Interment will follow in Panorama Memorial Gardens in Warren County.
Instead of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Blue Ridge Hospice at (540) 313-9200 orhttps://www.brhospice.org/donate.
Rest in peace, mom. You will forever be in our hearts and memories.
Rodney Duane Orndorff, 82, died on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at Warren Memorial Hospital in Front Royal, Virginia.
Rodney Duane Orndorff
Rod was born April 14, 1942, in Wardensville, West Virginia, to the late William Odell Orndorff, Sr. and Wilmetta Lee Webster Orndorff.
Rod graduated in 1960 from Wardensville High School. He was a Vietnam Veteran in the United States Army.
Rod worked at American Viscose/ Avtex until it closed in 1989. Then, he went to work at Atlantic Research in Gainsville, Virginia, where he worked until he retired in 2005 due to health problems.
Rod was a member of the Giles B. Cook American Legion Post 53 in Front Royal, the Front Royal Loyal Order of Moose Lodge Number 829, the VFW Post 2102 in Wardensville, the Page Valley Sports Men’s Association in Luray, Virginia, and the National Rifle Association.
Along with his parents, Rod was preceded in death by his brother, William Odell Orndorff Jr., and his brother’s wife, Janet Orndorff.
Surviving Rodney is his loving wife of 50 years, Edith D. Orndorff; one son, Duane Odell Orndorff of Front Royal; one grandson, Dallas Odell Orndorff, and wife Lyndsey; one great-grandson, Jaxson Odell Orndorff; and one great-granddaughter, Emma Claire Orndorff all of Strasburg, Virginia; his two sisters, Lydia Hott (Jerry) and Ann Holliday (Ronnie) all of Wardensville; a brother-in-law, Billy Dainty (Cynthia) of Front Royal; a sister-in-law, Phyllis Dainty (George Mulligan) of Luray, Virginia; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and cousins. Rod’s pastimes were hunting, fishing, and skeet shooting.
The funeral will be held at 11 A.M. on Monday, April 22, 2024, at Maddox Funeral Home, 105 W Main St, Front Royal, Virginia 22630, with Sammy Campbell officiating and a visitation to take place an hour prior. Following all services, the burial will take place at Ninevah Presbyterian Church Cemetery at 5872 Winchester Rd, Front Royal, Virginia 22630.
Pallbearers will be Peter Roy, Justin Miller, Carl Thompson, Ron Galvin, David Strickler, and Kris Holliday.
Leah Kristen Martin, 47, of Linden, Virginia, passed away on Monday, April 15, 2024, at Warren Memorial Hospital.
Leah Kristen Martin
Leah was born to William and Suzan Hazen Dooly on July 27, 1976, in Washington, DC. She was preceded in death by her son, John Martin. Leah was a graduate of Old Dominion University and taught at Diversified Minds in Front Royal, Virginia. She was a member of Bethel Presbyterian Church.
Surviving along with her parents are her daughter, Kiely Martin; son, Joseph Martin; two sisters, Joy Fletcher and Lydia Dooly; and numerous extended family members and close family friends.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at Bethel Presbyterian Church, 19856 Evergreen Mills Road, Leesburg, Virginia, 20175, with the Rev. Dr. George C. Hammond officiating. The Service will be at 11:00 am in the Sanctuary, followed by a Celebration of Life in the Fellowship Hall.
In lieu of flowers, Memorial Donations in Leah’s honor can be made to Bethel Presbyterian Church, Leesburg.
Ressie Mae McClary, 74, of Front Royal, Virginia, passed away at Winchester Medical Center on Monday, April 15, 2024.
Ressie Mae McClary
A graveside service will take place at Mount Carmel Cemetery, 581 Mount Carmel Road, Buckhannon, West Virginia 26201, with Reverend Paul Campbell officiating.
Ressie was born to the late George and Freda Herring on January 15, 1950, in Buckhannon, West Virginia. Her sisters, Georgia Ann Pounds and Judy Kay Allen, also preceded her in death.
Surviving Ressie are her loving husband of 55 years, Charles McClary Jr.; her son, David McClary; her sisters, Linda Lou Griffith of Alexandria, VA; and Lois Sue Herring of Front Royal, Virginia; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Ressie loved life and its splendors; she sang, read, wrote poetry, solved puzzles, and listened to music. She was involved in many gospel choirs and was a Hamilton Church of God member. She also enjoyed talking to people, she would always keep in touch with her friends and loved ones, and would remember to pray for everyone in her community.
Pallbearers will be family members.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Valley Health Palliative Care at 1870 Amherst St, MOB 1, Suite B, Winchester, VA 22601.
