Alpha E. Ankrom Jr.

Alpha E. Ankrom Jr., 61, of Maxwell Community, St. Marys, W.Va., departed this life on Friday, Nov. 27, 2009, at the family residence.

Alpha was born on May 15, 1948, at Parkersburg, a son of the late Alpha E. Ankrom and Inez Grimes Ankrom Simmons. He was a graduate of the former Pennsboro High School with the class of 1966 and had been employed for 27 years by the Top Drilling Co. working out of the Smithville, W.Va., office as a tool pusher. He was a Christian by faith.

He is survived by his wife, Rella K. Hardbarger Ankrom whom he married on June 28, 1969; sons, Everett Ankrom of St. Marys and John Ankrom of Pennsboro, W.Va.; sisters, Alice Hardbarger of Harrisville, W.Va., and Madylon Ankrom of Cairo, W.Va.; half-brothers, James Simmons Jr. of Parkersburg and Joseph Simmons of Cairo; and grandchildren, John and Jason Ankrom.

In addition to his parents, Alpha was preceded in death by a son, Alpha Ankrom III; brother, Everett Ankrom; and sister, Linda Kocher.

Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Tuesday from the McCullough-Rogers Funeral Home, Pennsboro, with Pastor James Taylor and the Rev. Franklin Smith officiating. Interment will be in the Masonic Cemetery at Ellenboro, W.Va. Friends may call from 4-8 p.m. Monday and after 9 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Online condolences may be expressed to the Ankrom family at www.mcculloughrogersfuneralhome.com