Robert F. Shenal
Times West Virginian
Thu Jul 14, 2011, 05:00 AM EDT

FAIRMONT — Robert F. "Bob" Shenal Sr., 84, of Mannington, died on Monday (July 11, 2011) at the West Virginia Veteran's Nursing Facility in Clarksburg where he had resided since 2009.

He was born on May 23, 1927, in Rachel, the son of the late Mike and Mary Strincosky Shenal. He attended Downs Elementary and Farmington High School where he played football for the "Fighting Farmers." Bob joined the Navy in 1945. He participated in Operation Crossroads aboard the USS Telamon at Bikini Atoll which conducted nuclear testing for the atomic bomb. After serving in the Pacific and Atlantic Theaters, he returned home to graduate from high school.

Bob retired in 1985 from the JoAnn Mine in Rachel as a hoist engineer and lampman, the job he inherited from his father. He enjoyed the camaraderie with his fellow employees as well as the "Rachel Gang" hanging out in the coal camp. They went on many hunting and fishing trips to the mountains. He also played sandlot baseball and softball in the city league.

On Feb. 16, 1952, he married Helen Wyckoff of Grafton, and they lived in Rachel for a short time before moving to Mannington.

Bob was a master of many trades as he worked around his house doing landscape work and carpentry and growing vegetables and flowers and later helping his children with many projects at their homes.

He often referred to his Polish heritage, and he enjoyed home-cooked meals, especially pies. He always said he only liked two kinds of pie, "hot" and "cold." For several years, Bob bowled in the Fairmont league where he made many friends. Bob took pleasure in taking his son hunting and fishing and they went to Canada with their buddies several times.

After his retirement, he enjoyed yard sales and flea markets where he collected many interesting items. Bob was also a member of the Mannington Moose Lodge, the Mannington Elks and the U.M.W.A.

Bob is survived by his wife, Helen; his daughter, Kathy Daniel and her husband Tom of Katy; and his son, Bob Jr. and his wife Elizabeth of Metz. Grandchildren include Whitney Daniel Losacker and husband Brandon of Oceanside, Calif., Erin Daniel of Savannah, Ga., Derek Daniel of Katy and Eli Shenal of Metz. Bob had two great-grandchildren, Noah and Isaac Losacker of California. Also surviving is his sister, Dolores Manzo of Monongah; brothers and sisters-in-law, Jack and Betty Shenal of Mannington and Dick and Josephine Shenal of New Washington, Ohio. Preceding him in death was a brother-in-law, John "Duke" Manzo.

Friends may call at the Masters Funeral Home, 209 Main St., Mannington, today from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Funeral services will begin at 1 p.m. in the funeral home with Chaplain Johnny Payne officiating. Burial will follow at the Viewpoint Cemetery in Rachel. Full Military Honors will be conducted at the graveside by the Marion County Military Veterans Council Honor Guard and the United States Navy Honor Guard. Pallbearers will be Tom Daniel, Whitney Losacker, Erin Daniel, Derek Daniel, Eli Shenal, Ron Blankenship, George Brian Blankenship, and John M. Manzo. Condolences may be left for the family at mastersfuneralhomewv.com.