Rheba Irene Mcclung

Rheba Irrene McClung, 91, of Parkersburg, W.Va. departed from this life on January 4, 2016, after a long struggle with Alzheimers Disease. Rheba was born on May 17, 1924 in Palestine, W.Va, eldest child of the late Walter Howard McClung and Sarah Belle McGill McClung. She is survived by her daughters, Roberta Jean Smith Nulter and her husband, Robert of Parkersburg and Rheba Joan Feutral of Ohio; granddaughters, Michelle Lynn Linger of Parkersburg and Bonnie Sabrina Vernon; five great-grandchildren, two of whom are Tyler Barnes and Halle Linger; and a great-great-grandson, Ethan Connor Barnes. She was fond of her step-granddaughter, Connie Lynn Nulter Kinney of Marietta. Also surviving are her two sister-in-laws, Betty Nichols McClung of Vienna, W.Va. and Jean Smith of Florida; one brother-in-law, Tilden Powell of El Paso, Texas; and many beloved nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husbands, William P. Smith and Charles Pethtel; brothers, Kennith Okey, Winfred Dorsilous and Walter Robert McClung; and sister, Janet McClung Miihlbach. After graduating from Wirt County High School in 1942, Rheba graduated in 1945 as an R.N. from Camden Clark Memorial Hospital through the historic U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps. She later attended WVU Branch in Parkersburg and finished her B.S. degree in Nursing Education at Ohio State University in 1977. In Washington D.C. she was one of the first to study psychiatric nursing. She spent a post war year at Johns Hopkins University Hospital. She was a member of the American Nurses Association for 52 years, Camden Clark Memorial Hospital Nursing Alumni Association and president of Private Duty Nurse Registry Service and one of the first nurses to educate in parenthood planning in this area. She was Girl Scout Leader, sold make-up and a member of St. Andrews Methodist Church. Also she resided and worked in the Dublin and Columbus area of Ohio for 20 years. She wrote three genealogy books, The Pethtel Way, The Greenbrier McClung Way and The Religions Way. She also designed three houses, several rings and her fur coat design was accepted by the Northern Fur Company of Minn. She enjoyed traveling the world, nature, art, sewing, golf, cooking and relaxing at her summer place in Wirt County, W.Va. and Kiawah Island, S.C. Rheba was a member of the Wood County Historic and Preservation Society, West Augusta Genealogy Society and the Greenbrier Historical Society. Our deepest gratification to the caregivers and home health workers and the staff of Amedisys Hospice programs for their dedicated care of Rheba. Memorial donations may be made to Alzheimer's Association, WV Chapter, 1218 Market Street, Parkersburg, WV 26101. Memorial services will be 2:00 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 10, 2016 at St. Andrews Methodist Church in Parkersburg. A brunch will be served for the family. Lambert-Tatman Funeral Home, Green St. Parkersburg assisted the family with arrangements.