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Ophir E. Vellenoweth of Edgington Lane, Wheeling, passed away Monday, January 15, 2024 in his 93rd year. Son of the late Mrs. Dorothy Smith Vellenoweth Iams and the late Ophir X. Vellenoweth. He was preceded in death by his wife, Patti Ulrich Vellenoweth, two brothers, James Donald and Thomas Franklin Vellenoweth, sister Joanne Vellenoweth Abt, his eldest daughter, Cheryl Ann Vellenoweth Ramsey, son William Ophir Vellenoweth, and infant great grandson, Raylan Jesse Greene.
He is survived by his sons, Scott Ulrich (Christina) Vellenoweth of Wheeling, T. Elrod (Susan) Vellenoweth of Montpel- ier, VA, daughter Janet Lynn (Darren) Dowler of Wheeling, and daughter-in-law, Lisa Vellenoweth of Charleston, SC. He is also survived by a sister, Nancy Heriff of Kentucky and brother, James Vellenoweth of Wind Ridge, PA. He is survived by seven grandchildren, three great grandsons, three great granddaughters, two step grandsons, 4 step great grandsons, and two step great granddaughters.
He was the proprietor of Master Electric Co., but accepted a position with Union Carbide at their Institute Plant where he worked for 8 1/2 years. During that time the plant was sold to Rhone Poulenc, and it was from that company that Ophir retired in 1995.
He was a 1949 graduate of Triadelphia High School where he was a member of the track team. He was Drum Major at Triadelphia High, West Liberty State College, Osiris Shrine Band, and the American Legion Drum and Bugle Corps. A veteran of the U.S. Navy, Korean War, he was also a Certified Rifle Instructor for the National Rifle Association, and a Certified Instructor for the Department of Civilian Defense, chaired by Colonel Joseph Smith.
Ophir was a Charter member of the Professional Bowlers Association and won ten W.Va. State titles in the sport. Nationally he had numerous top ten finishes in the sport, was a member of the Ace Mitchell Sure Hook Hall of Fame, a Member of the Ebonite Staff of Champions, Wheeling Bowling Association Hall of Fame, and the Bellaire Bowling Hall of Fame. For a number of years, he was ranked in the top fifty bowlers in the Country. He was a charter member of the Professional Bowlers Association established in 1958 and selected as one of West Virginia's Sports Greats for the Centennial Celebration in 1963. He once rolled 855 for three games in match play. That total included 32 strikes in a row. He had four other 800 series to his credit and 29 perfect games. He qualified for the National Individual Match Game Championships on numerous occasions and made the semifinals four times.
He was invited all five years of the existence of the World's Invitational Individual Championships where the best 144 bowlers in the World were invited by the Bowling Sportswriters Association. He was drafted by the Detroit Thunderbirds in the sixth round of a National draft to begin a National Bowling League. Ophir did not sign with the League, and indeed it folded two years later.
Ophir played fast pitch softball with the Clator Rams, and baseball with the Elm Grove Civics. He also coached the Senior Midget Elm Grove team for two years and led them to a league championship.
Ophir was a member of the Order of DeMolay for boys and served the Wheeling Chapter as Master Councilor. He was later asked to head up the Wheeling Chapter as Chapter Advisor.
He served on staff of the Executive Officer of DeMolay in West Virginia, as District Deputy and State Ritual Advisor. He was named Executive Officer in West Virginia by the International Supreme Council of DeMolay, a position he held for seven years. He was one of the founders of the West Virginia Mountaineer State DeMolay Foundation, Inc. and served on the Board for 38 years, and as President for 20. He was the most decorated DeMolay in the history of West Virginia, and a member of the West Virginia DeMolay Hall of Fame.
Ophir was accepted as a member of Nelson Lodge #30, A.F. and A.M. in 1954.He served as Master in 1967. He was Past High Priest of Wheeling Union Chapter #1, Royal Arch Masons, Past Commander of Wheeling Commandery #1, Knights Templar. He served as Grand High Priest of Royal Arch Masons of West Virginia in 1985, and as Grand Commander of Knights Templar in West Virginia in 1980. He was Past Preceptor of Mount Calvary Tabernacle No. XIX Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests; a member of St. Lawrence the Martyr Allied Masonic Degrees, Council No. 21; Past Prior of W.Va. Priory No. 40 of the Knights York Cross of Honor with two Quadrants and a Knight Commander of the Temple.
Ophir was a Charter member and Past Sovereign of Mountain State Conclave, Red Cross of Constantine; and also Past Excellent Chief of West Virginia Council #7, Knight Masons. He founded the York Rite College program in West Virginia, and was the first Governor of Fort Henry York Rite College No. 61. He served the Sovereign College of North America as Grand Governor of West Virginia for nine years, was honored by being one of forty named as a Regent of the Sovereign College, and when personal matters dictated his resignation as a Regent, he was elected a Regent Emeritus of the Sovereign College. He was a Life member of Osiris Shrine and a Life member of Shriners Hospitals. In 2006, he was honored by the College of Honours of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the United States of America by being created and constituted a Knight Commander of the Temple.
He served El Tor Grotto as Secretary and later as Treasurer. He was Secretary of Ohio Lodge #1, AF & AM, Secretary of Wheeling Union Chapter Royal Arch Masons, and Recorder of Wheeling Commandery #1, Knight Templars.
A top rated football official in both West Virginia and Ohio, he also worked the Midwest Pro League, was President of the Ohio Valley Board of Football Officials in 1977. He served as Executive Secretary of the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference for two years, and also served as Football Commissioner for the OVAC in 1979 and 1980. He worked the state playoffs in West Virginia for several years.
After over thirty years of absence from the music scene, Ophir picked up his horn and began playing with the Beni Kedem Shrine Band in Charleston where he lived for eleven years. He was elected President of that organization and played for thirteen years with Dick Stockton and his Orchestra in that area.
After retiring, Ophir and his wife moved back to the Wheeling area. He soon put together a big dance band under the name of "Buddy O and the Dancemasters" which soon became a regional band boasting of some of the finest musicians from East Liverpool, Ohio to Charleston, W.Va. This band was honored by being accepted into the National Ballroom and Entertainment Association, one of only thirty six bands in the country to be so honored. He also headed up an outstanding small band titled "Seventh Avenue."
Friends are invited to attend a memorial visitation on Monday, January 22, 2024 from 10 AM until time of memorial services at 11 AM at Kepner Funeral Homes, 166 Kruger Street, Wheeling, WV (304-242- 2311). Ohio Lodge #1, AF & AM, will conduct Masonic graveside services at Greenwood Cemetery immediately following the memorial service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Knight Templar Eye Foundation, PO Box #271118, Flower Mound, TX 75027-1118 or at www.ktef.org.
Personal condolences may be offered to the family at www.kepnerfuneral. com.