J. Max Gill

J. Max Gill, 88, of Fairmont, passed away at his residence on Monday (Dec. 3, 2007). He was born May 12, 1919 in Harrison County, a son of the late Michael and Flora Coltraone Gill. He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty E. Bainbridge Gill on Dec. 3, 2001; and his only brother, John Michael “Jack“ Gill in 2007.Mr. Gill was a graduate of St. Peters High School in Fairmont. He later graduated from both Fairmont State College and West Virginia University. He was a veteran of the United States Marines, where he served for four years as platoon sergeant. Max was a member of the St. Peter the Fisherman Catholic Church in Fairmont.Max served as administrative clerk, United States Bureau of Census, First Congressional District of W.V. for the 1950 census. He was chief office deputy of Maria H. Clark, county clerk of Marion County, from 1951 until 1953; justice of the peace, Fairmont District, Fairmont, from 1953 until 1957; sheriff of Marion County from 1957 until 1961; deputy tax commissioner, State of W.V., from 1961 until 1962; auditor and examiner for the State Tax Department from 1962 until 1967; county commissioner of Marion County 1967; and area administrator, Department of Commerce, secretary for the North Central W.V. Development Corporation from 1967 until 1969. He then served as sales representative for CarMar Sales Co. in Shinnston from October 1969 until May 1970. He retired from the FMC Corporation Mining Equipment Division in Fairmont where he served from June of 1970. He then later served as one of the first magistrates in Marion County from 1977 and retired in 1984.Max was a member of the VFW No. 629 of Fairmont, the Marine Corps League and the Fairmont Field Club.Survivors include: sister-in-law, Margaret Gill of Ft. Myers, Fla.; nephew, Michael Gill, Cape Coral, Fla.; niece, Patty Sushil of Cape Coral, Fla.; nephew, Danny Bainbridge of Fairmont; niece, Sue Bainbridge Shumate of Titusville, Fla.; and several great-nieces and great-nephews.He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty E. Bainbridge Gill; brother, John Michael “Jack” Gill of Ft. Myers, Fla.; and nephew, Harry Michael Bainbridge.Services are being handled by the Ford Funeral Home, R.C. Jones Chapel, 1410 Country Club Rd., Fairmont. Friends and family may call from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. Saturday. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. in the funeral home and will be led by Mr. Oce Smith, a dear and beloved friend of Mr. Gill. A public interment will be held on Monday at 10 a.m. at the W.V. National Cemetery in Pruntytown, where he will be laid to rest with military rites.