Born Rebecca Frances Blizzard on August 9, 1918 in Dunbar, she was the first child of Bernard and Rhoda Blizzard.

Rebecca attended Dunbar Elementary School and Dunbar High School and graduated from Marshall University in 1939. She received her masters degree in business education in 1970.

Rebecca married Dr. Victor Politano in 1938 and moved to North Carolina where she had four children. She became part of the elite group of Certified Professional Secretaries, a nationwide organization that raised the standard for professional secretaries through education and extensive testing.

She worked as a secretary to the Draft Board in Durham, NC during WW II. She married Tom Whetherholt in 1962 and moved to St. Albans. Rebecca then worked five years as secretary to Mr. Zerbe, a patent attorney at Monsanto in Nitro.

She taught school at St. Albans High School and was put in charge of business classes and was instrumental in the organization and supervision of the School-Work Program to allow juniors and seniors to substitute work for scholastic credit.

Rebecca moved from St. Albans High School to Ben Franklin Vocational School where she taught business and computer classes and again supervised the school-work program.

She organized and served as chairperson for the Dry Ridge Civic Improvement Association and was instrumental in getting Dry Ridge Road in St. Albans widened and paved and in getting city water out to the residents of Dry Ridge.

Rebecca was active in the Green Valley Extension Homemakers, serving as vice-president, public information person and as the Kanawha County representative to the Glenville Belle Pageant.

She traveled extensively with her cousin, Becky Hickman and dear friends to Egypt, the Holy Land, the Carribean and Alaska.

Rebecca was active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, having served in many positions such as president of the Women's organization and as head of the geneology library.

She moved to Kissimmee, Fla, where she stayed until her death on August 11 at the age of 91.

Surviving are her children, Dr. Vic Politano, Jr. and wife, Kay of Kissimmee, Fla., Dr. Mike Politano and wife, Debbi of Charleston, SC; daughters, Elizabeth Marshall, JD and husband, Prentice Harvey of Frankfort, KY and Bettie Wilson and husband, Lou of Columbus, IN; fifteen grandchildren and fifteen great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, August 15, at Keller Funeral Home, Dunbar, with Paul Frampton officiating. Burial will follow in Grandview Memorial Park.

Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, August 14, at Keller Funeral Home.

Pallbearers for the service will be Dr. Vic Politano, Dr. Mike Politano, Victor Politano, Michael Politano, Taylor Marshall, Ed Wilson, Joshua Nathaniel, Phil Blizzard and Prentice Harvey. Graveside services will be conducted by Lew Wilson.

The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to HospiceCare, 1606 Kanawha Boulevard, W, Charleston, WV 25312-2536.