ERNEST "BOOTS" MINNICK, 73, OF MOUNT STORM, DIED SUNDAY, FEB 28,1999 IN THE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL HOSPICE UNIT, CUMBERLAND, MD.BORN AUG 11,1925, AT GORMANIA, WV., HE WAS A SON OF THE LATE CHARLES HOBART AND KATHRYN(VERLEY) MINNICK. HE ALSO WAS PRECEDED IN DEATH BY THREE BROTHERS, CHARLES MINNICK JR, RAYMOND MINNICK AND NORMAN MINNICK; AND ONE SISTER, PAULINE KNOTTS. MR. MINNICK FORMERLY WAS EMPLOYED WITH THE WESTERN MARYLAND RAILROAD AS A MECHANIC AND IN BRIDGE AND BUILDING FOR 15 YEARS. AFTER HIS EMPLOYMENT WITH THE RAILROAD, HE AND HIS WIFE OWNED AND OPERATED MINNICK'S GROCERY AND AMOCO SERVICE IN MOUNT STORM UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT IN 1987.MR.MINNICK ALSO WAS CONFOUNDING MEMBER OF THE MOUNT STORM VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND WAS A U.S. ARMY VETERAN SERVING DURING THE ERA OF THE KOREAN CONFLICT.SURVIVING ARE HIS WIFE OF 52 YEARS, EILEEN(HANLIN)MINNICK; ONE SON, RANDALL MINNICK AND WIFE KATHY, MOUNT STORM; ONE DAUGHTER, KATHY PACELLA AND HUSBAND PAUL, MOUNT STORM; THREE BROTHERS, GEORGE MINNICK, ADRIAN, MICH., GLEN MINNICK, WARRENTON,VA., AND JOHN MINNICK, ALEXANDRIA, VA.; FOUR SISTERS, WILMA GROVE, WESTERNPORT, MD., DONNA BECKMAN, BRUNSWICK, OHIO, CHRISTINA PATRICK, O'FALLON,ILL., AND JOYCE SUMMAR, MURFREESBORO, TENN.; AND FIVE GRANDCHILDREN MEREDITH,TRAVIS AND ASHLEY MINNICK, COREY VANMETER AND JORDAN PACELLA, AND TWO FOSTER GRANDCHILDREN, BELINDA AND MICHAEL GEORGE, ALL OF MOUNT STORM, WV.FRIENDS MAY CALL AT THE ROTRUCK-SMITH FUNERAL HOME, KEYSER, ON TUESDAY FROM 2-4 P.M. AND 7-9 P.M. FUNERAL SERVICES WILL BE CONDUCTED IN THE FUNERAL HOME CHAPEL ON WEDNESDAY AT 11A.M. WITH THE REV. WILLIAM ANDERSON OFFICIATING.INTERMENT WILL BE IN THE MOUNT STORM CEMETERY. THE FAMILY REQUESTS THAT EXPRESSIONS OF SYMPATHY TAKE THE FORM OF CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MOUNT STORM VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT,C/O EUGENE MORELAND, P.O. BOX 46, MOUNT STORM, WV 26739.