Monongah’s Bill Van Pelt passes away

Bill Van Pelt passed away Saturday, September 30 in his Monongah home.

Bill Van Pelt

Bill’s sister, Norma Jean, lives in Fairmont with husband Paul Wood, Class of 1973.

Bill was a coal miner for 21 years.

Bill’s obituary:

William T. “Bill” Van Pelt, 77, of McCue Ave., Monongah, WV, passed away Saturday evening in his residence.   He was born June 17, 1940 in Fairmont, WV, son of the late Thaddeus and Mary Ellen Bolinger Van Pelt.  

Mr. Van Pelt was a member of Monongah Baptist Church in Monongah, WV.   He served as a coal miner with Eastern Gas and Fuel, Federal No. 1, with 21 years of service.   He was a member of the U.M.W.A.   He later worked at Eimco for 5 years and served as a security guard for Monongalia General Hospital until retirement.   

Bill was a proud member of Acacia Lodge 157, AF&AM, 32nd Degree Mason, and a member of Scottish Rite Bodies of Wheeling and Clarksburg, WV.   He enjoyed his faith, all family activities, and loved his children and grandchildren.   Bill was an avid golfer and enjoyed playing in various bowling leagues.  

Survivors include his 4 daughters and their spouses, MaryEllen and Jeff Brown of Monongah, WV, Nancy and Jamie Howell of East Deer, PA, Karen and Rob Richards of Monongah, WV, and Linda and Greg Donewar of Fairmont, WV,   8 grandchildren, Chelsia Watkins of Munhall, PA, Joshua and Amanda Brown of Monongah, WV, Jimmy Howell of Fairmont, WV, Whitney and Dana O"Dell of Bingamon, WV, Zachary and Kaitlyn Brown of Monongah, WV, Jessica Huffman of Fairmont, WV, A.J. and Missy Richards of Monongah, WV, and Cadence Howell of East Deer, PA,   7 great grandchildren, Meredith and Chloe O’Dell, Dorothy and Carter Richards, Cohen and ElaiaGrace Brown, and Sutton Brown,   and 1 sister, Norma June and her husband Paul Wood of Fairmont, WV.  

He was preceded in death by 3 brothers, John, Buddy, and Junior Van Pelt and 3 sisters, Jenny Wood, Nancy Zink, and Judith Ann Stewart.  

Family and friends may call at Ford Funeral Home, Ford Chapel, 201 Columbia St., Fairmont, WV from 2pm until 8pm on Wednesday, 2pm until 8pm on Thursday, and 10am until 11am on Friday.   Funeral services will be held in the funeral home Friday morning, 10-6-2017, at 11am, with Pastor Karl Streyle officiating.   Committal services will follow at 3pm in the Old Brick Church Cemetery in Huttonsville, WV.   Members of the Masonic Order, AF&AM, will hold ritualistic services at the graveside.