- Date Of Birth: December 2, 1927
- Date Of Death: June 3, 2021
- State: West Virginia
Eugene Clay Schoonover, 93, a resident of the Barbour County Good Samaritan Center, Belington, and formerly of Philippi, died Thursday, June 3, 2021, in the Davis Medical Center, Elkins. He had been in declining health.
Eugene was born December 28, 1927, at Philippi, the youngest child and only son of the late Clay and Willa Cleo (Anglin) Schoonover.
On April 8, 1950, he married the former Lelia Ann Thomas, who preceded him in death on February 15, 2005.
Survivors include five children, Gary Eugene (Kathleen) Schoonover, Ronald Clay (Deborah) Schoonover, Betty Diane (Jeff) Crowther, all of Philippi, Teresa Rose Matthews, Oak Hill, OH, Randell Ray (Judy Loughry) Schoonover, Kingwood; grandchildren, Andrea Catherine Schoonover, Jennifer Ann (Steven) Yinger and Timothy Eugene (Kelly) Schoonover; Heidi Janeen, and Clayson Scott (Emily) Schoonover, Jeremy Michael and Samuel Clay Crowther, Lindsey Arianna Mick, Daniel Levi Matthews, Mona Lisa (Kenny) Sexton, Abebrum Malachi Schoonover, Sara Rebekah (Travis) Knotts, Shawn Richard (Charlotte), Michael Shannon (Jennifer) and Timothy Patrick (Sarah) Loughry; great grandchildren, Steven Callen and Lila Patricia Yinger; Emily Kayleen, Caleb Matthew and Logan Joseph Schoonover; Hensley Paige Schoonover; Dakota Alex, Kandice Michelle, Kristen Hope and Skyler Sexton; Tristan Alan, Taylynn Shea and Sawyer Wade Knotts; Shane Michael, Lainey Shea, Kadance Renee and Lennon Ann Loughry.
He was also preceded in death by a son-in-law, Daniel Matthews; by three sisters, Etta Kathryn Digman, Rita McDaniel and Lucille Malone and by several nieces and nephews.
As a youth, Eugene suffered Scarlet Fever and chronic ear infections which delayed his progression in school and resulted in moderate progressing to profound hearing loss. He graduated Philippi High School with the class of 1947. As a young man he worked for B & S Cleaners and Thornhill’s Florist and often spoke of cutting and packaging roses to be shipped via the evening bus to distant points. He began his career in coal mining with a job with Dick’s Construction, laying siding track to Clinchfield Coal’s Compass #1, Mine. He then began employment with Clinchfield Coal Company at their Compass #1, Mine where he was trained in the coal sampling and grading laboratory. As production at that mine declined he was transferred to the Compass #2 Mine at Dola. He later moved to the Badger Coal Works, working for Raymond Bogert and, when Clinchfield Coal purchased the Badger Mine, he was again working for Clinchfield, where he worked until forced to retire by the closure of the Badger works. After his retirement from the mine, he worked for a time for North Central Community Action in their Home Winterization Program. He and his wife, Lelia, traveled with the JaDel Enterprises and Cumberland Valley Shows in the eastern United States.
Eugene was a longtime member of the U.M.W. of A. and served as Recording Secretary of Local #1493 for many years. He was a Director Emeritus of the Barbour County Fair Association and especially enjoyed his time working with commercial exhibitors. He was a long time member of the Mansfield Methodist/United Methodist Church and later a member of the Crim Memorial U.M. Church. After moving to Belington, he attended the West Side U.M. Church, as long as his health and mobility allowed.
