- Date Of Birth: December 12, 1947
- Date Of Death: February 11, 2013
- State: West Virginia
Valerie K. Carlsen 65, of Kingwood surrounded by her family passed from this life on Monday, February 11, 2013 at Monongalia General Hospital in Morgantown. She was born on December 12, 1947 in Lynwood, California, the oldest daughter of the late Bernice Lucille Thacker and Kenneth Jerome Carlsen. Valerie attended the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, received a bachelor’s degree in art from West Virginia University Creative Arts Center and her master’s degree from West Virginia University Human Resources and Education. She was also the first National Board Certified Teacher in Preston County. She taught art in Preston County at Aurora and Tunnelton/Denver schools. Valerie loved teaching and opened a new world to many young people through her love of art and teaching. She was also a strong advocate for teachers and their profession. Her student art shows and Preston County Buckwheat Festival exhibits won many awards and were appreciated by all those who attended. Her students also entered and won awards at art shows in Charleston, WV. During her working career, Valerie also taught ballroom dance in Pittsburgh, worked at Bailey Glass in Morgantown hand painting lamps, served as a medical transcriptionist at WVU Hospital, and worked at Wal-Mart. Teaching and art were her passion. She loved learning and was an avid reader and researcher. She was an adventurer and loved exploring the back roads of West Virginia where she often found things that inspired her art projects. Cranberry Glades and Dolly Sods were her favorite destinations in West Virginia and she made sure that any of her guests visiting West Virginia saw these areas. She truly enjoyed the beauty of nature. She is survived by three sisters, Jennifer Volk and husband Joe of Arthurdale, Mary West and husband Sam of Fairmont, and Kenette Shreve and husband Dennis of Clarksburg. She is also survived by nieces and nephews, Nicholas Volk of Arthurdale, Haley Maher of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, Matt Volk of Morgantown, and Carrie Cunningham of Bruceton Mills. Valerie had four great nieces and a great nephew. She is also survived by a special friend, Eric Barnes of New York, and colleague and friend, Mike Dixon of Aurora. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a younger sister, Martha Ellen Carlsen. The family would like to thank the many friends and colleagues that supported Valerie during her battle with cancer. She was very appreciative of the love and support she received.
