ARTIE DONOVAN “DON” POLING, age 79 years, a resident of Parsons, WV, departed this life Thursday morning August 12, 2010 at his home. He had been in his usual health and death was unexpected.
He was born Wednesday, August 5, 1931 at Pifer Mt., St. George, WV, a son of the late Artie Brown Poling and Virgie Margaret Stalnaker Poling. On June 30, 1956 at Fredericksburg, VA, he was married to the former Joan Marie Pershing, who survives.
Also surviving are one son, James Pershing Poling of Parsons; one daughter, Marjorie “Jane” Poling Wright and husband John of Hot Springs, VA; two grandchildren, James Robert Wright and Sarah Elizabeth Wright and two step grandchildren, Carmen Bowes and Joshua Bowes.
He was the last surviving member of his immediate family having been preceded in death by three brothers, William “Graydon” Poling, James Allen Poling and Rev. Delbert Middleton Poling.
He was a graduate of Parsons High School with the Class of 1949, where he was a member of the National Honor Society and the football, basketball and track teams. He was a member of the Parsons Presbyterian Church since 1966, where he was an Elder and Deacon of the church. He was a former employee of Standard Oil of OH, Texaco of CA, and the former Parsons Texaco from 1966 until 1971. He was a sales rep. for Peters Fuel Co. He was the Tucker Co. Assessor from 1980 until 1988. He along with his son Jim owned and operated Tucker Valley Home and Garden in Parsons from 1990 until 2000. He was a member of the Hendricks Ruritan Club, the Parsons Lions Club and was a Boy Scout Leader. He was an avid WVU Mountaineer Fan, outdoorsman, and a noted gardener.
The family will receive friends at the Lohr & Barb Funeral Home of Parsons on Friday from 5 to 8 PM. Final rites will be conducted at the funeral home parlor Saturday, August 21, 2010 at 2 PM. The Rev. David Shaffer will officiate and interment will follow at the Pifer Mountain Cemetery at St. George.
