Donald Cleavenger
May 29, 1928 ~ August 16, 2012
Donald Cleavenger, age 84, a resident of Rt. 1, Volga passed away Thursday August 16, 2012 in the Broaddus Hospital Emergency Room. He was born May 29, 1928 in Barbour Co. a son of the late Gerald and Ada Bernice (Mouser) Cleavenger. Donald was twice married first on January 13, 1951 to Joan Marie "Jenny" (Mather) Cleavenger who preceded him in death on May 21, 1977, and second on November 24, 1979 to Gretchen (Wegman) Cleavenger who survives. Also surviving are:
Two daughters: Donna Sue Trotter of Michigan
Kathleen M. Cleavenger of Volga
Five Step-Daughters: Deborah M. Keefe and husband Gerald of Tewksbury, Mass.
Melanie Bennett and husband Ernest of New Mexico
M. Christine Rosenau and husband Michael of Parsons, WV
Mary Elizabeth Sharp of Mabie, WV
Barbara E. Lakatos and husband Steve of Marshfield, Mass
Four sons: Richard Lee Cleavenger and wife Mary Anne of Philippi
Randall Lynn Cleavenger and wife Janice of Volga
Gary Wayne Cleavenger and wife Alice "Bunny" of Belington
Glenn William Cleavenger and wife Patricia of Century #1
Three Step-Sons: Thomas Guire and wife Ann of Mabie, WV
Kevin M. Guire and wife Donna of Atwater, OH
Stephen Guire and wife Sondera of Buckhannon, WV
52 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren, nine great great-grandchildren
Donald was preceded in death by one daughter: Kelly C. Morse, and close friends Dane and Kathleen Moore.
Donald retired from Barbour County School with 36 years of service as an Educator, and Principal. He served in the US Army during the Korean Conflict. Donald was a Co-Founder of the North Central Community Action, he was instrumental in starting the hot lunches at the Stonecoal one room school. He was past Director of Transportation for Barbour County Schools, past member of the Philippi Kiwanis's Club. Donald loved hunting, fishing, camping, and traveling. He was an active member of the St. Elizabeth Catholic Church having served as parish council president. He was loved and revered by all that knew him. He considered all his co-workers and students as extended family.
Donald was a graduate of Alderson- Broaddus College and received his Master's Degree from West Virginia University.
Friends will be received at the Wright Funeral Home 216 N. Walnut St. Philippi on Sunday August 19, from 5-8 pm a Vigil Wake Service will be held at 7:30 pm. Visitation will resume on Monday August 20, from 8-9:30 am. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church at 10 am with Fr. Jim O'Connor as Celebrant. Interment will follow in the Mary's Chapel Cemetery with Military Honours being accorded. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Cleavenger Scholarship Fund, at BC Bank PO Box 370 Philippi, WV 26416.
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So many memories going through my mind, filled with laughter and music. Rest in peace, Uncle Don — the circle will be unbroken, by and by….
Mr. Cleavenger was a great man and a great principal. He was always fair in all he did. He will be missed by many PBHS grads.
Our thoughts and prayers to all of the Cleavenger family. Mr. Cleavenger was a wonderful man and a great principal at PBHS. May God bless each of you.
What a wonderful man Mr. Cleavenger was! My thoughts and prayers are with the entire family. I remember watching him make a basket from the midcourt line at PB and was, and still am, very impressed. He was such a good role model for so many.
My dear sister and family members you all are in my thoughts and prayers. Don meant a lot to me and I will miss him.
I pray God will give you peace during this sad time and joy knowing he is now in a better place.
We want to join with so many other friends in wishing you and the family our deepest sympathy. Our prayers are with the family.
My thoughts and prayers go with those who survive Mr. Cleavenger, as that's the only thing I ever called him. I remember him fondly as a teacher at Philippi High School.
We have so many fond memories of Mr. Cleavenger from our days at PBHS. He was such a great mentor. Our sympathies and thoughts are with the family.
Our sympathy goes out to you at the loss of your loved one. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.
Rest in Peace, Mr. Cleavenger. Your teaching made a difference in many lives and especially in mine.. God bless your family and friends… Frank Bartlett
Mr. Cleavenger was my Biology Teacher at Philippi High School. He was one of my favorite teachers. I graduated in 1959 and oh how nice it was to see him at the class reunion. I beleive it was the 45th one. I pray that God will ease the pain in your heart! I will pray for the family.
God Bless Grandpa. He will be sadly missed by all of us.He was a wonderful caring man. May he Rest in Peace. Love, Gerry-Michael, Nancy, Kevin, Christina and Jonathan!
He was a Great man and Great teacher and administrator. He will be missed.
My father was a leader and guide to everyone around him. He will be sadly missed, but happily remembered. He is free of his aged flesh prison. He is with his friends, family, and especially with my baby sister and mother, Jenny. Life will go on. When it is time, we will join him in that God Bless each and every one of you that have taken the time and read/wrote messages and emails, etc.
I was so sorry to hear about this.
I was lucky to have Mr. Cleavenger as a practice teacher and as a grade school teacher and he always treated me as a friend — he was a good influence and a great guy.
So sorry Randy and Janice. I had a lot of respect for your father.
My thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Cleavenger family, may GOD wrap his arms around each of you and give you peace and comfort. I have fond memories of Mr. Cleavenger as he was my principal at PBHS and he was truly a good man & educator. May GOD bless each of you. RIP Mr. Cleavenger.
To a man that set so many Positive examples in all that he did. I only knew Don as an administrator in his time in the school system. I never remember him bragging of his accomplishments, he just quitely got the job done with a kind and gentle manner.
My grandfather was a wonderful man.. though i never really got to tell him this i loved him with all my heart… he will forever be in my heart and the hearts of my cildren…. we know that we will see him again someday…..
Great teacher of my eighth grade class at Philippi Grade School – 1955.
Gretchen and family,
I'm sorry for your loss. I will keep you all in my thoughts and prayers.
So sorry for your loss. Your Dad was a really wonderful man. I always enjoyed talking with him. He was my principal from the 7th or 8th grade until I graduated high school, & I worked in the office for him every year.
Rick and Clevenger Family: Sorry to read about Mr. Cleavenger passing. He was a kind gentleman and was principal when I graduated high school. My thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.
Dear Family,
My thoughts and prayers are with you during this season. Mr. Cleavenger had a heart for students and followed each of us throughout our lives with love and interest. He gave his best to make the world a better place. We were all blessed by knowing him. May you have peace through the Prince of Peace until that great reunion day.
Gretchen and the Cleavenger and Guire Families. Our thoughts and prayer are will you all at this difficult time. Phyllis and Victor
Grandpa has joined the angels, and has now gotten to see the face of God! He will be greatly missed by all.
We were saddened to learn of Mr. Cleavenger's passing. He was a great teacher, principal,and friend. I am confident we will meet again in Heaven.
To the Cleavenger family, we are sorry for your loss. Don was a wonderful man. I thank you for the pleasure of knowing him. Don and I would talk at the breakfast tablealmost every morning for a year. I learned about his passion for is job at the BOE and also for his family. I came to feel as if I had been a part of his family from the begininng. Don will always have a special place in my heart,may he reat in peace.
We pray that in this time of loss you’ll feel God’s love much more and that you’ll find your comfort in the presence of the Lord. We pray
God pours upon you his amazing grace and overflows your heart with peace as you live in His embrace. We were sorry to hear of Don's passing. Please know you are in our thoughts and prayers daily. Love, Tim,Joanna Allen & Family
Donald was just like family to me. He went from being my high school vice-principal to my adult friend. He was a great man and will be missed. I was impressed to see him make a basket all the way across the Philippi High gym! Love and miss you! My prayers are with all of you.
Don was such a gentleman and a great presence in our schools. We will miss him.
Hello to all the family-I am so sorry for our loss, Don was a great guy and always enjoyed his visits, May the Lord take him and make at home in his true home. Love to all, Jeanette
To the Cleavenger family, I'm sadden and sorry to be reading this. I would have wrote sooner if I had know of the passing of a great man and teacher and neighbor. Here not long age I ran into Mr. Cleavenger and his wife Gretchen at Wal-Mart and even after all this time he remembered and we hugged. So glad for that memory. R.I.P. Mr.Cleavenger and Thanks