Dr. Evangeline Myers Poling, M.D., passed away peacefully on February 15, 2022. She was 97 years old. Evangeline was born in Philippi, West Virginia on November 20, 1924, a daughter of the late Dr. Karl J. Myers and Evangeline Tyson Myers. She was born at the home of her maternal great-grandmother Mrs. M. D. Riley.Continue Reading
Tribute Video
Dr. Evangeline Myers Poling, M.D., passed away peacefully on February 15, 2022. She was 97 years old.
Evangeline was born in Philippi, West Virginia on November 20, 1924, a daughter of the late Dr. Karl J. Myers and Evangeline Tyson Myers. She was born at the home of her maternal great-grandmother Mrs. M. D. Riley. The Myers family was living with Mrs. Riley while their new home at 340 South Main Street in Philippi was being built. Her father, along with his father, Dr. J. W. Myers and brother, Dr. Hu Myers, were the founders of the Myers Clinic Hospital in Philippi, built in 1933. Both she and her brother, Karl Jr., 14 months older, were encouraged to go into medicine.
Evangeline graduated from Philippi Grade School where she was a Lady of the Golden Horseshoe. She graduated from Philippi High School in 1942. That summer, she entered Alderson- Broaddus College as a pre-medical student. In 1943 she transferred to West Virginia University where she received an A.B. degree in 1945. In 1946 she received a Master’s degree from Columbia University, and that fall she entered the University of Maryland Medical School in Baltimore, MD.
On June 15, 1947 she and Glenn B. Poling, a Barbour County native who had served in World War II as a Navy officer, were married in Philippi. They lived in Baltimore where Glenn entered the dental school at the University of Maryland and Evangeline continued her studies at the medical school. In 1950, she received her M. D. Degree, followed by an internship at Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore. Glenn received his DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) in 1951, followed by a dental internship with the U.S. Public Health Service in San Francisco, CA.
In July 1952 Glenn and Evangeline returned to Philippi where they spent the rest of their lives. That same year, Glenn established a dental practice at the Myers Clinic and kept very busy until he retired in 1985.
Glenn and Evangeline were the parents of six children, four girls and two boys, born between October, 1951 and April 1961. In 1958 they built a large house on South Main Street in Philippi where they lived the rest of their lives. Glenn died in 1999. Evangeline’s only brother, Dr. Karl J Myers Jr., a physician at the Myers Clinic, died in 2004 and his wife, Dr. Mary Elizabeth Myers, died in 2014.
Evangeline received a license to practice medicine in West Virginia in 1952, but stayed home to take care of her children for a few years. In 1958, she was appointed by the West Virginia Board of Health as the part-time Health Officer in Barbour County and served in this position until she retired in 1985. She directed new programs and conducted child health clinics and adult health screenings in three counties. She taught Public Health to Physicians Assistant students at Alderson-Broaddus College for six years. She served as part-time director of the West Virginia State Health Department Regional Health Office in Philippi for six years. She was a member of the American Medical Association, the West Virginia State Medical Association and the Barbour-Randolph-Tucker County Medical Society where she served as president in 1973. In 1980, she served as chairman of the Health Officer’s Section of the West Virginia Public Health Association.
Evangeline was an active member of the Crim Memorial United Methodist Church in Philippi, which she joined in 1941. She had been a member of the Women’s Society at the church since she joined it in 1952 when she came back to Philippi – being president in 1972. In 2005 she served as co-chairman of the centennial anniversary of the church.
She was active in several organizations in the Philippi area. She joined Philippi Chapter No. 41 of the Order of the Eastern Star in 1954 and served as Worthy Matron in 1963 – 1964. She played the piano for most Eastern Star meetings for about 40 years.
She served twice as president of the Philippi Branch AAUW. She was a longtime member of the Barbour County Historical Society and served as a guide in the Philippi Museum for about 25 years. She was president of the Philippi unit of the American Cancer Society from 1979 – 1982. She was twice the president of the Clionian Literary Club. Evangeline was also a current member of the James Barbour Chapter of the DAR.
Evangeline is survived by five children: Becki Poling of Nashville TN; Pam Washington of Philippi; Julie Bailey and husband Frank of Louisville KY; Philip Poling and wife Sandra of Easley SC; and Daniel Poling and wife Kathryn of Fairfax Station VA. Evangeline was preceded in death by her daughter, Suzie Gribble, who passed away on November 19, 2018.
She is also survived by ten grandchildren: Troy Olsson and wife, Irene of Philadelphia PA; Shawn Hornick of Philippi; Scott DePriest and wife Jessica of Wheeling; Randi Gribble of Philippi; Jeff Gribble and wife Melanie of Philippi; Robin Rueff and husband Will of Louisville KY; Michael Johnson and wife Tiana of Dallas TX; Andrew Poling of Easley SC; Paul Poling of Omaha NE, and Matt Poling, of Fairfax Station VA.
She is also survived by eight great-grandchildren, Maggie, John, and Lucy Rueff, children of Robin and Will Rueff; Jaxson and Camden Gribble, children of Jeff and Melanie Gribble, Ava and Jonah DePriest, children of Scott and Jessica DePriest; and Parker Suzanne Kelley, daughter of Randi Gribble.
Evangeline is also survived by her son-in-law Rusty Gribble of Philippi.
What did Evangeline like to do? She liked to take daily walks around Philippi, something she did for about 30 years. She also liked to read. She loved to read her daily newspapers, as well as mystery books and magazines. She liked to do needlework, and for the past few years has made many pictures and countless cross stitch, some of which she gave to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren as a special gift. Her crowning achievement was a large picture done in cross stitch of the Philippi Covered Bridge which is displayed on the wall of her living room. She was also an avid West Virginia Mountaineer fan, cheering on the football team and the men and women’s basketball teams.
Evangeline was a world traveler and made trips with her husband Glenn, and later with her daughter Becki. She has been to all seven continents including Antarctica and 40 countries. She has also been in all 50 states and most of the provinces of Canada. Evangeline and Glenn enjoyed living in Barbour County as did their parents, grandparents, and other ancestors.
In 2013 Evangeline began to write her memoirs, which have left a legacy to her children and grandchildren.
Friends will be received at the Wright Funeral Home and Crematory 220 N. Walnut St. Philippi on Sunday February 20, from 4-8 pm. The Order of Eastern Star Chapter #41 will conduct services at 7 pm. Friends will be received again on Monday February 21, from 8- 11am. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 am with Pastor Sam Haught officiating. Interment will follow in the Mt. Vernon Memorial Cemetery. In lieu of flowers Evangeline ask that memorial contributions be made to Crim United Methodist Church 78 Pike St. Philippi, WV 26416. Condolences may be expressed to the family at ww.wrightfuneralhomeservices.com
Your condolence may need to be approved before it appears on this page. It may not appear immediately once submitted.
Your condolence may need to be approved before it appears on this page. It may not appear immediately once submitted.
Your condolence may need to be approved before it appears on this page. It may not appear immediately once submitted.
Thank you for leaving a condolence..
Your comment has been submitted for moderation.