William F. “Bucky” Poling

William F. “Bucky” Poling, age 74, a resident of the Tacy Community in Moatsville, WV, passed away unexpectedly Saturday, June 4, 2022.  Bucky, the son of the late Herman Poling, Jr. and Jeanne E. (Stemm) Poling, was born February 11, 1948 in Philippi, WV.  He was married March 15, 1969 to Mary M. (Daugherty) Poling who survives at home. He is survived by two sons,  William F. (Frank) Poling, Jr. and Edward L. Poling and wife Sara, all of Moatsville, WV.  Also surviving are his six grandchildren who were the lights of his life:  Nathaniel Poling, Gage Poling, Emma Poling, Chandler Poling, Audrey Poling, and Ashley Poling.  In addition to his parents, Bucky was preceded in death by his sister Candace Jacques and his Aunt Peg Proudfoot.

Bucky was a graduate of Philip Barbour High School and attended Glenville State College.  He served as the treasurer for his UMWA Local Union for several years. He was a board member of the Chestnut Ridge Public Service District, where he worked tirelessly to secure funding to provide clean drinking water for his community.  At the time of his passing, he was serving as board chairman and was dedicated to implementing several improvements to the district water system after recently being notified of major funding awards.  Bucky was a faithful member and former trustee of the Tacy Cross Roads United Methodist Church.

Anyone who knew Bucky would say that he was a hard worker and also knew that he loved farming.  In high school, he was an FFA member and earned his State Farmer Award.  Under his leadership, he and his family were named Barbour County Conservation Farmers of the Year by the Tygart Valley Conservation District for their conservation efforts on their farm at Tacy.  He took exceptional pride in making the family beef cattle and horse farm on the “mountain” a showplace.  While farming was his passion and something he worked at daily from the time he was a little boy on throughout his life, he also continually supported his family with other employment, including service as a Barbour County Deputy Sheriff, a UMWA coal truck driver, a maintenance and supply worker at Fairmont State College, and maintenance supervisor at Tygart Valley Regional Jail.

Friends will be received at Wright Funeral Home and Crematory, 220 North Walnut Street in Philippi on Thursday, June 9, 2022 from 4pm-8pm and again on the morning of Friday, June 10, 2022 until 11:00 am when Pastor Dina Andrews will officiate the funeral service.  Inurnment will follow in Mount Vernon Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers and in honor of Bucky’s love for farming, memorial contributions may be sent to:  Agriculture Education Department,  C/o Mr. Ray Freeman and Mr. Gene Hovatter, 25 Horseshoe Drive, Philippi, WV 26416.