Obituary of Janice Irene Watts

Janice Irene Watts of Fairmont passed away on January 30, 2022, at the age of 88. Her parents were Lee Estep and Doris Saunders Estep. Janice graduated from Fairmont Senior High School in 1951. She began her long administrative support career soon after at Prudential Insurance. She ultimately retired in 2015 at 82 from Fairmont State University, where she acted as advisor for the Regents Bachelor of Arts (RBA) degree, and as secretary for the Leadership Marion program. Upon her retirement, she and her family established a scholarship to aid students seeking to obtain an RBA degree. Throughout her life, Janice had an abundance of energy and loved to keep busy. She was a member of Life United Methodist Church in Fairmont, and a faithful co-chairperson of the United Methodist Women’s MonValley district Celebration of Mission event committee for many years. She was also an active member of the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority for more than 60 years and held multiple offices. In her spare time, Janice enjoyed crafting, attending plays and musicals, and playing piano. She started several business ventures with friends over the years to sell homemade Christmas ornaments and needlework products, and even had a cookie delivery business. Earlier in her life, she and her husband traveled all over the U.S., visiting friends and relatives along the way. Janice was also the designer of the flag for the city of Fairmont that flies over the J. Harper Meredith building and the Gateway Connector. She won a contest in 1984 to design the first flag for the city. She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Royal, and daughter Lara Watts of Potomac Falls, VA; sisters Helen Dow of New Smyrna Beach, FL and Ann Butterworth of Webster, TX; sisters-in-law Joy Estep of Shalimar, FL, and Susie Estep of Washington Township, OH; and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by brothers Robert Estep and Richard Estep. In lieu of flowers, a gift may be made in memory of Janice to the Janice & Royal Watts RBA Scholarship either by visiting fsufoundation.org/give or mailing a check made payable to Fairmont State Foundation with the name of the scholarship stated in the memo line. The check should be mailed to Fairmont State Foundation at 1300 Locust Avenue, Fairmont, WV 26554. The family will receive friends at Ford Funeral Home, 201 Columbia St., Fairmont, WV 26554, on Friday, February 11, 2022, from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. Visitation will continue at Life United Methodist Church, 3000 Technology Drive, Fairmont, WV 26554, on Saturday, February 12, 2022, from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. The memorial service will be held in the church on Saturday at 11 a.m. with Reverend Larry Buckland officiating. A burial service will be held at Woodlawn Cemetery in Fairmont following the service. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.fordfuneralhomes.com.