Obituary of William Albert "Bill" Barth

William Albert “Bill” Barth, 87, of Rivesville, died peacefully Saturday, December 9, at Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown following a short illness.

He was born on September 21, 1930, the son of the late Herman Henry and Flora Forrest Rice Barth.

Bill was raised on Panther Lick Hollow at Grant Town and graduated from Fairview High School in 1949. He served his country as a U.S. Army sergeant during the Korean War. Upon his return from military duty, he graduated from Fairmont State College with a bachelor’s degree in business.

He retired after working close to 20 years as an underground coal miner at Loveridge Mine where he was a member of United Mine Workers of America local 9909. Prior to that, he co-owned a gas station in Bellview and taught math and science at schools in New Martinsville and West Lafayette, Ohio. Upon settling down in Rivesville in 1965, Bill worked at Westinghouse where he was foreman in the glass plant.

Bill attended Hagans Christian Church. In his retirement years, he enjoyed being outside tending to his vegetable garden and taking care of his yard. He loved taking drives to spots in West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania. Also in his retirement, his fellow citizens and neighbors encouraged him to run for mayor of Rivesville. Never one to aspire to any political office, but known simply as an honest and sensible man, Bill agreed to enter the race and waged a successful campaign as a write-in candidate. When his first and only grandchild Eli was born, his greatest joy of all became spending time with him and attending his soccer games.

Bill is survived by his three children, daughters Kelly and her husband Scott Link of Fairmont; Kathy and her husband Derrick Day of Fairmont; and son, John Barth of Rivesville. Also surviving are his grandson, Eli Day, of Fairmont, his sister Edith Eileen Raspa, sister-in-law, Charieta and husband Robert “Bud” Goodnight of Romney; special friends Gene and Phyllis Day of White Hall. Many nephews and nieces also survive.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Greta Carol Blount Barth, in 2008. He was also preceded in death by two sisters, Alice Virginia Councill and Wilma Jean Wilson; and his mother-in-law, Hazel Martonosi.

Friends and family may visit the Ford Funeral Home, DeGarmo Chapel, 207 Second Street, Rivesville, WV on Wednesday, December 13, 2017 from 2PM until 8PM, and on Thursday, December 14, 2017 from 10AM until 11AM. The funeral will be held in the funeral home on Thursday, December 14, 2017 at 11AM with Pastor Isaac Harmon officiating. Interment will follow at the Beverly Hills Memorial Gardens in Westover. Online condolences may be made to www.fordfuneralhomes.com.