Robert “Bob” H. Jeran, 94, of Buckhannon, died Monday, April 6, 2020, in Philippi. He was born March 25, 1926, in Thomas, W.Va., a son of the late Henry and Anna Stankus Jeran.
On May 31, 1948, he married Ava Lee Righter who preceded him in death on March 22, 2015. In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by one brother, Joseph Jeran. He is survived by two sons, Robert R. Jeran and wife Robbyn and Stephen Jeran and wife Gini, all of Buckhannon; three grandsons, Ryan Jeran and wife Denice, Justin Jeran and wife Erika and Ross Jeran, all of Buckhannon; two granddaughters, Sara Jeran, of Buckhannon, and Claire Kesecker and husband Dr. Jeff Kesecker, of Harrisonburg, Va.; two great-grandsons, Koby Jeran and Brody Jeran, both of Buckhannon; three great-granddaughters, Elly and Berkeley Jeran, of Buckhannon, and Cora Kesecker, of Harrisonburg, Va.; and two sisters, Virginia Lester, of Morgantown, and Ann Marie Hughes, of Parkersburg.
“Bob” was educated and began his coal mining career in Thomas, W.Va. During World War II, he served with the United States Air Force in the South Pacific and upon his return continued his education, graduating from West Virginia University in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration.
Bob was a proud member of the WVU Basketball Team in 1943-1944. After graduation, he was employed by the United States Bureau of Mines working in research on the gasification of coal. Bob also attended the Executive Program at Columbia University Graduate School of Business in New York. He joined Bethlehem Mines Corporation in 1953 as a laborer at the former Century Mine 101 and was subsequently promoted to a number of operating and supervisory positions, including Mine Foreman at the Century Mine, Production Engineer at Barrackville Mine 41, Assistant Superintendent at Idamay Mine 44, Chief Inspector, General Superintendent and Managerof the Marion-BarbourDivision.
Bob retired from Bethlehem on Dec. 31, 1982, with thirty years of service. Since retirement, Bob has remained active in the coal industry by forming a consulting firm, Jeran Mining Inc. He was inducted into the West Virginia Coal Hall of Fame on May 10, 2003. He was a former member of WV Society of Professional Engineers, the Mine Inspectors Institute of America, the West Virginia University Varsity Club, and twice president of the Central West Virginia Coal Mining Institute. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Central West Virginia Coal Mining Institute, West Virginia Safety Council, Mine Inspector Institute of America, West Virginia Surface Mining and Reclamation Association, West Virginia Coal Development Authority, Buckhannon Chamber of Commerce and West Virginia Chamber of Commerce.
As a member of the West Virginia Chamber, he served on the none-man executive committee, Land Use and Natural Resources Committee and Personnel Resource Committee. Bob served as a director of Bank One of Buckhannon. He was a member of the Board of Trustees at West Virginia Wesleyan College, serving on the Academic Council, Audit Committee, Investment Committee, and Building and Grounds Committee.
In honoring Mr. Jeran’s wishes, he will be cremated. Bob was Catholic by faith. A Memorial Catholic Mass will be announced at a later date.
Poling-St. Clair Funeral Home oversees the arrangements.
Condolences:
www.polingstclair.com
