Jasper A. “Jay” Kalo, 93, passed away Sunday, May 17, 2020, at Home Away from Home in Grafton. He was born Dec. 11, 1926, in Morgantown, the son of the late Rozalia (Bartok) Kalo and Joseph J. Kalo Jr.
In addition to his parents, Jay was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Catherine (Hamric) Kalo, and brothers Joseph Kalo and James Kalo.
Jay is survived by daughters, Cynthia Steenstra and husband Carl, of Grafton, Marlene Kalo, of Grafton, Sharon Tzavaras and husband Pete, of Morgantown, and Laura Kalo Gow and husband David, of Chemainus, British Columbia, Canada and New Orleans,; grandchildren, Erica Steenstra Bunner and husband Curt, of Crestview, Ky., Jeremy Steenstra and wife Aterra, of Morgantown, and Lauren Fellner, of Vail, Colo.; a great-grandson, Carlin Bunner and great-granddaughters Audra and Aurora Steenstra; one sister, Rose Bacho, of Williamsburg, Va., and two sisters-in-law, Helen Kalo, of Morgantown, and Ruth Kalo, of Keyser; and several nieces and nephews.
Jay graduated from Morgantown High School in 1944 and from WVU in 1948 with a chemistry degree. After marrying his college sweetheart, Catherine Hamric, on Jan. 3, 1949, Jay moved to Grafton.
After working at Hamric Motors, a Buick-Pontiac dealership, Jay went into business for himself in 1956, purchasing the Chevrolet and Olds Dealership. He added the Jeep franchise in 1961, and purchased the Buick and Pontiac dealership in 1962, making Kalo Motors one of the first GM dealerships east of the Missisippi River having four of five franchises under one roof. Jay sold Kalo Motors and retired in 1989.
Jay was a past president of the Kiwanis Club and held membership in the Grafton Jaycees, the Grafton Elks Lodge, the Tygart Lake Country Club, the WVU Wheels Club, the WVU Alumni Association and the WV Automobile Dealers Association. Always civic-minded, he supported many organizations in Taylor County, served on the restoration committee for the Mother’s Day Shrine, and was President of Industries for Grafton from 1990-2003.
An avid golfer, Jay was one of the founders of Tygart Lake Golf Course. Jay was the 1998 WV Senior Amateur Gold Division Winner First Flight. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing,and bowling on teams in Philippi, Grafton and Ruskin, Fla. where he and Catherine wintered after retirement. When not on the golf course, Jay could be found working in his vegetable gardens.
A member of St. Augustine Catholic Church, he served as treasurer and participated in the Knights of Columbus. Jay frequently attended the First Baptist Church and the Beulah Baptist with his wife and attended the Church of the Good Shepherd for events involving grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The family thanks all the staff at Home Away from Home, the Hospice Staff and the medical staff at the Tygart Valley Total Care Clinic for all the excellent care provided during the last few months.
A graveside service will be held at the Woodsdale Memorial Park Cemetery at 2:30 p.m. Friday, May 22, with the Rev. David Spence officiating.
Donald G. Ford Funeral Home in Grafton is in charge of the funeral arrangements for the Kalo family.
Condolences:
www.donaldgfordfuneralhome.com
