Virginia Jean West Gould, of Morgantown and Mannington, beloved wife of Professor Henry W. Gould, passed away peacefully Nov. 11, 2020, at Snyder Nursing Home, Salem, Va.
Born in Baltimore, July 9, 1930, she was the daughter of the late Anglum Perry and Annie Mister West. A graduate of Mannington High School in 1949, she received her A.B. in education from Fairmont State University, 1959, and M.S. in education from West Virginia University, 1968.
She was a member of the Board of Directors of the West Virginia Heart Association in Charleston, 1965-69. Jean was very active with the West Augusta Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in Mannington, secretary from 1997-98 and vice regent from 1998-99. Jean was a life-long scholar and enjoyed teaching others.
Jean taught at Iaeger middle and High School, McDowell County, from 1979-1992. Over her lifetime, she held many positions around the State of West Virginia and in other states. Jean developed and carried out a survey of tuition benefits for faculty spouses and children at nearby land grant universities and colleges. This project involved collaboration with Barbara Evans Fleischauer, West Virginia House of Delegates, and David Satterfield, CEO at West Virginia University from 1997-99.
In 1996, she married Professor Henry W. Gould, of West Virginia University in an eclectic, ecumenical wedding at the Round Barn, Mannington. Later in life, Jean took numerous classes at West Virginia University, earning a B.A. in Italian art history in 2005 and a B.F.A. in sculpture in 2009. She was elected to four honor societies and the Dean’s list. She then studied therapeutic horsemanship for several years at WVU. She was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, Morgantown.
From 1997-98, Jean completed a course of study of Hebrew and Judaism at Tree of Life Synagogue, Morgantown, where she was Secretary of the Sisterhood and Board, 1997. She was a member of Hadassah.
Jean’s greatest accomplishment was her family and is survived by two daughters, Michele Bernadette Pepin and son-in-law Jeffrey Pepin, of Petersburg, Va., and Laura Janelle Halsey Maynard and fiancé Harvey Haywood, of New Castle, Va.; grandsons, Thomas Payson Kight, of Pahoa, Hawaii and Hilo, Hawaii, and John Morgan Maynard, of Cornelius, N.C.; granddaughter, Lisa Marie Boyd, of Roanoke, Va.; numerous friends and relatives; and special friends, Ed and Doris Gump.
She was loved by many people because of her kind, caring and supportive nature. She was a loving mother and encouraged her daughters to be fair, helpful and understanding of others.
If you knew Jean, you know she always treated everyone the same no matter what color, race, socioeconomic status, gender, sexual orientation, religious or political affiliation you had. We should all strive to be like her and this world would be a better place. Be kind to others as she not only preached but practiced.
Services will be held in accordance with COVID-19 guidelines. Masks are to be worn by all attending and social distancing is to be practiced. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the American Humane Society in Jean’s honor, as she rescued many animals over the years. Family and friends may call at Masters Funeral Home in Mannington from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16. Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17. Burial will follow at the Thorne Cemetery in Logansport (Marion County). As we continue to recognize attending services during the COVID-19 situation may not be in the best interest for some, please keep the family in your thoughts and prayers.
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www.mastersfuneralhomewv.com
