John Howard Gore, most beloved father, husband, caring friend, and therapist to many, passed away with his family and dear friends by his side at J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital on Wednesday, Feb. 7. John was the most protective and loving father to his two children. Always mindful of their education and always making sure, through many stories from his own youth and throughout his life, his children understood the value of strong morals, humility, hard work, and never giving up. One of his most important lessons being to always remember there are consequences to our actions. He made sure his children knew, even though grown, they always had a warm, loving home to which they could always return.
John put effort and pride into his home in Hillsboro he shared with his wife, Patty. Loving to spend warm days mowing his lawn, planting trees, doing many projects outside, and also making sure their many pets were well tended and happy.
John grew up in Logan County, where he first developed his love of being outdoors. He would recount stories of long days wandering the woods as a child. He was an excellent marksman, but his soft heart usually won out over his love of the hunt as he cared so much for the beauty of all animals. He ultimately preferred taking pictures of nature and portraits of those he loved. Both his children have fond memories of being outdoors with their father and some eventful, and not so successful, fishing adventures. He also enjoyed walking along the Greenbrier River Trail when each of his children were young and skipping rocks, tubing down the river, and watching his dogs splash in the water. As his son developed an interest in golf, John dabbled as well, and was able to share a round or two with his son-in-law who also loves the sport.
He was, after all, a poet at heart. He would sometimes indulge this talent, but also being a very private man, only his closest loved ones had the privilege to read his writings and poems. John was best able to convey his quiet faith when communing with God’s creation and imparting hard earned and important life lessons to his children. He looked forward to family vacations each year, especially to the beach, where he could relax in the sun and enjoy being near the ocean and his family. Celebrating Christmas and ringing in the New Year were the highlights of the year as holidays in Hillsboro were filled with love, warmth, family games, so many gifts, and all of his favorite holiday meals prepared by Patty.
John was blessed with many gifts and accomplished so much in his close to 80 years of life. John graduated from Chapmanville High and served his country as an Air Force veteran. He went on to become a proud graduate of Marshall University earning a bachelor of science degree in psychology and then master’s segree in counseling and rehab. He also earned an MBA from Averett University later in life again demonstrating the value he placed on education.
John worked in the mental health field in so many capacities throughout his long, over 55-year career, making a huge impact in the State of West Virginia. Early in his career, he taught psychology at Bluefield State College and gained experience out of state in Ashland, Ky., while working for Lansdowne Mental Health as a Director. John was also the Director of Mental Health with Seneca for both Pocahontas and Greenbrier counties, at one time, simultaneously. He oversaw many important projects that bettered the lives of West Virginians, even traveling to New York City and Greece to present innovative mental health projects in West Virginia on a global stage. John counseled adults, children, and those in the prison population and retired from Seneca Health Services just last year.
His career brought him many joys. The greatest being his wife of over 30 years, Patty. Patty and John met through their shared mental health careers and were never far from one another since that first meeting. They were able to share a rare and deep bond of marriage and career and, before John retired, shared offices only a few feet from one another.
Many in the communities of Marlinton, Hillsboro, and Lewisburg will miss and remember John. He was active in the Kiwanis club in his younger years and would enjoy working the hot dog stand (with his daughter as his sidekick) during Pioneer Days. He also enjoyed watching her hunt Easter eggs during their community Easter egg hunt. Many fond memories were made and will be so very cherished.
John is survived by his devoted wife, Patty; his son, Jonathan Jacobey Gore (3rd yr. student at WVU School of Dentistry); his daughter and son-in-law, Kristy and Nate Meadows of Fairmont; former wife, Carolyn Frankhouser of Kingwood; and many cousins including, Sherry Church and Karen Wheeler of Salem, Ohio, and Anita Farley, Judy Conley, and JoAnn Gore of Chapmanville, and also cousin Jackie Swilley of Everett, Wash., and all of their families. He is also survived by his father-in-law, Jake Thompson of Durbin; and sister-in-law, Amy Thompson of Green Bank, and her family.
Services will be held at Wallace and Wallace Funeral Home in Arbovale, at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 11, with Rev. Steve Meadows officiating. Burial will follow with honors conducted by the Pocahontas County Veterans Honor Corp at the Arbovale Cemetery Annex.
Friends may visit one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
We will always love you, Dad, and we know you knew that. Thank you for your example, guidance, and love. These gifts will be with us and comfort us all and we know you will be with us forever and continue to guide us. We are so grateful, and we have faith we will be together again.
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