John William Riffe passed away in Ruby Memorial Hospital from complications of open-heart surgery on August 22, 2024.
He was surrounded by the arms of his family as well as the emotional and spiritual support of family and friends. This loving, funny, creative, and family-focused man was 77 years young.
John was preceded in death by his mother, Katie Echols Riffe; father, Robert Dorsey Riffe; stepmother, Ethel Queen Riffe; and his two brothers, Robert Lee and James Edward.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Jane Riffe, of the Lake O’ Woods community, as well as his children, Laurie Riffe and Robert Riffe.
Born in Charleston, John was the youngest son of Katie Echols Riffe and Robert Dorsey Riffe. John graduated from Stonewall Jackson High School in Charleston with the class of 1965. John was named class Co-Valedictorian and earned the honor of National Merit Scholar.
As an undergraduate student at West Virginia University, John met the love of his life, Jane Hollis Beerbower working at The Book Exchange. They married in 1969 in Kingwood. As a young couple, John and Jane joined the Peace Corps with the intention of serving in the Teaching English as a Foreign Language program. The program was suddenly terminated due to political unrest, and the couple returned to Morgantown where John completed his Bachelor of Science in Accounting. John and Jane took an extended trip to Mexico in their Volkswagen van as they submitted their graduate school applications. John and Jane earned their graduate degrees at the University of Kentucky in Lexington. He graduated with a Master of Science in Economics, just in time to welcome their first child, Laurie. John taught accounting, business, business law and economics at Elizabethtown College while enjoying the country life, organic gardening and apiculture.
After the couple returned to Rowlesburg to be closer to family, they also welcomed their son, Robert. John wore many hats throughout his life, with the ultimate goal of service to others. In Rowlesburg, John served as the President of People’s National Bank. His creativity and superior attention to detail were instrumental in innovating the bank’s systems, and his work had a lasting impact on the community. John’s quick wit and humor were clear in the writings of his column “Ask Mr. Banker.” Following his tenure as Bank President, John founded Preston Playthings Inc. The company designed and constructed large cedar playground structures as well as tactile play boxes enjoyed by children at schools and libraries across the state of West Virginia.
When John and Jane moved to the Cheat Lake area of Morgantown, John devoted himself to parenting and creatively remodeling the family home. John was a key contributor to the community relief efforts in Preston County following the Great West Virginia Flood of 1985, and he received the U.S. Small Business Administration Award in Financial Services for his work.
Following the couple’s move to the South Park area of Morgantown, John completed a Master of Science in Counseling from West Virginia University and joined Jane in the family’s private counseling practice. Their practice was housed in the historic Sandcastle Building at 270 Walnut St.
John’s artistic nature and love of words led him to create titled sculptures from found objects, which he named Abject d’Art by Johnre. Throughout the years, John continued to find deep joy in the artistic process and in sharing his pieces with family and friends.
John will be laid to rest in the Lake O’ Woods Cemetery on Thursday, August 29, with a private family service handled by Smith Funeral and Cremation Care of Westover/Morgantown. The family is planning a September Celebration of Life in Morgantown to honor and remember John, and all are welcome.
Donations are welcomed to the Arts Council of Greater Morgantown in memory of John Riffe, and the family will receive notification of all donations. Donations may be made by check payable to Arts Monongahela, Inc. noted IN MEMORY OF JOHN RIFFE and mailed to Arts Monongahela, 341 Chaplin Hill Road, Morgantown, WV 26505, or online at:
https://artsgm.org/invest/donations/
John is remembered as a devoted husband and father, for his loving kindness and generosity to all and for his playful and positive spirit.
Condolences:
www.smithfcc.com
