Janet Elaine Rostosky was born Janet Ashby on July 28, 1940, to Glenn Ashby and Mable White. She lived on the family farm near Corinth, until moving to Terra Alta in the mid-1940s. She was a proud Hilltoppers Cheerleader and graduated from Terra Alta High School with the Class of 1958. She attended business college in Morgantown and started her career with the Bureau of Public Roads, the predecessor to today’s Department of Transportation, in Washington D.C. She frequently took the B&O Number 11 train from Washington D.C. to Terra Alta — since the much faster “National Limited” did not stop in town.
She married Paul J. Kirk, on Sept. 16, 1962 and settled into an apartment on Sanders Street in Terra Alta. Janet was active in the Terra Alta business community — jointly owning grocery stores in Terra Alta, Kingwood and Rowlesburg. She also owned, operated and managed Kirk’s Clothing Store in Terra Alta. Janet served multiple terms on the Terra Alta Town Council.
She enjoyed being a member of the congregation at Hillcrest Chapel in Terra Alta, where she played the organ and sang in the choir.
She married Michael Rostosky, from Oakland, Md., in October 2001. Michael and Janet enjoyed their time together at their home overlooking the Garret County mountains, and they frequently traveled locally and to Washington State, North Carolina, Kentucky and Virginia to see their many grandchildren. Michael and Janet were members of the White Church between Loch Lynn, Md. and Gormania.
Janet spent her final days surrounded by family and friends, and she passed away on Sept. 7, 2021, in Terra Alta. Visitation will be held at the Arthur H. Wright Funeral Home in Terra Alta, from 6-8 p.m., Friday, Sept. 10. A celebration of life service will be conducted at Hillcrest Chapel in Terra Alta, at noon, Saturday, Sept. 11, with Pastor Barry Kirk officiating. Interment will be at the Terra Alta Cemetery — where she will be laid to rest alongside her infant daughter.
She is survived by her husband, Michael, two sons, 18 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
Due to recent trends regarding COVID-19, safety precautions will be taken, the social distancing 6-foot rule will be honored and all guests, whose health allows, are to wear a mask. For the safety of everyone, we politely ask that visitors do not linger at the funeral home after seeing the Kirk-Rostosky family.
Special thanks to WV Caring/Preston County Hospice, Preston County Senior Citizens and Martha Metz and Cheryl Kirk for their loving support.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Janet’s memory to the Terra Alta Volunteer Fire Dept., 1120 E State Ave., Terra Alta, WV 26764.
Condolences:
www.arthurwrightfuneralhome.com
