Hugh Harrison Felton, 92, of Short Gap, died on Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022, at UPMC Western Maryland.
Hugh was born in Rowlesburg, on June 30, 1930, the third son of the late Junior D. and Ova Mary (Goff) Felton.
He was also preceded in death by his brothers, Daniel L. Felton and Paul R. Felton.
Survivors include his loving wife of 71 years, Helen M. (Funk) Felton; children, Gerald “Jerry” Felton and wife Cindy, of Short Gap, Connie Felton and partner Ann Chinnis, of Virginia Beach, Va., Beverly Richards and husband Rodney, of Fairmont, and Susan Coleman, of Fairmont; grandchildren, Brandon Felton and wife Stephanie, Brent Felton and wife Alex, Shawna Weikle and husband Nathaniel, Jacob Richards, Zachary Coleman and Jack Coleman; and great-grandchildren, Lilly, Colton, Emily, Kiara and Kailey.
Hugh enjoyed growing up with his two older brothers, Dan and Paul, along Cheat River in Rowlesburg. After graduating from Rowlesburg High School as a valedictorian of the class of 1948, he married on April 20, 1951, his sweetheart, Helen M. Funk. Hugh later attended West Virginia University under the G.I. Bill, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering in 1959. While attending West Virginia University, he was a member of Omega Chi Epsilon (Chemical Engineering Honor Society) and Tau Beta Pi (overall Engineering Honor Society). He served by appointment on the Mineral County Board of Education in 1971 when planning for Frankfort High School was initiated.
Hugh’s employment experience included Texaco service station attendant, A&P store clerk, B&O Railroad signal gang and electrician apprentice, Westvaco engineering assistant, Super Concrete Co. manager of quality control and over 28 years for Hercules Inc. at Allegany Ballistics Laboratory. His Hercules jobs included various engineering and supervisory positions, retiring on April 1, 1989 from manufacturing department superintendent of the Hercopel Plant. During his pre-college employment years, he belonged to four different labor unions.
Hugh served in Company I, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division in Korea in 1952 and 1953, receiving the Purple Heart for wounds received in combat on July 5, 1952. He escaped death by playing dead and praying while two enemy soldiers searched him.
Hugh and Helen enjoyed and appreciated family life with their four children, and placed great importance on sitting down together for supper and attending Sunday school and church together regularly. They were active members of Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church of Short Gap since 1960, where Hugh probably held every office except Women’s Society President and choir director. He sang first tenor and was a spokesman for the Short Gap Gospel Quartet for over 26 years, was a member of the Mineral County Camp of Gideons International, the Board of Directors of the Frankfort Public Service District for over 20 years and was active in the Short Gap Senior Citizens.
He loved to be outdoors, and although not much of a hunter, he especially enjoyed hiking in the Dolly Sods Wilderness Area, boating and canoeing the Cheat and South Branch Rivers. After retiring, the loved bus trips with Bollman’s Travel visiting all but four states and enjoying many new friends.
The epitaph on their tombstone sums up their marriage and life: “Together the trip was great, now we’re home.” Hope to see you later.
Friends will be received at Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church, Short Gap, from 4-7 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 26, and from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 27.
The funeral service will be conducted in the church on Tuesday at 1 p.m., with the Rev. Scott Knowlton and the Rev. Clyde Beard officiating.
Interment will be in Fort Ashby Cemetery, where military honors will be accorded by Ft. Cumberland Post #13 Veterans Honor Guard.
Memorial contributions may be made to Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church, 128 Wesley Chapel Drive, Ridgeley, WV 26753; to the Gideons International, P.O. Box 97251 Washington, DC 20090-7251, or by doing a “Good Samaritan Act of Kindness.”
The Upchurch Funeral Home Inc. is assisting the family with arrangements.
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