Doris Jeanne Wolfe Rooks, 86, joined all the witnesses gathered in Heaven on May 11, 2019. She was in the loving care of “Janet’s Heavenly Home”, in Fellowsville, at the time of her passing.
Born on May 4, 1933, she grew up in Rowlesburg, the daughter of Senator Dallas and Virginia Wolfe.
During her high school years, she was a cheerleader, Thespian, and was chosen as Princess to the Buckwheat Festival and as Queen Pomona to the Preston County Fair.
After graduating from Rowlesburg High School and West Virginia University, she and her husband, Robert N. Smith, Jr. moved to Inverness, Fla., where they both taught in the public schools. Doris taught Home Economics and Sex Education and, later in her career, administered a state grant called “Family, School, Community Partnership” which replaced Home Economics in high schools. She was an excellent teacher who was revered by students and faculty alike, voted “Teacher of the Year” multiple times during her 30-year career. She also taught school in Ft. Pierce, Fla. for three years.
In 1981, she married rancher, Almyr Rooks, and lived with him on Panther Ridge Ranch in Floral City, Fla.
After the death of Almyr, Doris moved back to Rowlesburg where she bought and renovated the old funeral home at Main and Buffalo St. She immediately became involved in helping to organize the Rowlesburg Revitalization Committee. Due to Doris’ efforts, Imre and Janet Szilagyi donated the old high school to the RRC, which now owns the Szilagyi Center, where several festivals are held during the year, including River City Festival on Memorial Day weekend.
Doris has always been a force to be reckoned with, knowing she could control almost anything and anybody. To those who knew her, she was a “spitfire” and loved to describe things to cause surprise, laughter, and even shock.
Doris is survived by daughter, Virginia Marie Morelli; son, Robert N. Smith, III; daughter, Nancy Jeanne and son-in-law, Terry Long; son, Kent Smith and daughter-in-law, Jill; children by marriage, Marjorie Rooks and David Rooks; 12 grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren. She is also survived by brother, Dallas Wolfe, Jr. and wife, Jean; sister, Kathleen Wolfe-Orescanin; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Almyr Rooks; her parents; a brother, William Paul Wolfe; her first husband, Robert N Smith, Jr.; and a great-granddaughter, Elania Canady.
Family will receive friends at Burke Funeral Home, in Rowlesburg, at 2 p.m. on Saturday May 18, for a Celebrating of Life for Doris Rooks.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to: Rowlesburg Revitalization Committee, Inc. (RRC), P.O. Box 135, Rowlesburg. WV 26425 or your favorite charity.
Browning Funeral Home is assisting the family with cremation services.
Condolences: browningfuneralhomewv.com
