Schoonover

ELKINS — Local residents are remembering the community contributions of Pat Schoonover, a longtime teacher and volunteer in Randolph County who passed away Feb. 25.

“Pat was a dedicated teacher, which to me is a really high and respected position,” former Randolph County Circuit Judge John Henning told The Inter-Mountain. “She also was very dedicated to all of the missions of Rotary, as far as donating and helping out good causes. She will be sadly missed.”

Schoonover was well-known for her work with the Elkins Rotary Club, bringing free editions of Merriam Webster’s student atlas to Randolph County elementary school students for many years.

“She was instrumental in the atlas program, the leader of that program,” Henning said. “She was just totally committed to it. Each year she would spend a huge amount of time on that project, which was a very worthwhile effort. She was a hard worker. She worked for the benefit of so many projects for Randolph County.”

Schoonover’s dedication to charitable organizations left an impression on others.

“Pat did a lot of volunteer work in Rotary,” said Kerr Kump of Elkins. “She spearheaded the school atlas project. With Rotary, she did a lot for the club, setting up computers and things like that, getting information out about the club for us. She did a great job with the electronic communications.

“I knew her when she was a schoolteacher. She was well-received as a teacher. All the students really liked her and the administration really liked her. She was excellent.”

Schoonover served as a mentor for many students.

“It would be putting it mildly to say that Pat Schoonover had a significant impact on my life,” said Hoy Ferguson, President and Chief Lending Officer of Davis Trust Company in Elkins. “I first met Pat as a 10-year Boy Scout, as her husband Jim was my scout leader. 

“I then had Pat at Elkins High School for Biology, Chemistry and Senior Biology. The positive experiences that I had in her classroom led me to pursue a secondary education degree. 

“Upon graduation, I moved to Baltimore to start my career in teaching,” Ferguson said. “One summer, after seven years of teaching, we met up at a wedding. She let me know that she was going to retire and suggested that I move back home to Elkins. In short, I followed her at Elkins High School. 

“Those were big shoes to fill. Even after retirement, if I needed advice on how to present a specific topic, she had a willingness to advise me on best practices and methodologies.

“Fast forward to me starting my career in the financial services industry,” Ferguson said. “I once again crossed paths with Pat. Pat had a strong commitment to service of our community. Her work with Rotary and the Arts Community has been inspirational, to say the least. 

“As an educator and volunteer, Pat certainly served our community well and will be missed by many.”

Bob Wilmoth, who served as a teacher at Elkins High School along with Schoonover, said, “Pat always encouraged her students to dream big. She then gave them the assistance and encouragement to achieve. She was a great, professional educator.”

Karen Wilmoth worked with Schoonover on many projects with the Elkins Rotary Club.

“It was a joy to serve with Pat in the Rotary Club of Elkins,” she said. “She truly embodied Rotary’s motto of ‘Service Above Self.’ She will be greatly missed by her fellow Rotarians.”

Cindy Stemple of Elkins said Schoonover had a positive influence on her children.

“I knew her mostly as a teacher,” she said. “She was a wonderful person. She taught my children in the schools. She was an excellent teacher.

“Our older daughter had Pat in high school, and when she went to college she majored initially in biology, and she had some classes with Pat. She ended up becoming a lawyer, but Pat was influential in our daughter’s life, because she gave her a love for science.”

Schoonover taught for 30 years in the Randolph County Schools system. She served on the board of Youth Health Services in Elkins and as the president of the organization for several years. She also served as president of ArtsBank Inc. for multiple years and was the perennial treasurer for the Literacy Volunteers of Randolph County.

She is survived by her husband of 53 years, James L. Schoonover; her son, Richard Schoonover and daughter-in-law, Carrie, and their three children, Alexandra, Abigail and Maxwell, all of Henrico, Virginia.

A celebration of her life will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. on March 9 at the Rotary room in the Elkins-Randolph County YMCA.