David Eugene Bertelli

He was born Saturday, Feb. 10, 1940, at Norton, West Virginia, a son of the late Dominick and Mary Baisi Bertelli.

On Dec. 11, 1965, at Elkins, West Virginia, he was married to the former Elizabeth Dottie “Dot” Pingley, who survives. Also surviving are four sons, Anthony Bertelli and wife, Rebecca, of Harding, David Eugene Bertelli Jr. and wife, Becky, of Pennsboro, Jason Beeson Bertelli and wife, Alaina, of Belington, and Martin Bennett Bertelli of Morgantown; one daughter, Shelia Bertelli of Elkins; two step-sons, David Pingley and wife, Tressa, of Texas, and Gene Pingley and wife, Sue, of Elkins; two sisters, Gloria Bertelli of Norton, and “Becky” Anita Manolidis and husband, Joe, of Norton; nephew, Richard Bertelli and wife, Rose, who was raised as a brother; 12 grandchildren, Glen Bertelli, Samantha Hileman, Alex, Lacey, and Hannah McCullough, Domenick Bertelli, twins, Connor and Thaddeus, and Alessia Beeson-Bertelli, Masen and Lynnlee Bennett-Bertelli, and Sophia Bertelli, and Michael Howell; several great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death are five brothers, Frank Bertelli, Joe Bertelli, Tony Bertelli, Fredo Bertelli and infant, Robert Bertelli; and four sisters, Dora Stanley, Dena G. Bertelli, Connie Martello and Nickie Bertelli.

He was a graduate of Coalton Twelve Year School with the class of 1959, was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving from 1962 to 1964 stationed in Germany and was a member of the Belington Post 410, Veterans of Foreign Wars. He had worked at Labcraft until its closure, Mountain State Lumber and retired from the Tanner Lumber Company.

His parents were Italian immigrants. He and his wife were foster parents from 1992 to 2003 during which time they made a home for 22 boys. All the boys called him “the Bear.” He was an avid outdoorsman, loving hunting, fishing and camping.

The family will receive friends at the Lohr & Barb Funeral Home of Elkins from 4 to 7 p.m., Thursday. Final Rites will be conducted at the funeral home Friday, Sept. 1, 2023, at 11 a.m. The Rev. John Welch will officiate and interment will follow at the Mountain State Memorial Gardens at Gilman, West Virginia, where the West Virginia National Guard Honor Guard, the H.W. Daniel’s Post 29 American Legion and the Tygarts Valley Post 3647, Veterans of Foreign Wars will conduct full military honors.

The Lohr & Barb Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements for David Eugene Bertelli.

Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.lohrbarbfuneral home.com.