Dennis ‘Denny’ Reid Pifer

Denny was the first son of the late Walter Reid Pifer and Leona Louise Smith Pifer. He was born at their home on Location Road on Thursday, June 1, 1939.

Denny graduated from Parsons High School in 1957. In 1960, he met the love of his life, Jane Bever of Rowlesburg, while she was working at Millstone Restaurant on Route 50 near Aurora. One week later, Denny broke his back in a log truck accident. A lessor man might have taken this as a bad omen, but not Denny. He knew how special Jane was and he was not discouraged by this act of misfortune.

Denny and Jane were married in Oakland, Maryland, on May 12, 1962. They lived on Stemple Ridge until 1968 when they moved to their current home in St. George.

In 1965, Denny went to work at the Parsons Tannery, where he worked for nearly 10 years. In 1973, Denny and Jane took over Sturm’s Grocery in St. George which they operated for over 12 years. He then went back to the woods, which he loved, working as a timber cutter and later as a dozer and loader operator for Stoney Hill Corporation until he retired in 2009. Denny was an avid outdoorsman, a passionate hunter and an excellent shot. He was usually hunting whatever was in season, and sometimes when it wasn’t. He loved guns and he loved to shoot.

He would never turn down an opportunity to go to a shooting match, accept a challenge from an aspiring shooter, or just to burn up lead for fun. Denny also had a passion for gardening, and grew several varieties of heirloom tomatoes, which people would come from miles around to buy from a stand in his front yard. He was a diehard fan of the Mountaineers, Steelers and Pirates and would watch them every chance he got. Denny was very well read, reading anything he could get his hands on. He was also very eager to pass on the knowledge he gained from those books, or from life in general, to friends, family or innocent bystanders. Denny was very proud of his family and was respected throughout the community. He loved to brag about his children and grandchildren. He was also involved in the community doing work at the school, church and park, and would help out his friends and neighbors with just about anything. Denny left a legacy of friends, family, accomplishments, stories and maybe even a tall tale for those he left behind to cherish for years.

Left to cherish Denny’s memory is his wife of 62 years, Gladys Jane (Bever) Pifer of St. George; three sons, Roy Kevin Pifer (Carolyn) of St. George, Franklin Reid Pifer (Kelly) of Canal Winchester, Ohio, and Don Alan Pifer (Linda) of Elkins; a daughter, Angela Denise Jennings of Parsons; nine grandchildren, Wyatt Alan Pifer (Stephanie) of St. George, Jessy Nicole Vandevender (Justin), Molly Kathryn Pifer of Canal Winchester, Ohio, Emily Denise Pifer (Joey Cohen) of River Heights, Utah, Erica Elizabeth Phillips (Kolbi) of Morgantown, Lindsey Leah Shelton (Brian) of Jane Lew, Isaac Tazwell Pifer (Alexa) of Carroll, Ohio, Cassandra Grace Jennings of St. George and Madalyn Rose Jennings of Parsons; eight great-grandchildren; Wesley Ryan Pifer, Sydney Paige Vandevender, Ivy Grace Vandevender, Mackenzie Jade Vandevender, Jack Alan Phillips, Noa Ann Pifer Cohen, Lainey Grace Pifer and Walker Reid Shelton; two sisters, Linda Beverly Hockman of Parsons, and Janet Clair Cook (Kenneth) of Rixeyville; one brother, Melvin Neil Pifer (Sandy) of Spotsylvania, Virginia; two uncles, Keith Pifer and Dean Smith; one aunt, Phyllis Castello; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Denny was proceeded in death by his parents; a sister, Myrna Dawn Pifer; a brother-in-law, Albert Jack Hockman; and his son-in-law, Matthew Jennings.

Visitation will be held at the Hostetler Funeral Home on Monday from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m.

Funeral services will be held from the funeral home chapel on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, at 1 p.m. Rev. Brad Barton will officiate, and interment will follow in Dumire Pifer Cemetery on Location Road, St. George.

The Hostetler Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements for Dennis “Denny” Reid Pifer.

Send online condolences to the family at www.hostetlerfuneralhome.com.