Lorren Hugh ‘PoBo’ DeMotto

Born May 29, 1936, in Red Creek, in the farmhouse he resided in since 1996.

PoBo, as he was Proudly known, grew up on the farm in Red Creek. He attended the Flanagan Hill grade school, then he attended Davis High School, where he was a member of the 1952-1953-1954 Basketball Team, Graduating in 1954.

On Sept. 8, 1954, he enlisted in the United States Air Force. He first served at Sampson Air Force Base, next to Keesler AFB, for communications training, completing the course in June 1955. He then was assigned to Fuchu Air Station in Japan for two years as a Technical Control Tech OP, which involved Worldwide Communications. His last assignment was McClellan AFB in Sacramento, Calif. Discharged from active service June 8, 1958, and then Discharged from Reserve Duty September of 1962. September 1958, he enrolled in Potomac State College Acquiring Pre-Mortuary Courses.

After college, he served his apprenticeship with the Old Runner Funeral Home under William “Bill” Runner. He then attended and graduated from the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science in September of 1962. In early 1963, he purchased the old Runner Funeral Home on Henry Avenue in Elkins. In 1966 the DeMotto Funeral Home was consolidated with the John W. Lohr Funeral Home, which is now operated by his daughter, Anita Marie DeMotto Barb, and his grandson, Nicholas “Nick” Barb. He was affiliated with the DeMotto Mobile Home Sales Co, and later with the F.E. Runner Funeral Home.

In 1976, he was employed by the WV Department of Highways, retiring in 1997. He then moved to The Farm in Red Creek. During his military career, he placed on the Fuchu Air Station Fast Pitch Softball Team as a pitcher, achieving a Far East Championship. He also pitched for McClellan AFB Team playing against all service branches on the West Coast of Calif. He pitched for several different teams in Elkins. The most memorable was The Old Timers Team, sponsored by several Elkins businesses. His sponsor was the Lohr Funeral Home.

On Aug. 29, 1959, he was united in marriage to the late Magdalene Joan “Maggie” Silvester, they were blessed with three children, Anita Marie “NeNe” DeMotto Barb of Kerens, Lorren Hugh “Hughie” DeMotto II of Red Creek and Michael Bruce “Mikey” DeMotto and wife, Lorrie, of Elkins; four awesome grandsons, Nicholas “Nick” Barb and wife, Courtney, of Parsons, Jacob “Jake” DeMotto of Elkins, Bretsel “Bret” DeMotto of Virginia and Adam Barb, who left this world too soon in 2016; two beautiful granddaughters, Emily DeMotto of Elkins and Mikaela DeMotto and husband, Joel Slabe, of Crab Orchard; three terrific great-grandsons, Lucas “Luke” Barb, Beau Barb and Jack Barb, all of Parsons; one sister, Helen “Midge” DeMotto Silvester of Elkins; one sister, Frances Ann DeMotto, was lost on Nov. 23, 2013; one brother, John Smith and wife, Sherrie, of Parsons, and one brother Wayne C. Smith and wife Mary Jane, he was lost on Dec. 25, 2022; and a host of cousins, nieces and nephews also survive.

The family will receive friends at the Lohr & Barb Funeral Home of Parsons on Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Final rites will be conducted from the funeral home on Thursday, July 10, 2025, at 10 a.m.

The Rev. James Snyder will officiate, and interment will follow at the Flanagan Hill Cemetery at Red Creek, West Virginia.

The Lohr & Barb Funeral Home is honored to be in charge of the arrangements for Lorren Hugh “PoBo” DeMotto.

Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.lohrbarbfuneralhome.com.