Lynn Eugene Westfall 1968-2003 Obituary
Lynn Eugene Westfall
Former Upshur County School Superintendent Lynn Eugene Westfall, 64, of Buckhannon, died at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Buckhannon on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2003, following an extended illness.
Westfall attended Adrian Elementary School and the Tennerton division of Buckhannon-Upshur High School, graduating as valedictorian of the class of 1957. He graduated from West Virginia Wesleyan College in 1961, majoring in political science and biology.
He became one of the “teachingest Westfalls,” according to family members, teaching English and history at Brunswick High School in Brunswick, Md., from 1961-1963 and at B-UHS from 1963-1968
In 1968, he began his administrative career, serving as vice principal at B-UHS and as general supervisor, assistant superintendent, and from 1985-1995 as superintendent of Upshur County Schools.
In his career, Westfall was instrumental in helping establish the current programs for elementary art, physical education, and music taught by traveling teachers and the strings program for grades four through 12.
He served on regional and state educational committees and at WVWC as a member of the Mason Crickard Scholarship Committee and the Alumni Board.
He was honored with the first Campus Technology Excellence in Education Award in Leesburg, Va., in 1990, and in 1993, with the West Virginia Music Educators Superintendent of the Year Award and the West Virginia Leaders of Learning Award.
Upon retirement, the Upshur County Professional Educators established a B-UHS scholarship in his honor.
He also served after retiring as a substitute teacher and principal, as a mentor and proofreader for teachers pursuing national certification, and as a volunteer for his wife’s elementary music classrooms at Tennerton, Washington District, Academy and B-U Intermediate Schools.
He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, where he was a member of the choir and recently served as the chair of the Staff-Parish Relations Committee, helping to formulate an employee policy manual that included job descriptions.
He was a member of Buckhannon Choral Society and enjoyed literature, gardening, cooking and the fine arts, particularly music.
He played piano and violin, and in recent years began playing Appalachian dulcimer with his wife, occasionally in period attire as “Uncle Jasper and Aunt Jane.”
He was born on Oct. 1, 1939, in Buckhannon, the son of the late Monta Blanche Waugaman Westfall and G. Russell Lowell Westfall.
His children, Jane Ellen, Ashley Lynn and Elizabeth Helen, preceded him in death.
He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Felicia J. Burger-Westfall; his sister, Lois Westfall Oldaker; nephew and wife, Bradley and Marianne Kaufmann Oldaker of Weston; niece and husband, Lisa Oldaker Palmer and Bruce Palmer of North Grafton, Mass.; nephew, Philip Oldaker of Buckhannon; three great-nephews; one great-niece; and many extended family members.
Visitation will be from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday at First United Methodist Church, 52 S. Florida St., Buckhannon. The body will lie in state prior to the funeral service at the church at 2 p.m. Saturday. Interment will be at Heavner Cemetery. Services will be conducted by the Rev. Mark Flynn, the Rev. Billee Scott Mick and the Rev. Charles Godwin. Poling-St. Clair Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
The family has requested that visitors refrain from wearing fragrances because of Mrs. Westfall’s severe allergies.
The Lynn E. Westfall Memorial Scholarship fund has been established at West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon to be awarded to a B-UHS senior pursuing a degree in education. Contributions may be sent to J. Brooks Jones, director of Gift Planning at WVWC
Lynn Eugene Westfall 1968-2003 Obituary
