James ‘Buzz’ Teter 1929-2003 Obituary
James ‘Buzz’ Teter, Former Harman Mayor, Businessman, Fire Chief, Dies at 73 James Henry “Buzz” Teter, 73, a lifelong resident of Harman who served a triple role as the community’s mayor, fire chief and as an auto dealership owner, died at 6:35 p.m. Wednesday at his residence.
Teter’s long legacy of community and public service and business involvements include serving as mayor of Harman for many years, as the Harman Volunteer Fire Department chief for 48 years, and as owner and salesman at Midway Motor Co. Inc., of Harman.
Teter was fondly remembered this morning by people who knew him well.
Troy White, who worked with Teter for 23 years as a mechanic at Midway Motors and for about 25 years as a volunteer firefighter, called Teter “a fantastic person who would go out of his way to do anything for you.
“You couldn’t beat him, he was just wonderful,” White said.
White said that as a mayor, Teter “kept things going good here.”
“He had the water system and streets put in and was working on a sewage system,” White said. “We’re gonna miss him.”
Paul Gowers Jr., principal at Harman School, said Teter “was the community” with his involvements with the school and as mayor and fire chief.
“Anytime I needed help with a particular project, I felt comfortable going to him for help,” Gowers said.
“Each year his business published our basketball schedule and he helped to buy baseball uniforms. There are so many ways he helped the school, it is too numerous to list. He always generously donated to the cause.
“He was a friend of the school,” the principal said. “He and I would have informal discussions about things going on in the community that would affect the school. You could talk to him about problems or concerns and he served as a mentor for anyone.
“He was very instrumental in expanding the volunteer fire departments across the county as they are today,” Gowers said.
“He was a wonderful man and I admired him for making his business a success in a small community.”
Valley Head Volunteer Fire Department Chief Lyle Ware, the former president of the Randolph County Fire Protection Association, was associated with Teter for 40 to 45 years.
“He put in a lot of time with the fire department and dedicated a lot of hours to the town of Harman and Randolph County,” Ware said. “He was a fine man, among the best. He always tried to help everybody he could.”
An avid farmer, Teter received the Soil and Water Conservation Award in 1999 from the Soil Conservation District, the Elkins-Randolph County Chamber of Commerce and and the Randolph County Food and Agriculture Council at the annual Farmers’ Recognition Banquet.
He was also a member of the Advisory Council of the Randolph County Emergency Squad, the Thomas Fairfax Lodge No. 174 AF & AM of Davis and the Osiris Shrine of Wheeling.
Teter was born July 31, 1929, at Harman, the son of the late Eston R. and Mabel E. Cooper Teter.
In 1948 in Elkins, he was married to the former Dorothy Louise Weese, who survives at Harman.
Also surviving are three sons, James Allen Teter of Daytona Beach, Fla., John Ralph Teter of Bowden and Jerry David Teter of Harman; one daughter, Linda Marie Teter of Harman; one brother, Robert Jack Teter of Dryfork; one sister, Eileen Moist of Pennsylvania; six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by one brother, Estin June Teter, and an infant son
Friends will be received from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. Saturday at the Tomblyn Funeral Home in Elkins where funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Sunday. The Rev. Jonas Johnson Jr. will officiate and interment will follow in the Teter Cemetery at Harman. From 28 Mar 2003.
James ‘Buzz’ Teter 1929-2003 Obituary
