FIRMEN CARL CANFIELD JR., age 78 years, a resident of Lower Cheat, WV departed this life Wednesday morning November 16, 2011 at his home.
He was born Thursday April 6, 1933 at the family home place on Lower Cheat, Elkins,WV a son of the late Firmen Carl Sr. and Lillian Belle Kelly Canfield. On February 27, 1960 at the Woodford Memorial United Methodist Church he married the former Peggy Elizabeth Arbogast, who survives. Also surviving are two sons, Firmen Michael Canfield and wife Jennifer of Nutter Fort, WV and Gregory Allen Canfield, Elkins. Two sisters, Carolyn “Don” Rice, Elkins and Anna Grace Daetwyler, La Plata, MD; five grandchildren, Jessica Dawn Canfield, Jennifer Lauren Canfield, Theresa Angelina Canfield, Alexandra Elizabeth Canfield and Steven Michael Canfield.
Proceding him in death are two sons, Steven Carl Canfield and Phillip Mark Canfield; one sister, Erma Jean Canfield.
Firmen grew up and still lived on the farm on Lower Cheat that his family has owned for about 200 years. He was a graduate of Elkins High School with the class of 1951 and attended West Virginia University. He was a veteran of the United States Army, serving during the Korean Conflict where he was a heavy equipment mechanic. He worked as a Freight Agent/operator for Western Maryland Railroad in his younger years, but spent most of his adult life as a Sawmill and Logging Equipment salesman. After he retired as a salesman, he spent ten years as a Greeter at the Elkins Walmart store which he enjoyed tremendously. He was a member of the Elkins Lodge #1135 Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks where he served as Exalted Ruler X2 and secretary for over 25 years. He served in several local lodge offices including state chaplain and district deputy, retiring in 2010. He was a member of the American Legion Post 29. He was a 50 plus year member of the Woodford Memorial United Methodist Church in Elkins after transferring his membership from the Mount Zion Church on Lower Cheat in 1958 when the church closed.
The family will receive friends at the Lohr & Barb Funeral Home of Elkins from 5PM till 8 PM on Saturday. On Saturday evening at 6:30 PM there will be a Elks Memorial Service Conducted at the funeral home. On Sunday November 20, 2011 Mr. Canfield will be moved to the Woodford Memorial United Methodist Church at Elkins where final rites will be conducted at 1:30 PM and the Reverend Doctor William E. Calhoun will officiate and interment will follow at the Little Arlington Cemetery at Cravensdale, WV where the H. W. Daniel’s Post # 29 American Legion will present the American flag. The family suggests that expressions of sympathy be in the form of contributions to the Woodford Memorial United Methodist Church, 113 First Street Elkins, WV 26241 and the Mountain Hospice of Belington, 1600 Crim Avenue Belington, WV 26250.
