William Joseph “Bill” Hagarty, age 76 years, a resident of Elkins, WV departed this life Sunday evening September 29, 2013 at his home in Elkins, surrounded by his family. Death was attributed to cancer.
He was born Saturday April 3, 1937 at Wilmington, NC a son of the late Joseph Herbert Hagarty and Bertha Hardin Hagarty. On July 27, 1963, he was married to the former Janet Marie “Jan” Kantor, who survives. They had celebrated 50 years of marriage. Also surviving are three sons, Sean Michael Hagarty and wife Susan of Raleigh, NC; Kevin James Hagarty, of Arlington, VA; and Marvin Eugene Hagarty, of Martinsburg, WV. Bill along with his wife were also foster parents to twenty-one other children. Also surviving are two brothers John Francis Hagarty and wife Jeanne of Jeffersonton, VA; and Joseph “Joe” Hagarty of Arlington, VA; three sisters Mary “Ann” Etzel and husband “Jack” of St. Leonard, MD; Carolyn Wolfe and husband Donald “Don” of Rockville, MD; and Sister Patricia “Pat” Hagarty, of Bristol, VA ; three grandchildren Addison Nicole; Erin Zuzanna; and Alan Patryk Hagarty. Preceding him in death is one sister “Kathy” Hagarty.
He attended Don Bosco High School in Huttonsville, WV where he also was a member of the basketball squad.
Bill served with the U.S. Air Force before becoming a U.S. Federal Employee for 38 years and then retiring in 1993. He was an active member of the St. Brendan Catholic Church, and the Knights of Columbus, was a marathon runner and a leader for the Boy Scouts of America. He also enjoyed coin collecting and was an avid Non-fiction reader and loved gardening, especially his tomatoes. He was a local train historian and was a car host on The Cheat Mountain Salamander. He was known as a very compassionate man. In his lifetime he had donated over six hundred units of blood.
The family will receive friends at the Lohr & Barb Funeral Home of Elkins from 5 to 8 PM on Friday October 11, 2013. On Friday, at 7:00 PM, at the funeral home a wake service will be recited by the Rev. Mr. Raymond G. Godwin. On Saturday morning, October 12, 2013, Mr. Hagarty will be moved to the Saint Brendan Catholic Church at Elkins where the Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:30 AM. The Very Rev. Donald X. Higgs, VF will be the Presider and then Mr. Hagarty’s request for cremation will be honored. A private interment service will follow at a later date at the St. Brendan Cemetery at Elkins, WV where presentation of the American Flag will be accorded by members of the H. W. Daniel’s Post # 29, American Legion. The family suggests that expressions of sympathy be in the form of contributions to the local Boys Scouts of America Troop #88, 315 Kerens Avenue, Elkins, WV 26241 or the American Cancer Society, 122 South High Street, Morgantown, WV 26501.
