James William “Bill” Pharis Sr., 78, a resident of Junior, departed this life at 3:56 p.m. Saturday, April 27, 2002, in Davis Memorial Hospital in Elkins. He had been in declining health for quite some time.
He was born April 5, 1924, at Belington, a son of the late Jack Andrew and Flossie Elizabeth Kelley Pharis.
On Aug. 16, 1947, he was united in marriage to the former Janice Thema Wiseman, wife of 54 years, who survives at their home in Junior.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons, James William “Butch” Pharis Jr. and wife, Nancy, of Junior, Michael Allen Pharis and wife, Mary; four daughters, Linda C. Cox and husband, Gene, of Good Hope, Karen Snyder of Belington, Janet L. Baisi and husband, Rick, of the Weaver community, and Gloria J. Pudder and husband, Carl, of Junior; 14 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, four brothers, Nelson, Harl, Richard and Jackie Pharis; and four sisters, Maxine Browning, Mildred DeCesare, Betty Poling and Mary Jean Poling.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Virgil and Roy Pharis; one sister, Elsie Browning; and one son-in-law, Herbert Snyder.
Mr. Pharis attended the schools of Barbour County. He was an active farmer and timer man until his health began to fail. He was retired from the Badger Coal Co. and was a member of the United Mine Workers of America District 31. He was a Protestant by faith.
Friends will be received at Talbott Funeral Home in Belington from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. today and Tuesday until 2 p.m., the funeral hour, when services will be conducted from the funeral home parlor, with Brother Wilfred Barbosa officiating. Interment will follow in Trinity Cemetery near Belington.
