Mary Alice Poling 1925-2021 Obituary
Mary Alice Poling, 95, a resident of the Valley Furnace Community departed this life Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021.
She was born Sept. 13, 1925, in Barbour County. She was the daughter of the late Walter and Ocie (Mineere) Sherman. Mary was united in marriage on May 3, 1947, to Harley O. Poling, who preceded her in death on Nov. 24, 2019; they were blessed to have celebrated 72 years of marriage.
Surviving are her three devoted children,
Louise Hutson and husband, Gary, Tom Poling and wife, Ramile, and Nancy Kelley and husband, Jeff. She was blessed with seven loving grandchildren, Christy Simonds and husband, Roger, Heather Hutson, Sarah Thornbury and husband, Brian, Amy Rosendale and husband, Joey, Amber Gatewood and husband, Mark, Ashley Workman and husband, Evan, and Amanda Sweet and husband, Andrew.
She was also blessed with 13 lively great-grandchildren, Haley and Brendan Simonds, Caleb and Emma Hartwell, Cole and Ally Rosendale, Grace, Hanna and William Thornbury, Easton and Archer Workman, Tucker Sweet and Harley Gatewood.
Also surviving is sister-in-law, Maxine Poling.
She was also preceded in death by her sisters, Virginia Smith and Ruth Jones.
Mary grew up in Meadowville and graduated from Belington High School as salutatorian in 1943. She was a longtime member of New Hope Valley Church and Ladies Aid Society, Sunday school teacher and 4-h leader of the Valley Furnace Lamplighters.
A veracious reader, she picked up any book she could get her hands on, often finishing them in a day. She could still recite sonnets and poems from her grade school readers and sang special nursery rhymes to her grandchildren, always with a twist.
Every summer, well into her 90s, she could be found in the garden, tending to her flowers, or canning. In the winter, she worked on quilts or crocheted. Mary loved cooking big country meals for family and farmhands and made the tastiest chocolate cake, coconut cream pie, peanut butter and popcorn balls.
Her family will lovingly remember her quick wit, humor, and gentle nature; she’d say, “Don’t worry about things that you can’t do anything about!”
A private family funeral service will be conducted at the convenience of the family with Rev. Tammy Phillips officiating. Interment will be at the Central Chapel Cemetery.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Central Chapel Cemetery Fund c/o Debbie Poling 92 Allegheny Ln. Philippi, WV 26416 or New Hope Valley Cemetery Fund c/o Jeff Kelley 1888 Mountaineer Rd. Moatsville, WV 26405.
Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.wrightfuneralhomeservices.com.
Mary Alice Poling 1925-2021 Obituary
