VIRGINIA ELIZABETH KNUTTI SCHMIDLEN, age 93 years, a resident of Bowden, WV departed this life late Saturday evening, November 27, 2010 at the Valentine Assisted Living Home, in Beverly, WV.
She was born Saturday, March 31, 1917 at Wymer, WV a daughter of the late Steven Emil Knutti and Anna Ratzer Knutti. On October 19, 1936 at Elkins, WV she was married to W. Lawrence “Dick” Schmidlen, who preceded her in death May 10, 1994. They had celebrated fifty-seven years of marriage. Surviving are one son, Walter L. “Laddie” Schmidlen and wife Susan Ann, Elkins; two daughters, Mary Anne Daft and husband C. E. “Bud” Daft, Beverly; Abigail “Abby” Humphrey and husband Ellis “Duke”, Bowden; one sister, Mary Margaret Isner, Elkins; eight grandchildren, thirteen great grandchildren, two great great grandchildren, one step grandson and two step great grandchildren.
Preceding her in death are three brothers, Jack, John and Steven Knutti, one sister, Helen Senic and one son in law, John P. Kimbleton.
She was a graduate of Tygart Valley High School, where she was Valedictorian of her class, and later graduated from Davis & Elkins College with a degree in Education. She taught in the one room schools at Bradley Run, Point Mountain, Hickory Lick, Conley Run and Dry Run, later at the Mill Creek Graded School and retired from the Beverly school. She was a member of the Rebekah Lodge at Beverly, was an avid gardener, a noted painter and enjoyed crocheting.
The family will receive friends at the Lohr & Barb Funeral Home of Elkins from 5 to 8 PM, Tuesday. Final Rites will be conducted at the funeral home chapel Wednesday, December 1, 2010 at 11 AM. The Rev. Joanne Glaser will officiate and interment will follow at the Schmidlen Cemetery on the Schmidlen Farm at Alpena, WV.
