Obituary of Stanley Farr

Stanley Farr, 90, of Morgantown, passed away Wednesday, March 2, 2011, at the Naval Hospital of Pensacola, FL. Stanley was born in Lochgelly, WV, on March 2, 1921, the son of the late Stanley Farr, Sr. and Edna May Rimron Mitchell Farr.After graduation from Oak Hill High school, he enrolled at WVU, majoring in Chemical Engineering. He was in the ROTC program at WVU and was called up to serve in WWII as a member of the US Army Corps of Engineers in the Pacific. After resuming his college studies, he continued serving in the US Army Reserves, organizing both an Engineering Company and a Research and Development Company here in Morgantown. He retired from the reserves, having attained the rank of Major.Returning to WVU after the war, he met his wife-to-be, Vonceil McCutcheon, through their attendance at Wesley Methodist Church and participation in Wesley Foundation. After his graduation with a Masters in Physics he and âVonnieâ married and he began his long teaching career in the Physics Department of WVU. Stanley was a member at Sphinx, Mountain and honoraries for engineering, physics and chemistry.Significant roles at WVU included organizing a traveling physics demonstration show that visited many high schools throughout the state. He also was the head of ticket sellers and takers for events at the Field House and the old Mountaineer Field. While serving on the Athletic Council he proposed the first band camp at Jacksonâs Mill and the initial system of validating tickets for students. He also served as an advisor for Sigma Phi Epsilon and was a lifetime member of the WVU Alumni Association, the National Science Teachers Association and the Reserve Officers Association.Stanleyâs love of tennis led to two tenures as coach of the Menâs Tennis Team at WVU, first for several years in the 1970âs when he was the first coach to elevate the program to varsity team status. He also had the first team to win 15 matches in a season. Stanley again served as tennis coach for one year for the 1994-1995 season, hitting the road again for away matches and the spring break trip and donating his services without charge.That love of tennis also led Stanley and Vonnie to open up the first indoor tennis facility in northern West Virginia which they ran for 14 yearsâ"West View Tennis Center. Nearly every hour of the day, he could be found running the office, stringing racquets, or (preferably) playing. Both were successful at encouraging and fostering the growth of tennis throughout the area. An award for Tennis Coach of the Year was recently established by the Morgantown Racquet Club and was named in his honor.Stanleyâs service-oriented life was always most clear in his involvement at Wesley United Methodist Church. In addition to his activities during the college years, he taught various ages of Sunday School he served as an advisor for Sigma Theta Epsilon (the Methodist fraternity) he served on numerous committees as member and chair he served as Lay leader and member of the Methodist Men he shared the most amazing childrenâs sermons with his âworthy assistantâ Vonnie he was an unflagging supporter of the worship life and ministry of the church and he was the biggest fan of the Praise Team, serving as chief applauder!Stanley is survived by his wife of 63 years, Valeda Vonceil McCutcheon Farr three sons: Stanley M. Farr of Morgantown, Lionel Ray Farr (Kay) of Knoxville, and Capt. R. Wesley Farr, USN (Kathryn) of Pensacola 6 grandchildren: Kristen McCollum (Terrell) of Atlanta, Lionel Anthony Farr (Megan) of Charleston, SC, and Abbie, Amanda, Rebecca and Victor Farr of Pensacola and 2 great-grandchildren: Caitlin Emma Farr and Owen Lionel Farr of Charleston, SC. He is also survived by a cousin Mary Alice Felt (Bob) of San Diego, CA, and by a niece Patricia Bowyer Treadway (C.R.) of Clarksville, IN, and several generations of other cousins.In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his step-father H.J. Powell of Oak Hill, his nephew James Bowyer of Detroit, and his sister Helen Bowyer of Clarksville, IN.Friends will be received at Hastings Funeral Home, 153 Spruce St., Morgantown from 6-8pm on Friday, March 11. Visitation will continue at Wesley United Methodist Church from 12noon-2pm on Saturday, March 12. A funeral service will be held in the church at 2pm with Rev. Michael Atkinson officiating. Interment will follow at Beverly Hills Memorial Gardens, Westover. Military Honors will be provided by the V.F.W. Post 548 and WVANG Military Funeral Honors, Camp Dawson, Kingwood, WV at the cemetery.In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to either the Eberly College of Arts & Sciences, the College of Engineering & Mineral Resources, or the Mountaineer Athletic Club (Tennis) through the WVU Foundation Inc., One Waterfront Place-7th Floor, P.O. Box 1650, Morgantown, WV 26507-1650.