Obituary of James Gordon Dial

James G. “Jim” Dial, 85, of Morgantown, passed away Wednesday, June 18, 2014 at his residence. He was born in Huntington, WV on February 22, 1929, the son of the late Leo Vernon Dial and Sadie (Issac) Dial. Jim was a member of the First Presbyterian Church from 1963 to present. He was a Deacon in the church. Jim graduated from Huntington High School in 1947, and was the West Virginia state individual high scorer for the state championship track meet both in 1946 and 1947, and from his athletic accomplishments he was inducted into the Huntington High School Hall of Fame. He attended WVU from 1947 until 1950 while on the track team as a scholarship athlete. In 1950-1954 Jim served in the US Navy as an Aircraft Mechanic on the US Roosevelt during the Korean Conflict. In 1954 he returned to school to finish his last semester and graduated in January 1955 from WVU with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. While in college he was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa and is also a member of the Emeritus Club for the WVU Class of 1955. Jim worked at Pollock Iron Company followed by retiring from Sterling Faucet with 34 years of service in management positions, sales, inventory control, traffic and warehouses. He was a member of the AF&AM Joseph Summer Lodge # 173 and a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason. Jim was a member of the Osiris Shrine from 1991 till present; was past president for the Morgantown Shrine Club, past president of Mt. Neer Patrol, Taylor County Shrine Club, Taylor County Clowns, Legion of Honor and the Upper Mon Valley Shrine Club in Fairmont. He was a 29 year member of the Beau Monde Dance Club and was the president in 1989. Jim is survived by his wife of 59 years, Sylvia Laurie Dial; son, David (Jackie Carline) Dial of Morgantown; daughter, Debra (Richard) Waycaster of Greenville, SC; grandchildren, Julia D. Dial, Angela M. Dial, Christine M. Dial, Josh N. Waycaster and Kathryn J. Waycaster; great-grandchildren, Lily Ann Dial and Alexandra “Lexi” Gump; brother, Leno L. (Ginny) Dial of Piedmont, SC; Brother-in-law, David (Donna) Laurie of Morgantown; sister-in-law, Joyce Simmons of Middletown, DE and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a sister, Lovetta D. Wimmer; brothers, Herb Dial and Richard Dial; granddaughter, Karen Marie Waycaster, father-in-law and mother-in-law, Frank and Mary Laurie. A memorial service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, 456 Spruce Street, Morgantown on Saturday, July 5 from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 12:00 p.m. with Pastor John Sommers officiating. In lieu of flowers memorial donations made in Jim’s memory to the Amedisys Hospice, 5006 Mid Atlantic Drive, Morgantown, WV 26508 or Shriner’s Children Hospital, 1645 W. 8th Street, Erie, PA 16505. Send condolences online at www.hastingsfuneralhome.com.