Obituary of Gladys Virginia Knapp

Gladys W. Knapp, 102, of Heritage Point, Morgantown, WV departed this life on Monday, September 14, 2015. She was born in Moundsville, WV on July 31, 1913, a daughter of the late George P. and Anna Pearl Westerby Wasmuth. She graduated from Moundsville High School in 1931, and received a BS in Home Economics degree from WVU in 1935 and a Master’s degree from Cornell University in 1938. She devoted most of her life to West Virginia University, working as a County Home Demonstration Agent in Mercer County, teaching on the home management residence staff at WVU, and serving as the first Extension Specialist in Home Management with the West Virginia Agricultural Extension Service. After her retirement in 1960, she served briefly as acting Assistant Dean, Director, and Professor of Home Economics at WVU. As a child, she was an active Marshall County 4-H Club member for ten years, becoming a 4-H All Star in 1929. She later served for 26 years on the Board of Directors of the West Virginia 4-H Foundation. She also served on the steering committee to develop a West Virginia Room at the National 4-H Club Center in Washington, DC. For twenty years, she has provided annual scholarships to support WV 4-H Club members to attend state 4-H camps. In 1977, she was awarded the State 4-H Alumni Recognition Award, and in 2004, she was inducted into the West Virginia 4-H Hall of Fame for her many contributions to the 4-H program. Mrs. Knapp was an active member of Wesley United Methodist Church and many other organizations including the Monongahela Garden Club, the Delphian Book Club, and the Present Day Club. She was a charter member of the Irvin Stewart Society, and was inducted into the WVU Emeritus Club in 1985, the WVU Agriculture and Forestry Hall of Fame in 1990, and the Order of Vandalia for distinguished service to WVU in 1998. She is survived by two sisters, Mary Jane Glasscock of Morgantown and Anna Lucille Ruckman of Glen Dale, WV; a step daughter, Mary Nan Bolling of Morgantown; and four step grandchildren: Mary Saville and her husband Scott of Fulshear, TX; Bill Preaskorn and his wife Cathy of Vienna, VA; Jim Preaskorn and his wife Wende of Bridgeport, WV; and Tom Preaskorn and his wife Diane of Cumberland, MD. She is also survived by her eight nieces and nephews: Janie Coolidge of The Villages, FL; Philip Woodruff and his wife Carolissa of Glen Dale, WV; Bruce Woodruff and his wife Sue of St. Clairsville, OH; Tom Woodruff of Moundsville, WV; Betsy Hill and her husband Richard of Fort Lauderdale, FL; Lynda Ruckman of St. Petersburg, FL; Susan Arnold and her husband Steve of Morgantown; and Nancy Ruckman of Riverview, FL. In addition, she had nine great nieces and nephews, eighteen great-great nieces and nephews, and fourteen step great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, John Oliver Knapp in 1965; a brother, George Wasmuth, in 1933; a sister, Phyllis Woodruff in 2003; a step-daughter, Peg Preaskorn; a stepson, John Knapp; and a step grandson, John W. Knapp. Friends may call at Hastings Funeral Home on September 17th from 10:00 AM until the time of the funeral service at 11:00 AM, with the Rev. Randall Flanagan officiating. Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery in Wheeling, WV at 2:30 PM. Memorial donations may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church, 500 High Street, Morgantown, WV 26505, or to the WVU Foundation (No. 2V620) P.O. Box 1650, Morgantown, WV 26507 to be used for the WVU Jackson’s Mill Restoration Fund.