Obituary of Forrest R. "Dick" Jarvis

Dick Jarvis, 85, of Star City died at his home on January 27, 2016. He was born March 20, 1930, at Cook Hospital in Fairmont. He was the son of the Late Forrest R. Jarvis, Sr., and Phyllis L. (Callaghan) Jarvis. He attended Rivesville High School, class of 1948. After enlisting in the US Navy in 1948 and completing boot training at Great Lakes, IL, he reported aboard the Destroyer USS BROWNSON DD 868 and remained aboard during the Korean War until his discharge in April, 1952. He entered the insurance business as an agent with the Prudential Insurance Company in April, 1956. He retired as a Sales Manager after more than 25 years of service. He was president of the Morgantown Life Underwriters Association, president of the West Virginia Association of Life Underwriters, and a Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow. He was active in the Democratic party of Monongalia County. He served two terms as County Democratic Chairman. He served five terms on Star City Council. He served as president for 10 years of the Monongalia County Volunteer Fire Companies Association. He was instrumental in starting the MECCA 911 emergency dispatch center in Monongalia County, serving as chairman of the MECCA 911 policy board for over eight years. He served on the West Virginia State Emergency Response Commission as the representative for the state's fire departments. He was a life time member of the Star City Volunteer Fire Department, a member of VFW Post 548, a member of the USS BROWNSON DD 868 Association, and a member of the Tin Can Sailors Association. He is survived by his wife and friend, Willa M. (Gill) Jarvis; one daughter, Rebecca L. (Jarvis) Combs and her spouse, The Reverend Mark A. Combs, both of Zanesville, OH; two grandsons, Matthew A. Combs, and Alexander R. Combs, both of Zanesville, OH; and one brother, Robert C. Jarvis, of Huntington. Family and friends will be received at Hastings Funeral Home, 153 Spruce Street, Morgantown, Friday, January 29th from 4-7p.m. Visitation will continue on Saturday, January 30th from 10a.m. until the time of the funeral service at 11a.m. with Reverend Mark Combs officiating. Interment will follow in Lawnwood Cemetery. Full military honors will be accorded at the cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Dick's name to the Salvation Army, an organization that provided free supplies to him when he came into port during his Navy years.