Obituary of Ora Lee Kirk Ludwig

Ora Lee Johnson Kirk Ludwig was born June 25, 1918 at Baker’s Ridge, Morgantown, West Virginia, and passed on to a better world on May 21, 2016. She was the daughter of Thomas Jefferson Johnson and Nora Browning Johnson. She attended Central Elementary School, Morgantown Junior High School, Morgantown High School, West Virginia University and Mountain State Business College in Parkersburg, attaining a degree in Business Administration. She was a local philanthropist, active in civic circles, and a prominent businesswoman. She was President of Rosedale Coal Company, Mon-Valley Coal & Lumber Company, Mon-Valley Mining Company, and Steel Supply - a Division of Rosedale Coal Company. She devoted her life to the family business from the age of 20 until her retirement. She was assisted for many years by her loyal secretary, Donna F. Hall. She served as an officer of Mountaineer Farms and for the Board of Garrett National Bank in Oakland, Maryland. She served as Treasurer of the Morgantown Area Chamber of Commerce and served on the Chamber Board for many years. She was a member of the West Virginia Surface Mining and Reclamation Association and the National Coal Association, and was one of the earliest female coal executives in the United States. She was a member of the Westover Rotary Club with her son as the first Mother-Son initiates of Rotary International. She served as a member of the Appalachian Planning Commission and the Community Living Initiative Commission. She served for many years on the Board of the Auxiliary to the West Virginia Hospital Association, serving as Treasurer and Finance Chair. She served as President of the Auxiliary of Monongalia General Hospital, and was its Treasurer for several years including the Ball of the Year, and served on fund-raising committees of the Mon General Hospital Foundation. She was a Board member of the Friends of West Virginia University Hospital, including service as Treasurer, Executive Board and Gift Shop Treasurer. She served as President of the Monongalia Arts Center, on the Board of Lakeview Theatre, and served the United Way as Treasurer and for the “Greatest Garage Sale”. She was a member of Phi Iota Chapter of the Delta Delta Delta Sorority at West Virginia University, serving as Alumni Chapter President and House Corporation Treasurer for many years. She also served on campaigns of the West Virginia University Foundation. She was a member of the White Shrine of Jerusalem and Order of the Eastern Star. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Morgantown in her youth, and a member of Wesley United Methodist Church until her passing. She was a charter member of Lakeview Country Club and The Pines Country Club, where she greatly enjoyed golfing and socializing with her friends. She was a long-time patron of all West Virginia University creative arts and the University Arts Series. She was a loyal Mountaineer and long-time supporter of the Mountaineer Athletic Club, and attended both basketball and football games for many years, including road trips to California, Miami, Virginia, Penn State, and, of course, many trips to Pitt. She greatly enjoyed her bridge games with the “TNT” bridge club and their birthday luncheons. In recent years she enjoyed joining her sorority sisters for their luncheons and reunions. She loved dressing for the annual Ball of the Year, the Cotillion and Beau Monde dance clubs, and events at the Creative Arts Center. She especially enjoyed gourmet cooking for her in-house tailgates on game days, family birthdays, and her special Christmas Eve parties for family and neighbors on Riverview Drive. She lived the last 15 years of her life at Friendship Manor in Morgantown, and greatly enjoyed her life and friends there. Known to all as simply “Ora Lee”, she was elegant and always stylish, a gracious, kind and generous lady to everyone she met. She did many, many kindnesses that will never be known. Most of all, she was a loving mother and grandmother, never thinking of herself but always putting the needs of others ahead of her own. She was a pillar of strength through many trials and tribulations, and a shining example of dedication, courage and perseverance. One of her greatest joys in life was spending time with her grandchildren, to whom she will always be affectionately known as “Mammoo”. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, E. Phillip Kirk (Cathy) of Morgantown; her daughter and son-in-law, Dr. Lisa Ann Kirk Wiese (Dr. Kurt Wiese) of Boca Raton, Florida; her grandchildren Tyler Kirk, Elizabeth Kirk, Caitlin Kirk, Hayden Dalek and Tyler Dalek, all of Morgantown; Erika Wiese and Kevin Wiese, both of Boca Raton Florida; and her beloved daughter-in-law and caregiver Tracy Herod Kirk Brubaker, of Morgantown. She was preceded in passing by her sisters May Johnson and Pearl J. Frazier; her brothers Fred O. and Thomas J. (Tommy) Johnson, Jr.; her beloved sister-in-law Marjorie (Marge) Johnson; her lifetime friends Ann Louise “Goosie” Squires and Jo Ann Walker; her former husbands, Eugene P. (Gene) Kirk and August J. (Gus) Ludwig; and her beloved granddaughter Allison Lee Kirk. Visitors will be welcomed for a celebration of Ora Lee’s life at 1:00 PM on Sunday, June 26, 2016 at Wesley United Methodist Church in Morgantown, followed by a Memorial Service at 2:00 PM. with Rev. Dr. Randall Flanagan officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital or Wesley United Methodist Church. Hastings Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.