Obituary of Leah Ann Williams

Leah Ann (Sissie) Williams, 89, of Morgantown, WV, passed away on Thursday, May 26, 2022, at Mon Health Medical Center. She was born in Clarksburg, WV, on July 20, 1932 to the late George Woodbridge Williams and Marguerite (Shanabarger) Williams, and preceded in death by her brother Charles Woodbridge Williams. She earned all of her degrees at West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV: Undergraduate in Psychology (1954), Master of Science in Zoology (1958), and Doctor of Philosophy in Biology (1970). Needless to say, Leah was a loyal and diehard fan of the WVU Mountaineers' sports programs; especially basketball and football. Leah was a zoology instructor at Penn State University (1958-1959) before devoting her lifelong career at West Virginia University starting in 1959 before she retired in 1991. She traveled the world, loved to read, and enjoyed the arts and classical music. Leah had a philanthropic heart and contributed to many worthy charities, including two she started at WVU for her late brother Charles (Golf Scholarship) and her late friend Ethel (Biology Scholarship). Leah (Aunt Sissie) will be greatly missed by her three nieces; Leah (Chuck) Stipancic, Amy (Ed) Montgomery, Barbara (Michael) Cross, and her sister-in-law, Judith (Joseph) Ranieri, many great-nieces and nephews, and amongst many friends. Friends and family will be received at Hastings Funeral Home, 153 Spruce Street, Morgantown, on Friday, June 3rd from 5 -7 p.m. Visitation will follow at First Presbyterian Church, 456 Spruce Street, Morgantown, on Saturday, June 4th 10 a.m. until the time of the funeral service at 11 a.m. with Reverend Zac Morton officiating. A private family burial will be on Saturday, June 11th at the Mount Comfort Cemetery in Alexandria, VA. Leah is preceded in death by her closest, lifelong friend, Ethel Montiegel, where she will lay in rest by her side. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: The Ethel C. Montiegel Biology Scholarship Fund #3S435 at WVU Foundation, One Waterfront Place 7th Floor, PO Box 1650, Morgantown, WV 26507-1650, made payable to WVU Foundation, IMO Leah A. Williams, PhD. Send condolences online at www.hastingsfuneralhome.com