Obituary of Susan Ellen Messenger

Susan E. Messenger born March 21, 1928 near Tunnelton, WV died September 19, 2024 at age 96 at her home in Kingwood, WV. Susan was a devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and aunt as well as being a stalwart US Air Force wife of 25 years. She was a Red Cross school health aide, an American Cancer Society volunteer, and loved to golf. She loved being a highly mobile Air Force wife, but even more she loved settling down near family in Kentucky after retirement. Together with her sister Colleen and brother Demp, they hosted a huge seven day extended family pool party every Fourth of July week that would see her and Colleen serve meals for 40 people three times a day for a week. Susan's surviving relatives include sons Commander Norman Messenger USN (Ret) and Diane of Locust Grove, VA and Dr Mark Messenger MD and Theresa of Franklin, TN. Grandchildren Dr Keith Messenger MD (Simpsonville, KY), Elizabeth Messenger Pritchett (Culpeper, VA) Sergeant First Class Stephen Messenger USAR (Reston, VA), Dr Ellen Messenger Fleetwood DVM (San Antonio, TX) and Paul Messenger JD Esq (Franklin, TN). Great grandchildren include Anne Marie, Alden, Samuel (Culpeper VA), Anna Katherine, Jillian, Liam (Simpsonville KY), Luke, Eliza, Conner (San Antonio TX). Nieces and nephews Deborah Maier Plum, James Maier, Shannon Maier (all Kingwood WV), Sean Maier (Grafton, WV), Colleen Maier Mann (Chattanooga, TN), Sharon Marrell (Kennewick, WA) and Margaret "Peg" Schafer (LaConner, WA). In addition to her parents, Harry P. Maier and Nelle Raye (Cool) Maier, Susan was preceded in death by her husband Master Sergeant Norman Messenger USAF (Ret); an infant daughter Blondel Sue Messenger; siblings Ralph Maier, Darrell (Buck) Maier, Monroe Maier, Herschell Maier, Colleen Maier, and Harry (Demp) Maier along with nephews David Maier and Bruce Maier. After graduating in 1946 from Tunnelton High School Susan worked in Tunnelton for Joe VanZandt General Merchandise as a clerk and bookkeeper as well as a stint at the Westinghouse lamp factory in Fairmont. In 1947 her brother introduced to a returning WW2 Navy veteran Norman Messenger who was from Tunnelton and had joined the newly established USAF. By August 1948 at the tender age of 20 Susan became a service member's wife which was a huge change for a red-headed young beauty with a steel backbone and rigid moral code who was born in her paternal grandfather's clapboard sided log cabin on the Frog Hollow Road outside of Tunnelton one mile south of the Mt. View Church. Up until that time she had never been outside of Preston County except to go to Grafton and only made it to Oakland, Maryland to get married to her new husband who was on leave from the USAF at Westover AFB in Holyoke MA. In those days junior enlisted members didn't get financial support for wives, and it took over a year before she could join him in Holyoke. Unfortunately she lost a daughter at birth before she could join him but it didn't shake her resolve. When it came time for her to join her husband she boarded the train in Tunnelton alone but resolutely set out on an adventure that saw her make fourteen permanent moves around US Air Force bases in 25 years including Hawaii and all along the East Coast and Gulf Coast. Along the way, she saw her husband off for extended one year missions, at least three major Florida hurricanes, cleaned up every base house she lived in until you could eat off the floors and volunteered for the Red Cross and her sons' schools. She also got the golf bug as her sons got older and cherished her time on the golf course and her trip with her son to the Masters to see Lee Trevino and Arnold Palmer in 1979. But Susan never lost her love for family and the West Virginia hills as she returned every summer when school was out to visit and moved to Tunnelton when her husband went on extended overseas and training assignments. After thirty years of service Norman and Susan settled near Ft Knox, Kentucky to be near Susan's younger sister and brother. She remained there until they all passed away and then finally returned to Kingwood to be surrounded by nieces and nephews who treated her better than most people today treat their mother. Although she set a splendid example of providing service to her community and country she is even a better model for being a wonderful and devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and aunt who was so proud of her family and their contributions to their community and country. She truly was the epitome of what it means to be a coal miner's daughter, child of the depression, and member of the greatest generation. Friends and family will be received at Mountain View Methodist Church outside of Tunnelton, WV Saturday, October 26, 2024 beginning at 10:00 AM until the time of the memorial service at 11:00 AM with Pastor Mike Argabrite officiating. In lieu of flowers, charitable donations may be made to the Mt. View Church Cemetery Association, 182 Number 4 Road, Tunnelton, WV 26444 or Grace Chapel Baptist Church, 167 Grace Chapel Road, Kingwood WV 26537. Hastings Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements and online condolences may be made at www.hastingsfuneralhome.com