Eulalah V. Harris

Eulalah V. Harris, 97, wife of the late Samuel C. Harris, Jr. passed away on Saturday, July 18 in Huntington, WV. Mrs. Harris was the daughter of Arthur W. and Josephine Harmison Van Fleet of Romney and the sister of Mary V. Whipp of Burlington, all of whom pre-deceased her. She was a graduate of Fairmont State Teachers College and for 40 years taught multiple generations of children in the Kanawha Valley after beginning her teaching career in several one-room schoolhouses in Hampshire County. Her love of teaching continued throughout her long life as she challenged and enriched the lives of hundreds of students. Stories shared from her extensive world travels brought geography lessons to life, and her enthusiastic confidence in her students’ abilities encouraged them to reach further and accomplish more than they ever dared believe. Following her retirement, Mrs. Harris enjoyed traveling and private tutoring, never failing to find great joy in her students’ achievements. A much-repeated remembrance from a former student recalled that when he would arrive at school in the morning, “If I saw your green car in the parking lot, I knew I was going to learn something that day.” Always foremost in her mind and dearest to her heart was her beloved Sam. Their union in 1938, kept secret for more than a year because of a ban on married female teachers at the time, lasted for 74 years and served as an inspiration to countless young couples. She loved playing the piano and organ and for a number of years served churches in the Charleston area. With little encouragement she would entertain family and friends with music ranging from favorite hymns to “Indian Love Call.” She was a 49-year member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International as well as holding membership in the Anne Bailey Chapter of the NSDAR, Covenant Presbyterian Church in Nitro, and in a local organ society. She was a faithful and constant supporter of the causes and activities at Covenant Presbyterian Church and took a lively and vocal interest in state and national politics. Mrs. Harris is survived by her sister, Betty V. Shelly and husband, Don of Greenwood, South Carolina, as well as her two brothers-in-law, William E. Harris (Velma) of Ripley and Harold E. Harris of Fairmont; nephews, Charles, Duane, Timothy and Steven, and several nieces. Patricia Harmison Simmons (Don) and George Harmison and sons also survive. Her devoted nephew, William F. Kuykendall and wife Mary, of Winterport, ME and grand-nephews, Adam Kuykendall and wife, Kathleen of Brewer, ME, Samuel Kuykendall of Scarborough, ME, and great-grandnieces, Lucy E. Kuykendall and Maeve A. Kuykendall of Brewer, ME, celebrate her life. Funeral service will be held at 11am Wednesday, July 22, 2015 at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 424 Cross Lanes Drive, Nitro with Pastor John J. Rollins, Jr. officiating. Entombment will follow in Cunningham Memorial Park, St. Albans. Visitation will be held from 6-8pm Tuesday at Bartlett-Chapman Funeral Home. You may visit www.chapmanfuneralhomes.com to share sympathies with the family. Bartlett-Chapman Funeral Home, family-owned and located at 409 Sixth Avenue is honored to serve the Harris family.

Eulalah V. Harris

September 4, 1917 - July 18, 2015