Dad’s 1999 Obituary

Joseph R. Ervin (06/24/1926 – 9/24/1999)

Joseph R. Ervin, 73, died Friday, September 24^th, at Mon Pointe Continuing Care Center, after a long illness.

He was born June 24, 1926 in Charleston, son of the late Dr. Dana R. and Ethel R. Ervin of East Bank.

He retired from Morgantown High School in 1983, after 30 years of service as both an instrumental and vocal music educator in secondary schools in Smyth County, Virginia and in Roane, Kanawha, and Monongalia Counties in West Virginia. He also served as summer school principal at St. Albans High School (Kanawha County), as well as vice principal at University High School in Morgantown.

A veteran of World War II, he entered the U. S. Army Air Force after graduation from East Bank High School, training as a tail-gunner in B-29 bombers. At war’s end, he re-enlisted and was assigned to the 724^th Army Air Force Band in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Upon leaving the service, he received his Bachelor’s degree from Morris Harvey College (now the University of Charleston), earned his Master of Music Education degree at Marshall University, and obtained his Professional Certificate in Secondary School Administration from WVU.

He served as All-County and All-State Chorus Chairman, was a clinician for choral music workshops, and was a co-founder of the West Virginia Show Choir Festival. He was a Life Member of the West Virginia Association of Retired School Employees and a member of the West Virginia Music Educators National Conference.

In recognition of his lifetime of service to West Virginia music education, he was elected to the West Virginia Music Educators Hall of Fame in 1998.

In his youth, he was a flutist with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra. He served for many years as a church choir director in Marion, Virginia and in several large churches in Kanawha County, directing community choruses in annual presentations of Christmas music from Handel’s Messiah. During the 1950’s, he took a four-year hiatus from teaching, serving as manager of the piano and organ department at Gorby’s Music Store in South Charleston. During this period, he was elected Dean of the Kanawha County Chapter of the American Guild of Organists and Choir Directors and assisted Charles Gorby in organizing the first West Virginia Stage Band Festival. He was an accomplished string bassist, playing with several well-known jazz ensembles in the Charleston area throughout the 1950’s and 1960’s. He also provided private instruction in flute and other band instruments.

In retirement, his interests included woodworking, gardening, bird-watching, and creating an audiotape archive of “big band” jazz music. He also kept in touch with many former peers and students.

He is survived by his wife of fifty years, Anne Fadeley Ervin; sons, Joseph, Jr. of Star City and Doug of Ashton, Idaho; a son and spouse, Charles D. and Cathy Nagle-Ervin of Mentor-on-the-Lake, Ohio; a daughter, Anne Elizabeth of Star City; a daughter and spouse, Catherine R. Ervin and Maximiliano Henriquez of Bridgeport; and two grandchildren, Miguel and Eliana Henriquez. He is also survived by a brother and spouse, Dr. John R. and Oma M. Ervin of Columbus, Ohio and by two sisters and spouses, Martha Ellen and Stewart L. Davis of Englewood, Florida and Mary Elizabeth and John H. Moffitt of Richmond, Virginia.

Hastings Funeral Home will provide cremation services. There will be no visitation or funeral service. Plans for a memorial service are indefinite at this time.

This obituary appeared in the Morgantown (WV) Dominion-Post.