Carl Booth

Carl Lee Booth, 76, passed away peacefully on Monday, December 9, 2013 at his home in Gormania, WV. Although active most of his life, he had been in failing health during the last few years of his life, suffering from Alzheimer's disease and diabetic complications. During this time, his wife Linda was his devoted caregiver. Carl leaves behind a heartbroken family to celebrate his life and memory.

Carl was born on April 11, 1937 in Weston, WV and was the son of Lee D. Booth and Lena Goodwin Booth. He was raised in Belington, WV and was a graduate of Belington High School and Alderson-Broadus College. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Secondary English Education.

Carl was a career educator and taught and coached in public schools for 41 years in Ohio, West Virginia, and Maryland. After he graduated from college, he left WV and taught in Ohio for a few years. When he returned from Ohio, he declared WV was the best state in the Union, and that he would never live anywhere else again in his life. True to his word, he lived his remaining life in WV. During his education career, Carl taught middle and high school English, History, Physical Education, and Drama, while coaching several sports. After retiring with 25 years of service at Union High School in Mt Storm, WV, he taught and coached at Southern High School in Oakland, Maryland for another 12 years, finally retiring in 2002.

Carl met the love of his life, Linda, in 1972. She was a newly hired elementary school teacher in Mt. Storm, and the single mother of two young daughters. Carl first noticed Linda when she came to pick up her daughters from school after an athletic practice. He was immediately smitten. They were married two months later following basketball practice. The wedding was attended by his basketball players. Just as in the Brad Paisley song lyrics, Carl became "the father he didn't have to be" to Janice and Janine. Carl and Linda had just celebrated their 41st anniversary on Thanksgiving Day 2013 when Carl's health rapidly declined.

Carl and Linda shared many interests, including a love of teaching/ coaching, sports, gardening, and music. During their summer vacations away from teaching, they pursued their many passionate interests with their daughters. Their daughters remember the summer of the blackberries (when the family picked buckets of berries each day, made jam, and were featured in the Charleston Gazette -"The Family That Picks Together... "), the summer of fishing, and the summer of golf (54 holes a day!). Their daughters joked that each summer their parents would pick a hobby for the family to pursue together, and then they would all spend the summer seeking perfection in their new hobby.

Carl played baseball in high school and college and was known for his wicked fastball. He continued to love the game throughout his life, playing on a community team well into his 40's and coaching baseball at Union High School. Carl was a dedicated coach of several sports, including basketball, baseball, and cross-country running. He was especially proud of coaching the "Runnin' Rams" Cross Country Team at Garrett County Southern High School. While head coach of the Runnin' Rams, his team won five consecutive state championships, from 1993-1997. We are comforted by many happy memories and his wonderful sense of humor. When his daughter, Janine, once asked the secret to his coaching success, he replied, "I tell them to run fast!"

Carl had many hobbies and interests throughout his life. He loved poetry, both reading and writing many poems. He had a strong voice and loved to sing. He loved photography, and had his own photography room. The family has the many photos that he took to help us remember his rich full life. He had a great passion for Old Time Radio programs. Carl amassed a personal collection of thousands of "Old Time Radio" shows and gladly shared his collection with others. He was a DJ on the YUSA Old Time Radio Station. He and Linda had many happy adventures traveling throughout the United States visiting their daughters and grandchildren.

Carl became an avid runner in his 40's, competing in numerous 10 kilometer competitions. He ran with his daughter, Janice, in the Marine Corps Marathon in 1985. Janice completed the first 7 mile loop and then, as planned, met her mother, Linda. They had an adventure racing across the city to meet Carl at various points along the route and cheer him at the finish line.

Carl was also an avid sports fan and spent many hours in his retirement following the NY Yankees and the West Virginia Mountaineers. During his later years of declining health, his greatest pleasure was watching his favorite teams play ball on television, with Linda at his side. Carl was predeceased in death by his parents and two brothers, Gale and Jerry. He is survived by his devoted wife Linda, and his two daughters, Janice Marie Page (nee Rigby) and her husband Russell of Wake Forest, NC and Janine Bue Peek (nee Rigby) of Joplin, MO; three granddaughters, Rebecca Bue Fox and her husband Adam of Owassa, OK; Amber Kay Bue of Tulsa, OK, and Erin Danielle Bue of Claremore, OK; five great grandchildren, Alex, Ryan,Teagan, Ellie, and Hunter; a sister, Betty Chenowith of Belington; and a brother, Dana Booth, of Belington.

The family would like to thank and recognize dear special friends John and Chandra Delaney, Angie and Rich Mann, Sy and Thai Nguyen, and Wilda Agnew, for their amazing friendship, support, and kindness. We would also like to recognize the wonderful care provided to Carl during his last days by Grant Memorial Hospice of Petersburg, WV. We can never express how much your excellent care and support have meant to us all.

The family will receive visitors at the Burdock- Fredlock Funeral Home, 21 N. 2nd Street, Oakland, MD on Wednesday, December 11, 2013 from 6 pm to 8 pm. A graveside service will be held at the Bayard Cemetery, Bayard Cemetery Road, Bayard, WV on Thursday, December 12, 2013 at 2 pm officiated by Pastor Cheryl George. Carl is being buried a short A½ mile from the home he loved and died in. The family asks that mourners wear comfortable clothes to the visitation and memorial service. Carl hated wearing a suit and will be buried in his favorite athletic clothing. Following the graveside service, please join Carl's family and friends as we celebrate Carl's life and share a meal hosted by the Bayard Church of God, 68 Spruce Street, Bayard, WV.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his name to the Grant Memorial Hospice, 100 Hospital Drive, Suite 2, Petersburg, WV, 26847.

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