Virginia Gillespie

Virginia Dumont Gillespie, of Hurricane, WV, passed away April 17, 2024.  Virginia, the daughter of Edgar and Virginia Nell (Jarvis) Dumont, was born June 24, 1930, in South Charleston, WV.  She attended South Charleston High School, where she served as President of the Student Council and graduated with honors in 1947.  She also attended Charleston School of Commerce and received her Stenographic Diploma in 1948.  

In 1949, Virginia married Kellis M. Gillespie, son of Harvey and Beulah Gillespie of Dunbar, WV.  She then went to work at Union Carbide in the Order Division.  They moved to Hurricane, Putnam County, in 1952.  They joined the First Baptist Church of Hurricane in 1953 and became active members of the congregation. 

In 1963, Virginia started to West Virginia State College and graduated in 1967 summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education.  She earned her Master of Arts Degree from the Graduate School of Marshall University in 1974.  She was a teacher at Hurricane Elementary School from 1967 to 1979 and at Hurricane Middle School from 1979 to 1989.

After retirement, Virginia and Kellis became interested in genealogy.  They traveled to many court houses in both Virginia and West Virginia and to Kansas and Missouri to track their ancestors.  They used the documents they found to write books about their families- the Gillespies, Dumonts, Woodrums, and Jarvises.  They also joined numerous genealogy societies and Virginia served as Secretary for the Upper Vandalia Historical Society, the Mining Your History (genealogy) Foundation, and the West Virginia Baptist Historical Society.  She was also a member of the Anne Bailey Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Virginia and Kellis collaborated with Bill Wintz in writing about the schools, families, and churches in Putnam County History, Volume II.  They also worked hard with other members of the Mining Your History Foundation to save the Archives Library located in the Cultural Center at the Capitol Complex in Charleston.  The Mining Your History Foundation was successful, and when you visit the Archives Library today, you will find many books about West Virginia families. 

In addition to her parents, Virginia was preceded in death by her husband, Kellis Marion Gillespie in 2014; her paternal grandparents Camille Victor and Marie (Gillot) Dumont; her maternal grandparents John Wesley and Ora Alice (Surface) Jarivis: and her brothers, Edgar Alfred, John Wesley and Robert Lee Dumont; and sisters Mary Jean French and Alice June Floyd Bishop.  

Virginia is survived by two daughters, Kathryn Ann and husband Zack Phillips of Roanoke, Va; Bonnie Jean and husband Marc Rider of Ona; five grandsons; Jason Johnson and wife Janet of Bowie, Md; Jeremiah Johnson of Beckley; Justin Johnson and wife Jennifer of Roanoke, Va; Johnnie Comer of Hurricane; and Mickey Sovine of Ona; one granddaughter, Mindy Wooten of Hurricane; eleven great grandchildren; Emma, Lily, Mara, and Jude Johnson of Bowie, Md; Camden Johnson of Beckley; Jackson, Joshua, and Jordyn Johnson of Roanoke, Va; Jack and Adin Comer and Wyatt Wooten of Ona.  

A celebration of the life of Virginia will be held Saturday, April 20, 2024, at 10 a.m. at Allen Funeral Home on Main Street, Hurricane, with Rev. Jerry Losh officiating.  Burial will follow in Cunningham Memorial Park St. Albans. 

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the First Baptist Church of Hurricane, 2635 Main Street, Hurricane, WV 25526

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