Ethel Marie Tomer Cox, 93, passed away peacefully on Jan. 8, 2012, at Universal Healthcare Brunswick in North Carolina.
Born in Parkersburg on May 26, 1918, the daughter of the late Gordon Roy Tomer and Garnet Stephens Tomer, she graduated from Parkersburg High School in the Big Red Class of January 1936. She later received degrees from Potomac State College in Keyser, W.Va. and Morris-Harvey College in Charleston, W.Va. Ethel was a long-time member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Parkersburg, her beloved hometown where she retired after working many years in Charleston. She moved to Wilmington, N.C. in 2001 to be near family when she was ill, and then spent 10 happy, happy years there, though she always missed the hills of West Virginia.
Ethel was a true Mountaineer and served the state for 40 years in the Division of Handicapped Children's Services, serving as Administrative Director of the agency for over 15 years. At her retirement in 1981, she was honored with the Distinguished West Virginian Award, presented to her by then Governor John D. Rockefeller.
Ethel's special gift and love in life was music, especially playing piano. From her school years when she accompanied musical events for her peers and classmates, to playing for her husband's dance studio, to serving as pianist for her church, and in her golden years to entertaining young and old at social events, Ethel captured every listener's admiration with her talent and delight in playing. Rarely did she use a sheet of music, often playing by ear after hearing songs only one time on the movie screen. Her music prompted countless friendships, due to the enchantment with which she played.
In addition to her parents, Ethel was preceded in death by her husband, Omer Thomas "Tommy" Cox; brother, Kenneth C. Tomer; and nephews, Gordon Roy Tomer II, Graydon Clare Tomer, Kenneth C. "Bus" Tomer, Jr., and Wilber W. Kirk.
"Aunt Ethel" is survived by one special niece, Dolores Tomer Kirk of Wilmington, N.C.; many great nieces and nephews, Beth Tomer and Chip Scott of Mason, Ohio, Becky and Matt Calvin and son Sam of Greencastle, Pa., Tim and Dawn Tomer and children Christopher, Chandler, and Kiera of Hurricane, W.Va., Sherri and Jeff Planton and daughters Sydney and Maddie of Reston, Va., Steve Tomer of Dublin, Ohio, Wes Tomer and Linda Hardiman of Arlington, Va., Ken and Connie Kirk and sons Ben and John Kirk of Corning, N.Y., Karen Kirk and Travis Williams of Carolina Beach, N.C., Kelly Oxendine and daughters Christy and Wendy of Wilmington, N.C., Tom and Sue Kirk of Louisville, Tenn., Laurie and Allan Linker and daughters Jessica and Julie of Prospect, Ky., and Daniel Tomer.
Services will be 1 p.m. Saturday at Leavitt Funeral Home, Parkersburg with the Rev. W. Brent Sturm, O.S.L. officiating. Interment will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Parkersburg. Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Born in Parkersburg on May 26, 1918, the daughter of the late Gordon Roy Tomer and Garnet Stephens Tomer, she graduated from Parkersburg High School in the Big Red Class of January 1936. She later received degrees from Potomac State College in Keyser, W.Va. and Morris-Harvey College in Charleston, W.Va. Ethel was a long-time member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Parkersburg, her beloved hometown where she retired after working many years in Charleston. She moved to Wilmington, N.C. in 2001 to be near family when she was ill, and then spent 10 happy, happy years there, though she always missed the hills of West Virginia.
Ethel was a true Mountaineer and served the state for 40 years in the Division of Handicapped Children's Services, serving as Administrative Director of the agency for over 15 years. At her retirement in 1981, she was honored with the Distinguished West Virginian Award, presented to her by then Governor John D. Rockefeller.
Ethel's special gift and love in life was music, especially playing piano. From her school years when she accompanied musical events for her peers and classmates, to playing for her husband's dance studio, to serving as pianist for her church, and in her golden years to entertaining young and old at social events, Ethel captured every listener's admiration with her talent and delight in playing. Rarely did she use a sheet of music, often playing by ear after hearing songs only one time on the movie screen. Her music prompted countless friendships, due to the enchantment with which she played.
In addition to her parents, Ethel was preceded in death by her husband, Omer Thomas "Tommy" Cox; brother, Kenneth C. Tomer; and nephews, Gordon Roy Tomer II, Graydon Clare Tomer, Kenneth C. "Bus" Tomer, Jr., and Wilber W. Kirk.
"Aunt Ethel" is survived by one special niece, Dolores Tomer Kirk of Wilmington, N.C.; many great nieces and nephews, Beth Tomer and Chip Scott of Mason, Ohio, Becky and Matt Calvin and son Sam of Greencastle, Pa., Tim and Dawn Tomer and children Christopher, Chandler, and Kiera of Hurricane, W.Va., Sherri and Jeff Planton and daughters Sydney and Maddie of Reston, Va., Steve Tomer of Dublin, Ohio, Wes Tomer and Linda Hardiman of Arlington, Va., Ken and Connie Kirk and sons Ben and John Kirk of Corning, N.Y., Karen Kirk and Travis Williams of Carolina Beach, N.C., Kelly Oxendine and daughters Christy and Wendy of Wilmington, N.C., Tom and Sue Kirk of Louisville, Tenn., Laurie and Allan Linker and daughters Jessica and Julie of Prospect, Ky., and Daniel Tomer.
Services will be 1 p.m. Saturday at Leavitt Funeral Home, Parkersburg with the Rev. W. Brent Sturm, O.S.L. officiating. Interment will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Parkersburg. Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Ethel Marie Tomer Cox, 93, passed away peacefully on Jan. 8, 2012, at Universal Healthcare Brunswick in North Carolina.
Born in Parkersburg on May 26, 1918, the daughter of the late Gordon Roy Tomer and Garnet Stephens Tomer, she graduated from Parkersburg High School in the Big Red Class of January 1936. She later received degrees from Potomac State College in Keyser, W.Va. and Morris-Harvey College in Charleston, W.Va. Ethel was a long-time member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Parkersburg, her beloved hometown where she retired after working many years in Charleston. She moved to Wilmington, N.C. in 2001 to be near family when she was ill, and then spent 10 happy, happy years there, though she always missed the hills of West Virginia.
Ethel was a true Mountaineer and served the state for 40 years in the Division of Handicapped Children's Services, serving as Administrative Director of the agency for over 15 years. At her retirement in 1981, she was honored with the Distinguished West Virginian Award, presented to her by then Governor John D. Rockefeller.
Ethel's special gift and love in life was music, especially playing piano. From her school years when she accompanied musical events for her peers and classmates, to playing for her husband's dance studio, to serving as pianist for her church, and in her golden years to entertaining young and old at social events, Ethel captured every listener's admiration with her talent and delight in playing. Rarely did she use a sheet of music, often playing by ear after hearing songs only one time on the movie screen. Her music prompted countless friendships, due to the enchantment with which she played.
In addition to her parents, Ethel was preceded in death by her husband, Omer Thomas "Tommy" Cox; brother, Kenneth C. Tomer; and nephews, Gordon Roy Tomer II, Graydon Clare Tomer, Kenneth C. "Bus" Tomer, Jr., and Wilber W. Kirk.
"Aunt Ethel" is survived by one special niece, Dolores Tomer Kirk of Wilmington, N.C.; many great nieces and nephews, Beth Tomer and Chip Scott of Mason, Ohio, Becky and Matt Calvin and son Sam of Greencastle, Pa., Tim and Dawn Tomer and children Christopher, Chandler, and Kiera of Hurricane, W.Va., Sherri and Jeff Planton and daughters Sydney and Maddie of Reston, Va., Steve Tomer of Dublin, Ohio, Wes Tomer and Linda Hardiman of Arlington, Va., Ken and Connie Kirk and sons Ben and John Kirk of Corning, N.Y., Karen Kirk and Travis Williams of Carolina Beach, N.C., Kelly Oxendine and daughters Christy and Wendy of Wilmington, N.C., Tom and Sue Kirk of Louisville, Tenn., Laurie and Allan Linker and daughters Jessica and Julie of Prospect, Ky., and Daniel Tomer.
Services will be 1 p.m. Saturday at Leavitt Funeral Home, Parkersburg with the Rev. W. Brent Sturm, O.S.L. officiating. Interment will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Parkersburg. Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Born in Parkersburg on May 26, 1918, the daughter of the late Gordon Roy Tomer and Garnet Stephens Tomer, she graduated from Parkersburg High School in the Big Red Class of January 1936. She later received degrees from Potomac State College in Keyser, W.Va. and Morris-Harvey College in Charleston, W.Va. Ethel was a long-time member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Parkersburg, her beloved hometown where she retired after working many years in Charleston. She moved to Wilmington, N.C. in 2001 to be near family when she was ill, and then spent 10 happy, happy years there, though she always missed the hills of West Virginia.
Ethel was a true Mountaineer and served the state for 40 years in the Division of Handicapped Children's Services, serving as Administrative Director of the agency for over 15 years. At her retirement in 1981, she was honored with the Distinguished West Virginian Award, presented to her by then Governor John D. Rockefeller.
Ethel's special gift and love in life was music, especially playing piano. From her school years when she accompanied musical events for her peers and classmates, to playing for her husband's dance studio, to serving as pianist for her church, and in her golden years to entertaining young and old at social events, Ethel captured every listener's admiration with her talent and delight in playing. Rarely did she use a sheet of music, often playing by ear after hearing songs only one time on the movie screen. Her music prompted countless friendships, due to the enchantment with which she played.
In addition to her parents, Ethel was preceded in death by her husband, Omer Thomas "Tommy" Cox; brother, Kenneth C. Tomer; and nephews, Gordon Roy Tomer II, Graydon Clare Tomer, Kenneth C. "Bus" Tomer, Jr., and Wilber W. Kirk.
"Aunt Ethel" is survived by one special niece, Dolores Tomer Kirk of Wilmington, N.C.; many great nieces and nephews, Beth Tomer and Chip Scott of Mason, Ohio, Becky and Matt Calvin and son Sam of Greencastle, Pa., Tim and Dawn Tomer and children Christopher, Chandler, and Kiera of Hurricane, W.Va., Sherri and Jeff Planton and daughters Sydney and Maddie of Reston, Va., Steve Tomer of Dublin, Ohio, Wes Tomer and Linda Hardiman of Arlington, Va., Ken and Connie Kirk and sons Ben and John Kirk of Corning, N.Y., Karen Kirk and Travis Williams of Carolina Beach, N.C., Kelly Oxendine and daughters Christy and Wendy of Wilmington, N.C., Tom and Sue Kirk of Louisville, Tenn., Laurie and Allan Linker and daughters Jessica and Julie of Prospect, Ky., and Daniel Tomer.
Services will be 1 p.m. Saturday at Leavitt Funeral Home, Parkersburg with the Rev. W. Brent Sturm, O.S.L. officiating. Interment will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Parkersburg. Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
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