School's out, and the teacher has gone home…..Jerry Alawat, beloved husband, father, brother, and friend, has passed away. Jerry was a teacher in the Wood County School District for 32 years, touching the lives of innumerable children at Gihon Elementary School, Pleasant Valley Elementary School, and Edison Junior High School. Jerry has been a very active member of South Parkersburg Baptist Church for many years, serving as a Sunday School teacher and faithful Congregational Caregiver, focusing his ministry on the sick and elderly. Jerry was born in Cinderella, WV on November 21, 1942 to Salvatore (Sam) Alawat and Blanche Alawat (Smith). He proudly served his country in the United States Navy, and upon his release attended Glenville State College. He moved to Parkersburg in 1966 and began his teaching career. Jerry has been an active member of the Parkersburg community for nearly 50 years, serving as a mentor and role model to his students, and living his life as an example of faith, loyalty, and love for all who knew him.

Jerry was surrounded by his loved ones during his passing from this earthly world to the Kingdom of his Heavenly Father. He was surely welcomed with open arms and greeted with, "Welcome, good and faithful servant."

Jerry was preceded in death by his mother and father, his brother Gary Bozic, his mother-in-law Carol McDonald, and his beloved son Anthony Alawat. He is survived by his wife Debbie Alawat (McDonald), his daughter Andrea Alawat Rittgers of Racine, WI, his step-son Jason Hayes of Parkersburg, WV, his step-daughter Amanda Deem (Hayes) and her husband Jason Deem of Silverthorne, CO, his daughter-in-law Robin Alawat-Strauss (Whited), his grandchildren Lucy Rittgers, Kate, Colin, and Allie Hayes, Milo and Emma Deem, Caleb Alawat, and Aubrey Strauss, his sister Mary Ann Shaw of Bristol, England, his brother Sam Alawat of TN, his father-in-law Jack McDonald of Parkersburg, WV, and countless friends and family members.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 AM on Friday, January 24, at South Parkersburg Baptist Church 1705 Blizzard Dr., Parkersburg, WV, 26101, with Pastors Joe Busch and Scott Stewart officiating with full military rite by American Legion Post 15 Parkersburg. Interment will follow at Evergreen North Cemetery, Parkersburg. Visitation will be from 4 PM to 8 PM on Thursday, January 23, and one hour prior to services on Friday at the church. Lambert-Tatman Funeral Home, south Parkersburg is serving the Alawat family.

Jerry served as a Gideon and had requested that donations be made to the Gideons for the purchase of Bibles, in lieu of flowers.

Lambert-Tatman Funeral Home Obit, Jan 21, 2014