Jack Daniels Messer, age 87 years, a resident of the Gilman Community, Elkins, WV departed this life early Wednesday morning, October 17, 2018 at the Barbour County Good Samaritan Center at Belington, WV with his loving family at his side and under the care of Mountain Hospice.
He was born Thursday, May 14, 1931 at home in Elkins, WV a son of the late Henry S. Messer, Sr., and Carmen Emma Daniels Thornhill Messer. On March 15, 1969 at St. Johns United Methodist Church at Parsons he was married to the former Mary Alice Phillips, who survives. They had celebrated forty-nine years of marriage. Also surviving are two sons, David Jack Messer and wife Michelle of Elkins, Robert James Messer of Elkins; one step granddaughter, Leah Goss; two sisters, Carol Fansler, and Karen Arbogast and husband John; two brothers, Henry S. Messer, Jr., and wife Nancy, and Joe E. Messer and wife Barbara; and many nieces and nephews.
Preceding him in death is one sister, Janet Westrope; and one brother, Charles Henry Thornhill, Jr.
Jack was a graduate of Elkins High School, was a veteran of the U. S. Air Force, serving during the Korean War as an Airman 1st Class, being assigned as a Chemist Assistant to the 66th Tac Hospital at Germany for his overseas duty. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, and the Occupation Medal Germany. After leaving the service he worked for the Elks Country Club, the U. S. Forest Service and retired on May 31, 1993 from the West Virginia Department of Transportation. He attended the Orlena United Methodist Church at Gilman. He loved his family, enjoyed crossword puzzles and playing cards, watching classic western movies, and listening to folk music.
He was an avid collector, especially of knives.
The family will receive friends at the Lohr & Barb Funeral Home of Elkins from 5 to 8 PM, Friday. Final Rites were conducted at the funeral home, Saturday, October 20, 2018 at 11 AM. The Rev. Theodore Bessey and the Rev. David Fisher officiated and interment followed at the Mountain State Memorial Gardens at Gilman, WV. where full military honors were accorded by members of the U. S. Air Force, the H. W. Daniel’s Post # 29, American Legion and the Tygarts Valley Post # 3647, Veterans of Foreign Wars. The family requests that expressions of sympathy be in the form of contributions to the Orlena United Methodist Church. The Lohr & Barb Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements for Jack Daniels Messer. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.lohrbarbfuneralhome.com
