Eileen Linda Gray Poling, age 72 years, a resident of Parsons, WV departed this life early Monday morning, November 25, 2024, at the WV Caring Hospice Center at Elkins, WV with her loving family at her side. She had been in declining health.
She was born Friday, September 19, 1952, at Tarentum, PA, a daughter of the late Robert Sloan Gray and Marie Heineman Gray. On June 14, 1975, at Leechburg, PA, she was married to Porter Edward Poling, who survives. They had celebrated forty-nine and a half years of marriage.
Also surviving are one son, Edward Thomas Poling of FL; one daughter, Christine Marie Ward and husband Charles “Chuck”, Jr. of Beverly; two sisters, Patricia Flaim and husband Bruno of WY and Roberta Moxon of ND; three grandchildren, Claire Elise Poling, Aurora Lynne Poling and Hazel Marie Poling.
Preceding her in death is one sister, Diana Zilka.
She was a graduate of Kiski Area High School with the class of 1970 and a 1974 graduate of Indiana University of PA, with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. She obtained her Masters in Elementary Education from WVU, and later received gifted certification. She was a teacher at the schools of Tucker County and Glenville State, retiring in 2014. One of her favorite pastimes was bowling, where she met the love of her life, her husband Ed, at the bowling alley at Parsons, WV. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, where she was in the choir, Sunday school teacher and ran the vacation bible school for several years. She enjoyed traveling, and had been to several parts of Europe, Japan, Mexico and several other places. She was a wonderful piano player and enjoyed crochet. Her passion, aside from watching the Pittsburg Pirates, was space. She had spent two summers at the Air Force Academy in Colorado with NASA, and even had the opportunity to experience NASA’s Zero Gravity Aircraft. She helped make Tucker Valley a NASA Explorer school for several years and was Solar System Ambassador for the State of WV for several years. She loved being a schoolteacher and helped found the Robotics Program that is still in place. Eileen loved her family, but the biggest enjoyment was spending time with her grandchildren.
Mrs. Poling’s request for cremation was honored. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Sunday, December 22, 2024, at 2 PM at the First United Methodist Church in Parsons, WV. The Reverend Julie Davis will officiate. A memorial dinner will be held afterwards at the church. The family suggest that expressions of sympathy be in the form of contribution to the First United Methodist Church, 101 1st Street, Parsons, WV 26287; or westvirginiacaring.org. The Lohr & Barb Funeral is honored to be in charge of the arrangements for Eileen Linda Gray Poling. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.lohrbarbfuneralhome.com