William Ronald “Bill” Schoonover, Sr., age 76 years, a resident of Elkins, WV departed this life Friday afternoon, December 5, 2025, at the Ruby Memorial Hospital at Morgantown, WV. He had been in declining health for the past two months.
He was born Wednesday, July 27, 1949, at Elkins, WV, a son of the late Thomas Hyre Schoonover and Virginia Harper Schoonover. He was twice married, first, on September 1, 1972, to the former Marlene M. Halley who preceded him in death in March of 1990, and second, on August 10, 1990, at Elkins, WV to the former Donna Lambert Mayfield, who survives in Elkins. Also surviving are two sons, Thomas Robert Schoonover and wife Kristin of Asheville, NC, William Ronald Schoonover, Jr. and wife Nita of Belington; one daughter, Amy Lynn Murphy and husband Isaac of Columbus, OH; three stepsons, Larry Wayne Mayfield and wife Lisa of Silver Springs, FL, Greggory Howard Mayfield of Beverly, and Chad Wythe Mayfield and wife Kristie of Bruceton Mills; one step daughter, Melody Adrienne Mayfield Frymoyer and husband Jeff of Altamonte Springs, FL; one brother, James L. Schoonover of Montrose; one sister, Mary E. Durham of Montrose; his grandchildren and step-grandchildren, Tessa Louise and Samuel Schoonover, Connor and Zachary Mayfield, Chase and Cody Byerly, Tanner Elizabeth and Jesse Rose Mayfield, and Gabriel, Landon and Chandler Murphy.
Bill attended the schools of Barbour County and was a graduate of Philip Barbour High School with the Class of 1967. He attended Fairmont State College and Nashville Auto Diesel College, graduating with a degree in auto diesel mechanics and welding.
Bill worked as a welder and sheet metal fitter for Armstrong Custom Fabricators in Williamstown, WV, and later for Union Carbide Corporation at Marietta, OH. He then worked for CSX Transportation as a Locomotive Engineer for thirty-three years out of Grafton, WV retiring in 2010. was a member of the Elkins Lodge # 108, A. F. & A. M., the Osiris Temple of Wheeling, the St. Paul’s United Methodist Church and more recently the First Baptist Church of Elkins.
Bill worked with St. Paul’s United Methodist Men and with the Woodford Memorial United Methodist Church Men. He was an avid amateur photographer and enjoyed hunting, fishing, reading and being with his grandchildren.
Bill’s request for cremation was honored. A Memorial Service will be held at a later date at the First Baptist Church of Elkins. The Lohr & Barb Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements for William Ronald “Bill” Schoonover, Sr. Condolences may be expressed the family at www.lohrbarbfuneralhome.com.
