PHILIPPI, W.Va. (WV Information) — Dr. Barbara Atkeson Smith was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a daughter of the late Arthur and Gladys Atkeson.
She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Dr. Donald A. Smith of Philippi,daughter Jean and Roger Ramoth of New Jersey and Connecticut, David Smith of Winchester, Virginia, daughter Carolyn Smith Burggraf and Charles Burggraf of St. Louis, and 6 grandsons: Seth, Nate and Ty Burggraf, and Andrew, Bryson and William Smith.
She was predeceased by two sisters, Annette Atkeson Simonson and Thelma Atkeson.
Dr. Barbara Smith attended public colleges in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, earned a Bachelor of Arts Diploma from Carroll School, Waukesha, and a Grasp of Arts Diploma from the College of Wisconsin, Madison.
She was awarded an honorary Litt. D. diploma from Alderson Broaddus College in 2010 in recognition of her writing accomplishments. She was a poet, creator, and editor of many books and novels and was a function author for Outside West Virginia and Goldenseal Journal.
Dr. Smith taught at Alderson Broaddus College for over 37 years and served for 20 years because the Chairperson of the Division of the Humanities the place she developed a preferred main in Technical Writing and was the founder and adviser of a girls’s sorority. She was a founder and benefactor of Barbour County Hospice, later Mountain Hospice, which she served as a member of the Board of Administrators and as a volunteer since its starting. She was a member of the Board of Administrators and a volunteer for Coronary heart & Hand Home, and was a Trustee and Moderator of the Philippi Baptist Church the place she served on many boards and committees.
She additionally sang within the church’s chancel choir and taught Sunday Faculty. She was a member of the Baptist Peace Fellowship, Amnesty Worldwide, and plenty of different nationwide and worldwide civic organizations.
Dr. Smith was named a Historical past Hero in 2014 by the state of West Virginia, and acquired the Volunteers Basis Award from the Nationwide Hospice & Palliative Care Affiliation. Mountain Hospice offered her with a Lifetime Achievement Award and he or she acquired the President’s Award from the Barbour County Chamber of Commerce in 2011. She was a Commissioner for the Philippi Historic Landmark Fee and a Life Member of the Barbour County Historic Society. Circuit Decide Alan Moats as soon as known as her “ a county and state treasure.” She was the host of a weekly broadcast of West Virginia Public Radio and a member of the Steering Committee of the West Virginia Humanities Council.
Following her needs, she was cremated and interred in a non-public ceremony at Mount Vernon Memorial Cemetery on September 4th, led by Mountain Hospice Chaplain Brian Headley.
A public Celebration of Life has been deliberate in her reminiscence on the Philippi Baptist Church at such time sooner or later it is freed from COVID-19.
Memorial presents could also be made to Mountain Hospice, Coronary heart & Hand Ministries, or to a scholarship honoring her mother and father at Alderson Broaddus College.
