| The Rev. William Harold Street, 84, died January 10, 2009, at home in Charleston.
He was born March 1, 1924, in Liverpool, W.Va., to Coral and Minnie Street. After graduating from Gilmore High School in Jackson County in 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force and served from 1942 to 1945 in the 82nd Bombardment Squadron, 12th Bomb Group. He was stationed in Italy, North Africa and India for the duration of World War II.
He graduated from West Virginia University in 1950, where he met his wife of 56 years, Nancy Louise McDonald Street. At WVU, he was a leader in student government, the Wesley Foundation, the YMCA, and a member of Mountain Honorary.
In 1953, he graduated from Drew Theological Seminary in Madison, N.J. While in seminary, he served churches in Forked River and Lanoka Harbor, N.J.
He was ordained as an elder in the West Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church in 1953 and served churches in Morgantown, Iaeger, Pineville, Kingwood, Clarksburg, Charleston, Hometown and Diamond. In 1971, he accepted a special appointment with the Charleston Housing Authority, where he worked until 1980. He worked in state government until he retired in 1986.
He was an avid outdoorsman who helped to build two church youth camps, Birdhaven in McDowell County and Spring Heights in Roane County. In the summer of 1965, he led a YMCA-sponsored community organizing program in Freed, Calhoun County.
He loved camping, boating, gardening, and most of all, spending time with his grandchildren. While he marched to the beat of a different drummer, he always looked for the best in others and gave his best to them.
He is survived by his wife, Nancy McDonald Street; two daughters, Martha Spiker and husband, Michael, of Ripley and Anne Barth and husband, Nicholas, of Charleston; son, John William Street and wife, Michelle, of Charleston; five grandchildren, Drew Spiker, Alison Spiker, Sally Barth, Claire Barth and Audrey Street; one sister, Kathryn Carson and husband, James, of Buckhannon; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Jay Street, Ronald Street, Gerald Street and Hershel Street; and sisters, Lois Hinzman, Evelyn Horton and Charlotte Epling.
The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday at Barlow-Bonsall Funeral Home, Charleston. A celebration of his life will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Marks United Methodist Church. Burial at Mt. Zion Cemetery on Route 33 east of Ripley will follow a bereavement dinner at the church.
The family suggests that donations be made to Hospice Care (1606 Kanawha Boulevard W., Charleston, WV 25302) or the United Methodist Foundation of WV (P.O. Box 3811, Charleston, WV 25338)
|
