Mr. Ivy Von Yoak, 95, of Grantsville, WV, died at his home on Tuesday, December 11, 2018, surrounded by his family.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ira Paul and Fannie Morris Yoak; five brothers, Glendon, Paul, Morris, Harold, and Don; and three sisters, Mildred, Oleta, and Betty.
Mr. Yoak is survived by his wife of 76 years, Freda Radabaugh Yoak; two daughters, Karen Yoak (Bill) Lewis of Winston-Salem, NC, and Sharon Yoak (Dan) Turner of Martinsburg, WV; four grandchildren, Jodi (Paul) Hume, Baltimore MD, Britney (Scott) Rosenberger, Fairmont WV, Matthew (Madlon) Lewis, Decatur GA, and Jonathan (Whitney) Lewis, Arlington TX; and nine great grandchildren, Turner Von and Kaja Grace Hume of Baltimore, Isaac Daniel and Ayla Von Rosenberger of Fairmont, Thomas Kirk and Madlon Hawley Lewis of Decatur, and Savannah Rain, Lydia Caroline, and Ivy Rae Lewis of Arlington.
Mr. Yoak was a long time business man and was co-owner of the Grantsville Appliance, Inc. for 40 years, the Yoak Gas Company, and Dairy Products, Inc. He and Mrs. Yoak also co-owned and operated the Yoak Insurance Agency for 25 years.
Mr. Yoak was the oldest member of the Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church in Grantsville, where he taught Sunday School and also served as choir director for many years. Mr. Yoak was a singer and performed from an early age with the Yoak Quartet, which included his sister Betty and brothers, Harold and Don. He was a member and officer in the Order of the Eastern Star, Grantsville Chapter #73.
He was also a 38-year member of the WV State Eastern Star Choir in which he was often a featured soloist. One of his crowning achievements was singing "Battle Hymn of the Republic" for the Bicentennial International Eastern Star Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, before 16,000 people. He has also performed in England, the Caribbean, and throughout the southeast.
Mr. Yoak learned to read music through the solfeggio system of shaped notes, which uses a specific shape that corresponds to each tone of a scale. Mr. Yoak delighted in teaching "singing schools" throughout West Virginia and in Florida.
Mr. Yoak was a 32nd degree Mason with the Eureka Lodge #40 in Grantsville, having served in every office many times, and as Master for many years over his 74-year membership.
As president of the Calhoun Development Corporation, Mr. Yoak worked tirelessly to bring business opportunities into Calhoun County, such as Rubber Fabricators, Inc. and Save-A-Tool. He was instrumental in buying the land for the Calhoun County Park, a recreational area. Mr. Yoak also served as secretary of the board of directors for the Calhoun General Hospital, which was established in the 1950's.
Mr. Yoak enjoyed playing golf and traveling, visiting various places in the United States, England, Spain, and Africa. Mr. and Mrs. Yoak enjoyed going to Cocoa Beach, Florida, for six weeks every winter with the "Happy Days Club," a group of friends who vacationed together for 35 years.
Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, December 13, 2018, at the Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church, which will include an Eastern Star service at 7:30.
The funeral will be held Friday, December 14, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. at the church conducted by Stump Funeral Home & Cremation, Inc. and officiated by Rev. Rick Metheney and Rev. Carroll McCauley, with visitation one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow in Pleasant Hill UMC Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made in his honor to Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church, 3757 N. Calhoun Hwy., Grantsville, WV 26147.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.stumpfuneralhomes.com
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