W. Gibson McCoy

McCoy, W. Gibson “Gib” of Wheeling, WV died Friday, December 5, in Ohio Valley Medical Center, Wheeling.

A life-long resident of Wheeling, he was born on November 5, 1924, the son of the late Richard T. and Doris Gibson McCoy. Gib graduated from Wheeling High School in 1940 at the age of fifteen and attended Culver Military Academy, graduating in June of 1942 to enter West Virginia University in the autumn of that year. He served in the Air Force throughout World War II, stationed in Burma, Indo – China until the end of the war, at which time he returned to W.V.U. to complete his studies, graduating from W.V.U. and Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science. While at WVU he served as president of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity and was later president of his class at Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science. Upon graduation Gib returned to Wheeling to serve as owner and operator of McCoy Funeral Homes, Inc. for more than fifty years.

Gib served the community of Wheeling in numerous ways. He was a member of Ohio Lodge 1, AF & AM; Scottish Rite, the Osiris Shrine, and Loyal Order of Jesters. He was active in the Jaycees, Red Cross, Kiwanis, and United Way, and served on numerous boards and committees including the Board of Directors of Wheeling National Bank, YMCA Board, Altenheim Retirement Home Board, The Home for Men in Warwood, WV., the National Funeral Director’s Association and the West Virginia Funeral Directors Association. He was a life long member of First Presbyterian Church, Wheeling, serving as an elder for over fifty years. Among his greatest accomplishments is the passing of his strong faith in Christ to his children and grandchildren through wise counsel and consistent example. It was this strong and steady faith and faithfulness that proved immeasurably beneficial throughout his life in his service to his family, friends and community. In the words of the Presbyterian Book of Common Worship, Gib has “made the world richer for his presence.”

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Nancy James McCoy, one daughter, Judith McCoy Crews and her husband, Darryl, of Wheeling; one son, the Rev. Dr. William McCoy and his wife Mary Hopkins McCoy, of Charleston, W. Va.; his brother, Richard Thomas McCoy, Jr. of Timonium, Md,; and six grandchildren,

Friends and family will be received at McCoy Funeral Home, 44, 15th Street, Wheeling on Monday, December 15, 2 – 4 and 7 – 9 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 16, at First Presbyterian Church, 1307 Chapline Street, Wheeling.

Memorial contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 1307 Chapline Street, Wheeling, WV 26003, or the Building Fund of C3 Church, 56 Parker St., Wheeling, WV.