Ankrum, Faye Oldham

Passed: 2012-09-16

Age: 101

Source: Jackson Herald

Death Notice:

Obituary Date: 2012-09-18

Information: Faye Ankrum, 101, of Evans WV, passed away peacefully, September 16, 2012 in Ravenswood Care Center.  She was born November 19, 1910 in Evans WV, a daughter of the late O. O. ""Ott"" and Lillie (Miller) Oldham.  She was the last remaining sibling of her six brothers, Roy, Frank, Ed, George, Ottie, and Johnny, and her two sisters, Elizabeth ""Lizzie"" Kinzel, and Viola ""Micky"" King.  Faye Ankrum attended Union High School in Cottageville and graduated from Ripley High School with the class of 1929.  She qualified for a teaching certificate that year and began her teaching career at a one-room school called Flagrock, near Evans.  She told of walking several miles to and from school and staying with the families of students during winter weather in the 1930's and 40's.  She also taught school at Buena Vista, Mt. Olive, Evans, Rader, Millwood, and Mt. Alto, before coming to Ripley Elementary in 1952.  Mrs. Ankrum taught 4th grade there for 26 years.      Faye obtained a standard normal teaching degree from Salem College in 1932.  She needed to renew the certificate and would spend summers going to school and taking extension classes until she graduated from Morris Harvey College in 1956.  She qualified for a teaching certificate that year. Mrs. Ankrum was named Jackson County Teacher of the Year in 1969, and she retired in 1975.  She influenced more than 1000 students during her teaching career and many of them speak of her with high regard.  She was a member of the sorority for teachers, Alpha Delta Kappa, where she spent many happy times with her teacher friends through the fellowship of meeting and opportunities to travel.      Faye was a member of the Evans United Methodist Church where she taught Sunday School for many years and was a charge treasurer for 10 years.  She sang in the choir, was a church trustee, was a member of the parsonage committee, and served as a conference delegate many times.  She was truly a child of God.  Faye married Clarence L. ""Tanner"" Ankrum on August 9, 1936 in Huntington WV.  They were married 52 years before his death in 1988.      Survivors include her son and his wife, Wayne and Lola Ankrum of Silverton WV; daughter, Janice Hawkins and her husband Kent of Kenna; grandsons, Jim (Andrea) Ankrum of Alexandria KY, Patrick Ankrum (fiance Richelle) of Ravenswood, David (Jennifer) Hawkins of Poplar Bluff MO, and Steven (Erin) Hawkins of Davidson NC; six great-grandsons, and many nieces and nephews who thought the world of her. Service will be 11 am Wednesday, September 19, 2012, at Casto Funeral Home Chapel, Evans WV, with the Rev. Gerald Sayre officiating.  Burial will follow in Jackson County Memory Gardens, Cottageville.  Visitation will be from 6-8 pm Tuesday at the funeral home.  The family would like to extend their gratitude to the staff of Ravenswood Care Center for their loving care over the past several years.  Email condolences may be sent to castofh@gmail.com.