Fourney, Phillip
Passed: 1999-04-03
Age: 69
Source: Ravenswood News
Death Notice:
Obituary Date: 1999-04-07
Information: Philip ""Phil"" Fourney, former publisher of The Ravenswood News(now the Jackson Star News), died Saturday, April 3, 1999, at CAMC Memorial Hospital, Charleston, WV. He was 69 years old. Fourney spend most of his career in Ravenswood, WV, where he managed and/or owned Star Printing and Publishing Co., publishers of the Ravenswood News, a twice-weekly newspaper. In 1988 he sold his company and began semi-retirement as a printing-newspaper broker and consultant. His prize-winning newspaper was the first in West Virginia (and one of the first 100 in the nation) to convert to cold type and offset presswork in the late 50's. At the time of his death, Fourney was president of the West Virginia Press Association Foundation. In 1965 he had served as president of the Press Association and in 1989 was among the first to be awarded life membership in that group. In 1991 he was recognized as the state's first Premier Journalist by the West Virginia Press Association. A graduate of West Virginia Tech's printing school, he served on two visiting committees there. He was named to the West Virginia Printing Hall of Fame in 1968, given the school's Distinguished Printing Alumnus Award in 1988, and the Lifetime Achievement Award in 1989. In 1988 the West Virginia University chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists recognized him for his long and distinguished career reflecting the highest standards of journalism. Fourney had served on the WVU Journalism school's visiting committee for several years. He was named a Distinguished West Virginian by the Governor in 1975. He served on the Salvation Army advisory board in Parkersburg for 26 years, starting in 1972. He was a member of the board of the Jackson County Development Authority, and he served as a member or chairman of the policy committee of Ravenswood's Adopt-A-Family-For-Christmas program since its inception in 1958. Fourney was honored by the Joslin Foundation in Boston, MA, in 1994 for living for more than a half century as a insulin-dependent diabetic. A Catholic, he served his St. Matthew parrish in Ravenswood by serving on its finance committee, by preparing diocesan financial reports, and leading a campaign in 1996 for increased giving by members of the parrish. He was born May 19, 1929, in Blue Jay, Raleigh County, the son of Eugene James and Edna Lynch Fourney. He was one of 13 children, 10 of whom lived to adulthood and all 10 earning college degrees. He is survived by his wife, Wilma; one daughter, Martha of Hurricane; five sons, Edward of Charleston, Conrad of Banks, Idaho, Andrew of Houston, TX, Todd of Pepperell, MA, and Paul of Atlanta, GA; two stepdaughters, JoBeth Showalter of Mineral Wells and Donna Currey, of Ravenswood; two stepsons, C.B. Brown III of Laurinburg, NC and Mike Brown of Parkersburg; two sisters, Mary Grace Houchens of Cincinnati, OH, and Nuala Roberts of Columbia, MD; five brothers, David of Vienna, VA, Gene of Highlands Ranch, CO, Joseph of Beckley, Michael of Los Angeles, CA, William of Laurel, MD; one granddaughter and one grandson. Services will be held Thursday, April 8, 1999, at 1:00 p.m. at the St. Matthews Catholic Church, Ravenswood, WV, with Father John Fahey officiating. Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday, April 7, 1999, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Roush Funeral Home, Ravenswood, WV. There will be a Vigil Service conducted at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will follow at the Ravenswood Cemetery, Ravenswood, WV. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the West Virginia Press Association Foundation, 3422 Pennsylvania Avenue, Charleston, WV, 25302, for journalism and education training.