Koontz, Arbutus Jean ""Boots"

Passed: 2010-06-21

Age: 74

Source: Charleston Daily Mail

Death Notice:

Obituary Date: 2001-06-23

Information:      Arbutus Jean ""Boots"" Anderson Koontz, 74, of Fisher Ridge, Kenna, passed away peacefully at CAMC General Hospital, Chareston, Monday, June 21, 2010, following medical complications from cancer surgery.  She was born April 17, 1936, a daughter of the late Oren Jackson and Mary Marie White Anderson Milam.  She graduated from Ripley High with the Class of 1954.  She retired from the Jackson County Board of Education with 25 years of service, where she served as teacher's aide at Kenna Elementary, Cottageville, Ravenswood Middle and Ripley Elementary Schools.  She finished her career wotking with special needs children who enriched her life.  As a young adult at Fisher Memorial Church, where she was a current member, Boots taught Sunday school to primary-age children.  She continued that calling at Pleasant View Methodist Church where for several years, she also directed the church choir.  Boots touched the lives of many children and was often recognized by her former students and parents as a very special person.  She will forever remain with those who knew her.  Boots was a active member of the West Virginia State Grange and Kenna Grange, where she served as Lecturer and community chairperson.  She developed many projects used to make the community a better place in which to live and work, including making laptop quilts  and bibs for local nursing home residents, as well as quilts for foster children.   Boots was preceeded in death by her husband, William Darris ""Buddy"" Koontz; parents; and an infant sister, Betty Ann Anderson.  She is survived by her stepfater, Denver Milam; stepsiblings, Walter and Phillip Milam of Kenna, Edith Comer and Mary Smith of Kenna and Bea Coffman of Ripley; special friends, Delores Ranson of Ripley and Betty Barnette, Dallas Skeen and Scott Fisher, all of Kenna,; and a host of friends.  Funeral services will be held at 1 a.m. Thursday, June 24 at Waybright Funeral Home, Ripley, with the Rev. Aaron Finney and Jay Carnell, lay leader, officiating.  Burial will follow in Anderson Cemetery, Fisher Ridge, Kenna.  Friends may call from 9 to 11 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home.