All schools in Upshur County will close at 1 p.m. today. All B-UHS sporting events today are canceled.

Sheila D. Carpenter

Sheila D. Carpenter, 66, of Vantage Hill Circle, Buckhannon, died Friday, August 26, 2022, at the United Hospital Center in Bridgeport. 

She was born on July 17, 1956, in Clarksburg, WV, a daughter of the late Rev. Donzel Wayne and Valta C. James Nicholson.  On May 21, 1994, she was united in marriage to Charles H. “Chuck” Carpenter, who survives.  Also surviving are two daughters:  Sarah and husband Eric Everts of Virginia and Faith Tomblyn of Morgantown; one son Gray Tomblyn, II and wife Carrie of Kentucky; two step daughters:  Melissa and husband Randy Fitzgerald of Buckhannon and Letitia and husband Mark Welling of Fairmont; fourteen grandchildren:  Hannah, Blaine, Olivia, Elijah, Isabella, Stephen, Grace, Ryan, Nathan, Sophia, Joseph, Matthew, Katie, and Emily; and two great grandchildren:  James and Liam.

Sheila grew up in the Baptist church and assisted her parents throughout her father’s ministry.  She graduated the Beckley College of Mortuary Science and became a licensed Funeral Director in the State of West Virginia, serving families in Upshur, Barbour, and Harrison Counties for many years before her retirement.  She was also a gifted pianist and taught piano lessons for many years.

The family will receive friends at the Heavner & Cutright Funeral Chapel on Monday, August 29, 2022, from 10-11:00 AM, the funeral hour, with Pastor Ed Lowther officiating. Interment will follow in the Shinnston Memorial Cemetery. 

Online condolences may be extended to the Carpenter family at www.heavnerandcutright.com. The Carpenter family entrusted the Heavner & Cutright Funeral Chapel with the arrangements.

My Buckhannon publishes obituaries free of charge as a courtesy to the family. Readers can support our publication by becoming a premium member.

Share this obituary:

Local Businesses

RECENT Stories

Soccer Bucs draw Parkersburg South in new regional tournament format; visit Patriots on Thursday in postseason opener

Buckhannon-Upshur, seeded ninth in the new Class AAAA South Region, will travel to face eighth-seeded Parkersburg South Thursday in a single-elimination opener with the winner meeting top-seeded Woodrow Wilson.

Raising the Jolly Roger With… Alex Sappey

Buckhannon-Upshur senior Alex Sappey, a four-year cross-country and two-year track athlete, reflects on team culture, favorite moments, college and motorsports engineering plans, and advice to work hard and enjoy being a Buccaneer.

JV Football Bucs get first victory behind Catlin’s three scores in 22-12 win over Bees

Buckhannon-Upshur’s junior varsity football team earned its first win of the season, beating East Fairmont 22-12 as Forest Catlin rushed for three touchdowns.

WVSSAC playoff ratings for week eight; Bucs drop to 18th

WVSSAC week eight playoff ratings released, with Buckhannon-Upshur dropping to 18th after a loss to East Fairmont as top 16 in each classification continue to jockey for postseason spots.

Five Upshur County deputies promoted during recent commission meeting

Five deputies in Upshur County were promoted during a recent commission meeting at the courthouse. Sheriff Mike Coffman praised their professionalism and said the office will be fully staffed by the end of October.

WVU Medicine St. Joseph’s Hospital welcomes new staff chaplain

WVU Medicine St. Joseph’s Hospital announced Rev. Johnmark Camenga, MDiv, CPE, a decade-long pastor and chaplain with experience in patient advocacy, neonatal grief care, and ethics work, will begin as staff chaplain on October 27, 2025.

West Virginia Wesleyan College launches 70% first responder tuition discount

West Virginia Wesleyan College is offering full-time first responders, their spouses/partners and children a 70% tuition discount (via scholarships/grants), plus deferred housing deposit options and 10% off graduate tuition.

Breaking News: State abandons plans to close Tennerton Elementary School

Upshur County Schools will not close Tennerton Elementary because the district cannot fund its share of a needed $19 million renovation at Buckhannon Academy, though the planned Rock Cave consolidation into French Creek will proceed.

Timothy Patton Gower

Timothy Patton Gower, 61, of Buckhannon, WV, died October 20, 2025; he is survived by his parents, two sons, twin grandsons, and extended family, and will be honored with a memorial gathering November 1.

Upshur County Commission Agenda: October 23, 2025

The Upshur County Commission will hold a meeting on October 23, 2025, with an agenda outlining items for discussion and decision.

Anna Ruth Reed Johns

Anna Ruth Reed Johns, 87, formerly of Flintstone, MD, died October 20, 2025, in Greencastle, PA; she was a longtime Flintstone School cook, widow of Harold B. Johns, and is survived by five children, many descendants, and extended family.
LUCAS Truck

LUCAS to offer lung cancer screening in Ripley, Weston and Buckhannon

A state-of-the-art mobile lung cancer screening unit, LUCAS, will offer low-dose CT scans in Ripley, Weston, and Buckhannon (Jackson, Lewis, and Upshur counties) on Nov. 18, 20 and 21 with insurance billing and grant-supported coverage for eligible uninsured patients.