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

Willard Howard Shoulders

Obituary Willard Shoulders

Willard Howard Shoulders, 91, of Sioux City, Iowa died Wednesday, December 16, 2020 at a local hospital. Memorial Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, December 19, 2020 at Waterbury Funeral Service of Sergeant Bluff, Iowa.

Willard was born July 28, 1929 in Buckhannon, W.Va., the son  of Roy and Wava (Hyre) Shoulders. He grew up in Stonecoal, W.Va., where he graduated from High School. Willard joined the Army in 1947 and served for 9 ½ years, then served for over 19 years with the Air Force. He served in the Korean War, three tours in Vietnam, and served several years in Japan. Willard retired from the military in August of 1974 as a (SMSGT) Senior Master Sergeant.

He married Aleen Siglin in 1968. Together they made their home in many places around the country. They later divorced. Willard joined his daughter, Rori here in Sioux City in 2018.

Willard was a member of the VFW, American Legion, Upshur County Sheriff’s Department, Air Force Sergeants Association and the NRA. He loved spending time with his grandchildren and enjoyed classic cars, Japanese whisky, his cat, Smokie, was a gun enthusiast and liked tall blondes.

Survivors include his daughter, Rori Shoulders of Sioux City; three grandchildren, Ty, Emma and Kilee; three honorary step-children, Danielle (Mellissa) Webb-Gallup of Ogden, Utah., Todd (Carrie) Shoulders of McCook Lake, S.D., and Roxanne (Tom) Hanson of Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

He is preceded in death by his parents; granddaughter, Ashley Shoulders; and brother, Roy Shoulders.

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

Upshur County Commission Agenda: December 11, 2025

The Upshur County Commission will hold a meeting December 11, 2025, with an agenda outlining items to be considered by commissioners.

Buckhannon City Council opts not to fill Thomas vacancy ahead of 2026 election

Buckhannon City Council will leave Dave Thomas’s vacant seat unfilled and let voters choose his successor in the May 12, 2026, municipal election. Candidates can file Jan. 12-31 to run for city recorder and two at-large council seats.

Albert Franklin Wendling, II

Albert Franklin Wendling II, 60, of Fowler, Ohio, died Oct. 24, 2025; he is survived by siblings Christopher, Steven and Sheila, several nieces and nephews, and stepmother Karen Wendling, and will be cremated with a graveside memorial Dec. 13.

Upshur County awards $213,955 bid for dump station at James Curry campground

The Upshur County Commission accepted a $213,955 bid from A.J. Burk LLC to build a new dump station at the James Curry Library campground.

Buckhannon Water Board Agenda: December 11, 2025

The City of Buckhannon Water Board will hold a meeting December 11, 2025, and this notice publishes the agenda for that session.

WVWC becomes second U.S. college to offer varsity pickleball scholarships

West Virginia Wesleyan College will launch the second varsity scholarship-offering college pickleball program in the U.S. and the first in West Virginia, with plans to renovate the former tennis courts beside Ross Field.

Upshur County Sports Calendar

Weekly Upshur County sports calendar lists basketball, swimming and wrestling events for Buckhannon-Upshur and West Virginia Wesleyan teams Dec. 8–13, including multiple middle, varsity and college matchups and duals.

Upshur County to split $39,835 in fire funding evenly among seven departments

Upshur County commissioners voted to distribute a $39,835 All-County Fire Protection Funding allotment equally among the county’s seven fire departments. Commissioners also approved contracts and personnel actions during their Dec. 4 meeting.

Buckhannon peer liaison helps homeless, people with addiction, city officials say

Buckhannon Police Department Peer Liaison Erica Bennett told city council she has helped people experiencing homelessness and substance use get into housing and treatment, distributed Narcan and built relationships with local hospitals and rehabs.

Basketball ‘Cats struggle in 104-54 road loss to Falcons

Fairmont State overwhelmed West Virginia Wesleyan 104–54, capitalizing on 22 turnovers, hot shooting (50.7% and 13 threes) and 20 second-chance points while Wesleyan’s bench and rebounding efforts fell short.

Dandridge has 23 points off the bench, but Wesleyan women fall to FSU, 90-78

Kilah Dandridge scored 23 off the bench and Ana Young added 21, but West Virginia Wesleyan fell to Fairmont State 90-78 despite shooting over 61 percent.

Joyce Marie Haynes

Joyce Marie Haynes, 73, of Buckhannon, WV, died Dec. 6, 2025; she is survived by two daughters, 10 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, four siblings, and will be cremated per her wishes.