Mrs. Patricia Scanlan Schoonover, 77, a resident of Montrose, W. Va., departed this life on the 25th day of February 2024 at Mountain Memories Assisted Living Center in Elkins, W.Va. after a three-year battle with cancer.
She was born Sept. 13, 1946, in Nassawadox, the daughter of the late Warren L. Scanlan and Helen Zucchero Scanlan. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Warren Lee Scanlan Jr. and her sister-in-law, Gloria Scanlan.
On Aug. 22, 1970, in Exmore, Pat was married to James L. Schoonover, who survives at their residence near Montrose. Also surviving is her son, Richard Schoonover and daughter-in-law, Carrie, and their three children, Alexandra, Abigail and Maxwell, all of Henrico. Also surviving are her brother, Michael L. Scanlan and his two daughters, Heather Scanlan and Holly McGee, of Virginia Beach, her sister-in-law, Mary Doughty of Willis Wharf, sister-in-law, Mary Durham, of Montrose, and her brother-in-law and wife, William and Donna Schoonover, of Elkins, W. Va. On the Schoonover side of the family, she is survived by nieces and nephews, Susie Mumper and Amy, Tom and Ron Schoonover.
Pat attended the schools of Northampton County and graduated from Northampton High School with the class of 1964. She graduated from Fredrick College in 1968 with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and biology. In 1975, she received her master’s degree in education from Old Dominion University. For several years following she also completed an additional 30 hours of graduate courses.
Pat began her teaching career in Virginia with Portsmouth City Schools in 1968, where she taught general and advanced courses in both chemistry and biology at Woodrow Wilson High School, I.C. Norcom High School, and Manor High School. In 1976, the Schoonover family moved to West Virginia, where Pat taught for three years at Coalton School and the final 27 years at Elkins High School for the Randolph County Board of Education.
While in West Virginia, she taught general and advanced chemistry and biology and also developed curricula for courses in human anatomy and oceanography. During this time she also taught night classes in biology for Fairmont State College. She was an inspirational educator who took great pride in her students’ achievements and success.
Pat retired from teaching in 2006 and began volunteering for many of Randolph County’s nonprofit organizations. She was a member of the Elkins Rotary Club from 2007 until her death and served as president and was a member of the board for several years and chaired the grant projects committee. Pat served on the board of Youth Health Services in Elkins and served as the president of the organization for several years. She worked tirelessly for ArtsBank, Inc., which provided for classroom art teachers after the local board had limited the funding for art education. She served as president of ArtsBank, Inc. for several years and was the perennial treasurer for the Literacy Volunteers of Randolph County.
Pat loved to travel and she and Jim took several trips by automobile all over the U.S. and Canada, but perhaps the best vacations were spent sailing on the Angelique out of Camden, Maine. She enjoyed photography and her wildflower expeditions. She was the owner/operator of the family’s Gravely lawn tractor and could often be found mowing her lawn in the summer. She enjoyed playing cards and Friday evenings dining out with friends. Most of all she loved her family, especially her grandchildren. Pat will surely be missed by all who loved her.
A celebration of her life will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on March 9, 2024, at the Rotary Room in the Elkins YMCA. It will be an “Irish Wake” without the whiskey.
The family requests in lieu of flowers contributions be made to ArtsBank, Inc., P.O. Box 1973, Elkins, WV 26241 in Pat’s memory. The Tomblyn Funeral Home of Elkins is in charge of the arrangements for Patricia Scanlan Schoonover.
Condolences may be expressed to the family at
www.tomblynfuneralhome.com
