Nina Ruth Waugh Pritchard Cornelius, 95, of Marlinton, peacefully passed away Monday, January 24, 2022, at Bellaire at Devonshire Assisted Living in Scott Depot.
Born September 14, 1926, at the home of her maternal grandparents near Mill Point, she was a daughter of the late Fred James and Glenna Susan Auldridge Waugh.
Ruth graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1948. Her last and most enjoyable employment was as the Laboratory Clerk at Pocahontas Memorial Hospital.
Ruth married Cornelius “Neal” Preston Pritchard, on June 27, 1950, at Marvin Chapel United Methodist Church near Mill Point, where they met. Shortly afterward, they built a home in the Marvin Chapel community and had one child, Anita Jane. Ruth cared for Neal during failing health and was widowed upon his death in 1968. Over the next 11 years, she remained in this community and raised their daughter.
On November 24, 1979, Ruth married the Rev. Willis Van Cornelius and moved to his home in Marlinton, where she delighted in being the pastor’s wife to the Presbyterian congregations at Buckeye, Huntersville, Mary’s Chapel and Stony Creek. They took several trips together, their most memorable was to Alaska. Upon his retirement from the clergy, they joined Marlinton Presbyterian Church where she remained active until infirmity prompted her move to assisted living. Ruth was again widowed in 1991 when Rev. Cornelius passed away.
Ruth was active in her community throughout her life. She loved people and found great joy in getting to know others and to find the humor in life. She took pride in her Pocahontas County home and the long history of her family here. She was a lunch time regular at Dorie’s where she met and made many friends. She adored children and would give them a quarter when she would catch their eye. She was a member of the Marlinton Chapter 97 OES, Pocahontas Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, Emeritus member of WV CEOS, and was secretary of the Hillsboro High School Alumni Association for 50 years.
In addition to her parents and two husbands, she was preceded in death by her sister and brother-in-law, Gladys M. and Winters Dean; brother, Dwight F. Waugh; sister-in-law Ruth Johnson Waugh; and brother, Robert A. Waugh.
She is survived by her daughter, Jane Pritchard, and son-in-law, Rob Lannan, of Charleston; step-granddaughter, Kendall (Brian) Vick, of Wake Forest, North Carolina; step-grandson, Conor Lannan, of Glen View, Illinois; sister-in-law, Alice Landis Waugh, West Harrison, Ohio; niece, Linda (Dean) Petry, Coto De Caza California; nephews, Gary Dean, Appalachia Virginia, Alan Waugh, of Harrison Ohio, Albert Waugh, of Ponte Vedra, Florida, Gary Waugh, of Andrews AFB, Maryland, and Robert Waugh, Mulberry Indiana; numerous cousins, and most beloved, those of the James Lee Rose family; and many faithful friends.
Jane and Rob would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to her many caregivers at Good Living Assisted Living, Bellaire at Devonshire Memory Care, Kanawha Hospice Care and Russanne Poling.
The family received friends at Kimble Funeral Home in Marlinton Sunday, January 30, 2022, followed by a graveside service at Mountain View Cemetery, with Rev. David Bower officiating.
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice Care WV, 1606 Kanawha Blvd. W, Charleston, WV 25387, online at https://www.hospicecarewv.org/make-a-donation/ or Pocahontas Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, c/o Pocahontas Memorial Hospital, 150 Duncan Road, Buckeye, WV 24924.
