Sue Marie McFadden Shank

Sue Marie McFadden Shank of St. Albans, WV passed away peacefully on August 20, 2016 in Charleston, WV at the age of 85. Sue was preceded in death by husband John R. Shank, sisters Mary Louise Cline and Alberta Given, and brother Wheeler H. McFadden, Jr. She is survived by sister Marjorie Alice Grace of Seattle, WA, brother Thomas Haddix McFadden (Ann) of Orange Beach, AL, and sister-in-law Phyllis McFadden of St. Albans, WV.

Sue was born August 17, 1931 in Bridgeport, WV. She was the fifth of six children born to Veva Marie Haddix McFadden and Wheeler H. McFadden. Sue grew up in South Charleston, WV, New York, NY, and St. Albans, WV. She met and married her husband of 59 years, John R. Shank, while working at Union Carbide. The couple had four daughters: Linda Louise Kester (Mike), of Princeton, WV, Barbara Ann Myers (James), of Slidell, LA, Carolyn Sue Ross (Bob), of Athens, GA, and Laura Shank Ruben of Ravenswood, WV. Sue is survived by ten grandchildren: Elizabeth Ann Thompson (Tommy), Kara Marie Kester, Jamie Lynn Sparks (Brandon), Sara Beth Myers, Jessica Ann Alian (Justin), Kristen Nicole Myers, Joshua Ramsey Ingram, John William Ingram, Jonathan Wesley Ruben (Lisa), and Ryan Michael Ruben (Alyssia). She is survived by 13 great-grandchildren: Avery Grace, Ty Marshall, and Brynlee Faith Thompson; Maya Elizabeth, Alyssa Nicole, Brayden John, and Aubrey Elise Sparks; Kaylee Ann, Caden James, and Kinley Marie Alian; Ainsley Grace and Ella Faith Ruben, and Rhett Wesley Ruben.

Sue graduated from St. Albans High School in 1949. She was proud of the fact that she was able to attend college full time graduating with honors, while raising four children. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from West Virginia State College and a Master of Arts degree from West Virginia College of Graduate Studies. She was an elementary school teacher for 11 years and an elementary school principal for 14 years. Due was a charter member of Highlawn Presbyterian Church in St. Albans, WV, and sang in the church choir for many years. Throughout her lifetime Sue displayed a talented mastery of sewing, knitting, and crocheting. She had a longtime passion for genealogy, and was a researcher at the West Virginia Archives. Sue researched the ancestry of Ashley Judd, and had a credit on that episode of Who Do You Think You Are?