Jon R. Kemper

Jon Ralph Kemper, 78, of Fayetteville, passed away on Tuesday, July 4, 2023, at Ruby Memorial Hospice in Morgantown, WV.

Born on May 5, 1945 in Orlando, FL, he was the son of the late Aleta Pearle Maxson Kemper and the late Ralph Clifford Kemper.

Besides his parents, Jon was preceded in death by his “brother”-in-law, Charles “Chuck” Kinder II; and his dear cousin, Andrea Davisson Kenna.

Jon was a lifelong member of Fayetteville Baptist Church. He was a member of the church choir, served as deacon and was past Chairman of the Deacon Board.

Jon was an ordained Christian minister, and was blessed to officiate the marriages of his grandsons, Jake and Alex and his niece, Amy Kinder.

Jon graduated from Fayetteville High School in 1963, Salem University in 1969, and earned his Master of Science degree from West Virginia University in 1972.

Careers for Jon included recruiter for the WV Army National Guard, where he served from 1967 until 1976, when he was honorably discharged as Sergeant First Class; WV State Department of Education in Charleston; FMRS Mental Health Services, and retiring from Seneca Health Service as Director of Substance Abuse Program.

Jon was a 30-year member, past president and receiver of the Leonard Jarrett Award from the Fayetteville Lions Club and was a member of the Fayetteville Community Chorus. Jon, along with his grandson, Alex, were guitar teachers for the CODA afterschool youth program for Fayette County. He was also a member and past president of the Fat Boy Hunt Club.

Jon had many interests and hobbies including hunting, camping, writing, drama, but music and performing were the cores of his interests. The Historic Fayette Theater hosted “The Jon Kemper 4th of July Extravaganza” for 16 years, providing the community with a musical night of memories from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. Jon performed in several productions at the Fayette Theater; “Always Patsy”, “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “Smoke on the Mountain” were just a few. Jon and wife, Beth, toured with Karen Vuranch and Gene Worthington on a 19 day international tour of Great Britain, providing music for “Coal Camp Memories.”

Left to cherish a lifetime of wonderful memories include his loving wife of 53 years, Nancy Elizabeth Kinder Kemper or “The Bride” as Jon called her; his son, Jon-Clay Kemper and wife, Dana Clark Kemper of Tampa, FL; his daughter, Morgan Ann Kemper Trent and husband, Michael Trent of Oak Hill, WV; two grandsons, Jacob Lane Richards and wife, Shirley “Lulu” Boreman Richards and Jon Alexander Bair of Oak Hill, WV; great-granddaughter, London Elizabeth Bair of Oak Hill, WV; one sister Lovelene Kemper Bauder and husband, Joel Bauder of Bradenton, FL; “brother”-in-law, David M. Kinder and wife, Rosaura S. Kinder of The Woodlands, TX; sister-in-law, Diane Cecily of Pittsburg, PA along with many cherished nieces, nephews and cousins.

A memorial gathering to celebrate Jon’s life will be August 19, 2023 at 5:00pm at John and Beth’s home on Maple Lane, Fayetteville.

Memorial services will be August 20, 2023 at 1:30pm at Fayetteville Baptist Church with Pastor Andy Kiddle and Pastor Jack Eades officiating.

Donations in Jon’s memory may be made to Fayetteville Baptist Church Scholarship Fund.