Arnold Wylie Harless

"His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." Matthew 25:21 Arnold W. Harless, 86 of Clear Fork, WV, entered into his new life on July 9, at Raleigh General Hospital. Born September 13, 1928, he was the son the late Roy and Berchie Allen Harless of Hanover, WV. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his two brothers, Hassell "Pete" Harless of Lebanon, Virginia and Bernard Harless of Welch, WV. He spent his life in service to others as a husband, father, grandfather, church pastor and educator. Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 62 years, Zenith Harless of Clear Fork , daughters Carolyn and husband Cameron Hatfield of Clear Fork and Pamela and husband Don Garrett of Pineville, and two grandchildren, Matthew Hatfield of Fairmont, and Megan Hatfield of Hamlin. Arnold was a devout Christian and a member of the Baileysville Baptist Church where he served as Sunday School teacher, Devotion Leader, and Interim Pastor. He also served as Pastor of the Hanover Missionary Baptist Church for 13 years. Arnold was active in the Rockcastle Association serving as Association Moderator, and he represented the Rockcastle Association as a delegate to the West Virginia Baptist Convention at Green Lake, Wisconsin for 6 years. He served as a Counter Intelligence Officer for the army during the Korean War. He was a member of the Pineville Masonic Lodge No. 138 where he recently received his 50 year membership pin. Arnold was a graduate of Concord College and West Virginia University. He began his teaching career at Huff Consolidated Elementary School in 1950, the first year the school opened. He served Wyoming County Schools with 59 years of service. He spent 11 years as a classroom teacher at Huff Consolidated Elementary School, Oceana High School and Baileysville High School. He spent 17 years as a Secondary School Administrator in the role of Assistant Principal at Baileysville High School, Principal of Pineville High School and Principal of Baileysville High School. He was Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Schools for 8 years. He served as an elected member of the Wyoming County Board of Education for 23 years. He was very dedicated to the school system of Wyoming County making sure that all students received the best education possible. He served Wyoming County Schools during the construction of several new schools. He was very devoted to all county schools but he was especially proud to be instrumental in the development of the new Huff Consolidated Elementary and Middle School where he began his teaching career. In lieu of flowers, donations of sympathy may be made to the Hanover Missionary Baptist Church at PO Box 116, Hanover, WV 24839 or Baileysville Baptist Church, PO Box 756, Pineville, WV 24874.