Darrell Gene Echols, age 83, passed away on Tuesday, January 28, 2020, at The Brier in Ronceverte, WV.
He was born on January 11, 1937, in Paint Bank, VA, to the late James Oberon Echols and Bonnie Reynolds Echols.
He graduated from Union High School in 1954, where he was an active member of 4-H, FFA, football, and basketball. He received his American Farmer Degree in FFA and was a 4-H All-Star.
He served on the Monroe County Board of Education for 12 years, was director of The State Fair of West Virginia and later years, emeritus, and was a member of the West Virginia Farm Bureau.
During his lifetime he was a farmer, merchant, and banker. He worked on the family farm, which included dairy and beef cows, pigs, chickens, horses, and sheep. He was the store manager of the Southern States in Ronceverte for five years, leaving to take a position at The First National Bank of Ronceverte, where he served as Vice President and Chief Loan Officer. Darrell retired from banking in 2000 after 31 years. He was also a member of the Fairview Christian Church where he was a trustee, elder, and Sunday school superintendent.
He was preceded in death by his brothers-in-law, Rodney Cruise and Dennis White; and son-in-law, Thomas Davisson.
He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Cruise Echols; sister, Darlene Cathcart (Sam); sisters-in-law, Barbara Cruise and Linda White; brother-in-law, John Cruise (Suzan); son, Steven Echols (Trish); daughters, Janet Tuckwiller (Robert), Catherine Davisson, Phoebe McGuire (Scott), Andrea Overbay (Andrew), Patricia Saunders (Robert), and Rebecca Mohler (Rod); grandchildren, Amelia Tuckwiller, Gloria Tuckwiller, Benjamin Davisson (Kareen), Sarah Davisson, Joseph Echols, Stephanie Echols Shultz (Jarrod), Amanda McGuire, Erica McGuire, Hillary Overbay Snodgrass (Matthew), Annie Saunders Burnett (Andrew), Alexandrea Saunders Zarate (Miguel), Price Saunders, Patrick Saunders, Victoria Saunders, Grant Mohler, and Monroe Mohler; step grandsons, Jackson Mohler (Ali) and Issac Mohler; and great-grandchildren, Josie Echols, Theodore Davisson, Wesley Davisson, Brooke Anna Shultz, and Elliott Zarate.
A graveside service will be held at the Fairview Christian Church in Keenan, WV, on Saturday, February 1, 2020, at 11:30 a.m. with Minister Everett Farley officiating.
The family will receive friends at a reception at The State Fair of WV in the WVU building at 1 p.m. following the graveside service.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donating to Fairview Christian Church, c/o Pam Echols, 1312 Crowder Rd., Gap Mills, WV 24941.
Send online condolences by visiting www.WallaceandWallaceFH.com.
Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home in Lewisburg is in charge of arrangements.
Obituary originally published in the January 30, 2020, edition of The West Virginia Daily News.
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