Obituary

James Russell Waggy passed away on Friday, April 24, 2026. He lived a rich and full life for 96 years.

He was able to remain at home until the end, lovingly supported by family, including his wife of 76 years, Joan, his children, Jim and Carol, and a wonderful group of caregivers.

James R. Waggy (Jim) was born on January 17, 1930. His parents, William and Jennie, lived in Erbacon, WV, and Jim was born in a hospital in Richwood.

His family moved to Charleston, WV, when he was 12, and he graduated from Charleston High School in 1948. He met his future wife, Joan, in Asbury Methodist Church’s youth group, and they married in 1949, marking the beginning of a loving partnership that lasted over 76 years.

His Air National Guard unit was activated the following year, and Jim and Joan lived for two years at Perrin AF Base in Sherman, TX. While Jim was working as a weather observer, Joan was teaching herself to cook by studying the Better Homes and Garden Cook Book.

After his military service, Jim used the GI Bill to complete his chemistry degree, taking classes at night from Morris Harvey College (now the University of Charleston) while working at Union Carbide.

Family was a priority for Jim. He purchased a used Airstream trailer, which led to numerous family trips, including WV state parks, two lengthy summer excursions visiting the iconic national parks of the American West, and a Christmas trip to Florida that memorably concluded by returning to a historic 2-foot snowfall in Charleston, which resulted in the trailer getting stuck in snow in an alley 30 feet from home.

Jim was a lifelong WVU sports fan. When the new WVU football stadium opened in 1980, he purchased season tickets. His enthusiasm also led him to recruit a large group of Carbiders and friends to buy their season tickets collectively, and he continued to manage the details of this ticket-buying group for over 20 years. He and Joan almost never missed home games, and they travelled to many away games and bowl games.

After retiring from Carbide in 1990, Jim pursued his interests in finance and investing, which was not surprising for someone who grew up during the lean depression years. His efforts in that area have been beneficial to five different branches of the Waggy family.

Church was important to Jim, and he held leadership positions at Asbury and at Morris Memorial United Methodist Church.

Jim liked to fish for trout on a variety of WV streams. He and Joan enjoyed working on their flower garden, and they could often be seen going for walks around their Kanawha City neighborhood.

He believed in the importance of education. He supported the athletic program at WVU, and he contributed to academic scholarships at WVU, UC, and WV Wesleyan.

Jim was a kind, caring, and gentle man, devoted to his family. When problems arose, he was invariably a rock-solid source of strength. He found many ways to help people, sometimes anonymously, in ways large and small.

He will be fondly remembered and deeply missed by all those who had the good fortune to know him.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers: Bill, Bob, and Gene, and his sister Gerry. He is survived by his wife, Joan, his children, Jim and Carol, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Jim was buried at Cunningham Memorial Park on May 1.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his honor can be made to Morris Memorial United Methodist Church, 4615 MacCorkle Avenue S.E., Charleston, WV 25304, or HospiceCare, 1606 Kanawha Blvd. W., Charleston, WV 25387, or a charity of your choice.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.barlowbonsall.com.

Barlow Bonsall Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.