Obituary

Susan Gidley Poffenbarger passed away peacefully at her home in Charleston, West Virginia, on January 12, 2025. She was surrounded by her husband of 62 years, John T. Poffenbarger, and her children.

Susan was preceded in death by her parents, Kathryn M. and Harry K. Gidley of Charleston, West Virginia; her brother, Gordon L. Gidley of Austin, Texas, and her beloved son, Matthew Tallman Poffenbarger of Dunbar, West Virginia.

Susan was born in Charleston on April 11, 1940. She grew up in Kanawha City and graduated from Charleston High School in the Class of 1958. She attended West Virginia University and graduated in the Class of 1962. She married John in April of 1962 and moved to Dunbar where she and John raised their four children. They lived in Dunbar for 47 years until retirement when they moved to Charleston.

Susan was a well-respected artist and an avid gardener with a love of traveling. She was active in her community, serving for many years on the Board of Directors at the University of Charleston and as a member of the board for The Library Foundation of Kanawha County. She also worked as a gifted art teacher in Putnam County. Susan was an inspiration to many and dearly loved by all those who knew her.

As an artist, Susan continually worked and developed her craft. In the 1990s, Susan completed coursework to attain a Master’s Degree at Marshall University and twice spent time in New York City studying at the Art Students League where she also studied privately under artist Nell Blaine. She was the first female artist in West Virginia to receive a Federal Commission for the IRS building in Martinsburg, West Virginia, and her work can be found in many government office buildings in West Virginia. She was a two-time winner of the West Virginia Juried Exhibition and named a YWCA Woman of Achievement in 2014. Her work has also won four Governor’s Awards and 12 Allied Artists awards.

Susan is survived by her husband, John T. Poffenbarger; her children, Kathryn E. Poffenbarger-Miller (Bill), Helen G. Poffenbarger, and John G. Poffenbarger; her grandchildren, David, Susan (Brett), John Michael, Mary Kate, Virginia “Ginny,” Mattie Jane, Samuel, John “Jack,” and Margaret “Maggie,” and her great-grandchildren, Olivia, Caroline, Henry, Virginia and Harry.

Susan’s family wishes to thank Hospice Care of Charleston and the caregivers from Right at Home who helped and tended Susan in her time of need, as well as special friends who also looked out for them. These kindnesses will never be forgotten.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 12, 2025, at the First Presbyterian Church of Charleston, 16 Leon Sullivan Way, Charleston, WV. The weekend of April 11th would have been Susan’s 85th birthday.

Visitation will begin one hour prior at the church.

In lieu of flowers. donations may be made to the Matthew and Luke Poffenbarger Scholarship Fund, in care of the University of Charleston Office of Advancement, 2300 MacCorkle Avenue, SE, Charleston, WV 25304.

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

Barlow Bonsall Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.