Obituary

Tommy Shrader Morgan of Charleston, West Virginia, died on Christmas morning, 2025, at Magnolia Assisted Living in Hurricane, West Virginia. He was born on his parents’ third wedding anniversary on August 4, 1938, at Pocahontas County Hospital in Marlinton, West Virginia. His father was Eugene D. Morgan from Caldwell, West Virginia, and his mother, from Hillsboro, West Virginia, was Pauline Shrader Morgan. They both preceded him in death.

The family of three lived at Caldwell where his father operated an Esso Service Station. In 1940, they moved to Oak Hill, West Virginia, where his father ran another Esso Station. In 1942, on Tommy’s fourth birthday, they moved to Ordnance Park in St. Albans, West Virginia, and his father was employed at the Naval Ordnance Plant in South Charleston. Tommy attended first grade in a two-room building opened that year for all Ordnance Park first graders because Highlawn Grade School was overcrowded. His teacher was Thelma Fleming Gregory, who became his close and dear friend for the rest of her life. He and his forty-one classmates went on to Highlawn School for grade two through six. He then attended St. Albans High School which then was a six-year school. In his junior year, he moved to the new million-dollar high school on Kanawha Terrace just below his home on Observatory Drive, and he graduated from there with the St. Albans High School Class of 1956.

He continued his education at Marshall College earning his A.B. Degree in 1960 and his Master’s Degree from Marshall University in 1963.

In the fall of 1960, he began his teaching career at Woodrow Wilson Junior High in Charleston where he taught seventh, eighth and ninth grade English. After two years, he transferred to the new Hayes Junior High in St. Albans where he taught English and Speech classes. While there, he chartered the first National Junior Honor Society for the school.

In 1967, he transferred to his alma mater, St. Albans High School, where he taught English and Composition classes until his retirement in 1999. His years at S.A.H.S. were truly wonderful as he enjoyed his job, his students and his friendships with his co-workers. His composition students, especially, would continually let him know how much his classes helped them to “ace” their college classes and their jobs in later life. His “Mr. Morgan’s Grade Saver” teaching tool was taken on to and used in college classes throughout the United States.

“Mr. M.” took great pride in seeing his former students become successful teachers, doctors, nurses, publishers, writers, lawyers and in many other fields, as well as becoming a Supreme Court Justice of the State of West Virginia. He was also so blessed that several former students became dear friends in the latter part of his life. His greatest contribution to the world was what he could give to his students.

Tommy is survived by his younger sister, Jean Ann Allhoff of Boulder, Colorado, and his younger brother, Paul (Sheryl) of Hackettstown, New Jersey, two nephews, four nieces and fourteen great nieces and nephews.

He was a member of the St. Albans Historical Society and attended Christ Church United Methodist in Charleston, where he was a member for more than fifty years.

A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at Christ Church United Methodist, 1221 Quarrier Street, Charleston, WV 25301. The Memorial Service will be live-streamed on the Christ Church United Methodist (WV) Facebook page or on ccumwv.org website. Following the service, a visitation reception will be held in the church’s Fellowship Hall.

Tom requested that any Memorial Contributions be made to Christ Church United Methodist.

You may send condolences to the family at barlowbonsall.com.

Barlow Bonsall Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.