Losing someone in a small town like Parsons, West Virginia, hits differently. It’s not just about a name in the paper; it’s about a neighbor you saw at the grocery store or a friend you’ve known since kindergarten. When people start searching for lohr and barb funeral home parsons obituaries, they usually aren't just looking for dates and times. They're looking for a bridge to a life story.
Honestly, finding these records can be a bit of a maze if you don't know where to look. You might think a quick Google search solves everything, but obituary data in rural West Virginia often lives in a few specific places that don't always talk to each other.
Why Checking Lohr and Barb Funeral Home Parsons Obituaries Is More Than a Routine
A lot of people assume that every obituary is automatically posted everywhere. That's just not how it works. You've got the official funeral home website, the local newspaper archives, and then those third-party "tribute" sites that sometimes get the details slightly wrong.
Lohr & Barb has been around forever. Well, since 1889 if you want to be precise. It started as the Kendall Funeral Home before John W. Lohr and Clay B. Whetsell took over in 1947. Because they have such deep roots in Tucker County, their obituary records are basically a historical map of the region.
When you're looking for a specific name, like the recent passing of Deborah Theresa Winton Ritter or William Lee "Bill" Poling, you'll notice the details are incredibly specific. These aren't just templates. They often mention the exact street where someone lived or the specific "hollow" they called home. That’s the kind of nuance you only get from a family-run establishment like this.
The Best Places to Find Recent Listings
If you need the most up-to-date info, go straight to the source. The official Lohr & Barb website has a dedicated Parsons section.
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- The Official Site: This is the gold standard. It’s where the family approves the text.
- Legacy.com: They partner with the funeral home, so it's usually current, plus you can sign up for email alerts.
- The Inter-Mountain or The Parsons Advocate: These local papers carry the "official" community notices.
Sometimes you'll find "stale" info on aggregate sites. If the viewing time on a random site says 2:00 PM but the funeral home site says 4:00 PM, trust the funeral home. Period.
The Mystery of the Missing Obituary
Have you ever searched for lohr and barb funeral home parsons obituaries and come up empty? It happens more than you'd think.
Privacy is a big deal in West Virginia. Some families choose not to publish an obituary online at all. They might keep it to a private Facebook group or just word-of-mouth. Also, keep in mind that the "Parsons" location and the "Elkins" location are sister facilities. If you can't find a name under Parsons, check the Elkins listing. Families often move between the two depending on where the service is being held.
The Barb family—Jeffrey, Nicholas, and Adam—have kept this place running as a third-generation business. They handle everything from the Parsons Tannery retirees to the veterans who served in Korea. Because they handle so much of the local history, their archives are massive.
Why the Detail Matters
When you read an obituary from here, you’ll see mentions of things like the "Pythagoras Lodge #128" or "West Virginia Caring Hospice." These aren't just filler words. They tell you about the person’s values.
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For instance, looking back at someone like Hubert L. Hedrick, who passed away a few years back, his obituary wasn't just a death notice. It mentioned he was a correctional officer and loved gardening. It’s those small, human touches that make these records so valuable for genealogists and grieving friends alike.
Practical Steps for Finding Records
If you are searching for a record from years ago, things get a little trickier. The digital archives usually only go back about 15 to 20 years.
If you need something older:
- Contact the Tucker County Historical Society.
- Visit the Parsons Public Library to look at microfilm.
- Call the funeral home directly at (304) 478-2300, but only if you have a legitimate reason—they’re busy people helping families in real-time.
Lohr & Barb also offers a unique "We Remember" memorial page system. It’s sort of like a digital scrapbook where people can upload photos and stories that never made it into the printed version.
What to Do If You're Writing One
If you find yourself on the other side of this—having to write an obituary to be posted at Lohr & Barb—don't overthink it. Focus on the "why" of the person. Where did they work? What did they love? Did they always win the blue ribbon for their ramps at the festival?
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The funeral home staff actually helps with the heavy lifting here. They’ll coordinate with the newspapers and make sure the Social Security office is notified. You basically just provide the "heart" of the story, and they handle the logistics.
Final Thoughts on Local Records
In a place like Parsons, the obituary is the final word on a life well-lived. Whether you're looking for a childhood friend or doing research on your family tree, lohr and barb funeral home parsons obituaries are the primary source of truth for the community.
Don't just rely on a single search result. Dig into the tribute walls, look at the flower heart messages, and read the "Candle of Memories." That’s where the real history lives.
If you’re searching for a current service, the most direct path is to visit the Lohr & Barb Obituary Listings page and filter by the "Parsons" location to skip the Elkins results. This will give you the immediate viewing times and service locations without the clutter of older records. For historical research, your next step should be contacting the West Virginia Archives and History in Charleston, as they maintain the most complete collection of the Parsons Advocate on microfilm.