John Peter Duda, Sr.

John Peter Duda, Sr. John Peter Duda, Sr. of St. Albans, formerly of Oak Hill, passed away peacefully at home on July 14, 2012. He was born in Scarbro, WV on December 7, 1922, the youngest of eight children of Jacob and Margaret Duda. After accepting a football scholarship and beginning his freshman year at VPI, John enlisted in the United States Navy shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was commissioned an ensign and assigned to the University of Virginia. He was called up to active duty in the fall of 1944 as an LCI commander and was stationed in Coronado Beach, CA when WWII ended. John then returned and graduated from the University of Virginia in 1947, receiving a BS in Chemical Engineering in 1947. He also earned BS and Masters’ degrees in Education from West Virginia University. John was preceded in death by his loving wife of 51 years, Dorothy Jane (“Dottie”) Vargo, whom he married in 1946. He is survived by three children, John Peter Duda, Jr. (Catherine) of Charlotte, NC, Charles Michael Duda (Marguerite) of Charleston, WV, and Susanne Duda of St. Albans, WV and two grandsons, John Peter Duda, III (Annie) of Boulder, CO, and Matthew Joseph Duda of Long Beach, CA. John taught mathematics at Collins and Oak Hill High Schools from 1947-1980, and also served as assistant principal and coached football, track, golf and basketball during his teaching years. He was a founding member, president and an active Board member of the Oak Hill High School Alumni Association. John was a life-long member of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church. John will long be remembered for his principled approach to education and athletics, instilling the values of teamwork, integrity, hard work, and accountability to hundreds of students and athletes whose lives he touched over the years. The family would like to thank everyone at Hubbard House for their loving hospice care during these past few weeks. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church School, the Oak Hill High School Alumni Scholarship Fund or Kanawha Hospice Care. The family will gather at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 17, 2012 at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Oak Hill, WV to greet friends. A funeral service will immediately follow at 2:00 p.m. conducted by Father Paul Yuenger. Burial will be at High Lawn Memorial Park. Online condolences may be sent to www.tyreefuneralhome.com . Arrangements are being handled by Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill, WV