Former Tucker County State Senator Sarah Minear dies

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Former state Senator Sarah Minear died Tuesday at Harmony at White Oaks in Bridgeport at the age of 84.

Minear, who most recently lived at Heritage Point in Morgantown, was first elected to the Senate in 1994 and served for 12 years.

Minear was based in Tucker County. She was the first woman to be elected to the Senate from the 14th Senatorial District.

Minear was the founding president of the Tucker Community Foundation in 1988 and served in that capacity until December 1994. She also was the founding president of the West Virginia Grantmakers Association in 1992, now Philanthropy West Virginia and led that organization through December 1995.

Minear continued her leadership after public service including Chair of the Monongalia General Hospital Board of Directors, Vice President of Adaland Mansion, Inc. in Barbour County, and serving in the Board of Cortland Acres Foundation and the Board of Cortland Acres Nursing Home in Tucker County.

Minear graduated from Parsons High School and attended Fairmont State College, West Virginia Business College and West Virginia University.

Minear is preceded in death by her parents, husband, Robert, brother, John, and his wife Judy. She is survived by nieces, Sheryl Ann Dehner (Tim) and their daughter, Savannah, and Lisa Winland and her son, Lazarus.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Sarah’s memory may be made to Tucker Community Foundation, PO Box 491, Parsons, WV 26287 or Your Community Foundation of North Central WV, Inc., PO Box 409, Morgantown, WV 26507.

Story by Mike Nolting, WAJR