From left, Sherry Dugan, Cathy Buttermore, Gina Moore and Parkersburg Homecoming Vice President Chuck Lipps. Buttermore has received the 2024 George Kellenberger Volunteer of the Year award recognizing service. Dugan and Moore, members of the Homecoming board, received the Spirit of Homecoming for their service. (File Photo)

PARKERSBURG — The Grand Marshal for the Parkersburg Homecoming Parade this Saturday has been involved with the Homecoming for a number of years and believes it gives the area a bit of pride.

Cathy Buttermore of Buttermore Jewelers was named the Grand Marshal for the 2024 Parkersburg Homecoming Parade.

“We have been involved with the Parkersburg Homecoming Festival for many years,” Buttermore said of her business. “I think it is important to have a little hometown pride in Parkersburg and for people to support the Homecoming festival.”

She was touched to be named the grand marshal for this year’s Homecoming Parade.

“It is really an honor for them to allow me to do it this year,” Buttermore said. “I am really looking forward to Saturday and being in the parade.”

The Buttermore family has been a Parkersburg jewelry business for 95 years, but Cathy has decided to retire and close the doors of the jewelry store in the near future. A final closing date has not been set yet, but she said “it will be soon” as they are selling off inventory and taking care of other things related to the business.

She and her husband have owned the business for 35 years and they felt it was time to retire.

“I am 70 and it is time to retire,” she said. “I am planning to remain active.”

She recently received the George Kellenberger Volunteer of the Year award that recognizes service to the community and the Homecoming Festival.

Buttermore talked about the business being involved with the annual festival for many years with a number of her employees having served on the Homecoming committee and helping to make posters and other materials for the festival at the business as well as selling Rubber Ducky Derby tickets at the business and helping with other fundraisers.

The festival has always been a way of bringing the community together for a weekend before the start of the new school year for a lot of local schools.

“We have always enjoyed going to the concerts,” Buttermore said. “We have lived along the river for years (across from the point).

“It was fun seeing everyone there and listening to the bands. Back in the day, they used to do a lot of water things and all kinds of activities there. It has been a great thing for the City of Parkersburg and I have certainly enjoyed it with my kids and my grandkids.”

Buttermore is looking forward to Saturday.

“It will be fun and I hope it doesn’t rain,” she said with a laugh.

The 33rd annual Parkersburg Homecoming will be held Friday and Saturday, Aug. 16-17.

The Homecoming Parade begins at 12:30 p.m. Saturday and will be along Market Street.

Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com