Hortense Pearl (Hogue) Bell Butler

Hortense Pearl (Hogue) Bell Butler, 99, of Vienna, W.Va., beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, died March 7, 2014, from injuries sustained in a car-transport van accident. She was a special lady who was loved by those who knew her. She was a mentor to countless business and professional women. Hortense was the considerate hostess who always demonstrated her concern for others who visited her.

Hortense was born Oct. 19, 1914, in Beech Grove, W.Va., (Ritchie County), a daughter to the late Willie Bailey and Independence (Broadwater) Hogue.

She was a graduate of West Virginia University where she received her Bachelor of Science in Economics, and also performed graduate work at Ohio University. She served as the consumer service director for Hope Natural Gas Co. (Dominion Resources) from 1960-1974. She was also employed by the Wood County Board of Education as a teacher at McKinley Elementary from 1957-1959 and as a consultant in child nutrition, and was also employed by the West Virginia Department of Education as a consultant in child nutrition from 1974-1990. Hortense was also the star of WTAP-TV’s “What’s Cookin” show from 1955-1957 and served as the home demonstration agent for Mason County for the WVU Extension Service.

Hortense had many organizational affiliations that included P.E.O. Chapter L of Parkersburg, Altrusa International (Past President), American Association of University Women (Past President), Emeritus Club, WVU (Past President), Vienna Federated Women’s Club, West Virginia 4-H All Stars (Life Member), West Virginia Home Economics Association (Past President), American Home Economics Association (Scholarship Committee), National Home Economics in Business (Past Board of Directors), American Gas Association (Home Services Committee), American School Food Service Association, West Virginia School Food Service Association, WV State 4-H Conference Center Advisory Committee, Jackson’s Mill, Parkersburg YWCA (Past Board of Directors), Member Leaf Twig, Ohio Valley Medical Center, Wheeling, W.Va. (Past President), and member of Madeline Rogers Circle of King’s Daughters, Wheeling, W.Va.

She earned the title of Mrs. West Virginia in 1958 and was a top ten finisher for Mrs. America in 1959, the honor of West Virginia Home Economist in Business in 1990, a WV 4-H All Star, and was the Outstanding Home Economics Alumna of WVU in 1974. She was a longtime member of Westminster Presbyterian Church of Vienna, W.Va.

She is survived by her one son, David Paige Bell, PhD and wife, Roberta “Bobbie,” of Vienna, W.Va.; granddaughter, Robin Ann Sprigler and husband, Jonathan, of Greenville, Ind.; four great-grandchildren, Emily Paige Dutrow and Benjamin Kyle Sprigler of Greenville, Ind., and step-great-grandsons, Jeffrey Butler and Colin Butler of Centerville, Va.; sister, Hester (Hogue) Ferrell of Middlebourne, W.Va.; stepsons, Andrew “Kim” Butler Jr. of Wheeling, W.Va., and Cary Butler of Centerville, Va.; along with several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by first husband, Attorney H. Paige Bell; second husband, Andrew K. Butler, MD; daughter, Carol Bell Withum; brother, Harlan B. Hogue; and sisters, Helen (Hogue) Willard, Hazel (Hogue) Barnes and Hilda (Hogue) Sweeney.

A memorial service to honor Hortense’s life will be 11 a.m. March 22 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 708 54th St., Vienna, with Pastor Bill Dunfee officiating. Internment will take place in Westminster Church Memory Garden at the convenience of the family.

Memorial contributions can be made in Hortense’s memory to the donor’s charity of choice or the Hogue Family Scholarship fund at the WVU-Parkersburg Foundation, 300 Campus Dr., Parkersburg, WV 26104 or the Westminster Presbyterian Memory Garden fund at the Parkersburg Community Foundation, P.O. Box 1762, Parkersburg, WV 26102.

Dave and Bobbie want to especially thank the staff at Wyngate for their loving support and service.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.leavittfuneralhome.com