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GERHOLD William H. Gerhold, artist, pilot and environmentalist, passed away
Monday, February 14, 2011 at the VA Nursing Facility in Clarksburg, WV.
Born March 30, 1929 in Ashtabula, OH, Bill was the son of the late Gilbert
and Manetta Phipps Gerhold. Surviving is his wife, Debra Woodyard Gerhold;
children from a previous marriage are daughters, Lessie Gerhold Starr
(Walter), Julie Gerhold Parsons (Rex); son, Charles "Chi" Gilbert Gerhold
(Christa); as well as grandchildren, Gail Parsons, Elizabeth Parsons, Ivy
Parsons, Ronald Parsons, Katherine Gerhold and Sophia Gerhold. He was
preceded in death by one son William Tyra Gerhold. Also surviving are a
brother, Robert Murray Gerhold; sister, Margaret Gerhold Wolf; and several
nieces and nephews.
Bill graduated from Huntington High School, Oberlin College and received his
Masters degree at The
Ohio State University. Bill was in the Naval Air Corps and received his
Naval Aviator training at the Pensacola Naval Air Station. After his
military service, Bill received his private pilot and instrument ratings. He
also held a Commercial rating as well as his Certified Flight Instructor and
Seaplane ratings. He flew corporate planes in Cleveland and for the Airolite
Company of Marietta. He taught at Trinity College in Hartford, CT, Antioch
College in Yellow Springs, OH and retired from the Art Department at
Marietta College where he was the head of the art department for several
years. He was the chairman of the "Mainstreams" exhibition for many years,
working with national and international artists. Bill was a nationally
recognized artist who exhibited and taught classes in many parts of the
country including Texas, Florida, North and South Carolina, Maryland's
Chesapeake Bay and most notably his painting workshops in the Canaan Valley
of West Virginia.
In addition to his many aviation and artistic endeavors, Bill was involved
in environmental issues such as the preservation of the Canaan Valley, being
on the Board of Directors for the Canaan Valley Institute (an environmental
organization not only involved in the Canaan Valley, but a three state area
as well), and initiating an environmental/art class at Marietta College
entitled, "The Good and the Bad, Environment Earth". Bill enjoyed flying and
teaching others to fly. He was a member of the Experimental Aviation
Association and worked closely for several years with the Young Eagles
program which exposes young people to aviation through a hands-on process
that culminates in a flight with a private pilot. The legacy that Bill
wanted to leave on this world was a sense of beauty and appreciation.
A Celebration of his Life will be held on Saturday, March 5, 2011 at the
Parkersburg Art Center, 725 Market Street, Parkersburg, WV at 1:30 p.m. in
the afternoon. There is an online guest register at
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