Pence Springs-Vena Sharon Coiner Persinger, 71, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018, at the Peyton Hospice House in Lewisburg, following a short illness.
Born Jan. 17, 1947, in Hinton, she was the daughter of the late Frank Emmett Coiner, Jr., and the late Helen Frances Wickline Coiner.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her stepmother, Nell Loree Wickline Coiner; her father-in-law, Garland A. “Shorty” Persinger; and two brothers-in-law, Robert M. Persinger and Charles Andrew “Chuck” Barker.
Mrs. Persinger, a retired third grade teacher, taught at Alderson Elementary School for 36½ years, where she was beloved by several generations of students. She was a former recipient of Greenbrier County Schools Teacher of the Year and Walmart Teacher of the Year. She was always very proud of her former students, and enjoyed reminiscing with them, and loved her coworkers at Alderson Elementary School dearly. She was a 1965 graduate and valedictorian of Talcott High School in Talcott, and a 1969 graduate of Concord College, where she received a B.S. in Elementary Education. Mrs. Persinger was a member of the Pence Springs Community Church where she was a member of the Women’s Christian Fellowship and was a Sunday school teacher for many years, loving to teach the young children about the Lord. As an accomplished musician, she served as a pianist and organist at the Pence Springs Community Church for 50 plus years. Mrs. Persinger loved music and above all, loved to spend time with her family and church family.
Survivors include her childhood sweetheart and loving husband of 50 years, Rev. Roger Lee Persinger of Pence Springs; son, Mark Ashley Persinger and wife Audrey of Pence Springs; sister, Anna Virginia Barker of Pence Springs; two granddaughters, Madison Leigh Persinger of Pence Springs and Erin Elizabeth Persinger of Pence Springs; mother-in-law, Clara Persinger of Princeton; three sisters-in-law, Ruth Persinger of Princeton, Robin Persinger Biggers and husband Eddie of Fredericksburg, VA and Eva Persinger Burdette and husband Kermit of Clayton; several special nieces and nephews, Christi Barker Kubecki and husband Brian and great-niece, Lauren Kubecki, Matthew, DeNisha, Jasmine and Dustin Biggers, Roberta Persinger Mann, Kelly and Scott Crawford, Kayla Crawford Pettrey and Kandice and Willie Barnette; as well as several beloved cousins.
Funeral services will be Saturday, Dec. 15, at 2 p.m. at the Pence Springs Community Church, Pence Springs, with Pastor J.D. Fox and the Rev. Roger Persinger officiating. Burial will follow in the Haven of Rest Cemetery, Pence Springs. Friends may call Saturday, Dec. 15, from 12 noon to 2 p.m. at the Pence Springs Community Church.
Serving as pallbearers will be Brian Kubecki, Bill Humphrey, Dave Humphrey, Jay Shelton, Jeff Stewart, Bob Cales, Steve Hedrick and Dale Hedrick.
Serving as honorary pallbearers will be the Men of the Pence Springs Community Church, current and retired teachers of Alderson Elementary School, and cousins.
Online condolences and memories may be shared with the Persinger family by visiting www.lobbanfh.com.
Arrangements by Lobban Funeral Home, Alderson.