Eleanor “Tommy” Shiflet Porterfield, 95, of Lewisburg passed away Monday, Apr. 15, 2024, at The Peyton Hospice House. Born Mar. 8, 1929, in Gap Mills, WV, she was the twin daughter of Rev. Alvin Burton Shiflet and Grace Givens Shiflet.
Tommy attended Gap Mills Schools and graduated from Gap Mills High School in 1947. She attended Davis and Elkins College and graduated in 1951 with a BA degree in Elementary Education.
On June 21, 1951, she married William Alvin Porterfield and they moved to Lewisburg where she began her teaching career in Greenbrier County Schools. She taught first grade from the fall of 1951 to the spring of 1957 at Ronceverte Elementary School. She substituted while her daughters were young and returned full time to the classroom at Lewisburg Elementary School in the fall of 1965. There she taught first grade until the spring of 1987 when she retired.
Growing up as the daughter of a Presbyterian minister, she was always active in doing work with the church. In the 1970’s, she and Alvin became active members of the Lewisburg United Methodist Church. Tommy taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, was active in her circle and United Methodist Women. She helped manage the church kitchen for many years and was famous for her delicious rolls.
Tommy was a Charter member of the Lewisburg Lioness Club, a member of the DAR and 50 year member of Chapter F of the PEO Sisterhood. She was active with her children and served as a 4-H leader and volunteered countless hours with band boosters at Lewisburg Junior High School and Greenbrier East High School.
Tommy loved to travel and, in their retirement, she and Alvin traveled throughout the United States, Europe, The Holy Land, New Zealand and Australia. She was a die-hard WVU Fan and had season football tickets for over 30 years. She loved watching WVU Sports and she and Alvin hardly ever missed a Greenbrier East football or basketball game. She and Alvin loved the State Fair of WV and exhibited vegetables, flowers, and food items.Every year, they won numerous awards. They went every day to the fair and enjoyed visiting with family, former students and friends.
Tommy was proceeded in death by her parents, her husband Alvin in 2017, her brother William Marion Shiflet and his wife Kappy, her brother-in-law Dr. James R. Neale III, sister-in-law Lanelle Porterfield Griffith and husband Carl, brother-in-law Kendall Porterfield and wife Juanita, sister-in-law Phyllis Porterfield Shrader and husband Julian, her infant grandchild William Alvin Wyatt, and infant great-grandchild Grier Ellen Wyatt.
She is survived by her daughters Jeanie Wyatt and husband Mike, Sheryl Hulmes and husband Rich all of Lewisburg; her grandchildren Robbie Wyatt and Megan of Philippi, Susie Wyatt and Jonathan of Gap Mills, Amy Wyatt Mitchin and husband Joe of Morgantown, Ryan Hulmes and wife Pahton of Pittsburgh, PA, and Chris Hulmes of Lewisburg; and her five great grandchildren Sydney, Abigail, Rhett, Hadley and Reagan. She is also survived by her twin sister Elizabeth “Tooty” Shiflet Neale of Melrose, FL, and many nieces and nephews who she loved dearly. She was “Maw Maw” to all her grandchildren as well as all their friends.
The family would like to thank all the people that helped with her care. A special thank you to their dear friends Dr. Tom vonDohlen and his wife Rene’ who went above and beyond to help MawMaw when her health was declining.
Funeral services will be at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Apr. 28, at the Lewisburg United Methodist Church with Rev. Bev Columbo officiating. Burial will follow in Rosewood Cemetery, Lewisburg, WV.
A gathering of family and friends will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Apr. 27, at the Lewisburg United Methodist Church.
Memorial donations may be made to The Alvin Porterfield Memorial Scholarship Fund c/o of Jeanie Wyatt, 442 Talbott Circle, Lewisburg, WV 24901.
Pallbearers will be her nephews Bill Shiflet, Mark Sparks, Jim Neale, Keith Porterfield, Ronnie Porterfield, Rob Miller, and Bill Griffith.
Please send online condolences by visiting www.WallaceandWallaceFH.com
