Mary Ellen Harper Cobb, 98, died peacefully at Peyton House Hospice in Fairlea on July 22, 2026.
She was born Sept. 29, 1927 to James Henry and Eula Lee (Henderson) Harper in Lebanon, VA.
Mary Ellen served as medical secretary for the doctors of Clinch Valley Clinic Hospital (CVCH) in Richlands, VA. In the early 1950’s she was recruited by one of the CVCH doctors to become medical records librarian at Greenbrier Valley Hospital in Ronceverte, WV, where she met her future husband, Ernest Tinsley Cobb, MD.
She was a member of the Greenbrier Valley Medical Auxiliary and edited/illustrated their cookbook featuring recipes from doctors and their wives throughout West Virginia. She was an accomplished baker who won several ribbons for breads and cakes at the State Fair of West Virginia.
Mary Ellen was a longtime member of Ronceverte Presbyterian Church, where she was an ordained Deacon, member of the Ladies’ Circle, and organizer of a weekly prayer group.
She was preceded in death by her husband and by her sister, Anna Louise Harper Bower of Richlands, VA. Mary Ellen is survived by her three children, James Hutton of Los Angeles, CA, Ellen Louise Sorget (Scot) of Aberdeen, NC, and Jane Tinsley Gillespie (John) of White Sulphur Springs, WV; by grandchildren Stephen H. Baldwin (Kerry) and Alexandra Baldwin Johnston (Craig); and by great-grandchildren Ethan Johnston and Harrison Baldwin.
Funeral services were held Saturday, July 25 at 2 PM at Ronceverte Presbyterian Church. Visitation at the church was one hour prior to the service on Saturday. Interment in Riverview Cemetery in Ronceverte followed the service.
The family requests that memorial donations be made to Ronceverte Presbyterian Church.
Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home in Ronceverte is in charge of arrangements. Please send online condolences by visiting www.WallaceandWallaceFH.com
