Dr. Mary Alice Klein Scholarship Fund
PURPOSE: To provide scholarships for students who plan to follow a career in education.
DISTRIBUTION: To be awarded to an education major. The person may be working towards a bachelors, masters, or doctorate degree. A person will be able to apply each year as financial need arises; non-discriminatory distribution. To students upon the recommendation of the Scholarship Committee and the approval of the TCF Board of Directors.
VARIANCE POWER: If, in the judgment of the TCF Board of Directors, the restrictions and conditions of the fund become unnecessary, incapable of fulfillment or inconsistent with the charitable needs of the community, the TCEF Board of Directors maintains the right to modify the terms of this fund. TCF has exclusive legal control over any contributed assets.
FUNDING: Dr. Klein’s husband, Dr. Robert J. Klein, and their three children initiated the fund following her death June 15, 2002.
BACKGROUND: Dr. Klein, a native of Tucker County, was born in Stringtown on January 18, 1934. The valedictorian of Thomas High School in 1951, and a 1955 graduate of Shepherd College, in Shepherdstown, WV, she earned her master’s degree in educational administration and her doctorate from West Virginia University.
She began her teaching career in Charles Town, WV, and taught in Maryland and Pennsylvania before returning to Tucker County to teach as St. George Academy. Dr. Klein served as principal at Hamrick Elementary beginning in 1978 and served as superintendent of Tucker County Schools from 1986 to 1999. She became superintendent of Upshur County Schools for the last two years of her education career, retiring to Parsons in June 2001.
Her professional and civic organizations included American Association of School Administrators, West Virginia Association of School Administrators, Lambda Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Educational Society, Phi Delta Kappa of West Virginia University Chapter, charter member of Tucker Community Endowment Foundation, Tucker County Arts County board of directors, Tucker County Chamber of Commerce, president of Tucker County Rotary Club, River City Garden Club, American Association of University Women. She was named Tuckineer by Tucker County Chamber of Commerce, the highest award given annually by the Chamber of Commerce.
Dr. Klein always believed in the potential and ability of each person to achieve the highest ideal and dedicated her career to providing an educational system that would allow individuals opportunities to reach any goal striving towards excellence.
Dr. Mary Alice Klein passed away on June 15, 2002, at her home in Parsons, WV. She fought a courageous battle with cancer. She was married to Dr. Robert J. Klein in 1956. They were the parents of three children, Jennifer E. Klein of Reston, VA, Robert Z. Klein of Morgantown, WV, and Tim and Amanda Klein Snyder of Virginia Beach, VA. They had four grandchildren, Samantha Fleming, Timmy Snyder, Kyle Fleming and Zoe Snyder.