Walter & Mary Shaffer Helmick Scholarship Fund

 

TYPE OF FUND:  Scholarship

DATE ESTABLISHED:  Established November 29, 2000; Approved Jan. 10, 2001

 

PURPOSE:  To provide assistance to a graduating Tucker County High School senior who elects to further their education.

 

DISTRIBUTION:  To be awarded 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 TCF Board of Directors maintains the right to modify the terms of this fund.

 

FUNDING:  Donations from the Shaffer-Helmick family and friends.

BACKGROUND:  Walter Grant Helmick, son of Abraham B. and Prudence Ware Helmick, was born in Sugarlands (St. George), Tucker County, West Virginia on April 11, 1876.  He died in Thomas, WV on January 15, 1966. On July 1, 1900 he married Mary Belle Shaffer at Close Mountain (near Parsons), West Virginia. Mary Belle Shaffer, daughter of Louis C. and Sarah Close Shaffer, was born at Close Mountain, Tucker County, West Virginia on December 25,1882. She died in Hopemont, West Virginia on February 10, 1970.

 

Walter served as a member of the United States Engineer Volunteers in the Spanish-American War in Cuba. He was a charter member of the Thomas Volunteer Fire Department, a member of the United Mine Workers of America, a member of the fraternal Order of Eagles of Davis, a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of Parsons, and a member of the Knights of Pythias of Parsons.

 

Mary was a member of the Macabees and the Ladies of the Knights of Pythias.  Walter and Mary owned a grocery store in Thomas and also a bottling company which was later sold to Nehi. Walter and Mary had ten children and adopted an eleventh child.

The Shaffer-Helmick family held their 50lh annual family reunion in 1995.