Surrounded by love, Joe Tuttle, 76, left this world for his heavenly home in the early hours of the morning on November 4, 2014.Joe was born April 9, 1938 and was a life-long resident of the Miracle Run & Blacksville communities.He was the son of the late Eddie M. Tuttle and Rose M. (Walker) Tuttle.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Sandra K. (Shriver) Tuttle.He is also survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Melissa (Missy) & Junior Hunt; his daughter-in-law and companion, Amy Tuttle & Brendan Hunt; his granddaughters, Brianna Eve Henard, Addie Rose Tuttle, Sydney Hoyle & Ava Tuttle; and his brother and sister-in-law, Richard & Jean Tuttle.He is also remembered and survived by other family members including several nieces and nephews and countless friends.He was deeply loved and will be forever in our hearts.
In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his son, Dwight David Tuttle; two brothers Robert Tuttle & Ted Tuttle; and one sister, Bonnie (Tuttle) Simpson.
After graduating from Clay-Battelle High School as class president in 1957, Joe began a career in the newspaper business, working for the WV Newspaper Publishing Co. as advertising solicitor, and for the Democrat Messenger newspaper (Waynesburg, PA) as advertising manager.He also owned and operated his own private construction business, J&D Excavating.
Beginning in 1972, he joined with a group of concerned citizens in the western end of Monongalia County to address the lack of health care services in the area.From their efforts, the Clay-Battelle Health Services Association was created:a private non-profit corporation which provides quality, comprehensive family medical and dental care without regard to an individual’s ability to pay.The Association’s newly created board of directors tapped him to be its first Executive Director, a position he held from the time the Clay-Battelle Community Health Center opened in 1973 in Blacksville to his retirement in 2012.He was responsible for the creation of a second community health center site for the Clay-Battelle Health Services Association, the Community Health Center of NE Wetzel County in Burton, as well as the Clay-Battelle Pharmacy (Blacksville) in 2008.
He also served as Chief Executive Officer of the Mountaineer Community Health Center in Paw Paw, WV, and as a consultant for the St. George Community Health Center in Parsons, WV, two of the many health centers he helped establish and to which he provided consulting services over his 40 year career dedicated to ensuring that West Virginians have access to quality affordable health care, even in the most remote of communities.
Widely regarded as the “father of primary care” in West Virginia, he was awarded the Distinguished Mountaineer Award by Gov. Joe Manchin, the Distinguished Service Award by the WV Primary Care Association, and the Outstanding Rural Health Achievement – Governor’s Award.
He was extensively involved in other community service activities, serving as President of the Board of Directors of the Sundale Nursing Home Corporation for over 30 years.He had also served as an officer in the West Virginia Primary Care Association, Chairman of the West Virginia Primary Care Network, an officer in the Monongalia County Comprehensive Health Planning Council, a board member of the Monongalia County Arts Center Association and was a member and trustee of the Miracle Run United Methodist Church.
He lived his entire life on the family farm, Fairview Fold, in western Monongalia County, and raised Scottish Highland cattle as a hobby.He took great pride in bringing visitors to the area to see his farm and the gentle long-haired cattle grazing in the fields surrounding his home.
The family would like to thank the physicians, nurses and staff at both the Monongalia General Hospital and the Sundale Nursing Home for their care, love, encouragement and support.
Friends may call at the Owen-Neely Funeral Home, 5894 Mason-Dixon Highway, Blacksville, WV from 2-8 PM Thursday.Funeral services will be held in the funeral home at 11:00 AM Friday with Rev. Sherry Rawlings, Rev. Rose Saunders, and Pastor Rob Bennett officiating.Interment will follow in the Park Cemetery on Miracle Run.
You may send condolences to the family at www.tennantfuneralhome.com.