MONONGAH HIGH 1964 FOOTBALL CAPTAIN ROGER DUCKWORTH PASSES AWAY

 

 

Monongah High football star Roger Duckworth passes away

 

2023 Roger Duckworth, Class of 1965, passed away July 3. His funeral will be in Enterprise on July 7. He lived in Worthington.

He was a Fairmont State graduate who worked in Consolidation Coal Company management.

Even though he was born in Richwood he attended both Thoburn Elementary School and Monongah High.

Roger is survived by his wife of 52 years, Sharon Menear Duckworth. Their children are Kevin A. Duckworth of Worthington, Tara Lynn Morgan of Weddington, North Carolina. They have 4 grandchildren.

 Roger’s sisters are Marsha Riley Bridgeport and Tamela McMurray of Newark, Delaware.

Roger was predeceased by three brothers Richard L. Duckworth of Columbus, Ohio, Elton Allen Duckworth of Worthington, Charles W. Duckworth of Lumberport, Michael L. (Mick) Duckworth and infant brothers Robin Laign Duckworth and Tommy Duckworth.

Roger was on Monongah High Lions football teams, where he was captain in 1964 season, with guys like Leslie Black, Lindey Huffman, Shockey Mayle, Leroy Thompson, Kenny Ray Shaffer, Gary Myers and Huly Hardesty with Coach Jim Feltz that came within 12 points of going undefeated.

 

Duckworth family was prevalent in the 1960s at Monongah High. Meredith Duckworth and Betty Duckworth Sutphin both are Class of 1964, Sharon Menear Duckworth is Class of 1965 and Stephen Duckworth and Elton Duckworth are both Class of 1966.

 

Linda Sawyer Duckworth, Class of 1966, lived in Meredianville, Alabama and is a sister of Patricia Sawyer Skeen, Class of 1965, of New Martinsville. Linda once was a pharmacist for Giant Eagle in New Martinsville, West Virginia, where her sister, Patricia, also lived and was in the Tyler County school system. Linda’s husband, Steven Duckworth, Class of 1966, was in the Wetzel County school system.

Donald Duckworth, Class of 1975, after having a heart attack, was hospitalized and had a stent inserted to prevent further blockage. His friend was Richie Basagic, also Class of 1975. Donald’s mother, Betty Zane Duckworth of Idamay, passed away in 2014.

Judy Duckworth Campbell, Class of 1972, is Betty’s daughter and Donald’s sister.

Roger’s obituary:

Roger Eugene Duckworth, 76, of 37 Sand Plant Hill Road, Worthington, WV, passed away on July 3, 2023 at his home, with his family by his bedside, after an 18-year long battle with colorectal and prostate cancer. Roger was born on December 11, 1946 in Richwood, WV, the eldest child of the late Elton Eugene Duckworth and Betty Lou Rankin Duckworth McIntyre.

He is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Sharon (Menear) Duckworth; son, Kevin A. Duckworth and his wife Michelle of Worthington, WV; daughter, Tara Lynn Morgan and husband Jason of Weddington, NC; four grandchildren, Savannah Grace, Jessalyn Ann and Roger Michael Duckworth of Worthington, WV and Mason Jacob Morgan of Weddington, NC; two sisters, Marsha Riley and husband Jay of Bridgeport, WV, and Tamela McMurray and husband Bill of Newark, DE; sister-in-law Marsha K. Duckworth of Shinnston, and sixteen nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Roger was preceded in death by three brothers and sisters-in-law, Richard L. and Linda Duckworth, Columbus, OH, Elton Allen and Brenda Duckworth, Worthington, WV, Charles W. and Sarah Duckworth, Lumberport; brother Michael L. (Mick) Duckworth; two infant brothers, Robin Laign Duckworth and Tommy Duckworth.

Roger attended Cowen Grade School, Cowen, WV and Thornburn Grade School, Monongah, WV. He graduated from Monongah High School in 1965, playing baseball for four years, and football for three years, serving as a captain of each his Senior year. He received the Outstanding Senior Athlete Award for 1964-1965. After high school, Roger attended and graduated from Fairmont State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology.

After college, Roger went to work for Consolidation Coal Co. and retired from Consol Energy as a Northern WV Regional Project Engineer in charge of well plugging and shaft sealing on July 1, 2008 with 38 years of service. He was a member of Sons of the American Legion, American Legion Post 31, Shinnston, WV. He loved spending his time fishing, woodworking, reworking guns, bird watching, following the grandchildren's gymnastics, cheerleading, baseball, football, or basketball activities, and spending time with friends and family at camp at Harman, WV, and more recently, Mount Storm Lake, WV.

The family would like to express their thanks to UHC Hospitalists, UHC Oncology team, UHC and Ruby's Urology teams, UHC nurses and aides, and WVU Medicine Hospice (Marion, Monongalia counties) for their care, guidance, and concern.

Family and Friends will be received at Harmer Funeral Home on Thursday, July 6, 2023 from 2:00PM-8:30PM. A funeral service will be held on Friday, July 7, 2023 at 11:00AM with Pastor David Markley, friend and neighbor, officiating. Interment will be at Enterprise I.O.O.F. Cemetery.

Online memories and condolences may be shared at www.harmerfuneralhome.com

A service of Harmer Funeral Home, Shinnston.