Harold W. & Ruth F. Shaffer Scholarship Fund

The Harold W. & Ruth F. Shaffer Scholarship Fund supports one male and one female graduating senior from Tucker County High School each year, helping them pursue higher education at any state college or university in West Virginia.

TYPE OF FUND: Scholarship

DATE ESTABLISHED: November 1997

PURPOSE: To assist one boy and one girl from the senior class at Tucker County High School in furthering their education at any state college or university in West Virginia.

DISTRIBUTION: To be determined by the Scholarship Committee of TCF with approval of the 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. TCF has exclusive legal control over any contributed assets.

FUNDING: $20,000 donation from Mr. and Mrs. Shaffer.

BACKGROUND: Mr. Harold Shaffer, son of Harry S. and Stella Florence Adams Shaffer, was born May 28, 1907. A native of Barbour and Preston counties, he graduated from Parsons High School in 1926 and attended Fairmont State College, West Virginia University, and Columbia University. He taught at Parsons High School from 1933 to 1973, where he was instrumental in establishing the National Honor Society and advised numerous student organizations, including the Bow Tie Club, the Parsons Echo newspaper, the Hi-Y Club, and several graduating classes. He also served in the U.S. Army at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

His wife, Ruth Forman Shaffer, was born August 16, 1912, to Joseph N. and Viola Clarkson Forman, and is a native of Barbour County. A graduate of Philippi High School, she worked at the First National Bank (now Mountain Valley Bank, NA) in Parsons from 1960 to 1972. After retiring, the couple moved to Philippi, where they continued to reside.

In addition to establishing this scholarship, the Shaffers previously funded the Herbert W. Clarkson Scholarship in 1983 in honor of Ruth’s uncle, and they also contributed to the Mountain Hospice Fund at the time of founding the Shaffer Scholarship in 1997.