Walter & Mary Shaffer Helmick Scholarship
The Walter & Mary Shaffer Helmick Scholarship Fund provides financial assistance to graduating seniors from Tucker County High School who choose to continue their education, honoring the legacy of a family deeply rooted in Tucker County's history and service.
TYPE OF FUND: Scholarship
DATE ESTABLISHED: Established November 29, 2000; Approved January 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, and died in Thomas, WV on January 15, 1966. On July 1, 1900, he married Mary Belle Shaffer at Close Mountain near Parsons. Mary, daughter of Louis C. and Sarah Close Shaffer, was born December 25, 1882, and died February 10, 1970, in Hopemont, West Virginia.
Walter served in the Spanish-American War in Cuba as a member of the United States Engineer Volunteers. He was actively involved in civic and labor organizations, including the Thomas Volunteer Fire Department, United Mine Workers of America, Fraternal Order of Eagles of Davis, Veterans of Foreign Wars of Parsons, and Knights of Pythias of Parsons. Mary was a member of the Macabees and the Ladies of the Knights of Pythias.
Together, they owned a grocery store and later operated a bottling company in Thomas, which they eventually sold to Nehi. Walter and Mary were the parents of ten children and adopted an eleventh. Their descendants continue to honor their legacy; the Shaffer-Helmick family held their 50th annual family reunion in 1995.
