Iris Allsopp

Iris Allsopp, 94, long-time resident of the Arthurdale community in Preston County, passed away July 24, 2019, at Pine Ridge Skilled Nursing Center in Kingwood.  Iris was born in Bretz, West Virginia on February 16, 1925 to the late Sidney and Mary Ann Allsopp.  Iris’s parents and brother, Sydney II, emigrated from England in 1923.  Her family later moved from Bretz to Arthurdale, as one of the original homesteaders in that community.  She worked in the medical field as a nurse and hospital administrator and cared for and assisted many people over her lifetime, both in her profession and in her community. 

Iris graduated from Arthurdale High School in 1942 and went on to graduate from the Monongalia General Hospital School of Nursing.  She was employed at Monongalia General Hospital in various nursing positions until 1956 when she worked at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Washington, DC for three years.   Beginning in 1960, she was employed by Preston Memorial Hospital in Kingwood for thirteen years, first as the Director of Nursing Services and then as Administrator.  In 1971, she received a Certificate in Health Care Administration from the Ohio State University Graduate Program in Hospital and Health Services Administration and in 1973 became a member of the American College of Hospital Administrators. In 1974, Iris returned to Monongalia General Hospital as an Assistant Administrator and finished out her career in health care in 1978 when she resigned to care for her mother.  Always an avid learner, she earned a Board of Regent’s Bachelor of Arts degree from West Virginia University in 1981. 

In retirement, Iris remained active in her community, helped found Arthurdale Heritage in the 1980’s, did some traveling with her sister, Mary, enjoyed gardening, attended classes at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, and tried her hand at painting. She was a member of the West Virginia University Alumni Association and liked to watch WVU basketball.   Iris had a special love of animals and had several dear pets over the years.  She was a strong supporter of various organizations whose mission is to insure the humane treatment of animals.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her brother, Sydney Allsopp II, and her sister, Mary Lawrenson.  She is survived by a nephew, Charles Sydney Allsopp and wife, Angela Sinclair Allsopp, of Raleigh, North Carolina, great nephew Charles Clayton Allsopp and wife, Tiffany Young Allsopp, of San Francisco, California, great, great niece, Nora Frances Allsopp, and several cousins in England.  She is also survived by several close friends who loved her dearly and helped care for her and Mary in their later years.

A special thank you is extended to the nurses and staff at Pine Ridge for the loving care they provided to Iris and Mary over the past year.  Many staff members enjoyed visiting with Iris and hearing the many stories she would share from her life experiences. 

Friends will be received at Morgan Funeral Home in Reedsville, WV on Saturday, July 27 from 1:00 until the time of the funeral service at 3:00 PM with the Reverend Frances McCoy of St. Michaels’s Episcopal Church officiating.  Interment will immediately follow at the Masontown Cemetery.   Donations in Iris’s memory may be made to Arthurdale Heritage, PO Box 850, Arthurdale, WV  26520.

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