Charles McKinley Surber Jr.
Charles McKinley Surber Jr., known as Ken to his friends and family and probably everyone else, died on March 12, 2006, after a short illness. He leaves behind a wonderful family and many friends who miss him greatly.
Ken is survived by his wife, Lorena Surber, DDS and three children, Claire Surber, Charles McKinley "Mac" Surber III, and Jonathan Surber; his mother, Essie Surber; father, Charles M. Surber and wife, Irene Surber; and sister, Wanda Casto.
Ken was born on Nov. 8, 1950, and raised in Ravenswood, W.Va. He went to West Virginia University, receiving his Bachelor's degree in Business Administration in 1971. He married Lorena in 1972, and they lived and worked in Bethel Park, Pa. In 1975, they moved to Dayton, Ohio, where he attended law school at the University of Dayton School of Law, while Lorena worked to put him through. He was an editor on the law review and graduated with honors in 1978. From 1971 to 1978, Ken also served in the United States Army Reserves Judge Advocate General Corps.
Ken and Lorena moved to Charleston in 1978, where Ken joined Jackson, Kelly, Holt & O'Farrell and began a long and successful career as a labor lawyer with the firm in Morgantown and Charleston. Ken was trained by his mentor, David Johnson, and practiced law with skill and passion. He was an excellent trial lawyer, and practiced in the state and federal courts of West Virginia, eastern Kentucky, and Washington, D.C. He wrote and spoke frequently to lawyers and others on labor law, was listed in Best Lawyers in America in Labor Law, and chaired the firm's labor department for a time. As an experienced lawyer, he was known for having an open door to younger lawyers in need of guidance and chaired the firm's associates committee.
The Surbers moved to Morgantown in 1986, because Lorena, who earned her BS in Dental Hygiene at West Virginia University, summa cum laude, in 1972, returned to the West Virginia University School of Denistry and earned her DDS, summa cum laude, in 1990. They returned to Charleston in 1990, and Lorena started her dental practice.
Ken was first and foremost a family man and found joy in the lives of his wife and children. He and Lorena raised three children, who all attended Charleston Catholic High School. The oldest, Claire, graduated with honors from West Virginia University in 2001, and from the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Georgia in 2005. She is a practicing veterinarian in Dahlonega, Ga., and is engaged to SSG Jeffrey Nail. Mac graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2004, and is now 1LT in the United States Army serving his country in Afghanistan. Mac is married to Elizabeth Culhane and they live in Watertown, N.Y. Jonathan will graduate from the College of Charleston with a degree in special education in May 2006. A day did not go by without Ken telling someone about the accomplishments and exploits of his family.
Ken was an outdoorsman who loved to hunt and fish. His family room is filled with trophies of deer, boar, and exotic animals from the many hunting trips he took with his sons and friends. It was a joy in his life, aside from his family, to hunt or wet a line. Ken had a great sense of humor, and on occasion, was known to enjoy a cold beer and tell funny stories.
Ken was a Catholic. He was accepted into the church shortly before his death.
Mass of Christian burial will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 15, 2006, at Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral, Charleston, with Monsignor P. Edward Sadie officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery, Charleston. Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, March 14, at Barlow-Bonsall Funeral Home, Charleston, where there will be a Christian wake service at 8:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to Army Emergency Relief, 200 Stovall St., Room 5-N-13, Alexandria, VA 22332 or Kanawha Hospice Care or Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral.
E-mail condolences to the family at www.barlowbonsall.com.
Barlow-Bonsall Funeral Home, Charleston, is in charge of arrangements.
Charles McKinley Surber Jr.
Charles McKinley Surber Jr., known as Ken to his friends and family and probably everyone else, died on March 12, 2006, after a short illness. He leaves behind a wonderful family and many friends who miss him greatly.
Ken is survived by his wife, Lorena Surber, DDS and three children, Claire Surber, Charles McKinley "Mac" Surber III, and Jonathan Surber; his mother, Essie Surber; father, Charles M. Surber and wife, Irene Surber; and sister, Wanda Casto.
Ken was born on Nov. 8, 1950, and raised in Ravenswood, W.Va. He went to West Virginia University, receiving his Bachelor's degree in Business Administration in 1971. He married Lorena in 1972, and they lived and worked in Bethel Park, Pa. In 1975, they moved to Dayton, Ohio, where he attended law school at the University of Dayton School of Law, while Lorena worked to put him through. He was an editor on the law review and graduated with honors in 1978. From 1971 to 1978, Ken also served in the United States Army Reserves Judge Advocate General Corps.
Ken and Lorena moved to Charleston in 1978, where Ken joined Jackson, Kelly, Holt & O'Farrell and began a long and successful career as a labor lawyer with the firm in Morgantown and Charleston. Ken was trained by his mentor, David Johnson, and practiced law with skill and passion. He was an excellent trial lawyer, and practiced in the state and federal courts of West Virginia, eastern Kentucky, and Washington, D.C. He wrote and spoke frequently to lawyers and others on labor law, was listed in Best Lawyers in America in Labor Law, and chaired the firm's labor department for a time. As an experienced lawyer, he was known for having an open door to younger lawyers in need of guidance and chaired the firm's associates committee.
The Surbers moved to Morgantown in 1986, because Lorena, who earned her BS in Dental Hygiene at West Virginia University, summa cum laude, in 1972, returned to the West Virginia University School of Denistry and earned her DDS, summa cum laude, in 1990. They returned to Charleston in 1990, and Lorena started her dental practice.
Ken was first and foremost a family man and found joy in the lives of his wife and children. He and Lorena raised three children, who all attended Charleston Catholic High School. The oldest, Claire, graduated with honors from West Virginia University in 2001, and from the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Georgia in 2005. She is a practicing veterinarian in Dahlonega, Ga., and is engaged to SSG Jeffrey Nail. Mac graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2004, and is now 1LT in the United States Army serving his country in Afghanistan. Mac is married to Elizabeth Culhane and they live in Watertown, N.Y. Jonathan will graduate from the College of Charleston with a degree in special education in May 2006. A day did not go by without Ken telling someone about the accomplishments and exploits of his family.
Ken was an outdoorsman who loved to hunt and fish. His family room is filled with trophies of deer, boar, and exotic animals from the many hunting trips he took with his sons and friends. It was a joy in his life, aside from his family, to hunt or wet a line. Ken had a great sense of humor, and on occasion, was known to enjoy a cold beer and tell funny stories.
Ken was a Catholic. He was accepted into the church shortly before his death.
Mass of Christian burial will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 15, 2006, at Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral, Charleston, with Monsignor P. Edward Sadie officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery, Charleston. Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, March 14, at Barlow-Bonsall Funeral Home, Charleston, where there will be a Christian wake service at 8:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to Army Emergency Relief, 200 Stovall St., Room 5-N-13, Alexandria, VA 22332 or Kanawha Hospice Care or Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral.
E-mail condolences to the family at www.barlowbonsall.com.
Barlow-Bonsall Funeral Home, Charleston, is in charge of arrangements.
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