Obituary of Alma Jean Cole Beard

Alma Jean Cole Beard, 86, of Fairmont, passed away on Sunday, March 29, 2026 at Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, WV surrounded by her loving family. Alma Jean was born February 21, 1940 in McCoole, MD a daughter of the late Donald F. and Pauline A. Rowan Cole. She is survived by her loving husband, of 67 years, Clyde W. Beard. Mrs. Beard was a homemaker in her own home. She was a 1958 graduate of Bruce High School in Western Port, MD, where she was inducted into the Bruce High School Hall of Fame. She was a member of the Barrackville United Methodist Church. As a minister’s wife, she had several church memberships over her lifetime as she followed her husband’s church appointments including: Albright, Short Gap, West Liberty, Bell, Petersburg, Parkersburg, Huntington, Elm Grove, and Fairmont churches. Alma Jean had a strong Christian faith and placed all of her trust in God. Alma Jean authored her own book, “Holly Hocks around the Out House”, referencing what it meant to be a minister’s wife. Her number one accomplishment was being a loving mother and raising four accomplished children. Alma Jean enjoyed cooking and was the best pie maker. She was very artistic and enjoyed many different types of crafts including crocheting, toll painting, among many other crafts. She owned and operated her own craft store while living in Parkersburg, WV. In addition to her husband, Alma Jean is survived by her children: Paula Beard of Fairmont, Linda (Dan) Meeker of Richmond, VA, Dr. Keith (Drew Black) Beard of Huntington, WV, and Eric (Renee) Beard of Morgantown, her nine grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, and her sister, Bobbie Ann McClintic of Richmond, VA. Memorial contributions may be made to the United Methodist Foundation of West Virginia, Memorial Trust Fund for Alma Jean Cole Beard, P.O. Box 3811, Charleston, WV 25338-3811, or online at www.umfwv.org, to support children, youth and families within West Virginia. The family has entrusted the arrangements to Ford Funeral Home, 201 Columbia Street, Fairmont, WV. All services will be private. Interment will be held privately at the Potomac Memorial Gardens in Keyser, WV. Online condolences may be made to www.fordfuneralhomes.com.