Charles Lee Kidd

June 23, 1943 - July 11, 2019

Charles Lee Kidd , 76, of Mount Hope, WV died on Thursday, July 11, 2019 at Raleigh General Hospital in Beckley, WV. In his own words Mr. Kidd tells us about his life. "I was born in Mount Hope in 1943. I attended Mount Hope Grade School, Jr. High School, and graduated from Mt. Hope High School.  I graduated from Morris Harvey College with an AB Degree in English and Social Studies. I started teaching in Fayette County before I graduated college on a provisional teaching certificate. For four years, I taught 7th and 8th grades at Layland, coached a softball team, and started a 4-H Club. I came to Mount Hope High School to teach ninth, tenth, and eleventh grade English and Literature as well as Social Studies, World Cultures, and Geography. I have my AB + 15 from the College of Graduate Studies. During my 29 years at MHHS, I sponsored several clubs such as the Key Club and sponsored the school newspaper for several years while helping with selling tickets at football and basketball games and being responsible for planning and having the Jr.-Sr. Prom at Glade Springs.  I started working as a shoe-shine boy in the fifth grade in my dad's barber shop. And I have worked until I retired from Mount Hope High School in 1998. I taught in the Upward Bound program at West Virginia Tech at Montgomery during two summers. I also worked at Camp Thomas E. Lightfoot during three summers and Sears at the Crossroads Mall for nine years.  I have been a member of the Mount Hope Lions Club. As a result of this, I became the assistant scout master of Troop 91 along with Lacy Anderson under Joe Bragg, the scout master.  I have attended several churches in Mount Hope. I was assistant PYF leader under Bob Evans. During this same period of time, I was a member of the Presbyterian Church Choir.  I am still living in the house where I was born. Mount Hope is part of me and I am part of Mount Hope. I have served on the City Council for the City of Mount Hope and was President of the Planning Commission during which time we developed a new Comprehensive Plan for the City of Mount Hope as well as new land use ordinances and building codes.  My vision for Mount Hope: Like the phoenix of mythology, I would like to see Mount Hope be reborn anew. I would like to see Mount Hope become the hub for growth and excellence and to exert her influence in all directions for the betterment of mankind." He was preceded in death by his mother, C. Louise Brewer Kidd. Survivors include several cousins, William (Nina) Criss and Pam (Jack) Miller all of Princeton, Steve Ashworth of Winston-Salem, NC, Donald Ashworth of Huntington; and second cousins, Jason Criss and Melinda Mitchem both of Princeton, Michelle (Scott) Serene of Pittsburgh, PA, Megan (Brandson) Shumaker of Morgantown, Nikki (Jason) Underwood of Princeton and Josh Miller of Fort Lauderdale, FL. Services will be on Monday, July 15, 2019 at 7:30 pm. at Tyree Funeral Home, Mount Hope with Mayor Mike Kessinger. Friends may call from 6:00 pm until service time. He will be cremated following the service. Online condolences may be sent at www.tyreefuneralhome.com