Obituary of Arminta Tucker Baldwin ​

Arminta Tucker Baldwin, age 78 of Buckhannon, WV passed away on Tuesday, August 1, 2017 at home surrounded by her daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter under the care of West Virginia Hospice and private care. She was born on February 15, 1939 in Clarksburg, WV to the late Wilma Stutler Tucker and Benjamin Frank Tucker Jr. She grew up in West Union, WV where she graduated from Doddridge County High School in 1956. She went on to earn her Bachelor of Arts in Education from Glenville State College on May 27, 1960 and a Master of Arts from West Virginia University on June 4, 1962. While completing her MA she worked as a graduate teaching assistant at WVU. She completed all the coursework except her dissertation for a Doctorate from WVU. In the fall of 1962 she began teaching English at Alderson Broaddus College until 1966 when she moved to Buckhannon, WV to join the faculty of West Virginia Wesleyan College. She was a professor of English at WVWC and served as the English Department Chair, Advisor of the Murmurmontis Yearbook for numerous years, and a coach to Wesleyan’s Bowl Team that competed in the GE College Bowl on September 28, 1968 on NBC. She also served on a variety of committees on campus including Presidential search committees and traveled to England and Japan. In 1997 -98 she was awarded Outstanding Faculty Honors by Community Council. She retired from WVWC after 42 years of service in May of 2008 therefore receiving Professor Emerita status. She inspired many students through her teaching and mentoring. She encouraged exploration, awareness, and discussion of issues pertinent to women with her development of her course titled Images of Women in Literature and Film. In this course, she was able to highlight domestic violence which she had firsthand experience. She was an avid reader and liked to watch television, go to the movies, and take drives. She loved Walt Disney World where she visited four times as an adult with her daughter Michelle. She felt passionate about several organizations including American with Disabilities Act, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, The Humane Society, The Salvation Army, The Upshur Parish House, The Multiple Schlerosis Society, and the Child Development Center of Central WV. She was a current member of Alpha Delta Kappa Educational Honorary Society. She is survived by her daughter Michelle Leigh Riffle, son-in-law Brandon Lee Riffle, seven-year-old granddaughter Addison Leigh Riffle, five and half year old cat Hopscotch, and eleven week old kitten Marbles. She was described as strong, independent, poised, articulate, caring, loving, tough, determined, wise, courageous, and brave. Arminta Tucker Baldwin was a daughter, mom, Grandee, educator, confidant, mentor, friend, fighter, survivor, and all around beautiful soul. Although she will be greatly missed she is finally able to spread her wings and fly free and healthy with all the other angel family and friends that went before her. Friends will be received Saturday, August 5, 2017 from 5 to 8 PM at the Poling-St. Clair Funeral Home. As she wished she will be cremated and a Celebration of Life will be held at WVWC at a later date. Poling-St. Clair Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.