Mrs. Elsie Hamstead died Oct. 25, 2012, one week following her 90th birthday. She spent the last year of her life at Grenich Care Home, in Bunker Hill. Her family and those who attended to her marvel at Elsie’s grace and sense of peace which was omnipresent to the very end of her life.

Elsie was well known for her warm caring interest in the wellbeing of others. After Elsie and her husband “Ham” raised their four children on a small farm in Kearneysville, she enrolled in Shepherd College.

She obtained a teaching degree and taught history at Jefferson High School for nine years before retiring. Many of her former students remember Elsie and have stories to tell about her positive influence on their lives. According to her lifetime faithful friend, Toni Erchak, tennis partners with whom she joined up later in life have stories to tell about Elsie’s serious competitive side.

Her book, “One Small Village” published in 2000, was a culmination of her deep and extensive interest in the history of the local area and its people.

She is survived by her daughters June Leah and Margaret Anna, and her sons, Braun August and Carl David and by her younger sister, Louise Dick, with whom Elsie was closely bounded since childhood. Elsie has six grandsons, three granddaughters, and six great grandchildren.

The family plans to have a memorial service for Elsie in the near future. Friends, relatives, and former students desiring to be notified of the date and place are invited to provide their contact information by emailing Margaret Hamstead at mhamstead@opequon.com or calling Julie Hamstead at 304-671-3109 or writing to Braun A. Hamstead, P.O. Box 879, Kearneysville, WV 25430.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Jefferson County Historical Society, P.O. Box 485,

Charles Town, WV 25414

Arrangements are by the Melvin T. Strider Colonial Funeral Home, Charles Town. Please sign the online guestbook and view her obituary at www.mtstrider.com.