Obituaries
W. L. Bostic
December 26, 1934 - November 2, 2018
Visitation:
3-9pm on Thursday, Novembe 8, 2018
Chattaroy Church of God
Service:
1pm, Friday, November 9, 2018
Chattaroy Church of God
W. L. Bostic
BIRTH 26 Dec 1934
Huddy, Pike County, Kentucky, USA
DEATH 2 Nov 2018 (aged 83)
Huntington, Cabell County, West Virginia, USA
WThe Life and Times of WL Bostic
WL Bostic was so many things to so many people. He was a respected teacher and administrator in the public-school system. He was a beloved coach on the football and baseball fields and on the basketball court. He was a preacher, Sunday school teacher, and pastor in church. He was a masterful story-teller who commanded the attention of every person in a particular room, young and old alike. At home, he was a beloved husband to his dear wife of 63 years, Lucy, and he was simply “Dad” to his five children and “Grandpa” to his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. WL treated everyone with respect. He never saw skin color, nationality, religion, nor social and economic class. He only saw people.
WL was born December 26, 1934, at Huddy, Kentucky, the son of the late Leonard and Ella Varney Bostic. He was the last of ten children born to that union. Preceding him in death were brothers, Claude, Floyd, John, Clyde, Henry, George, and Rufus Bostic, along with a sister, Marie Adams. Of his siblings, he is survived by one sister, Quinna Workman, of Kokomo, Indiana.
WL spent his childhood in Huddy, playing baseball and basketball, doing chores for his hard-working parents, and excelling in school. He was an excellent scholar and was double-promoted twice. He graduated from Belfry High School in 1951. Shortly thereafter, he enlisted in the United States Air Force and served proudly during the Korean War. He obtained a bachelor’s degree from Pikeville College and later, a master’s degree from Morehead State University. He would make teaching his lifelong vocation.
He taught at Belfry High School, Williamson High School, Okeechobee High School in Florida, Indian River Community College in Florida, and taught several adult education classes, as well as home-bound students. He was also Assistant Principal of Williamson High School and Administrative Assistant Superintendent of Mingo County Schools. After retiring for a third time as a teacher, he returned home from Florida and answered to divine call of God to pastor Chattaroy Missionary Baptist Church for 13 years.
Mr. Bostic shaped the minds, and ultimately, the futures, of thousands of students during his life of teaching school. He loved literature, often quoting great poets, reciting the Canterbury Tales in old, middle, and modern English. Students built replicas of Shakespeare’s famed Globe Theater. WL memorized nearly all, if not all, the Shakespeare plays. Coach Bostic coached championship basketball teams at the Midget League and Junior High School levels, as well as helping to guide the Williamson High School girls’ basketball team to an appearance in the state tournament. He was head coach of the WHS baseball team, as well as assistant coach of the WHS football team. Later, he was assistant varsity football coach and head junior varsity football coach at Okeechobee High School in Florida.
On June 23, 1955, WL married the love of his life, Lucy Gail Buchanan. The union of these two brought forth five children: Angela (James) Lester of Marlinton, WV; Reverend Mike (Pattie) Bostic of Williamson, WV; Stephanie (Ricky) Hodges of Winston Salem, NC; Paul (Traci) Bostic of Monroe, NC; Andrea Bostic of Matthews, NC. WL is preceded in death by one granddaughter, Kellie Travers, and is survived by 12 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
On November 2, 2018, at 4:58pm, surrounded by his wife, children, and other family and friends, WL Bostic took his first breath in Heaven, and he was welcomed in by his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who proclaimed, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” There is no doubt that so many of his siblings, as well as his mother and his mother-in-law, Dixie, affectionately known to all as Granny, were there to meet him. His life on thisearth may have ended, but he is more alive now than he has ever been.
Visitation is from 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm, Thursday, November 8, 2018, at the Chattaroy Church of God.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1:00 pm, Friday, at the church. Pastoral friends will officiate, and family members and friends will serve as pallbearers.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the mission fund of the Chattaroy Missionary Baptist Church, PO Box 247, Chattaroy, WV 25667.