Joseph Charles Fourney

Joseph "Joe" Fourney

October 26, 1934 - May 10, 2026

Beckley, WV

Joe graduated from Shady Spring High School in 1952 and from West Virginia University

(School of Pharmacy, BS/Pharm) in 1956.

He began as a pharmacist at Beckley Drug in 1956; purchased and ran Watkins Drug in Beckley

until 1965; was a pharmacist and the manager at Kelly Drug in Oak Hill for 35 years; went to

work for Rite Aid, mostly in the Beckley Plaza Store, where he retired in 2004; and then

worked for Health South until his 81st birthday in 2015. Under his management, Kelly Drug was

the first pharmacy in WV to use a computer to assist in prescription filling and delivery to the

patient.

Joe was the youngest and oldest registered pharmacist in WV and just received his renewal on

May 5, 2026. He belonged to the WV Pharmacists Association and the New River Pharmacy

Association. He was awarded the Emeritus Award for his years of experience and licensure.

Joe donated a kidney to his daughter, Cathy Jo. in 2001 and was an advocate for organ donation,

as evidenced by his productive life for 25 years afterwards.

He was a lifelong member of St. Francis de Sales Church. He was a member of the Knights of

Columbus and the Beckley Rotary Club for many years.

He was preceded in death by his son, Joseph Charles Fourney II; his parents, E. J. "Bill" and

Ned Lynch Fourney; and his brothers Pat, Dave, Gene, Paul, Phil, John Edward, Francis, and

Michael. He is survived by his wife, Cathy Hess Fourney, who would have celebrated 65 years

of marriage on June 3; daughters Cindy West (Jim) of Beckley, Debbie of Jackson, TN, and

Cathy Jo of Beckley; granddaughter Hannah West of Beckley, brother William (Bill) of Laurel,

MD; sisters Mary Grace Houchens of Cincinnati, OH, and Nuala Roberts of Columbia, MD;

and relatives and friends too numerous to mention.

Visitation will be Thursday, May 14, 2026 ,at Calfee Funeral Home from 6 to 8 pm, with a

rosary at 8 pm. The Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at St. Francis de Sales Catholic

Church at 11 am Friday, May 15, 2026, followed by burial at Sunset Memorial Park.

Pallbearers will be Mike Fourney, Mike Roberts, Keith Roberts, Thad Houchens, Byron

Houchens, Rob Rosiek, Matt Fourney, and Ryan Parkulo.

In lieu of flowers, per Joe's request, please donate to the Joseph Fourney Family Foundation via Beckley Area Foundation at the following address:

1210 S. Kanawha St., Beckley, WV 25801