Pat C. Fragile

Pat Clinton Fragile, born January 8, 1945, in Cedar Grove, West Virginia, passed away of natural causes at his home in Daniels, West Virginia, on December 2, 2022, at the age of 77.

Pat was a multi-sport athlete growing up in Beckley, excelling in basketball and baseball. He was part of the undefeated 1962 West Virginia class AAA state basketball championship team from Woodrow Wilson High School.  After graduating from WWHS in 1962, Pat attended West Virginia University, where he completed a BS degree in 1967 and a MS degree in 1968. While at WVU, Pat served as the cadet wing commander for the Air Force ROTC detachment and president of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. He was proud of bringing several prominent Motown musical acts to Morgantown during his time there.

Pat was commissioned into the United States Air Force and began active duty on October 6, 1968. After completing pilot training at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, he became an instructor pilot with the 14th Flying Training Wing at Columbus AFB, Mississippi.

After serving five years on active duty, he was Honorably Discharged in 1973 and transitioned to the West Virginia Air National Guard in Charleston.  In the fall of 1974, Pat returned to WVU to attend law school and after graduating from law school in 1977, Pat brought his family back to Beckley, where he opened the law firm of Wooton, Wooton & Fragile, with partners William “Bill” Wooton and John Wooton. In 1994, he opened The Fragile Law Firm, and in 2005, his son Matthew joined him at the firm and he and Matthew continued to work together until Pat’s passing.  His daughter-in-law Stacey also worked with him and Matthew at the firm from 2003-2012.  He truly enjoyed sharing his love of the law and teaching both Matthew and Stacey during their formative years as lawyers.

In the Air National Guard, Pat rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, flying missions all around the world, including service in both Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Pat retired from the Air National Guard on December 31, 1990, after an additional seventeen (17) years of service to his country.

Pat worked for over twenty-five years as a sports official in and around Southern West Virginia.  He officiated football, basketball, and baseball games.  For many years, he officiated baseball games with his son Matthew including numerous State Championship games. His grandchildren in West Virginia loved watching him call balls and strikes at many high school baseball games before he retired from officiating in 2013.  During his time as an official Pat was recognized as the State Baseball Official of the Year and the State Basketball Official of the Year.  Pat was also the WVSSAC Rules Clinician for Basketball for many years and had recently completed his yearly tour of the state working and meeting with coaches and officials in preparation for the 2022-2023 basketball season. 

In 2003, he was inducted into the National Federation of State High School Association’s Hall of Fame for his lifelong contributions as a baseball, basketball, and football official.  Pat was a member of the Woodrow Wilson High School Basketball and Baseball Hall of Fames and his granddaughters, Daniella and Alessandra, loved pointing out his sign at the Woodrow Wilson Baseball field and finding his picture at the Armory.  He was honored to have his granddaughter, Alessandra, wear his number 8 while playing volleyball.

While Pat had many accomplishments in his life, his greatest joys were his sons and grandchildren.  He was the first person to text his grandchildren in the morning and was most days the last person to text them each night.  He could often be found watching Daniella dance with the Lassies at Van Meter Stadium at Woodrow Wilson and at the Armory and in the Spring, he would be at the tennis courts watching her play tennis for the Flying Eagles.  For the last six years he could be found in the stands watching Alessandra play volleyball and he was looking forward to her wearing his beloved maroon and white next year for Woodrow Wilson. This past Spring you could also find him coaching Alessandra from the sidelines as she ran track and field, and he was already talking to her about the upcoming track season.  He followed his granddaughter Julia’s swimming career from an early age and enjoyed watching her compete in person when time permitted him to travel to South Carolina.  He was excited to watch Paxton develop his love for baseball and basketball. All his grandchildren will miss seeing him in the stands and calling him after games when he was not able to attend in person.  As much as he enjoyed the athletic careers of his grandchildren, his guiding words to them always focused on academics and he took great joy in hearing about the plans of Julia and Daniella as they are planning to enter college next year.

Pat was preceded in death by his parents Pat P. and Josephine Fragile, and his sister, Alicia Ellis.

Pat is survived by his sister, Bobbi Ramsey of Indiana; his two sons, Christopher (Jessica) Fragile of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, and Matthew (Stacey) Fragile of Beckley; his four grandchildren, Julia, Daniella, Alessandra, and Paxton; several nieces and nephews; and his companion Karen Earehart.

Visitation for family and friends will be held on Monday, December 12, 2022, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Calfee Funeral Home in Beckley with a rosary service to be conducted at 8:00 p.m. The Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 13, 2022, at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Beckley with Father Leonard Smith officiating. Fellow officials will serve as pallbearers.  Pat will be interred at Sunset Memorial P in Beckley.

In lieu of flowers, it would be appreciated if you would support his love for the arts and donate to Greenbrier Valley Theatre, 1038 East Washington Street, Lewisburg, West Virginia 25801 in his honor.