Garland C. Privett

Garland Clifford Privett, 81, of Rock View, WV, passed away peacefully at home from heart failure, surrounded by his loving family.

Born December 26, 1939, at Wolf Pen, WV, he was the son of the late George Anson Privett, Sr., and the late Gay Beverly Privett.

Garland was happily married to the love of his life, Sandra K. Privett, for 61 years. From the first moment he saw her at Rollins Branch in Kopperston, he always said Sandy was the most beautiful woman he had ever laid his eyes on. He was incredibly grateful that Sandy took such loving care of him in his final years, months, and days.

Garland was a retired, disabled coal miner, working mostly at the Pinnacle Creek coal mine. He also worked at Pine Chevrolet and Crews Grocery Store. He loved the town of Pineville and was intensely proud of where he was born and raised.

He was also an avid street rod fan and loved drag racing. In early adulthood, he was the drag racing champion of Wyoming County. In later life, he loved fixing and maintaining antique street rods, including a 1927 Ford T-bucket, a 1941 Willy’s Coupe, a 1968 Camaro, a 1931 Plymouth, and a 1935 Chevrolet Sedan.

Garland loved birds and watched them at his backyard feeders. He also enjoyed walking at Twin Falls State Park with his beloved wife, Sandy. He spent countless hours riding ATVs with his brother George, Jr., going to the Wagon Wheel and other beautiful places in the county.

He also enjoyed guns and hunting. Garland even built a gun and enjoyed putting gun kits together. He put together two black powder percussion cap pistols from a matching set for his nephew, Tracy Jr., and made his own black powder muzzle loading rifle.

Garland was a member of the Campbell's Market Championship Bowling Team in the Welch Businessmen's Bowling League. He loved to bowl and threw a wicked left-handed curve. He proudly won multiple trophies and enjoyed bowling with Sandy.

After bone cancer ended his coal mining career, he became an expert cookie baker and cake maker. He also loved making candy, including chocolate covered cherries, peanut butter balls, Ritz crackers, and Oreo cookies. He was proud of his treats and loved to share them with those he cared for, at holidays or otherwise.

Garland was very proud of his two grandchildren, Emma and George. He always lit up like a lightbulb when he saw them, Facetimed with them, or was able to talk with them on the phone.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Roy, Mert, and Tracy; and two sisters, Ilene Marie and Irene Privett Stump.

He is survived by his wife, Sandra K. Privett; a son, Garland Michael Privett, and his girlfriend, Shelly Vigil; his former daughter-in-law, Lori Lung, their daughter, Emma, and their son, George, of Rio Rancho, New Mexico; a daughter, C. Michelle Privett and her fiancé, Eric C. Bredahl, PhD, who Garland counted as a son, of Omaha, Nebraska. He is also survived by his favorite brother, George A. Privett, Jr., and his wife Sarah, of Pineville; and a sister, Dixie Short, and her husband, Larry, of Pineville. Garland treasured spending time with his nieces and nephews, especially Tracy Privett, Jr., Pete Stump, and Suzie Vanhoy, all of Pineville.

The family would like to thank Tanya Bailey and the Hospice of Southern West Virginia care team who provided wonderful care and support in Garland’s final time of need.

Due to COVID-19, the family held a small, private ceremony to celebrate Garland’s life on January 1, 2021. The family wished all his family and friends could have attended.

The family would like to thank Pastor Doc Adkins, a long-time, dear friend of Garland’s, and Sandy’s pastor, Dan Lowther, for bringing the word of God to the service.

Garland loved animals, and in lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in memoriam to Wyco 4, a Wyoming County animal advocate group who help reduce the numbers of unwanted pets by performing Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) services to stray animals in the county. Wyco 4 also helps finds home for stray animals in the county and is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) charity.

Please direct memorial donations, noting Garland C. Privett on the memo portion of the check, to Wyco 4, Attn: Ginny Stump, PO Box 1175, Pineville, WV 24874-1175.

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