Charles Ray Hare, 82, of Cheat Lake, passed away peacefully Thursday, October 9, 2025, at his home on Cheat Road.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Donna L. Jones Hare.
He was the youngest child of the late C. Raymond and Lulu B. Hare, also of Cheat Lake.
Charles was a fixture in the Cheat Lake and Morgantown community throughout his life. He lived on the family farm on Cheat Road, where he enjoyed maintaining the yard, field and pond, gardening, woodworking, and spending quality time with his family.
A lifelong member of Avery United Methodist Church, he served as chairman of the Administrative Council of the church for many years. As chairman, Charles worked closely with friends to help build a new home for the church 17 years ago, using a portion of his family’s farm.
After graduating from Morgantown High School with the Class of 1960, Charles received a B.S. in Poultry Sciences from what is now West Virginia University’s Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Design as well as a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering from what is now WVU’s Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources.
Much of Charles’s career was spent working for FirstEnergy and its predecessor companies, including Allegheny and Monongahela Power. Among his roles with these companies, he served as plant manager for the Albright power station and assistant plant manager for the Fort Martin power station.
Family was very important to Charles. Charles and Donna had two sons and six grandchildren: Charles Bradley Hare and his partner, Gary Larioza and their children, Charlotte Hare, Nicholas Hare, and Sophia Larioza (San Francisco, Calif.); and Jeffrey L. Hare and his wife, Jennifer J. Foulk Hare and their children, Emma Hare, Jack Hare, and Kate Hare (Alexandria, Va.).
His five sisters and one brother and members of their families live across the country from Alaska to Texas to Maryland and beyond. Others stayed close and built their homes, like him, on the Hare family farm.
He was predeceased by his sisters, Doris Bowers, Mary Jo Staddon, Charlotte Davis and Barbara Hardiman; and his brother, James Hare. His sister, Nancy Thursh, survives him.
Friends and family will be received in Avery United Methodist Church, 1152 Cheat Road, Morgantown, from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, October 14. Visitation will continue in the church Wednesday, October 15, from 10 until the time of the funeral service at 11 a.m., with the Rev. John Brosky officiating. Interment will follow at Beverly Hills Memorial Gardens, where the Morgantown Lodge #4 Ancient Free & Accepted Masons will conduct ritualistic masonic services at the graveside.
In lieu of flowers, donations, in Charles Hare’s memory, may be made to Avery Methodist Church at https://averyumcwv.org/donate or by mailing a check to 1152 Cheat Road, Morgantown, WV 26508.
The family would like to thank the caregivers from WVU Hospital, 8 West and Amedisys Hospice Care for their support and comfort during his final days and weeks. He will be sorely missed.
Hastings Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.
Send condolences to the family at www.hastingsfuneralhome.com
