Dennis Ray Hanson

Dennis Ray Hanson, 76, of Fayetteville, West Virginia, passed away on Monday, May 20th at his home. Dennis was born February 6, 1948, in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia to the late Carol Ray Hanson and Cora Genevieve Hanson. As a youth, he was very active in athletics, was a member of the First Methodist Church and boasted a genuine love of nature. Throughout high school, he worked at the Greenbrier Resort where he famously caddied for renowned golfer Sam Sneed. He was an avid hunter and found time to play varsity football for White Sulphur Springs High School where he graduated in 1965. After this milestone, he enrolled at West Virginia Institute of Technology in Montgomery where he majored in business. It was during this time that he met and would later marry the love of his life, Susan Elizabeth Phillips Hanson, his wife of 57 years. Their marriage bore one son, three daughters and a multitude of grandchildren. After a stint working at the pulp and paper mill in Covington, Virginia, Dennis enlisted in the West Virginia Army National Guard in January 1967, giving six years of service to this great country he so loved. Upon his return, he began his career with Bell Atlantic Telephone, working first in the East Bank area, then transferring a year later to Fayetteville where he worked for 32 years.

Dennis dedicated his life to providing service for his community. He was a member of the Fayetteville Lions Club, member and former Commander of the American Legion Lafayette Post 149 and attended Fayetteville Presbyterian Church. He was elected to two terms as mayor of Fayetteville and coached and refereed little league baseball for many years and devoted countless hours to working on the sports fields and park. Dennis was an avid hunter and committed sports fan who could always be found ready to cheer on the West Virginia Mountaineers or the Washington Redskins. After his retirement, he took up the sport of golf and loved nothing more than spending a day on the course. He was a fierce competitor, proudly boasting wins in the Hanson Family Rummy, Cornhole, Croquet and Fantasy Football Championship as he did not believe in showing pity to any family member, regardless of age or stature. Dennis was a lover of animals and rescued many stray cats and dogs throughout the years. To know Dennis, is to KNOW that Dennis LOVED jokes and never tired of telling them, no matter how corny they may be, and was blessed with the gift of never meeting a stranger and the ability to know a person’s entire life story only minutes after meeting. Dennis will be remembered for his love of community and friends, raucous personality, contagious laughter and, most importantly, the family he cherished above all else.

Dennis was preceded in death by his parents Genevieve and Ray, grandson Jacob Andrew Hanson and brother-in-law Drew. He is survived by his wife Susan, siblings Joyce Trombley and Roger Hanson; children Susannah (Anthony) Mealy, Andrew (Marcie) Hanson, Elizabeth (Donnie) Snyder, Cathryn (Blake) Miller; grandchildren Ryan and Jordon Nibert; Korey and Carson Hanson; Austin, Brooklyn and Calleigh Snyder; Grace and Lincoln Miller; and Jadin Clay, as well as sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews. A viewing will be held Tuesday, May 28 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Fayetteville Presbyterian Church with the funeral service to follow Wednesday, May 29th at noon. Burial will be at Huse Memorial Park in Fayetteville under the direction of the Dodd-Payne-Hess Funeral Home.