Doris Long Randolph

Doris Marie Long Randolph, lifetime resident of Ripley, West Virginia, departed this life on Friday, September 22, 2023, at Sundale Care Home, Morgantown, WV with family by her side. She entered WVU Hospice care after suddenly being diagnosed with inoperable stomach cancer. She spent ten days valiantly hanging on to the life she loved, cheerfully refusing to believe it would come to an end. She was 91 years, 8 months and 26 days old. Exact age was important to her. She liked to celebrate her age quarterly.

Doris was born in Leroy, WV to Fred and Addie (Crew) Long on January 27, 1932. Her sister Maxine joined the family in 1934, completing the tight family circle. Doris attended Ripley schools, except for a brief move to Akron, Ohio during the war. She often told stories of living in the basement of a family member. She attended an integrated school and found new friends that she spoke of often. She was a proud member of the Ripley High School Class of 1949.

She kept in contact with class friends through the years. She particularly enjoyed the semi-annual lunches at Shoney’s in Ripley, often accompanied by her daughter, Sheila.

After graduation, finding college too expensive, she focused on a cute local guy with wavy hair and beautiful eyes. His name was Ray and she was hooked. Doris Long and Ray Randolph married in November 1949. Doris had her first daughter,Vicki in 1950, then sons Steven in 1952, Kevin in 1958, and grand finale daughter Sheila in 1961. As Doris grew more efficient, balancing life with four youngsters, Ray was off working for the B&O railroad in many counties throughout West Virginia. Doris was both a loving mom and authoritarian. She kept her sanity by reading, baking, and keeping close contact with her friends. Several of her high school girlfriends became parents about the same time, so many of their children also grew up, attended school and socialized together, Knowing all the while they had many eyes watching over them.

Doris also became active in the Junior Woman’s club in Ripley and as a home room mother for her childrens’ classrooms in elementary school. When Sheila started school, Doris began working for the Jackson County School system in Fairplain and then at Ripley Elementary, just across the street from her home on Second Avenue. It was an easy commute and she usually was there on time. She made many friends and touched many hearts during those years. She was a member of Epworth Methodist church from 1946.

Doris and Ray spent retirement years enjoying the sports of their grandkids, visiting family, traveling by train to California twice, trips to Myrtle Beach, Virginia Beach, Akron Ohio, camping trips and puttering around the house and yard. They happily celebrated their 65 years of married bliss in November 2014, with all their family in attendance, shortly before Ray’s death in December. She missed him daily, as they had been together since her 16th birthday.

Doris decided to join Ray on a new adventure on September 22, 2023. Doris is survived by her four children; Vicki (Edmund) Cunniffe of Pleasanton, CA; Steven Randolph of Sandyville; Kevin Randolph of Ripley; and Sheila (Larry Lokant) of Ripley. Five well-loved grandchildren; Justin and Brooke Randolph, Ripley, Jillian Randolph, Parkersburg, Ryan and Caitlin Lokant of Morgantown. Three great-grandchildren; Kaiden Randolph of Beckley, Curren Randolph of Parkersburg and his brand new sister Hollis Wren Randolph, born on 09/28/2023, a week too late to meet her Great Grandmother Doris.

Doris also had three lesser known step-grandchildren and four step-great-grandchildren in California, New York and Madrid, Spain. She kept up by stories and pictures and enjoyed them from afar. Doris will also be missed by Brother-in-law Ronald Randolph, Ripley; Sister-in-law Gaye Canterbury of Florida, several loved nieces and nephews in West Virginia and Florida, and long-time family friend, Beverly Lawson of Ripley. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Ova Ray, her younger sister Maxine Jordan, parents Fred Long and Addie Crew Long. Inspired by Maxine’s example, Doris donated her body to the Human Gift Registry Program, WV Anatomical Board at WVU Medical Center for research. A letter of thanks was sent to her family for her generous and compassionate gift. We are very proud of her decision.

A memorial service for Doris Randolph will be on Sunday, October 22, 2023 at 2 PM at Epworth United Methodist Church, 299 N. Church St,. Ripley. Refreshments and a celebration of Doris Randolph’s life will follow at the church hall after the service. To honor Doris, please consider donations to the American Cancer Society, Alzheimers’ Association, or Epworth United Methodist Church general fund in her memory.