Victor Yoak

Victor Yoak, 100, of Ripley passed into the presence of Jesus on October 20, 2022, at Altercare of Canal Winchester Ohio.

Victor was born on March 9, 1922, in Shock, WV to Lloyd Yoak and Mary Elizabeth (Adams) Yoak.

Victor spent his early years in Gilmer County and married the love of his life, Ruth Almeda Bennington, on April 20, 1946, in Barberton, OH.

Victor served in the US Navy in WWII on the USS Monrovia which was part of the European, African, and Pacific theaters. He said while serving on the Monrovia they carried General Eisenhower and General “Blood and Guts” Patton.

Victor had a variety of professions through the years. Over the years, he operated a junkyard, owned a trucking business, built several houses and worked for the of WV Department of Highways for 22 years until his retirement in 1989.

Victor received many accolades in his 100 years. He was given the Distinguished West Virginian Award in 1988 from Governor Arch Moore. In 2021, a bridge in the city of Ripley was named in his honor. Ripley Mayor Carolyn Rader awarded him the Key to the City in recognition of his 100th birthday in March of 2022.

Victor loved God, his family and his country. He had a servant’s heart, serving on the various church boards, the Ripley City Council, Ripley Beautification Committee and the Jackson County Republican Executive Committee.

Victor’s survivors include his daughter, Sandra Lea (Peter) Mathewson of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, son David Victor (Connie Coen) of Newburgh, IN. Victor has 4 loving granddaughters, Heather (Jeff) Tron of Newburgh, IN, Amy (Jim) Kearns of Cincinnati, OH, Lori (Dennis) Struyk of Lebanon, OH, and Stacy (Mark) Zimmerman of Carroll, OH. He will be deeply missed by his 8 great grandchildren, Jeremiah Victor (Brandy) Kearns, Elijah James Kearns, Hope Elizabeth Kearns, Cassidy Grace Tron (Austin) Stotlar, Mackenzie Faith Tron, Anna Elizabeth Zimmerman, Lauren Zoe Zimmerman, and Katelynn Benning Struyk. Victor’s first great-great grandchild (baby girl Stotlar) will arrive in March of 2023.

Victor is preceded in death in death by his wife, Ruth; 2 infant children, Carolyn and Mark; and siblings Thelma Richards, Paul Yoak, Etna Altizer, Wilma Hersman, Lloyd Yoak, Jr., Ruth Hardman, Bernard Yoak, and twin brother Vere Yoak.

A celebration of life service will be at 11 a.m. Monday, October 24th at the Ripley Tabernacle Baptist Church. Pastors Jeff Keffer and Jim Yoak will be officiating. The family will be receiving friends at Waybright Funeral Home in Ripley, WV on Sunday, October 23rd between 3:00 and 5:00 p.m. and at the Ripley Tabernacle Baptist Church on October 24th at 10:00 a.m. Burial will be at 3:00 p.m. in Albert’s Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery in Sand Ridge, WV.

In lieu of flowers, the Yoak family suggests donations to the Ripley Tabernacle Baptist Church Building Fund.