John Cornwell Ailes, Jr., 80, passed away on Saturday, February 1, 2025, surrounded by family at his home in Nitro, WV.

John was born on March 8, 1944, in Parkersburg, WV, and grew up in Romney, WV.

John was a graduate of Romney High School and he graduated from West Virginia University with a B.S. degree in 1970.

After graduation, John began his career as a Reclamation Inspector for the WV Department of Natural Resources in 1971 until 1977.  He then worked as Assistant Chief of Inspection and Enforcement for the Division of Reclamation at the WV Department of Natural Resources (1978-1984), followed by being the Energy Administrator to the Division of Mines and Minerals at WV Department of Environmental Protection (1985-2001).  From 1992- 2001, John served as the Chief of the Office of Mining and Reclamation at WV DEP.  He finished his career with the State by serving as the Special Assistant to Secretary for Mining Affairs at WV DEP from 2001-2003.

After retiring  from State government, John worked as an investigator for the Bailey Glasser Law Firm located in Charleston, WV, until the time of his death.  There, he provided consultation and advisement to the firm on significant environmental and coal matters.

Additionally, and by far his personal most treasured accomplishment, was being a proud U.S. Army Veteran.  John retired as MSG after more than 29 years of combined service, both active and serving with the WV Army National Guard.  In 2004, he was deployed to Kuwait where he completed a 10-month tour of duty during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

John was preceded in death by his parents, John C. Ailes and Elizabeth Ann Yokes Ailes, and his granddaughter, Elizabeth Ann O'Leary.

He is survived by his wife, Rebecca Stone Ailes; daughters, Brigitte O'Leary, Cassidi Wentz and Amber Gunnoe (David); and a sister, Sallie See (Charles).  In addition, he is leaving behind nine grandchildren: Nathaniel O'Leary (Alycia), Kayla Gunnoe, McKenzie Murphy, Benjamin O'Leary (Brooke), Austin Hayslip, Jordan Murphy, Layken Gunnoe, Brooklyn James, and Liliana James.  He also had two great-grandsons, Felix O'Leary and Romari Murphy-Durgan, and a great-granddaughter who will be arriving this summer.

A funeral will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 15, 2025, at Keller Funeral Home, Dunbar with Pastor Erin McGhee officiating.  Burial will immediately follow in Cunningham Memorial Park, St. Albans, where military honors will take place.

Family will welcome visitors two hours prior to the service at Keller Funeral Home, Dunbar.

In lieu of flowers, nothing would have made John happier than having donations made to the "Elizabeth O'Leary Scholarship Fund".  Checks should be made payable to: Nitro High School (with Elizabeth's name in the memo) and can be mailed to 1300 Park Ave. Nitro, WV 25143 Tax ID: 55-6000337-002

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