Dora Jean Bumgarner

Dora Jean Bumgarner of Marietta, Ohio died peacefully on the morning of May 9, 2024. Dora Jean was born in Cedarville, West Virginia on September 4, 1937, to Harry and Irene Brannon. She graduated from Normantown High School, earned a B.S. degree from Glenville State College, and an M.A. degree and Doctorate from West Virginia University (WVU). Additionally, she took course work at Ohio State University and Ohio University.

Dora Jean started teaching in Wood County, West Virginia. After five years there, she taught for one year at WVU during her Ph.D. residency. She was employed by Marietta City Schools from 1963 to 2001. She served as Curriculum Director, Federal Programs Director, Assistant Superintendent from 1982 to 1992 and Superintendent from 1992 to 2001. Dora Jean is the first and only female Superintendent of Marietta City Schools. After retirement, she continued working as an interim superintendent from 2002–2018, where she served school systems including Lancaster, Fort Frye (twice), East Liverpool, Frontier, Northern Local, Caldwell Local (twice), and New Lexington.

In addition, she did consultant work for Title I for the Ohio State Department of Education and for the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation in Cleveland. For many years, Dora Jean taught evening classes at both the undergraduate and graduate level in the Education Department of Marietta College and West Virginia University. She received the 1985 Outstanding School Administration Award from the Ohio Department of Education, the 1997 Outstanding Administrator from the Ohio Music Education Association, and the 2019 Difference Maker Award from the Ohio Valley Educational Service Center. Dora Jean was especially proud to help start the Marietta City Schools Academic Excellence in Education Awards that continues annually.

Dora Jean married Robert L. Bumgarner on December 23, 1964, at the First Baptist Church in Marietta, Ohio and was happily married for more than 59 years.  She was the proud mother of sons, Robert Brannon (Kim) of Upper Arlington, Ohio and Steven Gene (Heather) of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Her biggest pride were her two grandchildren, Caroline Elyse Bumgarner and William Steven Bumgarner of Winston-Salem.

Dora Jean was a member of Marietta Retired Teachers and Life member of Ohio Retired Teachers Association as well as a life member of Buckeye Association of School Administrators (BASA).  She was a former member of the Marietta Noon Rotary Club (1992-2003); AAUW; Delta Kappa Gamma in Marietta; Kappa Delta Pi in Parkersburg; Ambassador to Marietta Chamber of Commerce (1985-1992); Marietta Chamber of Commerce (1992-2002); and Marietta YMCA Board. In addition, she served on the Advisory Council for Boys and Girls Club of Marietta Salvation Army; Marietta Health Council and board member of Artsbridge.

Dora Jean was a member of First Baptist Church in Marietta, Ohio for more than 60 years where she served as Sunday School Superintendent for many years, a Trustee for 20 years, including serving as chair and a member of Board of Christian Education.

Dora Jean is survived by her brothers: John (Linda) Brannon of Normantown, WV and Joe (Izetta) Brannon of Cedarville, WV; her sister: Mary Greenlief of Weston, WV; her sisters-in-law: Sharon Brannon of Cedarville, WV, Sally West of South Charleston, WV and Mary Jane Bumgarner of Howard, OH; brother-in-law: Roger Williams of South Point, OH; and thirteen nieces and nephews.

Dora Jean is preceded in death by her brother, Kenneth Brannon; her sister, Delores Williams; her sister-in-law, Donna Brannon; her brother-in-law, Larry Greenlief; her brother-in-law Tom West; and her brother-in-law, Ray Bumgarner.

The family would like to express a heartfelt thank you to Hospice under the direction of Dr. Kelli Cawley and extreme appreciation for Comfort Keepers, particularly to caregivers, Amanda, Maria, Kayla, Natalie, Rebecca, Debbie and Natasha as well as friends Judy Wince and Susan Strauss for their care and visits respectively.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Bob & Dora Jean Bumgarner Scholarship Fund at the Marietta Community Foundation, to a local Hospice provider or the American Cancer Society (as Dora Jean remained a lifetime cancer survivor for 37 years).

Visitation will be held at Cawley & Peoples Funeral Home at 408 Front Street in Marietta on Sunday, May 12 from 5 to 8 p.m.  On Monday, May 13, a service will be held at noon at the First Baptist Church in Marietta at 301 4th Street. Family will receive visitors one hour prior to the service at First Baptist Church and a lunch reception will follow immediately at the church. A graveside service will be held later that afternoon at 3:30 p.m. at the K of P Cemetery in Elizabeth, WV.

Cawley & Peoples is honored to serve Dora Jean’s family and offers online condolences as well as many other resources by visiting their website, www.CawleyandPeoples.com or by following their Facebook page.