Angus E. Peyton

Angus E. Peyton

Angus E. Peyton, an attorney and dedicated West Virginia civic leader and businessman, departed this life Thursday, December 18, 2008, at his Charleston, West Virginia, home, surrounded by family after an extended illness.

Possessing a vibrant love of life, he participated in many activities that expressed his adventurous spirit. This included travel to many parts of the world, scuba diving, skiing, squash, tennis, boating, fishing, and skeet shooting. He was a gifted athlete. He enjoyed friends and engaging conversation. An avid supporter of the arts, he delighted in commissioning sculpture for the City of Charleston, including the Cabriole sculpture in front of BBandT Bank, and an original figurative sculpture from Italy, now installed in front of the Clay Center.

Born in Charleston on February 22, 1927, he received his early education in the public schools of Charleston and later attended Woodberry Forest Preparatory School in Orange, Virginia.

He received his B.A. degree in Economics from Princeton University in 1949, and his LL.B. degree in 1952 from the University of Virginia. He was a founder of the law firm of Brown and Peyton in the City of Charleston, and formerly a partner in the law firm of Payne, Minor, Ray, Price and Loeb in the same city. He served an interim term as Commissioner of the Department of Commerce under Governor John D. Rockefeller IV. He previously served as Commissioner of that Department and as Administrative Assistant to the Governor of the State under Hulett C. Smith. Prior to that he served as an Assistant Attorney General for West Virginia and as Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for Kanawha County.

While in state government, Mr. Peyton was Vice Chairman of the West Virginia Housing Development Fund and Governor Smith's voting alternate on the Appalachian Regional Commission. He also served as Liaison Officer of the State with the Department of Commerce, Interior and Housing and Urban Affairs of the State Government. He served as Chairman of the West Virginia Industrial Development Authority and as a member of the executive board of National Association of State Planning and Development Agencies.

In the area of business, Mr. Peyton served as a director on the Executive Committee and Chairman of American Electric Power Company, Inc., One Valley Bank, N.A., and One Valley Bancorp, N.A. He was director and general counsel of Parkline Inc., Chairman and Director of Coal Fillers Inc.; President of Hotel Kanawha Company; and an officer and director of various other companies.

Mr. Peyton was active in community and national affairs, serving in the following capacities as: Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the United States Army, appointed by both President Carter and President Reagan; Chairman, Committee of One Hundred, which merged into Charleston Area Chamber of Commerce and Development; Chairman, Business and Industrial Development Company (BIDCO); Chairman, University of West Virginia College of Graduate Studies Foundation, Inc., received honorary doctorate of laws from the College; Commissioner of Kanawha County Parks and Recreation, President of South Bar Club in Harbour Island, Bahamas; Director of The Mountain Institute in Franklin, West Virginia; member, Beta Gamma Sigma, Honorary National Business Fraternity; member, "Y Group", an industrial and financial organization that convenes in Washington, D.C. to meet and discuss national and international economic political policies with top level government officials; Vice President and Director, Day Care and Child Development Council of America; former Overseer, Dag Hammarskjold College, Columbia, Md.; Director, United Way of Kanawha Valley and Chairman of Budget Committee; former Board Member, Charleston Symphony; Trustee, Charleston General Hospital; Director, Southern West Virginia Automobile Association; Daymark Inc. Half-Way House; Director, Junior Achievement of Kanawha Valley, Inc.; and Regional Chairman, Princeton University Alumnae Association.

Mr. Peyton was an elder at Kanawha Presbyterian Church.

During World War II, Mr. Peyton attended Kings Point Academy and served as Cadet Mid-Shipman with the Merchant Marines aboard a troop carrier transporting troops and prisoners of war from Japan, Africa and Europe.

He is survived by his wife, Nina Andrews Ratrie Peyton, and his children, Morgan Peyton and Lisa Peyton Morin of Charlottesville, Virginia, and Angus M. of Charleston; son-in law, Donald R. Morin; two grandsons, Peyton and William Morin, all of Charlottesville, Virginia; his first wife, Ruth Raftery Peyton; his brother, James F. B. Peyton of Lewisburg; sister, Katherine Woodbridge Forbes of Huntington; stepsons, Turner Rust Ratrie of Savannah, Georgia; Nina Ratrie Bellavance and her husband, Jessie Bellavance, of Spotsylvania, Virginia; Dwight Andrews Ratrie and his wife, Michelle Ratrie; and two great- grandchildren.

A memorial service was held 2 p.m. Saturday, December 20, at Kanawha United Presbyterian Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to a charity of individual choice, keeping in mind people who have needs during this challenging economic time.


This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.