Joseph Michael "Joe" Muto

JOSEPH MICHAEL "JOE" MUTO 89, died on August 23, 2025 at Thomas Memorial Hospital in South Charleston, WV.
He was born in Fairmont, WV on March 19, 1936, the second child of the late Frank Pasquale Muto and Louise Mainella Muto. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his brother, Domenick Muto.
He lived in Fairmont until 2008, when he and his wife moved to Scott Depot, WV near their sons and some of their grandchildren.
He completed his public school education at Fairmont Senior High School in 1954. In 1958, he graduated from Fairmont State College (now University) with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education with a major in Mathematics and Science. He later received a Master of Arts Degree in Counseling and Guidance from West Virginia University.
Prior to graduating from Fairmont State in his last semester of college, Joe was hired by the Marion County Board of Education to fill an emergency teaching position in Science courses at Barrackville High School. He immediately loved teaching and the high school students. He also taught mathematics at Fairmont Junior High School and Fairmont Senior High School. He then served as Guidance Counselor at Fairmont Senior until his retirement in 1988. He also served as the freshmen basketball coach and the varsity tennis team coach for several years.
Joe was a natural athlete, having played both basketball and football at Fairmont Senior High. After taking an elective class in tennis to the late Deacon Duvall at Fairmont State, Joe learned the game quickly and earned the number one spot on the college's varsity tennis team. He gained a great love of tennis and was responsible through the Marion County Playground Association for teaching tennis during the summers to hundreds of Marion County students at the clay courts at Twelfth Street.
While teaching mathematics, Joe met another math teacher, the love of his life, Anne Virginia Drane of Piedmont WV, also a Fairmont State graduate. They were blessed with five children: Jennifer Muto of Fairmont, WV, Mary Beth (Mike) Briskey, of Annapolis, MD, Dr. Joseph Michael Muto of Hurricane, WV, Wendy Gilpin of Morgantown, WV, and Dr. Frank (Dr. Deidre Naylor) Muto of South Charleston, WV. Their children blessed them with ten grandchildren: R.J. Yanero (Rachel), Alex Briskey, Matthew Briskey, Nick Muto, Joseph Muto, Gianna Muto, Anna Gilpin (David) Buch, Julia Gilpin, and twins: Anthony Muto and Christopher Muto. In addition to his wife, children, and grandchildren, Joe is also survived by his sister, Lois (Bill) Laughlin as well as several cousins.
A Mass of Christian Burial Service for Joe will be 11 a.m., Wednesday, August 27, 2025 at Ascension Catholic Church located at 905 Hickory Mills Road Hurricane, WV 25526 with Fr. Shaji Thomas officiating.
Friends may visit the family an hour prior to the service at the church.
Anyone wishing to leave an online memory may do so by visiting Joe's tribute page at: www.chapmanfuneralhomes.com.
Chapman Funeral Home 3941 Teays Valley Road Hurricane, WV 25526 is honored to serve the family.