Dr. William John "Bill" Ofsa

Dr. William John Ofsa (aka Bill, Doc, Asa) 96, of Athens, WV passed away on October 4, 2025 at The Rocking Chair Assisted Living in Lerona following a brief illness. Born April 21, 1929, in Keystone, WV to Mary Elizabeth Marsh Ofsa and Isadore Ofsa. He attended Northfork High School when it was the "Big Orange" and still segregated. Bill was the 6th man for the Big Orange basketball team and played behind his younger brother Jack, who was a star and was an All-State first team honoree. Bill's mom Mary was an accomplished pianist and piano teacher for 70 years in McDowell County playing for silent movies in both Welch and Bluefield, as well as having her own radio show. William attended Concord College starting in 1948 and graduating in 1952 as an English Major. His roommate and best friend Don Tighe convinced him to be an English Major under the tutelage of Dr. William B. Robertson, Chairman of the English Department at Concord. William was a proud member of the Phi Delta Pi men's fraternity. While a student, he met his first wife and mother of his children, Barbara Jean Couch, now deceased. Bill worked on his Master's degree at WVU and while studying was the WVU Mountain Lair Director at WVU. Don Knotts, famed actor in the Andy Griffith TV series, also worked for the Mountain Lair at that time. He received his Doctorate from University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign in 1974. In 1952, he began his teaching career in McDowell County. Teaching first for a period at Northfork High, followed by three years at Elkhorn Junior High. In the spring of 1958, he received a call from Dr. Robertson asking him to apply for a position in the English Department at Concord which he accepted, beginning his 62-year tenure at Concord. He was a truly dedicated teacher of English and was made Department Chairman sometime in the late 1970's and served in that position as well as teaching a "full load" for over 25 years. He taught at Concord until 2021 when he retired after being hospitalized for COVID-19. He was employed by Concord for 62 years for a total of 68 years teaching for the State of WV. Beat that record, Joe DiMaggio!! English majors may remember Doc's Spaghetti Sauce. He would host graduating English majors with a dinner featuring this Special Sauce, simmered on low heat for an entire day. His way of showing appreciation for his dedicated students. Students remember Dr. Ofsa as their favorite teacher, many becoming teachers themselves. Hardly anyone who had Dr. O from the beginning of his career till the end can forget the lessons learned in his classroom. In 1991 he met and fell in love with Sharon Cheatwood, who also worked at Concord. They were married in December and had almost 33 great years together. William was a mainstay at the basketball gym at Concord. He and his basketball buddies Dan Krider, Tony Barbary, David Ofsa, Frank McKenzie, Lake McKenzie, Lake McKenzie Jr., Willie Blankenship, Joe Keatley, Greg Puckett and many others played most Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sunday mornings in the Concord gym. Doc showed up with a key to the gym, turned on the lights and fired up a boombox playing whatever jazz he was into at the time. He was a deadly 3-point shooter and played about 8 inches taller due to his patented 1-handed jump shot he shot from the side of his head, not the center, making him tougher to guard. He finally gave up basketball because of knee arthritis at age 78. He had a lifelong love affair with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Celtics, University of Kentucky Wildcats, WV Mountaineers, and of course Concord Mountain Lions. Doc spent some time as an announcer at Concord's football games in the 60's. Dr. Ofsa is survived by his wife, Sharon Cheatwood Ofsa, three sons, Dr. David Ofsa (Lynn), William M. Ofsa (Vicki), Robi Ofsa (Susan Boyd); one daughter, Mary Helen Dennis (David); one stepdaughter, Elizabeth Ann Kauff; grandchildren, Gabriel Ofsa, Jessica Woolwinr (Kelley), Max Ofsa (Jessica), Anna Anderson (Bryan), Emily Ofsa (Tyler Erickson, Elias Ofsa (Melissa), Andrew Ofsa (Catie), and Jordan Farley; step-grandchildren, Anna Hill and Jacob Hill; 13 great-grandchildren, brother and sister in law, Sammy and Brenda Cheatwood; and very dear sister-in-law, Shirley Ofsa and her family. A funeral service will be held at 1:00 PM on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at Seaver Funeral Home in Princetin with Pastor Rick Pennington officiating. Burial will follow at Elgood Cemetery in Elgood, WV. Friends may call at the funeral home from 11:00 AM until the service hour on Tuesday. Serving as pallbearers are, former basketball buddies and honorary pallbearer, Dan Krider. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for memorial contributions be made to Concord University or Mountain View Community Church in Elgood.