The Hardy County Community Foundation is pleased to welcome the addition of the Vernon and Myrtle Webster Scholarship Fund.
Myrtle Webster established the Vernon Webster Scholarship shortly after Vernon’s death in 1980. After the death of Myrtle in 2009, their three children, Vernon, Buddy, and Annabelle, added to it and changed the name to the Vernon and Myrtle Webster Scholarship. The scholarship has been administered by the Hardy County Board of Education, but was recently transferred to the Hardy County Community Foundation where it will continue to honor the legacy of two exceptional individuals who valued and supported education.
Vernon Webster was born in 1910 near Wardensville, WV, the oldest of three sons whose father died when he was twelve years old. Myrtle (Shockey) Webster was born in 1917 near Moorefield, into a family of 8 brothers and sisters.
Vernon operated a saw mill for a while then drove a truck for Rockingham Poultry for several years while Myrtle owned and managed a restaurant in the 1950’s. They eventually decided to open a television, appliance, and furniture store known as VW Webster Furniture and Appliances until they retired. Myrtle clerked the store and Webster did the deliveries and television and appliance repair. They were members of Duffy Memorial United Methodist Church in Moorefield. Vernon was a long-time member of the Moorefield Lions Club and served on the Moorefield Town Council.
Both Vernon and Myrtle had only eighth-grade educations, and while they still achieved great success as a result of their initiative, perseverance, and hard work, they always saw the value of a good education. They staunchly supported funding initiatives for the local school system and were strong supporters of higher education. Nearly all their descendants and their spouses have acquired or are pursuing college degrees.
The Webster’s interest in supporting education grew out of attending their children’s sporting events at Moorefield High School. Vernon and Buddy were active in three sports and Annabelle was a cheerleader.
Myrtle had a great love of high school basketball and attended games into her late 80’s. Over the decades she watched her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren play. She also grew to know many of the other players and their parents.
As Myrtle watched the students play, she took an interest in their futures and always enjoyed hearing about them becoming successful adults and reaching their full potential. She wanted to help others further their education and believed in rewarding academic excellence and community involvement. A scholarship seemed like a great way to achieve both. Vernon and Myrtle’s commitment to education has benefitted Moorefield High School seniors for over 40 years, and will continue to do so another 40 years and beyond.
The Hardy County Community Foundation is currently accepting applications for scholarships, including the Vernon and Myrtle Webster Scholarship, now through 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 28th for the 2024-25 school year. Moorefield and East Hardy high school seniors scheduled to graduate this spring are invited to apply using an online application which may accessed online at: https://ewvcf.awardspring.com