Remembering Calantha Anne Yost
Calantha Anne Yost, 86, of Bridgeport, West Virginia, and formerly of Paden City, West Virginia, passed away Thursday morning, February 19, 2026, at United Hospital Center in Bridgeport, West Virginia. Anne, as she was known by her friends, was born August 23, 1939, in Fairview, West Virginia, the daughter of the late Thomas Franklin Harris and Calantha Y. Harris. Anne was affectionately known by her extended family as “Poots” which was a nickname given to her by her beloved Uncle Delmar. Anne always mentioned to her students and friends that she lived in a log cabin in Steelton, West Virginia, for a short period of time after she was born.
Anne was an excellent student and excelled while at school, graduating from Paden City High School as president and valedictorian of her senior class. Anne enjoyed playing clarinet with the High School Band and was a majorette in the marching band. Upon graduation from high school, Anne attended West Virginia University as a second-generation Mountaineer, majoring in Education. She wanted to be teacher just like her mother.
On March 18, 1961, Anne married her high school sweetheart, Harold Stanford Yost in a small private ceremony in Oakland, Maryland. She mentioned to her daughter that her wedding date was significant because she was on spring break from the University at the time. On August 5, 1961, Stan and Anne, at the behest of their mothers, had an elaborate ceremony in Paden City, West Virginia, attended by family and friends. They renewed their vows in a ceremony at the Meadowbrook Church of Christ on March 18, 2011, in front of friends and family. Stan always told everyone that he loved Anne so much, he married her three times. Stan and Anne were married for sixty years.
Anne graduated from West Virginia University and obtained a BS degree in Education in 1961. While her husband Stan was in Law School, Anne began her career teaching third and fourth grade in Morgantown, West Virginia. She also began working on her Master’s Degree. Shortly after Stan graduated from Law School, he started his military career in the Army JAG corps. Stan, Anne, and their young daughter, Kaye went to Manheim, West Germany, where Stan was stationed for his first year. The family was then transferred to Frankfurt, Germany for the remainder of his four-year tour. During those years, their son, Brian was born in Heidelburg, Germany. After returning to the United States, the family resided in Rockville, MD. Their youngest child, Michael was born at Walter Reed Hospital in the District of Columbia. The family moved to Bridgeport, West Virginia in December of 1970. In the early 1970’s, Anne returned to teaching as a substitute teacher in Harrison County. She was always proud of the future accomplishments of one of her students at that time named John James Fisher. Anne always said he was such a sweet boy. John James “Jimbo” Fisher Jr. went on to coach Florida State University to a national championship later in his life. After Anne raised her family to the point her youngest child was in school, she returned to WVU and eventually obtained her Master of Education Degree. She was a teacher at Roosevelt Wilson High School from 1986 to 1990, where she taught English and reading. Anne always helped with the productions of school plays. Starting in the late 1980’s to 1990, Anne taught at both Rosevelt Wilson and South Harrison High Schools at the same time. In the fall of 1990, Anne took a full-time position as a teacher at South Harrison High School teaching reading, English, and Honors English. She was the faculty advisor to the National Honor Society while there and also the advisor for the school yearbook. In 1992, Anne had the honor of attending the West Virginia Teacher’s Academy. In 2002, she had the pleasure to be a chaperone on a school trip to France with fellow faculty members, Dee Martin and Yvonne Gibson. Anne continued to teach at South Harrison High School until she retired in 2012.
Anne served as a member of the Board of Directors of The Bank of Wadestown from 1986 to 1993. She owned and operated the Holiday Laundromat located in the Holiday Plaza (now Gabriel Brothers Shopping Center) with her husband. After retiring from teaching, Anne owned and operated Old Granddad’s Antiques on Main Street in Bridgeport, West Virginia, in the late 2010’s.
Anne was an avid traveler, touring Europe on three day passes with her husband Stan, during his time stationed in Germany. Later in life, Anne returned to Europe and Africa, visiting France, Germany, Portugal, Spain, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Greece, and Egypt. She also traveled throughout most of the contiguous United States over the years. Anne was always up to a trip, whether it be to Cool Springs, West Virginia, or the Pyramids of Egypt.
Anne was always involved in her children’s educational and extracurricular activities. She was a Girl Scout Troop Leader for her daughter and served as a Cub Scout Den Mother for both of her sons. Anne was always proud of her children’s accomplishments and accolades. Anne was a true football fan. She faithfully attended Bridgeport High School Football games when her daughter was in the band and her son, Brian, was on the football team. Anne would always faithfully attend her son Michael’s baseball and football games while he was in grade school and attending Saint Mary’s and Notre Dame High School. Anne was devoted to Mountaineer Football, attending games from the 1950’s to the 2020’s. You could always tell when she attended a Mountaineer game by listening to the hoarseness of her voice.
Anne and her husband, Stan were proud members of the Coon’s Run Baptist Church Homecoming Choir and enjoyed singing under the direction of their dear friend, Edgar Southern. Anne and Stan were members of their friend Craig Johnston’s Praise Team and participated in many performances. Anne was a member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Paden City and later a member of Central Church of Christ in Clarksburg and then Meadowbrook Church of Christ in Meadowbrook. She taught Sunday school classes and preschool while at Central Church of Christ and further taught Children’ s Bible Time at Meadowbrook Church of Christ. She was a proud member the GFWC Bridgeport Woman’s Club serving as past president, a member of Retired Teachers, a member of ADK and a sister in Kappa Delta Sorority serving as president of her chapter for two years during her days at WVU.
Anne was a proud Breast Cancer survivor and loudly rang the bell surrounded by family and friends on February 8, 2017.
Anne’s family would like to express their sincere gratitude and appreciation to the excellent nurses and staff at Ruby Memorial Hospital and United Hospital Center for the dedicated care and compassion that they gave our mother during her brief illness. Words alone cannot express the family’s gratefulness for the sympathy and devotion they showed our mother, allowing her to keep her dignity and modesty while she was under their watchful eyes.
Anne’s husband, Harold Stanford Yost preceded her in death on November 18, 2021. Calantha Anne Yost is survived by her daughter Calantha Kaye Palmer and her husband Jeff of Bridgeport; her son Harold Brian Yost and his wife Carolyn of Bridgeport; and her son Michael Stanford Yost of Bridgeport; four grandchildren Thomas Jeffrey Palmer, Calantha Nicole Palmer, Sarah Kaye Palmer and Harold Hunter Yost. In addition to her husband and parents, Anne was preceded in death by her brother, Thomas Delmar Harris.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate a donation in Anne’s name to the Chestnut Mountain Ranch in Morgantown West Virginia and to Susan G. Komen.
Condolences to the Yost Family may be sent to burnsidefh@burnsidefuneralhome.com
Friends will be received at Burnside Funeral Home, 607 S. Virginia Avenue, Bridgeport, from 3pm to 7pm on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, and Jarvis-Williams Funeral Home, 309 N. 4th Avenue, Paden City, on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, from 11 am to 1 pm. Services will be held at 1 pm with Pastor Michael Adkinson officiating. A committal service and interment will follow immediately at Northview Cemetery, New Martinsville.