Jose Ramon Alonzo

Jose Ramon Alonzo of Parkersburg, WV, was born May 29, 1926 in Clarksburg, WV. He passed peacefully into the arms of the Lord, at his home on November 25, 2017. Jose attended California State Teachers College (California, PA), studying radio theory and communications after high school. After serving in World War II as a Navy Pilot, he became a certified hotel chef working at the Hotel Fairmont in Fairmont, WV, a passion he enjoyed for his lifetime. Being fluent in Spanish, Jose worked for Kaiser Aluminum as an interpreter. His interest in credit unions began at the age of 10 when his family home was destroyed in the 1937 flood. A credit union came to his family's aid with a loan to rebuild. His credit union career began in 1962 when he was employed as a Field representative for the West Virginia Credit Union League, covering the state of West Virginia. Jose moved up through the ranks to become President in 1968, the position he held until his retirement on March 1, 1989. He also served as President of the West Virginia League Services Corporation, and Secretary Treasurer of the West Virginia Corporate Credit Union. Jose was a director of the American Share Insurance Corporation of Columbus, Ohio for twenty seven years and served on the advisory committee of the Federal Reserve Board of Richmond, Virginia. One of the 130 credit unions he organized is the West Virginia Central Federal Credit Union where he served as Treasurer until his retirement in 1989. Jose is survived by his loving wife of fifty-one years, Rosemary Alonzo; a daughter, Sharon Taylor of Huntington, WV; three sisters, Patricia Alonso, Mary Talerico and Leila Blair all of Clarksburg, WV; four brothers, William Alonzo (Alabama), Lloyd Alonso (Florida), Robert Alonso and Dave Alonso all of Clarksburg, WV and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ramon and Josephine Alonso, sister, Margaret Golden and brother, Jack Alonso. Funeral services for Jose will be at 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, November 29, 2017 at Lambert-Tatman Funeral Home, 3005 Grand Central Ave, Vienna, WV. with Rev. Randy Alonso, Jose's nephew, officiating. A Committal Rite will be held at the cemetery at 2:00 P.M. at the Shinnston Memorial Cemetery Mausoleum. Military rites will be performed by the Harrison County Honor Guard. Visitation will be Tuesday from 4:00-8:00 P.M. at the funeral home.