Biography of Delma Wagner Thompson

Delma Wagner was born September 24, 1931, a daughter of Delbert Wagner and Cora (Booth) Wagner.  She was born in the community of Mt. Liberty, Philippi District, Barbour County, West Virginia.

Delma attended the one room school at Mt. Liberty and graduated from Philippi High School with the class of 1949.  She was a member of the band and a member of the FTA, Future Teachers of America.. After graduating from high school, she attended college at Fairmont State College.  After two years of college work, she began teaching.  Her first year teaching was at the Point Pleasant School (a one room school) in 1951 and 1952.  It was a two room building but due to a decline in students they were having school in one room.  She had all eight grades.  She also had the hot lunch program in which she had to get the groceries in for the cook to prepare.

She rode the school bus in the mornings out the road as far as Bus Wiese’s.  Then she would walk through Wade Everson’s field to the Point Pleasant Road, then on to school.  In the evenings, she walked all the way home from the school to Mt. Liberty.

In the month of June 14, 1952 she was married to Robert L. Thompson.  They were married at Blueville Grafton by Evangelist Lewis Smith of the Church of Christ.  They spent their honeymoon in Illinois with her sister Neva and brother-in-law, Eugene Painter.  To the union, one daughter, Debra Lynn was born, May 13, 1953.

In the fall of 1952, she started teaching at the Independence School but was only allowed to teach until November.  She was pregnant with Debbie and was not allowed to teach only a couple of months during pregnancy.  Fall of 1953, she taught her home school at Mt. Liberty.  1953–1954, 1954–1955, 1955–1956 at Mt. Liberty.  1956–1957, 1957–1958, 1958–1959 at Independence and Silent Grove 1959–1960, 1960–1961, 1961–1962.  Then to Randolph, Ohio.  While in Randolph, Ohio, Delma was voted teacher of the year in the school.  Her husband, Bob was defeated by one vote.  She won.

Then the return to West Virginia, where she was placed in the Belington area 1967–1968.  One year she became the teacher of the year of Barbour County.  Since Delma’s teaching career began, she has obtained her master’s degree plus thirty credit hours toward her Doctor’s degree in education. 

Delma retired in 1988–with 36 years and 3 months.  The reason for the 3 months was she did not get to finish the complete year while pregnant for Debbie.  She is doing some substitute work.

Bob and Delma operated the Mt. Liberty Grocery for a short period of time.  It was the store originally built by H. C. Weese & Son in the year of 1938.  In 1938, Mt Liberty Road was a dirt road.