ELIZABETH - Former Elizabeth Mayor Lewis H. Full will be remembered as a man who worked hard for the betterment of the community.
Full, 82, died Monday following several weeks of Hospice care at the home of his son.
Full had been mayor of Elizabeth and on city council a number of times since the 1980s, alternating between the two positions, current Elizabeth Mayor Penny McVay said.
''He was always on council when he wasn't the mayor,'' she said. ''He was one of the good old boys.
''He always worked hard for the town of Elizabeth.''
McVay had served as the city recorder for 21 years with 15 of those with Full in some capacity.
Full was one of the driving forces to getting municipal water and sewer in Elizabeth.
''He played a major part in that,'' McVay said. ''Once that was accomplished, he worked hard to extend waterlines out into the county.''
One of the last waterline projects was completed within the last year, running lines to Palestine, Garfield Road, Burning Springs and part of W.Va. 53. Plans are in place to eventually extend sewer lines into the county.
''I hope the people will remember and appreciate what he did for the town and the county,'' McVay said.
Wirt County Commissioner Charles Murray had known Full for years, having graduating together from high school in 1950.
''He was a good man,'' Murray said. ''He did a lot for the community. He was a wonderful person to call a friend and neighbor.''
Full always had a concern for the town and the county in wanting to bring in municipal water for the area.
''He wanted to extend those waterlines as far he could,'' Murray said. ''It will be just one of the things he will be remembered for.''
''He will be missed,'' Murray said.
Former Elizabeth Mayor Ken Stempowski said there were times Full was like a father to him, offering advice and other help.
''I will miss him terribly,'' he said.
In addition to the waterlines, Full also instituted a program to place sidewalks throughout the town which have benefited the community in recent years.
Full liked working on antique cars and raising cattle, usually having 10-15 heads on his property.
''He was always working on something,'' Stempowski said. The last car Full had worked on was a 1957 Chevy, he said.
Full was always helping people with whatever they needed. If it was a big problem, he would try to find a way to solve it.
''If it was a small problem, he would simply take care of it,'' Stempowski said. ''He was always community minded and wanted to help everyone in any way he could.''
Visitation and memorial services will be Saturday with visitation at Busch-Kimes Funeral Home between 10 a.m. and noon, followed by services at Elizabeth Baptist Church. There will be an hour of visitation at 2 p.m. and the memorial service at 3 p.m.
