Alvin "Al" Meadows died at his home in Crawley, Monday, June 6, 2022 at the age of ninety-six.

Al was born on September 12, 1925 in Summers County near Hinton. He graduated from Hinton High School where he was actively involved in Future Farmers of America. After working as a welder building landing craft for use in World War II, he went on to graduate from Concord College with dual degrees in History and English combined with teaching certifications. Al received a Master's Degree in Education from West Virginia University and completed post-graduate work at both Marshall University and the University of Virginia.

During his over thirty-year career of teaching and public-school administration, "Mr. Meadows" mentored, and inspired generations of Greenbrier County youth. Al was principal at Charmco, Crichton, and Rainelle Elementaries. He also served as director of the Greenbrier County Head-Start program for several years. His unique ability to connect to people and make them feel valued garnered respect and admiration from both his students and his co-workers.

Al's family, friends and neighbors will remember him for his storytelling abilities, his willingness to help in any situation, his generosity in sharing whatever he grew, and the authentic essence of his character. In addition to gardening, he was an avid reader, beekeeper, maple syrup maker, and outdoorsman. He loved being in the woods and had many fond memories of deer hunts and fishing trips. He liked to keep moving and exercised daily even during his final days. Al viewed each day as a new beginning and one in which he needed to be purposefully involved.

Al was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He is survived by his wife of seventy-four years, Virginia Bryant Meadows, his son James Meadows (Creta) of Crawley, his daughter Linda Sweeney (Tom) of South Charleston, his grandson William "Stephen" Sweeney of Portland, Oregon, and his granddaughter Kathryn Sweeney of Damascus, Virginia. In addition to his immediate family, Al was a "father" to many. He was especially fond of his sister-in-law, Margaret Bryant Chance of Richmond, Indiana, who spent so much time with he and Ginny over the years.

Al's funeral service will be 2:00 p.m. Sunday, June 12 at Smathers Funeral Chapel.

The family will receive friends one hour before the service from 1-2:00 pm at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Alvin's name to the Meadow River Valley Association. This organization is involved in efforts to repurpose the former Rupert Elementary School into a Community Center and the establishment of a scenic trail along the Meadow River from Greenbrier to Fayette County. Al would have loved to walk the trail naming every tree, plant, and animal he saw, and if it were springtime, he would pause to whittle a wooded whistle from a nearby branch. Donations may be mailed to MRVA, 732 Main Street, Suite 1, Rainelle, WV 25962 to the attention of Matt Ford.