Archie D. Edgell

Archie Dail Edgell, born June 5, 1933, in Reader, West Virginia, lived a life shaped by service, music and commitment to family and community. A U.S. Army veteran during the Korean War era, Archie served for two years and played in an Army band while stationed in Germany — a passion for music that followed him throughout his life. He later made his home in the Center Point and Barbour County area and spent many years working for the City of Salem in street and water operations, where neighbors knew him as a reliable member of the municipal team.

Archie loved music and had a gift for making it part of every gathering. He played in local groups including the Gospel Strings of Salem and was remembered for the warmth he brought to performances and the joy he found in sharing songs with friends and family. Those who knew him recall a man who could pick up many instruments and make them sing, always ready to lend his talent to community events.

Family was central to Archie’s life. He was devoted to his wife, Frances Kathleen Hutson Edgell, to whom he was married for decades, and he was a proud father and grandfather. He is survived by his wife; three children — Steven Dail Edgell, Daniel Bruce Edgell, and Isaiah David Edgell — as well as numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and other relatives who carry forward his memory. He was preceded in death by his parents, Bruce and Effie Swiger Edgell, two children and several siblings.

Archie passed away on March 26, 2018, at the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center. He was honored with a funeral service at Davis Funeral Home and was laid to rest with military honors at West Virginia National Cemetery. Friends and family who gathered to remember him celebrated a life of steady work, musical gifts, and the quiet loyalty he showed to those he loved. Archie’s music, his service, and the kindness he offered his community remain part of the legacy he leaves behind.