Ernest Lee Fitzwater, 93 of Grassy Meadows, WV passed away Sunday April 24, 2022 at Peyton Hospice House in Fairlea following a long illness.

Born July 18, 1928 in Leslie, WV he was the son of the late Albert Franklin and Rhoda Irene Davis Fitzwater.

Mr. Fitzwater was a retired coal miner and was a Staff Srgt. in the US Army during the Korean War. Ernest was a survivor of the Hominy Falls mining disaster in 1968. He was a longtime member of Grassy Meadows Gospel Lighthouse and enjoyed singing, playing guitar and riding in his Jeep. Most of all, he loved his family dearly and will be missed by all of them.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Geneva Fitzwater, second wife, Enola Fitzwater; six brothers, Frederick, Arthur, Paul, Jesse, Joe and Delbert Fitzwater; four sisters, Anna Mae Hamrick, Ruth Meadows, Shelba Jean Fitzwater, and Lena Irene Fitzwater; a son-in-law, Harry Keaton.

Survivors include three daughters, Regina Keaton of Hinton, Shelia Kitching and husband Richard of Milton, WV and Rhonda Blevins and husband James of Sandstone, WV; one brother, Roger Fitzwater and wife Doris of Ephrata, PA; one sister, Barbara Robiola of Huntley, IL; three grandchildren, Justin Keaton and wife Paige, Richard C. Kitching and wife Kristan and Cori Cook and husband W.B.; step-granddaughter, Kristan Hodge and husband Roger; five great grandchildren, Mattie and Emma Hodge, Hallie Kitching and Gavin and Jada Cook.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday April 28, 2022 at Pivont Funeral Home Chapel in Hinton with Brother Butch LeGrand officiating. Burial will follow in the Gill Cemetery at Sandstone. Friends may call from 12:00 p.m. until 1:00 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be; Franklin Bowles, Frankie Martin, Richard A. Kitching, Richard C. Kitching, Arnold Martin and John Averil.

The family wishes to express their deep gratitude for the care given to Ernest by caregiver Frankie Martin, the staff of Greenbrier Valley Medical Center, Sunrise Nursing Home and Peyton Hospice House.