Grace Demaris Strain
1905 - 1989
  Food Stamp Pioneer Dies  
 
Mrs. Grace Demaris Strain, who was instrumental in sweeting up the food stamp program in West Virginia, died Friday in Putnam General Hospital after a long illness. She was 84. She lived at 1007 Orchard Park Road, Hurricane, WV. She worked for the state Department of Human Services for 47 years. In March 1961, Gov. W. W. Barron appointed Mrs. Strain, then a nutrition worker for the state Welfare Department, to set up the pilot food stamp program in McDowell County. McDowell County was one of eight locations in the nation selected by the U. S. Department of Agriculture for the year-long pilot program. In a 1987 news article, she recalled that President Kennedy was anxious for the program to begin. "He had been to McDowell County and was sick at heart at the things he saw. He wanted to know how fast things could get moving."

The first food stamps were issued in Welch on May 29, 1961. Mrs Strain later came out of retirement to work with the TRIP Program. She was a member of Central United Methodist Church, Charleston, and attended Forest Memorial United Methodist Church, Hurricane. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, the 8 and 40 Honorary Society, the Capital District Women's Club and the National Association of Social Workers. She was a member of the Society for the Blind.

Surviving: daughter, Mrs. Agnes Akers of Mount Nebo; sons, James L of Rocky Mount, NC, and Robert of Hurricane; stepson, Charles O of South Charleston; sister, Mrs Dorothy Bradley of Cross Lanes; 11 grandchildren, two step-grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 pm and 7 to 9 pm Sunday at Bartlett-Burdette-Cox Funeral Home, Charleston.

 
  --The Charleston Gazette, March 18, 1989