Grace Demaris Strain
1905 - 1989
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Food Stamp Pioneer
Dies |
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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.
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--The Charleston
Gazette, March 18, 1989 |
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