April 2022 Members of the Month

The Kittle Family Funeral Home and the Animal Friends of Barbour County are the Barbour County Chamber of Commerce Members of the Month for April. 

T. Scott Kittle, left, is a licensed funeral director and embalmer, and pre-need counselor for the Kittle Family Funeral Home.  Donna Smilardo is the President of the Animal Friends of Barbour County.

The Kittle Family Funeral Home is a funeral and cremation service located at 265 Beech Avenue in Philippi, telephone 457-2900. Their email address is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and website  kittlefamilyfh.com   Scott Kittle was born in Elkins and raised in Philippi.  He earned an Associates Degree in Business Administration from Fairmont State University as well as an Associate’s Degree in Funeral Service Technology from the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary. 

Kittle has previous experience at the Tomblyn Funeral Home in Elkins, Winter and D’alessandro Funeral Homes in Pittsburgh, Schoonover-Stemple Funeral Chapel in Belington, and the Stemple and Forman Funeral Home in Philippi. 

The Kittle Family Funeral Home is family-owned and operated. “We offer a dignified service to the community at a reasonable price. When your family walks in the door, or calls, we treat you like one of our own family,” Kittle says.

Animal Friends of Barbour County is made up of volunteers dedicated to saving the lives of surrendered, abused, neglected, and stray companion animals in this rural West Virginia community, says Smilardo.  The group has been in operation for almost twenty-one years.  Because of their efforts, and that of companion network of rescue groups, “thousands of Barbour County cats and dogs have found homes with cherishing families,” she says.

Animal Friends of Barbour County is a no-kill shelter and 501c3 non-profit organization that relies on contributions and grants to finance an operation which includes food, water, shelter, and medical care for cats and dogs waiting for “forever homes.”  The non-profit is especially grateful to two local veterinary clinics which provide spay and neuter discount vouchers.

Animal Friends hosts an Attic Thrift Store in Belington whose sales assist with the monthly cost of operation.  The store is located in the Tygart River General Store at 612 South Crim Avenue and is open Fridays from 10:00 a.m . to 2:00 p.m.  Call 613-5741.  The Animal Friends Shelter is located at 320 Valley Bend Road, also in Belington, and is open by appointment.  For inquiries call 823-2012.  “We appreciate the support of local and non-local residents who keep our doors open.  Thank you,” Smilardo says.