CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A former longtime member of the West Virginia Senate died Sunday.
Former McDowell County Senator John Pat Fanning was 89.
Fanning, a Democrat, had been in failing health for several months.
He served in the Senate for more than 30 years over three different periods. He first appointed in June 1968. He served until 1980. He was reelected in1984 and served one term until 1988. Fanning’s third stint in the Senate was his longest. He served from 1996-2012 when he retired.
Former West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin said he remembers Fanning’s time as Senate Finance Committee chairman in the mid-1970s. Fanning then became Tomblin’s vice-chairman when Tomblin became finance chairman.
“He knew the budget very well. He was always willing and able to assist me when I needed some help or I had a difficult issue,” Tomblin said.
Fanning was a statesman and also had the quality of lightening the mood.
“When things got very tough and tense John Pat would spring a funny on you and take a little bit of the tension away from the group that was needing it,” Tomblin said. “He knew exactly when to do that to calm things down.”
Fanning operated three funeral homes in McDowell County.
According to his family, Fanning died Sunday in his sleep at a physical rehabilitation facility in Charleston