John Hatcher Obituary

JUDGE JOHN W. HATCHER JR., age 81, died peacefully on July 11, 2025. He was the eldest child of the late J.W. "Woodie" and R. Maxine Morris Hatcher. Judge Hatcher grew up in Edmond, WV and was a graduate of Nuttall High School, West Virginia University, and WVU College of Law. Upon his matriculation from law school, he was commissioned as a Captain in the US Army and attended Judge Advocate General School. From there he was deployed to Vietnam, where he proudly served as a JAG officer.
After his honorable discharge from the Army, he returned to Fayette County and entered private law practice, eventually establishing his solo practice in Fayetteville. But soon politics called and he was elected to serve the people of Fayette County for several terms in the House of Delegates. While in the legislature, he served on many committees, including as Chair of the House Judiciary Committee. When there was a Circuit Court vacancy in Fayette County in 1990, he was appointed to fill it by Governor Gaston Caperton. Judge Hatcher was sworn into office January 4, 1991 and served the Twelfth District for nearly 28 years until his retirement in 2018. Upon retirement, Judge Hatcher and his wife, Alice, moved to Florida, where they quickly settled in and made many friends while walking with their beloved dog, Bella.
In addition to his wife, Alice, he is survived by his stepdaughter Terri Blake (Chris McDowell) and stepson David (Heather) Hash, and grandchildren Camden and Carsen Blake, and Oscar, Zach, and Charley Hash. He is also survived by his brother Steve (Debbie) Hatcher and sister Helen (Steve) Stalnaker. Other survivors include a sister-in-law, Brenda Hewitt (Mark Dove), a nephew, John Hatcher, and nieces Leslie (Rusty) Bowman, Jennifer (Greg) Arvidson, and Meredith Stalnaker.
Friends will be received at Dodd-Payne-Hess Funeral Home, 350 West Maple Avenue, Fayetteville WV on Saturday, July 19 from 3 until 5 p.m. Funeral services will be held at the funeral home on Sunday, July 20 at 2 p.m. with interment to follow at Restlawn Memory Gardens, 151 Restlawn Cemetery Road, Victor WV.
The family respectfully requests no flowers be sent for the services. For those wishing to memorialize Judge Hatcher, the family suggests donations to the Honorable John W. Hatcher Jr. Memorial Law Scholarship at the West Virginia University College of Law. Secure online donations may be made at give.wvu.edu to Fund 3Z1184. Donations may be mailed to WVU Foundation, PO Box 1650, One Waterfront Place 7th Floor Morgantown WV 26507, with the memo line indicating Fund 3Z1184.