William H. File, Jr.

William Henry File, Jr., 94, of Beckley, died on March 15, 2009 at the Cleveland Clinic following a short illness.
Born October 13, 1914 at his parents’ home on North Kanawha Street in Beckley, he was the son of the late Judge W. H. File, Sr. and Addie Lanier File.
Mr. File was a 1930 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School, a 1934 graduate of Lynchburg College in Lynchburg, Virginia and received his law degree (L.L.B.) in 1937 from the University of Virginia, where he was a member of the Law Review and the Raven Society.
He was a U.S. Navy Veteran of World War II, serving as a junior officer in the amphibious force from 1942 to 1945. He first served aboard the USS Calvert APA 32 as a boat officer and participated in the invasion of Sicily. He was a boat officer in the D-Day Invasion of Normandy, being in charge of 12 rocket-launching boats in the first wave at Omaha Red Beach. He later became a Commanding Officer of LCSL3130, a rocket-launching amphibious craft which he commissioned in Boston, took through the Panama Canal and which saw combat in the Pacific including shooting down an attacking Kamikaze plane, being one of the last U.S. ships to do so. For his service he was awarded a Silver Star and a Legion of Merit. He retired from the U.S. Naval Reserve with the rank of Commander.
Mr. File joined his father and his Uncle, Ashton File, in the Beckley law firm of File and File in 1937 and except for his service in World War II, practiced law continuously with that firm, now known as File Payne Scherer & File PLLC, for more than 65 years. He was proud to be the longest practicing member of that firm, which has served the Beckley community for more than 100 years. His law partners have included his three sons and his son-in-law, E. M. Payne, III. He was still of counsel to that firm at the time of his death. He served two terms in the W.Va. House of Delegates from 1947 – 1951, one term as majority leader. He was a former City Attorney of the City of Beckley, a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the West Virginia Bar Foundation.
Mr. File served for many years as a director, officer and attorney for Bank of Raleigh, Raleigh Bankshares and Horizon Bancorp. He also served as a director of Beckley Federal Savings & Loan Association and Acme Limestone Company.
Besides his parents, Mr. File was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Marjorie (“Tag”) Wriston File, and two sisters, Ann Louise File and Lanier File Ratcliffe.
He is survived by four children, Susan File Payne and husband, E. M. “Ned” Payne, III, William H. File, III, Robert N. File and wife, Ellen Lilly File, and John Lanier File and wife, Lee Dalton File, eight grandchildren, Dr. Jennifer Lanier Payne and husband, Dr. Ren Etcheberrigaray, John Tucker Payne and wife, Allison Blanchard Payne, William H. File, IV, Sarah Elizabeth File, Haley Broyles File, Lindsay Catherine File, Audrey Ashton File and Laura Ellen File and four great-grandchildren, Amanda Davis Etcheberrigaray, Daniel Xavier Etcheberrigaray, Wallace Lanier Payne and John Tucker Payne, Jr. He is also survived by a sister, Elizabeth File Reed.
Mr. File was a life-long member of the First Christian Church, Courthouse Square, Beckley, where he taught Sunday School for many years and was a Deacon, Trustee and former Chairman of the Board.
Services will be at First Christian Church on Saturday, March 21, 2009 at 11:00 A.M. with the Rev. Don Snyder officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Park. Friends may call at Calfee Funeral Home from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. on Friday, March 20, 2009, or one hour prior to the service at the Church.
Memorial contributions may be made to First Christian Church, Post Office Box 5556, Beckley, West Virginia 25801 or the Beckley Area Foundation, 129 Main Street, Beckley, West Virginia 25801.
Pallbearers will be his sons, grandsons and son-in-law.
On line condolences may be left at www.calfeefh.com.
Arrangements by Calfee Funeral Home.