MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — Former Berkeley County delegate John Overington has passed away.

Former Delegate John Overington

West Virginia Secretary of State Kris Warner announced Overington’s passing Tuesday night, saying Overington had passed away that day.

Warner lauded Overington as a long-time and respected legislator and a leader in the state Republican party. 

John Overington was a delegate out of Berkeley County for 34 years. He represented the 62nd District (Eastern Panhandle) from 1984-2018. 

No details have been released about the cause of death for Overington, who was recognized by former Governor Jim Justice as a  Distinguished West Virginian in 2018 for his 34 years of service in the West Virginia House of Delegates.

Of him, Governor Patrick Morrisey wrote Tuesday, “John Overington. The longest serving delegate in state history, John was a conservative warrior, a gentleman, and a friend to all who knew him.

West Virginia owes a debt of gratitude to this man for his impeccable public service, his positive energy, and a life well lived. I learned so much from John Overington and am so sad to see him depart from our world. Take care, fine sir, a seat in Heaven awaits your arrival! I will miss our conversations.”
Overington announced in January 2018 he would not run again.

“I’ve enjoyed my service over the last third of a century, 34 years,” told MetroNews at the time. “At 71 (years old) I wanted to move on and do some other things.”

Overington said he originally ran more than three decades ago to help the state.

“Improving the business climate, making West Virginia business friendly so that people have the opportunities in this state.”

Overington introduced a bill for many years to return the death penalty to West Virginia. In a 2017 interview with MetroNews he explained why, “Of all the tasks of government, the most basic is to protect its citizens from violence,” he said, quoting former U.S. Secretary of State John Foster Dulles.

Overington was 79 years old.

Wednesday morning, State Treasurer Larry Pack issued a lengthy statement:

“John was a mentor, a conservative icon, and a gentleman. I was blessed to have met him along my path in politics and thankful to have called him a friend,” Treasurer Pack said. “The Conservative Movement in West Virginia owes him a debt of gratitude. And for that, he will be missed.”

Overington passed away Tuesday at the age of 79. He was the longest serving delegate in state history, having served for 34 years. He represented the Eastern Panhandle from 1984 to 2018.

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