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Randy Funkhouser Passes Away

Raymond Joseph “Randy” Funkhouser, II, a longtime member of the Charles Town Horsemen's Benevolent Protective Association (HBPA), passed away Feb. 4. He was 70.

Born and raised in Charles Town, West Virginia, Funkhouser returned to Jefferson County after graduating from Stanford University to partner with his mother Ruth and mentor Frank Gall in running O'Sullivan Farms. He was actively involved in the West Virginia Thoroughbred industry and farmland preservation, working tirelessly for decades with legislators and community leaders to protect and enhance the industry in the state.

Funkhouser served as a member of the Charles Town Horsemen's Benevolent Protective Association (HBPA) for 25 years, including 16 years as president. He served on the boards of the National HBPA, West Virginia Thoroughbred Breeders Association, West Virginia Breeders Classics, the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley and was a founding member and organizer of the Charles Town Racetrack Chaplaincy.

He followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, RJ Funkhouser, in his passion for Jefferson County's rich culture, history and agriculture. Sons John and Joe carry on their father's legacy in the operation of the family farm and advocacy for horsemen in West Virginia.

Funkhouser recently published a book of poetry, Shenandoah Valley Sketches.

Funkhouser is survived by his beloved wife of 46 years, Clissy, sons John and Joe Funkhouser, daughter Kate Brown, son-in-law Mike Brown, grandson Clyde Brown, sister Ann Strite-Kurz and a vast network of adoring family and friends and his loyal dog Finnegan. He is preceded in death by his mother, Ruth Funkhouser, father and step-mother Justin and Carolyn Funkhouser, sisters Carol Funkhouser and Pam Day and long-time mentor, Frank Gall. His brother Robert Funkhouser passed away Feb. 7.

A funeral service will be held Feb. 20, at 2 p.m. at Covenant Church, 7485 Shepherdstown Pike, Shepherdstown, West Virginia. The service will be live streamed, and the link can be found on the website www.randyfunkhouser.com.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to Charles Town Racetrack Chaplaincy, PO Box 1377, Charles Town, WV 25414. Or Friends of Happy Retreat, PO Box 1427 Charles Town, WV 25414 (https://www.happyretreat.org/donate/). Or The Bridge Community Church 114 S. Fairfax Blvd., Ranson WV 25438 (https://thebridgewv.church/give).

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‘A Man Of Honor’: Charles Town HBPA Pillar Randy Funkhouser Dies At 70

Raymond Joseph “Randy” Funkhouser II, 70, died peacefully on Feb. 4, 2022. Randy is survived by his beloved wife of 46 years, Clissy, sons John and Joe Funkhouser, daughter Kate Brown, son-in-law Mike Brown, grandson Clyde Brown, sister Ann Strite-Kurz and a vast network of adoring family and friends and his loyal dog Finnegan. He is preceded in death by his mother Ruth Funkhouser, father and step-mother Justin and Carolyn Funkhouser, sisters Carol Funkhouser and Pam Day and long-time mentor, Frank Gall. His brother Robert Funkhouser passed away on Feb. 7.

Randy was born and raised in Charles Town, West Virginia. He attended Powhatan School in Boyce, Virginia and The Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Stanford University with a B.A. in creative writing before returning to Jefferson County to partner with his mother Ruth and mentor Frank Gall in running O'Sullivan Farms. He was actively involved in the West Virginia Thoroughbred industry and farmland preservation, working tirelessly for decades with legislators and community leaders to protect and enhance the Thoroughbred industry.

Randy served as a member of the Charles Town Horsemen's Benevolent Protective Association (HBPA) for 25 years, including stints as president for 16 of those years. He served on the boards of the National HBPA, West Virginia Thoroughbred Breeders Association, West Virginia Breeders Classics, the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley and was a founding member and organizer of the Charles Town Racetrack Chaplaincy.

Randy followed in the footsteps of his grandfather RJ Funkhouser in his passion for Jefferson County's rich culture, history and agriculture. Sons John and Joe carry on their father's legacy in the operation of the family farm and advocacy for horsemen in West Virginia.

An avid photographer in earlier years, Randy went on to pursue his love of creative writing and recently published a book of poetry, Shenandoah Valley Sketches.

Randy had a voracious appetite for life, learning and travel. He had an unbridled hope that each year's foal crop would be the best yet. He was a visionary, a scholar and above all a man of honor. He had a big heart and laughed and wept equally with abandon. His beaming smile always lit up the room.

Randy possessed an encyclopedic knowledge of family lore, fine wine, thoroughbred pedigrees and every book he ever read. He was kind-hearted, generous and endlessly appreciative of God's creation. He loved the Lord, his family, his farm, his friends and a good story. And boy, could he tell a tale.

He will be dearly missed.

A funeral service will be held on Sunday, February 20, at 2:00 pm at Covenant Church, 7485 Shepherdstown Pike, Shepherdstown, West Virginia. The service will be live streamed, and the link can be found on the website randyfunkhouser.com

The family invites you to share your memories of Randy on the website, randyfunkhouser.com. Select “Memorial” from the menu and use the links to share memories via email or to upload pictures.

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Randy Funkhouser, Top West Virginia Owner/Breeder, Dies At 70

Raymond Joseph “Randy” Funkhouser II, longtime owner and breeder in West Virginia, died Feb. 4. Funkhouser operated O'Sullivan Farm with his family, collecting nearly 250 winners of $6.6 million, according to The Racing Biz.

His top runners were Confucius Say, who won four West Virginia Breeders Classics races, and Julie B, who earned close to $900,000 on the track.

Funkhouser was on the board of directors for the Charles Town HBPA and served as the group's president for a total of 16 years across various terms. He was also the vice president of the West Virginia Thoroughbred Breeders Association. Funkhouser was a founding member and organizer of the Charles Town Racetrack Chaplaincy.

A graduate of Stanford University, Funkhouser returned to his native Jefferson County, WVa., after college to run O'Sullivan with his mother Ruth and mentor Frank Gall.

Funkhouser often went to the mat for the state's horse racing industry and agricultural interests with various community leaders and state legislators.

“He wanted this industry to thrive,” Joe Funkhouser, son of Randy, told The Journal. “There would be no horse racing in West Virginia without my dad.”

Randy Funkhouser is survived by his wife Clissy, son Joe, and daughter Kate Brown, as well as a grandson and a sister. Funeral arrangements are pending.