DR. JOHN W. TRAUBERT
Dr. John W. Traubert, MD, born in Wheeling, W.Va., Aug. 15, 1934, the son of the late John F. Traubert and Ellen King Traubert, passed away with the comfort of his family on July 4, 2025. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Nancy Bigler Traubert, three sisters, Mary Ellen Madden, Margaret Ann Kellogg and Elizabeth Jane Lane; four children, Jean A. Bridges and her husband Thomas, John P. Traubert and his wife Amy, Steven M. Traubert and his wife Amy and David W. Traubert; twelve grandchildren, Anna, Gillian, Sarah, Joshua, Sydney, Xander, Maxwell, Oliver, Lillian, Owen, Margaret and Finnian; and three great grandchildren, Monty, Emerson and Ottilie.
He was reared in Wellsburg, W.Va., attended St John’s Parochial School and Wellsburg High School, earned his B.A. from West Virginia University and was a member of the WVU Swimming Team and Kappa Alpha Order. Following a tour in the U.S. Army, he graduated from The Ohio State University with a MS in Physiological Chemistry and his Medical Degree. He had a Family Medicine Practice in Wellsburg, served as a Clinical Instructor for the WVU School of Medicine, an EMS Instructor, county coroner, county health commissioner, and high school team physician.
In 1973 he joined the WVU School of Medicine as Professor and Chairman of the Department of Family Medicine. In 1986, he became the Associate Dean for Student and Curricular Affairs for the WVU School of Medicine, serving in that role until his retirement in 1999. In this capacity, he and his wife Nancy hosted hundreds of first year medical students in their home, serving them lasagna and colorful ice cream pie.
Dr. Traubert served as a field faculty member to medical students doing rural rotations throughout West Virginia. He also worked in several West Virginia clinics covering for vacationing physicians and spent vacations working in Barrow, Alaska, Rocky Boy Indian Reservation in Montana, and the island of Barbuda.
Upon his retirement in 1999, the School of Medicine named the John W. Traubert White Coat Ceremony in his honor. After retirement, he and his wife moved to Topsail Beach, N.C., hosted family and friends and were involved with the Topsail Island Sea Turtle Project and other community organizations.
Those who spent any time around Dr. Traubert could recognize his love of life, his many interests, and endless curiosity. He often had a length of string in his pocket to entertain a bored child with string tricks he learned from his mother. He and Nancy enjoyed many travel adventures in their Roadtrek, towing a dune buggy and participating in dune buggy rallies.
Friends and family will be received at St. Mary Roman Catholic Church, 3346 University Ave., Star City, on Saturday, July 19th from 10:00 am until the time of the Funeral Mass at 11:00 am, with Father John McDonough as celebrant. Inurnment will follow in the St. Mary’s Peace Gardens Mausoleum.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the WVU Foundation, Dr. John and Nancy Traubert Rural Scholars Fund, #3V986 at 1 Waterfront Place, 7th Floor, P.O. Box 1650, Morgantown, WV 26507.
Send condolences online at www.hastingsfuneral home.com