George "Jay" Auxt

George (Jay) Auxt

Jay Auxt, Williamsport, MD, journeyed to a new life with his Savior on Saturday, June 2, 2018. Born in 1927, he was the son of George and Harriett (Pugh) Auxt. He was predeceased by his siblings (Andrew Auxt, Katherine Stonesifer, Dorothy Feil, and Betty Eves) and his wives, Eloise (Lou) Gordon Miller Auxt and Virginia (Ginny) Miller Auxt. In his final days he often expressed gratitude for his 30 years of marriage to each and his expanded family of children, relatives, and close friends. He is survived by his children, Jay Auxt, Tara Baugher, and Jamie Witman McElwee; spouses Jackie, Phil, and John; 9 grandchildren; 4 great grandchildren; 4 stepchildren; 11 step-grandchildren; Lou’s 2 sisters; and numerous nieces and nephews.

After graduating from Hagerstown High School and Gettysburg College and spending time in the Navy, Jay began his career as a teacher and guidance counselor at Woodland Way High School, where Lou taught math. He then earned a master’s degree in counseling from Columbia University, accepted a position as Director of Guidance for WV public schools in Charleston, WV, and served a term as executive secretary of the WV Personnel and Guidance Association. In 1969, the family moved to Williamsport, MD and Jay became Dean of Student Affairs at Shepherd College. He described the time as one of “exciting changes” and started a counseling program by making sure team members “weren’t bogged down with administrative assignments that would take them away from students who just want to sit down and talk things out.” During his time at Shepherd, the college grew from a small campus of 1300 to a university that topped enrollment of 3000. In his retirement years, Jay was an avid card player and traveler. Jay’s service activities centered around church and volunteer work to support youth in the various communities in which he lived. He organized and served as the first executive director of the Big Brothers of Washington County. Jay is fondly remembered by the many individuals he influenced during their youth as “a friend, a mentor, a teacher—one who genuinely cared and was all too willing to help in any way he could.”

A memorial service will be held on Friday, June 15, 2018 in the chapel of Homewood Retirement Center, Williamsport, MD. The service begins at 2:00 pm, and a reception will follow. Those who are unable to attend the service are invited to visit with family members from 1:30 to 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the George Auxt Fund for Big Brothers and Big Sisters, CFWC, 37 S Potomac Street, Hagerstown, MD 21740 or online at CFWCmd.org or to the Homewood Benevolent Fund, Homewood at Williamsport, 16505 Virginia Ave, Williamsport, MD 21795. Arrangements were handled by the Harold M. Zimmerman And Son Funeral Home of Greencastle, PA. Online condolences may be given  at www.zimmermanfh.com