Hamden educator, Vinton County teacher Bill DePue dies at 75

Vinton County lost a familiar name in classrooms, county service and off-road circles when William V. “Bill” DePue Jr. of Hamden died Friday, April 17, at Four Winds Community in Jackson after an extended illness. He was 75 and had lived there since 2023.

Born Nov. 20, 1950, in Gallipolis to William V. DePue, Sr. and Gertrude M. Pleasant DePue, DePue was raised on a beef cattle farm near Hamden. His family said that upbringing shaped the work ethic that carried him through a life centered on Vinton County.

After graduating from Vinton County Consolidated High School in 1968, DePue attended Ohio University and earned a bachelor’s degree in social studies and elementary education in 1972. He then spent 33 years teaching in the Vinton County School District, a career that put him in front of generations of local students before his retirement.

DePue’s public service did not end when he left the classroom. He was elected to the Board of Directors of the Vinton County Soil and Water Conservation District and served for more than 20 years. The district, formed in 1946 as the 45th soil and water conservation district in Ohio, is funded by the Vinton County Commissioners and the Ohio Department of Agriculture and is governed by a five-member elected board serving three-year terms. In 2024, the district recognized DePue with its Commitment to Conservation Award.

He also stayed rooted in the county’s rural and recreational traditions. DePue was a founder and lifelong officer of the Appalachian Dirt Riders Club for 51 years, and Ohio corporate records list him as one of three directors of Appalachian Dirt Riders, Inc., which was incorporated Jan. 27, 1977. The club describes itself as an off-road motorcycle club more than 50 years old and has long been tied to the Little Raccoon Classic enduro in Wellston.

DePue was also a former active member of the Vinton County Cattleman’s Association and an enthusiast of Allis Chalmers tractors. His family said he is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Roy and Sharon DePue, his nephew Michael DePue, and several aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and his niece, Molly DePue.

Calling hours were held April 20 and April 21, and a graveside service was set for Hamden Cemetery. The family asked that memorial donations be made to the American Diabetes Association.