Arlene O’Dell Bays

Delores Arlene O’Dell Bays of Summersville, WV, formerly of Leivasy, died Saturday morning, January 30, 2026 at the Summersville Health Care Center.

Arlene was born in Marfrance, Greenbrier County, January 23, 1931, the daughter of William Glover O’Dell and Della Agnes Arbaugh O’Dell. The family moved to Leivasy when Arlene was two years old and she spent nearly all her life there. After graduating from Richwood High School and attending Glenville State Teacher’s College, she taught at the Wahoo School near Hominy Falls. She married Sam Reginald Bays of Russellville in 1949 and they were married 65 years until his death. After a brief time living in Ohio, they moved back to WV and settled in Leivasy. She and Sam were active members of the Elizabeth Chapel United Methodist Church where they sang in the choir and served their community. They had three sons whom she and Sam adored and for whom they modeled a great work ethic, faith in God, and responsibility to others. When the boys were out of high school, she went to work in the assessor’s office in Summersville, rising to the position of Deputy Assessor before retiring after 20 years of service to the people of Nicholas County. While there, her easy manner, gracious smile, and quick sense of humor worked to quell the anger of many a taxpayer. She was a willing and competent worker in all she did and was known to refuse only one chore: she absolutely would NOT clean the many fish Sam and the boys caught. She enjoyed gardening, reading, spending time at their camp on the Greenbrier River, and was always ready for visits from family and friends. She was good at Canasta but an expert at Pinochle. She was happiest when the grandchildren were around.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband, Sam, and her three brothers: William Arlington (Arlie), Ralph Henderson, and Wilmer Virgil.

She is survived by three sons: William Davis (Sarah) of Summersville, WV; Daniel Eugene (Gina) of Madison, WV; and Sam Richard (Neysa) of Weston, FL. She leaves behind grandchildren Teresa Bays Jones, Stacie (Andy) Taylor, and Bonnie Kroll (Dave’s); Brian (Dan’s); Sam Christopher, Edward Daniel, and her namesake Lillian Arlene Bays-Fidalgo (Rick’s); 19 great-grandchildren, 2 great-greatgrandchildren and quite a number of little people who loved her and whom she basically adopted as extra grandchildren. Also left to cherish her memory and pass on to others her oft-shared family memories are dozens of nieces and nephews and an almost endless list of cousins.

Funeral service is at Wallace & Wallace Funeral Chapel in Rainelle, WV on Wednesday, February 4, 2026 at 2 pm with Pastor Glen Kuhn officiating. Family will meet with visitors at 1 pm at the Funeral Chapel

There will be no graveside service as internment in the Family Cemetery at Russellville is delayed due to impassable road conditions to that cemetery.

Online condolences may be made to the family by visiting www.wallaceandwallacefh.com

Wallace & Wallace, Inc. of Rainelle, WV is in charge of arrangements.