Ann Stewart Whitmore Plein

Ann Stewart Whitmore Plein passed away on Saturday, August 16, 2025, at home in Morgantown, West Virginia. Born in Abingdon, Virginia on August 11, 1959, she had made Morgantown her home for the past three decades.

Throughout her life, a generosity of spirit, the love of nature, the gift of curiosity, and an appreciation of beauty in small things guided Stewart. Her love of nature was deep. Awed by mountain ranges and vistas, she also loved the details of landscape as she took in the beauty of a wildflower or a bird. Her dedication to family and friends was profound. She was a quiet and reflective presence who could generate deep conversations and light laughter. She loved the arts and humanities, especially music and books.

Professionally, Stewart practiced her gifts at West Virginia University as a librarian. She served as the Curator for Rare Books and Printed Resources for WVU’s libraries and achieved the rank of University Librarian. On retirement in August 2024, she was awarded Emeritus status. She held a Bachelor of Arts degree from Emory & Henry College and a Master of Library and Information Sciences from the University of South Carolina. With far-ranging scholarly interests focusing on discovering documents and voices lost to time, Stewart helped to uncover the past. In so doing, she opened doors for students and faculty pursuing their own paths of learning and discovery.

Stewart was a true child of the Appalachians. She was proud of her roots in Southwest Virginia and always considered the mountains her home. In recent years, she had spent more time at her family place in Floyd, Virginia. She was preparing to set down new roots there in retirement.

Ann Stewart Plein is survived by her husband, Christopher of Morgantown and by her sister, Jane Pace (Mark) of Clemmons, NC, as well as by extended family in the Virginias, Carolinas, and beyond. She will be buried at Emory & Henry University in the near future with a Celebration of Life in Morgantown to follow. Arrangements are being made by Hastings Funeral Home. In recognition of her long commitment to the well-being of students and others, in lieu of flowers, donations are encouraged to the WVU Student Food Pantry Support Fund – 2W522.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.hastingsfuneralhome.com.