MARTINSBURG — John Overington, a pillar of West Virginia’s conservative movement and the state’s longest-serving lawmaker in the House of Delegates, passed away Tuesday, January 27, 2026. He was 79.
Overington devoted 34 years to representing Berkeley County, leaving a legacy of legislative reform and grassroots engagement. A Republican known for his principled approach, he served as Speaker Pro Tempore and was widely respected for his dedication to transparency, economic growth, and constitutional rights.
Born June 5, 1946, in Laurel, Maryland, Overington earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Washington College and later pursued graduate studies in philosophy at George Washington University.
In the Legislature, Overington championed measures to hold elected officials accountable. He successfully pushed for a rule requiring recorded votes on all legislation, ensuring that citizens could see how their representatives voted on critical issues including taxation, abortion, and gun rights. He also advocated for the creation of 100 single-member delegate districts, a reform he pursued for nearly two decades.
Overington was equally committed to connecting with voters. He frequently met constituents in informal settings, often joking that his “office” was a local fast-food restaurant. He used surveys and newsletters to listen to the people he served and to guide his legislative priorities.
His policy work consistently emphasized economic opportunity. He often said, “The best health care program, the best welfare program, is a good-paying job,” underscoring his belief that employment drives prosperity and strengthens communities. Among his early efforts was a bill to restore the Pledge of Allegiance in schools.
Even after retiring in 2019, Overington remained active in local conservative circles. His last public statement, delivered just last Friday, invoked a quote from Thomas Jefferson: “As government grows, freedom recedes.”
Gov. Patrick Morrisey praised Overington’s lifetime of service.
Morrisey
“John Overington. The longest serving delegate in state history, John was a conservative warrior, a gentleman, and a friend to all who knew him,” Morrisey said. “West Virginia owes a debt of gratitude to this man for his impeccable public service, his positive energy, and a life well lived. I learned so much from John Overington and am so sad to see him depart from our world. Take care, fine sir, a seat in Heaven awaits your arrival! I will miss our conversations.”
Sen. Tom Willis (R-Berkeley, 15), a high-ranking state lawmaker who serves as the Senate Judiciary Chairman, also reflected on Overington’s decades of service:
Willis
“If there was ever a man who stood as a steadfast and unwavering support for me, it was John Overington. He used to tell me, ‘You are our type of Republican!’ His institutional knowledge and dedication to the U.S. Constitution not only sharpened us, but made us better lawmakers,” Willis expressed.
“John’s unwavering commitment to transparency, individual liberty, and economic opportunity set a standard for public service that few could match. For more than three decades, he fought tirelessly for the people of West Virginia, ensuring their voices were heard and their rights protected, always with humility and good humor. His legacy will endure in the reforms he championed and in the countless lives he touched. Our state has lost a truly remarkable statesman.”
Overington’s decades of service and dedication to West Virginia’s communities leave a lasting mark on the state he loved.