Hafer Funeral Home

Veteran services at Hafer Funeral Home

Hafer Funeral Home, located in Elkview, WV, assists those who served and their families. In their own words: "Hafer Funeral Home provides comprehensive veteran services, including coordinating military funeral honors such as the folding and presentation of the American flag and the playing of Taps by an honor guard detail. They assist families with navigating U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits, which encompass Presidential Memorial Certificates, headstones or markers, memorial plots, and reimbursement of burial expenses. Eligibility for these honors and benefits is verified by the veteran's DD-214 or discharge papers." On-site amenities include chapel, reception facilities, and myers chapel, suited to flag presentation and honors ceremonies. Published pricing lists $5,210 for basic burial and $2,455 for direct cremation. Veterans may qualify for county or federal allowances toward these costs.

Veteran-related services offered include veteran services, burial, cremation, memorial service, and graveside service. Each service is coordinated with the family and, where applicable, with the deceased's last unit or branch honor detail.

On-site facilities of note include chapel and myers chapel. These spaces accommodate full military honors details, family gatherings before and after the service, and the placement of the United States flag during the visitation period.

Published pricing at Hafer Funeral Home: direct cremation from $2,455. That places direct cremation roughly 6% above the West Virginia median ($2,325). Veterans who served on active duty for at least 24 months may qualify for VA burial allowance to offset funeral costs — this home accepts assignment of those benefits where eligible.

The nearest VA national cemetery is Donel C. Kinnard Memorial State Veterans Cemetery in WV, approximately 15 miles from Hafer Funeral Home. Hafer Funeral Home can coordinate transport, scheduling with the cemetery's interment office, and the timing of military honors with the receiving committal shelter.

West Virginia has approximately 299 licensed funeral homes serving its population, of which a subset specifically lists military funeral honors and VA benefits assistance among their services. Hafer Funeral Home is among them.

Frequently asked questions

What sets Hafer Funeral Home apart

• Operates two distinct facilities in Elkview, WV: 50 North Pinch Road and Myers Chapel at 100 Verna Drive.
• Features a multi-generational family legacy, with John Hafer Thaxton serving as a Licensed Embalmer, Funeral Director, and Manager, following his grandfather's footsteps.
• Offers a comprehensive online pre-planning tool and detailed pre-planning checklist, allowing for personalized arrangements and prepayment options that are transferable nationwide.
• Provides unique personalization merchandise, including Fingerprint Jewelry and Keepsakes by Legacy Touch, custom Life Tribute Videos, personalized stationery, and keepsake candles.
• Offers extensive veteran services, coordinating military honors and assisting families with navigating U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits for burial, headstones, and memorialization.

Military & veteran services offered

Burial & cremation services

On-site facilities

Affiliations & specializations

Religious traditions & languages

Religious traditions accommodated: Baptist, Presbyterian, Catholic, Wesleyan.

How honors are coordinated

Military funeral honors are guaranteed at no cost for any veteran discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. The funeral home arranges the honors detail by contacting the deceased's last unit or the nearest active-duty installation of the appropriate branch and submitting the DD-214 to verify eligibility.

For requests less than 72 hours from service time, families can call the Department of Defense's expedited honors line at 1-877-MIL-HONR (1-877-645-4667). See the full honors protocol.