Funeral Homes in Morgantown, West Virginia
Morgantown punches above its weight when it comes to funeral innovation. Smith Funeral & Cremation Care offers alkaline hydrolysis (water cremation) — making Morgantown one of the few places in all of West Virginia where this eco-friendly option is available. Hastings operates the Omega Crematory. And the market includes a mix of legacy family homes and newer providers. But Morgantown is also the most expensive funeral market in our WV analysis — so comparing providers isn't just smart, it's essential.
At a Glance
| Funeral Home | Type | Crematory | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smith Funeral & Cremation Care | Independent | ✅ On-site + water cremation | $$ | Alkaline hydrolysis, advanced green options |
| Hastings Funeral Home | Independent | ✅ Omega Crematory | $–$$ | Established provider, on-site cremation |
| McCulla Funeral Home | Independent | ❌ | $ | Traditional service, tier-based pricing |
| Fred L. Jenkins | Independent | ❌ | $ | Downtown Morgantown, full-service |
| Dering-Henson | Independent | ❌ | $ | Traditional service |
| Bolyard Funeral Home | Independent | ❌ | $ | Traditional service |
| Carl R. Spear | Independent | ❌ | $ | Brandonville Heights / rural Mon County |
| Fairmont providers (20 min south) | Multiple | Varies | $–$ | Save $900 avg vs Morgantown pricing |
Price guide: $ = budget-friendly · $ = moderate · $$ = mid-range
This table gives you the overview. Scroll down for detailed listings, or use the filter buttons above to narrow your search.
Not sure where to start?
Three calls to make first:
- 1. Smith Funeral & Cremation Care — only provider in the area offering water cremation (alkaline hydrolysis). Also has traditional cremation and full funeral services. Get their price for whatever you're considering.
- 2. McCulla Funeral Home — Morgantown's oldest purpose-built funeral home (since 1942) with tier-based pricing designed to fit any budget. A good benchmark quote.
- 3. One Fairmont provider (Carpenter & Ford, Domico, or Ford Funeral Home — 20 min south) — Fairmont averages $900 less per burial than Morgantown. Even one Fairmont quote gives you leverage.
Three calls, three different price points, 30 minutes. That's enough to make an informed decision.
Smith Funeral & Cremation Care
The standout provider in Morgantown — and one of the most innovative in all of West Virginia. Smith is among the very few WV funeral homes offering alkaline hydrolysis (water cremation), which uses water and alkaline solution instead of flame. The process produces 90% less carbon emissions than traditional cremation and was legalized in WV in 2022 (HB 4647). If environmental impact matters to you, Smith is the provider to call first. They also offer traditional cremation and full funeral services.
Hastings Funeral Home — Omega Crematory
One of Morgantown's most established family-owned funeral homes, operating the Omega Crematory on-site. This means traditional cremation is handled entirely within their care — no third-party transfers. Hastings has the highest obituary volume of any Morgantown funeral home (800+ on record), which reflects both their longevity and the community trust they've built over decades.
McCulla Funeral Home
Morgantown's first purpose-built funeral home — designed from the ground up as a funeral home, not converted from a house or other building. Family-owned since 1942, now operated by William 'Bill' McCulla, whose great-grandfather built it. McCulla offers tier-based pricing — meaning they have service packages at different price points designed to fit any budget. They're equally comfortable hosting services in their own facility or coordinating with local churches. If budget flexibility matters, ask about their tiers.
Fred L. Jenkins Funeral & Cremation Services
Located downtown on South High Street. Jenkins has a strong local reputation with 460+ obituaries on record. Full-service provider offering both funeral and cremation options. Their downtown location is convenient for families in the Morgantown core and Suncrest areas.
Dering-Henson Funeral Home
An independent Morgantown provider on Foundry Street. Serves families with traditional funeral and cremation services. In a market with 8+ providers, Dering-Henson adds to the competitive landscape — and another quote in your comparison helps ensure you're getting fair pricing.
Bolyard Funeral Home
Independent provider serving the Morgantown and Monongalia County area. Another option for families who want to comparison-shop among local independents. Contact them for a General Price List — required by federal law — and compare their basic services fee against the larger providers.
Carl R. Spear Funeral Home
Located outside the Morgantown city center in Brandonville Heights — serving families in rural and eastern Monongalia County. If you live in the outer reaches of Mon County and prefer a provider closer to home, Spear is your local option. They may also offer pricing that's more competitive than the city-center funeral homes.
The Fairmont Alternative — Save $900 on Average
This section exists because of math: Morgantown's average burial cost is $6,800. Fairmont's is $5,900. That's a $900 difference for a 20-minute drive.
Carpenter & Ford Funeral Home — Fairmont, family-owned since 1914. 110+ years of service. (304) 366-4671
Ford Funeral Home — Fairmont, multiple locations including Rivesville. (304) 363-3130
Domico Funeral Home — Fairmont, 2 locations (Fairmont + Fairview). Family-owned 50+ years. Online arrangement tools available. (304) 366-9685
Ross Funeral Home — Fairmont, sells granite/marble monuments in-house. (304) 366-0920
"You are not required to use a funeral home in the city where the death occurred. A Fairmont funeral home can pick up from a Morgantown hospital, hold services at their facility, and arrange burial anywhere. The $900 average savings is real — and on a fixed income or tight budget, that matters."
Full Fairmont funeral home info →
How to Choose a Funeral Home in Morgantown
- 1. Water cremation vs. traditional cremation vs. burial — decide first. This narrows your provider list immediately. Only Smith offers alkaline hydrolysis. Only Smith and Hastings have on-site crematories. All providers handle burial.
- 2. Get a Fairmont quote as your benchmark. Morgantown is the most expensive WV city for funerals. A single call to a Fairmont provider (20 min south) gives you a price floor that keeps Morgantown providers honest.
- 3. Ask McCulla about tier-based pricing. Their tiered system is designed for budget flexibility. Ask what's included at each level — you may find their mid-tier package is more affordable than another provider's base price.
- 4. Two crematories = competition. Smith and Hastings both have on-site cremation. Get quotes from both for cremation services — when two local providers compete head-to-head, prices come down.
- 5. WVU families: the funeral home handles everything. If the death occurred at Ruby Memorial Hospital or a loved one was a WVU student/staff, any Morgantown funeral home can coordinate with the university and arrange transportation of remains out of state if needed. You don't need to figure out the logistics yourself — that's what they do.
The WVU Factor
Morgantown is a university town, and that affects funeral services in ways unique to this market.
Student or staff deaths. When a death occurs within the WVU community, the family is often hundreds of miles away. Every Morgantown funeral home can coordinate the full process: pick up from Ruby Memorial or the medical examiner, handle all WV paperwork, and arrange ground or air transportation to the family's home state. All the family needs to do is call ONE funeral home — they handle everything else.
Body donation to WVU. West Virginia University operates the Human Gift Registry — a body donation program for medical education and research. Donation costs the family nothing (WVU covers all expenses). Contact: (304) 293-6322. Several Morgantown funeral homes can coordinate the donation process.
Visiting families. Families traveling to Morgantown for funeral arrangements should know that most funeral homes can recommend nearby hotels, restaurants, and logistical support. Morgantown is well-equipped for visitors — it's a university town.
Morgantown Funeral Cost Quick Reference
| Service | Morgantown Average |
|---|---|
| Traditional burial (funeral home costs) | $6,800 |
| Direct cremation | $1,400 |
| Alkaline hydrolysis (water cremation) | $2,000–$4,000 |
| Cemetery plot | $1,000–$2,000 |
Morgantown is the most expensive city in our WV analysis. For comparison: Fairmont (20 min) averages $5,900 for burial. Charleston averages $6,526. The state average is $8,074.
Full Morgantown cost breakdown with itemized pricing →