In Memoriam
Date range: May 5-Nov. 20, 2022
1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s
Obituaries
1941
William S. Cross Jr., Greensboro, N.C., 8/25/2022.
1944
Raymond M. Wright Jr., Springfield, Va., 8/16/2022.
1947
John P. Williams II, Chatham, N.J., 10/24/2022.
1948
Sidney O. Dewberry, Arlington, Va., 7/16/2022.
Andrew Robeson, Blacksburg, Va., 7/10/2022.
1949
Wilton L. Hall Jr., Prince George, Va., 5/1/2022.
Ferris D. Portner Jr., King George, Va., 5/20/2022.
James W. Sites, Harrisonburg, Va., 6/24/2022.
1950
George T. Blume, Blacksburg, Va., 8/7/2022.
Jack D. Garman, Greensboro, N.C., 8/4/2022.
Branch R. Hammock, Waynesboro, Va., 10/8/2022.
Arthur “A.W.” Shelby Jr., Chester, Md., 5/10/2022.
Charles K. “Dub” Whitescarver Jr., Blacksburg, Va., 5/31/2022.
1951
Jack H. Markley, Port Angeles, Wash., 9/9/2022.
Merritt L. Raiford, Courtland, Va., 5/10/2022.
William “W.T.” Tucker, Maidens, Va., 8/2/2022.
Jean T. Wood, Victoria, Texas, 7/21/2022.
1952
Samuel “Daley” Craig Jr., Charlottesville, Va., 9/21/2022.
Lucian F. Draper Jr., Boykins, Va., 8/4/2022.
Frederick P. Griffith Jr., Falls Church, Va., 8/5/2022.
Ross “Frank” Hawkins Jr., Suffolk, Va., 5/18/2022.
James M. Stevens, Gainesville, Va., 10/18/2022.
1953
Nicholas J. Andre, Poquoson, Va., 6/26/2022.
William “W.F.” English Jr., Oakland, Calif., 6/11/2022.
W David Fletcher, Bristol, Va., 5/17/2022.
James F. Hawes, Catonsville, Md., 7/11/2022.
Thomas N. Waller, Virginia Beach, Va., 7/1/2022.
1954
Joel H. Bell, Carolina Beach, N.C., 6/12/2022.
William “W.D.” Edwards Jr., Saluda, Va., 8/28/2022.
Charles S. Elton, Leesburg, Va., 10/28/2022.
James E. Stockman Jr., Hendersonville, N.C., 4/1/2022.
L. Robert Vaughan, Fincastle, Va., 5/27/2022.
1955
L. Gardner Brannon Jr., Galax, Va., 6/28/2022.
Montie T. Ratcliffe, Austin, Texas, 4/16/2022.
Billy E. Sample, Honaker, Va., 9/3/2022.
Robert R. Schmidt, Blacksburg, Va., 10/16/2022.
William W. Watkins Jr., Ashford, Ala., 5/4/2022.
1956
Floyd E. Adams Jr., Richmond, Va., 8/2/2022.
Charles “Irvine” Cather Jr., Winchester, Va., 7/3/2022.
Louis S. Maifeld, Irvine, Calif., 4/9/2022.
Lynn R. Wolfe, Winchester, Va., 9/23/2022.
1957
Glenn M. Ayers, Moneta, Va., 6/27/2022.
William H. Baker, Aiken, S.C., 6/13/2022.
William “W.D.” Ballard Jr., Elgin, Texas, 8/7/2022.
James “J.W.” Bloxsom, Virginia Beach, Va., 8/12/2022.
Robert F. Brandt, Anchorage, Alaska, 9/28/2022.
William C. Britts Sr., Playa del Rey, Calif., 5/10/2022.
Lowell K. Coffelt, Edinburg, Va., 9/11/2022.
Alton O. Crawley Jr., Ellicot City, Md., 6/26/2022.
Robert N. Crittenden, Evans, Ga., 4/25/2022.
Allie L. Harmon Jr., Knoxville, Tenn., 5/22/2022.
William I. Jenkins, Wakefield, Va., 7/13/2022.
Sidney R. Sewell, Niceville, Fla., 8/16/2022.
1958
William K. Barlow, Smithfield, Va., 9/21/2022.
Lee J. Himes, Reston, Va., 7/10/2022.
John T. Rogers, High Point, N.C., 10/12/2022.
Frank J. Trapp Jr., Arlington, Va., 7/20/2022.
George M. Ware, Hampton, Va., 2/16/2022.
William Carl Wingfield, Collinsville, Va., 11/2/2022.
1959
E. Ashby Baum, Midlothian, Va., 7/12/2022.
1960
Luther Randolph Luton, Chesapeake, Va., 9/17/2022.
Donald F. Morrison, Newtown Square, Pa., 7/11/2022.
N. G. Orndorff Sr., Manassas, Va., 7/31/2022.
Randolph B. Peters, Ridgeway, Va., 5/20/2022.
William O. Slade, Princeton, W.Va., 8/3/2022.
1961
Ronald G. Arritt, Covington, Va., 5/15/2022.
Robert L. Brugh, Athens, Ga., 7/29/2022.
Don R. Musselman, Dothan, Ala., 7/6/2022.
Walter L. Sanders, Greenville, S.C., 7/13/2022.
Kenneth C. Scarce, Dry Fork, Va., 9/17/2022.
1962
C.R. Gardner Jr., Christiansburg, Va., 4/30/2022.
Reginald F. Rose, Tupelo, Miss., 7/31/2022.
Jack W. Sisk, Tazewell, Va., 6/5/2022.
Roy S. Stephenson, Saltville, Va., 7/17/2022.
Robert C. Wales, Riverside, Calif., 8/12/2022.
James E. “Wilkie” Wilkinson Jr., Lynchburg, Va., 8/25/2022.
1963
Alvin A. Akers, Lawrence, Pa., 7/12/2022.
Stephen E. Collins, Sumter, S.C., 7/8/2022.
Richard N. Green, Fairfield, Ohio, 9/26/2022.
Vernon C. “Bud” Gross Jr., Ooltewah, Tenn., 5/22/2022.
Daniel “Howard” Hanchey, Fredericksbrg, Va., 5/17/2022.
Wayne V. Modisett, Harrisonburg, Va., 9/23/2022.
Albert “A.B.” Moore, Mechanicsville, Va., 4/30/2022.
Henry A. Morris, Cumberland, Va., 7/17/2022.
Richard E. Rush Jr., Waynesboro, Pa., 4/30/2022.
Glenn H. Updike Sr., Newsoms, Va., 5/28/2022.
1964
Gilbert L. Alexander, Suffolk, Va., 8/23/2022.
Richard A. Giesen, Ferrum, Va., 4/5/2022.
Byron J. Meredith Jr., Carolina Beach, N.C., 8/12/2022.
Harold “Tom” Pettit, Springfield, Va., 8/17/2022.
Charles F. Scott, Spring, Texas, 4/21/2022.
George R. Webb, Norfolk, Va., 10/19/2022.
1965
Fred R. Dejarnette, Raleigh, N.C., 5/2/2022.
Roger T. Eubank, Louisa, Va., 7/1/2022.
John M. Inman, Newport News, Va., 9/19/2022.
Eric B. Larsen, Bethesda, Md., 10/8/2022.
Elmer C. Lineberry Jr., Ashburn, Va., 9/25/2022.
William H. Parcells Jr., Topeka, Kan., 5/16/2022.
Richard M. Williams Jr., Suffolk, Va., 8/1/2022.
John N. Zeigler, Indianapolis, Ind., 7/18/2022.
1966
Herschell A. Cashion, Dallas, Texas, 4/16/2022.
Tim W. Forrest, Kernersville, N.C., 8/8/2022.
Ronald W. King, Chesterfield, Va., 5/31/2022.
Wanda Suthers Orr, Suffolk, Va., 8/3/2022.
1967
Guy M. Bishop Jr., Pulaski, Va., 7/23/2022.
Raymond L. Claterbaugh Jr., Clifton Forge, Va., 7/31/2022.
Charles W. Ferst III, Blacksburg, Va., 5/20/2022.
Herbert H. Gilliam III, Charlotte, N.C, 6/16/2022.
Richard L. Townsend, Pearisburg, Va., 5/12/2022.
1968
John B. Babbs Jr., Alexandria, Va., 10/21/2021.
Joseph R. Cologgi, Knoxville, Tenn., 10/27/2022.
Wayne Elliott, Christiansburg, Va., 12/21/2021.
Robert G. Hall, Greer, S.C., 7/19/2022.
Barry J. Jefferson, Union Hall, Va., 5/24/2022.
1969
Michael R. Ball, Honaker, Va., 11/4/2022.
Dale “D.V.” Goodman, South Hill, Va., 7/6/2022.
Edward “Hop” Meeler Jr., Lebanon, Ohio, 7/3/2022.
William A. Still Jr., Cascade, Va., 9/4/2022.
1970
Alvin G. “Pete” Alderson, Lecanto, Fla., 7/10/2022.
Camilla A. Brooks, Upper Marlboro, Md., 1/23/2022.
Charles L. Horner, Pilot, Va., 5/18/2022.
Joseph F. Hunt, San Antonio, Texas, 8/31/2022.
Roger E. McClurg, Bear, Del., 10/19/2022.
Paul “P.J.” Post, Covington, La., 4/19/2022.
Lawrence W. Wuensch, Rockledge, Fla., 10/1/2022.
Daniel S. Yates, Mechanicsville, Va., 1/14/2022.
1971
Thomas D. Dudley Jr., Arvada, Colo., 8/1/2022.
Reece A. Lester, Dalton, Ga., 8/2/2022.
John H. Puzenski, Bristol, Tenn., 8/10/2022.
Dale Todd Revell, Mechanicsville, Va., 7/22/2022.
1972
George E. Clark III, Richmond, Va., 9/25/2022.
David R. Clifford, Falls Church, Va., 10/22/2022.
Robert V. Phillips, Norfolk, Va., 9/9/2022.
Millard “Al” Rice, Phenix, Va., 10/16/2021.
Aylmer “Lee” Stallard, Jeffersonvlle, Ind., 5/17/2022.
Billy J. “Steve” Stephenson Jr., Georgetown, Texas, 10/4/2022.
1973
George Christopher Adams, Warminster, Pa., 5/4/2022.
Robert B. Altizer Sr., Tazewell, Va., 9/4/2022.
Don G. Benner, Woodland Park, Colo., 8/14/2022.
James “Griff” Lilly, Beaver, W.Va., 10/6/2022.
Thomas P. Perry, Harrisonburg, Va., 9/19/2022.
1974
David L. Dale, Prosperity, S.C., 8/31/2022.
James M. Dunlap, Raleigh, N.C., 10/4/2022.
Owen “Ken” Hall Jr., Roanoke, Va., 10/11/2022.
Richard E. Hynes, Chesapeake, Va., 5/27/2022.
Chris C. Mason, Millville, N.J., 11/3/2022.
Maston R. “Mac” McCorkle Jr., Roanoke, Va., 9/30/2022.
Donna Baker Meeks, Amherst, Va., 9/27/2022.
William B. Wrenn, Athens, Ala., 5/10/2022.
1975
Allen E. Fisher, Ocean Springs, Miss., 9/1/2022.
Donatus C. Ohanehi, Blacksburg, Va., 4/14/2022.
David W. Schuster, New Market, Va., 7/19/2022.
Alfred D. Torrence Jr., Staunton, Va., 7/20/2022.
Gerry F. Weisgerber Sims, Winchester, Va., 4/20/2022.
1976
Steven D. Gaines, Vienna, W.Va., 10/31/2022.
Norma J. Black Graham, Christiansburg, Va., 10/24/2022.
Margery Seabough Hathorn, Arden, N.C., 4/17/2022.
Johnnie L. Hudson, Mocksville, N.C., 4/27/2022.
Shawn T. Reynolds, Rustburg, Va., 10/15/2022.
Susan M. Angelina Ritchie, Waldorf, Md., 7/2/2022.
Marjorie McCarter Stevens, Hurricane, W.Va., 5/24/2022.
1977
Brenda Marshall Armstrong, Austinville, Va., 6/24/2022.
Martha Holsinger Callaham, Richmond, Va., 7/28/2022.
Robert A. Heineck, Anderson, S.C., 11/3/2022.
Robert H. Mattox III, Tampa, Fla., 5/16/2022.
Diane Tolley McLane, Richmond, Va., 4/26/2022.
George G. Morris, Salem, Va., 7/11/2022.
Gary L. Reynolds, Penhook, Va., 5/19/2022.
Michael G. Pinion, Mechanicsville, Va., 10/14/2022.
Karen H. Troutman, Blacksburg, Va., 10/23/2022.
Paul C. Valder, Concord, N.C., 8/3/2022.
John P. Wisman, Wytheville, Va., 9/2/2022.
1978
Richard L. Harness, Bristol, Va., 8/1/2022.
Susan S. Helbert, Genoa, Nev., 7/12/2022.
Janice Fletcher Lawrence, Saint Albans, W.Va., 5/8/2022.
James R. Lawson, Illwood, W.Va., 11/9/2022.
William Linwood Northern, Martinsville, Va., 5/12/2022.
Margaret Ikenberry Rauck, Daleville, Va., 7/27/2022.
Beatrice R. Smith, Chantilly, Va., 10/15/2022.
1979
Susan Law Ali-Clark, Roanoke, Va., 8/28/2022.
Doris Good Bomberger, Harrisonburg, Va., 5/14/2022.
Douglas W. Burks, Midlothian, Va., 9/8/2022.
Harry S. Murray, Mullica Hill, N.J., 10/11/2022.
Andrew Thomas Jr., Charlottesville, Va., 7/1/2022.
Francis E. Zehr, Ridgeway, Va., 7/29/2022.
1980
Charles H. “Chip” Forbes IV, Richmond, Va., 5/28/2022.
Benson L. Hall, Richmond, Va., 8/27/2022.
1981
Scott P. Allen, Pompano Beach, Fla., 5/26/2022.
David A. DeBernard, Hartsville, S.C., 8/23/2022.
Iris Wall Johnson, Henrico, Va., 7/6/2022.
1982
John R. Craynon, Morgantown, W.Va., 4/16/2022.
Patricia Carol Musick Harrison, Greensboro, N.C., 10/12/2022.
Susan Hastings Keesee, Chapel Hill, N.C., 11/1/2022.
1983
Thomas A. Henry, Seaville, N.J., 5/20/2022.
Timothy L. Patterson, Newport News, Va., 7/22/2022.
Edward W. Yankowich, Longwood, Fla., 9/6/2022.
Jan Webster Yowell, Raphine, Va., 2/17/2022.
1984
Bobby G. Beamer, Keswick, Va., 5/15/2022.
Kathryn E. Kuhn, Saint Louis, Mo., 7/10/2022.
David J. Natale Jr., St Anthony, Minn., 8/12/2022.
David D. Seal, Moneta, Va., 5/9/2022.
1985
Charles “David” Atkins, Mechanicsville, Va., 4/22/2022.
Marianne G. Bundren, Herndon, Va., 7/3/2022.
Edwin L. Smith, Baltimore, Md., 10/3/2022.
Sharon L. Weatherly, Punta Gorda, Fla., 5/8/2022.
1987
David S. Dadd, West Chester, Pa., 6/8/2022.
Susan Kingma Day, Livermore, Calif., 7/25/2022.
1988
Robert W. Layne, Cedar Bluff, Va., 6/25/2022.
Brian D. Marx, Baton Rouge, La., 11/25/2021.
Shannon J. Smith, Richlands, Va., 9/10/2021.
1989
Peng-yin Chen, Fayetteville, Ark., 8/1/2022.
Frederick L. Funk, Baltimore, Md., 5/12/2022.
Laten C. Walker, Alderson, W.Va., 9/30/2022.
1990
Mary Ellen F. Prier, Norfolk, Va., 6/10/2022.
1991
Thomas H. Fitzgerald III, Arrington, Va., 5/9/2022.
Manette Monroe, Kissimmee, Fla., 8/8/2022.
Karen Newton Pendleton, Roanoke, Va., 8/30/2022.
Christopher N. Schwartz, Silver Spring, Md., 4/23/2022.
0/0/1993 Jason M. Campbell, Oak Ridge, Tenn., 9/14/2022.
Marjorie A. Florence, Woodbridge, Va., 8/14/2022.
1994
Mark A. Burger, Lake Mills, Wis., 5/22/2022.
Andrew J. Harmon, Columbus, Wis., 10/17/2022.
Eric J. Rzepecki, Ocala, Fla., 4/24/2022.
1995
James P. Pirkey, Columbus, Ohio, 6/29/2022.
1996
Douglas A. Kern, Manchester, Conn., 8/12/2022.
1997
Gregory N. Bailey, Salem, Va., 5/25/2022.
1998
Megan Debranski Kelhart, Alexandria, Va., 8/19/2022.
Marda R. Lacy, Boyce, Va., 5/12/2022.
1999
Richard W. Bryant Jr., Monroe, Va., 7/7/2022.
Joseph W. Cooke, Midlothian, Va., 5/3/2022.
Joseph A. Stanton, Saint Petersburg, Fla., 9/19/2022.
2001
Thomas L. Webb III, Virginia Beach, Va., 6/30/2022.
2002
Thomas E. Ramskill, Edgewater, Md., 6/3/2022.
2003
Mary W. Garrison, Moseley, Va., 4/26/2022.
2007
Wesley A. Sanders, Penhook, Va., 5/1/2022.
2010
Brian S. Mcelraft, Imperial, Mo., 7/23/2022.
2012
Jose C. DaSilva Guerreiro, Manassas, Va., 8/26/2022.
2013
Claire E. Blevins, Providence, R.I., 8/6/2022.
2014
Pamela J. Koretz, Westfield, Mass., 6/25/2022.
2015
Jeffrey D. Morris, Blacksburg, Va., 6/8/2022.
2016
Mary S. Lucado, Belspring, Va., 5/4/2022.
2017
Connall R. Pettit, Blacksburg, Va., 5/4/2022.
Obituaries
Notable alumni
Bill Latham ’55 died Nov. 7, leaving behind a legacy of service and philanthropy to his alma mater. In 2007, Latham received the William H. Ruffner Medal, Virginia Tech’s most prestigious honor awarded annually to recognize individuals who have performed notable service to the university. He also was presented the Alumni Distinguished Service Award in 1996. Latham twice served on Virginia Tech’s Board of Visitors and sat on numerous university boards and committees, often alongside his wife, Betty. The Lathams’ generosity spans a wide breadth of the university and is evident in scholarships, research, and physical spaces, such as the agriculture research building and The Inn at Virginia Tech’s Latham Ballroom.
Cecil R. "Max" Maxson Jr. ’52, who served 12 years on Virginia Tech’s Board of Visitors, died Dec. 8. He served on the board’s Executive Committee for eight years and was chair of its Building and Grounds Committee for eight years. In 2001, Maxson was awarded the university's highest honor, the William H. Ruffner Medal, in addition to the Virginia Tech Alumni Association's Distinguished Service Award. He was a member of the Ut Prosim Society, the William Preston Society, Endowed Golden Hokie member, and the Legacy Society. Maxson served as the vice chair of the Advisory Council for what was then the College of Architecture and Urban Studies, was a past president of the William Preston Society, and was a member of Sigma Lambda Chi (honor society for construction), the Gateway Society, and Alpha Phi Omega. Maxson also served on the Alumni Association board of directors from 2003-09.
Faculty/Staff
Gertrude “Trudy” Becker, a senior instructor of history, died Aug. 26. Becker joined Virginia Tech in 1991 and quickly became a beloved educator. According to friends and family, Becker will be remembered for her tenacity and curiosity for life. In addition to her role as an instructor, Becker was associate chair of the history department from 2011-16. She also served as an affiliate with the classical studies program in the Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures.
James R. “Jim” Craig, a professor emeritus of economic geology and former chair of the Virginia Tech Department of Geosciences from August 1990 to August 1994, died Dec. 23. His career as a university professor and research scientist spanned 35 years. He retired from what is now the Virginia Tech College of Science in 2002. Craig earned numerous awards for teaching excellence throughout his career including the prestigious Virginia Outstanding Faculty Award, the commonwealth’s highest honor for faculty at Virginia’s public and private colleges and universities.
Reza Mirzaeifar, associate professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, died Oct. 19. Mirzaeifar joined Virginia Tech in 2014. That same year, he established the Future Materials Laboratory, and its work focused on developing new classes of materials with unprecedented mechanical properties as well as finding solutions for resolving long-standing problems in the mechanical properties of classical materials. Mirzaeifar was an enthusiastic learner across many topics, earning himself the nickname of “walking Wikipedia” in his circle of friends. In 2021, Mirzaeifar was named John R. Jones III Faculty Fellow.
