Recognized as Best Virginia SAR Website 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
Honoring our Chapter Compatriots |
2024 |
 | Wendell E. "Jack" Shawn, Jr., who December 16, 2023, at a celebration of his 100th birthday, was personally awarded the National SAR War Service Medal, the Virginia SAR Silver Meritorious Service Medal, the NSDAR Distinguished Citizen Medal and the Nelly Custis Chapter NSDAR Distinguished Citizen Certificate, passed away October 5, 2024. Jack was residing at the Paul Spring Retirement Home in Alexandria, Virginia. Born in Easton, Maryland December 15, 1923, Jack lived on the Maryland Eastern Shore. He attended Salisbury State Teachers College and later graduated from the University of Maryland. He served in both World War II and the Korean War. He earned two Bronze Stars, a Combat Infantryman Badge, the European African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and World War II Victory Medal. In civilian life, Jack married Betty Lou Reid, also a University of Maryland graduate and raised four sons during their sixty plus year marriage. He worked at the then-named Bureau of Ships, Small Business Administration and retired from the U.S. Department of Labor in the mid-1980s. In 1977 he retired from The Army Reserves as a Lt. Colonel. He also worked in Human Resources for Doctors Hospital, Fairfax, and Mt. Vernon Hospitals. Jack was also the first to sign the charter establishing Aldersgate Methodist Church in 1956 and was a devout layperson and attendee of the Church. He has been a member of the GW Chapter of the SAR since 2005 by establishing his direct bloodline descent from William Harrison (1745-1813) who served in the Maryland Militia, 38th Battalia, 1781. Jack was a loving, caring father, husband, grandfather, and great grandfather and is survived by his sons and several grandchildren and great grandchildren. He will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery on a date to be determined. |
| Floyd Nelson Ryan (aka "Slats"), a beloved father, veteran, and dedicated community member, passed away peacefully at his home in Alexandria, VA, Thursday, October 17, 2024, at the age of 93. Born July 1931 in Cumberland, MD, he was the cherished son of Alvey and Myrtha Ryan. Floyd leaves behind a loving family, including his three children: Craig, Kirk, Lisa and grandchildren. He graduated from Fort Hill High School in Cumberland, MD. He was committed to furthering his education and pursued his technical development earning multiple engineering degrees from: Frostburg State University, The American University and a Master's Degree from University of Southern California (USC). Floyd's dedication to his country began with a tour with the U. S. Navy. He enlisted three days after his 18th birthday; serving as a Radio Repairman on the USS Philip (DD 498) during the Korean War. Following his uniformed service, and for over 45 years, Floyd worked as a senior civilian serving in several leadership roles with the Department of Defense and the U. S. Navy. Throughout his career, he made significant contributions to the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) and the AEGIS program office in Arlington, VA and Washington, DC. He was responsible for the successful production and timely delivery of the complex AEGIS combat system and its variants, to myriad cruisers and destroyers for both the U. S. Navy and Foreign Military Sales customers. Following retirement from civil service, he started his own consulting company whereupon he continued supporting the department of defense through his diverse engineering, contracting and technical skills. Floyd was deeply involved in his community. He was an active member of the Kena Temple, The American Legion, and the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, as well as the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Maryland's Potomac Lodge in Cumberland, MD. He was proud to be part of the George Washington Chapter of the Virginia Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, the Navy League of the U.S., and the American Society of Naval Engineering. Services will be held at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 1301 Collingwood Rd., Alexandria, VA, 11 a.m., Wednesday, November 13, 2024. His legacy of service, dedication, and love will live on in the hearts of all who knew him. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/washingtonpost/name/floyd-ryan-obituary?id=56637344 |
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 | Thomas L. Edwards, 70, of McCandless, passed away peacefully at his home on Friday, May 17, 2024. He is survived by his devoted wife of 47 years, Eileen (Biciolis) Edwards; his sister, Vicki (Robert) Schulz of Ross Township; and many other beloved family members who held a special place in his heart, including his faithful pal, Percy. Tom was born on August 19, 1953, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to the late James J. and Mary Lou (Kerr) Edwards. He grew up in Avalon where he graduated from Avalon High School in 1971 then graduated from Robert Morris College with a degree in Business Administration. From early childhood, Tom enjoyed fishing, swimming, playing golf and basketball, and spending time with his family, friends, and dogs. One of his most passionate hobbies was unraveling the mysteries of family history with a particular fascination for the 17th- 19th centuries. Tom devoted nearly 20 years to the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) as a member of the Pennsylvania Society (Pennsylvania SAR). He served as Vice President and Treasurer of the Pennsylvania SAR Pittsburgh Chapter before becoming President in 2012 for two years. He later acted as Chairman of the Reserve Managers from 2018–2021. At the State level, Tom served as the Pennsylvania SAR Vice President from 2022–2023. He became a dual member of the SAR by joining his son Kevin as a member of the Virginia Society (VASSAR) and the George Washington Chapter in 2018. He was particularly proud to march with his son in the annual Memorial Day Parade in Washington, DC. In recognition and in appreciation of his contributions to the SAR, Tom received several honors including the Pennsylvania State Roger Sherman Medal. He will be posthumously honored next month for his distinguished service. Mr. Edwards' Revolutionary War patriots are Colonel George Stewart (PA); Captain Thomas Moore (PA); Pvt. David Patton (PA); and Patriot Joseph Phillis (PA). Tom was also a member of Christ Our Savior Parish, St. Boniface Catholic Church, 2208 East St., Pittsburgh, where he will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 23, 2024. https://www.ltmillerfuneralhome.com/m/obituaries/Thomas-Edwards-47/Memories |
| Paul Allen Gade of Arlington, VA passed away on May 12, 2024, at 85 years old. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Martha Moore; his three children, Meredith, Eric, and Alexandra; and four grandchildren, Zakaria, Adam, Mira, and Alexandru. Paul grew up in Cleveland, OH and attended Hiram College, graduating in 1961. He then served as a lieutenant in the Air Force from 1962 to 1966, after which he got his PhD in Psychology from Ohio University in 1974. He was a dedicated civil servant and worked for 35 years as a research psychologist for the US Army at the Army Research Institute. In his youth, Paul was a sportsman and excelled in basketball, baseball, and softball. He passed on this passion to his children by coaching many of their sports teams. He was a keen hockey fan and enjoyed going to Capitals games with his daughter Meredith. In his later years, Paul developed a great interest in genealogy and became a member of both the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) and the Mayflower Society, serving as insignia chairperson for the latter. Paul was a SAR member for 35 years. His Revolutionary War patriot is Private Stephen Winslow. Paul also became an avid writer, establishing a writing group, Marty's writers, through which he produced several vignettes about his life. He was a devoted husband, a dedicated father and grandfather, and will be deeply missed. Services will take place on Sunday, May 26 from 12 to 4 p.m. at Murphy's Funeral Home in Arlington, with an inurnment at Arlington National Cemetery in 2025. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/washingtonpost/name/paul-gade-obituary?id=55172203 |
2023 |
| George Washington Chapter member Virgil "Pete" Farley (March 7, 1943 - November 7, 2023) passed away in Williamsburg, Virginia at the age of 80 years old. He was inducted into the Chapter in November 2017 and two months later he was the Chapter Newsletter Editor. Pete's career and personal interests going back to high school focused upon printing. He entered a 4-year apprenticeship program through The International Typographical Union, becoming a skilled Journeyman Printer. After employment in various printing shops and newspapers in West Virginia and Virginia, he joined the print department at The Wall Street Journal in Silver Spring, Maryland in 1973 just as the days of hot metal typography were coming to an end due to the arrival of the computer era. Eventually, he started his own business as a consultant of Graphics and Printing and spent the last fifteen years of his career at the Defense Logistics Agency at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. From early childhood, Pete was an avid collector of baseball cards (and was one of the fortunate whose mother did not toss out his collection). His collection of cards and baseball memorabilia continued his entire life. He was a baseball super-fan and particularly loved the Yankees of the 1950s-60s. Pete maintained an avid interest in both history and ancestry. Over the years he was a devoted supporter of organizations such as The Friends of Mount Vernon, The Mosby Heritage Area Association, Civil War Trust, National Baseball Hall of Fame and the Society of American Baseball Research. Pete was honored by Virginia SAR as the 2022 Newsletter Editor of the Year. He is survived by his devoted wife of 40 years, Carol Simpson Farley; son, Jeffrey C. Farley (Paula) of Virginia Beach, VA; daughter, Nanette Farley Lucas, of Tallahassee, FL; stepsons, John Reedy (Kari) of Ayden, NC, and Matthew Reedy (Julie) of Midlothian, VA; and seven grandchildren. Additional information can be found here in his online obituary: https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/29968751/virgil-c-farley |
| Past Virginia Society President Donald W. Baldwin passed away on April 17, 2023 at the age of 93. Don was one of the earliest, longest-standing, and most dedicated members of the George Washington Chapter. Born in Danville, VA on May 18, 1929, Don became a Chapter member in 1960 and served as Chapter President in 1963. After his tenure, he continued his service to the Sons of the American Revolution, serving as Virginia SAR President 1969-70 and subsequently as Vice President General of the Mid-Atlantic District. Don’s Virginia SAR legacy continues to live on through the Donald W. Baldwin Award, given annually to the Virginia SAR Chapter with the largest membership increase. Don continued to be a regular attendee at Chapter and State meetings and events for six decades before eventually moving to Kettering, OH in 2020. For more recent Virginia SAR members, however, Don was likely best known for the introduction he typically received during the annual July 4th March to the Tomb and Wreath Laying at Mount Vernon as “the George Washington Chapter President when the first such commemoration was held” in the early 1960’s.Don was an alumnus of both VMI and the University of Virginia and served two years in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. He worked as an Administrative Assistant to two Republican members of the House of Representatives before joining the National Forest Products Association, working later at the White House Conference of Food, Nutrition, and Health under Richard M. Nixon, and eventually founding Donald Baldwin Associates. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Joan (Jody) Bolling Baldwin; son, Alan H. Baldwin; and daughter Elizabeth B. Chryst. His eldest son, Winston M. Baldwin, preceded him in death. He is also survived by his daughter-in-law Kate E. Baldwin, seven grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren. |
2021 |
| William F. Vosbeck, Jr. peacefully passed away in his sleep Dec. 15, 2021, at The Fairfax Retirement Community in Ft. Belvoir, Virginia. Bill was born in Mankato, Minnesota, May 13, 1924. It was at the end of high school when he met his future wife, Elizabeth (Betty) Just. Together they attended the University of Minnesota and upon graduating they married, a marriage that lasted 74 years. While still in college, Bill enlisted with the US Marine Corps. After leaving the Marines, he convinced his younger brother, Randy, also an architect, to come to the East Coast. Together they formed their own architectural firm, Vosbeck, Vosbeck & Associates. Bill was a member of the George Washington Chapter, SAR for 25 years, his Revolutionary War patriot, Jonathan Parke served as a Private in the Chester County, PA troops. William F. Vosbeck, Jr Memorial Biography |
 | James Patrick Barry, 90, passed away on June 27, 2021. The family didn’t provide an obituary as a memorial. James was a member of the George Washington Chapter, SAR for 12 years, his Revolutionary War patriot, Michael Kiser, was a Private in the Philadelphia County, PA militia. |
| Past Commander Robert L. Fitton, AP, passed away on April 26, 2021 at age 89. Bob joined the Northern Virginia Power Squadron in 1994 and immediately became an active member. He served as Administrative Officer in 1998 and Executive Officer in 1999 before becoming Commander in 2000. Robert was a member of the George Washington Chapter, SAR for 26 years, his Revolutionary War patriot, Richard Marshall, served in the Maryland Continental Line. |
| Brendan Patrick Johnson, passed away at the age of 27 on March 9, 2021. Brendan was born January 16th in Florida, and grew up in the D.C. area beginning in third grade. He attended St. James Catholic School (‘08), Gonzaga College High School (‘12), and Dartmouth College (‘16), where he majored in History with a Religion minor. After college, Brendan grew in his love for Washington, D.C., and he could often be found sporting WFT, Nats, or Caps paraphernalia. He worked with PNC Realty Investors in their Washington office. He found hope in his faith, attending Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in D.C., and truly cared for the least of the brothers of Christ. Brendan Patrick Johnson Memorial Biography |
2020
| Edward Merillat Moses passed away February 14, 2020 at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, VA after a short illness. The son of Col. Merillat and Grace McLean Moses, he was born at Fort Bragg, NC on June 26, 1932. Ed was appointed to the United States Military Academy from the First Congressional District of Virginia. He graduated in 1954 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Armor Branch. He served in the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC, 8th Infantry Division in Germany, 1st Armored Division at Fort Hood, TX and II Field Force in Vietnam.Edward Merillat Moses Memorial Biography |
| Retired Gen. Frederick Kroesen, a legendary soldier and former Army vice chief of staff, died April 30 at the age of 97 after a long illness. A longtime senior fellow with the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) and a columnist since 1990 in ARMY magazine, the association’s flagship publication, Kroesen saw combat in World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam in a career that spanned from 1944 until his retirement in 1983. Among his many accomplishments, he was the first graduate of Officer Candidate School to reach the rank of four-star general.Gen Frederick-Kroesen-Memorial-Biography |
2019 |
| Richard Bender Abell, JD, of Fort Belvoir, Virginia, died November 21 at INOVA Mt. Vernon Hospital in Alexandria, VA. He had been a member of the Federal judiciary for twenty years from which he retired. He was married to the former Lucía del Carmen Lombana-Cadavid of Medellín, Colombia. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Lon Edward Welch, Jr., of Birmingham, Alabama, and Charlotte Amelia Bender of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Judge Abell graduated from The George Washington University with a B.A. in 1966 and a J.D. in 1974. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Order of Cincinnati or the Skin Cancer Foundation. |
| Walt was born on June 13, 1938, in Chillicothe, Missouri, to Edgar and Margaret (Eshelman) Barbee. He married Robin Porter of Iowa City, IA, June 17, 1961. He passed away on August 21, 2019 after a short illness. He received his law degree from the University of Iowa in 1966, and practiced general law in Spirit Lake, Iowa, for 20 years before moving to Washington to work for the Bush-Quayle ’88 Presidential campaign. He was also on the General Counsel’s staff for the Presidential Inaugural Committee and then worked at the Department of Justice.
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| John (Jack) Phillip Felt, a retired Senior Foreign Service Officer and genealogist, died on April 5, 2019. He was 74 years old.
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| Maurice "Gene" Gilliland was born on July 27, 1938 in Springfield, MO. Gene earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Cornell University and spent most of his career with General Electric in NY, FL and PA. He was married for 57 years to Jeanene Bradley, and he passed away on March 13, 2019 in Holly Hill, FL. |
| Compatriot Rodney Hayes Lovdal was born in Superior, Wisconsin and raised in Minnesota and Indiana. In 1948 he enlisted in the US Navy and spent his enlisted service in the Submarine Force. After Navy retirement he worked in the private sector and the Federal Government. Rod lived in Falls ChurchRodney Hayes Lovdal Memorial Biography |
| Rev Paul Austin Callender, Sr. was born 29 Jan 1900 in Carverton, PA to Clark Stephen Callender and Ida May Miller. Paul comes from a long line of pioneer farmers who settled in central Pennsylvania. His father started out as a teacher, eventually becoming the Superintendent of Public Schools in Luzerne County, PA before he felt the call of the ministry, a calling he passed on to five of his sons and all of them became Methodist ministers. After 40 years in the active ministry, he retired in 1965 to St. Petersburg, FL and he passed away on 17 May 2005 at the age of 105 |
2018 |
| The George Washington Chapter has been informed that Compatriot Richard B. Gilliland passed away in late 2018. Richard was born in Ithaca, New York on June 22, 1962, son of Maurice and Jeanene Gilliland. Richard worked as a network engineer for various defense firms in the Washington, D.C. area. |
| William Emerson “Bill” Whitney, was born on January 12, 1933. He moved to Gainesville, FL when he was fourteen and always considered himself a Florida boy. He began his long career in law enforcement with the Alachua County Sheriff’s Department and ended after many years as a Special Agent with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Bill passed away on Dec. 17, 2018 after his long struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease |
| Colonel Robert Frederick Carr (USA, ret.) was born in Washington, GA on February 1, 1931. He entered the Army as a Reserve Second lieutenant, Infantry, was commissioned as a regular Army Armor Officer in 1955 and served tours with the 101st Airborne Division, 10th Infantry Division, 2nd Infantry Division, and 25th Infantry Division. Following his military service, he was a law firm administrator and finally a DLA Piper where he retired from this position in 2004. He passed away on 19 May 2018.Robert F. Carr Memorial-Biography Bob Carr Eulogies Bob Carr Awards |
| Compatriot Robert “Bob” Furman Armstrong was born in McCook, Nebraska on 4 April 1937. Bob served in the U.S. Coast Guard and work in both private industry and for the Department of Education. He passed away on 25 January 2018. |
2017 |
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| Jack Leon Elston was born in Rockford, IL on 7 Aug 1944, served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War and died on 22 Jul 1917. |
| Paul Austin Callender, Jr. was born in Brooklyn, NY on 13 Aug 1926, served as a Private in the Army during World War II and died on 9 Nov 2008. |
| William Ross Clayton was born on 24 October 1927 in San Francisco, CA and enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War. After the war, he enrolled at the University of California, Berkeley where after graduation he was commissioned as an Ensign, and assigned to the Office of Naval Investigations (ONI). He passed away suddenly on 14 July 2017. |
2016 |
| Charles Joseph Washington was born on 30 October 1938 in Indiana, PA and he passed away unexpectedly on 18 July 2015 |
| Colonel Howard Merritt Steele, Jr. was born on 17 Oct 1927 in Hartford, CT, attended West Point, fought in the Korean and Vietnamese Wars and he passed away 28 December 1916 |
2015 |
| James Stuart Jackson was born on 31 March 1970 and died on 24 April 2010 in a work-related accident. |
| Clarke Walden was born in Macon, Georgia, 31 Oct 1926, served in the U.S. Merchant Marine Corps in 1944-1948 and as LTJG, U.S. Navy stationed in Japan during the Korean War and died on 13 May 1999. |
| Compatriot Robert Kenneth Wineland passed away from illness on Sunday, 20 September 2015. In World War II, Dr. Wineland was a 20-year old Army Medic assigned to 106th Infantry Division that was stationed in the Ardennes in Belgium. His involvement as a medic in the war convinced him that he wanted to advance his medical training in order to continue to help people. He made frequent medical trips to treat children in Algeria and Honduras. Robert celebrated his 91st birthday in July 2015. Bob’s Revolutionary War patriot is Jacob Shallenberger. |
