George Manuel Sempeles, 60, of Clear Brook, Virginia passed away Wednesday, April 3, 2019, at Inova Fairfax Hospital. George was born in 1958 in Winchester, Virginia, the son of Florine Sempeles and the late Manuel Sempeles. George was fascinated with history and was an avid Civil War buff, learning about relic hunting and collecting from his father. He could build practically anything with his hands and liked spending time creating historically accurate guns, swords, and his own ammunition. George was a member of the North-South Skirmish Association’s 5th Virginia Volunteer Infantry competitive shooting team. He loved his church and was a member of Dormition of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church, where he was Vice-President of the Parish Council, past president of the Council, and Chairman of the Greek Festival for many years.
John Lloyd Butterfield 65, of Herndon, VA, passed away suddenly at home surrounded by his family on Monday, June 25, 2018. Born on March 19, 1953 in Portsmouth, Virginia he was the son of the late Lloyd Butterfield and the late Gloria Mayette Butterfield. He was preceded in death by his sister in law, Karen Butterfield. John attended Winchester, Massachusetts schools early on as his father was in the Navy and stationed in Massachusetts. The family later moved to Virginia where he graduated from Yorktown High School. He was a graduate of the University of Richmond with a B.A. in English. He received his M.Ed. in Administration and Supervision from the University of Virginia. He was an English educator and administrator for 30 years, having taught in Henrico County Public Schools, Loudon County Public Schools, and Fairfax County Public Schools. He retired from Westfield High School in 2009. He continued to substitute at Westfield High School, Herndon Middle School, Herndon High School, and Fairfax County Interagency schools till his passing. John was active in the Northern Virginia Relic Hunters Association, Westfield Theatre Boosters, Boy Scout Troop 160, Order of the Arrow, and served on the board providing leadership with local teacher associations, AFT and FEA. He was also a brother in Sigma Alpha Epsilon. John loved spending time at the family camp and visiting his relatives at Lake Dunmore in East Salisbury, Vermont. He was an avid tag sale goer and would buy the most obscure tools. He was known to use those weird tools and his “MacGyvering” skills to fix the old camp’s many issues. He enjoyed tinkering with his old cars. Building the sets for Westfield Theater productions with his son, Alex was one of his favorite past times. He went on many Troop 160 campouts with his sons, Stewart and Alex. He could be found watching his daughter, Amelia, play soccer and volleyball. He enjoyed metal detecting for Colonial and Civil War artifacts. John wanted to share with his students his love and compassion for Shakespeare and the art of writing. He enjoyed watching his favorite football team, the New England Patriots. He is survived by his loving wife of 34 years, Nancy Stewart Butterfield. He was a devoted and loving father to Stewart Gates Butterfield, Alexander Lloyd Butterfield, and Amelia Elizabeth Butterfield. Survivors in John’s extended family include his sister Julie Cavacco (Jack) of Massachusetts, brothers Steven Butterfield of Massachusetts and Thomas Butterfield of Virginia, Uncle Albert (Donna) Butterfield of Massachusetts, his mother in law Loretta Stewart of New Jersey, sister in law Jeanne Ortlieb of Pennsylvania, brothers in law David Stewart (Kaye) and Mark Stewart (Beth) of New Jersey. His surviving nephews include Chris and David Butterfield, Andy Cavacco, Harrison Stewart, Andrew and Joseph Ortlieb, and surviving nieces Katie Cavacco and Nicole Ortlieb. John is also survived by his Lake Dunmore families, the Pecks and Fifes, and his close friends Martin Keena, Peter Fife and Barry Rosenberg.
Richard Hammond 88 of Leesburg, Virginia passed away on Friday, March 23, 2018, at Loudoun Nursing & Rehabilitation in Leesburg, Virginia. Born Tuesday, April 2, 1929 in Dranesville, VA. , he was the son of the late Frank G. and Christine H. (Hutchinson) Hammond. He is survived by his loving wife Dolly M. (Pollard) Hammond and their children: Martha Mills of Houston, TX., William G. Hammond of Chase City, VA., Paul F. Hammond of Leesburg, VA., Hallie M. Rallas of Leesburg, VA. He is also survived by grandchildren, great grandchildren and many other loving family members. He was preceded in death by his parents and a son Richard M. Hammond Jr.
William (Bill) Boyd Ritenour On Wednesday, August 9, 2017, 79, of Florence, SC went home. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Peggy Lee (Beeler) Ritenour and his daughters, Mona Lisa Ritenour of Memphis, TN, Susette Lee Ritenour of Centreville, VA, and his sister, Connie Ritenour Boyd of Winchester,VA. He is now reunited with his mother, Goldie Geneva (Whitmer) Ritenour and father, Vernon Boyd Ritenour both of Strasburg, VA. Bill is a graduate of Strasburg High School and grew up in the Shenandoah Valley. A Vietnam Veteran, he volunteered to serve his country in the United States Air Force, stationed at Soesterberg Air Force Base in Holland for four years and then Turner Air Force Base in GA. In 1967, Bill left the Air Force to focus on family life. As a master craftsman, Bill specialized in fireplaces and facades. After retiring from masonry, he worked for Maintenance and Storm Water Management with Fairfax County and retired after 21 years. With his extended family of nieces, nephews, cousins and also friends and co-workers we will celebrate his life at Shiloh Church at 73 Clary Road, Strasburg, VA on August 19 at 1:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served in the Fellowship Hall Society or the Strasburg Volunteer Fire Department.
Rick Wines Richard Raymond “Rick” Wines, 58 of Jeffersonton, VA passed away on May 7, 2017 at the Fauquier Hospital. He was born on April 5, 1959 in Warrenton, VA a son of Mattie Mae Robinson Wines of Warrenton and the late Robert Lee “Buck” Wines. Rick was the Superintendent for Utilities for the Town of Warrenton. He was a devoted member and Deacon at Jeffersonton Baptist Church and had a lifelong interest in the Civil War. In addition to his mother, he is survived by his wife, Judy G. Wines; his daughter, Amanda Wines and her friend Bounder Broner of Reno, NV; his sisters and their husbands, Robin and Michael Harper of Midland, VA and Nancy and Patrick Nye of Warrenton; his nephew, Ryan Lazo and his wife Lauren Scott, Pullman, WA; nieces, Ashby and Keelin Nye of Warrenton. He was beloved by his wife’s family including his father-in-law and his wife, H. Lang and Wanda Gilbert; his brothers-in-law and their wives, Steven and Nancy Gilbert and R. Lang Gilbert; sister-in-law and her husband, Kellie and Ronnie May; and nephews and nieces, Tommy Gilbert, Ethan and Lucas May, Michelle Pace and Kristin Gilbert. The family will receive friends on Thursday, May 11, from 3-5 & 7-9 PM at Moser Funeral Home, Warrenton where funeral services will be held on Friday, May 12 at 2:00 PM. Interment will follow at Jeffersonton Baptist Church Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Jeffersonton Baptist Church Building Fund, 18498 Springs Road, Jeffersonton, VA 22724.
Don London Age 69, died Saturday, November 30, 2013 at his home in Ocean Pines. Don was a club member and former NVRHA club president. Born in Newport News, VA, he was the son of the late Woody David London and Leila Yeatts London. He is survived by his beloved wife Nancy Jo Bell-London of Sterling, VA and Ocean Pines, MD. He is also survived by his brothers, Harry “Jack” London and his wife Jane of Hampton, VA, Harold London and his beloved companion, Sylvia Saul of Deland, FL, and Pete London of Ft. Washington, MD, and several nieces and nephews and a sister-in-law Shirley London of Newport News, VA. He was preceded in death by a brother, Woody David London. Mr. London had worked as an I.T. data center manager with BAE Systems in Virginia. He had been active with Mosby’s Rangers, a civil war reenactment group and Past President of the Northern Virginia Relic Hunters Association. Cremation followed his death. Per his request no formal services are planned. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Capital Campaign Salvation Army.
Kevin Connolly On friday, April 5th, 2013 of Alexandria, VA formaly of Winthrop, MA. Beloved husband of the late Carol Ann Connoly; father of Sean. Brian, Kevin and Susan Connolly, grandfather of Shannon, Kevin Patrick, Clare and Caroline Connolly. Relatives and friends may call at Jefferson Funeral Chapel, 5755 Castlewellan Dr. Alexandria, VA on Sunday, April 14th, 2013 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 PM. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Louis Catholic Church, 2907 Popkins Ln., Alexandria, VA on Monday at 11 A.M. Interment Quantico National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the St. Vincent Depaul Society.
STEPHEN JOSEPH HUDAK, III “Steve” Of Centreville, VA passed away on April 6, 2011. He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Cynthia Szymanski; one son, Stephen IV; his brother Richard Hudak “Rick” and his wife Sharon; and his brother James “Jim”. A 1973 graduate of George Mason University and a 1978 graduate of the University of Illinois, he was retired after 30+ years of Federal Government service as a chemist/program analyst with the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Justice, DEA. His funeral Mass will be Saturday, April 30, 12:30 p.m. at St. Leo the Great Catholic Church in Fairfax. A celebration of his life will follow. A private interment will be at Panorama Memorial Gardens, Strasburg, VA at a date TBD. In lieu of flowers, donations in Steve’s memory may be made to the American Heart Association , the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (specify myeloma research), the American Diabetes Association , or the National Kidney Foundation .
John Brady, 76, of Scranton, formerly of Camp Hill, died Tuesday, July 20, 2010 at Gino J. Merli Veterans Center, Scranton. He was a retired Accident and Malpractice Investigator from Hartford Insurance, Washington, D.C. He loved baseball and was a Civil War buff. He was born June 30, 1934 in Essex, England to the late Frank and Elizabeth (Mannion) Brady. He is survived by two sons, Michael J. of Fullerton, CA and Kyle J. of Atlantic Beach, FL; two daughters, Jennifer A. Sholly of Etters and Carolyn V. Hentz of Dillsburg; and seven grandchildren. Private services will be held at the convenience of the family. Interment will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Upper Allen Twp. Memorial Contributions may be made to Civil War Preservation Trust, 1156 15th Street NW, Suite 900, Washington, D.C. 20005. For more information or to send messages of condolence, please visit www.pennlive.com/obits
Belle McLaughlin, wife of member and past president Tom McLaughlin died of cancer at age 55. Belle was also club Historian a few years ago.
In lieu of flowers, Belle requested that a tax deductible donation be made in her name to Rebecca’s school. Trinity Christian School In Memory of Belle McLaughlin, mother of Rebecca Lee McLaughlin Attn: Business Office 11204 Braddock Road Fairfax, Virginia 22030
William G. “Bill” Gavin, age 85, passed away on Monday, February 8, 2010. Bill was one of the original members of the NVRHA and it’s first guest speaker. In 1963 Bill published “Accoutrement Plates North and South” which was the first comprehensive reference book on the subject.
From the Herald-Mail:
“William G. “Bill” Gavin, 85, of Charles Town, W.Va., died Monday, Feb. 8, 2010, at Jefferson Memorial Hospital. There will be no viewing. Friends may call at St. James Roman Catholic Church from 9 a.m. Saturday until the Mass, which will be at 10 a.m. at the church. Burial will be in the family plot at Harper Cemetery, Harpers Ferry, W.Va. Arrangements are by Melvin T. Strider Colonial Funeral Home, Charles Town.”
Wife of former NVRHA President Art Keene dies of cancer.
Katharina Elizabeth Keene, Dataw Island, SC Katharina Elizabeth Keene, 77, died Friday, November 20, 2009 at the Roper St. Francis Hospital, Charleston, SC. Kathy, as known to her many friends, was born January 1, 1932 in Hochspeyer, Germany. She was the only child of the late Otto and Magdalena Sprengart. Kathy graduated with honors from both the Gymnasium and Dolemetscher, where she majored in languages. She was employed by the U.S. Army as a tri-lingual military and civilian court recorder in Kaiserslautern, Germany. She married her husband Arthur in 1956 who was then serving in the U.S. Army. Accompanying her husband, Kathy arrived in the United States on the 4th of July, 1956. She applied for and received her American citizenship in 1959. For many years she was employed by a patent law firm in Washington, D.C. as a technical translator before retiring in 1990. Kathy is survived by her husband Arthur, their son Stephen and daughter-in-law Starling and two grand children, Flora and Minnie. A grave side service will be held Wednesday, November 25, 2009 at the Ivy Hill Cemetery, Upperville, Virginia where her burial will take place.
JOSEPH EDWARD GRAY, age 81, passed away on Sunday, May 17, 2009 at his residence surrounded by his loved ones, in Manassas, Virginia. Mr. Gray served on a Liberty Ship during World War II. Mr. Gray served in both the Merchant Marines and the U.S. Navy. Mr. Gray was born in Washington, D.C. on July 23, 1927. He retired as a Building Engineer in the Heating and Air Conditioning Industry. He was a member of the Sudley United Methodist Church.
He is preceded in death by his parents Harry Spotwood Gray and Daisy Reba (Speck) Gray.
He is survived by his wife Mary “June” Gray; his daughters, Ginger D. Gray of Culpeper, Janice Brown and her husband Hollis of Fairfax, Va. and Joan M. Gray of Rixeyville, Va.; his sons, Jack Gray and his wife Robin of Suffolk, Va. and Joe Gray and his wife Julie of Panama City Beach, Florida; three brothers, James “Jim” Gray and his wife Marie of Manassas, Al Gray and his wife Marge of Maryland and Jack Gray of Lebannon, Pennsylvania; 14 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren and aunt, Helen Cowan of Dallas, Texas.
Mr. Gray’s family will receive friends on Thursday, May 21, 2009 from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Found and Sons Lee Funeral Chapel at 8521 Sudley Road, Manassas, Virginia 20109. The Funeral Service will be held on Friday, May 22 at 10:00 a.m. at Sudley United Methodist Church of Manassas, Virginia with the Rev. Dennis Lipke officiating.
Interment in Stonewall Memory Gardens, of Manassas, Virginia. Pallbearers will be his five children and Daniel Crews.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the John Brown Liberty Ship of Baltimore, Md., c/o Joan Gray, 7167 Rixeyville Road, Rixeyville, VA 22737.
Online condolences may be made to the Gray family at http://www.foundandsons.com
WILLIAM (Bill) F. McGUINN of McLean, VA., passed away on Sunday, January 18, 2009.
Retired CIA Analyst, OSI 1951 through 1980. A descendant of John Henry Lunceford, one of Mosby’s Rangers and an expert on American military button makers and goods dealers. Beloved husband of Rosa Lee McGuinn; devoted father of Debra M. (Hughes) Pierce and Janis M. (Philip J.) Theunissen; grandfather of Emma Lee Theunissen. Friends may call at the MURPHY FALLS CHURCH FUNERAL HOME, 1102 W. Broad St. (Rt. 7), where the family will be present from 2 to 4 and 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday, January 22. Private interment National Memorial Park. Memorial services will be held on Saturday, January 24 at 11 a.m. at the Charles Wesley United Methodist Church, 6817 Dean Dr., McLean, VA. Family requests contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association, Washington, DC Office, 1025 Connecticut Ave. N.W., Suite 1005, Washington, DC 20036.
JOHN FRANCIS GRAHAM, age 59, passed away suddenly on January 17, 2009 in Alexandria, VA. He was a former Cub Scouts Pack #614 Den Leader, former member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, past President and Show Chairman of the NVRHA for more than 20 years, an Attorney with the U.S. Treasury Department and civil war enthusiast. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. and Mrs. Arthur V. Graham of Brooklyn, NY. He is survived by his loving wife of 20 years, Leslie Joseph Graham; beloved son Edward Joseph Graham; dear siblings Mary Jane, Arthur and James Graham as well as many nieces, nephews and several close friends. Friends may call at Everly-Wheatley Funeral Home, 1500 W. Braddock Rd, Alexandria, VA 22302 on Thursday, January 22, 2009 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, January 23, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 1427 W. Braddock Rd, Alexandria VA. Interment will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Gettysburg, PA at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, 120 Wall Street, 19th Floor, New York, NY 10005.
