In Memory | Lest We Forget

William James Artrip ’43

1924 – 2024

William James "Doc" Artrip, Jr., died Aug. 18. He left Virginia Polytechnic Institute for the U.S. Army Air Corps and co-piloted B-17s during World War II. He returned to VPI to graduate and went to dental school at Medical College, Richmond, VA., where he met his wife, Phyllis Jean Hoff. Dr. Artrip practiced for almost forty years, was instrumental in starting the Mason County Historical Society, and served in the West Virginia House of Delegates during the 1980s. He was preceded by his parents, wife, brothers, and sisters. He is survived by his two children, three grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.   

Charles Gilbert Miller Jr. ’44  

1922 – 2024

Charles Gilbert Miller Jr. died July 4. Charlie left Virginia Polytechnic Institute to serve his country in the Marine Corps during World War II and returned to graduate in 1947, later returning to active duty for the Korean War. He was employed in many capacities, including corporate executive vice president of Richmond Battery and Ignition (RBI) Corp., founded by his father in 1923. He served as an officer in numerous yacht clubs and was active in many Masonic organizations. Charlie was preceded in death by his three wives and is survived by three children, three grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.   

Ralph Armistead Thompson ’57  

1934 – 2024

Ralph Armistead Thompson died Aug. 12. He was a proud member of the Corps of Cadets and entered the Army after graduation, where he retired as a colonel after 37 years of active and reserve service. Ralph loved his life in Fairfax County as a member of the Merrifield Lions Club and was proud of the area’s rich history as a leader in the Merrifield Community Association. He was preceded in death by wife Dorothy and his parents, and is survived by his brothers, two sons, four grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

 

Harry Bowen, Jr. ‘58

1935 – 2024

Harry Bowen, Jr. died May 20. Harry wrestled and played football before graduating Virginia Tech. He was a medical science liaison for the Upjohn Company for 32 years and was recognized numerous times by the Upjohn Academy for outstanding accomplishments. He was happiest when his sons and grandchildren visited, riding on his John Deere cutting grass, or going to Hokie football games. He was predeceased by his parents and brother. He is survived by his wife Anabel Smith Bowen, two sons, four grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter.

 

James C. Ford ’58  

1936 – 2024

 James C. “Jim” Ford, Sr. died Aug. 22. He majored in building and construction engineering, received a commission as a second lieutenant, and was in the Army Reserves until 1972. Jim spent his career working as a senior construction manager with several major construction firms. He was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Kingsport, and a Mason with the Suthers Lodge in Norton, VA. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Martha Bolling Wren, and his friend and companion, Virginia Ann Sturgill. He is survived by his two children and a grandson.

Harvey Lee Sutton ’59  

1937 – 2024

Harvey Lee Sutton died May 25. He was a proud alumnus of Virginia Tech with a degree in electrical engineering. He remained an avid, livelong supporter of the Corps of Cadets, College of Engineering, and Virginia Polytechnic Institute as a whole and lived by the motto, Ut Prosim. Following the Corps, Harvey proudly served in the U.S. Army then worked for VEPCO/Dominion Power for 35 years as a senior engineer (Portsmouth), nuclear specialist (Surry), and lead executive (Richmond). Harvey is survived by his wife of 64 years, Agnes Sutton, his sister, and nieces.   

Richard Thomas Crowder ’60

1939 – 2023

Richard Thomas "Dickie" Crowder died May 30. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Virginia Tech and served two years in the Army, later earning a Ph.D. from Oklahoma State University–Stillwater. He served as the chief agricultural negotiator in the Office of the United States Trade Representative and undersecretary of agriculture for International Affairs and Commodity Programs. He joined the faculty of Virginia Tech in 2008 and was twice appointed C.G. Thornhill Professor of Agricultural Trade. He is survived by his wife Margaret Taylor Rainey Crowder, two sons, and a sister.

Peter Ralph Kurzhals ’60  

1937 – 2024

Dr. Peter Ralph Kurzhals died July 18. He was an aerospace engineer and executive, whose career spanned 52 years of manned spaceflight at NASA and Boeing, including five years with Dr. Von Braun. He was a charter member of the Senior Executive Service and served as the director of space technology in the Office of Aeronautics and Space Technology of NASA Headquarters. At Boeing, he held several director-level positions. Peter led the development of the space shuttle prototype Digital Fly by Wire (FBW) System and the first successful flight of an all-FBW system in the world, a technology adopted by all commercial and military aircraft.   

James Alfred Branscome ’63  

1941 – 2024

James “Jimbee” Alfred Branscome died Aug. 23. Jimbee lettered in track and field all four years, graduated as a distinguished cadet, and served as an Air Force pilot in the Vietnam War earning the Distinguished Flying Cross. He retired after forty years at Freeman Beverage Company, was a proud Fredericksburg Rotarian, and a dedicated member of St. George’s Episcopal Church. He was preceded by wife, Cynthia, and a grandson. He is survived by wife and best friend, Virginia “Ginnie” Branscome, three children, and nine grandchildren.

Bruce Alling Conway ’64  

1942 – 2024

Bruce Alling Conway died Aug. 7. Bruce graduated with a degree in aerospace engineering, earned a master’s degree from George Washington University, and a Ph.D. from Old Dominion University. An Eagle Scout at age 12, he went on to a 37-year career at NASA, retiring as a member of the Senior Executive Service in the Internal Operations Group, and a second career for 45 years with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, where he was a founding associate dean in the School of Engineering. A lifelong Episcopalian and proud Rotarian, he was predeceased by his parents and is survived by his wife Carol and two children.   

Tommy Jay Doss ’90  

1968 – 2024

Tommy Jay Doss died May 5. He graduated the Corps of Cadets with a degree in history and political science and earned a Master of Public Administration in 2002. Tommy served his community on the Danville and Lynchburg police forces, transitioned to the Lynchburg Fire Department as an IT specialist and retired from the City of Lynchburg’s IT Department. Tommy loved sci-fi and to quote Leonard McCoy, “He’s really not dead, as long as we remember him.” He was preceded in death by his parents and survived by his wife, Cheryl Wilson Doss, and three daughters who were the center of his life.

 

LEST WE FORGET

 

John B. Adams ’45, Martinsville, New Jersey, 8/1/2024

William D. Goode ’45, Radford, Virginia, 7/27/2024 

Frederick G. Hilbish ’45, Kannapolis, North Carolina, 8/3/2024

Homer E. Wright ’46, Eden, North Carolina, 7/22/2024 

Hinton D. Hurff ’48, Suffolk, Virginia, 8/23/2024

Robert F. Titus ’48, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 9/8/2024 

Leon E. Boswell ’49, Newhall, California, 6/15/2024

John D. Mitchell ’50, Mechanicsville, Virginia, 7/22/2024 

Richard L. Bunting ’51, Pocomoke City, Maryland, 6/4/2024

Lawrence E. Cassada ’51, Blacksburg, Virginia, 7/1/2024 

Robert A. Harrison ’52, Richmond, Virginia, 5/20/2024

William J. Maney ’52, Carolina Beach, North Carolina, 7/21/2024 

Thomas D. Steele ’52, Fort Myers, Florida, 8/7/2024

Melvin C. Bowling ’53, Fountain Hills, Arizona, 5/6/2024 

Malcolm F. Jones ’53, Greensboro, North Carolina, 7/11/2024

Neil H. Mays ’53, Yorktown, Virginia, 6/14/2024 

Kenneth S. Myers ’53, McMinnville, Oregon, 9/5/2024

Dallas J. Dye ’54, Nellysford, Virginia, 8/29/2024 

Roy P. Harman ’54, Radford, Virginia, 9/2/2024

Howard H. Oakley ’54, Williamsburg, Virginia, 7/7/2024 

Richard J. Duma ’55, Ormond Beach, Florida, 7/22/2024

Owen Thomas ’55, Winchester, Virginia, 8/26/2024 

Marcellus D. North ’56, Manassas, Virginia, 7/6/2024

Rudolph W. Raabe ’56, Carrollton, Texas, 5/21/2024 

Vestal K. Shelton ’56, Moneta, Virginia, 8/16/2024

Bobbie L. Thompson ’56, Aiken, South Carolina, 5/21/2024 

Gerald P. Baber ’57, Piney Flats, Tennessee, 7/2/2024

William O. Tucker ’57, Lynchburg, Virginia, 5/6/2024 

John W. Barnes ’58, Santa Ana, California, 8/7/2024

Andrew G. Gay ’58, Boca Raton, Florida, 7/1/2024 

Henry M. Harvey ’58, Radford, Virginia, 9/7/2024

Roger A. Becker ’59, Webster, New Hampshire, 7/16/2024 

Donald C. Morrison ’59, Duck, North Carolina, 6/7/2024

James R. Williamson ’59, Yakima, Washington, 8/17/2024 

Matthew M. Winston ’59, Virginia Beach, Virginia, 5/14/2024

Dan P. Bunch ’60, Boulder City, Nevada, 4/25/2024  

Robert S. Carlon ’60, Disputanta, Virginia, 9/26/2024

John B. Harlan ’60, Laurinburg, North Carolina, 9/8/2024 

Charles O. Moore ’60, Jefferson, Georgia, 5/16/2024

G. Shirley Myers ’60, Macon, Georgia, 5/5/2024 

Harry J. Bagnell ’61, Strasburg, Virginia, 5/5/2024

Charles W. Chase ’61, Wytheville, Virginia, 7/28/2024 

Lawrence G. Midkiff ’61, Columbia, South Carolina, 9/18/2024

William L. Shepheard ’61, Virginia Beach, Virginia, 7/27/2024 

W. D. Thompson ’61, Carthage, North Carolina, 8/8/2024

Claude W. Wright ’61, South Hill, Virginia, 7/16/2024 

Michael N. Cassell ’62, Waco, Texas, 8/20/2024

Gilbert M. Dinkins ’62, Forest, Virginia, 8/29/2024 

Franklin B. Gattis ’62, Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, 4/23/2024

William O. Heintz ’62, Peotone, Illinois, 5/21/2024 

Milton E. Hite ’62, Annandale, Virginia, 7/21/2024

John W. Nelson ’62, Mechanicsville, Virginia, 5/17/2024 

Richard R. Smith ’62, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, 9/2/2024

Jimmy E. Wolfe ’62, Moseley, Virginia, 6/14/2024 

Richard W. Cole ’63, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, 9/22/2024

Harold F. Ford ’63, Front Royal, Virginia, 7/21/2024 

Aubrey S. Mitchell ’63, King George, Virginia, 9/11/2024

Laurence C. Pettit ’63, Charlottesville, Virginia, 9/8/2024 

Michael L. Franz ’64, Flat Rock, North Carolina, 7/16/2024

Robert S. Gilmore ’64, Alexandria, Virginia, 6/21/2024 

John W. McMillan ’64, Newport News, Virginia, 7/4/2024

Robert W. Lowry ’65, King George, Virginia, 6/17/2024 

Earl C. Currin ’66, Lunenburg, Virginia, 8/19/2024

Joseph F. Finkstein ’66, Marion, Iowa, 4/25/2024 

Herbert D. Vicinus ’66, Horseshoe Bay, Texas, 8/12/2024

Boris O. Taran ’67, Norfolk, Virginia, 5/20/2024 

Richard J. Yesensky ’70, Suffolk, Virginia, 6/6/2024

Darryl A. Givens ’74, Land O Lakes, Florida, 9/3/2024 

Christopher T. Kucera ’00, King George, Virginia, 7/22/2024