Marie Hirst Yochim, age 92 of 7314 Hughes Court, Falls Church died Thursday, April 19th at Virginia Hospital Center.  Marie was born February 3, 1920 in Washington, D.C. to her parents Herbert Hirst and Ella Mankin.  Marie lived her life in the City of Falls Church and attended and graduated from Madison Elementary and Jefferson Institute.  She attended Strayer College. Her husband Eldred, died at the age of 101 in 2006.  Marie, one of Falls Church’s most venerable citizens was a 12th generation Virginian and a 10th generation Falls Churchan.

Marie was a very active Falls Church citizen and her love of country, its history and Falls Church permeated most of her life.  Mrs. Yochim was the 35th President of the Daughters of the American Revolution, serving in the national leadership position from 1989 -1992.  She joined the Falls Church Chapter of the D.A.R. in 1953 and became the Virginia State Regent.  After her active service she was named Honorary President General.  She was a George Washington Fellow and major contributor to the Center for Advancing America’s Heritage.  Her family ancestry in Falls Church goes back to the first settlement at Big Chimney (1699).  Her nephew Melvin Steadman’s book, Falls Church, By Fence and Fireside, is the prime source for much of the City’s history.  Given her extensive knowledge of the City’s history, Marie was interviewed at various historic sites in the City for the FCCTV series CITY WALKS.  The first episode with Marie and Dave Eckert will be aired on FCCTV at 2 pm Friday and Saturday this week and again on Sunday at noon.

The viewing and service will be held at the Columbia Baptist Church, 103 West Columbia Street, Falls Church, VA. (703-534-5700).  The viewing is scheduled for 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, April 27, 2012.  Services will be at the Columbia Baptist Church at 11 a.m. on Saturday April 28, 2012.  Following the service, burial will be at Oakwood Cemetery in Falls Church.

Richard Marsh with his mother Rena

By FALLS CHURCH TIMES STAFF
November 19, 2011

A memorial service for Richard Marsh will be held this Sunday, November 20th at the George Mason High School Auditorium from 2:00 PM until 5:00 PM.

Richard, age 16, died on Wednesday November 16 in Newport News where he was attending Woodside High School. Until recently Richard was a resident of Falls Church where he was an outstanding athlete on local football, baseball, and basketball teams. He was a beloved friend to many here and his passing has caused an outpouring of emotion from many students, staff, and residents.

Richard’s mother Rena, is a resident of Falls Church and, as GMHS principle Tyrone Byrd said in a letter to parents, “a steadfast advocate for the Falls Church City school system for more than a decade,”

The Memorial will be held in the George Mason High School Auditorium. There will be overflow seating available in the cafeteria with a live feed. Parking will be available on the GMHS campus with additional free parking in the Virginia Tech/Metro parking lot adjacent to the GM campus. The Memorial program will also be broadcast live on FCCTV.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 AM on Sunday, November 27 (Thanksgiving weekend) at 15322 Warwick Blvd, Newport News, VA.

In lieu of flowers, contributions are gratefully accepted at:

Hoops for Youth Foundation
10623 Jones Street Suite 101-A
Fairfax, VA 22030

Moore was president of the Village Preservation and Improvement Society, and board member and volunteer of Friends of Cherry Hill. He served as trustee of Dulin United Methodist Church for many years, church historian, and steward of the Dulin Memorial Garden where was interred privately on November 5, followed by a public memorial service.

Moore lived a life devoted to family, country and art history. Born in 1924 in Racine, Wisconsin, Moore had two distinguished back-to-back careers – 34 years each – and a loving marriage to Nancy Colden Lasher that lasted 58 years.

Merl Moore and his files, 2003

Moore’s military career began in 1943 when he joined ROTC while attending St. Norbert College in Wisconsin. In 1948, Moore was a Distinguished Military Graduate of ROTC, became an officer in the U.S. Army Signal Corps. He served in three wars: WWII, Korea and Vietnam. Moore retired in 1977 at age 53 and was awarded the Legion of Merit.

The next day, Moore turned his attention full-time to his life-long passion for 19th Century American Art. While he had earned a BA in Art History from the University of Kentucky in 1949, and studied for a Masters from George Washington University in the 1970s, he was now free to build his files of original research about almost every artist of the period. From 1977 to 2011, Moore was a Research Collaborator & Visiting Scholar with SAAM, the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

In 2001, Moore donated his collection – 14 file cabinets totaling 64 drawers – to SAAM’s American Art / Portrait Gallery Library. In 2003, he was honored with a special event “Deep in the Heart of American Art: The Research Collection of Merl Moore… celebrating Moore’s 25 years with SAAM and the gift of his legendary files.”

Moore is survived by all 25 members of his family; his wife, five children, their spouses, 10 grandchildren, one grandson-in-law, and three great-grandchildren.

September 19, 2011

Charles “Chip” Hailey passed away Friday night.  He was a long-time City resident and volunteer, one of the founders of the Falls Church Cable TV access board, and son of a former mayor.  For many years he provided audio and technical assistance for many City Recreation and Parks programs, school programs, and City employee programs.

Mr. Haley was very dedicated to the City’s cable television station and its programming.  He was a life-long member of the Cable TV Access Board and helped with many cable TV productions, including GMHS graduations; Rec and Parks dance recitals, and many more.

He gladly shared his knowledge, expertise and experience in audio and video with many members of City and school staff, students and citizen-access TV producers.  Chip Haley was single but leaves many friends in the City and schools.

Len Michalowski’s funeral mass is scheduled at St. James Church for Thursday, 12 May 2011 at 10:30 a.m.  There will be a viewing at Murphy’s Funeral Home on West Broad Street in Falls Church on Wednesday, 11 May 2011 from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m.  Burial will take place at Quantico National Cemetery.

December 1, 2010

Ruby Bolster, active city resident for over 50 years, passed away November 23 after a brief hospital stay. She was 86.

A gathering of family and friends will take place Wednesday, December 8, from 4-8 p.m. at Cherry Hill Farm House, 312 Park Avenue.

Ruby Skoog grew up in Minneapolis and there met and married her husband, Mel Bolster, after meeting on a blind date.  They moved to Washington so that Mel could work at the State Department.  They later moved to the City of Falls Church in 1958.  She worked at the Federal Reserve Bank in Minneapolis, Federal Water Council, and DeVol Funeral Home in Washington.

Ruby created her place in Falls Church by joining and actively supporting many organizations and helping to create organizations to support her causes.  She first  joined  the League of Women Voters.  She and her long time friend Mildred Pope and others worked together to ensure the preservation of Cherry Hill Farm House and helped to create the Friends of Cherry Hill.

In 2005 Ruby and her husband Mel were recognized and honored by the Village Preservation and Improvement Society with the “Spirit of Falls Church Award” for their lifetime of commitment to the improvement of the fabric of the community.   She and her husband were among a half dozen that organized the force of the citizenry to help save the historic Lawton House that was threatened with destruction.  From that, the re-founding of VPIS occurred in 1965.

Through the years, Ruby was also an active member in the City of Falls Church Historical Commission,  Falls Church Garden Club, American Scandinavian Society, and Drott Lodge, as well as the Falls Church Presbyterian Church, Mary Styles Library Book Club, Celebration Center for Spiritual Living, Antique Arts, the Victorian Society, and the Citizens for a Better City.

She is survived by her daughter, Dr. Laurie Bolster (and Lyn Iannazzo) of Falls Church, and Jeff Bolster (and Terri) and two grandchildren, Victor and Hannah of Manassas. Her husband died in 2005, and her son Mark died at age 17 in 1972 from an automobile accident.

A memorial service and interment are planned for spring 2011.

November 2, 2010 (Updated)

Falls Church City Police are conducting a cooperative investigation with the Arlington Fire Marshal regarding a City resident who died from burns early Sunday morning.

Police identified the victim as Antonia Marie Alba, 54, of 362 James Street.

On Saturday, October 30, at 1:47 p.m., police responded to the James Street address for a report of a woman on fire.  There, police found the victim leaning against the outside wall of a residence, underneath a spigot with water running over her.  She had second and third degree burns over 70 percent of her body.

Rescue units transported the woman to T.J. Elementary School on S. Oak Street, where she was then taken by Med Star helicopter to the Washington Hospital Center.

On Sunday, October 31, at approximately 3:30 a.m., the woman succumbed to her injuries.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

August 2, 2010

A.C. Miller, 61, resident of West Tisbury, MA, died at his home near Lambert’s Cove on Martha’s Vineyard, Thursday, July 22. He passed peacefully just before sunset, surrounded by his loving wife June, their Westie Marley, family, and friends.

Born in 1948 to Loretta Hunsberger and Clifford Eugene Miller in Clay Center, Kansas, A.C. (his formal name, though also known as “Ace”) lived a loving life that embraced family, business, world events, politics, and a passion for the present moment. He will be greatly missed and remembered as a loving and steadfast inspiration to all who were fortunate to know him.

After growing up in Kansas and Colorado, A. C. received a degree in political science from Southern Colorado State College in 1970 and earned a Masters in Telecommunications from the University of Colorado in 1973.  He subsequently served in the Peace Corps in Kabul, Afghanistan from 1977 to 1979 as a teacher of computer science and English. His service in Afghanistan established a lifelong passion for social justice, democracy, and politics.

After ten years working for the U.S. Department of Commerce and then as a telecommunications consultant in Boulder, Colorado, A.C. relocated to Falls Church, Virginia, where he worked for American Mobile Systems before forming Spectrum Resources. With savvy vision and good timing under A.C.’s leadership, he and his partners succeeded in business, capitalizing on the exploding radio and telecommunications industry by obtaining hundreds of radio spectrum licenses throughout the U.S., which later contributed to the foundation of the national cellular phone system. Subsequently, the same team went on to build a very successful radio tower company which owned over 100 communications towers at the time it was very successfully sold. In Virginia, A.C. also served local government on the Falls Church City’s Economic Development Authority.

He was well known as a coach and supporter of many youth sports teams, especially at George Mason High School and High Point Pool. He embraced many passions, especially the academic and athletic achievements of his kids and their friends. A.C. was devoted to physical fitness and completed a triathalon and several Marine Corps marathons, as well as being an avid golfer. His love of the New York Times crosswords, driving his M5, and traveling throughout the world gave him great pleasure.

A.C. became a full-time resident of Martha’s Vineyard in 2009 where he was the Executive Director of the Men’s Bereavement Group of Martha’s Vineyard – a fitting final life’s coda that combined his passion for business with the desire to help those in need.

He is survived by his loving wife, June Myers Miller of West Tisbury, MA; his daughter, Rory Leraris and her husband Mike of New York, NY; his son, Robin and his wife Katelyn of Columbus, OH; his stepsons, Justin and Tobias Myers, Tobias’ wife, Leslie, and Tobias and Leslie’s children, Lily and Tanner of Martha’s Vineyard, MA. He is also survived by his mother, Loretta Miller of Keytesville, MO, and his former wife, Barbara Grable Miller of Washington, DC. A.C. was preceded in death by his father, his sister, Patricia Simmons of Palm Desert, CA, his brother, Dr. William Miller of Keytesville, MO, and his loyal Newfie, Huckleberry.

In lieu of flowers or other tokens of love, A.C.’s family asks that donations be made to Island Hospice, P.O. Box 4188, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568 or The Martha’s Vineyard Cancer Support Group, P.O. Box 2214, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568.

Celebrations of A.C.’s life are being planned for the fall on Martha’s Vineyard and in Falls Church, VA.

Editor’s Note: A.C. Miller was an early contributor to the Falls Church Times, writing a series about the CBC – Citizens for a Better City – A Member’s Perspective“ and ”CBC — A Member’s Perspective — Part Two.”

By FALLS CHURCH TIMES STAFF

July 21, 2010

Thomas Sawner, a Falls Church commercial property owner and developer and president of Educational Options, Inc., died peacefully in his home July 11, according to the Washington Post.

Sawner figured prominently in plans for development of the Wilden senior housing building envisioned for 350 South Washington Street.  He was the owner of the office building at 360 South Washington, and initially opposed the City’s plans to build the Wilden next to his own property.  

Subsequently, however, Sawner signed a non-binding letter of intent to sell his building to City developer Bob Young, who intends to build an office building with a parking garage on the site.  In order for the required parking to be available on schedule, Young’s building must be built concurrently with the Wilden.

It is not known how Sawner’s sudden passing may affect plans for the Wilden.  Sawner, who also owned properties at 500 and 510 Annandale Road, had hoped to consolidate his company’s local offices in Falls Church City.

Thomas E. Sawner was born in Savannah, Tennessee in 1954. He graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1976 and later received a doctorate from the George Washington University. He retired from military duty in 1999.

A resident of Arlington, Sawner is survived by his wife, Bettina; his children Ann and TJ and their mother, Cynthia Terriberry; his parents, Tom and Doris Sawner; his brother, Jeff; his sisters, Jan Robertson and Elizabeth Kowalski; his stepdaughter Tamara Preiss; her husband, Jeremy Preiss, and their two children, Madeleine and Ben.

A memorial service will be held Monday, July 26, at 11 a.m. at the Clarendon United Methodist Church in Arlington.

By FALLS CHURCH CITY SCHOOLS COMMUNICATIONS

June 8, 2010

Thomas Jefferson Elementary School teacher Carey Rainey Gray is being remembered  for her positive attitude and caring spirit.  Gray passed away Saturday after an 11-month battle with cancer.  She was 34.

“As the reading specialist at TJ, Carey worked with students who needed additional help,” Superintendent Lois Berlin said.  “She was the embodiment of a caring spirit, and she inspired her students to become successful in the most sweet, gentle manner.   She will be missed.”

Gray was a 10-year veteran teacher and a 2005 nominee for the Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award.  In her nomination letter, then TJ Principal Trudy Taylor described Gray as, “a team player whose warm and trusting nature allows her to set a comfort level in her classroom that encourages her students to take risks with their attempts at learning.”

TJ students also wrote letters of support describing Gray as, “someone who is nice and funny and is honest and fair because she splits things equally.”

Gray’s teaching career started in September 1999, when she was hired to teach first grade at Merritt Academy in Fairfax.  She signed on with the Falls Church City Public Schools two years later, serving first as a 2^nd grade teacher and later as the reading specialist at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School. 

Gray was a 1998 graduate of North Carolina State University where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in communications.  She earned her licensure in elementary education in 1999 from Meredith College and she earned her Master of Arts degree in education from the Virginia Tech in 2006.  Gray was also a graduate of Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington, Va.  

Gray is survived by her husband, Trevor, and her son, Carter.  Visitation will take place from 4– 8 p.m. on Tuesday, June 8, at Murphy Funeral Home located at 1102 W. Broad Street in Falls Church.  The funeral service will be held on Wednesday, June 9, at 10 a.m. at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 11900 Lawyers Road, Reston, Va.  In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions in Carey Gray’s name be made to the Mary Riley Styles Public Library.