HERSEY, Ross V., 94, of Waynesboro, VA, passed away November 1, 2011 at his residence at Stuarts Draft Retirement Community.

He was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts on June 27, 1917 and is a graduate of Greenbrier Military School (1936) and Washington & Lee University (1940). After graduating from W&L he came to Waynesboro as Circulation Manager of the News-Virginian. During his brief stay in Waynesboro before World War II, he met and married the former Betty Lou Bush.

During World War II he served in the European Theater of Operations with the Army’s First Infantry Division. He was wounded in North Africa and received the Silver Star for heroism in combat, the Purple Heart, and the French Croix de Guerre with star. He was mustered out as a major.

After the war Mr. Hersey returned to Waynesboro and the News-Virginian and in 1947 was named its Managing Editor. In 1949 he joined the E. I. duPont Company facility in Waynesboro in public relations and personnel work. He retired from duPont in 1974 to pursue a career in public speaking where he made over 1,700 talks in all 50 states to banquets and conventions. He received the Certified Speaking Professional designation from the National Speakers Association.

He was a member of the Waynesboro Kiwanis Club for 46 years, serving as president of his club and as lieutenant governor of the Capital District’s Fifth Division. As a Kiwanian, he chaired the committee that brought Little League baseball to Waynesboro. He served as vice-chairman of both the local Red Cross and the United Way organizations and was president of the Waynesboro Concert Association.

He served as alumni class agent for Washington & Lee for nine years and served two years as president of the Augusta-Rockingham W&L Alumni Chapter. He was a founding member of both the Oak Grove Theater and the Waynesboro Players and performed or directed in over 60 plays. He also served over 20 years on the Board of Trustees of the Woodrow Wilson Birthplace.

Mr. Hersey was an active member of St. John’s Episcopal Church. He sang in the choir for many years, and served as president of the church men’s group, as a Sunday School teacher, and a Vestryman. He also served many years as a lay reader, being the first layman in the diocese to administer Holy Communion. He served the Diocese of Southwest Virginia as president of the Laymen of the Diocese and as editor of the Southwestern Episcopalian.

He is preceded in death by his parents Ross V. Hersey, Sr. and Ida C. Hersey and by his daughter-in-law, Patricia E. Hersey. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Lou Hersey, by his four children, Robin Hersey of Waynesboro, Barbara Overstreet and her husband Ray of Bedford, Missie Hersey of Richmond, and Andrew Hersey of Charlottesville, and by two grandchildren, Brian and Holland Hersey, both of Waynesboro.

A memorial service will be held at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 473 S. Wayne Ave., at 4:00PM on Friday, November 4, 2011. The family will receive guests in the library at St. John’s prior to the service, beginning at 3:00PM.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made in Ross’ name to the Agape fund at St. John’s or to the Stuarts Draft Retirement Community Memorial Fund (144 Patton Farm Rd., Stuarts Draft, VA).

The family expresses its heartfelt thanks to Rodney Martin and the staff of the Stuarts Draft Retirement Community and to the Hospice of the Shenandoah for their kindness and compassionate care.

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It should be noted, Ross graduated from Greenbrier Military School in 1935 and returned for a post graduate year in 1936 as Cadet Major, the highest rank in the school. He was a life member of the Alumni Association and returned in the 90's and entertained & motivated his fellow classmates and their families at their dinner/dance at The Greebrier. Ross was a member of "the greatest generation".