July-September 2007

All in the Family

John Wells

Governor’s Award Recipients Give in Memory of Teammate

“He is irreplaceable,” said Emily Peter, project manager, in summing up the impact of John Wells on Richmond District and the award-winning Route 5 Bridge Preliminary Engineering Team.

Wells, district preservation manager and a member of the team, died unexpectedly at age 52 in May.

Team members had just celebrated their Commissioner’s Award and had not yet learned they were recipients of the prestigious Governor’s Award when John died.

Present for the special donation to the Library of
Virginia in honor of John Wells were his father,
the Rev. Lynwood D. Wells of Martinsville; VDOT
Project Manager Emily Peter, Richmond District;
State Librarian SandraG. Treadway; and
Commissioner David Ekern.

In a moving show of respect for John, team members unanimously agreed to donate their Governor’s Award bonus to the Library of Virginia Foundation to be used for acquisitions and in support of educational programs.

John spent much time in research at the library pursuing his professional and personal interests in architecture history, architects and courthouses.

Peter, team members, other colleagues and friends, and Commissioner David Ekern met at the library in July to present the gift to State Librarian Sandra Treadway.

Births: Congratulations to …

Travis Higgs, engineer, Salem District, Materials Section, and his wife, Dani, on the birth of a son, Isaiah Scott.
John J. Schuler, architect-engineer II, Structure and Bridge Division, and his wife, Kelly, on the birth of a daughter, Sarah.

Retirements:

William E. Armstrong, administrative and office specialist II, Central Office, 32 years of service
William C. Austin, transportation operator II, Bristol District, 37 years of service
Seven P. Collie, transportation operations manager II, Fredericksburg District, 23 years of service
Wayne A. Cullers, engineering technician III, Staunton District, 42 years of service
Tony S. Deal, transportation operator II, Culpeper District, 26 years of service
Donny R. Dodson, engineering technician III, Staunton District, 37 years of service
Lynette G. Doyle, administrative and office specialist II, Hampton Roads District, 33 years of service
Linda A. Emory, administrative and office specialist III, Hampton Roads District, five years of service
Richard A. Farris, engineering technician III, Lynchburg District, 32 years of service
John D. Flythe, transportation operations manager III, Hampton Roads District, 30 years of service
Garland E. Fraley, engineering technician III, Bristol District, 29 years of service
Vernell M. Freeman, administrative and office specialist III, Richmond District, 15 years of service
Benny W. Gordon, transportation operator II, Fredericksburg District, 32 years of service
Ernest C. Hamilton, engineering technician II, Staunton District, 42 years of service
Robert D. Hawkins Jr., engineering technician III, Edinburg Residency, 40 years of service
Richard L. Hensley, transportation operator II, Salem District, 34 years of service
Carolyn W. James, land acquisition and property management agent III, Hampton Roads District, 35 years of service
Ronald E. Keister, auditor II, Central Office, 24 years of service
Bobby J. Kester, engineering technician III, Staunton District, 34 years of service
Hazel K. Lawrence, financial services specialist II, Central Office, 35 years of service
Ted M. Lytton, engineering technician III, Staunton District, 28 years of service
J. L. Marsh, land acquisition and property management agent II, Salem District, 40 years of service
Charles Mason, transportation operator II, Hampton Roads District, 22 years of service
Fred R. Minnick, engineering technician III, Bristol District, 26 years of service
W. D. Myers, equipment service repair technician I, Northern Virginia District, 38 years of service
Harold G. Paxton, policy planning specialist, Central Office, 18 years of service
Anthony R. Quesenberry, trades technician IV, Salem District, 33 years of service
D. W. Ratliff, equipment service repair manager I, Salem District, 37 years of service
Leslie L. Roark, transportation operator II, Bristol District, 33 years of service
William L. Roberts III, architect-engineer I, Hampton Roads District, 12 years of service
Nancy C. Robson, administrative and office specialist III, Culpeper District, 27 years of service
Donald D. Searles Jr., transportation operator II, Northern Virginia District, 22 years of service
Henry C. Shelton, general administration supervisor I, Lynchburg District, 40 years of service
Svetlana N. Shnekendorf, administrative and office specialist II, Northern Virginia District, five years of service
Robert D. Simms, transportation operator II, Staunton District, 27 years of service
Vincent C. Smith, transportation operator II, Staunton District, 17 years of service of service
Richard J. Sprissler, scientist II, Central Office, eight years of service
Sherman D. Stanley, land acquisition and property management agent III, Lynchburg District, 45 years of service
Edna R. Tinsley, procurement officer I, Lynchburg District, 42 years of service
Thomas B. Trott, land acquisition and property management agent II, Staunton District, 38 years of service
Colin W. Whetzel, transportation operator II, Staunton District, 41 years of service
R.A. Willard, transportation operations manager I, Salem District, 40 years of service
Boyd R. Williams, equipment service repair technician I, Fredericksburg District, 37 years of service
Frank R. Woollums, transportation operations manager I, Salem District, 33 years of service

Obituaries:

Phyllis Q. Carrier, 90, Right of Way Section, Staunton District, died June 3; retired in 1977 with 30 years of service.
Howard D. Carter, 46, shift supervisor, Jamestown-Scotland Ferry, died June 8; he had 19 years of service.
Ralph E. Curry, 76, foreman, Verona Residency, died Aug. 21; retired in 1991 with 40 years of service.
Robert F. Dunaway Jr., 66, maintenance crew member, Northern Neck Residency, Richmond County AHQ, died June 26; retired in 1998 with 20 years of service.
Bessie Edwards, 58, administrative office specialist II, Materials Division, died March 4; she had 13 years of service.
Everett A. Hill, 58, transportation operations manager II, Louisa Area Headquarters, died July 29; retired in 2007 with 22 years of service.
Carroll G. “Neb” Howland, 72, equipment operator B, Fredericksburg Residency, died April 6; retired in 1996 with 31 years of service.
J. Raymond Humphries, 96, shop foreman, Fredericksburg District, died April 11; retired in 1979 with 14 years of service.
John W. Loftis, 70, highway equipment operator A, Halifax Residency, died June 21; retired in 1978 with 23 years of service.
Curtis E. Pfeiffer Jr., 84, highway engineer, Suffolk and Staunton districts and Central Office, died March 28; retired in 1983 with 41 years of service.
Thomas F. Purcell, 43, transportation operations manager II, Saluda Residency, Middlesex AHQ, died July 23; he had 20 years of service.
Walter E. Shelton, 64, construction inspector senior, Appomattox residency, died June 12; retired in 1995 with 32 years of service.
Vincent C. Smith, 65, transportation operator II, Lexington Residency, died July 6; retired in 2007 with 17 years of service.
Raymond Douglas Tate, 67, crew leader, Ashland Residency, died May 1; he had 23 years of service.
John E. Wells, 52, archaeologist, Richmond District, died May 13; he had 20 years of service.
James R. Yeager, Jr., 90, survey supervisor, Lexington Residency, died Aug. 25; retired in 1982 with 45 years of service.

Page last modified: Dec. 26, 2007