TAPS TAPS K. Wade Chapman ’30 Class Agent, 1979-2000
retired from the Regular Army in 1964. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Army Kenneth Wade Chapman ’30 of Downers Commendation Medal. He attended the U.S. Army Field Grove, Illinois, died on Aug. 19, Artillery School, the Officers Basic 2009. He was 101. and Advanced Courses, the Air Chapman matriculated from War College and the Field Officer Norfolk, Virginia, and held a bachCourse. elor of arts degree in liberal arts He was a member of the Fort from VMI. He also attended HarMonroe Casement Museum Founvard Business School. dation Board of Directors. A veteran of World War II, he He is survived by two nieces, served from 1943-46 as an officer Vivian G. Starnes of Nashville, in the U.S. Marine Corps in the Tennessee, and Kathryn Lambert Pacific. of Madison Heights, Virginia. His He retired in 1969 as a senior Chapman ’30 wife, Irma H. Vivian, died in 1996, vice president of McCann-Erickson and his brother, G. Brent Vivian ’39, Advertising and was then employed died in 1998. as a sales executive with U.S. Banknote Corp. until 1983. J. Roberts Little Jr. ’35 Chapman was a 40-year resident of Hinsdale, Col. Joseph Roberts Little Jr. ’35, USMC Illinois, where he was active in his community. He served as a director of the Hinsdale Federal (Ret), of Sun City, Arizona, died on Sept. 28, Savings and Loan, on the Planning Commis- 2009. He was 95. He matriculated from Washington, D.C., and sion of the Village, and as chairman of the West Suburban Mass Transit District, and was held a bachelor of arts degree from VMI. A veteran of World War II and Korea, he a member of the Union Church. A talented served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1935artist, his paintings decorated Fairview Village, the retirement center where he had lived for 61, attaining the rank of colonel. A pilot, he 15 years and where he was a member of the experienced first hand the evolution of Naval aviation from its early days of open-air cockpit Fairview Village Council. In 2008 he was the recipient of a resolution biplanes to tactical jet aircraft. He was awarded from The VMI Alumni Association. It was pre- the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Navy sented to him at the time of his 100th birthday Commendation Medal. He attended the Army Command and General and read, in part, “He has devoted himself in his Staff School and the Navy War College, and atpersonal and professional career to the highest ideals of the Institute in his dedication to duty, tended the Harvard Business School Advanced selfless service and unwavering commitment Management Course. Following his retirement from the Marine to the principles of integrity enjoyed by those Corps, he returned to Washington, D.C., to of the finest character.” He is survived by three sons, John, Tom and work in the field of private aviation until his Paul; their wives; eight grandchildren; and retirement in 1978, at which time he relocated three great-grandchildren. His wife of 59 years, to Sun City. While in Sun City he served for 10 years as a trustee of the Sun City Art Museum, Jane Davis Chapman, died in 1997. which he also served as president. He is survived by two sons, David Little and William R. Vivian ’32 his wife, Betty, of La Jolla, California, and John Class Agent, 2004-09 Lt. Col. William Rhoads Vivian ’32, USA (Ret), Little and his wife, Dinah, of Miami, Florida; a of Newport News, Virginia, died on Sept. 13, daughter, Lenore Tancke, and her husband, Fred, of Phoenix, Arizona; a stepdaughter, 2009. He was 98. Vivian matriculated from Nitro, West Virginia, Marguerite Hickox, and her husband, Benny, and held a bachelor of science degree in civil of Jacksonville, North Carolina; eight grandengineering from VMI. He attended the Carnegie children; and 11 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife of 33 years, Franc WilInstitute of Technology after leaving VMI. He served in the U.S. Army from May 1941- liams Little; his wife of 20 years, Harriet von February 1946 and from July 1946-September der Heydt Little; and his wife of seven years, 1964. He was a captain and major with a field Dorothy Rodgers Dusing Little. artillery battalion during World War II in Italy Leonard M. Todd ’35 on the Cassino front and on the Anzio BeachLeonard McMannis Todd ’35 of Greenville, head, and in several operations in France and Germany to the end of the war. After a tour in South Carolina, died on Oct. 6, 2009. He was Korea he reported to Fort Monroe in 1958 and 95.
2010-Issue 1
He matriculated from Greenville and attended VMI for two years. He also attended the University of Georgia School of Banking, after which he joined his father as one of the principals of Franklin Savings and Loan Company in Greenville. He later organized Security Federal Savings and Loan Association, which he served as president for many years. A veteran of World War II, he served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy from 1944-46. During that time he was senior watch officer aboard the U.S.S. Gearing, a destroyer. He was a former president in Greenville of the Chamber of Commerce, the United Way, the Downtown Greenville Association, the Community Foundation, the Kiwanis Club, and the Committee for 300 for Greenville, which he also founded. As a member of the County Development Board, he was instrumental in bringing new industries to the area. He was chairman of the board of Donaldson Center, director and vice president of the Police Service Bureau Advisory Committee, and a member of the Citizen’s Crime Commission. During the 1950s he served on the mayor’s Bi-Racial Committee. He was a member of the Club of 39, the Poinsett Club, and the Green Valley Country Club and Greenville Country Club. He belonged to the First Baptist Church of Greenville, where he served as a deacon. He is survived by his wife, Didda Bannen Todd of Greenville; a son and daughter-inlaw, Leonard Todd and Laurel Blossom of Edgefield, South Carolina; his brother and sister-in-law, J. D. and Mellicent Todd of Greenville; his stepchildren, William J. Bannen III of Greenville, David G. Bannen and his wife, Cynthia, of Wilson, North Carolina, and Allison B. Whatley and her husband, John, of Cary, North Carolina; eight grandchildren; and other family members, including Frances Turrentine Maxon of Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, Jack and Rosalind Todd Tedards of Greenville, Jack and Joan Todd of Spartanburg, South Carolina, and Rebecca Kovacik and her family of Los Angeles, California. His first wife, Lena-Miles Wever, to whom he was married in 1935, died in 2000.
Albert K. Earnest ’38 Class Agent, 1979-81 Capt. Albert Kyle Earnest ’38, USN (Ret), of Virginia Beach, Virginia, died on Oct. 26, 2009. He was 92. He matriculated from Richmond, Virginia, and held a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from VMI. At the time of his graduation, he was commissioned a second lieutenant, Field Artillery, U.S. Army Reserve. He transferred to the U.S. Navy Reserve in 1941 and was commissioned an ensign in
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