in memoriam
R. PRESTON GRAVES JR. ’62 1943– 2014
CHARLES S. HATCHETTE ’66 1948 – 2015
From 1967 to 1971 he served as a captain in the US Army, working in the Judge Advocate General Corps in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and later in Vietnam. Following his discharge from the service, Bill moved to Florida and practiced law, first with Howell, Kirby, Montgomery, D’Auto, Dean & Howell, then later as a partner with Fazio, Dawson & Thompson. From 1980 until 2015 he was managing partner of William Deforest Thompson, PA, specializing in representing plaintiffs in negligence, insurance, and medical malpractice cases. Mr. Thompson is survived by a son, a daughter, three grandchildren, and a brother. He was the brother of D. Reed Thompson ’62 and the uncle of David E. Thompson ’92.
R. PRESTON GRAVES JR. ’62 1943– 2014
SAMUEL H. MARSHALL ’66 1948 – 2013
T. AUSTIN FINCH III ’68 1950 – 2015
HENRY L. SLOAN III ’68 1950 – 2013
Robert Preston Graves, Jr., of Houston, Texas, died July 17, 2014. At Woodberry, Preston was a prefect and a member of the varsity soccer, track, and football teams who lettered in football. He was also a member of the German and current events clubs and the discipline and regulations committee. Following his graduation from Woodberry, Preston attended Virginia Military Institute and earned a civil engineering degree from the University of Missouri in 1972. He served as an officer with the US Army Corps of Engineers, completing two tours in Germany and one in Vietnam before returning to the US and beginning a career as a packaging engineer. He was awarded five patents. Mr. Graves was brother of George D. Graves ’77 and the uncle of Griffin L. Ratley ’85. He was the son of R. Preston Graves, Sr., who taught math at Woodberry from 1973 to 1993, and
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Alma Graves, who worked at the school as a switchboard operator and tutor.
CHARLES S. HATCHETTE ’66 1948 – 2015 Charles Stakely Hatchette of Fort Collins, Colorado, died January 21, 2015. Stakely, as he was known at Woodberry, was a member of the dramatics and German clubs, public speaking honor society, and the cross-country, track, and wrestling teams. He continued his education at Austin College, from which he graduated in 1970. Seven years later, he received his MD from Tulane University. Charlie, as he was known to friends later in his life, started the first walk-in medical clinic in Fort Collins; he later taught himself computer programming and founded Advert, Inc., a data collection system that aids in hiring practices. He enjoyed flying his experimental airplane, composing music, designing and building an off-the-grid house, sculpture, microscopic photography, magic, and practical jokes. Dr. Hatchette is survived by his wife, Gwen Hatchette; a son; and two sisters.
SAMUEL H. MARSHALL ’66 1948 – 2013 Samuel Harrison Marshall of Reidsville, North Carolina, died December 17, 2013. A quiet and friendly student who came to Woodberry from Winston-Salem, Sam was a member of the electronics and German clubs and a member of the track, cross-country, and wrestling teams. He went on to graduate from the University of North Carolina before earning a divinity degree from Wake Forest Baptist Seminary.
Mr. Marshall is survived by two sisters. He was the uncle of William A. Allen ’90, and the cousin of John C. Davis ’24, Archibald K. Davis ’29, Zach Toms ’47, Peter C. Toms ’57, and Newby Toms ’61.
T. AUSTIN FINCH III ’68 1950 – 2015 Thomas Austin Finch III of Sea Island, Georgia, died March 3, 2015. While a student at Woodberry, Austin was the governor of the investment club and a member of the sons of alumni club. He also played football and golf. A decade after his graduation, Finch Hall was named in his family’s honor. Austin graduated magna cum laude from Princeton University in 1972 with a degree in economics. He earned an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School in 1974 and launched a long career in finance — first as an investment banker at Kidder Peabody & Co. in New York City and later as partner and vice president of Salomon Brothers. He enjoyed sailing, scuba, travel, and baseball statistics. Mr. Finch is survived by his wife, Jill Meredith Finch; his mother, Meredith Person Michener; a stepson; a step-grandson; three brothers, including John L. Finch ’72 and Sumner S. Finch ’75; and a sister. He was the son of Thomas A. Finch ’40; the nephew of John C. Slane ’47; the cousin of Willis H. Slane III ’69, Thomas V. Slane ’72, and Robert C. Slane ’74; and the uncle of W. Austin Finch ’11.
HENRY L. SLOAN III ’68 1950 – 2013 Henry Lee Sloan III of Charlotte, North Carolina, died December 13, 2013.