Henry Duley

Henry Van Duley, a longtime county resident, passed away at his home near Sudley Springs on Saturday, February 11, 2006 after a brief illness. Duley, an insurance agent and umpire, was born in Arlington on May 19, 1929, the son of Ethel Carter Duley and Harry G. Duley. He was graduated from Washington & Lee High School and served four years in the United States Navy. After the Navy service he worked five years at the Arlington Post Office. In 1957 he entered the insurance business with Acacia Mutual Life in Washington, D.C. where he remained for thirty years until his retirement. While with Acacia he was a member of the Million Dollar Round Table and one of the top producers of the company. He then became a broker and general agent with the Shenandoah Life Insurance Company, a position he held until his death. Mr. Duley's real love was baseball, which began when he started playing at 10 years of age with the Georgetown Boys Club. He was a starter on the baseball and basketball teams during all of his four years at Washington & Lee High School In 1953 he was asked to umpire his first baseball game at Annandale High School, which was played in a corn field. From then on he became highly respected by area players and coaches. He coached Recreational League football and basketball as well. Duley was a member of the Northern Virginia Baseball Umpires Association for over 50 years and during those years held every office of the Association including president and commissioner. He umpired at every level of college, high school and semi-professional games, including NCAA semi-pro games and many state level championships. In 1984 he was inducted into the Washington Metropolitan Area Home Plate Club Baseball Hall of Fame . Duley was at that time the second person from Virginia and the fifth umpire to be so honored. His love of baseball and umpiring has been passed on to his son Mike who now umpires games for many of the same teams in the Northern Virginia area that his father did. He also was a charter member of the Evergreen Lions Club, the Evergreen Volunteer Fire Department, the American Legion Post #10, the Sudley United Methodist Church, as well as being an active member of the Auxiliary to Prince William Health System until his death. Mr. Duley is survived by his wife Elizabeth "Betty" Harrover Duley of Manassas; one daughter, Joanie Gail Duley of Greensboro, N.C ; two sons, Michael Van Duley and wife Lorie of Manassas and Matthew Kevin Duley and wife Michele of Sterling; four grandchildren, Warren and Molly Romine, Rory Duley and Morgan Duley ; one godson, Christopher W. Harrover and a special great-nephew, Cameron Lane. He is also survived by two sisters, Nora Lee Murphy of Warrenton, Sue Reid of Lake of the Woods, and three brothers, the Rev. James Duley of Lake of the Woods, Harry Duley of Baltimore and Wallace "Joe" Duley of Kilmarnock. . Pallbearers will be Rory Duley, Gary Duley, Christopher Harrover, Ron Lane, Quentin Lawler III, Craig Lookabaugh, Pat Rauss, and Warren Romine, Honorary pallbearers included Robert Alvey III, Bradley Jacobs, Matt Caudle, Rich Mecke and Barry Williams. Visitation will be held at Price Funeral Home, 9609 Center Street, Manassas on Tuesday, February 14 from 7:00 until 9:00 P.M. Services will be held at Sudley United Methodist Church on Route 234, Catharpin, on Wednesday, February 15 at 1:00 P.M.,conducted by the Rev. Jason Duley, Rev. James Duley and Rev. Ralph Satter. Burial will follow in the Sudley Church Cemetary. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Sudley United Methodist Church Restoration Fund or Capital Hospice, Development Office, 6565 Arlington Blvd., Suite 501, Fairfax, VA 22042. .

Henry Duley

May 19, 1929 - February 11, 2006