John Edward Jolley Sr.

Of Winchester, on Tuesday, April 10, 2012. He is survived by his son Robert L. Jolley; brother Clark Jolley and sister Ruth Keiter. The family will receive friends at the National Funeral Home, 7482 Lee Highway, Falls Church, VA 22042 on Sunday, April 15, 2012 from 10:00 to 11:00 AM followed by a service and a graveside farewell with military honors. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association, PO Box 5216, Glen Allen, VA 23058.

He was born December 6, 1918 in the home of his mother and father in West Virginia and raised with his brothers (Clark, Herbert, Frank and Ralph) and sisters (Lottie and Ruth). He worked on the family farm as a child and young adult but also found time to complete high school.

He served in the U.S. Army from Jan. 10, 1941 to November 21, 1945 during World War II. He and his brother Clark were the first two volunteers from this area. He first served in the U.S. Coast Artillery, Chesapeake Bay Sector at Fort Story VA and Fort Macon N.C. and was then transfered in 1944 to the 576th Field Artillery Battalion at Fort Bragg, N. C.

He married Hettie Grace Dowell after being discharged from the Army in Arlington, Virginia on May 3, 1947. He and his wife settled in Falls Church, Virginia, and raised two sons, John Jr. (1948-2010) and Robert (b. 1952) during the 1950s and 1960s. He established a career as an accountant, then a controller, and spent most of his career with car dealerships in Falls Church, Virginia (Bill Page Toyota and Bill Page Honda).

After both boys went off to college in the mid 1970s, he went back to his roots and moved to Fauquier County where he could have a large garden, enjoy "the country" and "the peace and quiet" as he called it. After country living became too isolated for him and his wife, they moved to Arlington, Virginia in 1992 where he established new friendships with neighbors. After his wife passed away in 2008, he moved to Winchester, Virginia, close to where he grew up, and enjoyed the company of his son and other family members.

He was brought up with the values of someone coming from a large family living in the country. He was voted as "the most pleasing" by his high school classmates. He was known for his honesty, integrity, kindness, generosity and willingness to smile and laugh. He was always willing to help those in need, including animals. He seemed to enjoy being with family and friends the most except when he was tending to a garden that was intentionally designed to be too large so there were plenty of vegetables to give to others. He was fond of animals and wildlife and always kept the birdfeeder full.

He enjoyed reminiscing about growing up in the country with his family. He especially enjoyed the part about how he had to walk two miles across a creek sometimes through snow and rain to get the school bus when his sons had trouble getting out of bed on school mornings to walk two blocks to catch the bus.

He was fortunate to witness the transformation of life as he knew it from that of a self-sufficient family farm to the world as we now know it. He was also fortunate to have made many friends wherever he worked or lived. He will be missed and remembered by family and friends alike.