Virginia Beach - - Joseph William "Billy" O'Brien, 83, of Haygood Rd., passed away Nov. 9, 2012, in a local hospital.
He was born on March 20, 1929 in Parsons, Kansas, and was the son of the late Joseph and Teresa O'Brien. He graduated from Wilson High School in Portsmouth where he was a star football, basketball and track athlete. He was awarded a full scholarship to play football at UNC Chapel Hill. He served as a Captain in the U.S. Marine Corp and was a teacher with the Chesapeake Public Schools. Billy was also a legendary football coach for Great Bridge High School from 1955 - 1974.
Billy served in the Virginia General Assembly House of Delegates from 1974 - 1991 and served as Chairman of the Education Committee. He was known as "Father of Lottery". Two of his major political accomplishments were the State Lottery and the state "University License Plates".
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Joyce Ann O'Brien; a daughter, Marlene Castellow and husband Dale, and their children, Kevin and Katie of Burke, VA; a son, Joseph William O'Brien III and wife Kristina of Virginia Beach; and a sister, Eileen Chase of Arizona.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012, at Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home, Great Neck Chapel. Burial will follow in Princess Anne Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Monday from 3 to 5 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Virginia Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.hollomon-brown.com
Published in The Virginian Pilot on Nov. 11, 2012
He was born on March 20, 1929 in Parsons, Kansas, and was the son of the late Joseph and Teresa O'Brien. He graduated from Wilson High School in Portsmouth where he was a star football, basketball and track athlete. He was awarded a full scholarship to play football at UNC Chapel Hill. He served as a Captain in the U.S. Marine Corp and was a teacher with the Chesapeake Public Schools. Billy was also a legendary football coach for Great Bridge High School from 1955 - 1974.
Billy served in the Virginia General Assembly House of Delegates from 1974 - 1991 and served as Chairman of the Education Committee. He was known as "Father of Lottery". Two of his major political accomplishments were the State Lottery and the state "University License Plates".
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Joyce Ann O'Brien; a daughter, Marlene Castellow and husband Dale, and their children, Kevin and Katie of Burke, VA; a son, Joseph William O'Brien III and wife Kristina of Virginia Beach; and a sister, Eileen Chase of Arizona.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012, at Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home, Great Neck Chapel. Burial will follow in Princess Anne Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Monday from 3 to 5 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Virginia Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.hollomon-brown.com
Published in The Virginian Pilot on Nov. 11, 2012
Virginia Beach - - Joseph William "Billy" O'Brien, 83, of Haygood Rd., passed away Nov. 9, 2012, in a local hospital.
He was born on March 20, 1929 in Parsons, Kansas, and was the son of the late Joseph and Teresa O'Brien. He graduated from Wilson High School in Portsmouth where he was a star football, basketball and track athlete. He was awarded a full scholarship to play football at UNC Chapel Hill. He served as a Captain in the U.S. Marine Corp and was a teacher with the Chesapeake Public Schools. Billy was also a legendary football coach for Great Bridge High School from 1955 - 1974.
Billy served in the Virginia General Assembly House of Delegates from 1974 - 1991 and served as Chairman of the Education Committee. He was known as "Father of Lottery". Two of his major political accomplishments were the State Lottery and the state "University License Plates".
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Joyce Ann O'Brien; a daughter, Marlene Castellow and husband Dale, and their children, Kevin and Katie of Burke, VA; a son, Joseph William O'Brien III and wife Kristina of Virginia Beach; and a sister, Eileen Chase of Arizona.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012, at Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home, Great Neck Chapel. Burial will follow in Princess Anne Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Monday from 3 to 5 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Virginia Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.hollomon-brown.com
Published in The Virginian Pilot on Nov. 11, 2012
He was born on March 20, 1929 in Parsons, Kansas, and was the son of the late Joseph and Teresa O'Brien. He graduated from Wilson High School in Portsmouth where he was a star football, basketball and track athlete. He was awarded a full scholarship to play football at UNC Chapel Hill. He served as a Captain in the U.S. Marine Corp and was a teacher with the Chesapeake Public Schools. Billy was also a legendary football coach for Great Bridge High School from 1955 - 1974.
Billy served in the Virginia General Assembly House of Delegates from 1974 - 1991 and served as Chairman of the Education Committee. He was known as "Father of Lottery". Two of his major political accomplishments were the State Lottery and the state "University License Plates".
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Joyce Ann O'Brien; a daughter, Marlene Castellow and husband Dale, and their children, Kevin and Katie of Burke, VA; a son, Joseph William O'Brien III and wife Kristina of Virginia Beach; and a sister, Eileen Chase of Arizona.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012, at Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home, Great Neck Chapel. Burial will follow in Princess Anne Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Monday from 3 to 5 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Virginia Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.hollomon-brown.com
Published in The Virginian Pilot on Nov. 11, 2012
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