Jesse was born on January 16, 1945 in Staunton, Virginia to Gladys and John Harvey. He grew up with 3 siblings, Richard, Fred and Judy. He was the first born in the family. As his parent's marriage declined he was raised by his Mother and Grandmother Clara Bailey. He attended Waynesboro High School but in the 10th grade he left to pursue work. Jesse was a tough young man and had the reputation of never backing down from a fight.
Quite handsome and at the age of 18 he was out with friends on October 31, 1963. Something happened that would set the foundation for the rest of his life. That night he met a beautiful young lady. Mary VanFossen age 17 who lived in Crimora, Virginia. Mary was out with friends as well on a double date. But when she met Jesse that night she knew he was the man she would marry. Jesse and Mary began dating shortly thereafter and on April 24, 1964 they were joined in Holy Matrimony at Forest Chapel Church.
Her parents, Ruth and Clyde VanFossen took Jesse as one of their own. Clyde was a supervisor at Basic Witz a furniture manufacturing facility in Waynesboro. Jesse began working with Clyde who taught him woodworking and the manufacturing business. Jesse worked hard and eventually became the production supervisor. He was a very intelligent man and a great problem solver. Jesse was sought out by head hunters and had many opportunities come his way. During his career he moved his family to Florida, Roanoke and ultimately Richmond, Virginia which became their 2nd home in 1978. Jesse passed his work ethic and ambitious spirit on to his daughters and grandson. Jesse retired at the age of 62 from Spectrim where he designed and built custom architectural woodwork and trained several apprentices.
Jesse played the guitar and loved to sing. He enjoyed bluegrass, country, Christian and classic rock. He loved to fish and competed in Pro-Am bass tournaments for numerous years. He also enjoyed building and racing remote control gas powered boats and cars. He was an excellent mechanic and had a passion for NASCAR.
Jesse and Mary looked forward to becoming Grandparents. On September 26, 1999 Nicholas Harvey arrived. From that day on Jesse began teaching him to be an upstanding man. From fishing to changing the oil in a car he was determined to pass his knowledge of the world on to his Gra ndson.
About 10 years ago Jesse and Nicholas found airsoft and it became a regular weekend activity. He was able to teach Nicholas and many of his friends strategies he learned in his younger years hunting deer in the Shenandoah Valley. The two became well known in the Richmond airsoft community. Sometimes Mary wasn't sure who enjoyed the airsoft battles more, Jesse or the kids!
Nicholas' friends called him "Grandpa". In the airsoft community he earned the title of "Airsoft Grandpa". He was interviewed by a local airsoft company for being the oldest known airsoft player. In the past 2 years he continued to support his Grandson and his friends from the sidelines. He could fix anything which leads him to be the "pit crew" for broken airsoft guns. He got to know a lot of young people and strived to have a positive impact on their lives. If he knew that someone was struggling in some way he was always there with concern and to offer his wisdom. Through the 18 years he was in Nicholas' life countless memories were made that will last forever.
We all struggle at some point during our lives and sometimes choose to cope in ways that are not best for us. About 20 years ago Jesse reached a turning point in his life. He realized that some choices he had made were not in the best interest of himself or his family. He wanted to be better. One night struggling with the desire to change he went for a drive to clear his head. At some point he found himself having run off the road and sitting in a field all alone. He got out of his truck and got down on his knees and prayed to God to give him the strength to overcome his personal battle. God answered. Jesse found a new way of life and- made positive changes that enriched his marriage and the lives of his daughters and grandson
Quite handsome and at the age of 18 he was out with friends on October 31, 1963. Something happened that would set the foundation for the rest of his life. That night he met a beautiful young lady. Mary VanFossen age 17 who lived in Crimora, Virginia. Mary was out with friends as well on a double date. But when she met Jesse that night she knew he was the man she would marry. Jesse and Mary began dating shortly thereafter and on April 24, 1964 they were joined in Holy Matrimony at Forest Chapel Church.
Her parents, Ruth and Clyde VanFossen took Jesse as one of their own. Clyde was a supervisor at Basic Witz a furniture manufacturing facility in Waynesboro. Jesse began working with Clyde who taught him woodworking and the manufacturing business. Jesse worked hard and eventually became the production supervisor. He was a very intelligent man and a great problem solver. Jesse was sought out by head hunters and had many opportunities come his way. During his career he moved his family to Florida, Roanoke and ultimately Richmond, Virginia which became their 2nd home in 1978. Jesse passed his work ethic and ambitious spirit on to his daughters and grandson. Jesse retired at the age of 62 from Spectrim where he designed and built custom architectural woodwork and trained several apprentices.
Jesse played the guitar and loved to sing. He enjoyed bluegrass, country, Christian and classic rock. He loved to fish and competed in Pro-Am bass tournaments for numerous years. He also enjoyed building and racing remote control gas powered boats and cars. He was an excellent mechanic and had a passion for NASCAR.
Jesse and Mary looked forward to becoming Grandparents. On September 26, 1999 Nicholas Harvey arrived. From that day on Jesse began teaching him to be an upstanding man. From fishing to changing the oil in a car he was determined to pass his knowledge of the world on to his Gra ndson.
About 10 years ago Jesse and Nicholas found airsoft and it became a regular weekend activity. He was able to teach Nicholas and many of his friends strategies he learned in his younger years hunting deer in the Shenandoah Valley. The two became well known in the Richmond airsoft community. Sometimes Mary wasn't sure who enjoyed the airsoft battles more, Jesse or the kids!
Nicholas' friends called him "Grandpa". In the airsoft community he earned the title of "Airsoft Grandpa". He was interviewed by a local airsoft company for being the oldest known airsoft player. In the past 2 years he continued to support his Grandson and his friends from the sidelines. He could fix anything which leads him to be the "pit crew" for broken airsoft guns. He got to know a lot of young people and strived to have a positive impact on their lives. If he knew that someone was struggling in some way he was always there with concern and to offer his wisdom. Through the 18 years he was in Nicholas' life countless memories were made that will last forever.
We all struggle at some point during our lives and sometimes choose to cope in ways that are not best for us. About 20 years ago Jesse reached a turning point in his life. He realized that some choices he had made were not in the best interest of himself or his family. He wanted to be better. One night struggling with the desire to change he went for a drive to clear his head. At some point he found himself having run off the road and sitting in a field all alone. He got out of his truck and got down on his knees and prayed to God to give him the strength to overcome his personal battle. God answered. Jesse found a new way of life and- made positive changes that enriched his marriage and the lives of his daughters and grandson
Jesse was born on January 16, 1945 in Staunton, Virginia to Gladys and John Harvey. He grew up with 3 siblings, Richard, Fred and Judy. He was the first born in the family. As his parent's marriage declined he was raised by his Mother and Grandmother Clara Bailey. He attended Waynesboro High School but in the 10th grade he left to pursue work. Jesse was a tough young man and had the reputation of never backing down from a fight.
Quite handsome and at the age of 18 he was out with friends on October 31, 1963. Something happened that would set the foundation for the rest of his life. That night he met a beautiful young lady. Mary VanFossen age 17 who lived in Crimora, Virginia. Mary was out with friends as well on a double date. But when she met Jesse that night she knew he was the man she would marry. Jesse and Mary began dating shortly thereafter and on April 24, 1964 they were joined in Holy Matrimony at Forest Chapel Church.
Her parents, Ruth and Clyde VanFossen took Jesse as one of their own. Clyde was a supervisor at Basic Witz a furniture manufacturing facility in Waynesboro. Jesse began working with Clyde who taught him woodworking and the manufacturing business. Jesse worked hard and eventually became the production supervisor. He was a very intelligent man and a great problem solver. Jesse was sought out by head hunters and had many opportunities come his way. During his career he moved his family to Florida, Roanoke and ultimately Richmond, Virginia which became their 2nd home in 1978. Jesse passed his work ethic and ambitious spirit on to his daughters and grandson. Jesse retired at the age of 62 from Spectrim where he designed and built custom architectural woodwork and trained several apprentices.
Jesse played the guitar and loved to sing. He enjoyed bluegrass, country, Christian and classic rock. He loved to fish and competed in Pro-Am bass tournaments for numerous years. He also enjoyed building and racing remote control gas powered boats and cars. He was an excellent mechanic and had a passion for NASCAR.
Jesse and Mary looked forward to becoming Grandparents. On September 26, 1999 Nicholas Harvey arrived. From that day on Jesse began teaching him to be an upstanding man. From fishing to changing the oil in a car he was determined to pass his knowledge of the world on to his Gra ndson.
About 10 years ago Jesse and Nicholas found airsoft and it became a regular weekend activity. He was able to teach Nicholas and many of his friends strategies he learned in his younger years hunting deer in the Shenandoah Valley. The two became well known in the Richmond airsoft community. Sometimes Mary wasn't sure who enjoyed the airsoft battles more, Jesse or the kids!
Nicholas' friends called him "Grandpa". In the airsoft community he earned the title of "Airsoft Grandpa". He was interviewed by a local airsoft company for being the oldest known airsoft player. In the past 2 years he continued to support his Grandson and his friends from the sidelines. He could fix anything which leads him to be the "pit crew" for broken airsoft guns. He got to know a lot of young people and strived to have a positive impact on their lives. If he knew that someone was struggling in some way he was always there with concern and to offer his wisdom. Through the 18 years he was in Nicholas' life countless memories were made that will last forever.
We all struggle at some point during our lives and sometimes choose to cope in ways that are not best for us. About 20 years ago Jesse reached a turning point in his life. He realized that some choices he had made were not in the best interest of himself or his family. He wanted to be better. One night struggling with the desire to change he went for a drive to clear his head. At some point he found himself having run off the road and sitting in a field all alone. He got out of his truck and got down on his knees and prayed to God to give him the strength to overcome his personal battle. God answered. Jesse found a new way of life and- made positive changes that enriched his marriage and the lives of his daughters and grandson
Quite handsome and at the age of 18 he was out with friends on October 31, 1963. Something happened that would set the foundation for the rest of his life. That night he met a beautiful young lady. Mary VanFossen age 17 who lived in Crimora, Virginia. Mary was out with friends as well on a double date. But when she met Jesse that night she knew he was the man she would marry. Jesse and Mary began dating shortly thereafter and on April 24, 1964 they were joined in Holy Matrimony at Forest Chapel Church.
Her parents, Ruth and Clyde VanFossen took Jesse as one of their own. Clyde was a supervisor at Basic Witz a furniture manufacturing facility in Waynesboro. Jesse began working with Clyde who taught him woodworking and the manufacturing business. Jesse worked hard and eventually became the production supervisor. He was a very intelligent man and a great problem solver. Jesse was sought out by head hunters and had many opportunities come his way. During his career he moved his family to Florida, Roanoke and ultimately Richmond, Virginia which became their 2nd home in 1978. Jesse passed his work ethic and ambitious spirit on to his daughters and grandson. Jesse retired at the age of 62 from Spectrim where he designed and built custom architectural woodwork and trained several apprentices.
Jesse played the guitar and loved to sing. He enjoyed bluegrass, country, Christian and classic rock. He loved to fish and competed in Pro-Am bass tournaments for numerous years. He also enjoyed building and racing remote control gas powered boats and cars. He was an excellent mechanic and had a passion for NASCAR.
Jesse and Mary looked forward to becoming Grandparents. On September 26, 1999 Nicholas Harvey arrived. From that day on Jesse began teaching him to be an upstanding man. From fishing to changing the oil in a car he was determined to pass his knowledge of the world on to his Gra ndson.
About 10 years ago Jesse and Nicholas found airsoft and it became a regular weekend activity. He was able to teach Nicholas and many of his friends strategies he learned in his younger years hunting deer in the Shenandoah Valley. The two became well known in the Richmond airsoft community. Sometimes Mary wasn't sure who enjoyed the airsoft battles more, Jesse or the kids!
Nicholas' friends called him "Grandpa". In the airsoft community he earned the title of "Airsoft Grandpa". He was interviewed by a local airsoft company for being the oldest known airsoft player. In the past 2 years he continued to support his Grandson and his friends from the sidelines. He could fix anything which leads him to be the "pit crew" for broken airsoft guns. He got to know a lot of young people and strived to have a positive impact on their lives. If he knew that someone was struggling in some way he was always there with concern and to offer his wisdom. Through the 18 years he was in Nicholas' life countless memories were made that will last forever.
We all struggle at some point during our lives and sometimes choose to cope in ways that are not best for us. About 20 years ago Jesse reached a turning point in his life. He realized that some choices he had made were not in the best interest of himself or his family. He wanted to be better. One night struggling with the desire to change he went for a drive to clear his head. At some point he found himself having run off the road and sitting in a field all alone. He got out of his truck and got down on his knees and prayed to God to give him the strength to overcome his personal battle. God answered. Jesse found a new way of life and- made positive changes that enriched his marriage and the lives of his daughters and grandson
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