David Brakenridge Stuart Sr. of Portsmouth, died peacefully on Tuesday, February 28, 2017 surrounded by his children.
He was born in 1929 in Pulaski, Va. and then lived in Roanoke, where his father located his medical practice in 1933.
He was the son of the late Mary Park Stuart and David Brakenridge Stuart of Roanoke, Va.
David was predeceased by his bride of 60 years, Elizabeth Markley Stuart, well known to friends and family as Betsey; his sister, Agnes Stuart Yore; and his brother, Alfred Wright Stuart. He is survived by his three children, David Stuart Jr. (Diana), Mary Leming and Faith McArdle.
He will be greatly missed by his seven grandchildren, David and Christopher
Stuart, Elizabeth, Sarah, John and David Leming, Robert McArdle and three
great-grandchildren. David graduated from VMI in 1953.
After graduation, he married Elizabeth "Betsey" Markley and spent two years in the Army, serving as a 2nd Lt. in Korea. He returned to Roanoke before relocating to Portsmouth in 1964. He began a 35 year career in the natural gas industry.
He was associated with Portsmouth Gas Company and Commonwealth Gas Services as a director and officer. He retired in 1991 as a Regional Manager with
Columbia Gas of Virginia. After retirement, he established and operated
Prison Square Antiques on High Street in downtown Portsmouth during the
1990's. A long time champion of Portsmouth as well as Hampton Roads, David
was a member of the Portsmouth Rotary Club for more than 50 years where he
was a Paul Harris Fellow and a past president. He served as the board
president of Portsmouth General Hospital, and he later served as the board
president of Tidewater Health Care. He was president of the Portsmouth
Chamber of Commerce, chairman of the Portsmouth Museum Board, president of
The Portsmouth General Hospital Foundation, and a member of the Navy League
of Hampton Roads. David was active in the Presbytery of Eastern Virginia
and chaired the committee to relocate its headquarters to Portsmouth. For
many years he was a member of the Portsmouth Civil Service Commission. In
the late 1980's he and other community leaders started Community Trust Bank
where he served as a director. When the bank was acquired by Crestar Bank,
he continued as a local board member until its merger with SunTrust Bank.
David was an active member of First Presbyterian Church of Portsmouth for
many years where he was a church officer and a trustee. He felt good
fellowship was vital to the church and cooked many well loved Wednesday
night dinners. He was involved in a great many events and projects
including the revitalization of the church courtyard. David later became a
member of Green Acres Presbyterian Church. David held a particular interest
in gardening and earned the designation of Master Gardener after his
retirement. He was an organic gardener well before it was popular and had
an enormous garden each summer. He enjoyed sharing the bounty of the garden
with everyone and was well known for the spiced figs he canned yearly. A
strong faith and service to others were David's strongest priorities and he
was known as a resourceful and creative thinker. He had a natural ability
to soundly encourage others who sought out his advice whether in their
personal lives or their careers. He always took the time to visit a friend
in the hospital or deliver a meal to someone in need. In 1992 he went to
Homestead, Fla. as a volunteer with the Salvation Army to help with relief
efforts after Hurricane Andrew. There he stayed in the "big red tent" and
cooked and served meals for hundreds each day. He epitomized the Rotary
motto of "service above self." David will be remembered as a gentleman, for
his thoughtful servant heart, and his impeccable integrity. He had an
uncanny ability to transform the simplest things into treasures, whether it
was refinishing a piece of furniture or transforming something ordinary
into the truly extraordinary. The enduring love and devotion that he and
Betsey shared continues to be an inspiration to his children and
grandchildren. A memorial service in celebration of his life will be held
Monday, March 6, 2017 at noon at Green Acres Presbyterian Church in
Portsmouth. The service will be conducted by the Reverend Rebecca Leslie
and followed by a reception in the social hall. In lieu of flowers, please
consider a donation to Green Acres Presbyterian Church, 3135 Hanley Avenue,
Portsmouth, Va., 23703 or First Presbyterian Church of Portsmouth, 515
Court Street, Portsmouth, Va., 23704. A private service will be held at the
Green Acres Presbyterian Church Columbarium at a later date. Condolences
may be registered at BWFosterFuneralHome.com http://bwfosterfuneralhome.com
He was born in 1929 in Pulaski, Va. and then lived in Roanoke, where his father located his medical practice in 1933.
He was the son of the late Mary Park Stuart and David Brakenridge Stuart of Roanoke, Va.
David was predeceased by his bride of 60 years, Elizabeth Markley Stuart, well known to friends and family as Betsey; his sister, Agnes Stuart Yore; and his brother, Alfred Wright Stuart. He is survived by his three children, David Stuart Jr. (Diana), Mary Leming and Faith McArdle.
He will be greatly missed by his seven grandchildren, David and Christopher
Stuart, Elizabeth, Sarah, John and David Leming, Robert McArdle and three
great-grandchildren. David graduated from VMI in 1953.
After graduation, he married Elizabeth "Betsey" Markley and spent two years in the Army, serving as a 2nd Lt. in Korea. He returned to Roanoke before relocating to Portsmouth in 1964. He began a 35 year career in the natural gas industry.
He was associated with Portsmouth Gas Company and Commonwealth Gas Services as a director and officer. He retired in 1991 as a Regional Manager with
Columbia Gas of Virginia. After retirement, he established and operated
Prison Square Antiques on High Street in downtown Portsmouth during the
1990's. A long time champion of Portsmouth as well as Hampton Roads, David
was a member of the Portsmouth Rotary Club for more than 50 years where he
was a Paul Harris Fellow and a past president. He served as the board
president of Portsmouth General Hospital, and he later served as the board
president of Tidewater Health Care. He was president of the Portsmouth
Chamber of Commerce, chairman of the Portsmouth Museum Board, president of
The Portsmouth General Hospital Foundation, and a member of the Navy League
of Hampton Roads. David was active in the Presbytery of Eastern Virginia
and chaired the committee to relocate its headquarters to Portsmouth. For
many years he was a member of the Portsmouth Civil Service Commission. In
the late 1980's he and other community leaders started Community Trust Bank
where he served as a director. When the bank was acquired by Crestar Bank,
he continued as a local board member until its merger with SunTrust Bank.
David was an active member of First Presbyterian Church of Portsmouth for
many years where he was a church officer and a trustee. He felt good
fellowship was vital to the church and cooked many well loved Wednesday
night dinners. He was involved in a great many events and projects
including the revitalization of the church courtyard. David later became a
member of Green Acres Presbyterian Church. David held a particular interest
in gardening and earned the designation of Master Gardener after his
retirement. He was an organic gardener well before it was popular and had
an enormous garden each summer. He enjoyed sharing the bounty of the garden
with everyone and was well known for the spiced figs he canned yearly. A
strong faith and service to others were David's strongest priorities and he
was known as a resourceful and creative thinker. He had a natural ability
to soundly encourage others who sought out his advice whether in their
personal lives or their careers. He always took the time to visit a friend
in the hospital or deliver a meal to someone in need. In 1992 he went to
Homestead, Fla. as a volunteer with the Salvation Army to help with relief
efforts after Hurricane Andrew. There he stayed in the "big red tent" and
cooked and served meals for hundreds each day. He epitomized the Rotary
motto of "service above self." David will be remembered as a gentleman, for
his thoughtful servant heart, and his impeccable integrity. He had an
uncanny ability to transform the simplest things into treasures, whether it
was refinishing a piece of furniture or transforming something ordinary
into the truly extraordinary. The enduring love and devotion that he and
Betsey shared continues to be an inspiration to his children and
grandchildren. A memorial service in celebration of his life will be held
Monday, March 6, 2017 at noon at Green Acres Presbyterian Church in
Portsmouth. The service will be conducted by the Reverend Rebecca Leslie
and followed by a reception in the social hall. In lieu of flowers, please
consider a donation to Green Acres Presbyterian Church, 3135 Hanley Avenue,
Portsmouth, Va., 23703 or First Presbyterian Church of Portsmouth, 515
Court Street, Portsmouth, Va., 23704. A private service will be held at the
Green Acres Presbyterian Church Columbarium at a later date. Condolences
may be registered at BWFosterFuneralHome.com http://bwfosterfuneralhome.com
David Brakenridge Stuart Sr. of Portsmouth, died peacefully on Tuesday, February 28, 2017 surrounded by his children.
He was born in 1929 in Pulaski, Va. and then lived in Roanoke, where his father located his medical practice in 1933.
He was the son of the late Mary Park Stuart and David Brakenridge Stuart of Roanoke, Va.
David was predeceased by his bride of 60 years, Elizabeth Markley Stuart, well known to friends and family as Betsey; his sister, Agnes Stuart Yore; and his brother, Alfred Wright Stuart. He is survived by his three children, David Stuart Jr. (Diana), Mary Leming and Faith McArdle.
He will be greatly missed by his seven grandchildren, David and Christopher
Stuart, Elizabeth, Sarah, John and David Leming, Robert McArdle and three
great-grandchildren. David graduated from VMI in 1953.
After graduation, he married Elizabeth "Betsey" Markley and spent two years in the Army, serving as a 2nd Lt. in Korea. He returned to Roanoke before relocating to Portsmouth in 1964. He began a 35 year career in the natural gas industry.
He was associated with Portsmouth Gas Company and Commonwealth Gas Services as a director and officer. He retired in 1991 as a Regional Manager with
Columbia Gas of Virginia. After retirement, he established and operated
Prison Square Antiques on High Street in downtown Portsmouth during the
1990's. A long time champion of Portsmouth as well as Hampton Roads, David
was a member of the Portsmouth Rotary Club for more than 50 years where he
was a Paul Harris Fellow and a past president. He served as the board
president of Portsmouth General Hospital, and he later served as the board
president of Tidewater Health Care. He was president of the Portsmouth
Chamber of Commerce, chairman of the Portsmouth Museum Board, president of
The Portsmouth General Hospital Foundation, and a member of the Navy League
of Hampton Roads. David was active in the Presbytery of Eastern Virginia
and chaired the committee to relocate its headquarters to Portsmouth. For
many years he was a member of the Portsmouth Civil Service Commission. In
the late 1980's he and other community leaders started Community Trust Bank
where he served as a director. When the bank was acquired by Crestar Bank,
he continued as a local board member until its merger with SunTrust Bank.
David was an active member of First Presbyterian Church of Portsmouth for
many years where he was a church officer and a trustee. He felt good
fellowship was vital to the church and cooked many well loved Wednesday
night dinners. He was involved in a great many events and projects
including the revitalization of the church courtyard. David later became a
member of Green Acres Presbyterian Church. David held a particular interest
in gardening and earned the designation of Master Gardener after his
retirement. He was an organic gardener well before it was popular and had
an enormous garden each summer. He enjoyed sharing the bounty of the garden
with everyone and was well known for the spiced figs he canned yearly. A
strong faith and service to others were David's strongest priorities and he
was known as a resourceful and creative thinker. He had a natural ability
to soundly encourage others who sought out his advice whether in their
personal lives or their careers. He always took the time to visit a friend
in the hospital or deliver a meal to someone in need. In 1992 he went to
Homestead, Fla. as a volunteer with the Salvation Army to help with relief
efforts after Hurricane Andrew. There he stayed in the "big red tent" and
cooked and served meals for hundreds each day. He epitomized the Rotary
motto of "service above self." David will be remembered as a gentleman, for
his thoughtful servant heart, and his impeccable integrity. He had an
uncanny ability to transform the simplest things into treasures, whether it
was refinishing a piece of furniture or transforming something ordinary
into the truly extraordinary. The enduring love and devotion that he and
Betsey shared continues to be an inspiration to his children and
grandchildren. A memorial service in celebration of his life will be held
Monday, March 6, 2017 at noon at Green Acres Presbyterian Church in
Portsmouth. The service will be conducted by the Reverend Rebecca Leslie
and followed by a reception in the social hall. In lieu of flowers, please
consider a donation to Green Acres Presbyterian Church, 3135 Hanley Avenue,
Portsmouth, Va., 23703 or First Presbyterian Church of Portsmouth, 515
Court Street, Portsmouth, Va., 23704. A private service will be held at the
Green Acres Presbyterian Church Columbarium at a later date. Condolences
may be registered at BWFosterFuneralHome.com http://bwfosterfuneralhome.com
He was born in 1929 in Pulaski, Va. and then lived in Roanoke, where his father located his medical practice in 1933.
He was the son of the late Mary Park Stuart and David Brakenridge Stuart of Roanoke, Va.
David was predeceased by his bride of 60 years, Elizabeth Markley Stuart, well known to friends and family as Betsey; his sister, Agnes Stuart Yore; and his brother, Alfred Wright Stuart. He is survived by his three children, David Stuart Jr. (Diana), Mary Leming and Faith McArdle.
He will be greatly missed by his seven grandchildren, David and Christopher
Stuart, Elizabeth, Sarah, John and David Leming, Robert McArdle and three
great-grandchildren. David graduated from VMI in 1953.
After graduation, he married Elizabeth "Betsey" Markley and spent two years in the Army, serving as a 2nd Lt. in Korea. He returned to Roanoke before relocating to Portsmouth in 1964. He began a 35 year career in the natural gas industry.
He was associated with Portsmouth Gas Company and Commonwealth Gas Services as a director and officer. He retired in 1991 as a Regional Manager with
Columbia Gas of Virginia. After retirement, he established and operated
Prison Square Antiques on High Street in downtown Portsmouth during the
1990's. A long time champion of Portsmouth as well as Hampton Roads, David
was a member of the Portsmouth Rotary Club for more than 50 years where he
was a Paul Harris Fellow and a past president. He served as the board
president of Portsmouth General Hospital, and he later served as the board
president of Tidewater Health Care. He was president of the Portsmouth
Chamber of Commerce, chairman of the Portsmouth Museum Board, president of
The Portsmouth General Hospital Foundation, and a member of the Navy League
of Hampton Roads. David was active in the Presbytery of Eastern Virginia
and chaired the committee to relocate its headquarters to Portsmouth. For
many years he was a member of the Portsmouth Civil Service Commission. In
the late 1980's he and other community leaders started Community Trust Bank
where he served as a director. When the bank was acquired by Crestar Bank,
he continued as a local board member until its merger with SunTrust Bank.
David was an active member of First Presbyterian Church of Portsmouth for
many years where he was a church officer and a trustee. He felt good
fellowship was vital to the church and cooked many well loved Wednesday
night dinners. He was involved in a great many events and projects
including the revitalization of the church courtyard. David later became a
member of Green Acres Presbyterian Church. David held a particular interest
in gardening and earned the designation of Master Gardener after his
retirement. He was an organic gardener well before it was popular and had
an enormous garden each summer. He enjoyed sharing the bounty of the garden
with everyone and was well known for the spiced figs he canned yearly. A
strong faith and service to others were David's strongest priorities and he
was known as a resourceful and creative thinker. He had a natural ability
to soundly encourage others who sought out his advice whether in their
personal lives or their careers. He always took the time to visit a friend
in the hospital or deliver a meal to someone in need. In 1992 he went to
Homestead, Fla. as a volunteer with the Salvation Army to help with relief
efforts after Hurricane Andrew. There he stayed in the "big red tent" and
cooked and served meals for hundreds each day. He epitomized the Rotary
motto of "service above self." David will be remembered as a gentleman, for
his thoughtful servant heart, and his impeccable integrity. He had an
uncanny ability to transform the simplest things into treasures, whether it
was refinishing a piece of furniture or transforming something ordinary
into the truly extraordinary. The enduring love and devotion that he and
Betsey shared continues to be an inspiration to his children and
grandchildren. A memorial service in celebration of his life will be held
Monday, March 6, 2017 at noon at Green Acres Presbyterian Church in
Portsmouth. The service will be conducted by the Reverend Rebecca Leslie
and followed by a reception in the social hall. In lieu of flowers, please
consider a donation to Green Acres Presbyterian Church, 3135 Hanley Avenue,
Portsmouth, Va., 23703 or First Presbyterian Church of Portsmouth, 515
Court Street, Portsmouth, Va., 23704. A private service will be held at the
Green Acres Presbyterian Church Columbarium at a later date. Condolences
may be registered at BWFosterFuneralHome.com http://bwfosterfuneralhome.com
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
