William J. Flaherty Jr.

Retired Lt. Col William Joseph Flaherty Jr., 81, of Colonial Heights, passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008, at McGuire Veterans Hospital.

Mr. Flaherty was the son of the late William J. Flaherty Sr. and Jane O. Flaherty of Shenandoah, Pa.

Mr. Flaherty's military career included service in the U.S. Navy during World War II and a distinguished 20-year tenure with the United States Army that included service in the Korean conflict and Vietnam. He retired from Fort Lee, Army Quartermaster in 1972.

He and his surviving spouse, Jane P. Flaherty, have been long time residents of Colonial Heights and had recently moved to the Heritage Oaks Retirement Community in Richmond. Mr. Flaherty has been an active parishioner of St. Ann Catholic Church where he was a member of the Knights of Columbus.

Bill, as he was known to his many friends, was a member of the Colonial Heights Optimist Club and has served as a past president. He has also been a member of the American Legion Post 284.

Bill is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Jane P. Flaherty; a daughter, Erin F. Hewitt and friend, Preston Tyson, of Chesterfield; a son, William J. Flaherty III and his wife, Diane S. Flaherty, of Midlothian, Va.; grandchildren, Kathryn E. Baystar and Kyle William Flaherty; a sister, Mary Jane Molash; and brother, Leo Flaherty, both of Wilmington Del.; and numerous loving nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends.

A memorial Mass will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, 2008, in St Ann Roman Catholic Church with Father Lou Ruoff, celebrant. A private family internment will take place at 11 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 29, 2008, at the Virginia Veterans Cemetery in Amelia. The family will welcome friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the Colonial Heights location of E. Alvin Small Funeral Homes and Crematory, 2033 Boulevard. Condolences may be registered at www.ealvinsmall.com. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to The Children Of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund, P.O. Box 3968, Gaithersburg, MD 20885-3968 (online donations are accepted at www.childrenoffallensoldiersrelieffund.org).