Rhyley W. Harper

HARPER, Rhyley W., 82, of Richmond, died in the loving company of his family on Tuesday, September 8, 2009. He is survived by his soulmate, lover, best friend and wife for over six decades, Millie Harper. He has three children and their spouses, Ronnie and Carolyn Harper, Kennie and Debbie Harper, Kim and Tim Sower. Mr. Harper has five grandchildren, Bryan, Angel and her husband, Bruce, Josh and his wife, Allison, Amanda and Ross; four great-grandchildren, Kendall, Millie, Preston and Savannah; a sister, Helen Morris, of Hampton, Va.; and a foster brother, Ray Harper, of Mineral, Va. Mr. Harper is blessed with numerous loving nieces and nephews. Rhyley Harper was preceded in death by his parents, L.B. and Jennie Harper; three brothers, Herman, Manless and Emmett Harper; five sisters, Alma Francis, Polly Levy, Myrtle Johnson, Bessie Hall and Susie Sparks. Rhyley served in the U.S. Army and was a member of Patterson Avenue Baptist Church, where he had served as a deacon. "R.W." was the founder of R.W. Harper & Son Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc. He was a proud member of Alcoholics Anonymous for 30 years. Rhyley was a loving husband, devoted friend and proud father and grandfather. He will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him. The family will receive visitors on Thursday, September 10, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Woody Funeral Home-Atlee Chapel, 9271 Shady Grove Rd., and where funeral services will be held Friday, September 11, at 11 a.m. Interment to follow at Signal Hill Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the Alzheimer's Association, 4600 Cox Rd. Suite 130, Glen Allen, Va. 23060 or donate online www.alz.org.


This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.