Courtney M. TORIAN Jr.

Courtney M. Torian Jr., age 79, died Monday, Nov. 16, 2009 in The Villages, Fla.
Mr. Torian was born in Vernon Hill, South Boston, Va. His family moved to Hampton, Va., in 1943, where he attended public schools and graduated from Newport News Business College with a degree in accounting. He began employment with The Daily Press, Inc. on Nov. 1, 1950, in the Classified Advertising Department and transferred to the Retail Department as a Sales Representative in 1951. Through a series of promotions he became the Assistant Advertising Director in 1986 and retired from the Daily Press on Jan. 1, 1988. During his tenure with The Daily Press, he attended advertising courses at Princeton University and the American Press Institute at Columbia University. He won state, national and international awards for Excellence in Advertising Design and Content.
In Newport News, he was active in many business and civic organizations including the Virginia Press Association; Mid-Atlantic Newspaper Advertising and Marketing Executives; Hampton Roads Advertising Federation; Peninsula Sales and Marketing Executives Board; Newport News Rotary Club; and St. Stephens Episcopal Church, where he served on the vestry, the perpetual fund and was an usher and lay reader. He was an avid golfer, enjoyed sailing, traveling, hunting, and delightful dinners with special friends.
He moved from Newport News to The Villages, Fla., in November, 2003. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth McDaniel Torian; and his daughter, Kathryn Singleton Torian of Tallahassee, Fla.; cousins, Charles and Geneva Bates, Robert and Helen Bates of Vernon Hill, Halifax, Mary Chambers Hodnett Minozzi of Richmond; and nephew, George Booth Field of Ashland.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Courtney M. Torian and Alberteen Bates Torian; and by his sister, Mary Kathryn Torian Field.
Graveside services will be held at Peninsula Memorial Park, 12750 Warwick Blvd., Newport News, at 2 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 15, with the Rev. Scott Baker officiating. The family will receive friends after the service at St. Stephens Episcopal Church, 372 Hiden Blvd., Newport News.
Memorial gifts may be made to Hospice of Marion County, P.O. Box 4860, Ocala, FL 34478, or to a favorite charity.
Online condolences may be left at www.beyersfuneralhome.com
Arrangements entrusted to Beyers Funeral Home & Crematory, Lady Lake, Fla. View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks.