John LUNSFORD

WILLIAMSBURG - John Lunsford, 83, died Sunday, Nov. 14, 2010.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Carolyn Elizabeth Carico Lunsford.
He is survived by three sons and their wives, John Jeffrey and Carol W. Lunsford of Williamsburg, Va., James Robert and Anita M. Lunsford of Kansas City, Mo., and Jon William and Lyn H. Lunsford of Crozier, Va.; six grandchildren, David J. Lunsford of Rockville, Md., Jessica R. Lunsford of Westminster, Colo., Robert C. Lunsford of Idaho Falls, Idaho, Katherine E. Lunsford of Baltimore, Md., Sara L. Kohen and her husband, Ari Kohen of Lincoln, Neb., and Ann C. Lunsford of Crozier, Va.; one great-grandson, Judah D. Kohen; 10 nieces and nephews; and beloved friend, Peggy Biggins.
Following high school graduation, Mr. Lunsford served as a voluntary firefighter. He was a WW II veteran, last assigned to the 2nd Army. He attended Union College (Kentucky) under the GI Bill, where he was active in the veteran's club, and graduated cum laude with a B.S. in Education with minors in Psychology and Sociology, in 1950, and with additional emphasis on pre-medicine. He pursued additional studies at the University of Louisville, the College of William & Mary and the University of Virginia, earning an M.S. in Science from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1976. Mr. Lunsford taught high school studies in Science, Physics, Biology and English in the Wise County, Va., school system prior to beginning 38 years of state employment. Before taking early retirement in 1989, he served as an adult felon investigator and counselor in four southwest Virginia counties, and in the cities of Roanoke, Salem, and Roanoke County. Promoted and transferred to Richmond in 1959, he initially supervised the district office professional staff in the Cities of Richmond and Fredericksburg, and five surrounding counties. He was later assigned to management of a special unit responsible for various central administrative operations, e.g., overseeing the development of communications and computerized case record keeping, alcohol and drug testing, editing a newsletter, coordinating with State Police and FBI criminal records systems, Uniform Parole Report statistics, and the apprehension and extradition of fugitives. Mr. Lunsford also instructed at the department academy and taught Criminology and Psychology as an adjunct faculty member at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, in Henrico County and Goochland, Va.
He enjoyed adult scouting, gardening, fishing and classical and bagpipe music, and was a member of the Kirk O'Cliff Presbyterian Church in Mineral, Va. Since moving to Williamsburg in 2000, Mr. Lunsford taught Sunday school, facilitated Bible studies and regularly contributed essays to local newspapers. No one loved his wife and family more than Mr. Lunsford.
A memorial service for those in the Richmond and Williamsburg area will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, at Wellspring United Methodist Church, 4871 Longhill Road. His ashes will be interred at his home church at a later date when all of his family can attend.
He requested that donations be made to Kirk O'Cliff, in lieu of flowers. View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks.