John Edward Dwyer Sr.

John Edward

Dwyer Sr. John Edward Dwyer Sr. of Madison, Virginia, passed away on Tuesday, October 12, 2010, at Culpeper Regional Hospital, at the age of 82.

Mr. Dwyer was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Anne Lloyd Dwyer; three brothers, J. William Dwyer, Wallace Dwyer and Samuel K. Dwyer; and a sister, Anne D. Norman.

He is survived by his daughters, Lee D. Berry and her husband, Jack, of Madison, Melissa D. Ryder and her husband, Brent, of Brightwood, Virginia; and a son, John E. Dwyer Jr. and his wife, Donna, of Harrisonburg, Virginia. Additional survivors are his grandchildren, Anne Garland Berry, Evan M. Dwyer, Meredith L. Berry, Colin B. Dwyer, Laura M. Berry, Abigail L. Dwyer, Anna C. Ryder, Gwynneth E. Ryder and John Ayden Ryder; and a sister, Patsy D. Dickerson and her husband, Richard, of Powhatan, Virginia.

Born on January 23, 1928, in Alexandria, Virginia, his family moved to Richmond, Virginia, when he was eight years old. He graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in Richmond in 1946. He enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve in June, 1946 and was honorably discharged in January, 1955. He met and married the former Anne B. Lloyd in 1950. Anne worked full time to put him through the University of Richmond where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in History in 1955. His college career included playing four years as an outfielder on the U of R baseball team, during which he lettered twice.

Mr. Dwyer taught United States History and Government at Hermitage High School from 1957 until 1963 and from 1964 until 1969 when he moved his family to Madison, Virginia, to work for Madison County Public Schools.

He earned his Masters degree in Education from U of R in 1970 and spent the balance of his career in school administration, serving as Assistant Principal in charge of discipline at Madison County High School where he mastered the complex art of corporal punishment, principal of Waverly Yowell Elementary and Madison Elementary. He retired in 1990 after 33 years of public school service in Virginia. He also had teaching stints in South Boston, Virginia, and Oak Hill Academy, a Baptist private high school in Mouth of Wilson, Virginia, where he also coached basketball and baseball.

An avid sports fan all of his life, he loved Redskins football, University of Virginia basketball and Orioles and Red Sox baseball as well as the Madison Mountaineers.

In his early career, he supplemented his income for many years as a VHSL high school basketball official, a recreation league softball umpire as well as a parks and recreation pool manager. He also spent many years as a supply preacher, having served at Good Hope Baptist Church in Aroda, Virginia, and Oak Park Baptist Church in Oak Park, Virginia. Mr. Dwyer was also an avid gardener and gentleman farmer for a number of years prior to a tragic accident at the beach in 1989.

He sustained a life-changing spinal cord injury at Nags Head, North Carolina, in August, 1989. Diagnosed as an "incomplete quadriplegic," Mr. Dwyer defied overwhelming odds against walking and feeding himself again by doing so after seven months of rehab. He remained largely independent for nearly six years before the significance of his injury eventually rendered him immobile. He continued to live at home for another nine years with Anne as his caregiver. He moved to a long term care facility in 2004 and ultimately to Culpeper Baptist Retirement Community in Culpeper, Virginia, in 2006, where he lived until his death. He was exceedingly grateful for the efforts of his caregivers at Culpeper Baptist Retirement Community in providing for his needs.

The courage and perseverance he demonstrated in dealing with his debilitation were a source of profound strength to many in his family and to those who knew him. His example of faith and determination, as well as his inimitable sense of humor and love of life and family will be his lasting legacy to his family. He will be greatly missed by the many who knew and loved him.

The family will receive friends at Preddy Funeral Home, Madison, Virginia, from 6:30 until 8 p.m. Thursday, October 14, 2010.

A funeral service will be held 1 p.m. Friday, October 15, 2010, at Good Hope Baptist Church in Aroda, Virginia.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Good Hope Baptist Church cemetery fund.


This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.