Lewis Breedlove Jr.

Lewis Breedlove Jr. VIRGINIA BEACH - Lewis Westley Breedlove Jr. of Wildwood Drive, died peacefully in his sleep Sept. 3, 2010 at his home. He was born March 15, 1926 in Blackstone, Va., and has been a resident of Virginia Beach since 1951. He was the son of Lewis Westley and Susie Hammock Breedlove. He is survived by his devoted wife of 55 years, Rose; his son, Hal and his wife Lee Ann; daughter, Nancy Farrell and her husband Burt Edwards; his grandchildren, Mollee and Travis Farrell, Jonathan and Shannon Breedlove; a brother, Shirley Breedlove of California; and a sister, Lucy Gamble of Sparta, Tenn. He was an avid baseball and football player. As a high school senior, he pitched in every game and compiled a 16-0 record. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II from June 1944 until June 1946. As a member of the Tank Destroyer Battalion, he traveled over Belgium and Germany with Patton's Army. At war's end, Lewis was recruited to play for the Army's Chanel Maroon Raiders football team, one of many teams organized by Special Service for entertainment for the troops. He traveled all over Europe playing football against other teams for the Army. Upon return to the states, Lewis used the GI Bill to enroll in Randolph-Macon College. There he excelled in collegiate baseball, and especially football, where he was captain of the Yellow Jackets in 1950, a year they won the Mason-Dixon Conference, and also was selected to the All-State team. During his summers of college, he would work driving cabs in Virginia Beach. Many stories were told of transporting the likes of Duke Ellington and Tommy Dorsey to the Cavalier for a performance. After his graduation in 1951, he was appointed head football, baseball and basketball coach, and also taught social studies at Creeds High School. When the county high schools consolidated to Princess Anne High School, he taught in the social studies department and also served as head baseball and assistant football coach. Later, he taught and was head football coach at Virginia Beach High School. His most successful year as a football coach was 1965, when he guided the Virginia Beach High School Seahawks to an 8-0-2 record in its final season as a high school. He concluded his coaching career in 1967 at the new First Colonial High School, where he served the school as athletic director, government teacher and head football coach. After procuring his master's degree in education at the University of Virginia, Lewis was appointed principal of Creeds Elementary School, where he held the post for 10 years. From 1980 until his retirement in 1986, he was principal of Pembroke Elementary School. After retirement, his pleasures included traveling with good friends, his fruit trees, and keeping up with the New York Mets on TV. His greatest pleasure was singing in the choir at First Baptist Church of Virginia Beach, where he also served as deacon, and spending time with his family. A funeral will be conducted Monday at 11:30 a.m. at First Baptist Church, Virginia Beach, with the Rev. Steve Gumpton. The burial will follow in Princess Anne Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home, Great Neck Chapel, today from 6 to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to First Baptist Church, Virginia Beach. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.hollomon-brown.com.