Fay P. LeCompte

Fay Purdy LeCompte III, age 90, born May 7, 1934, peacefully entered into his final resting place on March 31, 2025. Fay was preceded in death by his youngest son Fay Purdy LeCompte IV (who passed away March 29, 1997 from a motorcycle accident prior to his 21st birthday) along with his father Fay P. LeCompte II of Portsmouth and Marie Angela Vaccarelli of Williamsburg. Fay is survived by his brother Peter Lewis LeCompte, nephew Peter LeCompte, niece Antoinette LeCompte, and nephew Anthony LeCompte then we have Fays oldest son of 1955 Lawrence Ray LeCompte/Waltrip and his two children grandson Zackery T. Waltrip and granddaughter Melissa R. Waltrip. Also Fay's second child, daughter of 1957 Kathryn Fay LeCompte & her six children, grandson Jeremy Smith, grandson Capt. Phillip Smith, grandson Andrew Smith, granddaughter Mrs. Christy Thomas, grandson Allen Roberts and grandson Christopher Roberts.
Fay began learning leadership in the Boy Scouts Troop 103, a football quarterback, and baseball player. Fay and his brother Lewis walked to Mathew Whaley school from their home in Colonial Williamsburg, becoming a graduate in Class of '53. After school, he began his career working in Ma Bell (C&P Telephone Company) moving to Newport News Virginia in '54 as a cable splicer, during that time he was drafted into the Army Artillery division training as a tank mechanic for a two year tour in Occupied Germany. After his tour, returning home he resumed his career with the phone company for 15 years total until November 15, 1968 during the company strike. He moved on developing more skills as mechanic and salesman with Al's lawnmower shop eventually buying the business in Vienna Va.
During the winter time with nothing to do Fay studied the art of stained glass window construction under his cousin Ronan LeCompte. Who, designed and constructed the "ROSE WINDOW" of Washington National Cathedral. While learning the tooling of the stained glass trade Faye became interested and studied Lapidary (Gems & Jewelry making) becoming a Master Lapidary. After more studying Fay became a Master Goldsmith & taught Goldsmithing for the next five years. This is where Blacksmithing began He says, finding it hard to locate the tooling he desired for jewelry making, (because it took 18 months to get the desired tools from France). Mr. LeCompte ventured into the Art of Blacksmithing, learning to forger his own. Upon moving his Al's lawnmower shop to Luray, Virginia becoming American Lawn Mower Service, Fay LeCompte became the founder & lifetime member to The Blacksmith Guild of The Potomac. He was also a member of the Henry Masonic Lodge No.57 in Fairfax, Virginia for 55 years. Fay was a very gifted and talented man working with his hands forming metals of all kinds from the precious metals of gold and silver for jewelry to the irons of Blacksmithing. His work with metals & dedication to preserving & teaching via several apprenticeships for the trade of a bygone era and to the coming new generations was a true joy to watch. Fay was a teacher and most of all a friend to many in the Blacksmithing community never to be forgotten. His latest venture he was proud of started in 1993, would be The Blacksmithing Guild's "spring Fling" an annual event, loved and cherished by all. Mr. Fay P. LeCompte you are loved and will be missed.
Composed by : Lawrence Ray LeCompte
In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to The Veterans Monument Park Website: https://www.veteransmonumentpark.org/donation-form Address: P.O. Box 5926 Williamsburg, VA 23188 To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Fay, please visit our floral store.