Robert Francis Varley Sr.

Robert Francis Varley, Sr., Lt. Colonel Retired, United States Marine Corps, Veteran of WWII and the Korean Conflict, pioneer in directional drilling technology and owner of R.F. Varley Company, Inc., passed away quietly Sunday, October 20, 2002 at his home in Metairie. Mr. Varley invented and patented a directional drilling tool known as the Hydraulic Jetting Drill (HJD). R.F. Varley Company headquartered in Belle Chasse, Louisiana, helped modernize directional drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. Robert Francis Varley was the son of John William Varley of Greenville, Texas and Agnes Coffey, of St. Louis, Missouri. He is survived by three sons: John William Varley, Robert Francis Varley, Jr., and Patrick Claxton Varley; two grandchildren: Janelle Elizabeth Varley and Christopher John Varley; and a sister, Elizabeth Varley Mattingly. His beloved wife Xelma Mullinax Varley, died of Alzheimer's Disease in 1988. Funeral services will be held at LEITZ-EAGAN FUNERAL HOME, 4747 Veterans Blvd., Metairie, Louisiana, on Friday, October 25, 2002. Visitation will be held at 1:00 P.M. and a Funeral Mass will commence at 3:00 P.M. Mr. Varley will be buried in Texas. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Greenwalt Center for Alzheimer's Daycare and Research, 1926 18th Street, Kenner, Louisiana 70062, c/o Linda Greenwalt or to St. Jerome's Catholic Church, 2400 3rd Street, Kenner, Louisiana, 70065, c/o Father Edward Grice.