Cecil Crawford Avery

Cecil C. Avery VIRGINIA BEACH - Cecil Crawford Avery, 85, passed away Feb. 17, 2009. He was born Aug. 15, 1923, in Mechanicsville, Va., to the late Raymond T. and Margaret T. Avery. Mr. Avery was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Navy and a graduate of Virginia Tech where he proudly played football. He was also a member of the Mechanicsville Masonic Lodge. Mr. Avery retired after 40 years of service with Nationwide Insurance Company as a manager and an agent. He enjoyed gardening and was an avid fisherman who enjoyed spending time on the Eastern Shore. Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 44 years, Penelope K. Avery; daughter, Margaret Scarff and husband Grayson; sons, Thomas C. Avery and wife Lynn and Cecil C. Avery Jr. and wife Carol; stepdaughter, Karen Hayward; stepson, Stephen Hayward; grandchildren, Amanda, Timothy, Emily and Diane Avery; sisters, Louise Galloway of Richmond and Evelyn Richardson of St. Louis; nieces, Faith Richardson and Alison Richardson; and nephew, Raymond T. Avery III. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday in Rosewood - Kellum Funeral Home. A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Richmond, Va.