George Douglas Miller Cary

George Douglas Miller Cary, 91, of Lynchburg died Saturday, June 12, 2004. George was married to Cora Louise Spalding Cary of Louisville, Ky., who died December 17, 1996. He is survived by his second wife, Audrey Dillard Cary and his three children, Louise Cary Ragland and her husband, Reace Donald, Ragland Jr. of Newport News, George Douglas Miller Cary Jr. of Suffolk, and Elizabeth Cary Spell and her husband, William Henry Spell of Richmond; and stepchildren, William Gordon Dillard Jr., Thomas Quinn Dillard and his wife, Mary Thompson Dillard; and preceded in death by a stepdaughter, Martha Dillard Pettyjohn. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Reace Donald Ragland III, Elizabeth Spalding Ragland, Louise Cary Ragland, George Douglas Miller Cary III, Carol Lee Cary, Elizabeth Langsford Spell, and Molly Randolph Spell; and his step grandchildren, William G. Dillard III, Katherine Dillard Barton, Joseph Quinn Dillard and Ashley Spell Einolf. He is also survived by his godson and nephew, Hunsdon Cary III. Born on August 25, 1912 and raised in Richmond, he was a son of the late Senator Hunsdon Cary and Mary Cary. He is survived by his sister, Anne Cary Tilton and was preceded in death by his brothers, Hunsdon, Miles, Randolph; and his sisters, Mary and Helen. George attended St. Christopher's School, Episcopal High School, and graduated with a B.S. degree from the University of Virginia. He won in 1936 the Southern Conference Boxing Championship at UVA for his weight class, as did the boxing team. George was also a member of St. Anthony's Hall fraternity, T.I.L.K.A., the Student Senate and the Z Society. He joined the Army and served five years during World War II as a First Lieutenant. He met Cora Louise while he was stationed at Fort Knox, and they were married in 1943. George became a paint salesman for Pee Gee Paint Co. that granted him a territory in Lynchburg. He then later purchased and remained owner/operator of Chestnut Hill Hardware for 35 years. George was a member of Rivermont Baptist Church and former member of St. John's Episcopal Church, where he taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, and was a member of the Vestry. He did volunteer work for Virginia Baptist Hospital, Meals on Wheels, Habitat for Humanity and was a member of the Rotary Club. He also had many other interests that included gardening, tennis, hunting, and fishing. George Cary was a living example for his loving family as a person who always tried to do the right thing and was a true gentleman in every sense of the word.