ALAN L. POTTER

POTTER ALAN LEE POTTER Attorney, Philanthropist, Developer, Family man Alan Lee Potter, 84, died quietly on January 31, 2014 after a long illness, surrounded by his family. Alan was born in Washington, DC on January 8, 1930 to I. Lee and Dulcie Horner Potter of Arlington, VA. He was educated at Virginia Tech, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, and later at George Washington University, where he received his Doctor of Law degree, placing first in his class. Alan and his wife of 62 years, Mary Louise Bryant Potter, were college sweethearts and married a few weeks after his graduation from Virginia Tech, in 1951. He worked for General Electric, originally in Schenectady, NY and later in Owensboro, KY. During the Korean War, he served in the US Army at the Aberdeen Proving Ground Chemical Laboratory. Following his Army service, he and Louise moved to Greensboro, NC where he took a job as Chief Quality Control Chemist with Vicks Chemical Co. Recognizing the need for further education, the couple moved to Alexandria, VA and Alan attended George Washington University School of Law, receiving his JD degree. He then accepted an appointment as Clerk for Judge Lindsay Almond in the Court of Customs and Patent Appeals. Alan and Judge Almond (previously Governor of Virginia) became lifelong friends, especially enjoying discussing politics from both sides of the political spectrum; Alan and his family were dedicated Republicans and Judge Almond was a Kennedy-appointed Democrat. Alan worked for several years in Washington as a Patent Attorney, and was then selected as CEO of Jelleff's Inc, a chain of eight women's specialty stores in the Washington area. Following the years in Northern Virginia, the Potters decided to move their young sports-minded family to Lake of the Woods in Orange County, VA, where Alan practiced General and Real Estate law. In addition to being very active in the growing community, he founded Potter Enterprises, a Real Estate Development company. He was joined in the business by his wife, Louise, an architect, and his sons Richard, a CPA, and Kenneth, also an attorney. After turning the management of that business over to his sons and later to his daughter, Janet Bonner, he founded Spotswood Construction Loans and finally Potter Homes, a residential development company. Alan was very active in his community, where he participated in many civic and cultural activities. He spent two terms as one of the first presidents of the Lake of the Woods Association, served on the Germanna Community College Board where he helped set up numerous scholarships, and was active in the early years of Lake of the Woods Church where he was especially dedicated to the music program, arranging funding for a Mohler pipe organ. He was helpful to the Montpelier Foundation with his fundraising knowledge, and later extended his interests to the National Trust for Historic Preservation. He was a Certified Medical Technician and served with the Lake of the Woods Rescue Squad for several years. But of all his many helping-hand activities, he was probably most proud of his work with the youth of Lake of the Woods in helping youngsters learn to safely enjoy the water, teaching water skiing and putting together the annual water ski show performances. Of all of Alan's accomplishments, he was most proud of his beloved family. Alan is survived by his wife, Louise Bryant Potter, and his daughter, Janet Potter Bonner of Charlottesville, and his daughters-in-law Glenda Seals Potter of Raleigh NC and Kristen Voelker Schlee and husband David Eric Schlee of Fredericksburg VA. He has six grandchildren: Laura Elizabeth Bonner and James Alan Bonner, both of Charlottesville; Stacy Potter Mercer and her husband Jason Scott Mercer and their daughter Madelyn Nicole, of Charlotte NC; Samantha Marie Potter and Joshua Lee Potter of Raleigh NC; and Jordan Bryant Thomas Potter of Fredericksburg VA. He is also survived by many cousins, nieces and nephews, all of whom he loved deeply. The Memorial Service will be held on Thursday February 6, 2014 at 1 p.m. at the Lake of the Woods Church, inside the Lake of the Woods community, at One Church Lane, Locust Grove VA. Following the service, the interment will be at Laurel Hill Cemetery, 10127 Plank Road, Spotsylvania VA. Reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Lake of the Woods Church at 1 Church Lane, Locust Grove, VA 22508, would be deeply appreciated. Friends may send condolences to the family at www.hillandwood.com