Obituaries

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our mother, Doris, at the age of 110 on 30 April 2021. We were so blessed to have had our mom in our lives for such a long time. She had a deep faith that gave her strength, perseverance, and love of family throughout her life. She was born to William Enoch and Mary Lucinda (Williamson) Benson on June 9th 1910 in Glasco, Kansas, and was the last remaining child, being pre-deceased by her siblings, Ross, Wilma, Hazel June, Bernice, Clarence, Marjorie, and Mary Alice.

Doris was a nurse in Emporia, Kansas, for three years after nurses training, and in 1935 married Joseph McDowell Woodring from Cottonwood Falls, Kansas, in Washington, DC, where they made their home, eventually moving to Alexandria, VA, then Falls Church, VA. She moved to Westminster at Lake Ridge in 1995 after being a widow for 5 years. She was in independent living until she broke her leg in 2014 and she finally moved to the Assistant Living Unit where she lived for 6 years , then last April 2020 after a fall, she was moved to the Health Care Center, where she lived out the rest of her long life. She lived at Westminster for a total of 26 years, 3 months and 16 days. A special thanks to each and everyone at Westminster as you all played an important role in her exceptional care over the years.

John Mitchell Kirsch (“Jack”) passed away on April 22, 2021 in the Manassas, Virginia residence that he called home for the past 53 years.

Mr. Kirsch was born September 17, 1926 in Erie, PA, the eldest son of the late Joseph Edward and Emma Romaine Kirsch. Following his tour of duty in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, Mr. Kirsch married Charlotte Louise Kunz (“Liz”) on August 9, 1948. On September 25, 1950, Mr. Kirsch began what would become an illustrious 27 year career with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). As a Special Agent in the field, Mr. Kirsch handled and/or supervised numerous major incidents, including bank robberies, extortions, kidnappings, and fugitive investigations. During his tenure with the FBI, Mr. Kirsch was stationed in Los Angeles, CA; San Francisco, CA; Washington, DC; Chicago, IL; Pittsburgh, PA; and Quantico, VA.

Maria Esther Hernandez Soriano Tuaño Cordova was born in the town of Lumban, Laguna in the Philippines on April 9, 1926. She and Angelo Cordova met as children, and it would be after WW2 when the two would meet again when Esther was a lab technician and Angelo was an ex-soldier. They married December 14, […]

Janice Elaine Miller Byrum, 83, went peacefully to be with the Lord on April 29, 2021. She was born on June 11, 1937, to the late Ira and Mary Miller. Janice married “the love of her life” the late Henry “Red” Byrum on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

In her early years, Janice enjoyed music, dancing, gardening, and spending time with her family. She shared her love of music with others through teaching piano lessons, directing the choir, and as an organist for the church. After many years of working, Janice spent her later years sitting in her favorite chair watching her ball games on TV, looking out the window, interacting with her great and great-great grandchildren, and sharing her favorite potato chips with them.

Ebenezer Kofi McCarthy (Age 80) passed away on Tuesday, March 9th at home in Dale City VA, following a courageous battle with cancer. He inspired family and friends with his intense level of bravery, steadfast determination and will to live. In life, he was a man of wisdom, strength and resilience. Ebenezer was born on […]

Clarence Hall, 90, was born on April 9, 1931 to parents Harold and Louise Hall and passed on April 25, 2021. This loving man was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Nancy, his son Ronald, his sister, Phyllis and his brother-in-law, Ron Schofield. Always the one with a cheerful smile and a […]

Robert N. “Ron” Kelley, age 70, of Gainesville, Virginia, died on April 23, 2020.

He was born and raised in North Plainfield, NJ, "Ron" received many awards in high school for his athletic achievements, first team all-county in football, two-year county and mid-state pole vault champion, placing fourth in the state competition After high school, Bob "Kell" went to Gettysburg College and subsequently obtained his master’s degree in business administration from Rutgers University After graduation, he began a 30-year career at New Jersey Bell/ Verizon, holding regulatory positions as well as Director of Operations, finance. He moved to Centreville, VA in 1993, then relocated to Heritage Hunt and retired from Verizon in 2003. Bob remained active, enjoying his grandchildren, driving cars with his buddies at Adesa, golf, concert committee, skiing, the pool, Rutgers, Giant and Yankee games and travel.