Denson Brill Dean

On January 26th, 1932 his parents and older brother Elwood celebrated his birth and he was introduced to the family as Denson Brill Dean, the son of Ollie & Elsie Dean of Stony Point. Two years later his brother Burl was born and he became the middle child and the world changed forever. As a youngin he attended Stony Point Elementary School, where he met the love of his life Patricia Baber. She was a sassy cute thing that chased him until she won and still is 68 years later! In 1948 he joined the Army and spent most of his time in Panama guarding the canal. However, one night while guarding our canal and country, someone stole the bottle of rum they had stashed to make the night pass. Glad we are still safe! He and Patricia married in 1955 and were blessed with 2 children, Lynne (David) and Bobby (deceased) and began their life in Barboursville. Life in Barboursville consisted of raising pigs, planting a cornfield, growing vegetables including 150 lbs of potatoes each year. Idaho would be proud. All this while working at Virginia Metal Products in Orange and later Harry A. Wrights in Charlottesville from where he retired. At Wrights his specialty was ornamental ironwork. You can see his handiwork all over the area; from the crossed swords that grace the entrance to Fork Union Academy to the weathervane atop Rockfish Gap Country Store or the railings at The Stedman House. The weekends were a day of rest, playing with the kids and his dog Bones and having a little nip here and there! One Sunday as he lay dozing his sassy wife painted his toenails red! Later that day doing cartwheels in the yard with the kids he broke his leg. The doctor was amused at the red toenails as he put the cast on. And somewhere there is a 1950 Ford pickup that Lynne had proudly filled the gas tank with rocks from the driveway. A good sport he was. In 1976 he was blessed with his first and only granddaughter, Melissa (Linwood). If “Tricia” wouldn’t buy it for her, just ask “gandaddy”. And in 2007 the first and only great grandchild Brandon was born. Again, if “nana” said no, “gandaddy” was always the back up! The family thanks the patient and loving staff at Morningside Assisted Living for caring for “Big Daddy” and Gentiva Hospice for making his last days peaceful. Graveside services will be held at Wild Rose Cemetery, 1380 Pounding Creek Rd. , Batesville, Va. with military honors on Thursday March 16 at 11am. In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association at www.heart.org or the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org. Godspeed Daddy, gandaddy and great gandaddy.