The Rev. Dr. Howard Hanchey passed away peacefully on May 17, 2022, in Richmond, Virginia, at age 81. He is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Anne Summers Hanchey; his daughters and sons-in-laws, Stephanie Hanchey and Mike Purello and Ashley and Cale Bigelow; his beloved grandchildren, Wyatt Henke (Erin Eggleston), Brooks Henke, Andrew Bigelow, and Darby Anne Bigelow; Joe Purello (Kate) and Amy Ulibarri (Rey); his sister-in-law, Lee Hanchey; nephew, Jason Hanchey (Erica) and niece, Andrea Pokrefke (Thomas) and families; and his sister-in-law, Jean Peacock; nephews, Christian and Eric Johnston and families. Howard was preceded in death by his parents, Daniel and Louise Howard Hanchey and his brother, Neal Hanchey, all of Richmond.
Howard was born in Richmond in 1941. He graduated from Varina High School; University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; Virginia Theological Seminary; and Union Presbyterian Seminary. He was a cadet for two years at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University before transferring to Chapel Hill. He was ordained an Episcopal priest in 1968. Before becoming a member of the faculty at Virginia Theological Seminary in 1978, Howard served as a parish priest at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Delaplane, and Trinity Episcopal Church, Marshall; St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Richmond; Eastern Shore Chapel, Virginia Beach; and St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Meriden, Connecticut; all places where he and Anne made lifelong friends. He was the author of a number of books on Christian education and church evangelism, and was a frequent speaker in multiple dioceses. After his retirement from teaching, he served as interim priest at parishes in Lancaster County, Virginia; Virginia Beach; and Portsmouth. Howard also served as Chaplain to the Retired Clergy of the Diocese of Southern Virginia.
After Howard and Anne retired, they moved full time from Alexandria to Laurel Hill, their riverfront home in Lancaster County in Virginia’s Northern Neck. A handyman and avid lifelong gardener, Howard created stunning gardens wherever they lived, but especially at Laurel Hill. From Lancaster, they moved to Williamsburg and then to Fredericksburg, before returning to live in Richmond.
A loving husband, father, and grandfather and a faithful colleague, teacher, and friend, Howard was loved and will be missed by many. The family is grateful for the caregiving provided by Virginia Home Care Partners, Fredericksburg; Hermitage Richmond; and At Home Care and Hospice, Richmond.
A celebration of life service will be held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 815 E. Grace Street, Richmond, on Thursday, June 9, at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributions to Shrine Mont, 221 Shrine Mont Circle, Orkney Springs, VA 22845 or Virginia Theological Seminary, 3737 Seminary Road, Alexandria, VA 22304.
