Dudley Edgar Cosby Sr.

COSBY, Dudley “Doodle” Edgar, Sr., 100, of Mechanicsville, Va., died on July 15, 2021. He was predeceased by the one and only love of his life, Louise Wilkinson Cosby, who died on August 5, 2010, a few months shy of their 70 th wedding anniversary. Many times he had said that he had achieved his life's goal of living longer than his bride of 1940 so that she would not have to live on without him after he was gone. He was also predeceased by his two daughters, Grace Puryear and Melody Smith; and by his two brothers, Warren Cosby, Sr., and Ernest Cosby. Doodle is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Dudley E. “Bubba” Cosby, Jr., and Paula Cosby and her son Colton Wood; and by his son-in-law, Norman Puryear, and Norman and Grace's daughter Tina Puryear. He is also survived by his son-in-law, James W. “Skip” Smith, Skip and Melody's son Cory and his wife Beverly, and their four children, his great-grandchildren Kendall, Jonathan, Charlotte, and Matthew. His survivors also include his nephew Warren Mack Cosby, Jr. and his wife Ellen; his niece Susan Snyder, whose husband Kenny passed away in 2020; and his good friend Tom Smith of Goochland, Va. He is a veteran of the United States Armed Forces, having served in the United States Navy during World War II. Doodle grew up in eastern Henrico County, and was widely known in the construction industry, with his more than half a century in the business. Listening to his stories of his escapades over the years led to many hours of entertainment over Wednesday lunches and Sunday dinners. He enjoyed feeding the birds and rabbits in his big backyard, which was sometimes counter-productive, because he also enjoyed tending to his garden of tomatoes and peppers, as well as the many flowers and other plants that he and Lou had enjoyed for so many years. He also looked forward to his annual week at the beach with family in the Carolinas or at Sandbridge. Doodle enjoyed the big family get-togethers, often at Melody and Skip's house around Thanksgiving and Christmas, and he treasured the opportunities he had to spend time with his great-grandchildren. At his request, there will be no memorial service. Those who wish to make a memorial donation are encouraged to give to the charity of their choosing.