William Harmon Pryor

PRYOR, William Harmon (“Bill), 97, of Mechanicsville, died on May 19, 2015. He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank B. and Louisa M. Hamilton Pryor; brothers John and Edward Pryor; sister Frances P. Lawson. He is survived by his wife of more than 20 years, Virginia Eggleston Pryor; three children Donald Edward Pryor (Karen) of Rochester, NY, Robert Hamilton Pryor (Lucy) of Morehead, KY, and Kathryn Lee Pryor of Richmond; his first wife and mother of his children Margaret Graves Pryor; his grandchildren: Kirstin, Devon, Scott, Emily, and Mark Pryor; his great-grandchildren Maya and Mason Waller; and the children of Virginia Pryor: Linda Hubard, John Eggleston (Sarah), Francine Horna (Dane), Stephen Eggleston, and Susan Collins (Gary).

Bill was born January 17, 1918 in Fairmont, West Virginia. He worked his way through and graduated from Southeastern University Law School in Washington, D.C. He was a special agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation for 35 years, working in field offices in San Antonio, Spokane, Philadelphia, Alexandria, Winchester, Detroit and Richmond. He was an instructor at the Police Academy and J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, and worked for several years as an academic advisor in the Evening College of Virginia Commonwealth University. He was an ever-faithful volunteer: an elder and greeter at First Presbyterian Church Winchester and Ginter Park Presbyterian Church, a long-time Kiwanian, a 20+ year volunteer at Richmond Memorial Hospital and its successor Bon Secours Memorial Regional Medical Center, and an AARP volunteer tax preparer.

He loved and was devoted to his family and friends. His kids always knew they were loved unconditionally, even when he disagreed with their choices or their politics (as he often did). He loved to joke around, and even in recent days when afflicted with Alzheimer's he maintained his wry sense of humor. As Covenant Woods staff said their goodbyes to him, they remembered him fondly as “a charmer,” “always a gentleman,” “always so polite.” When his words became few and rare, he still managed a “thank you” for care provided or a “Love you too” to his loved ones. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

The family is grateful for the wonderful care he received from Covenant Woods staff in Grace Gardens and later in the health care center and from Hospice Community Care. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Covenant Woods Fellowship Fund, Hospice Community Care, or the Alzheimer's Association.

The family will receive friends on Friday, May 22 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Atlee Chapel of Woody Funeral Home, 9271 Shady Grove Road. A memorial service will be held at Woody's on Saturday, May 23rd at 11:00 a.m.