Joseph Lewis Terry

Joseph Lewis Terry, 89, died Thursday, June 13, 2019 at the INOVA Mount Vernon Hospital in Alexandria, Virginia following a long battle with an infection. He leaves his wife of 66 years, Mary (Arcuri) Terry; three daughters, Carla, Beverly, and Gloria; four granddaughters, Dawn, Debra, Stephanie and Amy; and one great grandson, Liam, and many close friends. Born and raised in Reidsville, North Carolina, the son of Joseph and Augusta Georgia (Gilley) Terry, and sister, Susan Terry Dillon, he was a resident of Washington, DC in the 1940’s, but lived most of his life in Northern Virginia in Falls Church in the 1950’s to 1989, and in Springfield, Virginia to the present 2019. In his early years, Mr. Terry would go door to door selling a magazine called “Liberty” and also deliver the morning paper. After graduating from high school in 1948, Mr. Terry and a friend of his enlisted in the Army and served for 2 years. Mr. Terry served on Okinawa, Japan and in Korea. Mr. Terry worked for Arlington County Government in the Water Department and as a draftsman in the 1950s/1960’s. He served as a Planning Technician in the 1970’s and 1980’s. He retired from Arlington County Government in 1985. After retiring from the County, he also worked with members of the Arlington County Employees Credit Union. While there, he also served on the Board of Directors. Mr. Terry also worked at the Springfield Golf and Country Club. He met his wife, Mary, at a USO dance event. They were married at Huntington, in the County of Cabell in the state of West Virginia on January 17, 1953. Mr. Terry had a passion for all kinds of sports, most notably, he was avid golfer, bowler, and enjoyed fishing in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. He also enjoyed playing the guitar with his favorite music being country western and bluegrass. Mr. Terry was a Redskins fan, a Nationals fan, and was blessed to be able to see the Washington Capitals win their first championship in 2018. He also enjoyed trains and his grandfather was an engineer for the Southern Railroad.