Obituary - William Barry Harmon

Harmon, William Barry, age 75, of Richmond, passed from this life on April 1, 2021. He was born in Richmond, Va on November 16, 1945. He was the oldest of four children of the late Charles Bennett Harmon and the late Marian Lowry Harmon.

As a youth he enjoyed Little League baseball, Babe Ruth League baseball, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Royal Ambassadors. He especially loved hunting, fishing and the great outdoors. He graduated from Virginia Tech and attended graduate school at the University of Richmond. In 1979, he was named one of the Outstanding Young Men of America. Barry enjoyed a 37 year career as an insurance claims professional with the USF&G Co. and later with the St. Paul Fire and Marine Ins. Co. He was a 51 year member of River Road Church, Baptist where he served as a deacon and on the Board of Administration, as well as, other boards and committees over the years. Barry was an avid reader, fisherman, lover of history and of the natural world. He also had a life-long interest in family history and genealogy.

He deeply appreciated the importance of education and philanthropy in his life. His notable generosity extended to a variety of charities, scholarships, museums, historical organizations, educational institutions, cultural organizations and causes he believed in. Barry served in the Virginia Army National Guard. He was a direct descendant of two Revolutionary War veterans, five Civil War veterans and a World War II veteran. Above all, he loved, cherished and was devoted to his family, his state and his country.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 46 years, Linda Lynch Harmon, his father and mother, and a sister, Betty J. Harmon. He is survived by his two daughters, Nicole H. Dudley and Blair H. Parker and her husband Charles, along with five grandchildren: Jennifer Dudley, Chase Dudley, Ryan Parker, Mason Parker, and Isabelle Parker; a sister Janet H. Dunnevant; a brother C. Rady Harmon; four nieces and one nephew.

His remains rest at Woody Funeral Home, 1771 N. Parham Rd., Richmond, Va, where the family will receive friends from 2 to 4 pm and 6 to 8pm on Friday, April 9, 2021. A funeral service will be held at 1 pm on Saturday, April 10, 2021 at River Road Church, Baptist, 8000 River Rd., Richmond, Va 23229. Interment will follow at Westhampton Memorial Park.