Obituary of WILL HOWARD STORY WAS 12-TERM MAYOR OF CAPRON Virginian-Pilot, The (Norfolk, VA) - October 13, 1992 Will Howard Story, a former mayor of Capron for 12 terms, died Oct. 12, 1992, in Franklin. He was 92. A lifelong resident of Capron, he represented his district on the Southampton County Board of Supervisors from 1947 to 1975 and served as chairman the last 12 years. During that time he was successful in securing WPA funds from the government to build a Community Club, and to install sidewalks, curbing, and gutters in the town. Additional land was also purchased to expand Capron Cemetery . He also donated the land on which Capron Medical Center was built and started the annual Capron Memorial Day Services. Mr. Story also operated the W.H. Story Variety Store for 54 years and retired in 1985. He was a licensed funeral director and formerly worked for Purviance Funeral Home in Wakefield and Echols Funeral Home in Emporia. He was a lifelong member of the Capron United Methodist Church and was past chairman of its Administrative Board. He organized and served as first president of the Capron Charge United Methodist Men. He had been chairman of the board of trustees and was a member of all committees, commissions and boards of the church. He served as a lay leader of the Capron Charge and a delegate to the Virginia Annual Conference for more than 50 years. He served as secretary of the Homes Corp. Inc., a Methodist project to build homes for retired clergy. He was a former director of the Southampton County Civil Defense and was field director of the Franklin Air Field during World War II. He was a member of the Southampton County Department of Social Services and served on the board of directors for Southampton Medical Foundation and the Capron Community Medical Foundation. He was co-founder of Patrick Henry Hospital and was chairman of the board for Patrick Henry Hospital for the Chronically Ill for over 35 years. He was a member of several other medical organizations including the Southampton Memorial Hospital Board. While chairman of the Southampton County Democratic Committee, he directed the county campaigns of 4th District Rep. Watkins Abbitt in 1970 and of former Governors Thomas B. Stanley, Albertis Harrison and Mills Godwin Jr. He was a charter member and past president of the Capron Ruritan Club. He was president of the Virginia Association of Counties and was a member of the Southeastern Virginia Planning District Commission, Capron Elementary School PTA and the Indian Town Hunt Club. He was chairman of the Southampton County Democratic Committee for 30 years. He had served as a Scoutmaster for a local Boy Scout troop. He was a past director of the Home Telephone and Telegraph Co. In 1983, Story received the "Unsung Virginia Award," which is annually presented to a dedicated Virginian who has rendered significant service and devotion to his fellow man without having received adequate public recognition. A graveside service will be conducted at 3 p.m. Wednesday in Capron Cemetery by the Rev. Louis A. Martin and the Rev. Eric R. Alexie. The body will be at Purviance Funeral Home, Wakefield, until the day of service. The body will lie in state from noon to 2 p.m. Wednesday in Capron United Methodist Church. Edition: FINAL Section: LOCAL Page: D2 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ––– Narrative Summary of the Obituary ––– Will Howard Story of Capron, Virginia, died 12 Oct 1992 in Franklin at age 92 after serving 12 terms as mayor and a long career in civic and political leadership. A graveside service was held 14 Oct 1992 at Capron Cemetery, officiated by Rev. Louis A. Martin and Rev. Eric R. Alexie, with arrangements by Purviance Funeral Home in Wakefield. ––– Transcript ––– WILL HOWARD STORY WAS 12-TERM MAYOR OF CAPRON Will Howard Story, a former mayor of Capron for 12 terms, died 12 October 1992 in Franklin. He was 92. A lifelong resident of Capron, he represented his district on the Southampton County Board of Supervisors from 1947 to 1975 and served as chairman the last 12 years. During that time he was successful in securing WPA funds from the government to build a community club, and to install sidewalks, curbing, and gutters in the town. Additional land was also purchased to expand Capron Cemetery. He also donated the land on which Capron Medical Center was built and started the annual Capron Memorial Day Services. Mr. Story also operated the W.H. Story Variety Store for 54 years and retired in 1985. He was a licensed funeral director and formerly worked for Purviance Funeral Home in Wakefield and Echols Funeral Home in Emporia. He was a lifelong member of the Capron United Methodist Church and was past chairman of its Administrative Board. He organized and served as first president of the Capron Charge United Methodist Men. He had been chairman of the board of trustees and was a member of all committees, commissions and boards of the church. He served as a lay leader of the Capron Charge and a delegate to the Virginia Annual Conference for more than 50 years. He served as secretary of the Homes Corp. Inc., a Methodist project to build homes for retired clergy. He was a former director of the Southampton County Civil Defense and was field director of the Franklin Air Field during World War II. He was a member of the Southampton County Department of Social Services and served on the board of directors for Southampton Medical Foundation and the Capron Community Medical Foundation. He was co-founder of Patrick Henry Hospital and was chairman of the board for Patrick Henry Hospital for the Chronically Ill for over 35 years. He was a member of several other medical organizations including the Southampton Memorial Hospital Board. While chairman of the Southampton County Democratic Committee, he directed the county campaigns of 4th District Rep. Watkins Abbitt in 1970 and of former Governors Thomas B. Stanley, Albertis Harrison and Mills Godwin Jr. He was a charter member and past president of the Capron Ruritan Club. He was president of the Virginia Association of Counties and was a member of the Southeastern Virginia Planning District Commission, Capron Elementary School PTA and the Indian Town Hunt Club. He was chairman of the Southampton County Democratic Committee for 30 years. He had served as a Scoutmaster for a local Boy Scout troop. He was a past director of the Home Telephone and Telegraph Co. In 1983, Story received the "Unsung Virginia Award," which is annually presented to a dedicated Virginian who has rendered significant service and devotion to his fellow man without having received adequate public recognition. A graveside service was conducted at 3 p.m. Wednesday [14 October 1992] in Capron Cemetery by the Rev. Louis A. Martin and the Rev. Eric R. Alexie. The body was at Purviance Funeral Home, Wakefield, until the day of service. The body lay in state from noon to 2 p.m. Wednesday in Capron United Methodist Church. ––– Vital Statistics ––– |---------------------------------------------| | Field | Value | | Name | Will Howard Story | | Age | 92 years | | Birth | 1900 (estimated) | | Death | 12 October 1992; Franklin, Virginia | |---------------------------------------------| ––– Table of Relationships ––– |--------------------------------------------------------| | Name | Relationship | Residence | | Will Howard Story | Decedent | Capron, Virginia | | Rev. Louis A. Martin | Officiant | [Unknown] | | Rev. Eric R. Alexie | Officiant | [Unknown] | |--------------------------------------------------------| ––– Publication Details ––– |--------------------------------| | Field | Value | | Location | Norfolk, Virginia | | Name | The Virginian-Pilot | | Date | 13 October 1992 | | Edition | FINAL | | Section | LOCAL | | Page | D2 | |--------------------------------| ––– Other Relevant Information ––– • Operated W.H. Story Variety Store for 54 years. • Represented his district on the Southampton County Board of Supervisors from 1947 to 1975. • Served as chairman of the board of supervisors for 12 years. • Former director of the Southampton County Civil Defense. • Co-founder and longtime chairman of Patrick Henry Hospital for the Chronically Ill. • Chartered member and past president of Capron Ruritan Club. • President of the Virginia Association of Counties. • Lifelong member of Capron United Methodist Church. • Received "Unsung Virginia Award" in 1983. • Spouse's birth name not mentioned in the obituary. [Contributed by Bruce Saunders, bs4403@verizon.net] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may have contributed to the creation of this text. Please verify critical information, as AI-generated content can include errors.] [This file is https://go-stp.com/BruceObituaries/ShowText.html?Story, Will Howard.txt]