Col Raymond J. Wardrop

Colonel Raymond J. Wardrop, 95, US Army (retired) passed away on Sunday, March 21, 2010. Raymond was born on November 9, 1914 in Elenora, PA, the eldest of five children of Herbert and Charlotte Wardrop. He was preceded in death by his wife Betty, brothers William & Herbert, sisters June Kreps and Dorothy Helman and great granddaughter Corey E. Lilly. After graduating from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1937, he taught high school English for five years. In 1942, he enlisted in the Army and was commissioned after attending OCS at Fort Warren, Wyoming. During the war, he served as transportation officer on North Atlantic convoy duty. During this time he met and married Betty C. Frisbee who was serving in the Coast Guard. Betty left the service in 1946 and together they traveled to various assignments including Alaska, Germany, Michigan and Virginia. In 1950 he earned a Masterâ??s degree from Ohio State University. He founded the Monroe Rifles while serving as Professor of Military Science at the University of Virginia, commanded the 29th Transportation Bn in Germany, served on the Army General Staff at the Pentagon, and on the staff at 1st Corps in Korea. He was inducted as a Distinguished Member of the Regiment at the Army Transportation Center in Ft. Eustis, VA. His last assignment was as Deputy Commandant of the Army Logistics Management Center at Fort Lee, Va. Upon retirement, Colonel Wardrop returned to the field of education spending eleven years at the Virginia Council of Higher Education working with Virginiaâ??s colleges. Colonel Wardrop was a 32nd degree Mason, a life member of The Retired Officerâ??s Association, an avid golfer, and produced a number of beautiful counted cross stitch art works. He was happily married to his devoted wife for 65 years and will be remembered as a loving and devoted husband and father. Colonel Wardrop is survived by a daughter, Pamela L. Carlson of Cincinnati, OH; son, William J. Wardrop and his wife Elizabeth of Mt. Pleasant, SC; grandchildren, Emily R. Wardrop, Sharla C. Lilly, and Christopher R. Carlson and his wife, Pamela; great-grandchildren , Clayton J. Lilly, Camden C. Lilly, Lindsey E. Carlson, and Lauren A. Carlson. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 am on Saturday, April 3, 2010 at the Petersburg Chapel of J.T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home & Cremation Service. The family will receive friends 30 minutes prior. Burial with full military honors will follow at Southlawn Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Water Missions International, P.O. Box 31258, Charleston, SC 29417, or a charity of your choice. Condolences may be registered at www.jtmorriss.com .