Sydney Lee Mccurdy

Sydney Lee McCurdy, loving husband and father of two children, passed away at the age of 88, on Tuesday, September 20, 2022. Lee was born on November 20, 1933 in Alderson, WV to Colin C. Chaffin McCurdy and Ruth (Fitzgerald) McCurdy.
Like his father Colin, a minor league baseball player, Lee was an athlete. Lee played football at Lexington High School, in Rockbridge County, VA, where he scored a touchdown against peak rival, Parry McCluer High School, in Buena Vista, VA. He graduated from Brownsburg High School, in Rockbridge County, after transferring from Lexington High School.
Lee joined the Army National Guard and served as a Sergeant, in the Armored Cavalry, in Germany, one of his favorite duty stations. Lee earned his associates degree from Richard Bland College, in Prince George, VA, after leaving the military.
He joined the Federal Bureau of Prisons in 1959 and worked in Natural Bridge, VA, Ashland, KY, Petersburg, VA, and Manhattan, NY. During his employment, he worked as a drug abuse counselor, a federal prison inspector, and with the East Manhattan and Connecticut parole district as an Employment Placement Officer assisting paroled individuals find work and housing. He retired after 26 and a half years on June 3rd, 1986.
On July 6, 1963 he married Lora Marie Clark. They were blessed with a son, Clark and daughter, Kelley and raised them along with horses, ponies, dogs, cats, chickens, and ducks.
Lee was delighted by life and was a joy to be around.
He was an autodidact, builder, car restorer, music lover, horseman, loud belly-laugher, and a great storyteller. He had many adventures both by design and accident.
He loved his wife madly from the start until the end. He enjoyed traveling with his family and friends to music festivals, NASCAR races, the beach, mountains, and across the U.S.
Lee was preceded in death by his father, Colin; his mother, Ruth; and his brother, John. He is survived by his wife, Lora; his children, Kelley and Clark; his sister, Elizabeth; and several cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Visitation will be held at noon Thursday, October 13, 2022 at J.T. Morris Funeral Home in Chester, VA, followed by a service at 1 PM. A graveside service will be held at 2 PM Friday, October 14th, 2022 at New Monmouth Presbyterian Church in Lexington, VA.
Donations in memory of Lee may be made to the American Diabetes Association, the Lupus Foundation of America, and the Michael J. Fox Parkinson's research foundation. Condolences and memories may be sent to J.T. Morris in Chester, VA.