William Clyde Pressley

William Clyde Pressley, 89, of Winchester, VA, died Saturday, March 19, 2016 in Winchester Medical Center. He was born March 22, 1926 in Speedwell, NC the son of Jake and Mary Ashe Pressley. He served in the US Navy from 1944 until 1946 after which he entered Western Carolina University, Culowhee, NC in 1946. He earned a B.S. degree in math and physical education in 1950 and an M.E. degree in school administration in 1955. He completed one year of post graduate studies in school administration at U.N.C., Chapel Hill, NC. As an undergraduate at WCU, he as an honor student, president of the student body, a student leader in numerous campus activities and was a varsity basketball and baseball player. In 1950 Mr. Pressley began a highly successful career as a teacher, coach and school administrator serving as junior high school principal in Leaksville (now Eden), Chapel Hill, Greensboro and Waynesville (Haywood County), all in North Carolina. In 1970 he returned to Eden to serve as superintendent of Eden City Schools until his retirement in 1984. He was appointed by Governor Terry Sanford to serve on the NC State Textbook Commission and was appointed by Governor Jim Hunt to serve on the NC Junior High School Study Committee. Fron 1985 until 1991 he was a Financial and Pre-Retirement Counselor for Horace Mann Insurance Company where he worked with educators in six Mid-Atlantic States. In 1991 he married Ramona L. Brooks of Inwood, WV. Mr. Pressley was active in Christ Episcopal Church in Winchester, VA where he served as Senior Warden of the Vestry and “Clerk of the Works” during a major construction project at the church. He was instrumental in organizing a men’s fellowship group, a men’s Bible study and was a member of various church committees. He was also instrumental in helping organize the Winchester-Frederick County chapter of Habitat for Humanity where he served as a board member and on several committees. The Pressleys moved to Winchester, VA in 2003. In addition to his wife, Ramona Pressley, a former elementary teacher in Winchester City Schools, Mr. Pressley is survived by two daughters, Pat C. Rice of Greensboro, NC and Penny Ferreira and her husband John of Nashua, NH; a granddaughter, Megan Conner of Nashville, TN; his stepchildren, Kathy Anderson of Winchester, Liz Davies and her husband Robert of Stephens City, Kurt Meier of Winchester, Bill Meier of Leesburg, VA; step-grandchildren, Erin Thomas and her husband Justin, Amy Thomas and her husband Jeremy, Cindy Verdeck and her husband Chris of Burlington, NC, Brooke Davies, Hannah Davies, and Billy and Kevin Meier all of Winchester and four great-grandchildren, Julian Thomas, Colin Thomas, Ava Thomas and Alton Kruse. A son, Danny R. Pressley, is deceased. A funeral service will be Thursday at 2:00 p.m. in Christ Episcopal Church, 114 W. Boscawen Street, Winchester with Rev. Webster Gibson officiating. Urn bearers will be Roger Zebarth, Eric Melkerson, Greg Hutchinson, Dr. Kenneth Banks and Chris Francis. Honorary bearers will be Dr. Jim Laidlaw, Harold Matthews, Harman Pritchard and David Green. Following the service, and a private inurnment, the family will receive friends at a reception in the Parish Hall of the church. The family would like to thank the First Light Care Team for life saving care given to Mr. Pressley. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Living Memorial Fund of Christ Episcopal Church, 114 W. Boscawen Street, Winchester, VA 22601 or to William Clyde Pressley Scholarship Fund at Rockingham Community College, 215 Wrenn Memorial Road, Wentworth, NC 27375 or to Habitat For Humanity, 145 Baker Street, Winchester, VA 22601. Arrangements are by Phelps Funeral & Cremation Service, Winchester, VA. www.phelpsfunerals.com

William Clyde Pressley

March 22, 1926 - March 19, 2016