In Remembrance of Harry Duffield, III

"A beautiful person has gone on to meet the Lord tonight, my father Harry Duffield. He loved the Lord and was a kind and generous man that loved to sing you a song or lend a hand if you needed it. He will be greatly missed."

Harry at 3 yars

Mairzy doats and dozy doats
and liddle lamzy divey,
A kiddley divey too, wouldn't you?

Harry in his teens

Down in the meadow in a little bitty pool
Swam three little fishies and a mama fishie too
"Swim" said the mama fishie, "Swim if you can"
And they swam and they swam all over the dam
Boop boop kit-tem dat-tem what-tem Chu
Boop boop kit-tem dat-tem what-tem Chu
Boop boop kit-tem dat-tem what-tem Chu
And they swam and they swam all over the dam

Harry USAF

Jadda, jadda, jadda jadda jing jing jing.
Jadda, jadda, jadda jadda jing jing jing.
It's a funny bit of melody
That's so soothing and appealing to me.
It goes, "Jadda, jadda, jadda jadda jing jing jing."

Harry and Jennie

Five foot two, eyes of blue,
Oh what those five feet could do,
Has anybody seen my gal?
Turned down hose, turned up nose,
Have you seen any of those,
Has anybody seen my gal?

Harry in his 20s

Get your coat and grab your hat,
Leave your worries on the door step,
Just direct your feet,
To the sunny side of the street.

Harry helping out

Won't you come home Bill Bailey?
Won't you come home?
I cry the whole night through.
I'll do the cookin' honey,
I'll pay the rent.
I know I done you wrong.

Harry 1971

 

Harry at Lucy Corr

 

Harry at Shrinemont 2003

 

 

Harry Duffield, III was born April 4, 1926, the younger child of Elsie May Summers and Harry Duffield, Jr., in Asbury Park, NJ. His parents, both hard working folks, raised Harry and his older sister, Mary at times in New Jersey, Chicago, Florida and Richmond, VA. Harry was a hardworking young man, with an aptitude for mechanical and electronic gadgets.

Harry enlisted in the US Army Air Corps in the waning days of WWII and underwent flight training at Tyndall Field, FL, just as the war ended. He subsequently served in the USAF and upon discharge pursued an education under the G.I. Bill, first at R.P.I. a division of William & Mary, and later transferred to VPI to study aeronautical engineering. At the death of his father, he returned home to aid in support of his mother and sister. He was an active member of Civil Air Patrol which gave him the opportunity to continue his pilot's training.

Harry met Jennie in college at VPI, and after a short courtship, they were married in 1955. They settled in Richmond, Virginia and later moved to Seven Pines where they bought their first home and began raising their three daughters. Their marriage ended in 1969, but Harry and Jennie managed to raise their daughters and lead happy lives despite their divorce. Harry was later remarried, to Nancy Harding in Sandston. Their marriage lasted less than a decade, but they had many good times and travels.

Harry never lost his enthusiasm for airplanes and a love of flying. He joined the Virginia Air National Guard and underwent training at Scott AFB at Belleville, IL before returning to Richmond as a civilian employee of Virginia Air National Guard assigned to work in airborne communications. He retired as a Senior Master Sergeant in 1986 after 33 years of service.

Harry enjoyed all things mechanical and electronic, and developed a talent for repair and innovative uses of devices like ham radio, television and radio repair, audio and video recording, SLR photography, and computing. It is likely no exaggeration that the Duffields had the first personal computer in all of Mechanicsville, Va. in the very early 1980's.

Harry loved to travel and also found creative ways to give back to the local Richmond community through his membership in Clown Alley where he was known as Duffy the Clown, participating in nursing home and pediatric hospital ward visits, often with one of his peppy black poodle pups, to spread some cheer to those in need of a smile.

Although he often said he could not “carry a tune in a bucket” he was a great lover of music, frequently playing Mitch Miller and John Philip Sousa albums in his home. Those who knew him well can remember that he liked to sing the cheerful little songs from his youth and they were always delivered in his chipper demeanor. He was known by many friends as "Happy Harry".

Harry had a fondness for pets and shared his devotion to them with his family and friends. In his lifetime he shared his life with terriers, garden variety muts, turtles, cats, and especially little, black, shaggy poodles. For much of his life, he and his little dog went almost everywhere together.

When he could no longer live alone, he became a resident of Lucy Corr Village in Chesterfield County, VA. There, he was a lively and popular neighbor among the other residents. A couple of years ago, he was crowned the "King of Lucy Corr" and given a nice watch and certificate to hang in his room. Ever since then he has always been known as the King of Lucy Corr. His revved-up wheel chair motored him around the halls and grounds as he got to know many of the residents and staff. The hallways of Lucy Corr were kept lively with his cheerful singing.

During his family years he was an active participant in the Episcopal church at Church of our Savior in Sandston, VA and the Church of the Creator in Mechanicsville, VA. and in both cases took part in the fellowship and stewardship of each parish. During his final years he was a member of the Carlisle Ave. Gospel Church. In 2000, Harry reaffirmed his faith in Jesus Christ with a baptism. He would participate in church services on Sundays at Lucy Corr, the "Amazing Grace World Fellowship." He became an active participant at the church and loved attending Sunday School and bible studies. He loved the Lord and has gone on to be with Him. Praise God!!

Harry passed away quietly on October 17, 2009 in his residence at Lucy Corr Village. He is survived by his three daughters, Kelley M. Duffield McCarter and her husband James McCarter of Raleigh, NC; May Lynne Duffield Thomas and her husband Philip C. Thomas of Richmond; Leigh Elizabeth Duffield McCay and her husband James A. McCay; two granddaughters, Jennifer McCay Cauthron and husband David Cauthron and Katherine Elizabeth McCay, all of Grand Prairie, TX; a niece, Pamela Lee Dolan, of Powhatan, VA, and his former wife, Jennie L. Ussery. As his children and many friends will attest, he was a beloved and devoted father.