Ralph Gene Goley

Ralph Gene Goley, 92, died Monday, October 18, 2021 at the Summit Health and Rehabilitation Center in Lynchburg, Virginia.  Born in Winfield, Kansas, he was the son of Ralph Theodore Goley and Winifred Morgan Goley.  Predeceased by his sister, Jody Brewer, he is survived by his brother Frank Goley.

Also surviving is Gene’s wife of 60 years, Laura Talbot Radford Goley.  In addition, are children Katherine Jameson Benedict Dageforde (Jim), Anne Middleton Benedict McCarthy (Justin), duVal Radford Goley (Debra), and Frank Atherton Goley (Mary); grandchildren include Dan Dageforde, Laura Dageforde Harris (Nate), Carl Dageforde, Frank Wetzel, William Wetzel, Russell Wetzel, Ryan McCarthy (Laura), duVal Goley, Bailey Goley, Brittany McCoy, Nicholas Perigo.

Raised in Enid, Oklahoma, Gene graduated with honors from the University of Colorado with a BS in Architectural Engineering.  Gene was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity.  He served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from 1954 –1956.

For 36 years, Gene worked for Exxon Subsidiaries overseas in Aruba, Peru, and Abu Dhabi in various roles as Project Engineer, Division Manager, Estates Superintendent. While overseas, Gene was actively involved in Boy Scout programs.  An avid sailor with his wife Laura, Gene served as Commodore in the Aruba Nautical Club.

In 1975 the family found a cottage on Smith Mountain Lake for summer vacations and Gene and Laura retired there in 1987. In 1990 Gene and Laura moved into a Radford family home, “Rothsay” where Gene managed Wolf Branch Farm.  In 1998 the Virginia Outdoors Foundation granted the first conservation easement in Bedford County to Gene and Laura, thereby protecting the Radford farm from development and “providing for the public expansive views of the Peaks of Otter and the Blue Ridge Mountains.”  The Virginia Chapter Wildlife Society presented them an “outstanding conservation” award in 2015.

Gene Goley was a member of the Bedford County Economic Development Council, and later, the Bedford County Agricultural Council.  Gene served as an Elder in the Bedford Presbyterian Church.  After moving to Forest, Gene became a member of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, and only recently retired as Cemetery Committee chair.  This month Gene received the Distinguished Service Award from the Bedford County Farm Bureau!  He had faithfully served as a member for 21 years and as Secretary Treasurer for seven years.

In the early years of the Poplar Forest restoration, Gene was Chairman of the local “Friends of Poplar Forest Committee” and actively promoted the Bedford County Hunt “Point to Point” on the farm for the benefit of Poplar Forest. Jefferson Forest High School held cross country races on the farm for 21 years, hosting the original “Running with the Wolves” for schools all over the State.

On Saturday, October 23, 2021 there will be a Memorial service at 2:00 pm at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church.  Parish COVID safety protocols will be in place; outdoor seating will be available should attendance exceed the maximum allowed indoors.

Memorials in memory of Gene may be sent to St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 1695 Perrowville Road, Forest, Virginia 24551.

Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg is assisting the family.