1928
Lacey
2017
Lacey E. Putney
June 27, 1928 — August 26, 2017
Lacey Edward Putney died peacefully at his home in Goode, Virginia, on August 26, 2017.
He was on born on June 27, 1928, in Big Island, Virginia, to the late William Kemper and Mabyl Turner Putney. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a daughter-in-law, Laura Mason Putney and three brothers, W. K. Putney, Jr., Paul P. Putney and Irvin T. Putney.
Lacey was raised in the Big Island area with his four brothers. Upon graduation from M. E. Marcuse High School, he was recruited to play baseball at Washington & Lee University, where he earned his B.A. degree in 1950. Following his college graduation, he enlisted in the United States Air Force, spending most his four years of service at Kelly Field in San Antonio, Texas. Following his military service, he returned to Washington & Lee University where he earned a law degree in 1957. After graduation, he began practicing law in Bedford, Virginia, where he maintained a law practice for over 55 years, most of which were in partnership with his brother and fellow W&L Law graduate, Macon Putney.
In 1961, at the age of 33, with the help of long-time friend and neighbor George “Hammer” Melton, he was first elected to the Virginia House of Delegates to serve the 19th House District. He would go on to serve the Commonwealth of Virginia in a distinguished capacity for just over five decades, retiring from legislative service in 2013 as the longest serving legislator in Virginia history. As a delegate, he served in many important positions including Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Chairman of the Privileges and Elections Committee and as acting Speaker of the House in 2003. His remarkable tenure of public service was perhaps even more remarkable in that he served 46 of his 52 years as an Independent, with no formal political party affiliation.
As a native of Bedford County, Lacey was involved in creation of the National D-Day Memorial, in Bedford, and was instrumental in securing State funding for the restoration of Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest. As a leader in the Virginia General Assembly, he played a pivotal role in many legislative initiatives, including the creation of the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant program, the Virginia Retirement System and the Virginia community college system. He was a founder and former chairman of the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission and was a key figure in the establishment of the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, VA.
Throughout his life, he served his community and profession in numerous capacities, including as trustee of the Patrick Henry Boys and Girls Plantation, former director of the Bedford Chamber of Commerce, former president of the Bedford Bar Association, and a member of the Masons, Scottish Rite, American Legion and many other civic and charitable organizations. Lacey was a 60-year member of the Bedford Baptist Church. In recent years, he also served as general counsel for the Lynchburg based company, Delta Star.
Among the many awards and recognitions he received were the Distinguished Alumni Award from Washington & Lee University, the Distinguished Service Award from Virginia Military Institute, the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association’s Distinguished Service Award and honorary doctoral degrees from Liberty University and Lynchburg College.
Lacey was a natural athlete with a competitive spirit, and picking up most any sport or game seemed to come easy to him. He played multiple team sports in college and while in the service in Texas, he became a proficient golfer. Although he discovered tennis later in his life, he loved the game and his prowess on the Bedford tennis courts was well known around town. His love of tennis carried him to Wimbledon and to the US Open on multiple occasions, and he loved taking those trips. He had a wonderful sense of humor that easily played into his ability to connect with people and he made everyone feel comfortable in conversation. Always ready with a firm handshake or a hug, he never tired of meeting and getting to know his constituents and could often be found at the Goode Country Store or Owen’s Market where he enjoyed a good political argument and telling his endless supply of stories and jokes.
Lacey loved his family, Bedford County, his alma mater, Washington & Lee, and was proud and honored to serve his constituents and the Commonwealth for so many years. But he was happiest at his home in Goode, working in the yard or repairing his fences, always wearing his faded red hat. He loved word puzzles, his view of the Peaks of Otter and driving the backroads in his father’s rusty pickup truck, “Ole Blue”.
Lacey is survived by his wife, Carmela Bills Putney.
He was predeceased by his first wife, Elizabeth “Splu” Harlow Putney and is survived by their children; Susan Putney Powers, and her husband, Eames (Lynchburg, VA) and Lacey Edward Putney, Jr. (Virginia Beach, VA); and his grandchildren, Elizabeth Putney Powers (Charlottesville, VA), Amanda Powers Hersch, and husband, Caleb (Charlottesville, VA), Lacey Edward Putney, III (Nashville, TN) and Georgia Mason Putney (Virginia Beach, VA); and one great-grandchild, Caleb Shader Hersch, Jr. (Charlottesville, VA).
He is also survived by a stepdaughter, Carlye Jean Bills (New York, NY), a stepson Thomas Edward Bills (San Francisco, CA), one brother, Macon C. Putney, and his wife, Janet (Bedford, VA), two sisters-in-law, Glenna F. Putney (Big Island, VA) and Kay Putney Gantt (Lynchburg, VA) and numerous nieces and nephews. The family would also like to acknowledge the many years of loyal service by Lacey’s long-time legal secretary and legislative assistant, Betty Lou Layne.
The family will receive visitors at Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Bedford, on Tuesday, September 5th between 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. and again from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
On Wednesday, September 6th, his body will lie in state from noon to 3:00 p.m. in the Rotunda of the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond.
A funeral service will be held at Bedford Baptist Church on Thursday, September 7th at 2:00 p.m., followed by a private interment.
For those wishing to make memorial contributions, please consider Bedford Baptist Church, 1516 Oakwood Street, Bedford, VA 24523, or the National D-Day Memorial, 3 Overlord Circle, Bedford, VA 24523.
Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Bedford, is assisting the family.
He was on born on June 27, 1928, in Big Island, Virginia, to the late William Kemper and Mabyl Turner Putney. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a daughter-in-law, Laura Mason Putney and three brothers, W. K. Putney, Jr., Paul P. Putney and Irvin T. Putney.
Lacey was raised in the Big Island area with his four brothers. Upon graduation from M. E. Marcuse High School, he was recruited to play baseball at Washington & Lee University, where he earned his B.A. degree in 1950. Following his college graduation, he enlisted in the United States Air Force, spending most his four years of service at Kelly Field in San Antonio, Texas. Following his military service, he returned to Washington & Lee University where he earned a law degree in 1957. After graduation, he began practicing law in Bedford, Virginia, where he maintained a law practice for over 55 years, most of which were in partnership with his brother and fellow W&L Law graduate, Macon Putney.
In 1961, at the age of 33, with the help of long-time friend and neighbor George “Hammer” Melton, he was first elected to the Virginia House of Delegates to serve the 19th House District. He would go on to serve the Commonwealth of Virginia in a distinguished capacity for just over five decades, retiring from legislative service in 2013 as the longest serving legislator in Virginia history. As a delegate, he served in many important positions including Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Chairman of the Privileges and Elections Committee and as acting Speaker of the House in 2003. His remarkable tenure of public service was perhaps even more remarkable in that he served 46 of his 52 years as an Independent, with no formal political party affiliation.
As a native of Bedford County, Lacey was involved in creation of the National D-Day Memorial, in Bedford, and was instrumental in securing State funding for the restoration of Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest. As a leader in the Virginia General Assembly, he played a pivotal role in many legislative initiatives, including the creation of the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant program, the Virginia Retirement System and the Virginia community college system. He was a founder and former chairman of the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission and was a key figure in the establishment of the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, VA.
Throughout his life, he served his community and profession in numerous capacities, including as trustee of the Patrick Henry Boys and Girls Plantation, former director of the Bedford Chamber of Commerce, former president of the Bedford Bar Association, and a member of the Masons, Scottish Rite, American Legion and many other civic and charitable organizations. Lacey was a 60-year member of the Bedford Baptist Church. In recent years, he also served as general counsel for the Lynchburg based company, Delta Star.
Among the many awards and recognitions he received were the Distinguished Alumni Award from Washington & Lee University, the Distinguished Service Award from Virginia Military Institute, the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association’s Distinguished Service Award and honorary doctoral degrees from Liberty University and Lynchburg College.
Lacey was a natural athlete with a competitive spirit, and picking up most any sport or game seemed to come easy to him. He played multiple team sports in college and while in the service in Texas, he became a proficient golfer. Although he discovered tennis later in his life, he loved the game and his prowess on the Bedford tennis courts was well known around town. His love of tennis carried him to Wimbledon and to the US Open on multiple occasions, and he loved taking those trips. He had a wonderful sense of humor that easily played into his ability to connect with people and he made everyone feel comfortable in conversation. Always ready with a firm handshake or a hug, he never tired of meeting and getting to know his constituents and could often be found at the Goode Country Store or Owen’s Market where he enjoyed a good political argument and telling his endless supply of stories and jokes.
Lacey loved his family, Bedford County, his alma mater, Washington & Lee, and was proud and honored to serve his constituents and the Commonwealth for so many years. But he was happiest at his home in Goode, working in the yard or repairing his fences, always wearing his faded red hat. He loved word puzzles, his view of the Peaks of Otter and driving the backroads in his father’s rusty pickup truck, “Ole Blue”.
Lacey is survived by his wife, Carmela Bills Putney.
He was predeceased by his first wife, Elizabeth “Splu” Harlow Putney and is survived by their children; Susan Putney Powers, and her husband, Eames (Lynchburg, VA) and Lacey Edward Putney, Jr. (Virginia Beach, VA); and his grandchildren, Elizabeth Putney Powers (Charlottesville, VA), Amanda Powers Hersch, and husband, Caleb (Charlottesville, VA), Lacey Edward Putney, III (Nashville, TN) and Georgia Mason Putney (Virginia Beach, VA); and one great-grandchild, Caleb Shader Hersch, Jr. (Charlottesville, VA).
He is also survived by a stepdaughter, Carlye Jean Bills (New York, NY), a stepson Thomas Edward Bills (San Francisco, CA), one brother, Macon C. Putney, and his wife, Janet (Bedford, VA), two sisters-in-law, Glenna F. Putney (Big Island, VA) and Kay Putney Gantt (Lynchburg, VA) and numerous nieces and nephews. The family would also like to acknowledge the many years of loyal service by Lacey’s long-time legal secretary and legislative assistant, Betty Lou Layne.
The family will receive visitors at Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Bedford, on Tuesday, September 5th between 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. and again from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
On Wednesday, September 6th, his body will lie in state from noon to 3:00 p.m. in the Rotunda of the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond.
A funeral service will be held at Bedford Baptist Church on Thursday, September 7th at 2:00 p.m., followed by a private interment.
For those wishing to make memorial contributions, please consider Bedford Baptist Church, 1516 Oakwood Street, Bedford, VA 24523, or the National D-Day Memorial, 3 Overlord Circle, Bedford, VA 24523.
Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Bedford, is assisting the family.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Lacey E. Putney, please visit our flower store.
Guestbook
Visits: 33
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors