Early in the morning of Thursday, Dec. 16, 2010, Bernard-"Bernie"-"Red"-"Pappy" Sekely of Locust Grove passed on to a better world with his loving family steadfast by his side.
Born May 11, 1930, in Pittsburgh, Pa., he was the son of the late Andrew and Catherine Sekely.
Bernie proudly served his country in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he earned the designation of expert marksman as a member of the Marine Corps rifle team.
Bernie and his beloved wife, Theresa "Dolly," moved their young family in the early '60s to Maryland, where he launched a successful home-building career.
During Bernie's illustrious home-building career, which spanned nearly half a century, thousands of homeowners from Pennsylvania to Maryland and throughout Virginia benefited from his skills as a master carpenter and custom home-builder.
Bernie is survived by his loving and caring wife of 58 years, Dolly; daughter Linda Keppler and her husband, Joe; daughter Laura Gilmartin and her husband, Jeff; daughter Laverne Zimmer and her husband, Calvin; son Bernard Sekely Jr. and his wife, Frances; daughter Lisa Witkowski and her husband, Peter; nine grandchildren, Brad Keppler, Sarah Zimmer, Carlie and Matt Wesche, Jenna Zimmer, Drew Sekely, Diana Zimmer, Emma Witkowski and Alec Witkowski; great-grandson Corbin Wesche; and special great-grandson Jake Montrose.
In earlier years, Bernie spent hours on the golf course with his golfing buddies playing a sport he recently came to love. But his real passion in life was his family, especially his grandchildren, whom he taught the lessons of work ethic and perseverance simply through the way he lived his life. Bernie and Dolly were devoted members of St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Spotsylvania.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday, Dec. 21, from 9 a.m. to noon at Laurel Hill Funeral Home in Spotsylvania, with a rosary at 11:30 a.m. A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, Dec. 21, at 1 p.m. at St. Patrick's Catholic Church. Interment will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 22, at 11 a.m. in Quantico National Cemetery in Triangle.
Online condolences can be made at laurelhillfuneral home.com.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations may be made to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tenn 38105 or to Rikki's Refuge, PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960 of Orange County, Va.
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