Mr. Harold Quillen, 94, of Chincoteague Island, passed away June 1, 2021, at his home with loved ones by his side.
He was born in Philadelphia, on May 7, 1927, a son to the late Ethel Hubert and Harold Quillen Sr. Harold moved to Chincoteague Island at the age of 5 and was raised by his aunt and uncle, the late Gladys and Warren Richardson.
Harold was an avid baseball fan and started the first men’s softball league on Chincoteague. He was a former member of the Ruritan Club and was on their softball and bowling teams. He had chicken houses until the storm of 1962 and carried his love of chickens with him through his lifetime.
He loved going “up the bay” with his friends and anything to do with the water. He was part owner of the Chincoteague Inn and Chincoteague Fish Company for many years before retirement. While retired, he enjoyed golfing at Captain’s Cove with his friends and helping out anyone when needed.
Harold grew and tended beautiful gardens and always had good advice on how to make plants thrive. He took pride in mowing his grass up until just last year. He loved to spend time with friends and family under the tree, and later the umbrella, in his front yard sharing stories and laughs about life. Harold was known to many as “The Mayor” of Richardson’s Landing where he looked after friends’ properties, was entrusted with spare keys to many homes, and rallied to maintain the roads. He was a welcome dinner guest and was often invited to seafood meals by dear friends and neighbors. He was a wonderful “Sunday Dinner” cook for his own family, turning out Thanksgiving-style feasts every Sunday well into his 80s.
Harold, or “Pop Pop” to many, loved visiting his great-grandchildren on an almost daily basis. He treasured the noise and love they brought to his life. When at home, he spent hours putting together intricate jigsaw puzzles with his dear special friend, Nancy Brown.
Harold was a quiet, hardworking, loving, and honorable man. He never lost that mischievous twinkle in his eyes. He was the last surviving male member of the CHS class of 1944. Losing him is truly the end of an era. He will be missed by all who knew him and were lucky enough to call him a friend.
Harold was preceded in death by his wife of over 66 years, Shirley Ann (Holston) Quillen, as well as his parents, Ethel Hubert and Harold Quillen Sr., and loving guardians, Gladys and Warren Richardson.
Harold is survived by his two daughters, Beverly Gorsuch, of Chincoteague Island, and Brenda Booth and husband, Chet, of Salisbury, Md.; granddaughters, Valerie Speidel and husband, Jesse, of Chincoteague Island, Jennifer Hasty, of Summerville, S.C., Krista Hall and husband, Chad, of Laurel, Del., Stephanie Edwards, of Laurel, and Sheri Gorsuch, of Freeland, Md.; and grandson, Charles Gorsuch III, and wife, Ann, of Chincoteague Island; great-grandchildren, Peyton, Logan, and Jordan Speidel, Blake and Violet Hasty, Megan, Pete, and Andrew Parlier, Morgan Tyndall, Seth, Nick, and Steven Edwards, and Ethan and Aerilyn Gorsuch; as well as several great-great-grandchildren.
Visitation was held Friday, June 4, 2021, with a Masonic Service following at Salyer Funeral Inc., Chincoteague Island.
Funeral services were held Saturday, June 5, 2021, at 2 p.m., at the Salyer Funeral Home Inc., Chincoteague Island, with the Rev. Kevin Eley officiating.
Burial took place in the Mechanics Cemetery on Chincoteague Island.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his honor to Intrepid USA Hospice Care 165 Market St., Suite 2, Onancock, VA 23417; or Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company, 5052 Deep Hole Road, Chincoteague Island, VA 23336.
Services were entrusted to Salyer Funeral Home Inc. on Chincoteague Island.
