Richard Edward Dailey

Richard Edward Dailey of Bristol, VA, formerly of Harman, VA, passed away on Sunday, July 7, 2024, twelve years after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's. He was born June 18, 1946 in Grundy, VA to Mary Etta Poff Dailey & Melvin Woodrow Dailey. He was a 1964 graduate of Grundy Senior High School. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in 1969 from Milligan College and his Masters of Science degree from Radford College in 1974. 

Richard worked for over 30 years for Buchanan County School System. He taught at Vansant Elementary School in Buchanan County and at Pulaski Middle School in Pulaski County. He was assistant principal, then principal at Garden Elementary and Garden Middle School. He was also principal at Council Elementary and Whitewood Elementary schools in Buchanan County as well as assistant principal at Twin Valley Elementary\Middle Schools. Richard taught homebound students and adult education classes for BCS. He also taught business classes for SVCC as well as educational classes at a prison in Tazewell, VA. He was a member of NorthStar Baptist Church in Bristol, VA. 

He loved taking his family on summer vacations to Myrtle Beach. His favorite holiday was Christmas especially when his children were young. Richard was a loving, caring son, husband, dad and G-daddy who was loved by and will be missed terribly by his family. The family would like to thank Doug Ratliff, Bobby Ashby and Ken Keats for being true friends with Richard during his career and as well as afterwards. He truly enjoyed and appreciated their friendship. The family would also like to thank the staff at Dominion Senior Living (2017-2019) and the staff at Memory Care at Bristol (2019-2024) for their love and care while Richard was a resident there.

Richard is survived by his wife of 52 years, Diana; one daughter Nicole Dailey of Greenville, TN and one son, Ryan (Amanda) Dailey of Abingdon, VA. Two grandsons Will Johnson and Noah Dailey also survive as well as two nieces Beth (Robert) Bradshaw and Kay (Joe) Dales and one sister-in-law Debbie Dailey.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents and only brother William “Bill” Dailey.

The family will receive friends from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm on Wednesday, July 10, 2024 at Farris Funeral Service - Main Street location. The funeral service will begin at 1:00 pm in chapel of Farris Funeral Service in Abingdon, VA, with Dr. William Houck officiating. Burial will follow at Greenhills Memory Gardens in Richlands, VA. In lieu of flowers, family requests memorials be made to Alzheimer’s Research Foundation, 620 Sea Island Road, Suite 324, St. Simons Island, GA 31522, so that one day Alzheimer's will only be a memory and not a devastating way of life for so many.

The family of Richard Edward Dailey is being cared for by Farris Funeral Service - Main Street location, 427 E. Main Street, Abingdon, VA 276-623-2700.