Ed Daley of Lexington died June 3

Ed Daley, Ph.D., (2/17/40-6/3/19), was placed in earth’s embrace in The Meadow of Lexington. He rests at a site where the sounds of children, laughing at play in nearby Boxerwood Garden, dance across his grave.

He leaves behind his wife, Camille Wright Miller, son Matthew Miller, grandchildren Morgan and Matthew Paul, and great-grandsons Crowley and Cyrus. Also celebrating his life are his adored sister Anne (Ben), nieces JaneAnne (Ben) and Cara (Bruce), nephew Sean (Kim), great-nieces Jocelyn, Justine, and Janae, great-nephew Brian, and goddaughters Oishani and Saara. As well, those he thought of as his own: Doug Thompson, Tinni Sen, and Atin Basu, and Jeff Robinette.

Ed retired from VMI where he taught in the Economics and Business Department and where he finished his career as chair of the department; he knew his success in that role was due to his ability to delegate the really important work to an incredible faculty. He was known among cadets as “Iceman,” with affection by some cadets and with no affection at all by others. Ed cherished this nickname.

During the 2008 presidential election, Ed and Camille had competing yards signs for both John McCain and Barack Obama. Neither was wrong. Given that Camille now has the last word, you are encouraged to vote blue. Ed’s mischievous friends may now cease using his name in the write-in space on election ballots.

Ed and Matthew shared an odd fondness for the word “plethora.” In Ed’s honor, Matthew asked that the word “plethora” be included in this message. For a plethora of reasons, the word “plethora” couldn’t be logically worked into the document. We have a plethora of regrets about this.

Should you, reading this, feel moved to make a casserole, please take the non-perishable items to Rockbridge Area Relief Association.  Should you feel moved to make a contribution in Ed’s honor, please know his life was enriched by Lexington Fire/Rescue, Rockbridge SPCA, and Rockbridge Area Hospice. Should you feel the need to honor a truly good man in the simplest of ways, you are invited to listen to “Life is Like a Mountain Railway,” “Fanfare for the Common Man,” and “Come Dancing” by the Kinks. 

There you have it: A man who valued family, friends, humor, political debate, education, music, and those who make a difference for animals and people in need. He preferred, for most of the day, to be alone. He is resting, alone. At peace. Secure that he has been truly and well-loved.