DAV Magazine — January/February 2018
REMEMBRANCE
Former national service officer passes
Gerald Eugene Humphries
■ Gerald Eugene Humphries, 68, a retired national service officer, died Oct. 26.
“Gerald was a dear friend and a tireless servant to America’s veterans,” said National Adjutant Marc Burgess. “His dedication over 40 years of service improved the lives of countless veterans and their families. He will be missed.”
The U.S. Army veteran, who served during the Vietnam era from 1968 to 1970, became a DAV national service officer apprentice in 1976. His career started in Jackson, Miss., where he served until 1979, when he was promoted to supervisor of the office in Reno, Nev. It didn’t take long until Humphries returned to his home in Jackson, where he served for an additional 27 years before his retirement in 2006.
Following his retirement, Humphries continued to serve on the DAV Mississippi Executive Committee. From 2010 to 2012, he represented DAV’s 8th District on the National Executive Committee.
A volunteer at heart, Humphries volunteered for veterans until his passing, spending most of his time at the Jackson VA Medical Center.
Humphries was an avid outdoorsman who loved to travel. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy, and their two daughters, Rachel and Priscilla.
Auxiliary Past National Commander Dorothy Van Hoy
■ Dorothy Van Hoy, DAV Auxiliary past national commander, died Nov. 17. She was elected to the organization’s highest office at the national convention in Miami in 1973. A life member of DAV Auxiliary Unit 2 in Kansas City, Mo., Van Hoy continued to serve the organization in many capacities on both the local unit and state levels.
A lifelong advocate for veterans and their families, she became a staunch supporter of the Veterans Voices Writing Project, at one time serving as a national board member. Her husband, Allen, a veteran of World War II who served in the U.S. Army in the South Pacific, preceded her in death. After his passing, her passion for service to veterans continued as she supported not only the DAV Auxiliary but also other veterans service organizations.
Van Hoy will be remembered for her love of the DAV Auxiliary mission and her dedication to improving the lives of veterans and their families.
Auxiliary Past National Commander Evelyn Dorsey
■ Evelyn Dorsey, DAV Auxiliary past national commander, died Dec. 13, at the age of 85. She was elected to the Auxiliary’s highest post at the 1998 National Convention in Las Vegas and was a life member of Unit 1 in Washington, D.C. She served the Auxiliary through several positions at the national, state and unit level.
Dorsey was employed by the Army Material Command and the Washington D.C. Department of Human Services for 35 years. After retirement, she continued to serve her community as a member of the DAV Auxiliary; the Board of Directors of the Phyllis Wheatley YWCA; the Board of Directors of the Stoddard Baptist Home; the Mayor’s Committee on Persons with Disabilities; the National Council of Negro Women; and as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of her local church.
During and after her tenure as DAV Auxiliary Commander, she was continuously sought out to attend public events due to her reputation as a skilled orator.
“I remember hearing her speak,” said DAV Auxiliary National Adjutant Pat Kemper. “And she could command a room with her presence and her voice. We’ve lost a strong leader in the Auxiliary, and she will be dearly missed.”
Gerald Eugene Humphries
■ Gerald Eugene Humphries, 68, a retired national service officer, died Oct. 26.
“Gerald was a dear friend and a tireless servant to America’s veterans,” said National Adjutant Marc Burgess. “His dedication over 40 years of service improved the lives of countless veterans and their families. He will be missed.”
The U.S. Army veteran, who served during the Vietnam era from 1968 to 1970, became a DAV national service officer apprentice in 1976. His career started in Jackson, Miss., where he served until 1979, when he was promoted to supervisor of the office in Reno, Nev. It didn’t take long until Humphries returned to his home in Jackson, where he served for an additional 27 years before his retirement in 2006.
Following his retirement, Humphries continued to serve on the DAV Mississippi Executive Committee. From 2010 to 2012, he represented DAV’s 8th District on the National Executive Committee.
A volunteer at heart, Humphries volunteered for veterans until his passing, spending most of his time at the Jackson VA Medical Center.
Humphries was an avid outdoorsman who loved to travel. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy, and their two daughters, Rachel and Priscilla.
Auxiliary Past National Commander Dorothy Van Hoy
■ Dorothy Van Hoy, DAV Auxiliary past national commander, died Nov. 17. She was elected to the organization’s highest office at the national convention in Miami in 1973. A life member of DAV Auxiliary Unit 2 in Kansas City, Mo., Van Hoy continued to serve the organization in many capacities on both the local unit and state levels.
A lifelong advocate for veterans and their families, she became a staunch supporter of the Veterans Voices Writing Project, at one time serving as a national board member. Her husband, Allen, a veteran of World War II who served in the U.S. Army in the South Pacific, preceded her in death. After his passing, her passion for service to veterans continued as she supported not only the DAV Auxiliary but also other veterans service organizations.
Van Hoy will be remembered for her love of the DAV Auxiliary mission and her dedication to improving the lives of veterans and their families.
Auxiliary Past National Commander Evelyn Dorsey
■ Evelyn Dorsey, DAV Auxiliary past national commander, died Dec. 13, at the age of 85. She was elected to the Auxiliary’s highest post at the 1998 National Convention in Las Vegas and was a life member of Unit 1 in Washington, D.C. She served the Auxiliary through several positions at the national, state and unit level.
Dorsey was employed by the Army Material Command and the Washington D.C. Department of Human Services for 35 years. After retirement, she continued to serve her community as a member of the DAV Auxiliary; the Board of Directors of the Phyllis Wheatley YWCA; the Board of Directors of the Stoddard Baptist Home; the Mayor’s Committee on Persons with Disabilities; the National Council of Negro Women; and as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of her local church.
During and after her tenure as DAV Auxiliary Commander, she was continuously sought out to attend public events due to her reputation as a skilled orator.
“I remember hearing her speak,” said DAV Auxiliary National Adjutant Pat Kemper. “And she could command a room with her presence and her voice. We’ve lost a strong leader in the Auxiliary, and she will be dearly missed.”
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