Born on Sept. 6, 1935, in Athens, Ga., he was a son of Maurice Francis Menefee and Corinne Fry Menefee. The family moved to Roanoke, where Maurice began his early schooling, then to Natural Bridge, where he graduated from Natural Bridge High School. Then he entered Virginia Military Institute, class of 1958, where he earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering and a commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army.

After graduating from VMI, he was employed by the Virginia Department of Transportation in the Lynchburg District. It was in Lynchburg that he began his 66year marriage to Carol Page.

Early in 1959, he entered active military service ‒ first at Fort Benning, Ga., for Incoming Officers’ Training School, then he was assigned to Fort Jackson, S.C. He was accepted to Army Flight School at Fort Rucker, Ala. At the completion of this school, he was assigned to Fort Benning for two years. Here, their daughter, Laura was born.

Mr. Menefee was deployed to Vietnam in 1963, assigned to the 23rd Special Warfare Aviation Detachment where he flew the reconnaissance Mohawk aircraft. His plane was shot down in the Mekong Delta. He sustained injuries from ejection from the aircraft that earned him the Purple Heart medal. He was the recipient of other medals before his honorable discharge. He returned to civilian life at the end of this one-year Vietnam tour.

In Lynchburg he resumed his career with VDOT, transferred to Richmond in 1964 and remained with VDOT until his retirement. He served as structural steel engineer of the materials department.

Mr. Menefee was active in River Road Presbyterian Church, as member and elder, and a 19year president of the Martin B. Williams Sunday School Class. Additionally, he held a membership in the Richmond Chapter of The Military Order of Purple Heart Chapter 1965 where he was a regular volunteer at Sitter and Barfoot Veterans’ Health Care Center. He was also a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6364, American Legion Post 0284, Navy League of the U.S. and OV-1 Mohawk Association.

Surviving are his wife, Carol, and daughter, Laura Menefee.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Martin B. Williams Class, River Road Presbyterian Church, 8960 River Road, Henrico, VA 23229 or to the VMI Foundation, P.O. Box 932 Lexington, VA 24450.

A service of Witness to the Resurrection and a celebration of life will be 11 a.m. today, Wednesday, Nov. 20, at River Road Presbyterian Church, 8960 River Road, Henrico, with a reception following in the church’s Saunders Hall.

Private interment will be in Oak Grove Cemetery.

Arrangements are by Harrison Funeral Home in Lexington.