<bt>Gene H. May, 80, a Washington, D.C.-area homebuilder and developer, died May 4 of lung cancer at his home in McLean.
A native of Anson, Texas, May attended what is now Texas Tech University. He enlisted in the Army and served from 1944 to 1946 at Ft. Belvoir, rising to the rank of captain.
After leaving the military, Mr. May became a prominent businessman and community leader in the Washington, D.C. area, working as a homebuilder and developer for 50 years. His firm, May Properties Inc., was responsible for building more than 1,000 homes in the area, nearly all of which were custom-built.
May’s biggest professional accomplishments were developing the land and building nearly all of the homes in the subdivisions of Evermay in McLean and Villamay in Alexandria. He also built homes in the Bellevue Forest (Arlington), Broadmount (Falls Church), Forest Hills (Arlington) and Falconhurst (Potomac) subdivisions. His final project was developing the land and building a home in the Potomac Manors subdivision in Potomac.
A charter member of the Church of Christ in Falls Church since 1949, Mr. May served as the congregation’s treasurer for many years and was among the first group of deacons appointed 47 years ago. He supervised the building of the church’s two facilities, participated in missions and collaborated with missionaries, and worked continuously on the buildings’ upkeep and landscaping.
May also helped establish Camp Wamava, a 49-year-old summer camp for Christian youths in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. He was the camp’s second president in 1957. May’s legacy at the camp has come full circle as his son, Perry W. May II, has served as the camp’s president since 1997.
Mr. May was appointed to the Falls Church School Board and was also on the board of the Arlington Trust Bank and Amazing Grace International. Additionally, he was a founder and board member of North Eastern Junior College in Villanova, Penn. for 38 years and was an advisor to Michigan Christian College in Rochester Hills, Mich. and Columbia Christian College in Portland, Ore.
May married his wife, Barbara A. Tatum on June 4, 1946. The couple was to have celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary next month.
In addition to his wife, May also is survived by his children Nikii May Frank and her husband, Robert H. Frank of McLean and Perry W. May II and his wife, Yvonne May of McLean; sisters Wanda Colson of Gainesville, Fla.; Winona Pope of Dallas, Texas and Sue Love of Monticello, Fla.; and five grandchildren — Matt Frank, Heather Frank, Megan May, Becki May and Tatum May.
For the last few months of his life, May was cared for at his home by Capital Hospice. The Washington Post chronicled his story as a hospice patient last month.
“It is truly amazing how much support – medically and emotionally – the Capital Hospice provided to my father over his last months,” said Nikii Frank, May’s daughter. “They were not only caregivers to my father, but also provided to our entire family with love, care and support during this difficult time.
“We are grateful to Capital Hospice for helping to make my father’s final days ones in which our family could celebrate his life. Capital Hospice was always there to help us around the clock and worked compassionately to preserve his quality of life. My father was able to pass away peacefully at the home with his family by his side.”
Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, May 11 at the Church of Christ in Falls Church, 6149 Leesburg Pike. Interment will take place at Columbia Gardens Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in May’s memory may be made to Camp Wamava, 6210 Stoneham Lane, McLean, VA 22101 or Capital Hospice, 6565 Arlington Blvd., Suite 501, Falls Church, VA 22042.