THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 3, 1994 TAG: 9407030123
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short : 40 lines
William Reginald Pefley, 77, of Munden Point Farm, a retired real estate builder, broker and developer, died June 22, 1994 in a local hospital after a long illness. A private burial was conducted.
Mr. Pefley was born December 6, 1916 in Detroit, Michigan, spent his childhood in Greencastle, Pa. and moved to the Tidewater area in 1938. He worked at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth from 1938-1947 and received the Navy Department Commendation for World War TWO Civilian Service award.
In 1947, Mr. Pefley began a career in the real estate business and, along with his wife, Dorothy, established Pefley Realty Company in 1949. He was one of the areas land development pioneers in the 1950's and 1960's. He was developer of numerous residential communities among them, River Forest Shores in Norfolk, Munden Beach in Virginia Beach, South Mills Shores in North Carolina, and Machipongo Shores and Pefley's Beach on the Eastern Shore. He donated a portion of the land and was the builder of St. Peters Episcopal Church in Norfolk.
In the early 1970's, Mr. Pefley created renewed interest in the Great Dismal Swamp through his Dismal Swamp Boat Tours to Lake Drummond. His efforts on behalf of conservation earned him the Virginia Wildlife Federation Certificate of Achievement in 1973.
Mr. Pefley was a member of the Scottish Rite of Norfolk, Master Mason, Khedive Temple of Shrine and a Life Member of the Portsmouth Moose Lodge. Mr. Pefley was listed in numerous biographicals including WHO'S WHO IN THE SOUTH AND SOUTHWEST, WHO'S WHO OF FINANCE AND INDUSTRY, and the NATIONAL REGISTRY OF PROMINENT AMERICANS.
Mr. Pefley retired in 1984, He is survived by his wife, Dorothy Littleton Pefley, and a son, Charles Saunders Pefley of Virginia Beach. Memorial donations may be made to local charities.
KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY by CNB