George Derbyshire (Derby) Huger, resident of Fort Myers, Fla., and Smith Mountain Lake, died peacefully on Friday, November 26, 2021.

Derby is preceded in death by his mother and father, Scott Shipp Huger and Anne Derbyshire Huger, and brothers, Scott Shipp Huger Jr. and Benjamin Huger.

Derby is survived by his wife, Jacqueline Huger; children, George D. Huger Jr. and wife, Sue Ann, Fred Huger and wife, Christie, Anne Remington and husband, Kevin, and Art Huger and wife, Bridget; stepchildren, Douglas Irvan and wife, Rosa, Jon Irvan and wife, Maria, and Lynn Irvan; 15 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews.

Derby was born and raised in Lexington. He graduated from Virginia Military Institute in 1964 and started working and growing the family business. Derby's businesses included Huger Davidson Sales Corp (Staunton), Huger Davidson Sale Co trading as Institution Foods - Huger Distributing Co, and Sealtest Dairy. Through Derby's leadership, Institution Foods joined the national independent distributors organization, Pocahontas Foods USA, where he served on the advisory board. He was responsible for starting the Mid-Atlantic Share Group, a buying group within Pocahontas. The company celebrated 100 years in business in 2001, and Derby retired in 2002.

He was a past president of the Rockbridge Chamber of Commerce and the Rockbridge Hunt Club.

Following retirement, Derby lived in Fort Myers, Florida, and Smith Mountain Lake with his wife, Jackie. They enjoyed traveling the country and visiting with friends and family. Derby's sense of humor and dance moves were unforgettable to those who knew and loved him, and everyone appreciated his fondness for flavored moonshine, a cold can of Old Milwaukee beer, and his endless supply and generosity with both. Derby believed in building relationships, and he never knew a stranger.

Derby will be laid to rest in Oak Grove Cemetery with his parents and brother, in Lexington, with his family present.

In lieu of gifts, please donate to the Agape Center, P.O. Box 673, Moneta, VA, www.agapecentersml.org, or the scholarship fund in the name of his brother, the Scott Shipp Huger Jr. Scholarship Fund at VMI.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.whittentimberlake.com for the Huger family.