Colonel R. Marlowe Harper, Sr., 90, of Lexington, Virginia, died on January 11, 2013.

He was born in Monroe, La. on August 9, 1922, and was the son of Homer Curry Harper, Sr. and Stella Marlowe Harper.

He was married to Mildred Moore Harper for 61 years. They had two children, Alice Harper Buchanan, of Lexington and Robert Marlowe (Marty) Harper Jr., of Naples, Florida.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mildred; his daughter, Alice; and his beloved stepfather, Cledith N. Hickingbotham; three brothers, Homer C. Harper Jr. Luther T. "Dick" Harper and Paul Patrick Harper.

He is survived by his son, also surviving is his son-in-law, Charles W. Buchanan; his grandchildren; Alicia Marlowe Buchanan Shires, Jessica Katelin Buchanan, Ethan Marlowe Harper, Rachel Anne Harper; great grandchildren, Michael Marlowe Shires, Christian Gabriel Harper, and Sebastian Michael Harper.

Col. Harper was a graduate of the Northeast Junior Collage of Louisiana State University. He attended the University of Alabama for one year before being drafted into the army during World War II.

He was a veteran of World War II, serving as a radar technician with a B-29 heavy bomber group on Guam in the Pacific.

He attended The Virginia Military Institute for one year under the Army Specialized Training Program, and several army radio and electronic schools, and eventually graduated from Washington and Lee University in 1947, with a Bachelor's Degree in Commerce and Business Administration.

He served as the assistant treasurer and treasurer of VMI for approximately 38 years, while concurrently serving as secretary to the VMI Board of Visitors, treasurer of the Alumni Association and Assistant treasurer of the VMI foundation.

For 31 years he was on the board of directors of the Peoples National Bank of Lexington and a member of the advisory boards of the successor banks until mandatory age of retirement.

He was a member of the Manly Memorial Baptist Church of Lexington for many years where he served as trustee, deacon, member of the finance committee and president of the men's bible class.

Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Monday, January 14, 2013, at Kendal Hall, The Anderson Center, 160 Kendal Drive, Lexington, VA 24450 with Dr. J Michael Wilkins officiating. The burial will be private. The family requests no flowers. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Rockbridge Area Hospice, 315 Myers Street, Lexington, VA 24450.

Arrangements are being handled by Harrison Funeral Home & Crematory, Lexington.