01/06/2026
On January 5, 2026 Howard Ernest Wamsley, Jr’s greatest wish was fulfilled as he was reunited with “Jean”, his beloved wife of seventy-one years. Howard passed away peacefully at his home in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina surrounded by his family and friends.
Howard’s life began in Ettrick, Virginia on May 27,1929 in the family home on Boisseau Street where the historical Magnolia tree still stands on the campus of Virginia State University. It was here that his love for the Lord was instilled through Ettrick United Methodist Church. Howard was always proud that he accomplished the level of Eagle Scout as a teenager. He spent his childhood in a cart pulled by, “Bob” the billy goat, riding bikes, progressing to riding motorcycles and then on to fast cars. Howard spent many hours with his father, brother and friends working on cars for the “Wamsley Brothers” to race at Southside Speedway and at local tracks up and down the East Coast. Howard related the excitement of being able to race on the sandy beach at Daytona, going on to describe the pride in being able to race at the first paved track at Daytona International Speedway in 1959. In recent years, he loved sharing his scrapbooks of racing with any and all who visited his home.
Howard was twenty-two when Jean became his everything. They married and built their life around their family, raising four children in Colonial Heights, Virginia. He worked long and hard supporting his family at HE Wamsley Trucking in Chesterfield, Virginia. Howard was the father who dedicated his time and attention to all of his children’s activities from Boy Scouts, Softball, Field Hockey, Baseball, Wrestling to CH Baton Twirling Highsteppers. Howard and Jean enjoyed their life together being active members of the Tri-Cities RoadRunners, travelling Europe and spending weekends at “the River” where he taught everyone to water ski.
In 1999 Howard and Jean made their home in Outer Banks North Carolina. They enjoyed their new beach life making many wonderful friends and calling Colington United Methodist their church home.
Howard was preceded in death by his wife, Emogene (Jean) Jones Wamsley; his son, Howard (Bubba) Douglas Wamsley; and his parents, Howard Ernest Wamsley, Sr and Alma Neal Perkinson and his brother, CN (Bud) Wamsley, Sr. He is survived by his children, Christie Wamsley, William Wamsley (Joanne), and Rebecca Wamsley Blalock (Allen); daughter in law, Jan Wamsley; and sister, Nancy Trent Chadwick (Abe) and many more loved ones. Howard adored his grandchildren and often said that he stayed on earth longer than he planned so that he would see them grow up: Jamie Lynn West, Morgan, Haley and William Wamsley and Troy, Dylan and Noah Blalock.
On behalf of Howard, the family would like to share heartfelt thanks to his team of committed caretakers: Johanna Kerns, Aye Soe, Talia Tigner and Terry Colson.
A viewing will be held on Thursday, January 8, 2026 from 2 to 4pm at Gallop Funeral Services Chapel, 6917 S. Croatan Highway, Nags Head, NC. On Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at E Alvin Small Funeral Homes, 2033 Boulevard Colonial Heights Virginia 23834 a visitation will be held at 12pm with a funeral service at 1pm. Interment to follow at Blandford Cemetery 319 South Crater Road Petersburg Virginia 23803.
All are invited to join the family to celebrate Howard’s life: Celebration of Life to follow the Virginia Service and Interment at 16425 Route 1, South Chesterfield Virginia 23834.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Colington United Methodist Church, PO 3425, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948. Gallop Funeral Services, Inc was entrusted with arrangements. Please leave a message of comfort at gallopfuneralservices.com
