by Archana Subramaniam by CNB
Roanoke Times Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc. DATE: MONDAY, February 15, 1993 TAG: 9302150158 SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A4 EDITION: METRO SOURCE: DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
OBIT HUMPHREYS, ADOLPH HENRY ("COLONEL AUS RETIRED"),
HUMPHREYS, Adolph Henry ("Colonel AUS retired"), 74, of Lexington, died Friday, February 12, 1993, at Shenandoah Valley Nursing Center in Buena Vista from the long-term effects of emphysema. A native of Baltimore, Humphreys did undergraduate and graduate work in sculpture at the Maryland Institute of Art, and won the prestigious Rinehart European Scholarship in 1941. After completing Officer Candidate School, he joined the Engineer Board of the Army at Fort Belvoir, Va. His accomplishments in the military included extensive work in camouflage and deception including a period as chief of the camouflage branch. He was considered one of the foremost authorities on camouflage and deception, and his team is generally regarded as having developed the standards for military camouflage patterns, including those still in use today. After leaving active duty as a captain in 1947, he continued serving in the reserve until his retirement in 1978. His responsibilities during those 30 years included chief of the combat research division; deputy director of the military technology laboratory; and special assistant to the commanding officer of USAMERDC, overseeing various research and development projects in camouflage, marine and bridge research, nuclear weapons effects and personnel development. He served as president of the Fort Belvoir Reserve Officers Association (ROA), president of the Virginia ROA, Vice President for Army Affairs of the National ROA; and was a member of the National ROA executive committee. After his retirement from the military, Humphreys was named Director of Membership and Retirement Affairs of the National ROA, a position requiring him to inform policy makers in the Congress and the Carter and Reagan administrations about proposed benefits for veterans and their dependents and survivors. As chairman of the national ROA fine arts committee, he assisted in the design and construction of the national ROA headquarters building on Constitution Avenue in Washington, D.C., and the ROA Memorial Chapel. Humphreys received patents for four award medallions he designed. He was a founder of the Potomac Junior League, the River Farm Boys Baseball Club, and the Mount Vernon Park and Playground. He served as president of the Potomac Junior Baseball Leagues, and was chairman of the Fairfax County Council of Baseball League Presidents. He was awarded the Silver Beaver by the Boy Scouts of America in recognition of his outstanding work in scouting, and was presented a Certificate of Appreciation and honorary membership by the National Recreation Association. He continually cultivated his interest in amateur magic, carving and whittling, and gardening. A cross of his design and construction hangs in the middle of the Sanctuary-in-the-Round of St. Christopher's Episcopal Church in Springfield, Va. He was a thirty-year member of Plymouth Haven Baptist Church, and taught Sunday school there. Humphreys was predeceased by his wife of 45 years, Anna Burke Long Humphreys, and three brothers. He is survived by his children, A. Henry (Hank) Humprheys Jr. of Wicomico, Va., Susan Humphreys Dittman of Lexington; and his brother, Millard Humphreys, Canfield, Ohio. Also surviving are five grandchildren. Funeral services will be conducted 9:45 a.m. Wednesday, February 17, at Demaine's Funeral Home in Alexandria, Va. Burial will follow at 11 a.m. in Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Memorial Fund of Plymouth Haven Baptist Church, Alexandria, Va.; or to the Community Playground Fund, C/O City Hall, Lexington, Va.