William Howard Dabney, Colonel, U.S.M.C., retired, of Lexington, died Wednesday, February 15, 2012, at his home at the age of 77. He was born in St. Johns, New Brunswick, Canada, the son of the late Hugh Keane Dabney and Mary Hennessey Dabney. Raised in Panama and Tidewater Virginia, he graduated from the Christ Church School in Middlesex County in 1953, and attended Yale University for one year before enlisting in the Marine Corps in 1953. He attained the rank of Sergeant before enrolling at Virginia Military Institute and graduating with the Class of 1961. He married Virginia McCandlish Puller, daughter of Lieutenant General Lewis Burwell “Chesty” Puller in September 1961. An infantry officer, Colonel Dabney served 37 years in the Marine Corps, including two tours in Vietnam, and earned numerous citations, including the Silver Star, two Bronze Stars and two Vietnamese Crosses of Gallantry. While in Vietnam, he commanded India Company, 3rd Battalion, 26th Marines, on Hill 881S during the Battle of Khe Sanh, for which he was awarded the Navy Cross. He later commanded 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, the 9th Marine Regiment, and Headquarters Battalion. He retired from active duty in 1990, following his final posting as commanding officer of the Naval ROTC Unit at VMI, where he served as Commandant of the VMI Corps of Cadets.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, William Howard Dabney, Jr. and an infant daughter, Anne Christian Dabney. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Virginia Puller Dabney; one sister, Martha Dabney Leclere of Stanardsville; a daughter-in-law, Andrea Shilt Dabney of Greenwich, Connecticut; one son, Lewis Puller Dabney (Kristin) of Lynchburg; one daughter, Virginia Keane Dabney Kauders (Eric) of Richmond; and six grandchildren, Page Dabney, Caroline Dabney, Virginia Kauders, Ellie Dabney, Anna Kate Dabney and Andrew Kauders.

Colonel Dabney was a member of the R.E. Lee Episcopal Church in Lexington. A funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday, February 26, 2012, at R.E. Lee Episcopal Church with the Rev. Tom Crittenden officiating, with a reception following at Virginia Military Institute at Moody Hall. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to The Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, 18900 Jefferson Davis Highway, Triangle, Virginia 22172, or the VMI Foundation, 304 Letcher Avenue, Lexington, Virginia 24450.

Arrangements by Harrison Funeral Home & Crematory, Lexington, VA.

Col Dabney's Index Page.
Col Dabney's Memorial Service
Hill 881S Home Page.