HARRISONBURG, Oct. 26 – Gerald Wayne Farrar, 69, of Harrisonburg, died on Sunday, October 24, 2004 at his home.

He was born October 29, 1934, in Parkersburg, WV, and was the son of the late Charles Gaston and Loretta Stephens Farrar.

Dr. Farrar attended West Virginia University, where he was a member of Kappa Alpha Fraternity. He served In the U.S. Army from 1957-1959. He received his B.A. from Marrietta College in Ohio, his M.A. from the University of Virginia and his PhD in English from the University of Maryland in College Park.

He taught at Staunton Military Academy, Potomac State College and James Madison University. In 2000, he retired as Associate Professor of English after 34 years. He held several offices in the Victorians Institute, retiring as its President in October 1999.

Dr. Farrar was a member of West Side Baptist Church, where he served as Deacon and Sunday School teacher. He was a leader in the Church's Prison Ministry for 20 years.

On August 19, 1967, he married the former Nancy Ethel Morris, who survives. Also surviving are two sons, Thomas Gerald Farrar of Harrisonburg and Stephen Morris Farrar of Waco, Texas. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Rhena Lea Farrar.

The funeral service will be conducted at 10 a.m. Wednesday at West Side Baptist Church by the Revs. Paul White, Charles Anderson and George Fletcher.

A graveside service will be conducted at 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Spring Creek Baptist Church Cemetery in Darlington Heights.

The family will receive friends this evening from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Kyger Funeral Home in Harrisonburg.

Memorial donations may be made to West Side Baptist Church, Future Building Fund, 715 W. Wolfe Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22802 or to Eastern Mennonite High School, Music Department, 801 Parkwood Drive, Harrisonburg, VA 22802.

Local announcement by Doyne-Burger-Davis Funeral Home, Farmvllle.