Julian M. Quarles, Jr., age 99, passed away Wednesday, April 6, 2016 at Sunnyside Presbyterian Retirement Community in Harrisonburg.
Mr. Quarles was born on January 15, 1917 in Staunton, a son of the late Judge Julian Minor Quarles and Cornelia Taylor Quarles.
He was predeceased by sisters, Mary Nelson Whitehurst and Cornelia Moffett.
He attended Augusta Military Academy, where he was a Cadet Captain, President of the Student-body and South Atlantic Boxing Champion. He graduated from the University of Miami in 1939, where he was a Sergeant in the Florida National Guard. In 1940, he was appointed a Second Lieutenant in the Officers Reserve Corps and was called to active duty after Pearl Harbor. Serving with distinction in WWII, he escaped from a German POW train and awarded two Silver Star Medals, a Bronze Star Medal with a V for Valor and a Purple Heart Medal. After discharged as a Major in the Infantry, he obtained a law degree from the University of Miami. He practiced law in Miami, Florida for 44 years before retiring to the Sunnyside Presbyterian Retirement Community in Harrisonburg, Virginia. During his practice of law, he was a member of the active US Army Reserves and a Senior Officer in charge of a number of Judge Advocate Units in Dade County, Florida. He retired as a Colonel after 34 years of service in the US Army and was awarded a Meritorious Service Medal. He was an Honorary Member of the Augusta Greys Company E of the Fifth Virginia Volunteer Regiment. He was a member of the Fort Harrison Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution and the Harrisonburg Kiwanis Club. He was a charter life member of the Military Officers Association of American and a Past President of the 36th Infantry Division Association.
He is survived by four children, Mary Nelson ODowd, Julian M. Quarles III, William D. Quarles, Stephen P. Quarles, seven grandchildren and one great grandchild.
The family will receive friends from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Sunday, April 10, 2016 in Coffman Funeral Home and Crematory.
A Memorial service will be conducted 10:00 a.m. Monday, April 11, 2016 in the Meredith Chapel at Sunnyside Presbyterian Retirement Community by Chaplain Paul OGorek with a graveside service to follow at 2:00 p.m. in Bethel Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Augusta County, Virginia with Military Honors.
Coffman Funeral Home and Crematory, 230 Frontier Drive, Staunton is in charge of his arrangements.