This week our community was greatly shocked and saddened upon hearing news of the unexpected passing of Buddy Comer.
Growing up in Page County it was easy to meet Mr. Comer just about everywhere you went as he was involved in a variety of aspects in our community. He was a Coach and Drivers Education Instructor at Page County High School for many years. He held the position of head football coach from 1981 until 1995 and is the all-time winningest coach in school history. For many, Buddy was best known for his officiating and umpiring up and down the valley for over 50 years. Others may have gotten to know Buddy from attending auctions by Charles Grunewald Auctioneering, where Buddy would describe in detail about some of the antiques beings auctioned off. Others may had gotten to know Buddy at the annual Back Road 5K Challenge Run/Walk in memory of his wife Lois. Many Shenandoah High School alumni got to see Mr. Comer annually at the Shenandoah High School reunion where he performed duties of Master of Ceremony and was a long-time President and board member of the alumni association.
As stated in his obituary “He never met a stranger and the thousand of stories he told will continue his legacy forever.”
Whenever we would see Mr. Comer at SHS reunions or Lois Comer 5K Challenge, he was always displaying his wonderful smile. Attached are a few photographs taken at theses events by Amos Thomas.
All photos taken at Lois Comer 5K Challenge can be found under our sports tab on our home page or click on the link below.
Shenandoah High School Banquet photographs can be found at the links provided below.
78th Annual Shenandoah High School Banquet
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79th Annual Shenandoah High School Banquet
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80th Annual Shenandoah High School Banquet
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The below obituary was found on website of Kyger Funeral Home Elkton: kygers.com/obituary/vincent-comer
Vincent Junior "Buddy" Comer
Vincent Junior “Buddy” Comer, 79, of Shenandoah, passed away April 8, 2021, at his home. He was born September 7, 1941, in Shenandoah and was the son of the late Harry Jack and O. Pearl Lucas Comer.
On August 7, 1965, he married Lois Jeanne Phillips who preceded him in death on September 13, 2009.
For many, Buddy was best known for his officiating and umpiring up and down the valley for over 50 years. He refereed and umpired over 50 state semi-final and final contests in various sports including basketball, baseball and softball. In 2001, he was inducted into the Virginia High School League Hall of Fame as a contributor for his work as a coach and as an official. In 2003, he was inducted into the Bridgewater College Hall of Fame.
Coach Comer’s career in coaching and athletics spanned almost 50 years. His first coaching job was as the junior varsity basketball coach at Shenandoah High School in 1961. In 1962, he along with his brother Wayne, signed professional baseball contracts with the Washington Senators. After returning to Bridgewater College and graduating in 1965, he was named the head boys basketball coach at Page County High School; a position he held until 1969. He then moved to Albemarle High School and became the assistant boys basketball and head track coach. In 1970, he moved to Luray High School where he held the title of head boys basketball coach and in 1971 won the state Group A basketball championship, defeating Thomas Walker 62-49 in the final game. In 1971, he moved to Bridgewater College where he served as head baseball coach for one year. In 1972, he moved back to Page County as head boys basketball coach until 1975 when he moved in administration. In1980, he moved to Spotswood High School, where he became the first Director of Athletics in school history. In 1981, he moved back to Page County High School to become the head football coach and boys track coach. He held the position of head football coach until 1995 and is the all-time winningest coach in school history. In 2001, he won the state Group A boys track championship and he retired from coaching in 2008. He held many honors and was named coach of the year on many different occasions at the district, regional and state levels.
Outside of athletics, Buddy was an active member at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Shenandoah and was a long-time President and board member of the Shenandoah High School Alumni Association; a position he treasured. He was also a beloved “Pop Pop” to his five grandchildren, whom he cherished.
He never met a stranger and the thousand of stories he told will continue his legacy forever.
Surviving are a son, Mark Vincent Comer and wife, Andrea of Shenandoah; daughters, Lori Comer Morris and husband, Randy, and Laney Comer Dallas and husband, Randy, all of Shenandoah; a brother, Harry “Wayne” Comer and wife, Joyce of Shenandoah; two sisters, Joyce Shifflett and Gloria Austin and husband, Larry, all of Shenandoah; five grandchildren, Aaron David Painter, Camaron Elizabeth Painter, Bailey Blair Dallas, Leah Paige Dallas, and Benjamin Mark Comer, and six nephews, Timmy, Paul, and Shaun Comer, Derrick Austin, Scott Austin, Chad Austin.
A memorial service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 17, 2021, at Page County High School with Pastor Duane Painter and Pastor Tarja Stevenson officiating. Facial coverings and social distancing will be required for the health of others.
A private interment will be at Mt. Lebanon Church Cemetery in Comertown.
Memorial contributions may be made the Shenandoah Alumni Association, c/o Joyce Morris, 509 10th Street, Shenandoah, VA 22849, or the Lois Jean Comer Memorial Fund, c/o Pioneer Bank, 511 S. 3rd Street, Shenandoah, VA 22849.
