Duston Tapley, Jr.

Mr. Denton Duston Tapley, Jr., age 89, of Lyons, died Thursday, October 17, 2024, at Community Hospice House in Vidalia after an extended illness. He was born in Treutlen County, Georgia, but lived most of his life in Toombs County, Georgia. He graduated in 1953 from Vidalia High School and then served in the Army for two years. He graduated from the University of Georgia with a major in Chemistry and worked as a chemist for five years. During his lifetime, he also taught high school, owned a Ford dealership, was a real estate agent and broker for City Realty, taught Sunday School at the Lyons First United Methodist Church for many years, and graduated from John Marshall Law School. He passed the Bar exam in 1977 and practiced law for almost 50 years. He was a member of the Vidalia Kiwanis Club and was the attorney and office manager for the Vidalia Onion Growers Association. He enjoyed flying his airplane, studying law, reading, and exercising. 

His surviving family includes three children, Rushing Tapley Stephens and husband Dirk of Vidalia, Duston Tapley III of Lyons, and Jay Tapley of Vidalia; a sister, Dale Tapley Edwards; six grandchildren, Randi Colvin and husband Jake of Vidalia, Ryan Brooks of Lyons, Denton Tapley and Carston Tapley of Lyons, Abigail Tapley and Emma Tapley of Vidalia; three great-grandchildren, Ryan Ireland, Riley Colvin, and Jace Colvin; and several nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Bessie Whitaker Tapley and Denton Duston Tapley, Sr., and his wife of 64 years, Betty Rushing Tapley, and his brothers, Jack and Bobby, and a sister, Gale.

A memorial service will be Monday afternoon, October 21st, 2024, at 5:00 in the chapel of Ronald V. Hall Funeral Home.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday afternoon from 4:00 until just prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Community Hospice Foundation, PO Box 2277, Vidalia, GA 30475.

Ronald V. Hall Funeral Home of Vidalia is in charge of arrangements.

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