Dr. Stephen M. Ayres was one of those guys who could have excelled at anything. He chose medicine, and communities worldwide are the better for it. Dr. Ayres, the former dean of the Medical College of Virginia, died Saturday in Newport News. He was 79. He was the dean of MCV from 1985 to 1993, his tenure smoothly spanning that of two college presidents. Among many accomplishments, he oversaw a massive curriculum reform, then led an internal restructuring that changed the way the school taught medicine.

Alexander, Mr. Robert Densmoore, 64, of Richmond, a retired truck driver, husband of Loretta Jackson Alexander. Brewster, Mr. Robert Owen, 81, of Mechanicsville, a World War II Navy veteran, a retired carpenter, widower of Helen Brewster. Crowder, Mr. Thomas Warren, 83, of Richmond, a Marine Corps veteran, a retired Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Co. of Virginia employee, husband of Nancy S. Crowder.

Frank Batten Sr., who turned a small newspaper company into one of the nation’s largest privately held media empires, started as an errand boy and became one of the nation’s 400 richest people. Yet friends and colleagues remembered him yesterday as a man who cared most about using his influence and fortune to change the world for the better.

Arnold, Mr. Christopher Jacob, 20, of Mechanicsville. Barrett, Mr. James Dean, 51, of Chesterfield, an employee of the printing industry, husband of Lisa Smith Barrett. Brown, Mrs. Helen V.,76, of Lanexa, formerly of New Kent, a retiree of the Colonial Williamsburg Motor House, widow of Thomas M. Brown Sr. Bush-Gray, Ms. Kaye Elaine, 58, of Richmond, formerly of Philadelphia.

Becker, Mrs. Mina Schuchat, 95, of Richmond, a retired secretary for the city of Richmond, widow of Herman E. Becker. Bowles, Mr. Cleveland Wesley, 94, of Mechanicsville, a retired upholsterer for B.T. Crump Co., widower of Margaret Rose Bowles. Bucher, Ms. Lisa Louise, of Richmond. Carter, Mr. Beverley Waddill, 65, of Richmond, a Richmond Symphony Orchestra employee who had served as a narrator and presenter during performances and also worked as a sound and recording engineer.

Bell, Mrs. Mary M., of Richmond, widow of Andrew Bell. Brayford, Mrs. Bridie M., 84, of Richmond, wife of Bob Brayford. Coleman, Mr. Algie, 81, of Richmond, a retiree of Vineman and Hyman. Faircloth, Mr. Edward Jr., 54, of Chesterfield, a nurse management recruiter with The Richmond Group USA, husband of Pamela Faircloth.

In 1934, his parents sent 14-year-old Fredric Max “Fritz” Schwenk from his native Germany to live with an uncle on Staten Island, N.Y., to keep Fritz out of the Hitler Youth. Months later, they joined him. Over the years, as he built a career for himself as a hairdresser and businessman in Highland Springs, he always stayed connected to Germany and continued to speak fluent German.

The Rev. Samuel Douglas McCammon Jr. carried a gentle, guiding hand wherever God called him to lead. Mr. McCammon, a retired Presbyterian pastor and denominational executive who served in Richmond and elsewhere, died Aug. 19 at age 89 in St. Petersburg, Fla., where he and his wife of 66 years, Jean, lived part time. A native and longtime Richmonder, Mr. McCammon began serving as a pastor right after finishing seminary. He served locally as pastor of Fairfield Presbyterian Church and as executive presbyter of Hanover Presbytery, a cluster of churches in central Virginia now called Presbytery of the James.

Dr. Waverly Manson Cole agreed on the spot when it was suggested that he donate his collection of 19th-century Bohemian glass, Meissen porcelain figurines and English pottery. The 500-plus pieces are now part of The Cole Gallery at Longwood University and an expansive legacy of giving by the retired anesthesiologist. Dr. Cole died at age 80 on Friday after a battle with cancer.

Longtime Richmond lawyer and former substitute circuit court judge Andrew Russell Beazley Jr. was a man of many colors. “He really liked boating—actually fishing, golfing and getting in his car and driving. He could give directions to anywhere and drove to Alaska and back on his honeymoon,“ said a daughter, Janet Fosque of Onancock.

Atwood, Mrs. June Spain, 79, of Richmond, a professional artist and art teacher, widow of John C. Atwood. Beazley, Mr. A. Russell Jr., 90, of Richmond, a World War II veteran, a longtime lawyer in Richmond who also had served as a circuit court judge in Richmond and Goochland County, husband of Marion S. Beazley and widower of Andreena Frey Beazley.

Lois Blatto’s breathing and quality of life improved greatly at the hands of Dr. Maynard P. Smith. Dr. Smith, who lived in Henrico County, died Friday at St. Mary’s Hospital after a long career as a physician and surgeon specializing in the treatment of ear, nose and throat disorders. He was 94. “He was the most loving and caring doctor, and the most understanding doctor I’ve ever known,“ said Blatto, whose nose was reconstructed by Dr. Smith in 1962.

If the “Car Talk” guys from National Public Radio had a kindred spirit in Richmond, he could have been Dr. Joseph P. Liberti. “His humor and his laugh were as contagious as Click and Clack,“ said retired Dr. Glenn Van Tuyle, a longtime friend and colleague at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine. Dr. Liberti, who lived in Richmond, died unexpectedly Friday at a local hospital after suffering an aortic aneurysm. He was 71.

Cherry, Mr. William A., 60, of Richmond, an Army veteran, a painter, widower of Catherine Cabble Cherry. Christian, Mr. Robert Henry, 70, of Charles City, an Army veteran, a retired press operator for Virginia Folding Box Co., husband of Martha Ann Mackey Christian. Cobb, Mr. Norman B., of Mechanicsville, an employee of Knight Transportation Inc., husband of Patricia D. Cobb.

Edward Emerson Lane, a longtime member of the Virginia House of Delegates from Richmond and an unsuccessful Democratic candidate for attorney general in 1977, died Wednesday at his Richmond residence at age 85. The Richmond native had suffered from Parkinson’s disease. Mr. Lane, a Richmond lawyer, was chairman of the powerful budget-writing committee, the House Appropriations Committee, from 1973 to 1978.