Cecil passed away peacefully in his bed, the morning of November 10, 2021, after a long struggle with the consequences of a stroke several years ago. Marlene - his devoted wife of nearly 66 years - gave him a kiss goodnight and tucked him in the evening before. Cecil Gordon Short was born November 28, 1934, the eleven-pound bundle of joy created by Cecil Calvert Short, of Page County, Virginia and Viola Kidwell Short, of Fairfax County, Virginia. . Cecil was an exceptional athlete, earning letters in football, track, and baseball for the Fairfax High Rebels. Yet he was such a scholar that, at the end of his senior year, his teachers pooled their funds to help cover the tuition for his first year at Virginia Tech. Cecil & Marlene have never not known one another - having been born to parents who were next-door neighbors in Clifton, Virginia - both having been delivered by the same country doctor. On December 3, 1955, Cecil and Marlene married, putting a certificate to what would prove to be a nearly 85-year love affair. Having spent many an hour hunting squirrels in the woods of Northern Virginia, Cecil joined the US Army Reserve as a tanker, earning commendations as unit commander from his division CO for his exceptional leadership. He also medaled at the Army’s national rifle competitions and served as aide-de-camp to Brigadier General Willard Webb. Cecil started his career with Capital Airlines, at the former Washington National Airport, and, after the acquisition by United Airlines, transferred to San Francisco International Airport in 1968. He served as both a representative of management during union negotiations, and also spearheaded United’s global expansion, directly hiring some of the best airframe and powerplant mechanics on the planet. Cecil retired after nearly 45 years of service and he and Marlene moved back to Virginia in 2005 – Becoming the first residents at The Glebe Retirement Community. Cecil stayed involved serving as the President of The Glebe’s Residents’ Council and continuing a nearly 25-year volunteer commitment awarding scholarships on behalf of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, the nation’s largest. Cecil was an exceptional woodworker, avid horseman, hunter, fisherman, and cook. His reserved manner often masked a warm heart and a fierce love for his family. Cecil is survived by his wife, Marlene, and his son, Christopher. “Those who are truly loved never die…"
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