Omar Funk Pirkey

Omar Funk Pirkey

Pirkey, Omar Funk (1848-1934)

Portrait photograph of Omar Funk Pirkey of Strasburg, Virginia, with a mustache and wearing a hat with his suit.

A photograph published in the Free Press on September 26, 2002, showed him standing with a group of Civil War Veterans at Stickley Hall on the NE corner of Muhlenberg and Spring Streets in Woodstock on January 19, 1924. It appears this photograph is a cropped version of a similar one of him taken at the same location. (See Morrison Studio Collection number 004750).

Born in Strasburg, his parents were John Calvin (1816-1887) and Flora Elizabeth (Funk) (1820-1851) Pirkey.

He started out in merchandising gaining experience with Edward Zea who operated a general store in Strasburg that later became known as "Zea and Wright".

Later, he worked for thirty years as a railroad agent in Strasburg. He was also a partner with R.H. Riddleberger in the general merchandising business for a number of years.

He was always active in the community and lived on King Street for most of his life.

He married Mary Virginia Lehew (1855-1944) in 1874. The couple had a daughter together (who married a Campbell). When Omar Pirkey died, he left behind ten grandchildren.

Both Omar and his wife are buried in Riverview Cemetery in Strasburg.

Morrison Studio

Morrison Studio Collection - Shenandoah County Historical Society

Shenandoah County Library

Undated

Identified in 2002 by John Taylor who noted Mr. Pirkey was a member of the Strasburg Christian Church.

Also identified in 2002 by H.L. and J. Lockhart who provided a copy of the Free Press article and photograph along with an additional clipping about the 1924 event held at Stickley Hall.

Biographical information was compiled from public sources including an article published in the Northern Virginia Daily on 30 October 1934, just after his death.

IN COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE PERMITTED

Omar Funk Pirkey appears in Morrison Studio Collection numbers 004740 and 004750.

004740

Glass Negative