WHEREAS, J. Curtis Fruit, former Clerk of the Circuit Court of the City of Virginia Beach, passed away on February 27, 2012; and

WHEREAS, J. Curtis Fruit was born on November 11, 1941, to Harry Alverta Fruit, Jr. and Frances Holladay; he and his brother, William S. Fruit, and sister, Frances Nell Fruit Malat, grew up in Norfolk; and

WHEREAS, J. Curtis Fruit attended Campostella Heights Elementary School, Blair Junior High School, and Oscar Smith High School, where he graduated in 1960; and

WHEREAS, J. Curtis Fruit attended Old Dominion University and studied political science, graduating in 1973; and

WHEREAS, J. Curtis Fruit married Sandra Gail Becker Hargrove on July 26, 1975; a devoted husband and father, he had a step-daughter, Anne H. Durham, and a son, John Curtis Fruit, Jr., as well as four grandchildren, Mia Elizabeth Calma Fruit, Gabrielle Elise Fruit, Jessica Grace Durham, and Benjamin Thomas Lee Durham; and

WHEREAS, the Honorable J. Curtis Fruit served as a deputy clerk for the Circuit Court of the City of Virginia Beach from January 1964 to December 1979; for most of those years he worked in the Chancery Department; and

WHEREAS, J. Curtis Fruit was elected to and held the office of Clerk of the Circuit Court of the City of Virginia Beach from January 1, 1980, until his retirement on December 31, 2003; and

WHEREAS, J. Curtis Fruit was one of the first eight Clerks in Virginia to obtain the designation of Certified Circuit Court Clerk from the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia; and

WHEREAS, J. Curtis Fruit served as president of the Virginia Court Clerks' Association and cochairman of the Virginia Court Clerks' Association Legislative Committee; he also served on the Land Records Management Task Force; and

WHEREAS, J. Curtis Fruit was an active member of the Virginia Beach Retired Employees Association; and

WHEREAS, with his 40 years of public service, J. Curtis Fruit is remembered for his common sense, refreshing sense of humor, and dedication to providing exceptional customer service; and

WHEREAS, J. Curtis Fruit demonstrated an exceptional degree of knowledge and skill in the administration of his duties and responsibilities as Clerk of the Circuit Court of the City of Virginia Beach; and

WHEREAS, J. Curtis Fruit provided distinguished service in meeting the needs of his public first and foremost, his staff, the judges of the circuit court, the bar, and the Virginia Court Clerks' Association, and all of this made him a well respected and beloved Clerk throughout the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, J. Curtis Fruit's unwavering devotion and affection for his staff made him the most loved and respected boss who made lifelong friends of those he worked alongside during his 40-year service to the City of Virginia Beach; and

WHEREAS, J. Curtis Fruit was a devoted and exceptional husband, father, brother, grandfather, public servant, colleague, and friend; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of J. Curtis Fruit, a distinguished Clerk of the Virginia Beach Circuit Court; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of the Honorable J. Curtis Fruit, as an expression of the General Assembly's abiding respect and admiration for his memory.