Harry Glenn Lilly of Arlington, Virginia, passed away peacefully on October 10, 2025, at the age of 84, following a brief battle with cancer. He was surrounded and lovingly supported by his family and friends throughout his illness.

A memorial service will be held on November 23 from 2:00-5:00pm at the Lyon Park Community Center (414 N. Fillmore Street, Arlington, VA 22201) to celebrate a life so lovingly and fully lived. Remarks will be made around 2:45pm. RSVP to heathermlilly@yahoo.com requested but not required.

Born on August 2, 1941, in eastern North Carolina, Harry grew up with a deep appreciation for family, integrity, and good humor — qualities that stayed with him everywhere he went.

Harry attended High Point College in North Carolina, where he earned his degree and became a proud member of Theta Chi Fraternity. He made friends easily, and once you met him, you rarely stayed a stranger for long. The laughter and camaraderie of those college years turned into lifelong friendships that he treasured always. He later earned a Master's degree in Human Resource Development from George Washington University, reflecting his desire to help others grow and succeed.

After moving to Arlington in 1963, Harry met his future wife Lynne, built a family and a career that reflected his natural warmth and curiosity. He enjoyed two long and successful professional chapters: first as a management training consultant, serving as Vice President of Vicor Inc., where he guided and inspired countless professionals with his trademark patience and humor; and later as a real estate agent, working side by side with his wife, Lynne, for more than 30 years with Mt. Vernon Realty and Long & Foster Realtors. Together, they helped many families find their homes — and often made new friends in the process.

Harry loved the simple pleasures in life. He could be found pedaling his bike along the Potomac River, tending his garden with the same care he gave his friends, or taking a spin in his beloved Regal Z3 convertible — usually with a grin and the top down.

He also had an adventurous streak. With Lynne by his side, he explored the world — from the cobblestone streets of Paris to the canals of Venice, the rolling countryside of England, and far-flung adventures in Hong Kong, China, Indonesia, Moscow, and Leningrad. No matter how far he traveled, Harry had a way of making every place feel like home.

At home, he shared his heart (and plenty of treats) with his faithful dogs — Greta, Patton, Baxter, and Prince — each of whom took their turns as his loyal companion, couch buddy, and partner in mischief.

Harry’s greatest pride and joy was his family. He is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Lynne Schmidt Lilly; his daughter Heather Lilly; his son Kevin Lilly and partner Thuy-Tien Nguyen; and his grandsons Henry and Denys. All of Harry’s immediate family lives in Arlington, Virginia, where they continue to honor his memory and his love for community. Nothing made him happier than time with his grandsons — whether cheering them on at tennis, playing endless games together on Sunday afternoons, wandering the farmers market, or sharing one more story that ended with everyone laughing.

He is also survived by his sisters Marie Stokes and Marjorie Lewis, both of Kinston, North Carolina; his sister-in-law Marlene Robbins and her husband Spencer Robbins of Fairfax, Virginia; his nieces Helen Townsend, Jimi Pope and her husband Mark, Renee Mitchell and her husband Steve, Tammy Schmidt, Tracy Avila and her husband Jose, and Carrie Butler and her husband Walter; and his nephews Alton Lilly, Michael Lilly, Michael Schmidt and his wife Kim, and Brad Schmidt and his wife Kristin. He is also remembered with love by many great-nieces and great-nephews who adored their “Uncle Harry.”

Harry was preceded in death by his father Leslie Webster Lilly, his mother Helen Ruth Barrow Lilly, and his brother Alton Lilly.

Harry will be remembered for his warmth, quick wit, and steady kindness — a man who could make you laugh even when things were tough, and who never missed a chance to make someone feel welcome. In his final months, he was deeply touched by the steady stream of visits, calls, and kind messages from friends near and far. Each one reminded him of the community of love and friendship he built so naturally over a lifetime — his greatest achievement of all.

A memorial service will be held on November 23 from 2:00-5:00pm at the Lyon Park Community Center (414 N. Fillmore Street, Arlington, VA 22201) to celebrate a life so lovingly and fully lived. Remarks will be made around 2:45pm. RSVP to heathermlilly@yahoo.com requested but not required. 

In lieu of flowers, we encourage small donations to any one of Harry's special charities.

Escuela Key Elementary PTA (where both Henry and Denys are enrolled) https://escuelakeypta.givebacks.com/shop/items/64000

Grey2K USA Worldwide (Largest Greyhound Protection Organization in the world) www.grey2Kusa.org

True Ground Housing Partnership (formerly, Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing) www.truegroundhousing.org

PanCan (Pancreatic Cancer Action Network) www.pancan.org