Retired Virginia Credit Union League President Gene Farley, whoinfluenced every major piece of financial legislation in the OldDominion State for more than three decades, passed away Dec. 9, theVirginia league announce Monday.

He was 82.

"Gene will always be remembered for thecontributions he made to the credit union system, both here inVirginia and nationally," Virginia League President Rick Pillowsaid. "It's almost impossible, however, to measure the positiveimpact his work had on the lives of credit union members and on thesuccess of the movement during his 40-plus-year career. He wasa friend and mentor to so many of us in the credit union system. Heinstilled in us a real passion for the movement and for our peoplehelping people philosophy, and that is perhaps his greatestlegacy."

Farley served as the Virginia League president from 1967 untilhis retirement in 1999. Under his leadership, he establishedand launched the League Service Corporation, Virginia's own shareinsurance corporation, and a corporate credit union to serve theneeds of the state’s credit unions.

Throughout his career, he served as a board director and onvarious committees for CUNA, the World Council of Credit Unions theAmerican Association of Credit Union Leagues, the Associationof Credit Union League Executives, the Credit Union Foundation andthe Filene Research Institute. Farley also chaired the CUNAcommittee that created the League Management Institute at theUniversity of Wisconsin in 1986.

For his years of distinguished service, Farley was honored in2000 with the Herb Wegner Lifetime Achievement Award and upon hisretirement, a new national award, the “Eugene Farley LeagueLeadership Award” was established in conjunction with ACULE and hislifelong friend and former CUNA Mutual President/CEO, Dr. RichardM. Heins.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Nancy Zehmer Farley, hisson William Harrison Farley, two grandsons and two greatgrandsons.

A celebration of Farley’s Life was held Monday at the TimberlakeUnited Methodist Church.

For those wishing to make memorial contributions, pleaseconsider the Timberlake United Methodist Church, 21649 TimberlakeRoad, Lynchburg, VA 24502.