“Captain” Dean Close of Gwynn, Va., passed away on Jan. 6, 2015 at the age of 74.

Dean was a lifelong fisherman who took great pride and joy in his craft and in mentoring young fishermen. As a resident of Gwynn’s Island, Dean enjoyed his neighbors and was always willing to help a friend in need. 

He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Jo Close.

He is survived by his son, Jimmy Dean Close (Brenda) of Moon, Va., and granddaughters, Andrea and Rachel; his brother, Don (Jean) of Ashland, Va., and his sister, Sharon Smith of Hamden, Ohio.

The family will receive friends in Foster-Faulkner Funeral Home, Mathews, Va., on Friday, Jan. 9, 2015, from 6-8 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. in the funeral home chapel on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015, with interment to follow in Gwynn’s Island Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to Mathews Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 723, Mathews, Va. 23109.