Erwin Hoge Will Jr.

Erwin was born in Richmond on May 25, 1933, to Erwin H. Will, Sr., and Virginia Simpson Will. Soon afterwards his family moved to El Paso, Texas, where Erwin enjoyed what he later described as an idyllic childhood. Returning to Richmond at age 13, he attended St. Christopher’s School and graduated in 1952. He enrolled at the University of Virginia planning to major in engineering but decided to pursue his passion for business and management instead, earning his bachelor’s degree in 1956 from UVA’s McIntire School of Commerce. While at UVA, he was a member of The Sigma Nu Fraternity, where he successfully managed the dining room. Erwin participated in the ROTC program at UVA and later served as a Captain in the U.S. Army Reserve.

In 1956, Erwin joined State Planters Bank (United Virginia Bank-UVB) as an investment analyst. In 1958, he was promoted to head the Investment Research, Bank’s Portfolio, and Municipal Bond Department, a position he held for 15 years. In 1973, he founded and served as president of Capitoline Investment Services, a financial management affiliate of UVB. Erwin was appointed by Governor Linwood Holton to serve on the Virginia Supplemental Retirement System (VSR) Board of Trustees, and served as Chairman 1975-1976. He retired in 1991 from UVB and three years later agreed to assume the position of acting Director of the Virginia Retirement System. Shortly thereafter he became Chief Investment Officer to assist with restoring stability to the system following the upheaval caused by VRS’s purchase of the RF&P Corporation. He served until 1999, staying on as a consultant to VRS through 2001.

Erwin was a member of numerous professional organizations. He became a Chartered Financial Analyst and served as Chairman of the National Financial Analysts Federation and as president of the Richmond Society of Financial Analysts, earning the organization’s first Annual Distinguished Service Award in 2001. He also contributed his time and investment expertise to many local cultural and educational organizations, among them the Community Foundation of Richmond, the Medical College of Virginia Foundation, the Virginia Commonwealth University Foundation, the Church Schools in the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia, St. Catherine’s School, St. Gertrude High School, Randolph-Macon Woman’s College, The New Community School, and the Virginia Historical Society. He also served as a Director of the RF&P Railroad. He was a life member of The Commonwealth Club and The Country Club of Virginia and a member of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church.

Erwin lived a full life, enriched by his many passions and his love for his family. He enjoyed fishing at Cohoke Pond or in the Chesapeake Bay, pheasant hunting in South Dakota, early morning workouts and tennis, watching UVA sports, reading everything about World War II, woodworking, and a pint of Guinness at 4 pm every afternoon. He relished travelling with his wife Harriette. Together they visited all seven continents and were treated royally when with Pensions 2000, a group of retirement fund officers. He always said he was a lucky man, and his family feels lucky to have had him for 93 wonderful years.

Erwin was preceded in death by his first wife, Marsha Taliaferro Gillis and his second wife, Mary Boehling Will. He is survived by his beloved wife of 33 years, Harriette Moskowitz Kingoff Will, and five children from his first marriage: Erwin H. Will III (Anna), Kathleen Will Mackey, Marsha “Tolly” Will Tate, William “Billy” T. Will (Melissa) and Virginia Will Russell. He is also survived by two stepsons, Joseph A. Kingoff (Lindsay) and Michael Duley (Lisa). Erwin’s legacy lives on through his 11 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

The family would like to thank the staffs of Sheltering Arms Institute and Parsons Healthcare Center at Westminster Canterbury for the kind and loving care they provided our husband and father. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at 1 pm in the Sara Belle November Theater at Westminster Canterbury, with a reception to follow in the Cochrane Commons, 1600 Westbrook Court, Richmond, VA 23227. Please park where directed and plan to arrive 30 minutes early to catch the shuttle to the theater. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to the Westminster Canterbury Foundation, Sheltering Arms Institute, or a charity of choice.