Worrell, Claude Phillips born in Philadelphia, PA on July 7, 1934, to Helen Phillips Worrell and Claude Worrell. He graduated from E C Glass High School in Lynchburg, VA in 1952. He received a full scholarship to Cincinnati Conservatory of Music where he received his B.A. in music and met the love of his life Lucille Stout. After graduating, he moved to New York City where he got his masters at the Manhattan School of Music and married Lucille.

He played the oboe and the English horn for the Metropolitan Opera, the New York Philharmonic, the American Wind Ensemble, the Russian Ballet, Mantovani and others. He and Lucille toured with the Goldovsky Opera. He played the oboe and she sang. They toured America, Canada, and Europe together. Claude retired from the New York City Schools as a high school music teacher in the Bronx. After retirement, he and Lucille shared time between Prague and New York City, where she coached and sang opera. He and Lucille moved to Martinsville, VA in 2004 to be near his sister Beatrice Worrell Lester, and his niece Elizabeth Lester Walsh. Claude loved opera, classical music, Czech beer, cats, and cooking. Claude was an excellent chef. He and Lucille loved to drive to Virginia from New York and visit Smith Mountain Lake and the Peaks of Otter. In addition to his parents, Claude was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Lucille Perret Worrell, in 2020. Claude is survived by his sister, Beatrice Worrell Lester of Martinsville, VA.  She had five children: Elizabeth Lester Walsh of Lynchburg, VA; Anne Lester Papadakis (Andreas) of Melbourne, Australia; George Washington Lester III (deceased); Sara Lester Jedelsky (Todd) of Waxhaw, NC; and George Washington Lester IV(deceased) (Beth) of Cornelius, NC; and 8 grandchildren.
and 8 great-nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at Wellspring Fellowship on Friday, December 27 at 11:00 a.m. John Heiss will be officiating the service