The staff at the $303 million NSWC Federal Credit Union in Dahlgren, Va., is in mourning over the loss of its longtime President/CEO Harry C. Ovitt, who died in one-car accident while on his way to work Thursday morning.

“While the staff is devastated by this, Harry's foresight and planning have allowed us to implement processes that will assure the continued seamless operation of the credit union,” NSWC FCU said in a statement on its online home page. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time.”

Ovitt's 1995 Lexus ES300 went off the right side of the road (on State Route 206) at about 6:15 a.m. when it hit a utility pole and tree, according to a report on Fredericksburg.com, a local news site of the Free Lance-Star newspaper.

The 63-year-old Ovitt, who was wearing his seatbelt, was taken by ambulance to a local hospital where he died. He was alone in the car, and no other vehicles were involved, the news site reported.

Ovitt, who had been CEO for 27 years, was well-respected and well-liked by NSWC's employees, and he knew them personally through frequent visits to NSWC's branches and lunches with staffers, Charles Armstrong, NSWC's executive vice president and chief operating officer, told Fredericksburg.com.

“He wasn't just the boss,” Armstrong said. “He was your friend.”