|
Virginia Guthrie Gray passed away January 15, 2006 in Columbia, SC. The daughter of William Hambleton Guthrie of Pendleton Co., WV and Lillian Dallas Guthrie of Philadelphia, PA, Mrs. Gray was born in Bayard, WV, January 27, 1918. She was the widow of George Donohue Gray of Winchester, VA, who passed away in February, 2005. The Grays retired in Hanahan, SC in 1975, where Mrs. Gray was a founding member of the Berkeley County Republican Women's Club. Previously, the couple had lived in Winchester, VA; Albuquerque, NM; Brielle, NJ; and Okinawa. Mrs. Gray worked with the American Red Cross in New Mexico in the 1950s and again in Asia in the 1960s. She served as assistant welfare commissioner for Bernalillo County, NM, and she later headed the Department of Social Services at Fitkin Memorial Hospital in Monmouth County, NJ. During her years in New Mexico, Mrs. Gray served as National Committeewoman for the New Mexico Young Republicans. She campaigned enthusiastically, if unsuccessfully, for the offices of Bernalillo County Treasurer and State Secretary. She also served a term as Chief Bill Clerk of the New Mexico House of Representatives. In her later years Mrs. Gray took up china painting, and her work was sold in several Charleston, SC shops. She was a very knowledgeable gourmet, a wonderful cook, and a sparkling personality. Since 1997 she has resided at Pace's Run Apartments in Columbia, SC. Mrs. Gray is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Diann and John Montague of Columbia, SC, Donna and Leon Patterson of Houston, TX; four grandchildren, Jenny Gibson Patterson of Beverly Hills, CA, James McGill Patterson of Charlottesville, VA, Dr. Ann Hood Montague of Chicago, IL, and Dr. Michael Guthrie Montague of Rockville, MD. Her final arrangements are being managed by Shives Funeral Home. She will be laid to rest with her husband at the National Cemetery in Santa Fe, NM. Donations in her memory may be made to an animal rescue agency, Pets Incorporated, 300 Orchard Dr., Box 6394, West Columbia, SC 29171. www.shivesfuneralhome.com (803) 754-6290
|
