Evelyn Patterson Venable was born in South Hill Va. on April 9th, 1928. She died on February 7th, 2013.

She was the youngest of 3 girls. She grew up in Winston Salem NC and graduated from Longwood College in Farmville, Va. with a major in education and a minor in Spanish. She taught elementary school in Arlington and Natural Bridge Va. Evelyn married Richard M. Venable in 1951 and lived in Carmel, CA while he attended officers training school in Monterey. During his naval service, they moved to Key West Fla. then to Norfolk Va. before settling in Charleston WV where Dick was President of Trojan Steel Co. In Charleston, Evelyn was a member of First Presbyterian Church, the Jr. League and active in many local organizations. She and her husband raised 5 daughters there. After Dick's retirement, they moved to Fripp Island SC. While there, she enjoyed golf, led a fitness class for 15 years and shared her love of sea and shore with her husband. She lived her final years at the retirement community of the Marshes at Skidaway Island near Savannah Ga. where she was a member of the Skidaway Island United Methodist Church and "The Wild Bunch". Those who knew her well will remember her strong will, feisty spirit and sense of humor. She was an animal lover, particularly dogs and monkeys. She had an eye for fashion and a penchant for decorating and enjoyed golf, cards, walks with her friends, and her extended family. She managed to acquire wonderful friends wherever she lived and cared for them deeply. She had a strong faith which carried her through the difficult times of her life. The family will forever be indebted to her care giver and close friend, David Gibson, who also cared for her husband during his long struggle with Parkinson's disease.

She is survived by five daughters Deborah Eads Bryan Eads of Charleston, WV, Patti Cunningham James Cunningham of Gadsden Ala., Aimee Byrne, Barbara Terry Rick Terry of Burlington NC, and Lucy Venable Robb West of Melbourne Fla. Grannan will be greatly missed by her 9 grandchildren. She is great grandmother to 8 soon to be 9 children.

If desired, in lieu of flowers, contributions to your favorite charities would be appreciated.

Special thanks to the staff at the Marshes and Oaks at Skidaway and to Hospice Care.

A memorial service will be held at Skidaway Island United Methodist Church on Skidaway Island, Ga. Saturday, February 16th at 11:00. A reception will follow at The Marshes at Skidaway. Ashes will be buried at Spring Hill Cemetery in Charleston WV at a later date.