Sarah D. Ashburn
LANCASTER—Sarah Dodson Ashburn, 57, of Lancaster died November 15, 2009.

She is survived by her husband, Julius Lee Ashburn; three sons and daughters-in-law, Charles Lee and Diane Armstrong of Lancaster, David Wayne and Corrine Ashburn of Lancaster, Welford Christopher and Tracey Ashburn of Topping; nine grandchildren; a brother and sister-in-law, Charles Edward and Vanessa Dodson of Lancaster; nieces and nephews; and a special friend, James William Folan of Lancaster.

Services will be private.

Nancy L. F. Dale
ANNANDALE—Nancy Louise Frye Dale, 91, of Annandale died October 4, 2009.

Mrs. Dale was born, raised and graduated high school in Shamokin, Pa. She accompanied her husband to Army posts in Maryland, Virginia, Alaska, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, and several posts in Germany, shepherding their four sons along the way.

After the death of her husband in 1970, she remained in Aberdeen, Md., for many years before moving to Virginia to be near her oldest son. She lived in Chesterfield County and Kilmarnock. In these places she volunteered for Meals on Wheels and made many friends playing bridge. She was most recently a member of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Kilmarnock.

She was predeceased by her parents, Frank and Elizabeth Frye of Shamokin, Pa., and her husband, Lt. Col. William Vinson “Vince” Dale, U.S. Army (ret.), a veteran of WWII and Korea.

She is survived by four sons and daughters-in-law, Jim and Sue Ann Dale of Heathsville, Mike and Evelyn Dale of Madison, Wis.. Paul and Karen Dale of New York, N.Y., and Mark and Lee Dale of Fairfax; four grandsons, Mike, Steve, Chris, and Milan; and four great-grandchildren.

She will be interred with her husband in Arlington National Cemetery November 25.

Marion O. Davidson
RICHMOND—Marion Owens Davidson of Richmond and Belmont Acres on the Rappahannock River in Lancaster County died peacefully Friday, November 6, 2009.

Mrs. Davidson was born in Warrenton and graduated from Gunston Hall in Washington, D.C. She was a member of St. Mary’s White Chapel Episcopal Church in Lancaster and a former member of The Woman’s Club in Richmond and Indian Creek Yacht & Country Club. She also had served on the Muscular Dystrophy Board, The Virginia Museum Council, the Altar Guild and the Women of the Church at St. Mary’s White Chapel.

She was predeceased by her husband, Thomas B. Davidson, who died November 6, 1990.

She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Thomas B. Davidson Jr. and Jacqueline R. Davidson, and Charles O. and Martha R. Davidson; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Interment will be at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Mary’s White Chapel, 5940 White Chapel Road, Lancaster, VA 22503.

Shirley C. Heim
FREDERICKSBURG—Shirley Conrad Heim, 73, of Fredericksburg died October 7, 2009.

Mrs. Heim was born in Ottoman to Emil James and Eleasure Aileen Belfield Conrad. She was a graduate of Mary Washington College and had a master’s in administration from the University of Virginia. She was an educator and people’s advocate, serving in Spotsylvania, Fredericksburg and Stafford.

As Stafford Head Start director, she turned a troubled program into an award winner within 10 months. She served as a master teacher with instructional techniques for disadvantaged children. Stafford’s first public kindergarten was started during her tenure.

Her commitment to children and families led her to seek further opportunities. Her career continued as coordinator of all federal and state programs in the counties. During this time she was a founder and the first director of the Governor’s School for the Gifted at Mary Washington College, now a statewide program. She also began Stafford’s Strings program and directed the Title I, II and VI programs to provide aid to students in need of remedial assistance, literary resources and handicapped services, respectively.

Her contributions as coordinator led to her appointment as assistant superintendent of finance and technology in 1985, ultimately giving her responsibility of the school division budget of $175 million.

As head of technology, she was the driving force behind the first inclusion of technology in Stafford schools. She served as assistant superintendent and briefly as interim superintendent until her retirement from Stafford County public schools in 2003.

Mrs. Heim served on nine boards and committees, including the Moss Free Clinic, the Stafford Education Foundation, and Olde Forge Junction Inc. As a member of the Stafford Rotary Club, her service brought numerous projects including the Festival of Trees and the Mary Washington Rotaract’s senior prom.

She will be remembered by many as the leader of The Good Time Cloggers, an Appalachian dance team that entertained in Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina and beyond.

She is survived by her husband, Philip D. Heim; a daughter, Aileen F. Heim; three brothers and two sisters-in-law, Milton J. and Gayle Conrad, Cleveland and Ann Conrad and Richard Russell; and nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held October 11 at Covenant Funeral Service, Fredericksburg Chapel, with the Rev. Fred Donahoe and Dr. C. Richard Sponseller officiating. Interment was at Oak Hill Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Lloyd F. Moss Free Clinic, 1301 Sam Perry Blvd., Federicksburg, VA 22401.

An online guest book is at covenantfuneralservice.com.

William L. Howard Sr.
IRVINGTON—William Lee Howard Sr., 70, of Irvington died November 11, 2009.

Mr. Howard was a member of Grace Episcopal Church in Kilmarnock. He was a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis and received a master’s in engineering management from the University of St. Missouri in Rolla, Mo. He was a retired aerospace engineer and management consultant.

He was predeceased by his wife of 44 years, Candy Daniel Howard.

He is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, W. Lee Howard Jr. and Louise Howard of Fairfax; a daughter and son-in-law, Laura Howard Mayer and Tom Mayer of Moseley; three grandsons, William L. Howard III, Liam Hunter and Daniel Thomas Mayer; and a brother, Thomas Howard of Maryville, Tenn.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, November 17, at Grace Episcopal Church with the Rev. David May officiating. Interment was at Historic Christ Church Burying Ground near Irvington.

Memorials may be made to Grace Trust, P.O. Box 1059, Kilmarnock, VA 22482, or The Foundation for Historic Christ Church, P.O. Box 24, Irvington, VA 22480.

H. Calvin Meadows
IRVINGTON—Henry Calvin Meadows, 84, of Irvington died November 15, 2009.

Mr. Meadows was the widower of Carolyn Waters Meadows.

He is survived by three nieces, Mary Chamberlain and Shirley C. Tyler and her husband, Eugene, all of Richmond, and Linda C. Katzer and her husband, Lester, of Chester; two nephews, David and Gary Chamberlain, both of Richmond; great-nieces and great-nephews; and a special friend, Catherine Thomas.

Funeral services were held November 17 at the Currie Funeral Home in Kilmarnock with the Rev. Davis Smith officiating. Interment was November 18 at Signal Hill Memorial Park in Hanover.

Memorials may be made to the Children’s Hospital Foundation, 2924 Brook Road, Richmond, VA 23220.

Alice V. S. Scott
LANCASTER—Alice Virginia Smith Scott, 90, of Lancaster died November 11, 2009.

Mrs. Scott was a member of St. Mary’s White Chapel Episcopal Church in Lancaster.

She was predeceased by her husband, Charles N. Scott.

She is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Ruth Ann and William Ambrose of Montross, and Bonnie Sue and Courtney Smith of Richmond; a son, Robert C. Scott of Bumpass; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Services will be private.

Jones-Ash Funeral Home in Rainswood is handling the arrangements.

Online remembrances may be made at jonesashfuneralhome.com