Priscilla UNDERDAHL

KILMARNOCK - On Sept. 12, 2010, the Lord called home our beloved mother, Priscilla Knight Underdahl, following her valiant fight against the complications of Alzheimer's disease.
Priscilla Knight entered the world on Jan. 22, 1924, one of six children born to the late Ferdinand C. and Myrtle Padgett Knight, lifelong and prominent residents of Alexandria, Va. There, she graduated from George Washington High School, and attended one year at Farmville State Teacher's College (now Longwood University). She was among the first group of women to enlist in the newly formed Marine Corps Women's Reserve in 1944, and received training in Corsair aircraft maintenance, attaining the rank of SGT. She received her honorable discharge from the MCWR in 1946, but remained an active supporter of Marine Corps activities for much of her life. She was an 8th generation descendant of the family of noted Virginia statesman George Mason, and a lifetime member of American Legion Post No. 24 in Alexandria.
In 1967 she married LTC Conrad R. Underdahl, USA (now deceased), in a military wedding performed in San Juan, Puerto Rico. They moved to their beloved Dahl House on Indian Creek in Kilmarnock, Va., in 1970, and for the next 38 years she enjoyed gardening, antiquing, boating, entertaining, traveling, and backyard crab feasts with her family. As a longtime member of nearby Indian Creek Yacht and Country Club, she was an enthusiastic social event planner, as well as a serious golfer and talented bridge player.
Priscilla is survived by her three children, Sherry G. Kympton of Newport News, Va., Jan L. Ellis of Yorktown, Va., and her husband, Dr. Charles Ellis; Bruce C. Grimes of Fargo, N.D., and his wife, Kira, as well as a stepson, John Underdahl of Sahuarita, Ariz.; and his partner, Rudy Dinkel. She leaves behind her younger sister, Carol Knight Labbe of Seminole, Fla.; and nine loving and much loved grandchildren, Spencer Kympton and his wife, Lucy, Demi Clark and her husband, Brian, Kara DeStephanis and her husband, Greg, Derek, Danny, Kaitlin and Ryan Grimes, and Chuck and Lisa Ellis; along with five great-grandchildren, and many Knight family nieces, nephews and cousins.
The family will receive friends on Sunday, Sept. 19, from 3 to 4 p.m. at Hogg Funeral Home, Gloucester Point. Graveside funeral service with military honors officiated by the Rev. David May will be held at noon on Monday, Sept. 20, in the burial grounds of Historic Christ Church, Irvington, Va.
A family celebration of life event will be held on a later date.
In our mother's memory, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Alexandria American Legion Post No. 24, Inc., 400 Cameron Street, Alexandria, VA 22313, www.valegionpost24.org.
Friends are encouraged to visit www.hoggfh.com to share memories and words of condolence with the family. View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks.