Eleanor MCGEHEE

McGEHEE, Eleanor Oppenhimer "Opp," age 72, of Richmond, died peacefully at home surrounded by her family on April 14, 2010. She was born in Richmond, the daughter of the late Henry Wise and Eleanor Williams Oppenhimer. She was also predeceased by her brother, Henry Wise Oppenhimer Jr. She is survived by her devoted husband of 48 years, Dr. Read Flournoy McGehee Jr.; four children, Read Flournoy McGehee III and wife, Cathy, of Richmond, John Sergeant Wise McGehee and wife, Sandra Quigg, of Harrisonburg, Marshall McGehee Lewis and husband, Jeff, of Los Angeles and Caroline Parker Pascual and husband, Perry, of Richmond; her beloved grandchildren, Eliza, Jane, Malcolm, Liam, Henry, Maren, Norah; and Marshall's new baby boy due in September, to whom Eleanor was affectionately known as "Oppy"; brother, William Oppenhimer and wife, Ann, of Richmond; and sister-in-law, Bernice Oppenhimer of Richmond. She is further survived by a large extended family, most of whom reside in the Richmond area. Opp's formative years were spent at 1817 Park Avenue. She attended the Collegiate School, where she made friends that she kept her entire life. Even toward the end of her life, she was able to recite the roll of the 5th grade class at Collegiate. One of the hallmarks of her life was her ability to make, keep and maintain friends. Old friends and new were always welcomed equally by Opp. Opp graduated from Hollins College, and afterward met Read, then a young medical school student, in 1959. They shared frozen daiquiris and Brunswick stew on their first date, which began a relationship that lasted more than 50 years. Even though, like all married couples, they shared difficult times, theirs was a deep and abiding love that formed the nucleus of her close and loving family. She loved music and could sometimes be coaxed into playing the piano. Her family fondly remembers her renderings of ridiculous camp songs and recitations of Ogden Nash poems ("if called by a panther, don't anther!") Opp saw her life as a spiritual voyage, and she examined her existence in a way few of us do. Although a lifelong member of St. James's Episcopal Church and a member of the vestry, she also embraced the Jewish roots of her family. Her religious philosophy was further influenced by Buddhist thought and Jungian psychology, all seen through the lens of a quiet, yet strong sense of the divine and the importance of the role of the woman, and especially the mother, in spiritual thought and practice. The symbolism of the labyrinth was important to her and she often found her meditative and spiritual center by walking them. Her friends were many and Opp delighted in them all. She was a member of a wide variety of discussion groups including her dream group, breakfast group, and others. Her life was one of perpetual self-discovery, and she departed this world with courage and dignity that was a model for us all. She made sure to tell us all, including her young grandchildren, "I am not afraid." To the end, she maintained her loving nature, her belief in the inherent goodness of all people, and an absolute devotion to her family. The family will receive friends at Read and Eleanor's home at 113 S. Wilton Rd., from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 18. A memorial service celebrating Eleanor's life will be held at St. James's Episcopal Church at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 20.


This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.