Donna Robinson Poe

Donna Robinson Poe, 77, of Marion, died Saturday, November 7, 2009 at Smyth County Community Hospital. She was born November 23, 1931 in Austin, Texas to the late Carl and Nancy McLeod Robinson. She grew up in the Washington D.C. and Chevy Chase, Maryland area, where she attended Chevy Chase High School. She continued her education at the Greenbrier Junior College in Lewisburg, West Virginia and graduated from the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia. Donna was a faithful member of the First United Methodist Church where she was an active member of the United Methodist Women and devoted to delivering food to the sick and shut-ins. She was instrumental in forming the Association of Retarded Children and was very active in their operation, as well, as the operations of the Smyth IDC. She loved playing tennis and competing. She won several club championships and county tournaments. Donna was also an avid Bridge player, belonging to several clubs in the Marion area. In her later years, she enjoyed surf fishing on the coast of the Outer Banks, North Carolina and Florida. She was a charter member of the Lifetime Wellness Center, where she loved to be; staying active and visiting with her many friends as well as making new ones. She is survived by her husband, Gordon R. Poe, of Marion, Virginia; two daughters, Carol Poe, of Marion, Virginia and Ann Lee DeSanto, of Galax, Virginia; one son, Mac Poe and wife, Melissa, of Marion, Virginia; one sister, Nancy Dorman, of Chevy Chase, Maryland; and five grandchildren, Sarah DeSanto, Allison DeSanto, Erica Poe, Andrea Poe, and Heather Poe; several nieces and nephews also survive. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Monday at the First United Methodist Church, with the Reverend Jonathan Jonas officiating. Burial will follow at Rose Lawn Cemetery, Marion, Virginia. The family will receive friends one hour before the service at the First United Methodist Church. Flowers will be appreciated or memorial contributions may be made to the Smyth IDC, Day Support PreVoc Program, Attention: Darlene Dean, 271 Mountain Empire Road, Atkins, VA 24311. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the family at www.seaverbrown.com. Seaver-Brown Funeral Service and Crematory is serving the Poe family.