Wanda Doll Shoemaker

Wanda Doll Shoemaker (Aged 92) of Leesburg, VA died peacefully on November 18, 2024, at The Ashleigh in Leesburg, VA. Born in Vonore, TN on September 1, 1932, to Mattalea Williams Doll and Clarence Edward Doll, Sr. As a child during the Depression she and her family moved throughout the Midwest while her father built bridges for the American Bridge Company. Just before the outbreak of WW II, they moved to Portsmouth, VA. Wanda graduated from Woodrow Wilson H.S in 1950 and Longwood University in 1954, with a B.S. in Elementary Education later completing her M.Ed. from the University of Virginia in 1962.  

In 1956, she started her teaching career in Virginia Beach, VA teaching Reading and English at Oceana Elementary School and First Colonial High School eventually moving to Arlington, VA teaching Reading and English in the Northern Virginia area at Swanson Middle School, Fort Hunt High School, and West Springfield High School.  

Wanda is survived by her two children, David Shoemaker and his spouse, Bill of Hagerstown, MD and Dan Shoemaker and his wife, Jennifer, of Mount Pleasant, SC, and her four grandchildren, John, William, Charlotte, and Kitty.  She is also survived by her nieces, Mary G. Garnier and Rebecca D. Persekian, and nephew James E. Doll and their families.

She is predeceased by her brother, Clarence Edward Doll, Jr (2018) and his wife Jacqueline Gale Doll (2020).

Wanda was a loving, thoughtful and selfless Mother and friend. Her gifts of humility and grace were the hallmarks of her spirit and are traits we all seek to emulate.   

Her funeral services will be held at Colonial Funeral Home, 201 Edwards Ferry Road, NE, Leesburg, VA on Saturday, January 11 at 11 a.m.  Graveside services will be held at Haven Hill Memorial Gardens in Madisonville, TN on Monday, January 13 at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that memorial contributions be made to Longwood University in support of student scholarships. Contributions can be made online at www.give.longwood.edu or by mail to Longwood University, 201 High Street, Farmville, VA 23909. Please designate gifts for "Student Scholarships" in memory of Wanda Doll Shoemaker.