Damon Grace Margaret Engel

Our beloved Grace Margaret Engel Damon passed away on Wednesday, November 2, 2016, at the age of 102. She was born on September 17, 1914, in Hamilton County, Ohio, the daughter of Louis Frederick Engel and Sarah Ann Hewitt Engel. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters, and her husband, Robert Edson Damon.Grace graduated from Miami University of Ohio and received a Master's degree from Columbia University. She had a life-long interest in literature, especially poetry.She met her husband, Robert Edson Damon on a double date set up by a sorority sister, who said at the time, that Grace "probably wouldn't like him." They were married on February 16, 1941, after six dates. Grace maintained that they were always optimistic that "things would be okay," even though they married as the world was becoming engulfed in World War II. They remained married for sixty-two years, until Bob's death on October 11, 2003.Their first son, Robert Edson was born in Cincinnati, and their second son, Frederick Henry was born in Parkersburg, West Virginia. At that time, Bob, who worked for Shelby Mutual Life Insurance Company, was given the choice of being based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, or Richmond, Va. Since Bob loved to fish, they chose Minnesota, the land of 10,000 lakes.After her sons started school, Grace began to teach English at Richfield West Junior High School. She continued teaching there, serving as chairman of the English Department, until her retirement.The education of their sons and later grandchildren was very important to Bob and Grace. Both Rob and Fred graduated from Richfield High School in Richfield, Minnesota. Grace and Bob put both their sons through college. Rob graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (B.S. in chemistry) and the University of Vermont (PhD in chemistry) followed by postdoctoral work at the University of Rochester (N.Y.), and pursued a career in biomedical research for 35 years at Novartis prior to his retirement. Fred attended college at Duke (B.A.) and Princeton (PhD in anthropology) and is currently a professor of anthropology at UVa.Grace was very adventurous, taking up cross country skiing with Bob in their fifties. After retirement, they toured the United States in a camper, seeking a warmer climate. They selected Southern Pines, North Carolina. Rumor has it that the Sandhills area's sixty-plus golf courses had something to do with their decision to move there. They traveled together in the USA and abroad for many years. Following her husband's death, she continued to travel, visiting Russia, China, and parts of South America during her early 90s.During their decades in Southern Pines, Grace became a member of Emmanuel Episcopal Church. She served as a lector for early Sunday services, and was quite involved with the Emmanuel Thrift Shop, which she affectionately called "the thrill shop."Pursuing her love of books, Grace was an avid book club member for many years. She served as the Vice President of Friends of Southern Pines Public Library for two terms1994-96. These were the years when the town was building their new library. Grace was a key member of the team that helped reach the necessary financial goal. She and her husband were Gold Card donors and their names are displayed on the plaque in the foyer of the Library building.Additionally, Grace was quite popular on the "speaker circuit." She gave talks on Erma Bombeck and poetry to a variety of clubs in the Southern Pines area. She was also the oldest person to attend classes at Sandhills Community College. Following a class in computer usage, she acquired her first computer in her 80sGrace and Bob traveled to Charlottesville often from Southern Pines, particularly during holiday periods, to visit Fred and Nancy and their children, and to attend in the Virginia Festival of the Book. At age ninety-five, Grace moved to Charlottesville to be closer to her family and resided at Branchlands Village.Grace is survived by her two sons, Robert and his wife, Mary Ann Jarema, Fred and his wife, Nancy Coble Damon; and her two grandchildren, Kate and David Damon; plus many nieces, nephews, grand nieces and nephewsThe family wishes to thank her many friends in Southern Pines, her neighbors, Judy and Walker Oldham, and her friends and helpers, Sharon Heflin and Vickie Tindall.In Charlottesville, the family acknowledges the wonderful staff and fellow residents of Branchlands Village who were so welcoming to Grace. Special thanks go to her caregiver Rebecca Mayo, her exercise specialist Marcia Silvermetz, her physician Dr. Joyce Geilker, and the staff of Hospice of the Piedmont, especially Erica Allen.In lieu of flowers, please consider honoring Grace by making a donation to:Southern Pines Public Library, 170 W. Connecticut Avenue, Southern Pines, NC28387, Virginia Festival of the Book, which she attended happily for many years, or Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, 145 Ednam Drive, Charlottesville, VA 22903.There will be a memorial service at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Southern Pines, North Carolina at a later date.