Janice Walker Pogue

1936 - 2022

POGUE, Janice Walker, 86, of Richmond, passed away peacefully at home with her family on Thursday, December 8, 2022.

She is survived by her sons, Robert Roe Pogue and his wife, Lourdes, Jack Elliott Pogue and Walker Pogue; and her grandson, Robert Elliott Pogue and his wife, Maddie.

Janice was predeceased by her parents, Roe and Mildred Walker; her sisters, Joan Lee and Barbara Walker; and her beloved French bulldog, Roe's Bud.

Janice was born in De Kalb, Illinois on August 16, 1936. She graduated from Shorewood High School and earned a bachelor's degree in English from the College of William and Mary. She met Robert Edward Pogue at the University of Virginia, and they were married in Fort Sill, Oklahoma in 1959.

Janice lived in multiple locations in the Midwest before settling in Richmond in 1969. She stewarded many architectural renovation projects, most notably The Branch House on Monument Avenue, which was built in 1919. Through her efforts, The Branch House was added to the National Historical Registry in 1982. Janice collaborated on the project with Carleton Varney, renowned interior designer for The Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia and the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan. She loved and cherished the process of home restoration.

Janice divided her time between her residences in Richmond and White Sulphur Springs for many years. She became involved in several charitable projects in West Virginia, including the Roe Walker Family Fund/Janice Walker Pogue Scholarship for high school students in the area. She was also involved in the restoration of Old Stone Presbyterian Church, and she contributed her efforts to various civic organizations in Greenbrier County.

Janice had a zeal for international travel. While she enjoyed visiting the world's great sites including the Taj Mahal and the Great Wall of China, her true passion was immersing herself in more remote parts of the world that were relatively untouched by time. Among her many adventures, she fulfilled her lifelong dream of visiting Burma, took the Tran Siberian Express through Russia, cruised the Baltic capitals and experienced Southern Africa and the Persian Gulf.

In Janice's later years, she doted on her beloved French bulldogs. One of her Frenchies, Roe's Bud, competed nationally and brought home top honors.

Janice was devoted and fiercely loyal to her family and lifelong friends. She was thoughtful and generous, always checking in and available for those she loved. She also reveled in stealthily dropping off unexpected treats and notes of encouragement or congratulations. Her letter writing skills were second to none.

She enjoyed the finer things in life yet remained true to her Midwestern sensibility. She was detail-oriented and meticulous by nature, yet tenderly sentimental. Her iconic and timeless style never succumbed to fads, truly making her one-of-a-kind.

These are just a sampling of all the traits and interests that made her so extraordinary and cherished. She will be missed and forever in the hearts of all who loved her.

A private graveside service was held in Hollywood Cemetery on Saturday, December 17. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made in her name to the Richmond SPCA.