Grace Vial's Obituary
Evelyn Grace Vial
December 25, 1918 – May 5, 2008
Evelyn Vial passed from this life to the next on Monday, May 5, 2008. Evelyn Grace Shealy a tiny Christmas baby was born to James Shealy and Evelyn (Reynolds) Shealy on December 25, 1918 in Baltimore, Maryland. After losing both parents as a child, she was raised by an older Sister in a strict Catholic home. Sadly she left home to marry the first man that she met but happily soon had a little boy and girl. Although the marriage ended, she had found her true calling as Mother. As a divorced independent woman in the late nineteen forties, she worked at the Bureau of Engraving while rearing two children in Washington, D.C. There she met a handsome Army Corporal just home from the war, George H. Vial, Jr., the love of her life. The two love-birds soon married, had four more children and Evelyn dedicated herself to Wife, Motherhood and homemaker while George worked hard as a Steel foreman to support the family. They kissed every morning and held hands every night, they sang and laughed and welcomed good friends and all the neighborhood children into their home every weekend for food and fun. Sadly George was killed in Nineteen seventy Three, a freak accident at a Library of Congress construction site in Washington, D.C. With three children still living at home, Evelyn continued her humorous, enthusiastic, caring job as Mother and she stayed true to George for all her days. Evelyn lived with her family in Washington, D.C. and several Northern Virginia communities prior to moving to Manassas in the mid eighties. She was a long time member of the Manassas Presbyterian Church and was a volunteer pink-lady at Prince William Hospital for many years. She was one of the first residents of The Fairmont Retirement home where she leaves many good friends who will remember her style and her asmile. For the last 10 months of her life, she lived with her daughter and son-in-law in Manassas, VA. In addition to being a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, she was a true friend and mentor of the possibilities of life, never meeting a stranger in all her 89 years. Evelyn always found goodness in every person and situation sharing her optimistic outlook with all who would listen. Surviving are the luckiest children in the world to have called her Mom! From Manassas, Margaret Wensil, Roger ( & Barbara) Cross and Juanita ( & Tom) Diggs; George (& Cathy) Vial of Nokesville and Marlys (& David) Howard of Leesburg; Twelve Grandchildren: Beverly Wensil, Laura Wensil, Shiela Wensil, Randee Cross, Kelly Stewart, Jay (& Pam) Burke, Jeffrey Burke, Bryce ( & Michelle Vial, Victoria Vial ,Mia Howard, Jordan Ware, Jackson Ware, Numerous Great Grandchildren and many nieces and nephews who will miss her deeply. In addition to her parents and two sisters Elenor Vogelsang and Deloris Shealy, Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband George; her wonderful youngest child Jean Ware; and four dear Grandchildren: Amber Vial, Lana Wensil, Rachelle Howard and Mark Howard. The family will receive friends 7 pm to 9 pm Friday, May 9, 2008 at Found and Sons Lee Funeral Chapel 8521 Sudley Road Manassas, Virginia and where funeral services will take place 11 am Saturday, May 10, 2008 with Pastor Richard Pennington officiating. Interment to follow at Stonewall Memory Gardens Manassas, Virginia.
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