Lucy Flippo Wisely

LUCY F. WISELY STAUNTON, VA Lucy Flippo Wisely of 55 Woodland Drive, Staunton, Virginia, passed away at home on Sunday, May 31, 2015 at the age of 96. She was the daughter of Thomas Franklin and Alice Carter Flippo of Doswell, Va. and was born on July 23, 1918. She was preceded in death by her husband, J. Russell Wisely who died in September of 2014. They were married for 72 years. She was also preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Carter and Arthur Flippo. She was graduated from Ashland High School as valedictorian. She was a graduate of William and Mary College Extension in Richmond, Va., with a major in social work. She also did graduate work there. Early work experiences include social worker in South Hampton County and in Augusta County. She was married in 1942 to J. Russell Wisely of Waynesboro, Va. and went to New Orleans where her husband was employed by Travelers Insurance Company. There she worked for the Port of Embarkation as a social worker. Later, when her husband was in the Army Air Force, she worked for the Red Cross San Antonio, Texas as a case work supervisor. After World War II ended, she and her husband and their 1 year old daughter moved to Staunton. Here she joined the Jr. Woman's Club, the Deane Holt Hospital Auxiliary, where she served as president, and the Staunton Book Club. She was a charter member of St. John's United Methodist Church where she served as Chairman of the Executive Board, Chairman of the Altar Committee, Chairman of the Pastor Parish Committee, and Chairman of the United Methodist Women. She enjoyed volunteer work and served as Treasurer and later Chairman of Meals on Wheels. She was a volunteer with the Staunton Visitor's Center and also a volunteer with King's Daughter's Hospital and Augusta Medical Center. Mrs. Wisely enjoyed a very full, active life for many years. She and her husband Russ traveled throughout much of the world together. They enjoyed square dancing, playing bridge, and winter in Florida and many weeks at Smith Mountain Lake, once Russ retired. Mrs. Wisely was an avid reader and was especially interested in the education of her children and grandchildren. She helped to foster in all of them an interest and curiosity about the rest of the world and she believed you could never have too much education. At home, she was known for her lemon jello cakes and freshly baked crisp chocolate chip cookies which were always ready for friends and family when they visited. Mrs. Wisely is survived by her three children, her daughter Linda Carter Wisely Leinster and her husband Bill, of Greensboro, North Carolina, their daughters, Whitney Russell Leinster Krause and husband, Keith of Stuttgart, Germany, and Logan Leinster Schmidt and husband Andrew of East Grand Rapids, Michigan; her son Stephen W. Wisely and his wife, Elizabeth, of Staunton, and their daughter Eldridge Katherine Wisely of Tucson, Arizona; and her son Clayton R. Wisely and his wife, Jane of Staunton, their son Ellis Wisely and his wife Allison of Columbus, Ohio, and their daughter Lauren Wisely and her fiancé, Drew Haverly of Arlington, Va. She is also survived by one great granddaughter, Claire Eloise Schmidt of East Grand Rapids, Michigan. Also surviving are special "second daughter" Gina Krizsa of Tucson, Arizona and two nephews, T. Nelson Flippo of Ashland, Va. and Frank Flippo, Jr. of Doswell, Va. Mrs. Wisely's family would especially like to thank her caregivers Chessie Dice, Denese Bennett, Laura Simmons, Rita Sprouse, Margaret Toye, and Naomi Carroll for their kind and diligent care of her during the past year. Visitation will be held at Henry Funeral Home, 1030 West Beverley Street, Staunton, Va., on Friday, June 5, 2015 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM. A memorial service will be held at St John's Methodist Church at 1716 North Augusta Street in Staunton, Virginia at 2:00 PM on Saturday, June 6, 2015. A private interment at Thornrose Cemetery will follow the service. The family requests that memorials be made to St. John's United Methodist Church, 1716 North Augusta Street, Staunton, VA 24401; Augusta Regional Free Clinic, 342 Mule Academy Road, Fishersville, VA 22939; or to a charity of one's choice. Henry Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.