Josephine Gundry Vining, registered nurse

Josephine Primrose Gundry Vining of Charlottesville, Va., found eternal peace Friday, Oct. 18, 2013.

Born July 5, 1925, in Baltimore, Md., Primrose was the oldest child of Jesse and Alice Gundry of Catonsville, Md. and Rehoboth Beach. She was married in 1947 to the late L. Heath Vining Jr., and is survived by her sister, Mrs. Jerome B. Tinling of Alamogordo, N.M. Primrose is also survived by her four children: R. Neil Vining and his wife Peggy of Cary, N.C., Harrison F. Vining of Rehoboth Beach, Josephine Vining Sheatsley and her husband David of Richmond, Va. and Robert E. Vining and his wife Kathryn of Fredericksburg, Va. Her family also includes eleven grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren.

In addition to raising a family, Primrose was an registered nurse who practiced nursing in many roles and was a member of the Red Cross. In 1967, she was among the original staff members of Goodwin House in Alexandria, Va., where she became one of the first licensed nursing home administrators in the country. Primrose retired in 1990 and moved to Westminster-Canterbury of the Blue Ridge in 1993. Since that time, she has become a friend to many in the area and was able to re-establish her relationship with Grace Church in Keswick, Va. where she had attended services as a child.

A memorial service will be held at Grace Episcopal Church, Keswick, at 1 p.m., Friday, Oct. 25, with a reception following at Westminster-Canterbury of the Blue Ridge in Charlottesville.

Primrose was a faithful soldier of the Lord; never questioning His presence, His strength or His grace. She never met a stranger and never forgot a face. She will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved her. Gifts in her memory may be made to the Westminster-Canterbury Fellowship Fund, 250 Pantops Mountain Road, Charlottesville, VA 22911.