Rossi

Dick Rossi, born Aug. 7, 1940, died on May 26, 2010. A beloved father and friend, his life and the lives of those he touched cannot not be summarized here. “I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other. Then, someone at my side says; “There, she is gone!” “Gone where?” Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port. Her diminished size is in me, not in her. And just at the moment when someone at my side says, “There, she is gone!” There are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout; “Here she comes!” And that is dying.” A celebration of Dick’s life was held at the North Pole Restaurant on Thursday, June 3, 2010. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Full Circle Grief Center, 10611 Patterson Ave., Building 201, Richmond, Va. 23238. Thank you Judson and Leslie for bringing us full circle.

Shelton

Julia Price Shelton, “Momma Julia”, departed this life May 21, 2010. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and one daughter. She is survived by two sons, James E. Christian and William E. Shelton; one daughter, Barbara Dabney; one brother, Joseph Christian; 14 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Remains rest at Walter J. Manning Funeral Home, 700 N. 25th St., where the family received friends Tuesday, May 25, 2010, and where funeral services were held Wednesday, May 26, 2010. Rev. Rodney Christian officiated. Graveside services were held at Union Baptist Church Cemetery.

Thieme

August A. Thieme Jr. “I think that if ever a mortal heard the voice of God, it would be in a garden at the cool of the day.” ~ F.F. Moore. God visited August A. Thieme Jr., 83, in his Goochland, garden on the afternoon of May 22, 2010. They sat on his garden bench overlooking and admiring the waterfalls, the Japanese teahouse, the host of flowers, trees, and myriad homes for God’s creatures that “Thieme” had spent years tending with love. As the sun began to set, Thieme accepted God’s invitation to tend His heavenly garden, where he could also be reunited with Margaret, his loving wife of 56 years. Born Nov. 10, 1926, son of August A. Thieme and Ethel H. Thieme, he is survived by one sister, Evelyn Thieme Coates of Palmyra, Va.; beloved niece, Kirkie Archer and husband, Johnny, of Chesterfield; two nephews, Harold J. Coates Jr. and wife, Joyce, of Louisa and Christopher T. Coates of Richmond; niece, Carol C. Sylvester and husband, John, of Richmond; lifelong railroad buddies, Bill McQuail, Claude Abernathy, and Bill McClure of Richmond; and a host of friends. Thieme truly lived life to the fullest. He served in the Navy on the U.S.S. Albany, was a chief chemist at Froehling and Robertson for over 50 years, volunteered many years on the Goochland Fire and Rescue Squad, was an accomplished author and photographer, having published The Norfolk and Western: As I Knew It!, and was a renowned expert on steam locomotives, sharing his expertise with other members of the Norfolk and Western Historical Society for over 50 years. He and his wife also raised and showed German Shepherds throughout their lives, were active members of Dover Baptist Church, and supporters of Maymont Park, Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens, and For the Love of Animals in Goochland (FLAG). Family received friends at the Parham Chapel, Woody Funeral Home, 1771 N. Parham Road, on Wednesday, May 26, 2010. Services were held at Dover Baptist Church, 635 Manakin Road, Manakin-Sabot, on Thursday, May 27, 2010. In lieu of flowers, friends may wish to consider making a contribution to the Dover Baptist Church Building Fund or Goochland Fire and Rescue. Condolences may be offered at woodyfuneralhomeparham.com.