Grace Eva Shamblin

July 18, 1926 - September 22, 2020

Grace Eva Hughes Shamblin, 94, of Alexandria, VA, passed away on Sept. 22, 2020. Grace is survived by her loving husband of 76 years, Harry Donald (“Don”) Shamblin; son, Ronald Keith (Andrea) Shamblin; daughter, Eva Jane (Kerry) Donley, all of Alexandria; daughter-in-law, Winifred Young Shamblin of Orange Park, FL and nine granddaughters: Dana (Joe) Andy of Arlington, VA; Leslie (Chris) Alford of Gray, GA; Kristin Donley of Alexandria; Lisa Mathew of Warsaw, OH; Kaitlin Donley (James Wilson) of Alexandria; Holly (Neil) Sliva of Penndel, PA; Colleen Donley of Alexandria; Cara Donley of Washington, DC; and Kelsey Donley of Arlington. She is also survived by 12 great-grandchildren. Grace is also mourned by numerous nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors. She is predeceased by her parents, William Allen Hughes and Lulu Smiley Hughes; stepmother, Mary Glassburn Hughes; son, Donald Allen Shamblin; daughter-in-law, Joyce Ann Shamblin; and sister, Alberta Belle Hellyer. Grace was born on July 18, 1926 in Gallia County, OH in her grandmother’s farmhouse. She married Don on Aug. 20, 1944 in Cheshire, OH and they raised their family there until moving to Alexandria, VA in 1961. She lived in the Virginia Hills neighborhood of Fairfax County in Alexandria from 1961 to 2017, at which time she and Don moved to Sunrise Assisted Living in Alexandria. Grace was a dedicated member of Virginia Hills Baptist Church. Additionally, she was a 70+-year member of the Ohio Grand Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star. She worked in the bookkeeping department for First and Citizens Bank, which later became United Virginia Bank and then Crestar Bank, in Old Town, Alexandria, VA, from 1966 to 1985. Grace also enjoyed working as a part-time Avon sales representative for a number of years. Grace will be remembered for her strong faith, welcoming nature and endless generosity; she graciously hosted many family gatherings and holiday celebrations in her cozy home and always made room for another guest (or two) at the table. Grace loved being outdoors and took pleasure in the simple joys in life: sweeping her porch each day; enjoying the sun and warm weather on the beach or her patio; pulling beans, tomatoes and cucumbers from her annual garden; and feeding the squirrels and birds in her backyard. She also loved decorating her home for every season and holiday, keeping a fully-stocked candy jar for visitors, reading Danielle Steel books, making and gifting her famous peanut butter fudge, and cheering for the Washington Redskins, even during their losing seasons. “My land, maybe next week they will actually show up and play,” she would say, shaking her head, after a Redskins loss. Countless memories of Grace’s infectious laugh, kind spirit and warm smile will be cherished by all those who knew and loved her. The immediate family will gather for a private remembrance service in October; plans for a memorial service at Virginia Hills Baptist Church will be announced at a later date. Internment at Gravel Hill Cemetery in Cheshire, Ohio will occur at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Grace’s name to Virginia Hills Baptist Church, 6507 Telegraph Rd., Alexandria, VA 22310.