Rose G. Low of Daleville, Va. was born on October 21, 1929, passed away peacefully on Friday, February 5, 2021. Rose was raised in Bedford, Va. before earning a degree from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. From there, she moved to Rockville, Maryland where she welcomed her four children.
The family moved from Maryland to New Hampshire and Rose took a job with Dartmouth College. After the adventure of rural living, she spent several years in New York City working for Barnard College. She then moved to Boston, working first for Brandeis and then Boston University. She finished her career as Dean of Development for Dean College in Franklin, Massachusetts before returning to Virginia for retirement.
Her passions included traveling, gardening, and family history. She traveled the world with her family and friends, and she shared that love of travel by taking each of her grandchildren to a destination of their choice when they turned 13. Her sense of adventure took her to far-flung places that included Russia, Australia, New Zealand, Greece and Egypt and a trip to Italy with her three daughters for her 75th birthday.
Her garden was where she could be found when she wasn’t traveling; she was president of the Brae and Beck garden club in Fincastle for three year and knew the Latin names of everything she grew.
Because family was so important to her, she kept photos, letters, and knew many details of her family’s history, some of which dates back to the Civil War. She was loved by many and will be greatly missed.
Rose was preceded in death by her son, Jim Low; her brother, Reid Gills; and sister, Virginia McCutcheon (Gills). She is survived by her three daughters, Leslie Martien (Charlie) of Boulder, Colorado, Becky Machnik (Todd) of Old Lyme, Connecticut, and Norma Low of Huntsville, Alabama; her grandchildren, Angie Lewis (Phillip), Tom Machnik (Kat), Catherine Hammond (Skip), Kevin Machnik (Holly), Peter Machnik (Lauren), and Dinesh Martien (Karen); her great-grandchildren, David, Dylan, Lelia, Ben, Gabriella, and Miranda; her brother, Charlie Gills; and many nieces and nephews.
My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style. (Maya Angelou)
Rose lived her life with passion, compassion, humor, and style. She left her mark on this world and will be carried on in all who loved her.
Services will be planned for a future date. Online condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.oakeys.com. Arrangements entrusted to Oakey’s Funeral Service – East Chapel, Roanoke, Va., (540) 977-3909.