Dobyns, Cornelia Gates
It is with sadness that we announce the passing and celebrate the life of Cornelia Gates Dobyns on October 20, 2016 in Richmond, Virginia. She has joined her predeceased husband of 60 years, James Robert (Bob) Dobyns and her parents; Willie Mae Preston Gates and Howard Preese Gates; brother, Thomas Jefferson (Jeff) Gates and sister, Wanda Lee Gates Schwarzmann.
She is survived by her twin sister Cordelia Gates Richards and her husband Bob Richards of Shawnee Mission, Kansas and two daughters; Robyn Neil Dobyns of Salem, Virginia and Rebecca Mae Dobyns and her husband, Mark Mitchell of Richmond, Virginia, sister in laws; Barbara Gates Phlegar and her husband Archie Phlegar of Blacksburg, Virginia, and Carolyn Todd Dobyns wife of Richard Allison Dobyns, Jr. (deceased) of Grasonville, Maryland, brother in law; Jack Schwarzmann, Cousins; Marcella Arline Schools Joel Silvey and wife Pat of Gibsonville, N.C., Coral Lee Gates Foster and husband Gerald of Virginia Beach, VA, Jackie Preston and wife Faye of Huddleston, Va, Billy Preston and wife Peggy of Bedford, VA, Fleeta Millard, Brenda Woodford and many nieces and nephews.
Cornelia was born an identical twin on November 26, 1929 in Norfolk, Virginia and spent her formative years in Blacksburg, Va. She graduated from Blacksburg High School in 1948 and from VPI & SU with a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1951. She met her beloved Bob at Va. Tech and they married in 1951.
Cornelia was devoted to family, enjoyed an active and full life with her hobbies of painting, sports, and the observance of beauty in life, especially in nature and the change of seasons. As well as being a wonderful and dedicated mother and wife, she entertained many with her abilities as a hostess and great cook. Cornelia had a special place in her heart for children, and earned a certificate to organize a kindergarten for preschoolers in Pulaski from 1961-1963.
She loved flying, and earned her pilot’s license to fly a single-engine plane in 1968. She was a member of the Virginia D.A.R. Chapter IV. Cornelia and Bob were youth leaders at the First Presbyterian Church of Pulaski and in 1976 traveled to Kananga, Zaire in Africa to spend two years in volunteer service to the Hospital and community. Cornelia and Bob lovingly started 5 scholarships at New River Community College and to date 124 students have benefited from these bequests. Cornelia and Bob traveled the world to see and appreciate the people and cultures but were always glad to return home to their roots (or beloved mountains of Southwestern Virginia).
The Dobyns family would like to thank her many Caregivers for their compassionate devotion; with special appreciation to Pam, Faye, Ashley, Jennifer, Pat, Olivia, Tempest, Kimora and staff of Heartland Hospice and the MCV/VCU Parkinson’s Clinic. Her adventurous spirit, wry humor, and true grit will be greatly missed by her multitude of family and dear friends.
Visitation will be Tuesday, October 25, from 4:00-6:00pm at New Dublin Presbyterian Church in Dublin, Virginia and her service will be on Wednesday, October 26 at 11:00am at New Dublin Presbyterian Church with burial at the New Dublin Presbyterian Cemetery. A meal will be served at the church following the burial. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations in her memory be given to the New Dublin Presbyterian Church, the Nature Conservancy of Virginia or the Pulaski Fine Arts Building. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.seaglefuneralhome.com Arrangements by Seagle Funeral Home, Pulaski. 540-980-1700