Wind, D. Alex

D. Alex Wind, of Shawsville, Va., died early Sunday morning after a three year struggle with eye melanoma. Alex was born Deirdre Alexandra Szego on March 24, 1948 in Seattle, Washington to George C. Szego and the late Marion G. Szego. Alex graduated from Warrenton High School in 1966 and from ODU in 1970 with a BFA. In 2002 she completed work on her MFA from Radford University.

Early in her career Alex worked as a graphic artist and photographer in Norfolk, Va. Later she worked for the USPS as a rural mail carrier, first in Chesapeake, Va., and later in Radford. She retired in 2003 after 24 years of service due to her health.

Alex’s interest in art was wide ranging. She enjoyed painting and sculpture, as well as fabric art and jewelry making. For her master’s thesis Alex produced a seated black Madonna and Child which employed many of her talents; mosaics, crochet sculpture and fabric.

Alex enjoyed horses her whole life. As a teen she helped her father raise thoroughbreds on their farm in Warrenton, Va. Later, in Shawsville, she raised Norwegian Fjord ponies and gave riding lessons.

Alex was always spiritually centered, but her involvement in church life came late in life, and was the result of her love of art. Through the mentoring of Nadine Allen she was drawn to Glade Church in Blacksburg, which offers an ever-changing gallery to local artists, as part of the church’s spiritual message. Involvement in Glade Church lead Alex to a great spiritual awakening, and she was baptized in 2003 in the New River. Also, Alex lent her voice to the church choir, a new experience for her.

Alex is survived by her husband, Paul C. Boody; by her daughter, Chandra L. Windpainter, and her granddaughter Kaya J. Windpainter. Also surviving is her father, Dr. George C. Szego, of Dover, Del.; her aunt, Dr. Claire “Klarika” S. Roberts, of Pacific Palisades, Calif. and her cousin, Jane Alpert, of Newton, Mass.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, December 23, 2006, at 11 a.m. at Glade Church, Blacksburg, Va. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Alex’s honor to the Glade Church Building Fund, 1600 Glade Road, Blacksburg, Va. 24060, or to the American Cancer Society, 2840 Electric Road, Suite 106A, Roanoke, Va. 24018. The viewing is Friday, December 22, from 7 to 9 p.m. at McCoy Funeral Home, 150 Country Club Drive, Blacksburg.