Lola Belle Rhea

She was born on March 26, 1928 in Oxford, NC and graduated from Welch High School in Welch, WV. On December 8, 1952 she married Joseph A. Rhea, of West Virginia. Due to his career in the Air Force, they enjoyed being stationed in Washington, Oregon, Michigan, and a five-year posting in England. She loved to travel, and took pride in making a home no matter where they were stationed. After his retirement in 1966, they settled in Hampton, VA.

Lola enjoyed being a homemaker, gardening, crocheting, knitting, and most of all her love for animals, with special love for her dog Callie and cat Jaime.

Lola was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph A. Rhea. Left to cherish her memory is her beloved daughter, Brenda J. Rhea, of Hampton, VA, her sister, Mary Montgomery of Baltimore, MD, and many nieces and nephews in Maryland, Florida, and West Virginia.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Friday, Sept. 20, 2013 at Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home. A celebration of Lola’s life will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, Sept.21, at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Parklawn Memorial Park.

Special thanks for the exceptional care rendered by the staff at Sentara CarePlex Hospital in Hampton and her physicians Dr. Phillip Dennis and Dr. Colin Kingston.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Peninsula Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 523 J. Clyde Morris Blvd., Newport News, VA.

Friends are encouraged to visit www.parklawn-woodfh.com to share memories and words of condolence with the family.

Arrangements are under the care of Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home, 2551 N. Armistead Avenue, Hampton, VA 23666.