Donna Jean Bisbee

Donna attended McKinley Elementary, Ashlawn Elementary, Kenmore Jr. High School, and Wakefield High School where she was an excellent student and cheerleader.

After graduating from North Carolina University (Greensboro), she accepted a position as an English Teacher for the San Diego School Systems were she taught for over 20 years. Donna continued her education and earned her Master’s Degree at Pepperdine University and studied English further, spending two summers at Oxford University for a doctoral program with New York University.

Donna loved to read books and magazines, enjoyed British TV shows, and murder mysteries. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends and loved a good laugh with them. Donna was well-traveled and enjoyed spending time in Hawaii and England.

She leaves her two loving brothers, David and Michael Bisbee; and many close friends on the West Coast. Preceding her in death are her parents, Donald and Ruth Ann Bisbee who are buried at Arlington National Cemetery in section 68.

Below in her own words from her 50th High School Reunion:

"I was happy at Wakefield. My goal in life in high school was to be a cheerleader and I got to do that. At Wakefield, I took Art-English-Music Seminar, the best class I ever had. Integrating the arts with the study of literature ended up being my approach/philosophy when I later became a teacher.

In 1965, I started my first job at Garfinckel's at Seven Corners and worked there during breaks and summers while attending UNC-Greensboro. Because I loved to read, my B.A. was in English. I accepted the first teaching job I was offered and worked for San Diego City Schools for 25 years.The first seven years, my goal was to save the world through reading and studying stories and to get to the end of the pay scale as soon as possible. That meant getting an M.A. at Pepperdine University plus 60 hours in graduate courses in English. Did that! Then I wanted a condo. Got one!

Next, I wanted to go to England. In 1980, I traveled to London for the first time. Loved it! Schemed how I could go back, and found a doctoral program offered by NYU for teachers of English which included two summers in Oxford. That time was the highlight of my life, my bliss time. When I returned to San Diego, I had been riffed and lost my place in the high school I was teaching. I ended up in a junior high, which was not where I wanted to be. I quit the NYU program, my biggest protest (a mistake). Eventually, I got back into high school again and I got to teach American Lit., my favorite. The school even had a view of the Pacific Ocean from the teachers' parking lot, but it was a bad school and in 1995, I quit.

I moved back to Arlington. Since then I've worked in a bookstore, in two law firms, and NOVA-Annandale, and now I work full-time for two CPAs, but just during tax season. I now live in my Dad's house, which is where I was when I went to Wakefield! I have a very quiet life. I like art galleries, museums, libraries, British mysteries, PBS, and the Redskins."

Burial will take place on Wednesday, May 25th at 11:00 am at National Memorial Park (7482 Lee Hwy., Falls Church, VA 22042).

Donations can be made in Donna’s memory to your local American Cancer Society.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.murphy-funeralhomes.com for the Bisbee family.