Jane G. Packard

Jane Gold Packard, born Jane Louise Gold, died on Friday, August 10, 2012, at the age of 93 in Hospice Care at Goodwin House Bailey's Crossroads with her two daughers, Christine and Frances, by her side.

Jane was born on June 24, 1919, in Cincinnati, Ohio. As an only child, Jane grew up with a love of books that remained throughout her life. She went to Walnut Hills High School, graduated from Wellesley College, married her college sweetheart, Robert Packard in 1943, and settled in the DC area. Jane worked at Arlington Hall during World War II and then remained at home to raise her two daughters until they were in high school when she began tutoring high school students with reading difficulties. She eventualloy found her way to the Kingsbury Center in Washington, DC where she worked as a reading tutor for students with learning disabilities, and finally to Episcopal High School where she taught English for 13 years as the only woman on staff.

After Bob's death in 1992, Jane remained in their home in Arlington, Virginia, until 2003 when she moved into Goodwin House Bailey's Crossroads. During that time she continued her tutoring and traveled throughout the world visiting her family and friends.

Jane spent the remaining years of her life as an active member of the Goodwin House community where she helped to make the library into the greatly expanded and vital part of the community that it is today. She loved a good book, crossword puzzles and acrostics and thoroughly enjoyed her last years at Goodwin House with her many new friends.

Jane was a life long member of Trinity Presbyterian Church from the early days when she and Bob helped create a pre-school program until her later years when she volunteered in the church office. Even as she grew older and was unable to get around easily, she continued to attend church services whenever possible.

Jane is survived by her two daughters, Frances Packard of Vicenza, Italy, and Christine Packard and her husband Scott Yeager of Essex, Vermont; her two grandchildren, Abigail Roy and her husband Jesse of Chicago, Illinois, and Eric Yeager of Nashville, Tennessee.

In lieu of flowers, Jane has requested that contributions in her memory be made to the Goodwin House Foundation, 3340 South Jefferson Street, Falls Church, VA 22041.