Lynda C Vining

Lynda Carper Vining was born in Norfolk, Virginia, on September 20, 1941, to Shirley L. Kelly and Leo E. Carper. She attended Norfolk public schools, Maury High School, and graduated from Mrs. Turnbull’s School in 1959. After high school, she attended the College of William and Mary Norfolk Division and afterwards entered the workforce by accepting employment at the City of Norfolk. On Saint Patrick’s Day of 1962, Lynda married William Drury Vining and remained in Norfolk until 1968, when she and Bill moved out of the state, where he had accepted employment with Litton Industries. In 1969, Bill accepted an appointment to the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, where Lynda resided until her death on March 26, 2024, as a result of complications related to Alzheimer’s disease, from which she suffered for over twelve years. From childhood, Lynda loved animals, cared for them, and championed their welfare. She volunteered and worked for the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA for a number of years. While there, in addition to the routine care for animals, she provided education on the proper maintenance and care of all animals and shared the mission and good work of the SPCA with public schools and senior care facilities. She hosted school groups while they visited the shelter facilities, assisted the veterinarian with medical procedures, and managed the shelter while the director was away. After leaving the SPCA, Lynda worked as an administrative staff member at the Alternative School of the Albemarle County Public Schools. There, she grew to love the faculty and students and believed wholeheartedly in the mission of the school. Her days there were some of her happiest. The last employment of Lynda’s career was dedicated to being the executive assistant to J. Wilson Newman, retired Chairman of Dun & Bradstreet, a New York Wall Street company. She expected to work for Mr. Newman for a few years. However, because of his longevity, she worked for him for over twenty years. As a Dun & Bradstreet employee, she was amused that her employee number was 001. Lynda is survived by her husband of over 62 years, William Drury Vining of Charlottesville, two children, son Scott Drury Vining of Lancaster County, and daughter Jean Vining Reese of Crozet, and her husband, Fred Hooper Reese, Jr., and two grandchildren, Tyler Hooper Reese of Crozet, and Sara Virginia Vining of Williamsburg. Also surviving are her sister, Joan Cornelius, and her husband, Robert, of Crozet. Preceding Lynda in death are her mother Shirley K. Petty, father Leo E. Carper, stepfather George L. Petty, Jr., and grandson Seth Hooper Reese. Memorial contributions in Lynda’s name may be made to The Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA, 3355 Berkmar Drive, Charlottesville, VA 22901, Hospice of the Piedmont, 675 Peter Jefferson Parkway, Suite 300, Charlottesville, VA 22911, or a charity of your choice. The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff of Hospice of the Piedmont and the staff of the Memory Care Unit of Commonwealth Senior Living, who provided the wonderful care that Lynda needed in her final days.