Sara P Schwarberg

Born on April 19, 1938, in Charlottesville, Virginia, Sara grew up on the family farm in Stanardsville in Greene County. She was the daughter of George and Eugenia, both from prominent Greene County families.

A graduate of William Monroe High School in Stanardsville (Class of 1955), Sara attended Longwood College for three years before transferring to James Madison University. There she was voted Miss James Madison in 1959 and earned her degree in English.

Following in her mother’s footsteps, Sara dedicated her life to teaching. She began her 44-year career in Roanoke, Virginia. After two years there, she moved to Denver, Colorado, where she met the love of her life, Tom Schwarberg. They married in June 1964 and soon relocated to California, where Sara taught ninth-grade English and Tom served as city geologist for Los Angeles. The couple enjoyed their time in California, exploring the state in their convertible and sailing the coast on their first sailboat.

In 1969, they returned to Virginia when Tom accepted the directorship of the Virginia State Water Control Board. Their first child, son Beau, was born in 1970. A daughter, Brande, was born in 1979. The family settled in Fairfax, Virginia, where they lived for 30 happy years and raised their two children. Sara taught freshman English at Robert E. Lee High School and later at James W. Robinson and West Springfield High Schools. She was recognized numerous times by the Commonwealth of Virginia as an extraordinary educator.

In 2002, during a sailing trip, Tom and Sara discovered Wilmington, North Carolina, and chose to retire there in 2003. They enjoyed 15 wonderful years together in Wilmington before Tom’s passing in 2018. Sara spent her final eight years peacefully with her daughter Brande, corresponding with her many friends, former colleagues, students, and sorority sisters. An avid reader, she spent countless hours in her custom-built home library adorned with hunt-scene artwork and fox statuettes she had collected over her lifetime. She cherished frequent visits from her son Beau and daughter-in-law Mary.

Sara was preceded in death by her beloved husband of nearly 54 years, Tom Schwarberg.

She is survived by her children, Beau Schwarberg (wife Mary) of Apopka, Florida, and Brande Schwarberg of Wilmington; and by her sister, Jean Hendricks of Baltimore, Maryland.

Sara was a beautiful and elegant woman who embodied poise, grace, and kindness. She set a lifelong example for her children through her love of language, literature, and learning. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her—none more so than her devoted children.