Gwyneth A. Newport

Passed away on Friday 5th March 2021 at Inova Fairfax Hospital. Gwen was a devoted wife, daughter, sister and friend who was born in Covington, Virginia shortly after her mother Glenys Anderson (née Rowlands) had arrived in America from the UK with Gwen’s brother John to join her father Alfred Emil Anderson. Gwen grew up in Covington with her mother resuming her nursing career and coped with the loss firstly of a younger sister, Judith who had a congenital heart defect and did not survive infancy, and secondly the loss of her father. She left Covington after high school to attend Madison College (now James Madison University) to pursue her desire to become a teacher. After graduation, she started work as an elementary school teacher in Fairfax County, where she remained until she retired, working in several schools during that time. She loved teaching, was dedicated to her pupils and was a great support to her colleagues throughout her career. She met and married John Newport and they enjoyed a life together with a number of dogs over the years. They also supported Jackie and Jamie Newport when they came to live with them during their teenage years.

Gwen lovingly looked after her husband, then her mother and finally her brother as they battled with their various health problems at the end of their lives, while coping with her own increasing health issues. She showed great fortitude through her own suffering and repeatedly bounced back from kidney failure and dialysis, heart surgery, subsequent kidney transplant, diabetes related problems with her sight and chronic liver disease. So determined to help the hospital where she had been given her kidney, she was a volunteer for over ten years at Inova Fairfax Transplant Unit, helping people through administrative processes and advising where she could. She remained fiercely independent and loved her home in Falls Church where she was a kind friend and neighbor. She loved having the neighbours’ children around her and when they moved away, even as far as home to Australia, they kept in touch and returned to see her when they could.

Gwen touched the lives of many and will be sorely missed by her remaining family in England, Wales and Australia as well as in the US. Her friends who range from college days up to the present will equally find it difficult to think of life without the kind heart that was Gwen.

The funeral service will be held on Wednesday 17th March 2021 at 10.00am at the National Memorial Funeral Home, 7482 Lee Highway, Falls Church, Virginia 22042 followed by the burial at the same location. In the light of current restrictions, there will be a Facebook Live broadcast of the service. Please find the details at:

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/falls-church-va/gwyneth-newport-10086840

In lieu of flowers, if you wish to make a donation. Please consider the Inova Health Foundation (note the Transplant Center), 8110 Gatehouse Road, Suite 200 East, Falls Church, VA 22042-1210, the Capital Caring Hospice, 950 N Glebe Road, Suite 500, Arlington VA, 22203 (in memory of Glenys Anderson) or the charity of your choice.