Rosa Lee McGuinn

Rosa Lee (Harper) McGuinn passed away peacefully surrounded by loving family on Monday, March 9, 2026 at her home in McLean, Virginia at the age of 95. She was born March 2, 1931 in Asheville, North Carolina to Lott Luther Harper and Cordelia (Cogburn) Harper. After graduating from Oakley High School in 1950, Rosa Lee moved from Asheville to Alexandria, Virginia and went to work for the United States Marine Corps. In 1953 she married William Franklin McGuinn and together they raised two daughters, Debra (Hughes) Pierce and Janis (Philip) Theunissen. Rosa Lee and her husband purchased a home in McLean in 1957, where they both worked at the Central Intelligence Agency until retirement. Rosa Lee was an active member of the Charles Wesley United Methodist Church from its founding in 1958 until its closure in 2020. Her Missionettes Circle members will most likely remember her for her unselfish contributions of time, support and truly tasty desserts.

Rosa Lee was preceded in death by her husband of more than 55 years, her parents, older brothers Thomas Arthur, Carl George, Clyde Washington, and older sisters Lucille Gladys Freck, Viola Margaret Bolton, Martha Florence Gantt, and Ruth Aldrea Snelson. In addition to her devoted daughters, she is survived by her younger sister Cleta Mae Lowe, her beloved granddaughter Emma Lee Theunissen, and numerous special nieces and nephews.

Her life was defined by strength, unselfishness, devotion to her family, compassion, and work ethic. Her happiest moments were caring for her beloved granddaughter as well as spending as much time as possible with her and Rosa Lee’s family. Rosa Lee found pleasure in sewing, traveling, annual family vacations, and cooking and baking--especially hosting an annual Christmas party for family, relatives and friends. Her cooking brought comfort and joy to all who gathered at her home or around a table. She was a big fan of baseball ever since her father accompanied her and her sister to the Asheville Tourists ball games as a young girl. She followed the Washington Nationals baseball team religiously. Rosa Lee was also an avid reader before she lost her vision.

A private ceremony occurred at the National Memorial Park in Falls Church, Virginia where Rosa Lee was laid to rest next to her late husband and family members bid a loving adieu to a strong, beautiful, gentle soul who was the center of the family. Her absence will be deeply felt and she will be forever remembered by her loved ones.

God saw you getting tired, And a cure as not to be. So He put His arms around you And whispered, “Come to Me”. With tearful eyes we watched you, And saw you pass away. Although we loved you dearly, We could not make you stay. A golden heart stopped beating, Hard working hands at rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes the best.

.