Amelia Garber Slayden

Nashville, TN

SLAYDEN, Amelia Garber, age 97 of Nashville, passed away peacefully on October 6, 2014.

Amelia was born on January 18, 1917 in Richmond, VA to Frederick and Susan Bronaugh Garber. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a degree in Mathematics from Randolph-Macon Woman's College in 1937. During WWII, she enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve. In the WAVES, she worked as a cryptographer and later as Aide to Commodore C. E. Battle, Chief of Staff and Commander of the Service Force Atlantic Fleet. During that time she met and corresponded with a young Navy Lieutenant, Robert (Rob) Lee Slayden. In San Francisco on VJ Day - August 15, 1945 - Amelia and Rob celebrated the end of the War together, and six months later they were married.

They settled in Nashville where Rob joined his father's business, Universal Coal & Lumber Co. Amelia and Rob raised their five children and were active in their church, West End United Methodist, where Amelia devoted many years as a volunteer and later was employed as secretary to the senior pastor. In her later years, she enjoyed traveling, entertaining and living at Richland Place, where she cherished her many friends. She always shared the loving light of Christ with everyone she knew and kept her sweetness of spirit throughout her life.

Amelia was preceded in death by her devoted husband of 47 years, Robert Lee Slayden as well as her sister, Elizabeth Garber Thomson of Richmond, VA. She is survived by her five children, Dan (Mickey) Slayden, Sue (Mike) Salato and Bob (Tommie) Slayden Jr. of Nashville, Betsy (Hank) Widdop of Memphis, TN and Marty (Peter Ordway) Slayden of Colorado Springs, CO, as well as her nephew, Jim (Kathrine) Thomson of Ashland, VA, and her sister-in-law, Chris Tibbott of Nashville. She also leaves behind six grandchildren, Michael Slayden, Karen (Kurt) Kaiser, Jay (Kristin) Salato, Adam Slayden, Chris (Erika Hinds) Widdop, and Dustin Ordway, as well as five great grandchildren, Kacy Slayden, Kylie Slayden, Andrew Kaiser, Anna Kaiser, and Slayden Widdop.

A memorial service will be held at West End United Methodist Church, 2200 West End Avenue on Friday, October 10 at 2:00 p.m., with visitation an hour before the service.

Amelia's family would like to recognize the staff at Richland Place, Belmont Village, Barton House and Gentiva Hospice for their kind, loving care during Amelia's slow decline due to Alzheimer's disease.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to West End United Methodist Church or the charity of your choice.

Visit the online obituary: www.MarshallDonnellyCombs.com

Arrangements under the direction of Marshall Donnelly Combs Funeral Home, Nashville, Tennessee.