Obituary of Naomi Mildred Wingo

On Thursday September 14th, 2017, Naomi Abshire Wingo was lifted into the arms of God’s loving embrace as she entered the kingdom of Heaven. She was born on March 14, 1924 in Franklin County, Virginia as the fifth child of Rev. William Abshire and Flora Mills Abshire.

Naomi lived her life according to her strong faith in God and selfless service to others. She grew up in the years of the Depression and it was here that she learned the value of hard work, doing more with less, and the importance of family. It was also in her early years where she developed her lifelong love of gardening as she loved to be outside with her hands in the rich earth making things grow and mature.

In June of 1947, Naomi married the love of her life, Cecil S. Wingo and they would eventually settle in the Roanoke Valley, where together they cleared the land and built the only house they would ever live in together. They raised three children and Naomi again worked tirelessly to make sure there was food, clean clothing, and warm beds for her family. Her garden was again central to her life as she grew all the vegetables used by the family. Tireless hours were spent harvesting, canning, and freezing the fruits of her labors, sometimes not being completed until the early hours of the morning. In the summers it was rare for Naomi and Cecil to pay a visit on friends or relatives without her bringing along a gift of tomatoes, cucumbers, or other gifts she had grown. In all the years of her life, Naomi never missed a gardening season.

In addition to her parents, Naomi is predeceased by her husband Cecil, brothers Randolph, Paul, Jesse, and Howard and sisters Mae and Jane Ellen.

She is survived by her three children, Cecil Jr. and his wife Beverly of Hobart, Indiana, Norma and her husband Bill of Roanoke, Virginia, and Lori and her partner Vicky of Old Town, Maine. She was blessed with two grandchildren, Stan Wingo, his wife Laura and great grandson Cooper of Raleigh, North Carolina and Amanda Wingo of Brimmerton, Washington. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

Naomi’s family would like to acknowledge the outstanding comfort, care, and kindness given by the nursing staff of 2 North Rehab at Friendship Manor as well as that of her primary care physician, Dr. David Keilman, M.D.

Funeral services will be conducted 11 a.m. Monday, September 18, 2017 at Simpson Funeral Home 5160 Peters Creek Road. Interment will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Sunday at Simpson Funeral Home. 366-0707