Damon, Grace Margaret Engel With two little angels watching at the foot of her bed, Grace Margaret Engel Damon passed away on Wednesday, November 2, 2016 at the age of 102. She was born on September 17, 1914 in Hamilton County, Ohio, the daughter of Louis Frederick Engel & Sarah Ann Hewitt Engel. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters and her husband, Robert Edson Damon. In the 1950s she started substitute teaching in the Richfield Public School system eventually teaching 8th and 9th grade English at Richfield West Junior High School until her retirement in 1977. As recently as this past fall she was fondly remembered by students of the 1966 Richfield High School graduating class. Grace graduated from Miami University of Ohio and received a Master's degree from Columbia University. She had a life-long interest in literature, especially poetry. She met her husband, Robert Edson Damon, on a double date set up by a sorority sister, who said at the time, that Grace "probably wouldn't like him." They were married on February 16, 1942 after six dates. Grace maintained that they were always optimistic that "things would be okay," even though they married as the world was becoming engulfed in World War II. They remained married for sixty-two years, until Bob's death on October 11, 2003. Their first son Robert Edson was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and their second son, Frederick Henry was born in Parkersburg, West Virginia. At that time, Bob, who worked for Shelby Mutual Insurance Company, was given the choice of being based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, or Richmond, Virginia. Bob loved to fish. They chose the Land of 10,000 Lakes. The education of their sons and later grandchildren was very important to Bob and Grace. They saw both boys graduate from Richfield High School in Richfield, Minnesota. Then they put both through college. Rob graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (B.S. in chemistry) and the University of Vermont (PhD in chemistry) followed by postdoctoral work at the University of Rochester (N.Y.). He pursued a career in biomedical research for 35 years at Sandoz/Novartis prior to his retirement. Fred attended Duke (B.A.) and Princeton Universities (PhD in anthropology). He is a professor of anthropology at the University of Virginia. Grace was very adventurous, taking up cross country skiing with Bob in their fifties. To her sons she recalled glorious winter days in the 1970s when after school she would head to Woodlake's trails for skiing until dark. After retirement, the couple toured the United States in a camper, seeking a warmer climate. They selected Southern Pines, North Carolina, for the Sandhills area's sixty-plus golf courses and to be closer to their sons. They traveled together in the USA and abroad for many years. Following her husband's death, she continued to travel, visiting Russia, China, and parts of South America during her early 90s. Grace and Bob were virtually founding members of St. Nicholas Episcopal Church in Richfield, avid supporters of an initially miniscule Richfield Public Library now in Augsburg Park and participated in the early organizational years of Richfield's Little League and Babe Ruth Baseball. Grace was an avid book club member for many years. She served as the Vice President of Friends of Southern Pines Public Library for two terms1994-96. These were the years when the town was building their new library. Grace was a key member of the team that helped reach the necessary financial goal. She and her husband were Gold Card donors and their names are displayed on the plaque in the foyer of the Library building. Additionally, Grace was quite popular on the "speaker circuit." She gave talks on Erma Bombeck and poetry to a variety of clubs in the Southern Pines area. She was also the oldest person to attend classes at Sandhills Community College. Following a class in computer usage, she acquired her first computer in her 80s. The couple's sporting activities, however, became confined to golf and watching their grandchildren's experiences in soccer. Grace and Bob traveled to Charlottesville often from Southern Pines, particularly during holiday periods, to visit Fred and Nancy and their children, and to attend in the Virginia Festival of the Book. At age ninety-five, Grace moved to Charlottesville to be closer to her family and resided at Branchlands Village. Grace is survived by her two sons, Robert (and his wife Mary Ann Jarema), who live in Hopkinton, MA; Fred (and his wife Nancy Coble Damon) and her two grandchildren, Kate and David Damon, plus many nieces, nephews, grand nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, please consider honoring Grace by making a donation to the "Friends of the Augsburg Park Library in memory of Grace Damon." They can be sent to the Augsburg Park Library, 7100 Nicollet Ave., Richfield, MN 55423. There will be a memorial service at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Southern Pines, North Carolina at a later date.