Marjorie Sizemore Maupin

Marjorie \"Marge\" Burruss Sizemore Maupin, 94, of Bedford, died Wednesday, December 21, 2011, at Bedford Memorial Hospital\"™s Oakwood Manor in a room that her late husband, Jennings Byron Maupin, and she had donated and furnished years ago. The daughter of the late Ruby Burruss and William Leroy Sizemore, Marge was born in Richmond on July 26, 1917. Her husband and her brother, LeRoy Manly Sizemore, predeceased her.

Marge lived in Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Delaware before moving to Bedford in 1973 when her husband \"Blimp\"\""as she called him\""retired from DuPont. One of Bedford\"™s most generous citizens, she gave her resources to benefit the elderly and the sick. After her brother\"™s death, she created the Maupin-Sizemore Foundation to perpetuate her philanthropic endeavors. Bedford\"™s Adult Day Care Center, the Shepherd\"™s Table, the Bedford Christian Ministries, the Bedford Hospice House, and the Bedford Area Family YMCA represent only a few of the charities she loved and directed her foundation to support.

Marge also gave her time to her church and her community. As a long-time fellowship committee member, elder, and member of pastoral search committees, she served the Bedford Presbyterian Church. As a volunteer in the community, she worked the local blood drives, performed duties as a pink lady at the hospital, and helped the YMCA Thrift Shop committee raise funds to sustain the Bedford Y.

Marge supported wellness and rehabilitative programs at the Y, even taking advantage, although begrudgingly at times, of exercise opportunities, and sometimes even admitting the benefit she received from these trips.

She showed that she cared about higher education when she set up a scholarship at Roanoke College for students from Bedford and also when she established with her late brother the J. Byron Maupin Chaired Professorship of Engineering at Virginia Tech. She was an avid Virginia Tech fan.

Marge had a special love for animals, especially her cat Purdy. Once she read about a police dog killed in the line of duty. The account of this dog\"™s death moved her to research a means to protect these dogs. This she did by purchasing bullet-proof vests for every police dog in southwest Virginia.

She enjoyed her Blue Ride Garden Club, Friday Book Club, and bridge club of which she was a Charter Member for over 30 years.  

Marge took an interest in her friends, acquaintances, and the children of her church and neighborhood. She appreciated and felt genuine affection for her sitters.

Marge will be missed in Bedford, driving around town in her yellow 1968 Plymouth Satellite convertible. All who heard her say, \"Don\"™t say \"˜should have\"™\" will take that advice to heart as they remember the service she inspired.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Bedford Presbyterian Church or any of the other above-mentioned charities. A memorial service will take place at Bedford Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, December 27, at 7:00 pm with the Reverend John Salley officiating, and burial with be at Riverview Cemetery in Richmond at noon on Wednesday, December 28. Arrangements are by Tharp Funeral Home.