Colleen Whynona Goff Oppenheimer of Grundy, VA, age 75, unfurled her wings on Monday, August 2, 2010, following a short battle with pneumonia.  Born March 24, 1935, the youngest of eight children, she spent the majority of her life in her beloved mountains.  Fulfilling the dream of her mother, recipient of little formal schooling but determined that all of her children achieve post-secondary education, Colleen graduated from Longwood College with a social studies degree.  She taught for over forty years at Grundy Junior High School, touching the lives-and occasional backsides with her notorious paddle-of generations of students.  Tough but fair, the petite blonde dynamo earned her students’ respect and affection, supporting them in learning world capitals and in pinning opponents to the wrestling mat. 

A brief marriage produced a daughter, Jennifer, with whom she shared her enthusiasm for reading.  Being both mother and father to a child and caring for an invalid mother while teaching never was easy-and this was decades before being a superwoman was fashionable-yet she managed with competence, grace, and a sense of humor.  Among her many passions, Colleen reveled in nature-her darling, pampered dogs, her cats, her enviable garden exploding with flowers and vegetables.  And what a cook she was!  Birthdays, anniversaries, births and deaths, she would be among the first to arrive bearing pot roasts, fried chicken, applesauce cakes, and mile-high meringue pies.  Holidays in her home provided a visual and gustatory treat, with  many of the exquisite decorations her own design and craft.  Rare was the visitor who could leave without a plate heaped with fruit cookies and silk-smooth chocolate fudge. 

Years of fighting diabetes and stroke exhausted her, though.  Welcoming Colleen’s healed body into a heavenly home are her parents, M. L. and Mary Trula Goff; a sister, Anne G. Chaney; three brothers, W. Hassel, C. Ellis, and Eugene Goff; and several pets to lick her face.  Bereft to be without her are her adoring daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer and Richard Rosti of Salem, VA ; two cherished grandsons, Andrew and wife Lindsay of Arlington, VA, and Marcus of Salem; a dearly-loved sister, Edith G. Street of Grundy, a close, loyal friend, Barbara Compton of Grundy; and a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, friends, and former colleagues and students. 

Visitation will be from 7-9 p.m. on Thursday, August 5, at Grundy Funeral Home Chapel.  On Friday, August 6, we will celebrate her life at 1:00 p.m.at Grundy Church of Christ  with Evgs. Kevin Whittsett and Dennis Wimmer officiating with graveside services following at Mountain Valley Memorial Park, Big Rock, VA. 

Active Pallbearers will be Marcus Street, David Paul Wilburn, Dewey Looney, Bill Neeley, David Matney, Herb Fields, Brian Fields, and David Mark Shortridge.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Curt Osborne, John Michael Goff, Bill Carter, Troy Viers, Charlie Woods, Sam Hylton, and James Street.

To honor this remarkable woman, the family requests that in lieu of flowers (or perhaps in addition to because she did love them), donations to the Colleen Oppenheimer Memorial Scholarship Fund be made at any Wachovia branch or mailed to 1325 Waldheim Road, Salem, VA 24153.  Her legacy will be to assist deserving Grundy High School graduating seniors in their pursuit of a college education.

This World is not Conclusion.
A Species stands beyond-
Invisible, as Music-
But positive, as Sound-
It beckons.
                               -Emily Dickinson

                                                                 If tolling bell I ask the cause,
                                                                 'A soul has gone to God,'
                                                                 I'm answered in a lonesome tone;
                                                                 Is heaven then so sad?

                                                                That bells should joyful ring to tell
                                                                A soul has gone to heaven,
                                                                Would seem to me the proper way
                                                                A good news should be given.
                                                                                             -Emily Dickenson

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.grundyfuneralhome.com.

Grundy Funeral Home of Grundy is in charge of all arrangements.