A legacy worth following
Hundreds from the Rappahannock community crowded into the auditorium of Wakefield Country Day School on Sunday afternoon to celebrate the amazing life of Linda Dietel, who passed away Sept. 20, just shy of 89 years.
Her contributions to Rappahannock County are far too many to list, including expanding the Child Care and Learning Center, planting the roots of the Headwaters Foundation, organizing the first Art Tour, Soup and Soul, and Taste of Rappahanock; representing Rappahannock on the Piedmont Community Foundation, serving on the advisory board of the Lord Fairfax Community College Foundation, and so much more.
Between song — “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” — and the Galelic Blessing were touching remembrances from two of Linda’s and Barney O’Meara, the latter encouraging people to embrace Linda’s spirit by following in her footsteps:
▶ Visit someone who is alone and in need of a friend.
▶ Volunteer with a nonprofit organization you think does important work.
▶ Speak up for people who are vulnerable.
▶ Support a female candidate running for office.
O’Meara, who is the CCLC treasurer, has also made it known that an upcoming new annex at the school will be named “The Linda Dietel Preschool Wing” in her memory. It will replace a 25-year old modular trailer that initially housed Rappahannock’s first Head Start class, and might best be described as “full amortized.” The new space should be available by the start of the next academic year, August 2020.