Alene Hamrick Eastham, 96, resident of Commonwealth Assisted Living of Front Royal, 600 Mount View Street, Front Royal, Virginia died Wednesday at home.
Mrs. Eastham was born April 27, 1920 in Cullman, Alabama, the daughter of Thomas and Minnie Hamrick. She received her degree as a registered nurse from Hillman Hospital School of Nursing, later to become the University of Alabama School of Medicine.
In 1941, Alene and her younger sister, Mary, ventured out from Cullman to pre-war Washington DC. Mary sought her nursing degree, while Alene got a job as a floor nurse at George Washington University Hospital. It was there that fate stepped in one night when Alene needed assistance with a patient. A resident doctor, named Edwin stepped forward to assist her and the rest they say is history. The two dated and married in 1943 before Edwin went off to war to serve in the army medical Corps in the US and Europe.
After the war, Edwin and Alene came back to Rappahannock County and subsequently Front Royal to establish Edwin’s general medicine practice. In addition to the medical practice, the two established a cattle farming operation in Rappahannock and Warren Counties that continues to operate today.
In addition to her nursing career and raising four children, Mrs. Eastham was noted throughout the community for her volunteer work including the Warren Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, the Valley Garden Club, and the Beautification of Front Royal Committee. At the age of 90, she was presented the James Frith “Man Who Planted Trees” service award by the Beautification of Front Royal committee in recognition of her lifetime contributions to making our community the beautiful place it is today.
Alene’s legacy of grace and dignity continues to shine through her surviving children and their families: Edwin M. Eastham, III of Huntly, VA, Linda E. Adamson of Front Royal, James M. Eastham of Front Royal, and Lindsay E. Kielley of Bernardsville, NJ., eleven grandchildren and seventeen great-grandchildren.
She is survived by her sister, Mary Green of Salt Lake, UT. In addition to her husband, Edwin, Alene is pre-deceased by her brothers James Don and Charles, both of Cullman, AL.
Mrs. Eastham was a long-time member of the First Baptist Church of Front Royal and served in numerous leadership positions at the church over the years as part of her personal stewardship. A funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 19, at the First Baptist Church of Front Royal with the Reverend R. Mark Jordon officiating. Honorary pallbearers will be Mrs. Eastham’s grandchildren.
The family will receive friends on Saturday, November 19, at 10:00 a.m. in the sanctuary before the service. Memorial contributions may be made in Mrs. Eastham’s name to the Beautification of Front Royal Committee, c/o Lorraine Hultquist, 774 Old Belmont Road, Front Royal, VA 22630.