Rosalie M.V. Cumbee, 77, of Gloucester Point, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Friday, June 19, 2020, in the Manor Care Nursing Facility, Richmond, where she resided for six months.

Rosalie was born June 6, 1943 in Delhi, New York, to William Joseph and Virginia Hansen Vogel. She was the youngest of three children. Rosalie was the loving wife of James S. Cumbee. She was preceded in death by her parents, formerly of New Bern, North Carolina.

Rosalie received her B.S. and M.S. degrees in Biology from East Carolina University and her Ph.D. in Marine Science from the College of William and Mary. She worked at the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory in Solomons, Maryland, and was affiliated with the Virginia Institute of Marine Science in Gloucester Point. Rosalie most recently worked at Respite Care in Williamsburg. There she shared love of family and nature, her story-telling skills, love of literature and poetry, and heartfelt compassion with those who needed a word of encouragement or a tender hand to hold.

She leaves behind her husband, James S. Cumbee, Gloucester Point; sister, Marcelle V. Cherau (Chris), Poinciana, Florida, and brother, William C. Vogel (Dorothy), New Bern, North Carolina. Also surviving her are a loving niece, Theresa M. Kilmer, Richmond; three nephews, Phillip Kilmer (Debbie), Billy Vogel and Louis Vogel, all of New Bern, N.C.; a brother-in-law, David Cumbee, Wilmington, North Carolina.

The family would like to extend our gratitude to her niece, Terri Kilmer, who was a loving caregiver, as well as the staff of Manor Care Nursing Home for their attentiveness and care.

Memorials may be made in Rosalie’s name to Abingdon Episcopal Church or to the charity of your choice.

A memorial service is planned for Oct. 10, 2020 at 11 a.m. at her home church, Abingdon Episcopal, Gloucester, Virginia.